Program Overview
STUDENT CURRENT WORK
Stories included are published and produced during the academic year
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REAL-WORLD EXPERIENCE
USC Annenberg trains journalists to produce content across media formats. This convergence curriculum allows you to think of your stories as works of journalism that can be distributed -- and have real-world impact -- outside the classroom. The intent is for you to graduate with completed work products that reflect your newly acquired sensibilities and expertise and with skills that advance your long-term professional goals.
While in graduate studies, your work will appear across Annenberg’s various media outlets, including coLAb, Annenberg TV News, Annenberg Radio News, the newsmagazine Impact, and NeonTommy.com, one of the many online outlets of Annenberg Digital News. Go to Other Related Programs for a complete list of Annenberg's media outlets, centers, initiatives, fellowships and other live events where students have the opportunity to become involved.
ENTREPRENEURIAL FOCUS
The evolution of journalism has made one thing clear: the successful journalists of the future will define strategies to lead and define new opportunities. To enhance your imagination, both specialized journalism degree programs feature interaction with today's journalism innovators, including field trips and a speaker series with leading journalists, scholars and policy makers.
This high-level engagement is supplemented by a consistent curriculum focus on media economics and entrepreneurship, including seminars specifically dedicated to financial literacy. You will have opportunities to explore the latest journalism research and professional practice through USC Annenberg's research centers and professional education programs. Whether the subject is the latest trends in internet usage, the newest forms of online journalism, the impact of globalization on the media or developments in communication law and policy, you will think about and develop answers to the most probing questions of the day.
Students interested in entrepreneurship and pursuing experimental journalism ideas can participate in the Annenberg Innovation Lab. The Innovation Lab is a vehicle for an ongoing knowledge exchange with public institutions and private sector firms that are on the front lines of technological change in communications. In consultation with a consortium of sponsors the Lab develops projects designed for practical application and social impact, and it offers its sponsors the opportunity to bring those projects to market. It also hosts ongoing dialogues that bring together students, executives, artists, entrepreneurs, scholars and policy makers.
The evolution of journalism has made one thing clear: the successful journalists of the future will define strategies to lead and define new opportunities. To enhance your imagination, both specialized journalism degree programs feature interaction with today's journalism innovators, including field trips and a speaker series with leading journalists, scholars and policy makers.This high-level engagement is supplemented by a consistent curriculum focus on media economics and entrepreneurship, including seminars specifically dedicated to financial literacy. You will have opportunities to explore the latest journalism research and professional practice through USC Annenberg's research centers and professional education programs. Whether the subject is the latest trends in internet usage, the newest forms of online journalism, the impact of globalization on the media or developments in communication law and policy, you will think about and develop answers to the most probing questions of the day.
MULTIMEDIA STORYTELLING BOOT CAMP
Both Specialized Journalism and Specialized Journalism (the Arts) begin with a two-week intensive summer course focused on the changing role of journalism in society and some of the newest methods of reporting and multimedia storytelling. This multimedia storytelling intensive course takes place in August immediately before the beginning of the fall term and offers you an opportunity to make the transition into academic life.
Working with experts and using equipment in Annenberg’s digital lab, you will learn the skills to produce video, audio, photo and audio slideshows and their integration with text into a multi-dimensional, in-depth story. Moving across the city in collaborative teams with your classmates, you will produce a final L.A. Story Project that is a video and a variety of contextualizing journalism elements (including data visualizations) uploaded onto your website.
The summer boot camp, JOUR 580: Introduction to Specialized Journalism, is designed to raise your level of multimedia expertise no matter where you start from – be you a beginner or an advanced mid-career professional. One of the goals of the course is the formation of learning cohorts; the working relationships you build with your colleagues are the basis for subsequent seminars through the year.
Other goals include exploring the rapid technological transformation of the news media and the advantages it creates for specialized journalism. Through readings and discussions with Specialized Journalism professors, you will also develop an appreciation for the traditional values, notably ethics, of American journalism and their application in multimedia storytelling. And finally, you will be exposed to neighborhoods in Los Angeles, and learn the value of getting off campus to practice journalism.
FLEXIBLE SCHEDULE
During the fall and spring terms, you will enroll in advanced journalism courses that develop the skills and knowledge necessary for specialty reporting and analysis. In addition to these core journalism courses, you will enroll in four electives in from graduate-level courses offered across the University.
Finally, you will work closely with faculty mentors on a year-long master’s project, an extended work of journalism that will be prepared for professional dissemination.
The required curriculum is designed to be completed in two semester plus the summer seminar if you enroll full time. You may attend part time and extend the course of study over one and a half or two academic years.
International journalists will find an exceptional opportunity to explore the American social, cultural and political realities while completing these degree programs. Refer to USC Graduate & International Admission for pertinent admission information.
PAST GUEST SPEAKERS
RAMAA BHARADVAJ, dancer
JUAN DEVIS, KCET "Departures"
RINDE ECKERT, singer & composer
PAUL GLICKMAN, KPCC
ANTONIA HERNANDEZ, California Community
Foundation
JIM JARVIS, Buzzmachine.com
MARK LISANTI, Yahoo! Entertainment Blogs
MARK MANGAN, Flavorpill
ROSIE MESTEL, Los Angeles Times
TIM MILLER, performance artist
EDDIE NORTH-HAGER, Leimert Park Beat
KIT RACHLIS, Los Angeles
JOHN SCHWADA, LA Observed
ANTHONY TOMMASINI, The New York Times
ALISSA WALKER, gelatobaby.com
AMY WALLACE,Los Angeles |
FUNDING AVAILABLE Pursuing graduate study is an investment in you. USC has underscored its commitment to the specialized journalism degree programs by offering the Annenberg Graduate Fellowships to a select group of admitted students each year.
The Annenberg Fellows are chosen for their potential to produce bold new ideas and innovative professional works. In addition to USC Annenberg, Fellows are drawn from the School of Cinematic Arts and the Viterbi School of Engineering.
All applicants accepted for admission to the M.A. in Specialized Journalism programs will be considered for nomination to the Annenberg Fellowships which will provide full tuition remission, health and dental benefits and a $20,000 stipend for living expenses. Selection is highly competitive and applications submitted by the Jan. 31, 2012 deadline will be considered.
In addition to the Annenberg Fellowships, you are encouraged to seek need-based financial aid.