JournalismBS
Program starts in the fall. See deadlines.
Start reporting from day one. At Emerson, you’ll cover Boston stories, write for our online publications and broadcasts, and build the digital, multimedia, and editorial skills today’s newsrooms demand.
At a Glance
- Learn from faculty who are professional journalists and scholars, starting on day one - Write for The Berkeley Beacon and The Independent Magazine, broadcast news from WEBN, and produce documentaries
- Cover beats ranging from politics and public affairs to climate and culture, and law and ethics to music and sports
- Build connections and intern at major news networks in Boston, a top-10 media market in the US
- Build your portfolio by choosing a senior capstone project in broadcast news, independent journalism, or a multimedia production
Tell the Story Where It Happens
Journalism at Emerson is for students who want to become extraordinary storytellers. Engaged, curious students who want to seek truth and set the story straight on what’s happening in the world around them. Housed in the Journalism Department, you’ll study the foundations of journalism, how to find and convey the many sides of a story, and the technical skills required in a digital-first media landscape.
The program begins by teaching the foundations of print-based and multimedia journalism, as well as reporting in the fields of community news and public affairs. From there, you’ll move to more specific areas, learning the intricacies and nuances of reporting on topics like immigration, cultural critique, diversity, global affairs, and more.
Students will then go in-depth on their chosen area of focus, such as digital news media, TV news reporting, long-form storytelling, and multimedia story production.
In your senior year, you’ll choose a capstone project in the fields of broadcast, independent/freelance, or multimedia journalism. These capstone projects are the culmination of your time in the undergraduate Journalism program, and place you directly in the role of a working journalist. You’ll graduate with the ability to tell stories that matter, and leave Emerson with a portfolio of work that you’re proud of.
Learn From the Best
Work with and learn from award-winning reporters, producers, and storytellers who will push you to keep digging. Small class sizes mean your professors know your work, challenge your ideas, and help sharpen your voice.
Whether you’re covering Boston news, US politics, sports, medicine, tech, or the stories no one else is telling yet, you’ll have the freedom to report deeply, ask better questions, and create work that makes a difference. This is hands-on journalism built for the way news moves: fast, digital, collaborative, and always evolving.
Tools of the Trade
Journalism Production Center
The Journalism Production Center (JPC) is where ideas are turned into stories. Report, produce, edit, and publish using professional-grade tools built for the digital-first media world. Robotic broadcast cameras, Ross production systems, livestreaming setups, industry-standard editing software, and real-time news wire services and more, all at your fingertips. From reporting live on the scene with portable live units, to making final edits on Adobe Creative Cloud and Final Cut Pro, the JPC is built for students who want to tell stories at the speed the industry demands.
Tied directly to the undergraduate Journalism curriculum, the JPC gives students hands-on experience across every stage of the storytelling process, from the first interview to the final product. Student productions and co-curricular projects are always in motion here
Become a Source of Truth
Journalists are the truthtellers of their communities. Produce documentaries and multimedia projects covering topics that matter, like healthcare and climate reporting, fashion, music, and local culture. Launch a podcast about current affairs in the Boston community. Spotlight local restaurants making buzz, or musical acts waiting to be discovered. Follow the idea you can’t stop thinking about, and turn it into work people actually want to watch, read, and hear.
Going to school in one of the country’s top media markets, your classroom extends far beyond campus. You can intern at major newsrooms and stations like The Boston Globe, WBUR, WCVB-TV, WBZ-TV, and WHDH-TV, or you can explore opportunities closer to where you live, all with support from Emerson’s dedicated internship coordinator.
Learn From Industry Leaders
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Apply to Emerson
On any given day, you’re creating something. You’re writing, performing, filming, designing, or building an idea from the ground up. Whatever it is, you care deeply about the work, and you want to see where it can take you.
Our Undergraduate Admission team is here to find the path that fits your goals, answer your questions, and prepare you for a life in the ever-evolving communication and arts industries. Learn more about applying to Emerson on our Application Process page.