Journalism today revolves around digital communication, making it a natural fit with online study.
Australian universities offer fully online degrees in journalism, usually in the form of a major within an arts or communications program.
- Distance education courses develop reporting, editing and production skills in print, radio, television and online formats.
- They prepare you for diverse roles using current media technologies to communicate to large audiences.
Journalism graduates are employed in reporting industries and as communication experts in business and government.
From broadcast news reporting to independent online commentary; from freelance documentaries to sophisticated data analysis and interpretation; from live field reporting to reflective long-form story-telling. Today’s journalists need to be skilled communicators who can work across platforms.
Why Study Journalism?
Studying journalism gives you analytical and communication skills of value in many different fields.
Journalism is a versatile discipline. A degree in journalism prepares you for the modern workforce, where being able to communicate well and adapt to changing job demands are essential.
Your options extend far beyond working as a traditional newspaper, TV or radio reporter. With an online degree in journalism, you might be employed as an:
- editor of books, magazines, newsletters and brochures
- copyrighter who crafts persuasive ads for different media
- public relations professional doing branding, corporate communication and social media
- document writer, producing industry reports and grant applications
- content producer for news, information and entertainment sites.
The core skills of journalism are to research insightfully, question artfully, and write cleanly and crisply so everyone understands.
Study Journalism Online
You can study journalism online as part of a communications, arts or digital media degree. Masters and other postgraduate courses are also available.
Online journalism degrees give you the chance to build a broad set of foundation skills. Modern journalists need to have many different competencies. So you might study:
- News reporting, news writing, media law and broadcast journalism
- Social media stories, communication management, marketing and promotions
- Video production, digital archives, combining media for storytelling.
You can shape your online program through choice of electives. For bachelor-degree students, the aim is to prepare you for widely different roles. Postgraduate students have greater scope to specialise.
The online journalism bachelor's degree builds foundational communication skills that are sought after in nearly any industry. Hone your writing and editing skills, learn to use digital technology to reach and engage audiences around the globe, and gain perspective on the role of media in our society. The program places a strong emphasis on helping you find a career once you finish your degree.
~ Colorado State
Best Bachelor Degrees
The best online bachelor degrees in journalism prepare you for future content creation and production jobs.
Skill demands on journalists are greater than ever.
- The best degrees help you develop skills that are relevant to modern communications roles.
- You're able to access a wide range of writing and digital media units 100% online.
The top bachelor degrees are not just about traditional journalism, but giving you skills that you'll need in your future career.
USQ Journalism Bachelor Degrees
The University of Southern Queensland lets you study journalism within different bachelor degree structures. Available qualifications include Bachelor of Communication and Media (Journalism) and Bachelor of Arts (Journalism). Journalism can be studied alongside subjects such as marketing, public relations, advertising, communication and media, and creative writing. The programs cover traditional journalism subjects like journalism practice, news reporting, radio journalism, feature writing, and medial law and ethics.
Top Masters Courses
Studying online for a masters degree in journalism is a way of gaining a professional qualification and/or furthering your journalistic skills.
- Some of Australia’s top distance education universities have strong programs at the masters level, with many journalism and related units to choose from.
- Courses typically take 1.5 years if studied full time and have dissertation (non-coursework) elements.
We’ve had students go into jobs where they’ve been the innovators because they’ve known the most about technology and multimedia skills; they’ve helped the organisation do new things.
~ Sue Wallace
USQ Master of Arts
Professional or prospective journalists can gain job-relevant skills by studying for a Master of Arts (Humanities and Communication) by distance education with the University of Southern Queensland. The affordable and highly rated course allows you to study topics such as advanced writing, analytical and opinion writing, international relations, Australia and Asia, and specialised reporting. Students can elect to study online or on campus.