What is Journalism?

Are you curious? Are you a good storyteller? Do you like learning? If so, journalism may be the right major for you.

 UC’s journalism program offers paths for students to become journalists through real life newsroom experiences and classes taught by experts.

Journalism at UC has had a growing community since UC's independent student newspaper, The News Record, began printing in 1936. From there, a journalism certificate was created in 1977. Today, the Department of Journalism offers a bachelor's program.

Graduates of the program can pursue careers as reporters, writers, photographers, TV producers, social media experts and editors.

Journalism is a flexible major that can be adapted to suit many fields. The thread that connects these careers together? Storytelling. 

Junior journalism major Knia Parks was drawn to the major for this exact reason.

“I wanted to study something impactful, and I appreciated the power of storytelling through photos and writing,” Parks said.

Many have a very strict idea of a career with a journalism degree--broadcast journalism or writing. When it came time for Parks to decide what to study, she didn't let this misconception stop her.

“During my senior year of high school, as I struggled to find a major, my photography teacher gave me a book on photojournalism. I have loved photography for as long as I can remember. I hadn't even realized it was a potential career, but I was excited by the idea,” Parks said.

Journalists for the student newspaper have gone on to work for publications such as the New York Times, CNN, the Associated Press and more. Almost all honorees at the annual UC Journalism Hall of Fame award ceremony were active members of the student newspaper.

This year alone, the publication received multiple national awards for its work in the 2024-25 school year.

And students say the program offers a non-competitive environment. At the department's core, it's all about camaraderie.

“My favorite part of the department is the people. I think that at other schools, the environment can probably feel more competitive. It never feels like anyone is hoping for others to fail,” Parks said. “In my experience, people cheer for their classmates to succeed.”

The support doesn't stop at the students. The small group of professors allows students to work with the whole faculty, making the department feel like everyone knows each other, even on a campus with more than 50,000 students.

“This department prioritizes student success and builds relationships, which is a significant advantage in a career centered around communication,” Parks said. “I never feel scared to ask for help because everyone is personable and cares about the best interest of the students.”

AP news editor Glenn Gamboa credits his UC professors for knowing how to properly navigate the field after graduation.

“The professors I had taught me so much about the history of journalism; how to carry yourself as a journalist, how to interact with people you’re interviewing,” Gamboa said. “It all serves me so well in my career.”

Tawney Beans, a reporter with the Akron Beacon Journal and UC Journalism alumni, credits her UC faculty connections as “critical” to her success in journalism.

“I still view one of my journalism professors as a mentor. That relationship has provided me with guidance and confidence when I’ve needed it most since entering the professional world,” Beans said.

Beans spoke highly of her education in the fundamentals of journalism that launched her career. Today, she works at a Pulitzer Prize-winning newspaper.

“The skills I gained during my time at UC have helped me write stories that have changed lives,” she said.

Featured image at top: Image of broadcast news screen. Photo: TheDigitalArtist for Pixabay.