Journalism, BA

Northeastern's Journalism program places strong emphasis on learning by doing, with students developing reporting, writing, interviewing, visual storytelling, digital production, and multimedia skills. The university combines journalism coursework with its signature co-op program, global learning opportunities, student publications, and specialized media facilities so students can build a professional portfolio while studying.

• Journalism Co-op: Students can spend six months working full-time in professional environments, gaining real newsroom experience and building industry contacts; Northeastern's Journalism School strongly advises students to pursue co-op experience.

• Professional Co-op Partners: Journalism students have completed co-ops with organizations including the Boston Globe, Reebok, New Balance, CBS Television, NBC Universal Television, Boston Bruins, Boston.com, and 360 Public Relations.

• JRNL 2301 Visual Storytelling in Journalism: Students develop the ability to communicate news through visual storytelling, supporting the program's emphasis on photography, video, and multimedia journalism.

• JRNL 3610 Digital Storytelling and Social Media: Students learn to create and distribute journalism for digital and social platforms, directly addressing the changing way audiences consume news.

• JRNL 5314 Video News Reporting and Producing: Students gain advanced experience in video-based reporting and production as part of the upper-level Journalism curriculum.

• CAMD Media Studios: Students have access to two TV studios and a control room, along with 27 high-end workstations supporting Avid Media Composer, Adobe Creative Suite, and Final Cut Pro.

• Professional Field Equipment: The Media Studios provide HD camcorders, DSLR cameras, microphones, tripods, LED lighting kits, video monitors, and audio recorders for hands-on multimedia production.

• CAMD Media Center: The field-production equipment library includes professional cinema and photography cameras, Canon/Nikon/Sony lenses, Sound Devices and Zoom audio recorders, shotgun and lavalier microphones, LED lighting kits, DJI gimbals, sliders, and professional tripod systems.

• Green-Screen and Motion Capture Studio: Students can work with high-definition digital cameras in the green-screen facility, while the Media Studios also provide an 18-camera motion-capture system.

• Storybench: Northeastern's School of Journalism maintains Storybench, an online resource focused on data storytelling and digital journalism techniques, giving students exposure to emerging approaches to journalism.

• The Scope: Students can engage with The Scope, an online publication from the School of Journalism's Media Innovation Program that examines factors driving and explaining urban inequalities.

• Dialogue of Civilizations: Journalism students can spend several weeks abroad exploring topics such as global reporting and local Cuban culture, adding an international dimension to their journalism education.

• Journalism Organizations: Students can participate in organizations including the Asian American Journalists Association, National Association of Black Journalists, National Association of Hispanic Journalists, and Native American Journalists Association, connecting classroom learning with professional journalism communities.

Facilities and opportunities: CAMD Media Studios, CAMD Media Center, TV production studios, green-screen room, motion-capture system, recording facilities, field-production equipment, Storybench, The Scope, Journalism co-op, and Dialogue of Civilizations.

The Journalism, BA provides a broad professional foundation for graduates who want to work in news, digital media, broadcasting, public relations, documentary production, or other communication-intensive industries. Northeastern specifically identifies career possibilities such as reporter, public relations professional, multimedia specialist, documentary filmmaker, web producer, business professional, and lawyer, while the School of Journalism notes that graduates also enter government, business, law, teaching, advertising, and related communication fields.

Typical job roles: Journalist, News Reporter, Multimedia Journalist, Digital Content Producer

Students can strengthen their career progression through Northeastern's professional network and experience-focused resources:

• CAMD Co-op: Students receive support from co-op coordinators to evaluate career goals, develop résumés and digital portfolios, research employers, apply for positions through NU Works, and prepare for interviews and job offers.

• Major Industry Connections: Journalism students have access to professional opportunities with organizations such as the Boston Globe, CBS Television, NBC Universal Television, Boston.com, Boston Bruins, Reebok, New Balance, and 360 Public Relations.

• Career Outcomes: Northeastern reports that 96% of graduates are employed or in graduate school within nine months, while 82.6% are employed full-time in the university's current career-outcomes reporting.

• Major-Related Employment: 92% of full-time employed undergraduate graduates from the Class of 2025 reported jobs related to their major, providing a strong university-wide indicator of the value of Northeastern's experience-based model.

• Professional Experience: Northeastern's co-op model allows students to graduate with substantial workplace experience, professional references, and industry connections rather than relying only on classroom credentials.

• Long-Term Accreditation: Northeastern's continuing NECHE accreditation provides institution-level recognition for the degree, with the university's next comprehensive review scheduled for fall 2028.

• Graduation Outcomes: The School of Journalism reports that its graduates work for newspapers, magazines, radio and television stations, online publications, wire services, public relations departments, and advertising agencies, showing how the degree can support multiple career directions beyond traditional reporting.

• Professional Portfolio: Reporting, multimedia production, visual storytelling, digital journalism, co-op work, and student media opportunities allow students to graduate with tangible work samples that can strengthen applications for journalism and communication roles.

Further Academic Progression: After completing the BA, students can continue into graduate study in Journalism, Media Innovation and Data Communication, Media Advocacy, Communication Studies, Digital Media, Public Relations, or related fields. Northeastern's School of Journalism currently offers an MA in Journalism and an MS in Media Innovation and Data Communication, while the university's co-op and research environment also supports preparation for advanced professional and academic study.