Multimedia Journalism (MA)
https://journalism.uoregon.edu/academics/graduate-programs/multimedia-journalism
Wes Pope
Associate Professor, Director, Multimedia Journalism Master’s Program
Email: wpope@uoregon.edu
Phone: 503-412-3759
Office: SOJC Portland
The Portland-based master’s degree in Multimedia Journalism blends the best of journalism’s past with the promise of its future. In today’s fluid media landscape, successful journalists must be able to report and tell compelling non-fiction stories across multiple platforms while employing the ethics and integrity that have distinguished the industry. Students in the MMJ program learn how to tell stories that matter in video and other media to make a difference in their communities.
Our program focuses on journalistic storytelling in video, audio, photography, data visualization, and virtual reality. Classes typically meet weeknights and weekend days. The 48-credit program can be completed in five terms, but students have the option to negotiate a slower pace.
Note: Current SOJC Journalism undergraduates can apply for the accelerated MA in Multimedia Journalism. Students should work with the MMJ program director to meet course requirements.
Admission Process
Please visit the program's website.
Program Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion of this program, students will be able to:
- Acquire the expertise in multimedia storytelling skills to understand fundamental approaches to narrative storytelling in order to create dynamic, engaging multimedia productions.
- Understand and apply the concepts and techniques of engaged journalism to address public interests and concerns.
- Demonstrate an understanding of contemporary journalism ethical standards, including issues of equity and inclusion, fairness, balance, accuracy, and transparency across the media landscape.
- Critically assess the state of the journalism industry. Evaluate content delivery methods across media platforms.
- Create professional portfolio-caliber work.
Note: Please review the SOJC graduate student handbook for updated program requirements, which do not yet appear in the catalog: https://sojcstudent.uoregon.edu/graduate/student-handbook/
Master's Degree in Multimedia Journalism
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| J 596 | Communication Ethics and Law: [Topic] | 4 |
| J 611 | Mass Communication and Society | 4 |
| J 638 | 4 | |
| J 608 | Workshop: [Topic] 1 | 2 |
| J 609 | Terminal Project | 6 |
| Other courses chosen in consultation with advisor | 20 | |
| Electives 2 | 8 | |
| Total Credits | 48 | |
| 1 | Students must complete at least one professional development workshop. We encourage students to take additional workshops for a more enriching experience. Workshops vary from term to term and may include topics such as Visualizing Information; Audio Storytelling; Story in Stills; and Innovation, Science, and Story. |
| 2 | Students may take elective courses from a variety of disciplines. Electives should be chosen in consultation with your adviser. At least 8 elective credits are required. |
Multimedia Journalism - Accelerated Master's Requirements
Students must take a minimum of 10 graduate-level credits (and no more than 16) per the requirements below while an undergraduate. Students must complete at least one course from Section I below. They should work closely with their MMJ adviser to determine how to reach the 10-credit minimum.
1.MMJ Core Course: At least one of the following courses must be taken during senior year:
- J611 Mass Comm & Society
- J627 MMJ Foundations
- J654 Reporting within Communities - or allowable substitute: J563 Engaged Journalism
- J629 Topics in Media and Communication Ethics: Digital Ethics or J596 Visual Ethics
2.Multimedia or Area Elective(s): Students take may take one or more elective courses to reach the 10-credit minimum of graduate-level credits. Electives can include SOJC electives such as those on the list below; MMJ electives offered in Portland; up to 2 credits of J601 while working on the terminal project proposal (see below); or graduate-level non-SOJC electives that align with the student’s MMJ terminal project plans. Students should work closely with their advisor to select appropriate electives.
Example electives:
J510 Media Entrepreneurship
J532 Reporting for Electronic Media
J536 Topics: Web Design
J563 Audio Story
J566 Advanced Photojournalism
J601 Research
J608 Audio Storytelling
J608 Motion Graphics
J610 VR Building
J608 Drone Cinematography
J608 Intro to 360 Video
3. MMJ Terminal Project Preparation: In order for students to complete the 4+1 program on time, they will need to arrive at the start of their fifth year in Portland prepared to move forward on their terminal project. Therefore, during their senior year, students in the 4+1 program are required to work with their advisor and/or the co-directors of the program to develop a short list of project ideas and begin initial research toward creating a project proposal and developing a production plan for their project. Students may enroll in J601 Research credits while completing this requirement, but are not required to do so.
4. After admission to the program and throughout their senior year, students will work with their adviser to develop a written graduation plan, including quarterly check-ins to update the plan as SOJC course offerings become listed for each term.
5. As per Graduate School requirements, students must complete all of their bachelor’s degree requirements and graduate within 12 months of the first day of the quarter in which they take their first graduate courses as part of the accelerated program. Students are expected to complete their remaining MMJ degree requirements within 15 months of beginning that program. Students are strongly advised to begin production work toward their terminal project during the summer after their senior year.
Overall, students must begin the MMJ program with 10 credit hours comprised of
a) at least one required course from section 1 above,
b) as needed, an additional elective(s),
Students must take the required number of remaining credits during their 5th (MMJ) year to reach the 48 required for the program. (For example, if 10 graduate-level credits are taken senior year, 38 credits remaining credits must be completed in the 5th year).
Total program minimum required credits: 48