In my exploration of how digital storytelling can be used to elaborate on the theme of adversity, I found on online article from Inside Higher Ed entitled “Getting Real With Student Bloggers.” The author, Eric Stoller, discusses the pros and cons of student bloggers being compensated by universities for telling their real stories. Using the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) as an example, Stoller noted an example of a student who discussed both the challenge of being a successful student at the school as well as how those same challenges will benefit students after graduation. On the other hand, the author mentioned how a number of blog entries seemed to benefit the image of MIT rather than give an opportunity for student to express themselves.
I’ve found that it’s very important for a digital author to express themselves fully without any pressure or influence from the organization or company that hosts or maintains a website. Obviously, when an author is getting paid for their services, there will always be a certain level of editorializing. If an educational institution truly wants its students to learn about digital storytelling and how to build a career, it must give them a fair opportunity (with just compensation) to express themselves regardless of public relations or marketing agendas.
Mark,
Agree that students should have an opportunity to freely express themselves over university maintained blog sites. The other side of the coin would be when or how do Universities protect their image or beliefs from opposition that is house on the networks that the institution is funding?
Good point Darren. Like student newspapers, universities should have some sort of student editorial oversight. This got me thinking about how people “promote” themselves on Facebook. Many people feel compelled to show one side of their lives but not the other.
I recall being on the journalism team at our high school back in the day. There was an event that “went down in history” when students passed through an article that was quite controversial for that day. Of course that clamped down on subsequent student activity in the journalism classes. This, years later, sounds so similar when considering the content and whether it will promote or detract from the institute represented by the student body. I see the value of honest blogging. I see the need for framework to deter a wide range of possible problems whether or not they’ve ever occurred. What side of the line do we step, or do we try to walk down the middle. With so much legal activity at that drop of a pin, I can understand why an institute would need to protect themselves, and of course they would want positive and uplifting promotions. I do not know that there is an answer that will satisfy all parties.