Humanities & Writing

Journalism major, explained.

Find, verify, and tell stories the public needs.

Journalism teaches students to identify important questions, gather and verify information, interview sources, work under deadlines, make ethical decisions, and tell accurate stories across text, audio, video, photography, and data.

Try this major through a project Compare this major

You might enjoy this if

Notice what feels familiar.

You are curious enough to keep asking follow-up questions.

You care whether a claim is accurate and supported.

You like telling real stories for a public audience.

The study experience

What the work may feel like.

Programs differ by college. These labels describe common areas of emphasis, not a score or universal rating.

Reading Central
Writing Central
Quantitative work Some
Labs or hands-on work Limited
Design and making Some
People and collaboration Central
Questions you may keep asking

What does the public need to know?

How can this claim be verified?

Whose perspective is missing from the story?

ReportingMedia law and ethicsEditingMultimedia storytellingData journalism

What can you do with this major?

One major. More than one direction.

These are example connections, not guaranteed outcomes. Many careers welcome more than one major, and some require additional education or licensure.

Reporter

Finds, verifies, and explains information about events, institutions, or communities.

Editor

Shapes coverage, strengthens reporting, and helps stories meet standards for clarity and accuracy.

Audio Producer

Researches, records, structures, and edits nonfiction audio stories.

Communications Investigator

Uses reporting and research skills in watchdog, nonprofit, policy, or organizational settings.

Journalism is changing rapidly across platforms and business models. A portfolio of accurate, original reporting is central preparation for the field.

Try it before college

Projects that make Journalism more real.

Reading helps you understand a field. A Compass project helps you discover whether you enjoy doing the work.

Each project includes a step-by-step plan, custom AI prompts, reflection guidance, and a finished creation for the student’s portfolio. See how Compass works
Compass project 20–40 hours

Behind the Headlines

Compare how different news outlets tell the same story, then write the report you think readers deserve.

You will create
Media Analysis & Evidence-Based News Report
Build this with Compass
Compass project 30–56 hours

Fact-Check the Internet

Take one viral claim from confident post to documented verdict.

You will create
viral claim fact-check and verification tutorial
Build this with Compass
Compass project 30–56 hours

Run a Newsroom for One Day

Turn a real event or issue into a deadline-driven news package with roles, standards, and no time for chaos.

You will create
one-day newsroom publication
Build this with Compass

Keep exploring

Related majors worth comparing.

Sources and important context

Compass presents a curated collection of 100 widely studied and commonly searched undergraduate majors. The collection is not a statistical ranking. Major names and CIP connections follow common US college usage and the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs. Study patterns are editorial summaries of common program structures and vary by college. Career directions are examples, not guaranteed outcomes. Students should compare actual curricula, admission rules, accreditation, and licensing requirements at colleges they are considering.

NCES CIP codes: 09.0401

Turn this interest into something real.

Compass gives students the project and the plan.

Explore Compass projects