The minor in journalism provides an interdisciplinary framework of courses through which students produce rigorous, verified journalism. Students will develop a strong command of the literary, ethical, analytical and political dimensions of compelling storytelling in order to have a meaningful impact on public conversation.
The program takes an integrative approach across disciplines and divisions, understanding journalism as an exemplar of the liberal arts: deeply rooted in the humanities but concerned with public policy, national security, data analysis, technology, social and political science, and business and economics.
The program highlights journalism’s function as a public service and raises awareness about the critical role of reliable journalism in an informed democracy, and of accountability reporting in upholding civil institutions.
Students learn the practice of reporting and verification and the art of crafting compelling nonfiction narratives in a variety of media. They learn to write clear and dynamic prose and to communicate complex ideas.
The program enriches and expands on students’ work in their major in several ways. Their new reporting skills and familiarity with the ethics of journalism empower them to write papers clearly, persuasively and responsibly, potentially bringing their research to a wide audience. The knowledge gained in their major field coursework provides future journalists and nonfiction authors with compelling raw material from which to craft stories, books, podcasts and interactive media. Taught by working journalists with a wide range of expertise, our courses illuminate the value of a broad but integrated plan of study. Our goal is to produce graduates who are able to articulate and pursue the highest values, aspirations and best practices associated with excellent journalism and to bring these into wider circulation both nationally and globally.
Goals for Student Learning
Minors in journalism will encounter a rigorous framework of courses through which they acquire critical thinking skills, empowering them to identify, analyze, synthesize and convey significant issues and innovations to others.
The learning goals of the minor program include:
- Media Literacy
Promote media literacy and familiarity with journalistic ethics for students as both consumers and producers of journalism. Impart critical thinking skills that will empower students to identify crucial, untold stories. Write distinguished, rigorous, verified journalism (e.g., “The Media in America”; “Investigative Reporting.”)
- Writing and the Art of Storytelling
Teach students to report and write clear and dynamic prose. Communicate complex ideas. Craft compelling nonfiction narratives in a variety of media, old and new, to contribute to public conversations (e.g., “The Literature of Fact,” “Creative Nonfiction,” “The McGraw Seminar in Writing.”)
- Public Service and Global Citizenship
Promote the values inherent in the University’s unofficial motto, “In the nation’s service and in the service of humanity.” Teach the importance of accountability reporting and the critical role of verified journalism in an informed democracy. Discuss the particular cultural and ethical challenges that face both domestic and international correspondents. Help students become more informed and globally minded citizens, voters and participants in public life (e.g., “The Media and Social Issues”; “Politics and the Media”; “International News”).
- Digital Entrepreneurship
Empower students to use and design digital tools for producing and verifying news accounts, and to craft new, financially viable business models for journalism to inform the public about current affairs and democratic institutions (e.g.,“Audio Journalism.”)
Program of Study
Students complete three requirements: coursework (students must complete at least five courses, with a grade of B or above); an approved experience of journalism practice; and participation in a required senior colloquium. Courses used to satisfy the journalism minor requirements also may be used to fulfill other majors and minors.
Coursework must comprise:
- At least one gateway course (200-level) selected from the list below:
- JRN 240/CWR 240 Creative Nonfiction (LA): This is a workshop in factual writing and what has become known as literary nonfiction, emphasizing writing assignments and readings of leading work in the genre.
- JRN 260 The Media in America (SA): This seminar explores the challenges and opportunities that today’s rapidly evolving media landscape presents to freedom of the press, and to the democracy that the media serve. Discussion focuses on where news comes from and how citizens can best assess the credibility of individual news reports.
- JRN 280 The Literature of Fact (LA): Students in this course strive to identify and emulate the best writing in a variety of journalistic genres, from news analysis to art criticism to international correspondence.
Gateway courses focus on the ethics of journalism; media literacy and fact-based reporting; and development of a common vocabulary and methodology, including interviewing, storytelling and verification skills. Courses are intensive, as students are required to perform journalism — to report, write, record, workshop and revise.
2. At least two additional JRN courses at the 300- or 400-level, taught by distinguished, practicing journalists. Some seats will be reserved for journalism minors.
3. At least two journalism-related courses with a grade of B or above (no pass/D/fail). Each of these courses must be approved by the program director to fulfill this requirement, unless they are cross-listed with JRN (as these will count automatically).
4. Journalism Practice (either fieldwork experience or an independent writing project): Students must participate in sustained journalistic activity for a minimum of five weeks, whether working within an approved news organization, taking an intensive summer course with field reporting, or writing an independent creative nonfiction project. The practice should involve reporting, interviewing, researching, and writing and may also involve copyediting, web design, photography, videography, data analysis, etc. Examples include interning at a major news organization, working for an approved student journalism organization, undertaking an independent reporting and writing project advised by a Princeton faculty member, or successfully completing an intensive summer journalism seminar abroad. To fulfill this requirement, students must obtain approval for their proposed journalistic practice from the Program Director.
5. Senior Colloquium: Based on fieldwork or independent reporting, students must produce (1) an original piece of fact-based journalism or (2) a short essay exploring the challenges facing modern journalists. During their senior year, students will give a brief presentation of this work to peers and a jury of current and former Princeton journalism instructors at an interdisciplinary colloquium.
Students may integrate their independent journalism and senior colloquium presentation with independent work in their major only with the prior approval of the Director of the Program in Journalism.
Minor designation
Students who fulfill all the requirements of the program will receive a designation of a minor in journalism on their transcript upon graduation.
Admission to the Program
The program is open to students of all majors. Students may apply for the minor after completing one journalism course with a grade of B or above. Students normally apply during the spring semester of their sophomore year, but no later than the fall semester of their junior year.
Interested students are encouraged to sign up for announcements and updates. Questions about the program and its requirements may be directed to Jeannine Matt Pitarresi, Journalism Program Manager, at jp16@princeton.edu.
