*Not a baccalaureate degree program
The journalism certificate program at UB provides students with an educational foundation in writing and reporting for publication, emphasizing hands-on workshops and internships designed to help students enter the professional world.
The journalism certificate is not a baccalaureate degree program. It's designed to help students master the tools of journalism while offering the freedom to concentrate on a variety of knowledge areas - putting students on the right track to succeed in the professional media world.
The journalism certificate program provides students with a broad understanding of the history of media, an appreciation for the First Amendment and ethical issues in journalism, and practical training in critical thinking, reporting and writing. Our courses help students develop skills in analytical thinking and reading, and in interviewing, reporting, writing and editing. These skills will prepare them for success as working journalists but also in numerous other professions, as socially engaged media producers and consumers. More specifically, the program encourages students to contextualize information by questioning the sources and potential biases of local, national and international news. The program fosters curiosity and encourages students to be active, civic-minded citizens.
Journalism program classes are capped at 25-35 students and almost all occur in intimate, seminar format. Classes are interactive and require students to speak often and to make presentations in front of the class. Several courses involve multimedia elements and require students to check out equipment from the DMS department or from the UB Libraries. Students will spend significant time outside of class finding and interviewing sources and creating publishable journalism.
Journalism courses occur in technology-equipped classrooms, but much of the student work occurs on campus and in the community. Students must take a Media Studies course and do the accompanying lab work.
Faculty from the Departments of English, Communication, and Media Study and professional reporters and editors of local media teach courses for the Journalism Certificate. The director of the program is Jody Kleinberg Biehl.
Please visit the Journalism department website for additional information about our faculty.
Job growth is continues as online newspapers, magazines, and social media sites. Talented writers who can handle highly specialized scientific or technical subjects have an advantage. The number of job openings in the newspaper and broadcasting industries is sensitive to economic ups and downs, because these industries depend on advertising revenue.
News analysts, reporters, and correspondents held about 35,000 jobs in 2016. About 4,100 news analysts, reporters, and correspondents were self-employed.
Career Choices
Career opportunities in journalism include: reporter, editor, web editor, copyeditor, layout/design specialist, photographer, videographer, columnist, freelance writer, broadcast or radio journalist, social media editor, and many others. Today, journalists perform many functions and reporters often photograph and shoot video for their own stories.
Salary Information
Salaries in journalism fields vary widely by the media type, outlet and location. Salaries range from the $30,000 (for a cub reporter at a small newspaper) to seven figures.
Career Hints
Experience on school newspapers or broadcasting stations and internships with news organizations are useful, as are computer graphics and desktop publishing skills.
Knowledge of news photography can also be valuable for entry-level positions.
Large-city newspapers and stations also may prefer candidates with degrees in subject-matter specialties such as economics, political science, or business.
Employers report that practical experience is the most important part of education and training.
Post-Undergraduate Opportunities
Eligible students who complete the certificate, in addition to a bachelor's degree at UB, will have the opportunity to apply to the graduate programs in English, Communication, and Media Study, as well as to any other graduate program available at UB or elsewhere. The UB Journalism Program has had great success placing students at competitive journalism graduate programs and in entry-level journalism internships and jobs.
Additional Resources
Editor and Publisher Magazine
The Society of Professional Journalists
Additional information can be found on Journalismjobs.com
The program director, Jody Kleinberg Biehl, advises all journalism students and holds weekly office hours.
Students interested in the Journalism Certificate Program should seek advisement on course selection from Jody Kleinberg Biehl.
