Speaking of technology changes in the media industry and how college curriculum should be changing to address those changes…

The big news in technology today is Apple’s announcement of the iPad.

About the size of a sheet of paper (8 1/2″ x 11″) and the width of a magazine, the iPad is very portable but with a much larger screen than the iPhone.

Abilene Christian University’s student media already has announced that it will be the first student-produced newspaper to publish on the iPad.

In a news release from ACU:
Dr. Cheryl Bacon, chair of ACU’s Department of Journalism and Mass Communication said, “This is yet another opportunity for our students to make use of a cutting-edge delivery system – the third version of mobile media delivery we have pioneered.”  She cites her department’s track record:  dissemination of The Optimist student newspaper via iPhone in the fall of 2007; adoption of an updated application in the fall of 2008; and now, ACU’s preparation for delivery of The Optimist on the iPad this spring.

In fall 2008, ACU became the first university in the country to provide an iPhone or iPod touch to each incoming freshman. So ACU has been integrating innovative uses of the iPhone and iPod touch for several semesters — using the devices for class activities, encouraging students to develop apps, and publishing the student newspaper on the iPhone.