Journalism
Why study journalism?
Journalism and mass communications transmit and interpret culture and bind society together, making them among the most vital forces in the maintenance of any society and fundamental to democratic government and a free society.
The mission of the journalism area is to foster in you the skills, values, and practices associated with professional journalism; to further your understanding of how those attributes intersect with local, national and global citizenship; to demand critical thinking; to challenge you to be the creators of and leaders in a constantly changing media environment, and to fully engage with diverse audiences.
Our journalism graduates find jobs in news reporting, magazine and feature writing, web editing, and photojournalism. Journalism education also benefits students going into law, politics, consulting, health education, business, and environmental and sports studies and many other fields that require information gathering, precision writing and visual communication skills.
Journalism
Our journalism program is accredited by The Accrediting Council on Education in Journalism and Mass Communications (ACEJMC), a distinction held by only one other Michigan university. Our program balances classroom theory with service learning and other hands-on experiences that help you develop the skills required for entry-level positions in the media, as well as related professions and for entrepreneurial media-related careers.
You may select a major in journalism or photojournalism. You will enroll in a common set of courses that emphasizes information gathering, processing and writing, visual communication skills and the philosophical framework of the profession, including the role of mass communications in contemporary society, the role of media in racial and global diversity and the legal context in which the industry operates.
We also offer a journalism minor and an interdisciplinary minor, multimedia design.
If you are interested in one of these programs contact a College of the Arts and Media or journalism area advisor as early as possible and meet with that advisor each semester before registering for classes. Majors and minors are also expected to be involved each semester in co-curricular activities: CMLife, Grand Central Magazine, the Society of Professional Journalists, and the Central Press Photographers Association.
Employers expect journalism graduates to have had at least one internship, an indicator that an applicant has the attitude and skills necessary to be successful in the workplace. The School of Communication, Journalism and Media Internship coordinator will provide input on finding internships that match your career interests and allow you to build a portfolio of your work.
CMU’s journalistic integrity policy
The journalism area holds truth, accuracy and fairness as the fundamental principles of journalism education and media professions. Each faculty member in the area is responsible for instilling those values in our students as the credibility of media professionals depends on trustworthiness and integrity. To maintain the high standards this program has long established and the strong reputation it has long enjoyed among the professionals and alumni throughout the state, the country and the world, the department reserves the right to remove a student from its program if the student is found to have violated these standards. Violations may include, but are not limited to, fabricating assignments, plagiarism, misrepresentation to faculty, clients, sources or others during the performance of an assignment or project, or willfully violating the codes of ethics as established by industry standards, such as those promulgated by the Society of Professional Journalists and the National Press Photographers Association.
