FAQs
Why is there so much emphasis on community journalism?
The program aims to provide a broad-based journalism education. Most jobs available to new journalists are in the community-newspaper field. Our goal is to provide graduates, particularly in the Diploma Program, with the skills necessary for immediate employment.
Why do I have to take academic courses?
Newspapers and other media require journalists to have a background that includes not only skills training, but also a broad understanding of culture and society. Academic courses help students develop that knowledge and concentrate on specific areas such as political science, history, psychology or criminology.
What is the likelihood of getting a job?
Students leave the program with the skills necessary to move into a community newspaper as a reporter. Finding a job after graduation depends on many things, including ability, initiative, work ethic and imagination in looking for work.
What other options are available?
Media outlets of all types are looking for people with writing, photography, computer and production skills, and graduates can also freelance in those areas. Research and media skills can be used as a springboard to jobs in public relations, government and other fields that require media skills.
Will I have to move to find my first job?
It depends on you. Various Lower Mainland community papers have hired recent graduates, but papers in smaller communities elsewhere continue to be a starting point for many graduates.
How much real-world experience do the instructors have?
All of the journalism instructors have many years of experience as reporters, editors and/or photographers. Current faculty are or have been employed at media outlets including the Vancouver Sun, the Georgia Straight and the CBC.
I want to be a writer. Why do I have to learn photography?
Most community papers require their reporters to take pictures as well as write stories. Knowing how to use 35mm and digital cameras, being able to recognize and take a good news photo, and knowing how to scan and print images with Adobe PhotoShop make a reporter more employable.
