JOURNALISM (BROADCAST, PRINT, WEB AND INTERNATIONAL)
Bachelor's Degree Programs
Broadcast, Print, Web — today’s journalists do far more than gather and report the news. The 21st century demands journalism professionals be skilled writers, photographers, videographers, sound technicians, editors and producers. Interested in taking your reporting skills around the globe? Our International Journalism major provides all the same skills as Broadcast/Print/Web with the added benefit of a semester’s study abroad.
UW-Whitewater offers a well-rounded Journalism major that will prepare you for multiple career paths, whether you want to be on the air, behind the scenes, at the keyboard or even telling stories from abroad.
CAN WE BRAG A LITTLE?
The Royal Purple
If you’re interested in print and web Journalism, you should know our award-winning newspaper is hot-off-the-press each week, and its online version publishes stories as news happens.
Jobs. Jobs. Jobs.
100% of UW-Whitewater Journalism majors were employed in their field within one year of graduation (2018-2019).
Hawk Talk
This signature, live sports talk program is simulcast on TV and radio Monday through Friday at 5 p.m.
Why study Journalism at UW-Whitewater?
- Only about one-third of schools in the UW System have an on-campus television station; UW-Whitewater is one of them!
- You’ll get hands-on experience from your first year; at UW-Whitewater, you don’t need to complete two years of gen-eds before taking on a role in our campus media outlets.
- While some media and Journalism programs focus primarily on news, at UW-Whitewater you’ll work on a variety of audio and video content, including talk shows, documentaries, music production, public service programs and commercials.
- Learn how to conduct professional interviews and create cutting edge multimedia stories for websites and social media.
- Choose a minor or second major to supplement your education and expand your Journalism career
What our Journalism students do
Create storyboards and write scripts for investigative news reports
Participate in live reporting for campus TV, such as election night coverage
International journalism majors spend a semester abroad
Campus media and agency opportunities
As a Journalism major at UW-Whitewater, you can take part in many hands-on storytelling and producing experiences at campus media outlets:
- The Royal Purple – award-winning weekly campus print and online newspaper
- UWW-TV – campus cable television station, located in Conover Studio in Andersen Hall
- WSUW-FM: 91.7 “The Edge” – campus radio station broadcasting throughout the region from a tower atop Hyer Hall
You can also lend your print, web and broadcast Journalism skills to client projects with the UW-Whitewater Advertising Association.
Student broadcaster wins statewide scholarship
Journalism major McClane Noffke was presented the $2,500 Wisconsin Broadcasters Association Morgan Murphy Media Scholarship at the Wisconsin Broadcasters Association Student Seminar. Noffke has participated in several areas around campus, allowing her to thrive as a Warhawk. In addition to writing, producing and supervising for UWWTV, she is a member of UW-Whitewater's Marching Band.
"I was born to do this"
Evan Halpop, Journalism major, works for the UW-Whitewater Warhawk Athletics Department covering games and taking headshots of athletics staff and players. He loves his work, saying “I was born to do this!” This fall Evan will be working as a photojournalism intern for the Milwaukee Admirals.
Internships and international experiences
Journalism is a highly competitive field, and UW-Whitewater prepares you to stand out among other applicants. We encourage you to gain hands-on experience through campus media outlets, as well as in the field and across the globe:
Internships
Learn from media professionals while building your portfolio and industry connections. Our students often intern for local and regional news outlets and websites.
Learn more about Journalism internships
Study abroad program
If you’re choosing an International Journalism emphasis, you’re required to spend at least one semester abroad.
See study abroad options
Travel study courses
Each year, the communication department offers a travel study course: an on-campus class which culminates with a related international trip.
Learn more about travel opportunities
What our graduates do
Broadcast journalists, producers and directors
Newspaper, magazine and web writers and editors
Radio announcers and hosts
Journalism jobs: Career success
You’ll leave the UW-Whitewater Journalism program with a unique set of skills that will prepare you for positions not just in traditional and digital journalism, but in a variety of communication capacities in industries of all kinds.
Here are just a few places our recent graduates found Journalism careers and related jobs:
- 247 Sports (Madison)
- adBidtise (Milwaukee)
- Allstate Insurance Company (Pewaukee)
- Azuree Talent Agency Inc. (Orlando, Florida)
- Core Scientific (Cary, Illinois)
- iHeartMedia (Madison)
- KY-TV3 (Springfield, Missouri)
- Lakeland Public Television (Brainerd, Minnesota)
- Madison Magazine
- Midwest Family Marketing (Madison)
- Milwaukee Bucks
- MilwaukeeJobs.com (Milwaukee)
- NBC 15 (Madison)
- Sherwin Williams (West Allis)
- Sinclair Broadcast Group (Milwaukee)
- The Hershey Company (Madison)
- The Janesville Gazette (Janesville)
- Unified Newspaper Group (Stoughton)
- WIBW-TV (Topeka, Kansas)
- WSAW-TV (Wausau)
- WTOC-TV (Savannah, Georgia)
- WXOW-TV (La Crosse)
Hired Before Graduation
Catherine Yang, from Whitewater, Wisconsin, earned a B.S. in journalism and was hired as a graphic designer with University Marketing and Communications at UW-Whitewater in Whitewater, Wisconsin.
"Professor Kris Kranenburg has had a huge impact in my development as a graphic designer, student and person. She is always pushing me to be the best I can be and she always wants to see her students succeed."
Our Journalism faculty
Our Journalism faculty members are award-winning journalists, former broadcasting professionals, writers, producers and others who bring a wide range of career and life experience to UW-Whitewater.
Jim Mead
In WHY I TEACH, Jim Mead, the director of the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater’s television station, talks about teaching and mentoring visual storytellers. Mead puts students behind cameras, in front of cameras, in the control room and into the community to bring back stories to broadcast.
Keith Zukas
"Dr. Keith Zukas has developed me into a confident and skilled journalist via constructive critiques, writing advice, and unwavering support. I had no prior journalistic experience and was insecure about my writing ability, however, he showed outstanding patience and confidence in my potential to improve. I look up to Dr. Zukas as a journalistic mentor, and his impact translates directly into who I am today." — Scout Springgate, Class of 2021
Want to learn more about earning a Communication or Journalism degree?
262-472-1034 | uwwcomm@uww.edu |
The UW-Whitewater Journalism major offers the following options:
- Bachelor of Arts — Journalism, Broadcast/Print/Web emphasis | 4-year plan
- Bachelor of Arts — Journalism, International Journalism emphasis | 4-year plan
- Bachelor of Science — Journalism, Broadcast/Print/Web emphasis | 4-year plan
- Bachelor of Science — Journalism, International Journalism emphasis | 4-year plan
- Minor in Broadcast/Print/Web Journalism
- Minor in General Communication
In addition to UW-Whitewater’s general education requirements, the Journalism major requires a set of core courses, including:
- Writing for News Media
- Reporting for News Media
- Media Ethics
- Law of Mass Communication
- Journalism Capstone: Public Affairs
Broadcast/Print/Web Journalism majors will take either:
- Video Production I: Fundamentals of Video; and
- Television News Reporting and Production
OR
- Publication Editing; and
- Publication Layout
Broadcast/Print/Web Journalism majors will also complete two practicum courses, which involve working with a campus media outlet in an editorial, production, director or other role.
International Journalism majors will also complete Cross Cultural Communication and study abroad for at least one semester.
Journalism majors will also take a variety of elective courses, which could include:
- Media Criticism
- Sports Journalism
- History of Mass Communication
- Mass Communication in Society
- Feature Writing
- Publication Photography
- Communication and Public Opinion
To apply, you’ll complete the UW-Whitewater application for admission and indicate your interest in Journalism.
Note: To declare a major in Journalism with an International Journalism emphasis, you need a minimum GPA of 2.75.
