Students attracted to journalism are interested in becoming strong communicators and telling the stories of others. Journalists must be able to gather and interpret information and package and disseminate that information to their audiences. This requires a broad liberal arts education coupled with specific training in the techniques of writing, reporting and editing. In addition, multimedia training is necessary to be competitive in the changing landscape of the field of journalism. These basic skills must be carried out with an understanding of the society within which the journalist is working, the needs of that society and the consequences of the distribution of information within that society.

Students will prepare for a career in public affairs journalism in both traditional and emerging media. Students with a bachelor’s degree in journalism can seek employment with daily and weekly newspapers, magazines, and interactive information vendors (blogs, social media and multimedia). The undergraduate degree in journalism is also excellent preparation for further study in mass communication and fields such as law or public policy.