The foundations of journalism have been shaken in the recent decades. The business model that sustained institutionalized journalism of the last century is becoming obsolete and unreliable. Development of digital communication technologies fosters restructuring of journalism practice as well as the relations with audiences and publics. Once seen mostly through the technological lenses, the changes brought by digital communication pose new questions related to accuracy, credibility, objectivity and trust.

Such profound changes in the economic, technological, structural and societal basis of journalism are pressuring for renewal of journalism education. Many unresolved debates surrounding journalism education gained a new momentum in the era of mass-self communication. The question about the core competencies and skills that constitute an ideal journalists has become urgent once more. During journalism professionalization this question has divided arguments between the theory and practice, or industry versus the academy in journalism education. Innovations in the realm of societal communication have complicated old discussions and brought about new aspects into the question of the substance, focus, organization and mission of education for future journalism.