Journalism

Journalism at UCSB offers students the knowledge and skills they need to practice evidence-based journalism in a quickly changing digital environment - at a time when this type of communication is urgently needed in our democracy. Students study the tenets of critical journalism, practicing writing for both mass and niche audiences using text and visuals on various media platforms.

With the approach of writing towards publication, Journalism students learn and apply the key concepts, strategies and techniques found in this dynamic and quickly-changing industry, working in the classroom and out in the field to identify stories, gather original material, verify facts, and present information clearly and effectively in a variety of media for print and screen. 

Journalism at UCSB training equips students to produce text and multimedia for mass audiences—skills with professional application to virtually every organization that maintains a digital identity. While of particular benefit to students heading for careers in journalism, public relations, and communications, the competencies taught in the Journalism Minor are relevant to digital and media work across industries and fields, including business, technology, nonprofits, and government agencies. 

Students complete the Minor with a professional website showcasing their best work, internship experience relevant to their interests, and skills and techniques of the craft of journalism that carry far beyond the field. 

The Journalism track culminates in a rigorous, real-world sequence consisting of two capstone courses and a professional internship. The first capstone WRIT 152A (Winter) expands on WRIT 107J, and the second capstone WRIT 152B (Spring) expands on WRIT 107DJ. Students concurrently complete their internship in the Spring quarter with WRIT 150.

WRIT 152A: ADVANCED BEAT REPORTING (Winter)
The first capstone for the Journalism track directly expands on foundations from WRIT 107J. Students pitch, report, and write within a dedicated “beat,” enhancing their proficiency in advanced journalistic reporting and revision. The course heavily emphasizes journalistic ethics and distinct writing genres, culminating in the production of an event coverage/breaking news piece, a reported feature, an in-depth profile, and an opinion piece.

WRIT 152B: MULTIPLATFORM JOURNALISM (Spring)
The second capstone for the Journalism track directly expands on WRIT 107DJ. Working collaboratively in editorial teams, students build and manage a digital publication from the ground up using Substack, or an alternative publishing platform. In addition to running the publication, each student produces a long-form, multimedia feature integrating narrative text with multimedia elements, such as professionally edited video, audio, or data visualization. Students also design a professional portfolio website to showcase their work to future employers.

WRIT 150: INTERNSHIP (Spring)
The internship is the opportunity to experience journalism as a working professional. Students engage in an approved, 10-week internship during the Spring quarter. Students enroll in WRIT 150, a Pass/No Pass support seminar that meets 4–5 times to contextualize their professional experience with minimal additional assignments. Students secure placements at local magazines, newspapers, broadcast outlets, and online publications (past partners include The Santa Barbara Independent, Pacific Coast Business Times, and NPR, among others).
 

The Minor itself consists of two Capstone Courses (152A and 152B) taken in Winter and Spring, and one Internship which is supported through the Writing 150 course in Spring. 

Explain the internship, please!

Students completing the minor are required to do a relevant internship of approximately 10 weeks during Spring quarter. Students will also take WRIT 150 during the Spring quarter for academic credit of 2-4 units, depending on how many hours per week students work in the internship. WRIT 150 meets 4-5 times during the quarter with minimal assignments and is taken P/NP. 

Where can students find internships in Journalism?

Journalism at UCSB students have interned at local and extended market magazines, newspapers, broadcast outlets, and online publications, as well as media and public relations companies, including:

American Surf Magazine, CalMatters, Coastal View News, Consequence Media, FutureSox, Her Campus, Just Baseball Media, KSBY, Limon Travel Storytelling, NPR, Noozhawk, Ojai Quarterly, Pacific Coast Business Times, Santa Barbara Independent, Santa Barbara Life & Style Magazine, Santa Barbara Newsmakers, Snowboard Magazine, Sunset Magazine, Voice Magazine.

The track also welcomes internships at internal UCSB publications and organizations, including:

Bottom Line, Daily Nexus, Humanities & Fine Arts Division, UCSB Athletics, UCSB Sustainability, WORD Magazine, the Writing Program.

Also part of the Journalism track is the year-long Web Media Internship (WRIT 124), also known as the HFA Internship. Journalism Minor students may join the Spring quarter of WRIT 124 for 2, 3, or 4 units, participating in various aspects of this unique real-world “writing for a client” course, including content creation for select UCSB organizations, managing the Journalism track social media, the Humans of UCSB Instagram, organizing the Spring HFA Speaks panel, and managing the annual UCSB Creativity Contest.

Students in the minor who can't secure an appropriate internship can earn the required units by taking Writing 161: Digital Storytelling as an elective in the Spring.

Sarah Hirsch                
Co-Director, Journalism Track    
shirsch@writing.ucsb.edu

Tym Chajdas
Co-Director, Journalism Track    
tchajdas@writing.ucsb.edu         

Alison Williams
Director, HFA Internship
alisonwilliams@writing.ucsb.edu