Journalism (BA)

Students attracted to Journalism are interested in becoming strong communicators and telling the stories of others. Ohio State’s hands-on curriculum gives students the opportunity to work in state-of-the-art classrooms and lab settings to perfect their writing, editing and multimedia skills.

Ohio State’s program in Public Affairs Journalism gives students that have a passion for investigating and disseminating news information the opportunity to work for The Lantern, an award-winning student media group, as early as their freshman year. The Lantern was recently named “Best Ohio Student Newspaper” by the Ohio Newspaper Association for the fifth year in a row.

Students leave the program as back pack journalists, having the ability to put together a story not only with written word, but with photo, audio, video and online content. Journalism majors are required to complete a news-based internship as well as a minor in a secondary content area so that they can develop a deeper knowledge of a subject area they hope to report on. The program addresses the changing landscape of journalism by pairing foundational print journalism skills with the ever-changing multimedia skill set needed by today's journalists.

Academic Advisors

Anne DeGirolamo

degirolamo.10@osu.edu
(614) 292-8444
3033 Derby Hall
154 N. Oval Mall

Lisa Jerele

jerele.2@osu.edu
(614) 292-8444
3033 Derby Hall
154 N. Oval Mall

Jen Scott

scott.1512@osu.edu
(614) 292-8444
3033 Derby Hall
154 N. Oval Mall

Matthew Ralph

ralph.34@osu.edu
(614) 292-8444
3033 Derby Hall
154 N. Oval Mall

Affiliated Departments & Centers

Associated Facilities

Degree Outcomes

Degree Outcomes

  • 100% of the students graduating with a degree in Public Affairs Journalism have completed at least 1 Internship experience. 50% of our students have completed 2 or more Internship experiences. 
  • Although Ohio State University is known for its size, the skills-based courses required by the Journalism program have enrollments of under 30 students.
  • Graduates of the Public Affairs Journalism program enter careers in writing, reporting, editing, producing and broadcasting in a variety of print and multimedia settings.
Lantern Newsroom

WHAT YOU'LL LEARN

WHAT YOU'LL LEARN

Public Affairs Journalism (PAJ) teaches you how to investigate and disseminate news. The multimedia focus prepares you to integrate this training with the multimedia skills necessary for packaging news stories with word, still photo, audio, and video. As a journalism student, you also are taught to consider the context in which you will practice the field, including an understanding of the social, legal, and ethical implications that all journalists encounter.

School of Communication Website More Journalism Courses

Students will prepare for a career in public affairs journalism in both traditional and emerging media. Students with a bachelor’s degree in journalism can seek employment with daily and weekly newspapers, magazines, and interactive information vendors (blogs, social media and multimedia). The undergraduate degree in journalism is also excellent preparation for further study in mass communication and fields such as law or public policy.

courses you might take:

COMM 3404: Media Law and Ethics

Ever wonder how the media decides to cover a story, or what happens when it crosses ethical or legal lines? This course takes an up-close look at the First Amendment and delves into the court cases that have helped to shape media law. Students also explore ethical theories and apply them to real-life situations to better understand the decisions that create news coverage.

COMM 4221: Enterprise Reporting in Diverse Communities

Reporting, interviewing, research, writing, video and audio production, blogging and social media all come together in this course, which allows students to spend an entire semester creating a capstone final project. All the skills learned throughout the journalism major classes are put to the test here, immersing with one diverse community and reporting its story in writing and various media forms, and showcasing as an interactive blog.

COMM 3226: Multimedia Journalism

Multimedia journalism, including relevant theories and practices, and hands-on instruction and experience creating an original news-oriented web site.

COMM 3597.02: Media and Terrorism

Focuses on the portrayal of terrorism in the media and on how terrorists use the media to influence public opinion.

100 Years of Journalism

The School of Communication celebrated two anniversaries in October: the 100th anniversary of the journalism program and the 20th anniversary of the merger of journalism and communication into the School of Communication.

“We know that our students will be working in professions that will require them to be flexible and experienced,” said Dan McDonald, director, School of Communication. “We have built, and continue to build, programs that equip them with the training and skills to harness the power of communication — how to understand audiences, shape messages and interact with individuals and technologies — as well as the power and influence of communication on society.”

The School of Communication is home to the new Lantern Media Group, a comprehensive multimedia news organization that also includes The Lantern, one of the best collegiate newspapers in the nation, a digital television station and various social media outlets.

Dan Caterinicchia and Dan McDonald

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Gerrick Kennedy

"The Public Affairs Journalism program taught me that the key to journalism is resourcefulness. Through a set of dedicated professors, I learned the reporting and writing tools necessary to thrive in a challenging curriculum that I was able to cater to my interests. Working at The Lantern enriched my experience and cultivated my skills, which ultimately prepared me to step into the real world of the ever-changing, fast-paced newsrooms of today." -Gerrick D. Kennedy, Staff writer, The Los Angeles Times

BEYOND THE CLASSROOM

Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ)

The Society of Professional Journalists student chapter at Ohio State has celebrated journalism for more than 100 years, building networks between students and professional journalists, exploring the ever-changing media landscape to foster understanding, and connecting students to the world of news. Check them out on Twitter @SPJOhioState.

SPJ

Lantern Media

Become part of Ohio State’s student voice by working with Lantern Media, the university’s award-winning student newspaper, broadcast station, website and app. Made up of The Lantern, Lantern TV and Lantern.com, Lantern Media features the news and stories students need to be informed and connected-made for students, by students. 

The Lantern

Internships

The School of Communication at Ohio State University actively encourages students to test what they learn in the classroom in real-world settings. Students are encouraged to explore internship experiences that will help augment their studies and provide valuable experience. Because communication is vital for all types of organizations, students are encouraged and coached through the process of developing internship opportunities that are best suited to their own interests.

Opportunities

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