Abstract
This essay defends mass communication as a legitimate component of the liberal arts and responds to criticisms both from outside and within the communication discipline. The author argues that mass communication courses address fundamental questions about the social, political, and cultural influence of media and therefore extend far beyond technical training. The discussion emphasizes that liberal education requires understanding how mediated symbols shape public life and contends that studying the effects, practices, and history of broadcasting aligns directly with liberal arts aims. The essay also notes that accrediting standards already require a strong ratio of liberal arts coursework for mass communication majors. Concerns about disciplinary fragmentation and the proliferation of specialized professional organizations are used to illustrate the risk of losing a coherent liberal arts identity. The author concludes that mass communication programs belong within liberal arts settings and that their legitimacy rests on a commitment to broad humanistic inquiry rather than vocational narrowness.
Recommended Citation
Tiemens, Robert K.
(1985)
"In Defense of Mass Communication as a Liberal Art,"
Association for Communication Administration Bulletin: Vol. 53, Article 8.
Available at:
https://stars.library.ucf.edu/aca/vol53/iss1/8
