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Ministry-approved title: Journalism
You may have arrived at this page wondering how to become a reporter.
But an education in journalism is not just about reporting the news and producing news articles; it’s about sharpening your critical thinking skills, mastering the art of news writing, and learning how to presenting ideas clearly and effectively for mass media and other media formats. Durham College’s Journalism – Mass Media program prepares students for one of the most interesting careers imaginable!
Throughout the journalism program, students gain the transferable knowledge, skills and experience to succeed at all levels of the field and in adjacent areas of broadcasting. Immersing themselves in the worlds of journalism and mass media, students gain a deep understanding of how stories are crafted and shared across various platforms. They go on to write and deliver stories on a variety of written and broadcast platforms.
One of the things that sets Durham College’s Journalism – Mass Media program apart is the hands-on experience students gain in both local and mass media. This includes:
To apply for the Journalism - Mass Media program at Durham College you will need:
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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In the first semester of your journalism studies, you will receive a broad overview of key aspects of broadcast journalism. Expect to be exposed to a range of information that you will be able to apply to the practical portions of the program. Here is a quick look at your first semester journalism and mass media courses.
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Upon successful completion of the journalism program, you could find yourself working in one of many different roles and a variety of contexts. The transferability of the knowledge and skills you will gain in your journalism studies will open options for you. When you are looking for a job, we encourage you to think beyond traditional journalism and mass media.
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Wondering how to start being a journalist? You've asked the right question and arrived at the right place.
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 enjoying new opportunities, and facing new challenges. Changes in the delivery methods of traditional news have forced journalists and others within the journalism and mass media industries to adapt and innovate in how they do their jobs. For instance, journalists can now collect information on their phones to deliver stories directly to multiple platforms.
Upon completion of the journalism program, you will have developed skills in: broadcasting, writing, podcasting, reporting, interviewing, editing, content creation and media production, teamwork and critical thinking. You will also have knowledge of applicable legislation, standards and professional ethics, as they apply to journalism and mass media.
The ever-changing nature of journalism and mass media today means that even experienced professionals need to constantly adapt and retrain. In Durham College’s journalism course work we place a great deal of emphasis on this need to stay up to date with advances in the field. Through your course work you will appreciate the critical 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.
By the end of your time in the journalism 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 journalism-related tasks, including:
Durham College’s Journalism – Mass Media program has successfully covered the campus and community since 1974 and in 2024 is celebrating its 50th anniversary.
The Durham College Chronicle is created and produced by students in Journalism - Mass Media program. The Chronicle covers stories about Durham College, Ontario Tech University and all parts of Durham Region. It has an ongoing history of excellence, winning Ontario Community Newspaper Association honours on a regular basis.
Our journalism graduates have a stellar track record of producing superior- 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. Journalism grads have also established successful careers as content creators and social media coordinators for a variety of companies, agencies and institutions.
Important links:
The Journalism – Mass Media program at Durham College is a member of J-Schools Canada, an organization of 21 post-secondary institutions with journalism programs works together for the enhancement of journalism education in Canada
When you have finished the journalism program, you can expect to understand and be able to do the following:
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.
The exciting, dynamic field of journalism is changing rapidly, and new roles are becoming available. With the cutting-edge knowledge and skills you will have when graduating from the program, you will be well positioned to take on one of many challenging rules in a variety of settings.
If you want to continue to add to your education after you finish your journalism course work, you may be eligible to apply your academic credits toward further study through Durham College’s partnerships with many Canadian and international colleges and universities. 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.
The hardware and software requirements for the journalism program are quite specific; please pay close attention to the details, including instructions about how and when to download software.
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 journalism coursework experience will be supplemented 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:
This invaluable practical experience will allow you to apply the knowledge and skills you obtained in your journalism coursework and will further prepare you to work in the journalism and mass media fields.
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 journalism and mass media 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 in journalism and mass media.
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 journalism students with access to real-time coaching and feedback from their professors. They promote teamwork and help students develop and test the vital soft skills that are necessary to succeed in the fields of journalism and mass media.
Check out first and second-year student journalists hosting their bi-weekly Chronicle on Riot Radio below.
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