BA Journalism

Investigate your world

Mercer University’s Journalism major gives you the avenue to investigate our world and document your findings with the stroke of a pen, camera lens, voice recorder, and more. You will dive into the world of journalism and discover the importance of gathering, interpreting, and disseminating the truth. You will bring truth to power, and by doing so, you will impact the community in which you live. Your passionate professors will teach you journalism ethics and skills that are needed to create a professional, respectable journalism portfolio. Your work, no matter the topic, helps keep America’s democratic system in place. Upon completion of the degree, you’ll be prepared to:

• Think and write critically
• Expose wrongs by creating truthful journalism pieces
• Implement rigorous research practices while uncovering the truth
• Communicate effectively and efficiently
• Seek a career in diverse fields

Practice what your professors preach

You will have a number of opportunities to strengthen your education experience when you take part in an internship or Mercer On Mission trip and dive into the Center for Collaborative Journalism. These opportunities will challenge you to put your newfound knowledge to the test and deliver effective journalism pieces.

Participate in our unique media collaborative

Mercer University’s own Center for Collaborative Journalism is a unique community media collaborative combining Mercer’s liberal arts-based Journalism and Media Studies programs with the professional expertise of:

• The (Macon) Telegraph, Georgia’s third-largest daily newspaper;
• Georgia Public Broadcasting, the third-largest public broadcaster in the country based on population reach;
• 13WMAZ, the most-watched television station in Central Georgia.

A model for others

The Center was launched in 2011 with nearly $6 million in grants from the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation and Peyton Anderson Foundation. In 2017, the Center received an additional $2 million grant from the Knight Foundation to expand opportunities for students and broaden its engagement efforts with the community. The collaborative seeks to transform a city that has remarkable inherent advantages in geography, higher education, and culture but weaknesses in attachment, openness, economic strength, and overall sense of community. This collaborative combines:

• The reach and award-winning journalists of The Telegraph, Georgia Public Broadcasting, and 13WMAZ;
• The journalistic innovation resulting from Mercer’s undergraduate Journalism program taught by faculty with strong practical journalism experience who employ a curriculum featuring a medical school-like clinical component;
• The energy and ambitions of many student journalists are attracted by the career advantages this program offers them; and
• A mission of steady engagement with community issues and how to resolve them. In past years, the collaboration has produced award-winning projects focused on the people of Macon, blight, pedestrian safety, and the re-segregation of public schools.

Mercer and its partners have created one of the largest journalism/community projects in the country and a model for higher education/media collaborations in other cities.

Designed for motivated students

The Journalism major unapologetically demands passion and relentless pursuit from its students. If you are curious, determined, and ready to shine a light on the truth, we want you to be a part of the Journalism program. You will be among 100 of Mercer’s best and brightest students, as we only allow 100 students into the program at a time to ensure quality education. In addition to excellent curriculum and hands-on opportunities, you will form lifelong relationships with classmates and professors, participate in real-world experiences, and graduate with a sharpened skillset that will set you apart from your competition.

About the major

Journalism majors will explore the flow of content across multiple media forms and platforms, including print and broadcast journalism, film, video, radio, television, and web- and mobile-based digital media. The Journalism program, in conjunction with the Center for Collaborative Journalism, focuses on meeting community news and information needs, gaining practical experience with guidance from working experts in the field, and incorporating subject matter expertise into journalistic work.

All Journalism courses with a required lab component are taught in the department’s Digital Media Lab using Apple Macintosh computers. Students who wish to use their own computers should purchase a Macintosh with our recommended software applications.

A Journalism major consists of 38 semester credit hours.

About the Minor

A minor in Journalism consists of 18 semester credit hours.

Departmental honors

To earn departmental honors in Journalism, a Journalism major must meet the following requirements:

• Maintain a minimum overall grade point average of 3.50
• Achieve a grade point average of 3.50 in the Journalism major
• Complete JMS 430 (Engagement Journalism)
• Submit a portfolio of journalistic work by March 15 of the senior year to be juried by journalism professors and working journalists. The portfolio must be judged “outstanding” to receive honors.

Strengthen your education

Your Journalism professors encourage you to take your educational experience beyond the classroom walls. It’s the best way to gain a glimpse into your future in journalism and find your true passion. An internship with our partners — or any organization of your choosing — will strengthen your skills and give you real-world experiences that will help you in your future career. The following are just a few of many incredible companies that our students have teamed up with to complete their internships:

• 13WMAZ
• Alabama Media Group
• Billy Penn
• Cape Community Newspapers in South Africa
• CNN
• Disney
• Georgia Public Broadcasting’s Macon Bureau
• NASA
• New York One (NY1)
• The Charlotte Observer
• The Chicago Tribune
• The Emmy’s Foundation
• The New Orleans Times-Picayune
• The Telegraph
• WMUB

Go abroad

Beyond your internship, we offer various study abroad and Mercer On Mission opportunities to practice what you’ve learned at Mercer University and apply it to real-world experiences.

The journalism program sends students every year to document a Mercer On Mission trip and shed light on important issues. When you return from your mission, you will take your findings and create a journalistic piece — either video or print — and show the community the results of your adventure. These experiences will sharpen and grow you as a student and person, improving your intellect on a wide variety of subjects.

Preparing you for future success

Upon graduation from Mercer University, you’ll have a professional portfolio to share with your potential employer. Because we’re dedicated to teaching you how to gather, interpret, and distribute information, we’re confident that you can pursue any career of your choosing, as these qualities are essential for all fields. Many of our Journalism students have accepted positions such as:

• Broadcast journalist
• Copywriter
• Editor
• Editorial assistant
• Journalist
• Market researcher
• Multimedia specialist
• Public relations specialist
• Publishing copy editor/proofreader
• Reporter
• Social media specialist
• Sports director
• Web content manager
• Writer

Many of our students have pursued higher-level education after graduating with a Journalism degree. You will be well equipped to pursue higher learning such as law school, medical school, and more. Your Journalism professor will gladly answer your questions and guide you toward the best graduate school for you.