Critical reflection is best taught through practice, writes Morten Kronstad, of University of Bergen. Kronstad based his findings on the interviews and observations of Norwegian, tertiary level journalism students. At the beginning of their education the students had varying understandings of what critical reflection is, and so the teaching of it is crucial, Kronstad establishes.

Both the teacher and his journalism students felt critical reflection was best learned through practice. This was also the prevailing teaching strategy, Kronstad observed. Theory, however, is needed to form a common understanding of what critical reflection in journalism is. To bridge the gap between theory and everyday working practice, using critical reflection should be integral to all parts of journalism education – not just a detached module or a class.

Kronstad’s study was published as an online-first article of the journal Journalism Practice. It can be accessed here (abstract public).