Journalism Major
The journalism major prepares reporters to serve the public interest in the digital age armed with strong practical skills, a deep grounding in journalism history and ethics, and sharp critical thinking. By synthesizing theory and practice, our graduates will be ready to serve in our rapidly evolving media landscape. Classes are taught by a mix of full-time Fordham professors and media professionals from the New York area. Our faculty, who come from such organizations as The New York Times, CBS News, MTV, and Sports Illustrated, help our students by bringing real-world experience to the classroom, making sure our graduates are ready to compete in the job market.
The major moves students through introductory, intermediate, and advanced multimedia reporting classes to hone their skills and bring them to a professional level in reporting, writing, and creating digital content. Majors in journalism become grounded in the profession through one required course in ethics, and one course in the "social construction of journalism"—Media Law, Journalism History, or Sociology of News. Journalism majors are also required to take a course in social media to learn how to use such sites as Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for gathering and disseminating news.
Learning Outcomes
Upon graduation with a journalism major or minor, students will have achieved the following curricular goals:
- In terms of knowledge, students will develop a critically-informed understanding of journalism as a set of industries and institutions, a site of political and cultural contestation, a space of creative and critical production, and an evolving political and economic ecosystem.
- Be conversant in journalism history, and be able to connect those histories to current and emerging media forms and issues of pluralism.
- Be cognizant of the regulatory, economic, occupational, and legal parameters that frame journalistic practice.
- In terms of skills, students will serve the public good by reporting, writing and creating compelling journalism across media platforms.
- In terms of values, students will be aware of the ethical and moral challenges that journalists face, and the ways in which such challenges are addressed.
- Be sensitive to issues of diversity, equity and inclusion as reflected in the theory, practice, and history of journalism.
CIP Code
09.0401 - Journalism.
You can use the CIP code to learn more about career paths associated with this field of study and, for international students, possible post-graduation visa extensions. Learn more about CIP codes and other information resources.
The journalism (JOUR) major requires 11 courses.
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| COMM 1000 | Fundamentals of Communication and Media Studies 1 | 3 |
| JOUR 1702 | Introduction to Journalism | 4 |
| One Digital Production for Journalism course | 4 | |
| JOUR 2711 | Intermediate Multimedia Reporting 2 | 4 |
| One course in Journalism Ethics, Law, Policy, or History | 4 | |
| One course in Social Media | 4 | |
| Three courses in Intermediate/Advanced Journalism Reporting/Writing | 12 | |
| Two elective courses 3 | 8 | |
- 1
COMM 1010 Introduction to Communication and Media Studies may be substituted if taken prior to Spring 2017.
- 2
Students in the class of 2021 and earlier are exempt from this requirement, and may take an additional intermediate/advanced journalism course.
- 3
Any course with the JOUR subject code or the JOUR attribute code may fulfill this requirement.
Requirements for students who took JOUR 1701 in Spring 2021 or earlier
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| COMM 1000 | Fundamentals of Communication and Media Studies 1 | 3 |
| JOUR 1701 | Introduction to Multimedia Journalism With Lab | 4 |
| JOUR 2711 | Intermediate Multimedia Reporting 2 | 4 |
| One course in Journalism Ethics | 4 | |
| One course in Journalism Law, Policy, or History | 4 | |
| One course in Social Media | 4 | |
| Three courses in Intermediate/Advanced Journalism Reporting/Writing | 12 | |
| Two elective courses 3 | 8 | |
- 1
COMM 1010 Introduction to Communication and Media Studies may be substituted if taken prior to Spring 2017.
- 2
Students in the class of 2021 and earlier are exempt from this requirement, and may take an additional intermediate/advanced journalism course.
- 3
Any course with the JOUR subject code or the JOUR attribute code may fulfill this requirement.
Digital Production for Journalism
Courses in this group have the JDPR attribute.
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| DTEM 2421 | Digital Production for New Media | 4 |
| DTEM 2425 | Digital Video Production I for DTEM | 4 |
| FITV 2425 | Digital Video Production I for FITV | 4 |
Journalism Ethics
Courses in this group have the JETH attribute.
Ethical behavior is key to a successful career in journalism. These courses focus on ethical conduct in journalism or in media.
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| AAST 3280 | Representing Asians in Journalism and Media | 4 |
| COMC 3280 | Representing Asians in Journalism and Media | 4 |
| COMC 3370 | Ethical Issues in Media | 4 |
| COMC 4360 | Communication Ethics and the Public Sphere | 4 |
| COMC 4370 | Ethical Controversies in 21st Century Media | 4 |
| DTEM 4480 | Digital Media and Public Responsibility | 4 |
| JOUR 3740 | Ethics and Diversity in Journalism | 4 |
| JOUR 4750 | Values in the News | 4 |
| JOUR 4770 | Media Law and Journalism Ethics | 4 |
Journalism Law, Policy, or History
Courses in this group have the JPLH attribute.
A course on the social construction of journalism. These courses generally do not involve the production of journalism, but focus on the larger questions of journalism's role in society. They deepen understanding of the history of journalism, the conventions of journalism, and the effects of journalism on society. These courses may be drawn from journalism or media history, courses that focus on journalism or media law, or courses that are centered on the policy effects that result from journalism.
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| AAST 3280 | Representing Asians in Journalism and Media | 4 |
| COMC 3260 | Media Regulation | 4 |
| COMC 3280 | Representing Asians in Journalism and Media | 4 |
| COMC 3350 | Media Law | 4 |
| COMC 3378 | Media, Youth Culture, and Civic Discourse | 4 |
| COMC 4170 | Dissent and Disinformation | 4 |
| COMC 4340 | Freedom of Expression | 4 |
| DTEM 4430 | Digital Media Ethics | 4 |
| JOUR 1761 | The Power of News | 3 |
| JOUR 2723 | Explorations in Climate Storytelling | 4 |
| JOUR 3760 | The Journalist and the Law | 4 |
| JOUR 3763 | The Murrow Years: 1938-65 | 4 |
| JOUR 3769 | History of Television and Radio News | 4 |
| JOUR 4766 | Television News Innovators | 4 |
| JOUR 4767 | History of Women's Magazines | 4 |
| JOUR 4770 | Media Law and Journalism Ethics | 4 |
Social Media
Courses in this group have the JSME attribute.
A course in social media provides the understanding of the theory and practice of social media that is key for working journalists. This requirement can be fulfilled with a number of courses—including a specialized course in Social Media for Journalists (JOUR 3776) and other, more general courses on using social media to gather and disseminate information.
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| CMBU 4453 | Social Media | 3 |
| DTEM 2411 | Digital Research Methods | 4 |
| DTEM 3476 | Social Media | 4 |
| JOUR 3776 | Social Media for Journalists | 4 |
| NMDD 3308 | Professional Social Media | 4 |
Intermediate/Advanced Journalism Reporting/Writing
Any JOUR course numbered x71x or x72x (i.e., any course where the second two digits are 71 or 72) fulfills this requirement, in addition to any other course on this list. JOUR 1701 Introduction to Multimedia Journalism With Lab or JOUR 1702 Introduction to Journalism is a prerequisite for any course on this list. At least one 3000-level course must be completed prior to enrolling in a 4000-level course on this list.
Courses in this group have the JWRI attribute.
These courses are intermediate- and advanced-level hands-on courses where students expand their capabilities to produce compelling journalism beyond basic reporting skills. They may involve reporting in one medium like print—or they may involve multimedia production. The courses in this area include general reporting classes focusing on one medium (like audio reporting or video reporting) and also specialized reporting courses that address one specific subject area (like arts, theater, sports, or criminal justice reporting).
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| JOUR 2712 | Intermediate Print Reporting | 4 |
| JOUR 2714 | Radio and Audio Reporting | 4 |
| JOUR 2722 | Intermediate Feature Writing | 4 |
| JOUR 2723 | Explorations in Climate Storytelling | 4 |
| JOUR 2725 | Writing Workshop | 4 |
| JOUR 2735 | Video Journalism | 4 |
| JOUR 2786 | Sports Writing and Reporting | 4 |
| JOUR 2789 | Sports Broadcasting | 4 |
| JOUR 3712 | The Multimedia Newsroom Experience | 4 |
| JOUR 3715 | Writing for Broadcast News | 4 |
| JOUR 3718 | On-Air Reporting | 4 |
| JOUR 3719 | Data Journalism | 4 |
| JOUR 3723 | Interviews and Profiles | 4 |
| JOUR 3724 | First Person Journalism | 4 |
| JOUR 3727 | Writing for Magazines | 4 |
| JOUR 3728 | Special Reporting: In-Depth Reporting | 4 |
| JOUR 3731 | Criminal Justice Reporting | 4 |
| JOUR 3732 | Breaking News Reporting | 4 |
| JOUR 3781 | Arts and Culture Reporting | 4 |
| JOUR 3782 | Science Journalism | 4 |
| JOUR 3783 | Theater Journalism | 4 |
| JOUR 3785 | Writing for the Media | 4 |
| JOUR 3788 | International Reporting | 4 |
| JOUR 4711 | Advanced Multimedia Reporting | 4 |
| JOUR 4712 | The Advanced Multimedia Newsroom Experience | 4 |
| JOUR 4713 | Audio Reporting and Podcasting | 4 |
| JOUR 4727 | Advanced Magazine Article Writing | 4 |
| JOUR 4733 | Photojournalism | 4 |
| JOUR 4745 | Campus Journalism Practicum | 4 |
| JOUR 4747 | Reporting the Bronx | 4 |
| JOUR 4773 | Public Media | 4 |
| JOUR 4784 | Business Journalism | 4 |
Availability
The major in journalism is available at Fordham College at Rose Hill (FCRH) and Fordham College at Lincoln Center (FCLC). Students in Fordham's School of Professional and Continuing Studies may major in journalism only if they receive the approval of their advising dean and/or department, and their schedules are sufficiently flexible to permit them to take day courses at the Rose Hill or Lincoln Center campuses. Such students must provide the Communication and Media Studies Associate Chair at their home campus a statement confirming they are able to take day classes in order to fulfill their major requirements.
Fordham College at Rose Hill students: The requirements above are in addition to those of the Core Curriculum.
Fordham College at Lincoln Center students: The requirements above are in addition to those of the Core Curriculum.