Journalism and Media in the Digital Age
What does it take to build a career in journalism? Journalism today spans far beyond the traditional newsroom, reaching into digital media, podcasting, social platforms, and content strategy. This course teaches you how stories are found, reported, verified, and crafted for different platforms, with insights from news correspondents, award-winning journalists, and political editors at major outlets. By practicing real reporting and writing, you'll discover whether a career in journalism, media, or communications is the right fit for you.
Program Dates
Multi-length courses available throughout the year
Eligibility
For students ages 18 and up
College Credit Course Fees
$3,995
Enrichment Course Fees
$1,895
What's the Difference Between Our College Credit and Enrichment Courses?
Both enrichment and college credit–bearing options feature engaging online lessons and instructional support. College credit–bearing courses include additional coursework and offer the opportunity to earn academic credit upon successful completion. Some course content overlaps across both options, so students are encouraged to choose the format that best aligns with their academic or professional goals.
College Credit Courses$3,995
Length of Course: Multi-length course options
Instruction & Activities: 128 hours
Grading: Letter grade
On Your Own Schedule: ✔️
Academic Support: ✔️
Final Project: ✔️
College Credit Hours: ✔️
Certificate of Completion: Georgetown Transcript
Enrichment Courses$1,895
Length of Course: 1-, 2-, or 4-weeks
Instruction & Activities: 20-30 hours
Grading: Pass/Fail
On Your Own Schedule: ✔️
Academic Support: ✔️
Final Project: ✔️
College Credit Hours:❌
Certificate of Completion:✔️
From Story Discovery To Publication In A Changing Media Landscape
Finding Stories That Matter
Discover how journalists determine what is newsworthy and shape ideas into clear reporting angles. Practice story discovery while learning how to pitch ideas across various media platforms.
Reporting With Accuracy And Purpose
Examine how journalists gather information responsibly through interviewing, research, and source development. Address challenges like misinformation and time pressure while maintaining high standards for verification and credibility.
Writing And Structuring News Stories
Study how journalists organize information into clear narratives using effective headlines and ledes. Focus on revision techniques that ensure clarity and accuracy work together to serve diverse audiences.
Ethics, Law, And Editorial Judgment
Analyze the considerations that shape responsible reporting, including transparency, attribution, and risk assessment. Explore journalistic standards to understand how reporters protect their work and the public interest.
Telling Stories Across Media Platforms
Investigate how journalism adapts across digital, social, and video formats to meet shifting audience behaviors. Examine emerging tools and newsroom roles to shape stories for multiple channels.
Exploring Journalism And Media Career Paths
Produce a professional-quality news story while reflecting on how storytelling skills apply across media roles. Evaluate career paths in reporting, editing, broadcast journalism, digital media production, content strategy, and entrepreneurial journalism.
What You Gain From This Experience
- A clearer understanding of whether journalism or media-related work aligns with your academic or career interests.
- Insight into how journalists identify, verify, and shape stories in a fast-moving media environment.
- Experience conducting interviews, researching sources, and organizing information responsibly.
- Experience producing a professional-quality news story through a Final Capstone Project.
- A Certificate of Completion from Georgetown University upon successful completion of the course.
What Sets This Program Apart
A Capstone Project With Real-World Relevance
- Produce an original news story for print, digital, social, or video that reflects professional journalistic standards.
- Demonstrate your ability to move from a story idea to polished reporting suitable for publication.
Instructional Guidance And Mentorship
- Develop reporting judgment and storytelling skills through feedback from course mentors as you refine drafts.
- Strengthen accuracy, clarity, and editorial decision-making with guided support throughout the course.
Flexible Learning With Clear Expectations
- Progress through online modules that support steady reporting and writing development.
- Manage research, interviews, and deadlines alongside other academic or professional commitments.
Apply Now for the Next Available Course
Course Designed by Georgetown University Faculty
Rebecca Sinderbrand
Professor of the Practice and Director of the Journalism Program
Professor Sinderbrand joined the University following more than two decades in political and presidential journalism spanning coverage of six presidential campaigns and five administrations, first as a reporter and then as an editor at news organizations, including The Washington Post, Politico, and CNN, most recently as Senior Washington Editor for NBC News. She has been a Visiting Lecturer on Journalism and Politics at Yale University, a Fellow at Georgetown’s Institute of Politics and Public Service, and a Johns Hopkins University-SAIS International Reporting Project Fellow. Sinderbrand graduated from Georgetown University with a B.A. in Government, and received an M.A. in Nonfiction Writing from Johns Hopkins University.
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Frequently Asked Questions
How will you be graded? What are assignments like? How much time do you have to turn around a project? When do you find out if you’re admitted? Find answers to your questions here.
Answers to Your Questions HereScholarships
We offer need-based scholarships for participating students who exhibit high potential and an inability to pay the full tuition.
- If you haven’t applied to the program, apply here. After submitting your application, click “Apply for a need-based scholarship” on the confirmation page to request a scholarship.
- If you’ve already applied to the program, sign in to your profile to check your scholarship status. If we don’t have a scholarship request on file, click “Apply for a need-based scholarship” to request a scholarship.