Masters Degree (MS) in Journalism and Mass Communication
Best Universities in the world for Journalism and Mass Communication
News did not always travel as fast it seems like today. In ancient times, traveling merchants and sailors used to bring in news and spread it among their people. Local stories usually traveled through word of mouth until the first ever known “notice” was published in Venice and popularized the term “gazette” which is still used synonymously with newspaper. Then came the printing press, radio, telegraph, and now the internet. The history of journalism has seen many developments over the centuries and so has the skills of journalists evolved over time. Journalism is no longer just about reporting and writing articles. It is an amalgamation of creativity, communication skills, technological acumen, research skills, the expertise of handling data, awareness of journalistic laws, and above all the fearlessness of reporting the facts without bias.
A Masters in Journalism and Mass Communication prepares its students to go beyond the art of writing well. Media is a highly competitive platform and the need to stay relevant, factual, visible, far reaching, while being interesting, is a skill that needs rigorous care and honing. Almost all institutions, and universities, are constantly updating their curriculums to stay current with the demands of the ever changing face of this competitive arena. The current environment has inculcated some of the following broad courses in the mass communication, and journalism, curriculums.
– Writing Skills: These courses concentrate on developing the various forms of composition skills required to write articles, profiles, columns, interviews, and more. The creative aspect takes care of engagement and originality.
– Ethics and Law: Students learn about the basic element of the profession- adhering to journalistic ethics. They also receive an education about law associated with media – copyright, plagiarism, confidentiality, etc.
– Technical Skills: These courses encompass an understanding of audio, video, presentation, print layouts, etc. Aspects of digital journalism, or using the internet for journalistic ventures, such as Search Engine Optimization (SEO), developing content for websites, and more, are often covered as well.
– Investigative Skills: Research is an integral part of a journalist’s career. These courses train the students to understand how to handle public records, how to conduct interviews, perform background study, obtain and analyze data, etc.
Careers after a Masters in Journalism and Mass Communication
Quite obviously, being a journalist is the most organic outcome. Other career prospects include digital journalism to create online content, specialize in marketing the content over the platform of social media, and promote it using SEO. Advertising is also a popular option. They often find employment as copyright experts, communication experts, public relations personnel, creative heads, and more. The table below lists the median salaries for employees in this field, according to The Bureau of Labor Statistics and Payscale.
| Career | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Journalist | $51,000 |
| Photojournalist | $37,000 |
| Writers and Authors | $61,000 |
| News Anchor | $58,000 |
| News Producer | $30,000 – $80,000 |
| Advertising | $128,000 |
Best Schools for a Masters in Journalism and Mass Communication
This is a popular degree and there is quite a handsome list of universities, all across the globe, involved in molding the future Joseph Pulitzers or William Hearsts of the world. We will list some of the most popular journalism programs in some of the most popular study destinations(Read Popular study destinations abroad). The tables below listsome of the popular journalism schools at all the major locations. These lists are based on the top ranked in the QS World Rankings for Communications and Media studies.
USA
| School | Country | World Ranking |
|---|---|---|
| University of Southern California | USA | 1 |
| Stanford University | USA | 4 |
| University of Wisconsin-Madison | USA | 5 |
| University of California, Berkeley | USA | 6 |
| University of Texas, Austin | USA | 6 |
| University of California, Los Angeles | USA | 9 |
| University of Pennsylvania | USA | 10 |
| Columbia University | USA | 11 |
| Michigan State University | USA | 12 |
| Yale University | USA | 15 |
| New York University | USA | 16 |
Europe
| School | Country | World Ranking |
|---|---|---|
| University of Amsterdam | Netherlands | 2 |
| London School of Economics | UK | 3 |
| Goldsmiths, University of London | UK | 8 |
| Cardiff University | UK | 34 |
| King’s College London | UK | 35 |
| Aarhus University | Denmark | 38 |
| Loughborough University | UK | 39 |
| University of Zurich | Switzerland | 40 |
| University of Navarra | Spain | 42 |
| University of Helsinki | Finland | 42 |
| University of Westminster | UK | 47 |
Asia Pacific
| School | Country | World Ranking |
|---|---|---|
| National University of Singapore | Singapore | 12 |
| Nanyang Technological University | Singapore | 14 |
| The Chinese University of Hong Kong | Hong Kong | 20 |
| Queensland University of Technology | Australia | 24 |
| The University of Tokyo | Japan | 26 |
| The University of Queensland | Australia | 27 |
| The University of Melbourne | Australia | 31 |
| City University of Hong Kong | Hong Kong | 32 |
| The University of Sydney | Australia | 35 |
| Seoul National University | South Korea | 37 |
| Sungkyunkwan University | South Korea | 49 |
If you are eager to make a mark as the eyes, ears, and voice, of your people, it is strongly suggested that you start honing your investigative skills by researching which country, which school, and which Masters program, in Journalism, is right for you. Do share your news worthy comments below.
Meanwhile, here is a link to get you started on that Masters degree – Guide to an international Masters degree.
Source:1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8