Journalism

Journalism believes that a Free Press embodied in the First Amendment of the Constitution is the cornerstone of democracy. In the words of Thomas Jefferson, “Our liberty depends on the freedom of the press, and that cannot be limited without being lost.” Ethical journalism is an extension of a Free Press. The Journalism program subscribes to the principles embodied in the Society of Professional Journalists’ Code of Ethics. The Journalism program believes that “public enlightenment is the forerunner of justice and the foundation of democracy” and that “ethical journalism strives to ensure the free exchange of information that is accurate, fair and thorough.”

In that vein, the Journalism program teaches students to report and write clearly about news of public importance in different styles and mediums, including via online media — such as on websites and mobile apps — as well as through traditional print and broadcast channels. During these training processes, students develop professional-level abilities to think critically and to gather, analyze, and organize information in the belief that an informed public is critical to a healthy democracy.