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Ministry-approved title: Journalism
An education in journalism provides excellent training in critical thinking, writing and presenting ideas while preparing students for one of the most interesting careers imaginable. Armed with transferable knowledge, skills and experience, journalism graduates go on to write and deliver stories on all written and broadcast platforms, including the on-campus station, Riot Radio. Students also develop social media skills and undergo experiential learning through the program’s ‘working newsroom’ before moving on to a six-week field placement, applying their skills in a professional environment.
Durham College (DC) offers pre-admission assessment testing to mature domestic applicants to meet admission requirements in English and/or math. Domestic applicants that are 19 years of age or older as of the start date of their program, and who do not have the required program credit(s) i.e., Grade 12 English and/or Grade 12 math are eligible to take an admissions assessment test.
Learn more about how to book Pre-Admission Assessment Testing here.
DC also offers Academic upgrading courses are FREE and designed to help you meet the admissions requirements for this program. Available to individuals 18+, these courses are offered on-campus at DC. Boost your qualifications with:
Learn more about Academic Upgrading and connect with our team to get started.
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This program embraces the broad changes occurring in the media landscape and offers a progressive curriculum that will allow you to focus on development of journalism, social media skills and content creation on all platforms – print, online, social media and broadcast, including podcasts.
Students in the Journalism – Mass Media program will develop the essential skills, knowledge, and behaviours required to work in this progressive, critical profession. In their first year, students are introduced to the core journalism skills and learn how society functions both locally and globally (see link to Rotary Global Classroom below). In their second year, students focus on creating content for all media platforms and undergoing experiential learning through our ‘working newsroom’ (see links to The Chronicle and Riot Radio below).
Due to the constant evolution of technology and the increasing development of new platforms of communication, traditional media professions such as journalism are facing new opportunities, as well as new challenges. Changes in the delivery methods of traditional news have forced journalists and others within the journalism industry to change how they do their jobs. For instance, journalists can now collect information on their phones to deliver stories directly to multiple platforms.
Graduates will have developed skills in: broadcasting, writing, podcasting, reporting, interviewing, editing, content creation and media production, teamwork and critical thinking. You will have knowledge of applicable legislation, standards and professional ethics, and recognize the importance of continuous learning. More specifically, you will gain a clear understanding of the impact of digital technology and generative AI on journalism and will be able to respond and adapt effectively and efficiently to technological changes.
Upon successful completion of this program, you will have opportunities at an entry-level in a wide variety of news organizations and as content creators for a variety of private companies and public organizations, such as school boards, hospitals and governments. Graduates will have the skills to perform a range of tasks, including:
Durham’s Journalism – Mass Media program has successfully covered the campus and community since 1974 and in 2024 is celebrating its 50th anniversary.
The Chronicle has an ongoing history of excellence, winning Ontario Community Newspaper Association honours on a regular basis.
Our graduates have a track record of producing quality work across Canada – for news organizations such as the Globe and Mail, the Toronto Star, CBC, CTV, Global News, the Score, TSN, the New York Times and National Geographic, and in communities from British Columbia to Nova Scotia. Grads have also earned careers as content creators and social media coordinators for companies, agencies and institutions.
Important links:
Member of J-Schools Canada, 21 post-secondary institutions with journalism programs that collaborate for the enhancement of journalism education in Canada
The courses listed below are for incoming students. If you are a current student, please refer to your program of study for the year you began your program. Your program of study can be found on MyDC.
Courses, course descriptions and delivery formats are subject to change.
In person
Students will come to campus to complete in-person learning requirements. Detailed schedules, with course-specific delivery information, will be available after registration. Courses, course descriptions and delivery formats are subject to change.
Durham College also offers degree completion opportunities with a number of Canadian and international institutions. Sample diploma-to-degree opportunities include:
Please visit our pathways page to learn more about how you can transfer your credits towards a degree.
Looking for more pathway opportunities or to transfer to Durham College? Click here for more information.
NOTE: Students enrolling in this program are required to purchase their own laptop.
A Mac notebook computer is recommended. Please see the hardware requirements document for details.
DO NOT PURCHASE THIS SOFTWARE PRIOR TO STARTING THE PROGRAM.
Creative Cloud brings together everything you need to create your greatest work. One simple membership gives you and your classmates to the very latest versions of all the Adobe professional creative desktop applications like Photoshop®, Illustrator®, Premiere Pro® and more — plus new features and upgrades as soon as they're available. And that's just the beginning. With Creative Cloud™, everything you need to create intuitively and collaboratively is included.
Free downloadable software (please download and install prior to the start of classes. Caution: To avoid malware, only download from the actual developer or using the links below):
NOTE: These requirements were accurate at the time of posting and are subject to change. Please be aware that hardware and software versions are subject to change and will be updated as needed. For further information and FAQ click here.
Brandon Carson is a website designer and developer with experience developing and teaching online, hybrid, and in-person courses. Brandon holds a diploma in Web Development, a B.A. in Adult Education and Digital Technology, an M.A. in Learning and Technology, and is completing a Doctorate of Education.
Teresa Goff is a published writer, award-winning radio broadcaster and college professor with extensive experience designing and implementing curriculum-based experiential learning related to diversity, equity and inclusion. Her classes focus on dialogue, debate and creative development. Research interests include Indigenization, social innovation, social justice, knowledge mobilization and urban issues.
Prior to joining Durham College, Danielle Harder was a reporter and producer CBC Radio and Television and wrote for national and local magazines and newspapers. She holds a B.A. in Journalism and an M.A. in Communications and Technology. She is on secondment to the International Education office until September 2026.
A proud member of Durham College’s journalism faculty team since 2003, Brian Legree worked as a newspaper reporter, columnist and editor and radio newscaster for two decades prior to entering the classroom. Brian graduated from both Western University and Fanshawe College and won the 2021 Chair Academy Exemplary Leadership Award
Sam Riches is an award-winning journalist who has worked across the country. He started his career in Yukon, reporting throughout the territory and into Alaska. He returned to Ontario, where he established himself as a freelancer, contributing to publications such as The New Yorker, The Atlantic and WIRED, among others.
Kenyon Wallace is an investigative reporter with the Toronto Star. He has reported on numerous public interest issues, including secret mistakes made by health care providers and unscrupulous driving schools. He has a Bachelor of Commerce from UBC, and an M.A. in Journalism from Carleton University.
Your learning experience will be complemented by a six-week field placement at the end of the fourth semester in the Journalism – Mass Media program, which will provide you with hands-on experience within your field of study. Students gain valuable experience in a professional workplace setting, allowing them to apply the theoretical knowledge and skills learned in the classroom.
Past placement opportunities have included:
In the second year of the Journalism - Mass Media program, students take class in the morning and work in the Chronicle newsroom in the afternoon. Using all the foundations learned in year one, students edit video and audio, present on Riot Radio as a host, create online and print content for The Chronicle, and stay active across social media platforms. Additionally, students have the opportunity to take those transferable skills and work with external partners to write stories, produce documentaries and create online content. These opportunities have taken students overseas to the Caribbean, Peru, and Kenya with further trips planned for Guatemala. These experiential learning opportunities build essential employability skills for students and accelerate the transition from school to employment.
Journalism – Mass Media students also have opportunities to work directly with real industry clients, including not-for-profit, government and community organizations. These projects provide students with access to real-time coaching and feedback from their professors. They all promote teamwork and help students develop and test the vital soft skills that are necessary to succeed the field.
Check out first and second-year student journalists hosting their bi-weekly Chronicle on Riot Radio here.
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