This accelerated program allows students who already have a university degree or a college diploma (minimum two years) to obtain a Journalism Post Diploma. While the online program provides students with an excellent way to study with the flexibility of not always having to be in a certain place at a certain time, the time requirements as outlined in the listing of courses will need to be considered before choosing the number of courses per semester. Based on the time available to commit to these studies, students may choose to study full-time (approximately an average of 23-25 hours per week during a Fall or Winter Semester) or part-time (approximately an average time as indicated by the hours/week for each course).
It is important to note that during the 7-week Intersession, students will benefit greatly from the required field placement of 4 weeks (35 hours/week) in a professional Journalism workplace setting. During Intersession, students can expect to spend approximately 8 hours weekly on JL 2120 Reporting and News Writing III.
This higher learning option allows students who already possess either a university degree or a college diploma to acquire the core journalism skills necessary to work as professional journalists while developing media skills that are transferable to other professions. The program nurtures their curiosity and enables them to tell stories across several platforms – text, video, audio, photojournalism and the Internet. Adapting to the new realities of journalism, students learn to use social and mobile media both to tell stories and to converse with an audience. Students will acquire real-world experience in the program, particularly through the field placement in a professional Journalism workplace setting.
It is highly recommended that those applying for this program be competent in English language usage and that they possess a general knowledge of current affairs.
OBJECTIVES
Upon successful completion of the program, graduates will be able to:
1. Discern newsworthy happenings in their communities and develop them into stories.
2. Tell stories across several platforms – text, video, audio, photography, websites, social media and mobile applications.
3. Perform the writing, research, video, audio and photography skills expected of modern multiplatform journalists.
4. Apply a discipline of verification in seeking and reporting the truth.
5. Provide the context of the news to their audiences.
6. Reflect in their work a deep understanding of the news media, its influence and their own responsibilities as a journalist.
7. Apply high ethical standards to their work.
8. Demonstrate a strong understanding of media law in their work.
9. Deliver high-quality journalism on deadline via different platforms within the 24-hour news cycle.
FUTURE OPPORTUNITIES
There are many diverse opportunities for graduates of the Journalism Post-Diploma program. Graduates may choose to become a broadcast journalist or may choose a profession as a freelancer, or graduates may become gainfully employed while working with television networks. Online journalism and print media are also options for gainful employment. Further to employment opportunities, graduates may also choose to further their studies towards degree-related opportunities at other post-secondary institutions.
ENTRANCE REQUIREMENTS
A university degree OR a minimum of a two-year college diploma from an institution recognized by College of the North Atlantic (OR a combination of other post-secondary work and industry experience acceptable to the college as an entrance requirement).
