M.A. in Engagement Journalism

Our M.A. in Engagement Journalism is not just about learning what’s relevant in the field today; it’s about developing a mindset focused on innovation and understanding where journalism is headed. We prepare you to respond to new needs and opportunities in the rapidly evolving media landscape.

In our M.A. program, you’ll develop fluency in product and design thinking, data analysis, metrics and impact measurement, entrepreneurship, innovation, collaboration, and designing community engagement. We emphasize listening and outreach practices that are journalistically rigorous, preparing you to work at the intersection of news products, audience development, and journalism innovation.

Our program attracts students who recognize the shifting landscape of media consumption and are excited by the challenge of rebuilding trust in news. You want to create journalism that truly responds to community needs, leveraging data and technology to connect with audiences in meaningful ways. You’re interested in acquiring skills in product development, design thinking, and entrepreneurship, seeing these as crucial for the future of journalism.

For more information about this unique degree, contact Carla Zanoni, director of the Engagement Journalism MA program at . For information about the admissions process, please contact .

how to apply

FAQs

The 40.5 credit degree requires 16 months to complete, including the summer.

Our Faculty

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Student Work

Engagement journalism students participate in collaborative projects that emphasize the depth of community engagement at the core of the program.

  • Simi Kadirgamar, ’20 is the founder of the Palmyra Zine, an engagement project that asks journalists to reflect on their sourcing process by highlighting stories from Kashmir. 
  • Terrence Fraser, ’20, worked with VICE producing videos on how to film cops and Brooklyn’s illegal firework scene. He also worked with tenants at risk of eviction during the COVID-19 pandemic, raising awareness using art posters. 
  • Allison Dikanovic, ’20 worked with East New York tenants, engaging with and sending them regular updates via THE CITY’s Open Newsroom project and Rent Update newsletter. Her reporting on rent relief, eviction moratoriums and more can be found on THE CITY. 
  • Jake Wasserman, ’20, worked on an investigative project on the census and COVID-19 for Quartz. During his fellowship with Mountain Spotlight, he created a texting bot for West Virginia residents to use to inquire about mail-in ballots.
  • John Philp, ’20, created Gun Country, a multimedia platform that seeks to introduce a new kind of conversation about guns in the U.S.  
  • Diara Townes, ’19, is an investigative researcher and the community engagement lead for First Draft’s US bureau.

Graduates of the engagement journalism program have moved on to positions at Univision, ProPublica, Sports Illustrated, Meetup, and NowThis News, among others.

Contact Us

Contact us if you have any questions about the M.A. in Engagement Journalism program or its application process.

Office of Admissions