Journalism

Graduate Coordinator: Mitch Diamantopoulos, PhD

Faculty Listing

Admission to this program has been temporarily suspended until Winter 2024 (202410).

School Description

The School of Journalism features state-of-the-art facilities, including hands-on access to a wide variety of media production and computing resources, including HD video cameras, DSLRs, professional lighting gear and a variety of digital audio recorders and microphones. We use Adobe Cloud applications for editing. We also offer fully equipped television and radio studios. Industry standard print production training integrates both established and current trends in online publication. School programs emphasize critical thinking, investigative methods, professional and social responsibility and mastery of the full range of contemporary journalistic skills for both daily and long-form journalism. We achieve these objectives through a balanced mix of classroom and studio instruction. Small class sizes ensure one-on-one coaching and mentoring from experienced faculty. A nationally recognized pillar of the Regina undergraduate program, internships at media outlets across Canada provide a well-rounded, work-ready education. Students build portfolios of their work through school publications such as The Crow, Ink and Ink Online and screen selected works at public showcases and in film festivals. The School is committed to the liberal arts tradition, encourages campus-community engagement and is deeply rooted in journalism's democratic mission. The School has particular strengths in daily news, long-form, international, Indigenous and alternative journalism.

Program Description

The School offers two graduate-level streams of instruction. The Master of Journalism (MJ) program is a professionally- focused, project-based program.

On a special case only basis a Master of Arts in Journalism (MAJ) provides a thesis-based opportunity to explore issues in the field of media, journalism and communication studies.

Master of Journalism (MJ)

The professional Master's option in Journalism is a 30 credit program to be completed over three semesters. It is not an academic track degree; rather it is designed to develop students' capacity for advanced journalistic investigation. Candidates will take a suite of core courses in the theory, history and methods of journalism as well as two advanced specialization options (in multimedia, print, magazine, broadcast, documentary, international media, alternative media or photojournalism). An outside elective will draw on the resources of other departments and programs and will be related to students' professional capstone projects. Your professional Master’s project will be completed under the supervision of an assigned faculty member. Students will follow a rigorous and methodical process of research planning and investigation to produce journalism of publication / broadcast quality. Proposals must meaningfully advance the public interest.  Students will also participate in a Master's workshop, as they move from the conceptualization and investigation phases to the project production phase.

Admission

Applicants must satisfy the admission requirements of the Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research with the following additions (where applicable):

1. Program Entry Options
Bridging Option
Those with neither an undergraduate degree in journalism nor professional experience, but who hold an undergraduate degree in another discipline must apply as undergraduate Bridging students to the school's after degree Bachelor of Journalism program to complete a select list of core undergraduate journalism courses, with a minimum 70 per cent average, before applying for the master’s programs. Applicants pursuing this option are normally expected to hold a four-year undergraduate degree. Please contact the School of Journalism for further information on how to apply as a Bridging Student.

Students admitted to the Bachelor of Journalism as Bridging students must successfully complete all requirements below before applying for admission and enrolling in the Master of Journalism (MJ).

*Prerequisite: Satisfactory completion of JRN 300, 301, 302, 303 and 304.

Direct Entry Option
Those with an undergraduate degree in Journalism and at least three (3) years of professional experience in the journalism industry OR those with an undergraduate degree in another discipline with at least three (3) years of professional experience in the journalism industry will be considered for the one-year intensive graduate program. Applicants pursuing this option are normally expected to hold a four-year undergraduate degree.

Continuing Studies Option
Recent graduates of a journalism Bachelor’s program are encouraged to pursue at least three (3) years in the field of journalism before applying to the MJ program. However, graduating students who have a strong record of field experience before and/or during their academic careers—for example, through a combination of paid fulltime journalism internships; paid freelancing or journalism employment; and/or extensive involvement in community media or the student press—or who have major projects in development as a result of their undergraduate work, will be considered for admission under this option on a case-by-case basis, provided they meet the minimum requirements as set by FGSR.

Mid-Career Option
The mid-career admission option is designed for those applicants who have substantive professional experience as working journalists. In rare cases applicants with relevant professional experience but whose academic standing does not meet the minimum requirement as set by FGSR will have their applications considered for this admission option on a case-by-case basis. If approved, the acceptance will be probationary for the first semester, based on maintaining an overall GPA of 75% and no grade less than 70 percent.

2. Required Supplementary Materials
The following items are to be included in a single document emailed to the Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research.

A. Entrance Option
State which entrance option you are pursuing: Direct Entry, Continuing Studies or Mid-Career. It is strongly recommended you contact the School of Journalism Graduate Studies Coordinator to confirm you have selected the appropriate category. Bridging Option applicants must apply to Undergraduate admissions – please contact the School of Journalism for further instructions.

B. Letter of Intent
An approx. 300-word statement that summarizes your background and explains clearly why you wish to pursue a Master of Journalism degree at the University of Regina.

C. Project Proposal
The MJ is NOT a thesis-based program. Instead, students are expected to produce a major professional project of public interest journalism, such as a broadcast documentary, a series of feature articles, a photojournalism exhibit, a multi-media undertaking, or a community-based media project. Thesis-based research proposals will NOT be reviewed by the School of Journalism’s entrance committee. Applicants should be aware that the School of Journalism is focused on journalism, and does not offer a program of communications studies or public relations studies. Applicants are strongly advised to contact the School of Journalism Graduate Studies Coordinator before preparing their professional project proposal. The project proposal must follow this outline:
1. Topic Statement (approx. 100 words): A description of your inquiry, and why it matters.
2. Methods (approx. 200 words): What medium/media you intend to use, and why. How you will approach the topic.
3. Background (600-800 words): A more detailed explanation of the proposed project.
4. Statement of Ability (approx. 200 words): A description of the skills, knowledge and life experience you bring to the project. Why are you uniquely positioned to undertake this work?

D. C.V. and Professional Portfolio
Applicants must submit a C.V. and a portfolio of published works of journalism. Admissible materials may include any or all of the following: a web link to your broadcast demo reel; a link to a multi-media or web-based journalism project; electronic copies and/or web links to published articles or book chapters (6 max.); links to individual broadcast pieces (6 max.); a link to an online photojournalism gallery; a final report and/or link to a community media project you facilitated. Portfolio material must be web-based or, in the case of print articles, can be placed together in a single PDF or similar electronic file format. DVDs and memory sticks will not be accepted. Material must be English-language or translated to English.

3. Entrance Interview: (Direct Entry and Mid-Career Options)
Following a review of the application package, qualifying Direct Entry and Mid-Career applicants will be contacted to schedule an entrance interview (in person or by electronic means) with members of the School of Journalism Graduate Studies Committee. Students who have already successfully completed interviews as part of the School of Journalism’s Bridging and/or Undergraduate program entrance requirements will not be required to be interviewed.

4. English Language Proficiency
Mastery of the primary language of communication is essential to effective journalism practice. The School of Journalism’s language of instruction is English, and only English-language assignments are accepted. Students who fail to demonstrate superior written and spoken English language proficiency in submitted written materials and/or during an entrance interview will not be recommended as fully qualified students.

Students who are not native English speakers, must submit proof of English proficiency in the form of a recognized test, unless they attended a university recognized by the University of Regina and where the language of instruction was English. Minimum language proficiency requirements of the Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research have to be met.

Application Deadlines Here

Master's Professional Project
Guidelines & Deadlines - please refer to the School of Journalism

The Master's professional project (JRN 902) is a final test of the student's ability as a practicing journalist.  It is intended to demonstrate the student's ability to plan, conduct and sustain in-depth research over a period of several months, the ability to gather and organize a large amount of material, and the capacity to present that material in a clear, accessible, professional format that potentially benefits the public.  Students will gain the opportunity to think beyond daily deadlines and practice the craft at its highest level.

The independent project work is conducted under the supervision of an accredited FGSR full-time faculty member in the School of Journalism. The final project should reflect high quality public interest journalism.  It should be completed to a standard that is ready for publishing and/or broadcasting, and be accompanied by a bibliography of sources consulted and a list of contacts made.  In the case of a community project, the final report shall include participant evaluation, with any materials produced in the course of the project attached.

Degree Requirements

*Please note the elective course may be taken in any of the three semesters.

Courses

JRN 799 Journalism Ethics and Professional Standards Review (0)
This online course tests students’ understanding of ethical/legal standards in Canadian journalism. Topics include plagiarism, libel, information rights, publication bans, ethical interviewing, Indigenous protocols, protection of sources, use of images, due diligence, and other foundational standards of practice in a Canadian context. Successful completion is required in the first semester of program.
Prerequisites: Full or provisional acceptance into the Master of Journalism program.

JRN 800 Research Methods in Journalism (3)
This class is designed to explore different research approaches useful for graduate journalism students. Students will get acquainted with qualitative, quantitative and applied journalistic methods, and will work toward developing a project proposal.

JRN 801 (401) Advanced News Writing (3)
This course focuses on in-depth reporting of news and feature writing. Students will also write opinion pieces and pursue topics of interest while monitoring media coverage of current affairs.
*Note: Students may receive credit for one of JRN 801 and JRN 401.*

JRN 802 (402) Digital Radio News Journalism (3)
Advanced study and practice in digital radio news. Students are expected to bring an analytical approach to the course through preparing research reports and will produce radio shows for CJTR, current affairs long stories, and podcast episodes.
*Note: Students may receive credit for one of JRN 802 and JRN 402.*

JRN 810 Advanced Journalism Histor: The Western tradition and Canadian Experience (3)
This course investigates the historic evolution and importance of mass communications and journalism in democratic life. It focuses on the Western tradition and Canadian context. Readings and lectures focus on the contradictory historic role of journalism and media institutions as agents of social change and social control.

JRN 811 (411) Documentary Theory and Production (3)
Explore the human condition through telling creative, in-depth and compelling stories as a means for social change. You will produce a substantive documentary experimenting with multiple forms of media, form, content and personal points of view. Your project will be supported by studies in documentary history, ethics and theory.
*Note: Students may receive credit for one of JRN 811 and JRN 411.*

JRN 812 (312) Photojournalism (3)
A detailed examination of the photojournalist’s role in the news gathering process. A focus on communicating through digital imagery and the power of visual storytelling, with an emphasis on practical techniques and ethical image editing.
*Note: Students may receive credit for one of JRN 812 and JRN 312.*

JRN 813 (413) Magazine and Literary Journalism (3)
An intensive writing seminar/workshop with a focus on developing the creative voice and applying literary conventions to journalistic writing while maintaining accuracy and meeting deadlines. A detailed examination of the roots of New Journalism, creative non-fiction, literary journalism, self-directed journalism and the freelance environment.
*Note: Students may receive credit for one of JRN 813 and JRN 413.*

JRN 815 (415) International Media (3)
Graduate students will study the role of media in the processes of globalization and development, with a focus on learning journalistic skills and practices accepted in and by the media of different countries, issues in the media outside of Canada, and communication in an international context.
Note: Students may receive credit for one of JRN 815 and JRN 415.

JRN 818 Master's Workshop on Journalism Projects (3)
Students will circulate and present the advanced journalism project proposals they finalized in the fall term.  Each weekly workshop will focus on one or two projects and will be conducted under the supervision of the presenting student's faculty supervisor(s).  All school faculty and students will be encouraged to attend and participate.

JRN 819 (419) Alternative and Community Journalism (3)
An examination of the emergence of independent journalism within the context of global media, with a focus on the connection to social movements and social change. Emphasis on alternative and community media in theory and practice, with hands-on learning experiences provided.
*Note: Students may receive credit for one of JRN 819 and JRN 419.*

JRN 880 Advanced Journalism Theory: Key Perspectives in Journalism, Media, and Cultural Studies (3)
This seminar explores the paradigms, theorists and key concepts that form journalism's philosophical foundations. It examines professional principles and draws from fields such as the sociology of journalism, political economy of media and media-cultural studies to strengthen professional practice and newsroom leadership.

JRN 881AA-ZZ Selected Topics (3)
Courses designed to address selected topics in journalism.

JRN 882 Indigenous People and The Press (3)
This course investigates the fairness, accuracy and inclusion of Indigenous representations in the media. Topics range from under-representation and under-reporting of Indigenous issues, media cultural imperialism, negative stereotypes, and reporting challenges and alternatives.
*Note: Students may receive credit for one of JRN 882, JRN 482, or JRN 480AB.*

JRN 901 Thesis (3-18) 
Thesis ressearch on journalism topics.

JRN 902 Professional Project (9)
In consultation with a supervisor, students will complete a substantial work of public affairs journalism that will advance journalism practice. Projects are carried out with the intention of publishing, broadcast, or other forms of public dissemination and must adhere to professional standards and ethics.