Best online journalism programs

Program enrollees are encouraged to minor in a subject outside the journalism department, such as history, political science, or economics. Online classes are facilitated with the Desire2Learn learning management software, and include audio and video lectures, assigned reading materials, and exams. Transfer students must have at least 26 credits of previous college experience with a minimum 2.

Various types of financial aid are available to eligible students. This includes scholarships offered by the university and individual departments. Students' tuition rates remain constant until they graduate. The journalism program offers continuous enrollment, so students may apply online and start the program in any semester after acceptance. There are a variety of online degree and certificate programs available for those interested in pursuing a career in journalism.

Those seeking entry-level positions in the field of journalism may be interested in obtaining an online associate degree in journalism, which can be completed in two years, or completing an online certificate program, which can be finished in one year.

Journalism programs teach students to write, edit, and report articles for broadcast or publication. Classes also include media and ethics and basic business concepts, such as advertising, communications , marketing, and public relations. A degree or certificate in journalism will prepare students for a variety of careers in media.

Students obtaining a degree in journalism may enter the workforce prepared with skills in communication, research, writing, and reporting. An online bachelor's degree in journalism can help prepare students for careers in print, online, and broadcast journalism. Almost every online bachelor's degree in journalism will have a liberal arts component in addition to journalism-specific coursework. General education requirements typically include courses in math, science, social science, and the arts and humanities.

Classes that are specific to journalism often include writing and the ethics of reporting as well as broader topics such as web development, and photo and video editing. Some schools offer internships, allowing you to gain experience in your field as you pursue your degree.

Online bachelor's degrees in journalism typically require the equivalent of around semester hours, or 4 years of study. Such programs can be found at a variety of public and private colleges and universities. Most schools require a high school diploma or GED for admission as well as letters of recommendation and application essays. After completing an online journalism bachelor's degree, some students may go straight into the workforce.

Others may pursue a master's degree to further their careers and their journalism expertise. Programmatic accreditation from ACEJMC helps to ensure that a journalism degree program offered by a college or university meets established standards. The curriculum of journalism and communications degrees can vary from school to school.

Regional accreditation is also important to look for when deciding which school to attend. Agencies that offer regional accreditation have been approved by the United States Department of Education and they work to ensure that entire academic institutions are meeting nationally agreed upon standards for higher education.

Attending a regionally accredited school will make you eligible for federal financial aid and will help to ensure that you can transfer credits between institutions of higher education. For individuals interested in working in front of or behind a broadcasting camera, a broadcast journalism degree may be the right fit. With behind-the-scenes career options that include writing, editing, and producing, or center stage careers as a news anchor, broadcast journalism programs provide technical and practical experience.

The diversity of the program affords students the ability to combine critical thinking and masterful storytelling to reach diverse audiences through ethical reporting. Bachelor's coursework includes newsgathering fundamentals, media research and analysis, television news reporting, and information graphics and visualization. This degree, along with an internship, is a good choice for students pursuing positions as news anchors, reporters, content writers, station managers, or production assistants.

Professionals with three or more years of experience may pursue a graduate degree. A master's degree program allows individuals to choose a specialty area to focus on, including long-form audio and video documentaries, online multimedia news production, or app creation, among many others. A doctoral degree in broadcast journalism may prepare a professional for the field of academia and administration, as well as positions in media entities, strategic communication firms, and corporations.

Master's and doctoral degree students complete a thesis or a dissertation respectively. Many students who pursue an online journalism degree look to standard forms of media in hopes of entering the field as a newspaper, television, or magazine reporter.

However, with the ever-expanding world of new media, a wide variety of careers are available to those who graduate with a journalism degree. Editors are often employed by newspapers, magazines, and publishing companies to oversee the overall content and quality of work submitted by reporters and writers. Many times, editors assign stories or articles to their contributors and proceed to suggest new directions in the piece or shape a developing story with new ideas.

They are also often responsible for making sure finished work is presented without mistakes and that it meets all necessary guidelines. In addition to checking the work of others, editors may submit their own articles or stories for publication. As mass media steadily expands, there is a growing need for editors at online magazines and newspapers. News analysts often work closely with editors. They advise journalists about trending subjects and the bigger picture of a story.

Analysts work with editors to shape a newspaper or news program with interesting content that will hold audience attention. They often weigh public interest in a story with the media's obligation to keep the public informed of current events. News analysts may also write their own columns or appear on the broadcast to directly share their insight on current events with the public. Journalists working on the front lines to gather news often either work on regular beats or take assignments from an editor.

Reporters follow up on stories, conduct interviews, gather facts, and produce quality research that is transformed into stories by editors and staff writers in the newsroom. Broadcast news reporters, however, often directly deliver their research and findings to the audience via remote broadcasts. Publicists manage publicity for individuals, businesses or corporations. The majority of pubic relations specialists handle multiple clients in a private practice.

Their primary functions are to present a positive public image for the individual or business, generate press coverage, and serve as a bridge between clients, media, and the public.

A successful publicist manages campaigns, writes press releases, and performs a variety of other public relations functions. Major strides and advances in media have opened up a wide pool of tools and career opportunities to those interested in a journalistic career. This demanding field requires commitment and diligence to be successful. Prospective journalism students would do well to interview local professionals about industry trends, typical work days, and other industry-related issues before deciding if journalism is the right career path.

The demand for new journalists is admittedly declining. Due to major shifts in the news media industry, including many mergers and the rise of the internet, news media outlets are now able to consolidate their resources, which means fewer jobs for journalists.

However, the skills and knowledge acquired while pursuing an online degree in journalism are transferable to many other professions. The ability to research, analyze, and synthesize information and to effectively communicate are extremely useful, especially for careers in marketing and communications. Earnings data is sourced from the U. Department of Education's College Scorecard. OnlineU has over partner colleges that advertise on our site.

Search results include only our partner colleges, which are marked with the word "Ad. Northeastern University. Burlington MA. Learn More. School Type: Non-Profit. Credits Required: Average SAT Scores : - Undergrad Online Enrollment: Arizona State University. Tempe AZ and 4 others. Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission is a regional accreditation agency. Undergrad Online Enrollment: 33, University of Florida. Its students body represents all 50 states and more than 60 countries.

Learners also benefit from a ,member alumni network. NU offers over 75 degrees, including many online programs. Aspiring journalists can earn an online bachelor of arts in strategic communications with no in-person requirements.

This degree features Courses include communication research methods, strategic writing, interactive and mobile campaigns, and interactive storytelling.

Students also complete a communication program capstone. Online courses utilize four-week sessions. Distance learners access coursework through the Blackboard learning management system. CU emphasizes immersive learning and innovation. Students can choose from nearly 50 degrees. The university strives to accommodate diverse learning needs through online programs, including a hybrid bachelor's degree in journalism and media production.

This degree requires credits, including general education credits, 40 major credits, 18 minor credits, and elective credits. Classes include audio and visual production, TC studio production and lab, and writing for mass media. Participants also undertake a communication capstone and media practicum experience. Students access online coursework through the Blackboard learning management system.

Transfer students from accredited schools may apply. CU holds regional accreditation from the Higher Learning Commission. While traditional journalism is in decline, the need for competent, ethical journalism is as essential today as at any other time in the past. As journalism adapts to a modernizing digital media landscape, journalism programs have altered their programming to reflect this evolution, resulting in better-prepared graduates. Online bachelor's in journalism programs offer many concentrations, such as TV and radio reporting, international reporting, and investigative journalism.

Undergraduate journalism degrees traditionally require students to complete credits. While full-time learners can finish this degree in four years, part-time students often need longer. Additionally, students who complete general education requirements at other institutions can graduate more quickly. Journalism coursework covers topics like editorial writing, news reporting, and digital media. Students also learn about journalism ethics, history, and visual media.

Through an online format, students have the flexibility to navigate academic requirements while keeping up with personal and professional obligations. However, most programs cover similar core topics. This section highlights five courses that most schools offer. In this course, degree-seekers examine how oral, graphic, and electronic communications have evolved over time. Rather than a simple historical survey, this course challenges students to explore how communication methods alter the way people consume, use, and share information.

In this course, students explore how individual differences such as class, gender, and race influence both the consumption and dissemination of media. Students also examine the ethics related to responsible news coverage and construct their personal code of ethics. Both theoretical and practical in nature, this course explores ethical decision-making and teaches methods of navigating difficult ethical dilemmas.

Degree-seekers examine philosophical theories and learn how they can apply these theories to the workplace. Learners consider ethical issues in communication, news, and entertainment media. This course trains journalism students to become discerning consumers of news. Learners gain critical thinking skills alongside research and writing methods.

These skills help students find reliable information and disseminate it responsibly. Learners also study myriad historical examples of misinformation, the notion of objectivity, and modern media challenges around truth and fairness. Covering the theory and practice of news writing, this course places special emphasis on writing for newspapers and popular digital formats.

This class examines common newswriting structures, such as inverted pyramid, chronological, and The Wall Street Journal styles. Students also familiarize themselves with the AP Stylebook. Armed with writing and research skills, along with an understanding of the media landscape, graduates with a bachelor's in journalism degree can pursue many career opportunities in a variety of media and communications fields.

Common job titles include newspaper reporter, editor, and copywriter. Journalism graduates can also apply their skills to digital outlets, broadcast news organizations, and freelance writing positions. While traditional journalism careers have declined in recent years, journalistic and writing skills apply to many professions. Learn more about journalism careers here. Reporters inform the public about international, national, and local news.

Working for a variety of news outlets, reporters pitch ideas to editors; research stories and conduct interviews; and write articles for blogs, magazines, and newspapers. These news professionals develop relationships with experts, contacts, and other news professionals. These experienced professionals develop, review, and revise content for publication. In addition to editing copy for spelling and grammar issues, editors rewrite text for clarity and ensure that content meets the editorial and factual standards of their publication.

Editors also work with writers to develop stories while managing print space for text, photos, and advertisements. Some of the top choices are English for journalists, the story of fake news, making sense of the news, and global muckraking. Understand the landscape of journalism and its contours through case studies and interviews that Bob Woodward will walk you through.

In these 24 lessons, Bob will lay out the details of his personal experience as a journalist and how he scavenged for information, attesting facts, and sources that help to build a solid story. You will learn how to prepare for interviews and conduct the same to go on a factual basis. With techniques of writing and polishing stories, you will learn how to publish it and learn from the mistakes. Review: Become more confident in your pursuit of stories and get your facts straight without any political influence with the help of this course.

Develop profound stories that are research-intensive and polish and publish the same. This program tackles these questions along with other ones. The experts guide you through the ethical responsibilities and public duties of journalists, the correct ways to use facts and opinions to write quality articles and the techniques to avoid conflicts of interest.

By the end of the classes, you will have an edge over the competition. This school of journalism brings you an array of writing topics such as thriller writing, English for business , freelance feature, travel and sports writing, internet, news journalism, and media law. Here you will not only get programs for the role of a journalist but also other options to improve your writing and expression skills in various forms of media. In this certification, you will learn about the key principles and debates in journalism and enact the role of a journalist in the context of an escalating story.