Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism

Oxford is incredibly lucky to have an Institute devoted solely to the study of journalism. However, not many undergraduates know about it and even if they do, they do not know what it entails or how to get involved.

That is why Oxford Media Society asked David Levy, the Institute Director, to tell us about the Reuters Institute in a Q&A format. We would like to thank David for kindly agreeing to do so.

Oxford Media Society (OMS): What is the Reuters Institute?

David Levy, Institute Director (DL): The Reuters Institute for Study of Journalism (RISJ) is part of the Department of Politics and international Relations. It is dedicated to the rigorous international study of journalism in a way that brings together the perspectives of academic analysts, practising journalists and policymakers.

The Institute has three main areas of activity:
a) the Journalist Fellowship Programme which brings practising mid career journalists to Oxford from across the globe to conduct research on an aspect of journalism for periods of 3-9 months

b) publications, events and a range of interventions in the debate about the future of journalism

c) academic research into journalism organised around three themes - The Changing Business of Journalism, the Changing Practise of Journalism, and Journalism & Democracy/Accountability

OMS: Who came up with the idea?

DL: The Institute was created in 2006 and built on the Reuters Foundation Journalism Fellowship Programme which had been established for over 20 years. The idea was developed between several figures in Oxford, including John Llloyd, Contributing Editor to the FT and Director of Journalism at RISJ, and the Reuters Foundation who awarded an initial grant of £1.75m for the establishment of the first 5 year period of the Institute.

OMS: What are the main achievements of the RISJ to date?

DL: The Institute has developed the Fellowship Programme which now brings over 20 journalists a year to Oxford, has organised a range of high profile seminars and lectures in Oxford and elsewhere, and launched two new publication series RISJ Challenges and Working Papers that bring RISJ research to a wider audience. Challenges published in the past year include What's Happening to our News? an investigation into the impact of the internet on UK news organisation, Trust in the News a study of how trust is changing and two publications on Citizen Journalism - Red Kayaks and Hidden Gold, by John Kelly of the Washington Post and Social Media and Mainstream Media, by Nic Newman of the BBC. RISJ also has three research projects underway currently; on 'Comparative European Journalism', 'The Changing Business of Journalism and its impact on democracy', and ‘International News in Africa, India and Pakistan: provision, consumption and trust in a rapidly changing broadcasting environment’

OMS: How can Oxford undergraduates get involved in the RISJ's work?

DL: We hold two seminars a week - one on a Wednesday lunchtime at Green Templeton College and another on Media and Politics at Nuffield College on Fridays at 5pm. Both are open to all. In addition we are always open to ideas from undergraduates about issues we might tackle and our journalist fellows are a potential source of information about journalism, both within the UK and internationally. (The details of current journalist felllows are listed on our website and past journalist fellows research papers can be found there)

OMS: What plans do you have for next term? How can we find out more about the Institute?

DL: Our seminar lists will be posted on our website very soon (by week 0) and can be found at http://reutersinstitute.politics.ox.ac.uk/ You can also register there for an RSS feed of updates to our website and to download any of our publications. If you would like to be added to our mailing list please e-mail our Web and Publicity officer kate.hanneford-smith@politics.ox.ac.uk