Journalism (BA) – Electronic Journalism

4 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

University of Central Florida

Program Overview

The B.A. in Journalism – Electronic News at the University of Central Florida (UCF) prepares students to report, produce and present news for broadcast and digital environments, combining strong journalism ethics with hands-on training in electronic news gathering and production. It is an excellent fit for students who want careers as broadcast reporters, photographers, anchors, news producers or sports journalists and who want to build professional work across television, digital and multimedia platforms.

Curriculum Structure:

Year 1: Students establish their journalism foundation through courses such as JOU 2100 – News Writing, JOU 3015 – Principles of Journalism and MMC 2004 – Mass Media. These subjects develop accurate news writing, reporting fundamentals and an understanding of how mass media operates, while students complete the lower-level requirements needed before entering the limited-access major.

Year 2: Students deepen their understanding of journalism through JOU 3004 – History of American Journalism and MMC 3200 – Mass Communication Law, while developing the grammar and communication skills required for advanced journalism study. This stage also prepares students for the separate application to the Journalism major, which requires at least 30 completed credit hours and satisfaction of UCF's grammar proficiency requirement.

Year 3: After admission to the Electronic News track, students move into practical broadcast journalism with RTV 3301 – Electronic Journalism I, RTV 3304 – Electronic Journalism II and RTV 3321C – Electronic News Gathering. Students learn newswriting and newsgathering strategies and apply them to electronic news production, building the reporting and production skills expected in broadcast journalism.

Year 4: Students refine their professional abilities through advanced options such as RTV 4681C – Television News, RTV 3601C – Broadcast Announcing and Performance, RTV 4591C – Webcasting I and RTV 3553 – Audio Reporting & Podcasting. The Electronic News track culminates in RTV 4681C – Television News, allowing students to bring reporting, production and presentation skills together in a professional-style news environment.

Focus Areas:

Electronic journalism, broadcast news, television journalism, electronic news gathering, news writing, reporting, broadcast announcing, television news production, sports journalism, multimedia journalism, webcasting, audio reporting, podcasting, journalism ethics, mass communication law, digital media.

Learning Outcomes:

Students develop professional newswriting, reporting, interviewing, newsgathering, video and broadcast production, editing, visual storytelling, on-camera presentation, ethical decision-making, media-law awareness and the ability to produce accurate news content across electronic and digital platforms.

Professional Alignment (Accreditation):

The program follows the Society of Professional Journalists Code of Ethics, reinforcing professional standards in reporting and newsroom practice. UCF's Electronic News curriculum is designed around the skills used in broadcast journalism, including electronic newsgathering, television news, broadcast announcing and production.

Reputation (Employability / Recognition):

UCF's Nicholson School reports that the Journalism program was recognized among the best universities for journalism in 2025, highlighting its digital focus, media-industry relationships, internships and preparation for a changing journalism profession. UCF also emphasizes that Orlando is a Top 20 media market, giving students access to a strong professional media environment.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

Electronic Journalism at UCF is particularly practical because students work with broadcast-oriented equipment, a multimedia newsroom and student-produced news programming rather than learning journalism only through lectures. The program also encourages students to gain professional newsroom experience through internships and student media, while Knightly News gives broadcast journalism students a direct opportunity to participate in a weekly campus television newscast. The major practical opportunities include:

• Knightly News: Students in broadcast journalism participate in a weekly campus television newscast, with students making daily newsgathering and production decisions under instructor guidance.

• RTV 4681C – Television News: The Electronic News capstone gives students a professional-style broadcast news experience and connects reporting, production and presentation skills.

• RTV 3321C – Electronic News Gathering: Students plan, research, report, write and execute electronic news productions from concept through the finished product.

• Multimedia Newsroom: UCF's multimedia newsroom provides a learning laboratory with computer equipment and editing facilities designed specifically for students working on online and broadcast news products.

• HD Television Studio: The Nicholson School's studio has HD cameras and a digital switcher, allowing students to produce widescreen HD programming as part of coursework and projects.

• Broadcast Production Equipment: UCF's communication facilities include professional-oriented Panasonic HD equipment, including studio cameras and portable HD camcorders used for out-of-studio, new-media and interview work.

• Journalism Internships: Students can earn academic credit through approved internships, with UCF journalism students gaining newsroom experience at organizations such as Orlando Sentinel, Orlando Business Journal and WKMG-TV.

• NSCM Student Media: Students can contribute to publications and productions including Knightly News, NSCM Today, Knightly Latino and Centric, giving them opportunities to create, edit and publish real media content.

• Industry Interaction: UCF's Knightly News has hosted professional news producers from WFLA-TV/NBC Tampa, who have worked with students on newswriting, news judgment and professional newsroom practices.

• Professional Portfolio: Journalism students must complete a portfolio review before graduation, with at least 75% of the submitted work produced while at UCF, encouraging students to graduate with a substantial body of professional work.

Progression & Future Opportunities

The Electronic Journalism track prepares graduates for fast-moving careers in broadcast and multimedia news, where reporting, visual storytelling, production and on-camera communication are increasingly interconnected. UCF specifically identifies reporters, photographers, anchors, news producers and broadcast sports journalists as career directions for Electronic News students, while its career tools allow students and alumni to explore employment trends, salaries, employers and required skills.

Potential career options: Broadcast News Producer, Television Reporter, News Anchor, Multimedia Journalist

• Career Pathways Tool: The Nicholson School provides a career exploration platform showing job demand, employment trends, average annual earnings, top employers, required education and in-demand technical and transferable skills.

• Internship-to-Career Experience: Journalism internships provide professional newsroom experience and can be completed with organizations such as Orlando Sentinel, Orlando Business Journal and WKMG-TV.

• Media-Industry Connections: UCF highlights robust relationships with media-industry partners and describes Orlando as a Top 20 media market, creating a strong professional environment for aspiring journalists.

• University Career Preparation: UCF reported that students completed more than 28,000 internships, co-ops and service-learning experiences in the year referenced in its 2025 impact report, reflecting the university's broader emphasis on applied career preparation.

• Salary Perspective: UCF's economic-impact data reports that UCF bachelor's degree holders in Florida earn an average annual salary of $60,400; this is a university-wide figure rather than a Journalism-specific salary.

• Professional Portfolio: The required Journalism portfolio review helps students demonstrate their UCF-produced work to future employers and provides a professional showcase beyond the degree itself.

• Professional Standards: Following the Society of Professional Journalists Code of Ethics gives students a strong professional framework around accuracy, integrity and responsible journalism.

Further Academic Progression: Graduates can continue into advanced study in Communication and related media fields. UCF's Nicholson School offers a Communication M.A. designed for professionals and scholars and notes pathways into areas such as public relations, corporate communication, digital communication, strategic media management and doctoral study.