Program Overview

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Journalism – Mass Media

Program Overview

Durham College's Journalism – Mass Media program prepares students for a career in journalism, focusing on the development of critical thinking skills, news writing, and presenting ideas clearly and effectively for mass media and other media formats.

Credential

Ontario College Diploma

Location

Oshawa

OCAS Code

JOMM

Next Intake

September 2025

Faculty

Faculty of Media, Art and Design (MAD)

Length

Four semesters

Laptop

Students are required to purchase their own laptop.

Delivery

In person

Overview

The program covers the broad changes occurring in the media landscape, offering a progressive curriculum that focuses on the development of journalism, social media skills, and content creation on all platforms – print, online, social media, and broadcast, including podcasts.

Admission Requirements

• Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) or Mature Student Status
• Grade 12 English (C or U) (minimum 60 per cent)
• Recommended: Excellent written and oral communication skills

Tuition

• Year one domestic: $2,722 (CAD)
• Year one international: $15,309 (CAD)

Semester 1 Courses

• Communication Foundations (COMM 1100)
• General Education Elective (GNED 0000)
• Reporting 1 (JOUR 1100)
• Interviewing and Research (JOUR 1101)
• Mass Media Fundamentals (MDIA 1102)
• Broadcast Production 1 (MDIA 1103)
• Photo and Video 1 (MDIA 1104)

Career Options

• Broadcast journalist (radio, television)
• Communications specialist
• Content creator
• Editorial designer
• Editor or editorial assistant
• Freelancer journalist or writer
• Staff journalist (online, magazine, newspaper)
• Photographer or photojournalist
• Podcaster
• Producer
• Reporter
• Social media manager
• Investigative journalist
• News anchor
• Digital content strategist
• Copywriter
• Public relations officer
• Video editor
• Scriptwriter
• Web content manager
• Columnist
• Media analyst
• Online community manager

Program Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of the program, students will be able to:

1. Report on stories in an accurate, detailed, balanced, professional, and timely manner.
2. Apply computer and technical skills to designated production and research functions in journalism.
3. Function both independently and as a member of editorial and/or production teams.
4. Analyze knowledge from communities, current events, and public affairs, and history to interpret and express the context for designated journalism publications and/or productions.
5. Develop strategies for personal and professional development.
6. Comply with relevant Canadian legislation, standards, and the principles and practices of journalism.
7. Write and edit content for the designated media platforms.
8. Publish and/or broadcast content for the designated media platforms.
9. Apply production skills and use production equipment in the preparation and distribution of content for the designated media platforms.
10. Assess mass media communications and technologies as they relate to the impact on social and ethical issues.
11. Select and assess appropriate mass media technologies to meet the needs of the intended audience.
12. Plan and design editorial content to fulfill a mass media communications strategy for the client's requirements.
13. Analyze shifts and trends in mass media technologies to anticipate the communication needs of the intended audience.

Program Transfer, Degree Completion, and Additional Credentials

Students may be eligible to apply their academic credits toward further study through Durham College's partnerships with many Canadian and international colleges and universities.

Tech Requirements

• Laptop requirements: A Mac notebook computer is recommended.
• Software requirements: Membership in Adobe Creative Cloud is included in student fees.
• Other recommended hardware: External hard disk USB-3 or USB-C 1 TB or larger, headphones (closed or semi-open type, good quality).

Field Placement

A six-week field placement at the end of the fourth semester provides students with hands-on experience within their field of study.

Experiential Learning

In the second year of the program, students take classes in the morning and work in the Chronicle newsroom in the afternoon, applying the foundations learned in year one to edit video and audio, present on Riot Radio as a host, create online and print content for The Chronicle, and stay active across social media platforms.

Faculty Experts

• Brandon Carson
• Teresa Goff
• Danielle Harder
• Brian Legree
• Julie Pigeon
• Sam Riches
• Kenyon Wallace

Follow us on Social Media

• Twitter: @DurhamCollege
• Instagram: @DurhamCollege
• Facebook: @DurhamCollege
• YouTube: Durham College

Land Acknowledgement

Durham College is situated on the traditional lands of the First Peoples of the Mississaugas of Scugog Island First Nation. These lands are covered under the Williams Treaties and rest within the traditional territory of the Anishinaabeg. We offer our gratitude to the Indigenous Peoples who care for and, through the treaty process, share the lands on which we live, learn, teach, and prosper today.