Modernization of Journalistic Education in Ukraine: Positions of Students and Employers

In this paper, we provide the recommendations regarding modernization of professional journalism education, compiled on local research of students of the Institute of Journalism of Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv, and on the survey of top priority employers. This study was caused by the issue of the level of students' professional training, as well as the wishes concerning improvement of educational process announced by both interviewed groups. The objective of the study is to outline the request on improvement of the educational process at the Institute of Journalism, to specify its directions, basing on assessments and desires of stakeholders. Except the answers about the level of education and necessary skills, the questionnaire for students helped to make a list of media outlets, which were the most desirable workplaces for them. The second research stage dealt with the interviews with managers of media outlets specified by the students. We ascertained that the key problems of media specialists education was the lack of practical work on the content taking into account the contemporary media stylistics and also complete misunderstanding by the students of the current political, economic and cultural realities. As for the students' wishes, we found the strong request on strengthening their technical and managerial knowledge and skills.