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200,000+
Alumni from our Global Campuses
Global internet communication has had a profound impact on the way news is delivered. However, methods of researching, acquiring and writing stories that provide accurate information remain the same. Webster University's Journalism degree programs teaches you to identify and evaluate potential news stories that will impact, inform and engage a defined audience. You'll learn how to tell a story based on an analysis of purpose, audience and available media, and how to maintain global context.
Webster Insider
Journalism students write and produce Webster Insider, a show focused on news and events around campus and the St. Louis area. Students in the Film, Television and Video Production program also work behind the scenes.
Learn from and Network with Industry Professionals
Webster’s award-winning faculty are working, professional journalists who practice in the field and instruct using the latest communication technology, techniques and guidelines. Their insight will help you perfect essential elements of reporting, writing and producing news and features for a variety of media, including print, broadcast and online. Journalism majors have access to mentors, including the J-school faculty and have the chance to network with professional alumni like William Broad, Pulitzer Prize-winning reporter for The New York Times.
You'll also get plenty of hands-on training working for the university's award-winning publications: The Journal, weekly campus newspaper; and The Ampersand, a biannual magazine, as well as the university radio station and television studios. Journalism students prepare a professional portfolio to use in job interviews.
Internships are available in production houses and studios, agencies, healthcare, sports entertainment, nonprofit organizations, educational environments, commercial studios, publications, radio, television, corporate settings and cultural institutions.
Making an Impact
“With my Webster degree, I will change the world by opening society’s eyes to the injustices we face. I intend to unify the world and create an environment of understanding.”
Jordyn Grimes, BA in Journalism, '24
Raymond J. Smith Annual Communications Scholarship recipient
16th in the Midwest
Webster University continues to be highly ranked on the U.S. News & World Report’s Best Colleges report, now listed as 16th in Midwest Regional Universities and included in four best-of categories. This year, the University's score rose to its highest level since the ranking system was established.
Curriculum details of Webster's Journalism programs
Required Courses
- MDST 1010 Media Foundations (3 hours)
- JOUR 1020 Introduction to Media Production for Journalists (3 hours)
- JOUR 1030 Fundamentals of Reporting (3 hours)
- JOUR 2110 Production Techniques (3 hours)
- JOUR 2140 Advanced Reporting (3 hours)
- MDST 2200 Ethics in the Media (3 hours)
- JOUR 2170 Multimedia News Editing (3 hours)
- MDST 2800 Media, Diversity and Society (3 hours)
- JOUR 3300 Newspaper Production Workshop (3 hours)
- JOUR 3600 Multimedia News Production (3 hours)
- MDST 3300 Media Law, Ethics & Policy (3 hours)
- JOUR 4700 Professional Development in Journalism (3 hours)
- MDST 4950 Internship* (3 hours)
or JOUR 4620 Senior Overview* (3 hours)
*Capstone Course
Additional Coursework (select 9 credit hours)
- COAP 2000 Introduction to Web Programming (3 hours)
- JOUR 2300 Journalism: Layout and Design (3 hours)
- JOUR 2850 Radio-TV News Reporting (3 hours)
- JOUR 3050 Sports Reporting (3 hours)
- JOUR 3060 Community Reporting (3 hours)
- JOUR 3080 Global Journalism (3 hours)
- JOUR 3090 Covering Global Conflicts (3 hours)
- JOUR 3130 Feature Writing (3 hours)
- JOUR 3750 Environmental Journalism and Communications (3 hours)
- JOUR 4170 Investigative Journalism (3 hours)
- JOUR 4390 Magazine Production (3 hours)
- FTVP 1000 Introduction to Film, Television, and Video Production (3 hours)
- INTM 1600 Introduction to Interactive Media (3 hours)
- PHOT 2500 Photojournalism (3 hours)
- PHOT 3190 Digital Photographic Imaging (3 hours)
Portfolio Review for Journalists
Seniors majoring in journalism must complete a portfolio review with a panel of faculty within the School of Communications after taking these classes:
- JOUR 1020 Introduction to Media Production for Journalists (3 hours)
- JOUR 1030 Fundamentals of Reporting (3 hours)
- JOUR 2110 Production Techniques (3 hours)
- JOUR 2140 Advanced Reporting (3 hours)
- JOUR 3300 Newspaper Production Workshop (3 hours)
Students' online digital portfolios are judged on both the quality and presentation of the material. Faculty members consider accuracy, creativity, content and technical expertise in the work presented, and the professionalism of delivery.
18 Credit Hours
Required Courses
- MDST 1010 Media Studies (3 hours)
- Additional credit hours of JOUR (15 hours)
Successful graduates of this 18-credit hour program will be able to demonstrate the elements of magazine production including writing articles suitable for a magazine, devising the overall content, assigning stories, editing, scheduling production and working with printers. They will also demonstrate aesthetically appealing magazine layout and design and photojournalism principles.
Required Courses (15 hours)
- JOUR 4390 Magazine Production (3 hours)
- MDST 2200 Ethics in the Media (3 hours)
- JOUR 2300 Journalism: Layout and Design (3 hours)
- JOUR 2170 Multimedia News Editing (3 hours)
- PHOT 3190 Digital Photographic Imaging (3 hours)
In addition, students must complete a minimum of 3 credit hours from among the following:
- INTM 1600 Introduction to Interactive Digital Media (3 hours)
- JOUR 1030 Fundamentals of Reporting (3 hours)
- JOUR 2140 Advanced Reporting (3 hours)
- JOUR 2360 History and Principles of American Journalism (3 hours)
- JOUR 2380 Free Expression and the First Amendment (3 hours)
- JOUR 3050 Sports Reporting (3 hours)
- JOUR 3060 Community Reporting (3 hours)
- JOUR 3080 Global Journalism (3 hours)
- JOUR 3130 Feature Writing (3 hours)
- JOUR 3150 Topics in Modern Media (1-3 hours)
- JOUR 3750 Environmental Journalism and Communications (3 hours)
- JOUR 4170 Investigative Journalism (3 hours)
- JOUR 4380 Magazine Journalism (3 hours)
- MDST 2800 Media, Diversity and Society (3 hours)
- MDST 3300 Media Law, Ethics & Policy (3 hours)
- PHOT 2500 Photojournalism (3 hours)
- PHOT 3120 Studio Photography and Lighting (3 hours)
The opportunity for international study at our campuses in Geneva, Switzerland; Vienna, Austria; Leiden, the Netherlands; and China, as well as short-term study abroad assignments. International campuses throughout the world provide a unique opportunity for students to learn about philosophies and economic structure of media in developed and underdeveloped countries.
Alumna Success
“Working so closely with the professors and having those resources available prepared me well to go into WOSC and do my job successfully.”
Haley Walter, BA in Journalism, '18
WOSC-TV in Charlotte, North Carolina; Mid-South Regional Emmy Recipient
Webster Journalism Graduate Wins Regional Emmy for Mental Health SeriesAlumni Success and Job Outlook
In addition to news organizations, corporations are increasingly hiring journalists to gain media exposure, create and execute branding communications, develop crisis communications and maintain blogs to accurately convey products and services they provide.
- Jobs for news analysts, reporters, and journalists are predicted to increase 6% through 2030. As of May 2021, the median annual wage for news analysts, reporters, and journalists was $48,370 (U.S. Bureau of Labor & Statistics).
- Jobs for editors are predicted to increase 5% through 2030. As of May 2021, the median annual wage for editors was $63,350 (U.S. Bureau of Labor & Statistics).
Sverdrup West Wing Remodeling
The west wing of Sverdrup will be rebuilt as a state-of-the-art media production and communication education facility, providing our students the most up-to-date and unique technology in the entire region.
Learn more about the Sverdrup renovations including plans, progress updates, room relocations, and more.
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