Santa Clara University

Communication Department » Communication Department Academics » Journalism at Santa Clara

Journalism at Santa Clara

Journalism matters more today than ever before. As rapidly evolving technologies profoundly change the way people get information, journalists pursue stories around the world in new and creative ways. But the fundamentals of journalism — great writing, in-depth reporting, a strong ethical foundation, and the ability to think critically about the profession itself — remain essential to uncovering the truth and informing the public. That’s why the journalism program at Santa Clara University offers students in-depth courses in print, broadcast and digital media, as well as a comprehensive liberal arts education. Our goal: graduates who are both highly skilled journalists and thoughtful, responsible individuals.

Journalism Students Current Activities: About 35 members of the San Jose area ethnic media spent a day in December discussing journalism and developing their multimedia production skills in Santa Clara's Learning Commons MultiMedia Lab. Prof. Jonathan Fung helped the group explore new dimensions in video storytelling, while Knight Ridder/San Jose Mercury News Professor Sally Lehrman led a training session on journalism ethics and reporting in the context of ethnic and citizen journalism online. The event was co-sponsored by the Communication Department and New America Media, the nation's oldest and largest consortium of diaspora media, and funded by the Knight Foundation. Lehrman's students are collaborating with NAM and San Jose ethnic media to produce a hyperlocal online news hub called San Jose Beez.

Curriculum

Santa Clara offers a wide range of courses to help students develop the skills that will translate into jobs with newspapers, magazines, online media, and radio and television stations.

Journalism education at Santa Clara is integrated with the University’s Core, a rigorous liberal arts curriculum that all students complete. The Core seeks to create an environment that enables students to achieve intellectual excellence, live as responsible citizens, and create a more just and humane society.

In addition to the journalism-related courses, the Communication curriculum offers students a grounding in various research-oriented courses that can further inform their work: interpersonal theory, media and multicultural studies, and the impact of technology on communication.

Many students combine their journalism coursework with majors or minors in other disciplines such as political science, business or modern languages, adding another layer of expertise to their journalism education.

Journalism Courses

Introduction to Journalism
Advanced Journalism
Online Journalism
Television Journalism
Magazine Journalism
Multicultural Journalism
Special Topics in Journalism (Sportswriting, Environmental Journalism, Business Reporting)
Journalism Capstone
Visual Communication
Video Production I
Documentary Production
Video Capstone
Quantitative Research Methods
Qualitative Research Methods
History and Theory of News
Politics and Journalism
Communication Law and Responsibility
Communication Ethics
Global Media Industries
Public Relations and Corporate Communication
Journalism Practica (various)

The Santa Clara Newspaper

Student Media

Santa Clara’s award-winning student media offer the chance to gain practical experience and develop leadership skills while collaborating with faculty, staff and other students on stories that affect the campus and the community. The Center for Student Leadership works closely with the staffers who run The Santa Clara newspaper, The Redwood yearbook, and KSCU 103.3, the university’s FM radio station, offering training in management skills, financial management, and ethical decision making.

The results have been impressive. In the last decade, The Santa Clara has earned three Pacemaker Awards — the top honor for college papers — and been named a finalist seven times. Individual students have won the Associated Collegiate Press Story of the Year contest three times, with four other students placing in the top three. Student journalists broadcasting at KSCU have earned the College Media Advisors Diversity Award for their coverage, and individual students have been honored by the Society for Professional Journalists and Collegiate Broadcasters, Inc.

Contests

The annual High School Journalism Competition honors exceptional work by high school journalists covering news, features and sports. The Winners for the 2009 Contest are as follows:

Katie Garcia First Place News Category: "New Program Pays Graffiti Snitches" High School: Jefferson High School

Michael Remedios Honorable Mention News Category: "A Powertrip" High School: Sacred Heart Cathedral Preparatory

Ali Solon First Place Feature Category: "A Cinderella Story" High School: St. Margaret's Episcopal School

Katrina Ramos Honorable Mention Feature Category: "Isn't It Bromantic?" High School: Jefferson High School

Sandra Bernal First Place Sports Category: "Players Limp Off Field, Hang Up Cleats" High School: Jefferson High School.

Carlos Orellana Honorable Mention Sports Category: "Trading Pompoms for Football Pads" High School: Jefferson High School.

The deadline is May 20, 2010. Click for more information and entry form.

Internships

The Communication Department internship office is there to help when students want real-world experience in print, broadcast and online journalism. Students have interned at USA Today, the San Jose Mercury News, Houston Chronicle, Arizona Republic, and numerous other newspapers and magazines. Broadcast students have improved their skills at several local network affiliates, such as NBC-11 in San Jose, as well as WNET New York, KABC Los Angeles, KING Seattle, KNSD San Diego and CNN.