Journalism and Digital Media

The Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Journalism and Digital Media program will equip you with skills to develop and deliver compelling, informative content for television, radio, Internet, and other emerging platforms. Forward-thinking courses will prepare you to succeed in the rapidly changing world of journalism and related fields, employing dedicated high-definition facilities and a digital-first approach to hone your abilities for writing, research, and content production.

• “When I transferred to MSU as a sophomore, I immediately knew I made the right decision. As I sat in each of my journalism classes, I discovered just how talented and accomplished my professors were. Each and every member of the faculty took me under their wing to ensure I was ready to start my career equipped with all the necessary tools. Aside from the hard skills I learned about being a journalist, the program taught me how to confidently hold my own during a press conference and form genuine relationships during an interview. During my time in the program, I was able to intern at places like Backstage, Seventeen, and Warner Music Group, and network with some of the most prestigious names in my industry. The journalism program is state-of-the-art in terms of the incredible newsrooms in the School of Communication and Media – but also in the faculty and staff that truly put their heart and soul into helping each and every student succeed.” – Stephanie Pitera (BA Journalism 2017 / MA Public & Organizational Relations 2020)

The Journalism and Digital Media curriculum includes courses in News Writing and Multimedia News Production which focus on the writing, reporting and producing elements of news programming that are applicable to studio news shows and interactive, digital platforms.  Additional courses cover field production and editing, multimedia news production along with media history and criticism, and a required Ethics of Mass Communication course which analyzes the legal and ethical issues of the communications industry.

A selection of specialty courses offer exciting possibilities for the development of other areas of expertise: consider such topics as The Entertainment Beat, Cross-Platform Sports Writing/Reporting, Apps for Journalists, Media Entrepreneurship, and Digital Diplomacy and News Media.

Beyond the campus, you will be encouraged to pursue internship and practicum experiences in the industry where you can learn from media professionals and apply your skills to career situations.

The Journalism curriculum is comprised of 120 credits (3 cr. per course) and includes five areas of requirement:

1. Journalism and Digital Media courses  — sequential instruction specific to the major-concentration
2. Common-Core School Curriculum — a broad foundation for understanding all communication and media disciplines (required of all students in the School of Communication and Media)
3. Major Elective courses — further development of major-related expertise
4. General education courses —  exploration of studies that comprise a liberal arts education – e.g. in writing, humanities, math, and the natural, social and computer sciences (required of all University students pursuing a bachelor of arts degree)
5. Free electives  — exploration of additional areas of interest; or inclusion of a Minor

Our students are constantly producing groundbreaking work. Whether independently or as part of a project, club, organization–or one of our many output-driven courses–we help our people thrive and make a difference.See our student projects

The Journalism major prepares students to serve as the principal creative force in a wide variety of media environments. The graduates of this program will be true mobile journalists, who can deliver content on any information platform. They will be strong candidates for positions as Internet web site editors, as well as television and radio producers and reporters. They will be in demand to shoot and edit video, while writing scripts to match the video. They will also learn how to communicate journalistically using today’s social media vehicles.

Journalism students have access to an impressive array of internship partners both on campus and in New York and New Jersey to pursue relevant work experiences and on-the job mentoring. The internship program is designed to help students make the transition from student to working professional and provide networking opportunities.

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics offers very positive data for careers in Journalism with projected increases in some traditional media industries, including television, radio, and public relations, and emerging news platforms driven by the Internet and social media.

Below is a sampling of career titles:

Visit the links below for additional professional and career-related information:Communication and Media – Professional ResourcesCollege Career Services