Abstract
This article evaluates the state of mass communication as an academic field, examining its organizational, educational, and theoretical conditions in the mid-1980s. The discussion situates mass communication within a context of growing public, institutional, and industrial interest in media and communication technologies. Three major areas are identified. Organizationally, the field is experiencing departmental consolidation and debate over nomenclature as traditional speech and journalism programs merge into unified communication units. Educationally, enrollments are expanding rapidly, yet faculty shortages and an industrial hiring model threaten academic rigor. Theoretically, the discipline faces tensions between professional training and liberal arts orientations, as well as between traditional and critical-cultural approaches to media study. The analysis concludes that while mass communication is intellectually vibrant and institutionally strong, its future depends on effective administrative leadership to balance professional relevance with scholarly development.
Recommended Citation
Wartella, Ellen
(1987)
"The State of Mass Communication,"
Association for Communication Administration Bulletin: Vol. 59, Article 3.
Available at:
https://stars.library.ucf.edu/aca/vol59/iss1/3
