Journalism
Ryan Eichberger, Rølvaag Memorial Library 504
eichbe1@stolaf.edu
Overview of Journalism Pre-Professional Area of Study
Coursework
Students should take at least one course in these two core areas. These courses are strongly recommended:
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Journalistic Theory and Method | ||
| Literary and Investigative Journalism | ||
| Journalism & Daily Newswriting | ||
| Landscapes of Mass Media, Technology, and Politics | ||
| Digital Rhetorics and New Media Literacies | ||
| The Media Landscape | ||
| Intro to Public History | ||
| Problems of Contemporary America | ||
| Media and Politics | ||
Students should choose additional classes from across the liberal arts, pursuing areas of knowledge and practice that interest them. The following courses emphasize skills and knowledge that support journalistic work, and are recommended:
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Nonfiction Writing | ||
| Global Food Writing | ||
| Creative Nonfiction Writing | ||
| Advanced Creative Nonfiction Writing | ||
| Topics in Writing | ||
| Photography, Audio, and Film Production | ||
| Photography | ||
| Film and Media Production | ||
| Advanced Film and Media Production | ||
| Sem: Digital Storytelling: Podcasting History | ||
| Oral History Seminar | ||
| Statistics and Data Science | ||
| Data Science 1 | ||
| Principles of Data Visualization | ||
| Data Science 2 | ||
Complementary Coursework
Additionally, students may want to take courses in areas of professional communication and business, which complement a career in journalism or public media:
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Organizational Storytelling | ||
| Topics in Rhetoric and Composition | ||
| Professional and Business Writing |
Beyond these options, further coursework is recommended in American and modern world history, contemporary sociology/anthropology, ethics, computer science, economics, and political science.
Preparing for a Career in Journalism and Media
Although Journalism is not a concentration or major, St. Olaf offers many relevant courses to help students prepare for a career in the field. This area of study prepares students to pursue careers in journalism, communications, and public media. To be competitive when applying for jobs or postgraduate programs in journalism and media, students should maintain a 3.2 GPA or better. They should use coursework, internships, and/or job opportunities to develop experience in the following skill/knowledge areas, which both prospective employers and graduate programs look for:
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Journalistic/media ethics
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The history of journalism as a profession
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Journalistic writing, including AP style and practices of copyediting
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Principles of storytelling and narrative
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Methods of interviewing and reporting
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Focused research ability, including skeptical and analytical thinking
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The use of databases and public records
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Digital communication theory and practice
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Essentials of data science and data visualization
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Practices of audio recording and photography
Employers and graduate programs generally seek candidates who are excellent writers and communicators, are interested in and informed about current events, and can work in fast-paced environments.
Students should also develop samples of excellent professional work to share with employers or graduate programs. These might be published articles, data visualizations, broadcasts, documentary film or photography, social media content, and similar. If possible, students should develop samples in more than one genre or form of media.
Options for First-year Experience
Any Writing & Rhetoric and/or First-year Seminar course can complement a career in journalism. Some course offerings may focus on topics that are foundational to journalistic work, like history, democracy, or modern media. Other courses may have topics that reflect common journalistic beats (or subject-matter areas in which a journalist specializes), such as arts and music, culture and identity, environment, or science and technology.
No matter the course you take, it will offer specific ideas for thinking about and making sense of the world, which can shape your identity as a student and prospective journalist or public communicator.
Jobs and Internships
Students who intend to develop journalism as a vocation should plan to pursue internships and jobs related to the field:
The Olaf Messenger is St. Olaf's independent student-run newspaper. It offers students opportunities to develop journalistic work in multiple beats, as well as to gain experience as copy editors, designers, section editors, and executives. Two or more semesters of employment with the Messenger also provides non-credit-bearing Ole Experience in Practice (OEP) credit. Contact Ryan Eichberger (eichbe1@stolaf.edu) for more information about requirements for earning OEP credit with the Messenger.
The Piper Center's Journalism internship, part of the Ole Career Launcher program, gives students hands-on experience planning and producing journalistic content, guided by expert practitioners in the field. The Piper Center also offers connections trips that put interested students into contact with professionals and organizations related to journalism.
Additional information can be found via the Piper Center's Internships page.
Students may also consider seeking opportunities with local publications and stations, depending on interest and availability.