Journalism

Journalism & broadcasting Overview

Our Journalism & Broadcasting program is a dynamic and comprehensive offering that opens doors to the exciting world of media. With a diverse array of courses covering broadcasting, mass media, writing and reporting, and newspaper production and management, our program equips you with the skills, knowledge, and experience needed to thrive in today's rapidly evolving media landscape. 

Success Resources

Winner of General Excellence awards from professional and collegiate journalism organizations the campus newspaper, SJCC Times, in print and online sjcctimes.com offers training and experience in the preparation of news in print and electronic formats.

If being a DJ is more your style, you may be interested in our broadcasting courses. The college radio station (www.live365.com, keyword KJCC) is home to many of our programs that cover sports, music, human interest, current events, and talk radio. 

Learn how to operate a radio console, provide play-by-play sports commentary or even host your own show one day! 

 City College Times Newspaper 

Students are trained in many facets of the newspaper industry, including reporting, editing, design, photojournalism, advertising, graphics, and production and publish a tabloid-size newspaper throughout the academic year. The newspaper is run by students and modeled on professional news organizations. Students are the writers, photographers, and editors. 

As part of the news staff you will focus on feature stories or “speak truth to power” when pursuing content about the most important issues facing the campus community. You might be at a sporting event one week then follow the work of student government the following week. The newspaper gives students unlimited access to almost any subject that interests them. 

Working for the SJCC Times has proven to be transformative for many students. It opens new avenues for advancement that go beyond journalism. It encourages professional etiquette, responsibility, critical thinking, writing skills and social skills. It’s a starting point for many who go on to careers in journalism, marketing, graphic design, art illustration, web management, television, public relations and many other fields.

Journalism students also enjoy the opportunity to attend regional and state journalism conferences in which professional journalists, many of the best in the business, share their knowledge. San Jose City College students have a long tradition of receiving awards and recognition for their journalistic accomplishments at these conferences.

Department Contacts

For more information contact Language Arts Office.

Journalism Student Learning Outcomes 

  • Describe the roles of the various mass media, including their operation and current issues
  • Practice news gathering strategies through interviews with live sources, database searches, review of other printed materials and exploration of Internet web sites
  • Recognize the legal and ethical issues and  responsibilities of the mass media
  • Practice time and resource management 

MORE JOURNALISM INFO 

Frequently asked questions (faq)

The Journalism program at SJCC provides students with comprehensive training in various facets of the media industry, including reporting, editing, design, photojournalism, advertising, graphics, and production. Students gain hands-on experience by publishing a tabloid-size newspaper throughout the academic year, modeled on professional news organizations. As part of the news staff, students focus on feature stories and cover significant issues facing the campus community.

SJCC offers an Associate in Arts for Transfer (AA-T) degree in Journalism. This degree prepares students for transfer to the California State University (CSU) system, focusing on areas such as news writing, reporting, and media production. It provides opportunities to pursue careers in journalism, broadcasting, and related fields.

The curriculum includes courses such as:

  • JOUR 001: Introduction to Journalism: Introduces students to the principles and practices of journalism, including news writing, reporting, and ethics.
  • JOUR 002: News Writing and Reporting: Focuses on developing skills in writing and reporting news stories for print and digital media.
  • JOUR 003: Media Production: Provides hands-on experience in producing content for various media platforms, including print, online, and broadcast.

Specific prerequisites may vary by course. It's recommended to consult the SJCC course catalog or speak with an academic advisor to determine any required prerequisites before enrolling.

Graduates are prepared for roles such as reporters, editors, photographers, graphic designers, videographers, web designers, advertising/sales personnel, culture reviewers/critics, and editors. The program provides a solid foundation for careers in journalism, broadcasting, and related fields.