When considering programs in journalism, one of the most important factors is accreditation. The Accrediting Council on Education in Journalism and Mass Communication (ACEJMC) is the agency responsible for accrediting journalism programs in American colleges and universities. The organization provides a current list of journalism programs that meet an established list of standards.
Accredited journalism programs require at least 90 credit hours of classes outside of journalism education. Editors tend to look for graduates with a broad liberal education. Students might also consider pursuing a concentration or minor in an area they wish to someday cover, such as business, arts, science, or political science.
Within the journalism program, students should look for a curriculum that balances craft with theory. Skills courses should include writing, editing, graphics, photography, and business courses. All students involved in journalism should understand all of the elements that come together to produce a newspaper or other form of media.
Finally, students might consider attending a school that offers an outlet for practicing the craft, such as a campus newspaper or journals. Writers should aim to get published so they will have clips to show prospective editors, while photojournalists should seize any opportunity to develop a portfolio of photographs.
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