The Department of Journalism within the Faculty of Communication of Süleyman Demirel University aims to provide young individuals with the communication skills and manners required by national and internationally developing journalism practices with theoretical and practical courses. The Department of Journalism, which admitted its first students in the 2017-2018 academic year, has three main disciplines: General Journalism Department, Informatics Department and Press Economics and Business Administration Department.

Süleyman Demirel University Faculty of Communication / Department of Journalism SWOT Analysis

A. Strengths

Experienced Academic Staff: The Department of Journalism adopts a vision that follows the age with its expert, strong and experienced academic staff. The young and qualified academic staff of the department contributes to the scientific field by making national and international publications.

Academic and Scientific Studies: Scientific studies produced and scientific activities organised by the academic staff of the faculty reflect its strengths. In addition, the fact that the number of publications of academic staff from each title has been increasing over the years can be considered as the strength of the department in the academic context.

Technology Friendly Classrooms: Projection machines and sound systems in the classrooms contribute to more efficient teaching.

Professional Practical Practices: Our programme has a Journalism Workshop (News Room) and the physical resources of the faculty are used in terms of laboratory facilities. The Journalism Workshop was opened in 2022. The workshop is used for students to carry out course applications, to prepare for national and international competitions and for student-industry activities. There is one (1) MAC computer, five (5) Dslr cameras with different qualities, one (1) professional photo/video tripod, textbooks and periodicals related to the field. In addition, the Faculty of Communication Application Newspaper ‘Campus East West Newspaper’ enables students to put into practice what they have learnt in theory. Apart from these, our students can gain experience in radio and television broadcasting in Bilim TV, SDÜ Radio and Production units within RATEM. In particular, our department, which integrates the theoretical education of undergraduate students in their departments with practical studies, aims to educate our students as media professionals of the future.

Support and Rewarding Student Participation: It is important for the recognition and brand value of the faculty that the outstanding works of the students in the department are represented and rewarded both within the department and in competitions held by different universities and institutions.

Location and Accessibility: Being located in the centre of Isparta and easy accessibility by public transport constitute the strengths of the university. The fact that the faculty is located in the centre of the university campus, close to the library, social areas and public transportation, RATEM (Radio and Television Research and Application Centre) constitutes the strength of the department.

Library and Internet Facilities: Süleyman Demirel University has SDU Prof. Dr. Hasan Gürbüz Information Centre, which is among the 30 most equipped libraries in Europe and provides 24/7 service. In addition, within the scope of the SDUnet_WIFI network on campus, department students can also benefit from free WIFI access.

Social and Club Activities: Faculty of Communication is located in the heart of the university due to its location. Its proximity to indoor and outdoor areas such as SDU Bazaar and GSF Canteen provides students with the opportunity to socialise in large numbers. The active functioning of student clubs, frequent scientific, social and cultural activities also reveal the strengths of the faculty.

B. Weaknesses

One of the weaknesses of the Faculty of Communication in general and the Department of Journalism in particular is the lack of physical facilities. Our faculty and department receive intense demand from students and therefore the number of students is increasing every year. However, the physical limitations of the faculty cannot fully meet this demand. In addition, technical support requests from faculty members/staff from time to time (such as purchasing computers, printers, access to licensed programmes) cannot be met to the desired extent due to budgetary constraints.

The inadequacy of the department's laboratory facilities due to the use of existing unit laboratories with other departments and the limited opportunities for students to have direct sector experience in Isparta are also among the weaknesses of the department.

C. Opportunities

Infrastructure: Süleyman Demirel University Faculty of Communication, Department of Journalism has academic staff who are open to adopt new developing technologies. At the same time, it offers opportunities for students to access information and practice with its applications, special study areas, social spaces, information centres, which allow students to put the knowledge gained in theory into practice.

Physical Location: This heading is both a strength and an opportunity. The reason for this is that both the university and the faculty are easily accessible. The fact that the faculty is located in the area of the campus with the highest student density is also among the advantages of the department.

Academic journals, studies, events: SDÜ İFADE magazine, which is published within the Faculty of Communication, is important in the literature. Various professors from the department spend a lot of time on these journals and improve themselves. The faculty members of the department try to be very active in participating in both national and international scientific activities.

Capacity for Development: When the physical limitations of the department are overcome, it is open to development in terms of both academic staff and student potential. In this context, there is a potential to increase postgraduate education opportunities.