10 reasons to be a UArizona major in
Journalism
1. Skills for life
Students learn to be journalists in any medium – newspapers, television, online or radio. Even if they don’t go into journalism, students graduate with excellent skills in writing, research, communication, data and multimedia, and are marketable in any career. Students leave armed with the tools of sound journalism: skepticism, integrity, empathy, a sense of fairness and the ability to organize a clear narrative.
2. Specialties
Journalism majors now have the option of earning specializations on their transcripts and diplomas in broadcast, global or digital journalism.
4. Small classes
Skills courses are a maximum of 19 students, and many are smaller. Professors work with students individually, providing them career advice and job leads. You are not a number.
5. Technology
Students learn how to use the latest video, audio, social media and other multimedia software and devices required by today’s employers. Students produced an award-winning project, Bordering110.com, using a 360-degree virtual reality camera, drone videography and sensors to compare the U.S.- Students can practice drone photography and prepare for FAA certification with Prof. Michael McKisson, second from right. (Photo by Chris Richards) Mexico and U.S.-Canada borders.
6. Hands-on experience
Students get real experience by reporting real news for classes, working for newspapers, TV and radio, and producing school publications in digital and print such as Arizona Sonora News, El Inde, Arizona Cat’s Eye and SciView. The school holds internship and career fairs each semester. Kim Newton, a photojournalism/multimedia professor, critiques a student’s portfolio. (Photo by Julianne Stanford)
3. Top-notch faculty
Our faculty worked in the trenches as professional journalists, an average of 18 years each. They traveled the world, won Pulitzers and worked at top news operations, including The New York Times. Professors and working professionals – not graduate students – teach our classes. They are leaders in freedom of information, global journalism and other fields. School Director Carol Schwalbe is a former editor at National Geographic in Washington, D.C.
7. Global journalism
The school is home to the Center for Border & Global Journalism, which lets students and professional journalists meet the challenges – and growing peril – of reporting across frontiers. Many of our professors reported around the world, particularly in the Middle East, Latin America and Southeast Asia. Students can go abroad with these professors in Costa Rica, Guatemala and Italy and take international reporting classes, including one that travels to the Mexican border led by Celeste González de Bustamante.
8. Broadcast journalism
Page Jones and Brandon Dawkins anchor the school’s television news show. (UA Journalism photo)
Through beginning television reporting and production and Arizona Cat’s Eye, students learn how to write, report, shoot, produce and edit hard news and feature stories for broadcast. The best stories of the semester air on the Cat’s Eye news show on Arizona Public Media (PBS 6).
9. Science journalism
We build on the UA’s excellence in research and science, allowing students to specialize in science and environmental journalism. Students produced a magazine and documentary examining the Reid Park Zoo and wildlife conservation, and worked on projects at Biosphere 2 and Mount Lemmon.
ü Earn a cumulative GPA of 2.5, including the semester when application is made for admission into the major. ü Take JOUR 105 and earn a C or better.
Academic adviser
• Paloma Boykin, Marshall Bldg. Room 325 • (520) 621-5712; boykin1@email.arizona.edu • Appointments: http://tinyurl.com/4yvbdpc
Learn more about us
Savannah Guthrie (‘93) interviews President Obama at the White House in 2013. (Photo courtesy of NBC)
10. Devoted alumni
Graduates such as NBC “Today” show co-anchor Savannah Guthrie, NBC sports commentator Dan Hicks and Los Angeles Times reporter Brittny Mejia reach out to students. Nearly two dozen alums have received, shared or contributed to a Pulitzer Prize, including Ryan Gabrielson (now with ProPublica) and Paul Giblin. Grads also help students connect with jobs and internships.
• Website: www.journalism.arizona.edu • Email: journal@email.arizona.edu • Phone: (520) 621-7556 • Facebook: www.facebook.com/uajschool • Twitter: www.twitter@uajschool • Youtube: tinyurl.com/uaj-youtube • News service: arizonasonoranewsservice.com • Publications: issuucom/michaelc76 • Center for Border & Global Journalism: borderjournalism.arizona.edu • Location: Marshall Building, Third Floor, 845 N. Park Ave. Southwest corner of Park Avenue and Second Street in Tucson.
Journalism requirements
ü Complete ENGL 101 and 102 with a B or better in each. Students placing into ENGL 109H can satisfy requisite in one semester.
ü Earn a C or better in MATH 105, 107, 109C, 112; or LING 123; or PHIL 110; or any higher-level math class you test into.
The Marshall Building, with the Catalina Mountains in the background, has been the school’s home since 2004.
Cover: Karen Lizarraga does an interview for the school magazine El Independiente. (Photo by Julianne Stanford)