Why Major in Journalism

Students who study journalism at UConn sharpen their research and critical thinking skills. They strengthen their writing and verbal communication skills and are emboldened to ask questions and challenge authority. A journalism education is an education in non-fiction storytelling, information literacy and civics. It helps students develop and use their individual voices in service to the public.

 

At UConn, journalism students don’t just theorize about how to research, interview, write, photograph, record audio and video, and edit. They are expected as part of their coursework to go out and practice these skills in the field, and produce news content that follows professional standards of accuracy and ethics. Diversity is a foundational element in all UConn Journalism courses.

We strongly recommend all our journalism majors pursue internships before they graduate. We also help our students to get their journalistic work professionally published by local, regional and national news organizations. All journalism majors produce a professional portfolio of their journalistic work through as part of their graduation requirements.

UConn Journalism is accredited by the Accrediting Council on Education in Journalism & Mass Communications. We are the only nationally accredited program in New England.

Students who aspire to contribute to democracy in the U.S. and around the world can do so by becoming journalists. Journalism skills are also life skills, transferable to any industry or situation. A double major in journalism complements any other discipline.

Transferrable Career Skills

A UConn Journalism education strongly supports these career competencies:

Communication

The ability to clearly and effectively exchange information, ideas, facts, and perspectives with persons inside and outside of an organization.

Critical Thinking

Being able to identify and respond to needs based on an understanding of situational and logical analysis of relevant information.

Equity and Inclusion

Demonstrating the awareness, knowledge, and skills required to engage and include people from different local and global cultures.

Professionalism

Recognize that work environments vary widely, demonstrate effective work habits, and act in the best interests of the broader community and workplace.

Teamwork

Build and maintain collaborative relationships to work effectively toward common goals, while valuing diverse perspectives and shared responsibilities.

Technology

The ability to understand and leverage current and emerging technologies ethically to enhance efficiencies, complete tasks, and accomplish goals.

Job titles of UConn Journalism alumni

UConn Journalism alumni are in demand. They are employed as journalists and editors. They work in production and other roles for media companies, as well as in adjacent communications careers and industries. Here is a sampling of UConn Journalism alumni job titles, as of April 2024:

Graphics/Multimedia Editor at The New York Times
Trending and Breaking News Reporter - USA TODAY
Director of Innovation & Growth at Grist
4pm 7pm and 11pm anchor at NBC New York
Deputy Director of News Talent Acquisition & Development for McClatchy
Photographer at FOX 61 News
News Producer, KTUU/KYES, Anchorage, Alaska
Senior Vice President of Content Strategy at Complex Media
Host and Creator of Complex's "Sneaker Shopping"
Assistant Editor at Newsday
Senior Reporter at HuffPost
Deputy Managing Editor for Investigations, The Post & Courier
Senior Writer and Communications Associate at Northeastern University
Policy Reporter at ABC News
Comms + Content at Expedia Group
Director of Athletic Communications at Manhattanville College
Teacher at Miss Porter's School
Content Specialist at DraftKings, Inc.
Television Producer at WBZ  Boston
Associate Producer at CBS Interactive
Red Sox Beat Writer for The Boston Herald
Director of MFA in Film, Television & Digital Media, University of Georgia
New London Bureau Chief at WFSB-TV
Executive Speechwriter, California Dept. of Justice
Radio Host at Fox Sports Radio
Corporate Communications Coordinator at JetBlue
Digital Customer Communications Manager at Eversource

Manager, Google Health at Google
Managing Editor at BroadwayWorld.com
Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia
Manager of Audience Engagement at The Connecticut Mirror
Host of 'The Wheelhouse' on Connecticut Public WNPR

 

Social Media Video Producer, TODAY at NBC News
Director of Public Relations at Community Change
Field Producer at CNBC
Reporter at The Wall Street Journal
Global Brand Experience & Events at Calvin Klein
Washington Correspondent, Telemundo
Editor at Lady Gaga’s Born This Way Foundation
Associate Producer at CBS Interactive
Feature producer at ESPN
Food Reporter at Hearst Connecticut Media Group
Communications Specialist, Eviction Lab at Princeton University
Press aide for Connecticut Senate Democrats
ESPN Social Media Specialist
Deputy Editor at The Ringer
Digital Producer, Streaming, CBS New York
Reporter at ProPublica
Senior Producer, ESPN
Reporter/Producer at MLB
Senior Manager, Influencer & Celebrity Partnerships at HelloFresh 
Associate Producer at Sesame Workshop
Multimedia Journalist at WFSB News
Sales Team Lead at TikTok
Senior Program Manager, Supplier Diversity & Product Sustainability, Nordstrom
Green Energy Reporter at Associated Press
Lead Producer at Miami Dolphins
Director of Communications for Senator Richard Blumenthal
Assignment Editor at Denver7 (ABC)
Deputy Director of Audience, NYT Opinion
Producer/Editor at NBC News
Senior Correspondent at Reuters Chile Bureau
Senior Manager, Social Media for Boston Celtics
Harvard Business School Digital Engagement Manager
Attorney at Massachusetts League of Community Health Centers
Senior Director of Corporate Communications, Travelers
Deputy Legislative Director at State of Connecticut - Office of the Governor

Cultural Fluency

Cultural fluency is a foundational element in all UConn Journalism courses. The UConn Journalism Department strongly encourages students to seek out assignment ideas and journalistic experiences that will help them hear, understand and tell the stories of people whose circumstances or backgrounds are unlike their own. Cultural fluency includes areas such as race, gender identity, ethnicity, native language, citizenship status, age, physical or mental or emotional challenges, educational level and political views, among others.