How will a Master's Degree Prepare Me for Next-Generation Journalism?

Advanced skills and experience give you a 'longer look' from employers

What is Next-Generation Journalism?

The field of journalism has been affected by the world it covers—the omnipresence of the digital landscape, the lasting effects of the pandemic and the evolution from text-based reporting to more involving multimedia storytelling.

Gone are the days of “Just the facts, ma’am.” Today’s new journalists seek authenticity and prize relatability and interaction between the reporter and the subject and the story and the reader.

What do journalists need to know now?

A lot, says former NBC News Producer Joe Alicastro, a professor at Sacred Heart University. “I tell my students, ‘If you get hired by a newspaper, you know what they’ll hand you on your first day? A camera,’” he said. Today’s journalists need far more than a pen and a notebook to remain relevant in this digital landscape.

A good journalism program will teach students how to gather facts, take photos, shoot video for TV or social media, operate studio and editing equipment and appear on camera in a media broadcast. And you’ll learn the skills you need from veterans in the field.

I’ve heard journalism is a dying field. Others say it’s just evolving. Which is true?

“Some areas of journalism are thriving, and others aren’t,” Alicastro said.

While you might not find too many job listings for an old-school daily newspaper reporter, local news—especially television news, is doing well. And many top-notch newspapers have made the leap to multimedia possibilities with aplomb. The New York Times is known for its innovative storytelling, Alicastro said.

SHU’s master’s degree in journalism & media production is responding to the trends by making sure their students are well-versed in a variety of skill sets—from gathering information and writing stories and scripts to operating cameras, capturing photos and video on the fly and using technology to enhance a story’s ability to grab a reader.

What’s the best advice you can give a new journalist?

“Pack your bags,” Alicastro says. While you may dream of working at the Washington Post or CNN, you’ve still got to work your way up. The best way to do that is to be willing to start in a smaller market that might not be close to your hometown or college campus.

Those willing to move for the right first or second job—and learn all they can while they’re there—find they can move up the ranks and into the larger market of their dreams. Having a master’s degree—and the technical, editorial and theoretical skills that go along with it—will give you the leg up to stand out from the pack when looking for those prime first gigs.

What sets the master’s program at Sacred Heart University apart?

The MA in journalism & media production (JMP) in the School of Communication, Media & the Arts takes an intensive approach to learning in journalism, photography, videography, documentary filmmaking and television production. Courses are hands on, with 10 out of 12 centered on applied learning to prepare students for next generation journalism.

SHU courses are taught by practicing and veteran journalists, who’ve worked with Newsday, U.S. News & World Report, NBC, Time Magazine and the New York Film Academy.

SHU students work in studios and editing suites custom built by the same company that built the NBC Sports headquarters just down the coast in Stamford. Speaking of which, NBC is one of many top multimedia employers located close to SHU’s Connecticut campus, including ESPN and Hearst Media, who have offered top internships and competitive jobs to SHU grads. The proof of the program’s success is in the considerable number of alumni already working as reporters and media producers across the nation and around the globe.

Want to know more about the master of arts in journalism & media production at Sacred Heart University?

Curious about earning your graduate degree in journalism & media production? Talk to Ed Nassr, associate director of graduate admissions & recruitment, at nassre@sacredheart.edu or schedule a virtual appointment today!

Pictured: Professor Joe Alicastro, center, leads students in the SCMA production studio during the SHU Media Exchange.