Journalism Program Offers Speedy Entry into the Workforce
Have you obtained a post-secondary degree or diploma but have become fascinated with getting the facts, interviewing sources and presenting the news? If so, then Centennial College’s fast-track journalism program within its Journalism Schools can get you into the field in just two years. Not only will you leave with interview skills and knowledge on how to write a story or produce a news segment, you’ll have the know-how to work at magazines, newspapers, TV, radio and even online.
At the essence of journalism is
the need to report accurate, unbiased news to the public in an
efficient manner. Journalism covers everything from politics and crime
to local stories, entertainment, sports and more. It can be broken down
into different sections and roles, but all journalists (whether they
end up as editors, copy editors, chase producers, online coordinators
or something else all together) must know how to tell the story and how
to address the: who, what, where, when and why. In the magazine world,
stories are written and re-written many times before publishing date,
as many magazines are released monthly or quarterly. Meanwhile, at a
newspaper, reporters work on deadline for the same day. This means
interviewing over the phone, rushing to press conferences and filing by
a certain time. Meanwhile, in TV and radio, the writing style is very
different. It is more concise and conversational. Lastly, the newest
sector of journalism is online reporting, which essentially means
breaking stories as they happen and updating as soon as more
information is available.
Centennial College’s fast-track journalism program
requires applicants to submit an official transcript demonstrating
proof of successful completion of a post-secondary diploma or degree
program. Also considered will be applicants presenting a combination of
partial post-secondary education (minimum of two years) and relevant
work experience. In addition, there will be a four-part writing test as
well as a portfolio and resume submission.
Once students are accepted,
they will learn everything from how to conduct an interview to covering
breaking news and exploring human-interest stories. The point of the
program is to touch on all niches of the field so that students may
discover theirs. This occurs through courses such as: News Reporting
(designed to help students develop a basic proficiency level in
journalistic reporting and writing techniques), Imagining: Journalism
(designed to introduce the basic concepts of photography and imaging
and expand on those basics, primarily pertaining to photojournalism);
Magazine/Freelance Writing (emphasis is placed on finding market
niches, winning assignments and carrying them out professionally); and
many others.
