Become a creative problem solver and leader in mass communications.
Create multimedia narratives in service of the public interest.
Innovate in film and television visual storytelling.
Learn advanced skills for a career in mass communications.
Publish and produce your own work while honing your skills as a writer.
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Gain advanced knowledge and understanding of new media.
Study communications skills aimed at shaping public opinion.
Meet society’s evolving health needs with communication.
Examine how we access, create and share media messages.
Prepare for a dynamic career as a sports media professional.
Influence strategic decisions with data-driven insights.
Develop skills for a readiness approach addressing complex communication issues.
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Journalism is a career and a calling. We serve the public interest by gathering news and telling stories across media—using words, photos, videos, graphics, sound and more. That’s why our program is experiential, giving students hands-on training to develop the skills needed to succeed in a variety of positions and industries.
Our students write travel stories through study-abroad classes in Prague and Copenhagen and they run television news shows in our broadcast studio. They produce podcasts. They create multimedia content for our laboratory news website, Grady Newsource, and for a community newspaper that our program operates, The Oglethorpe Echo. They intern in Atlanta, New York and they work at UGA’s independent student newspaper, The Red & Black.
We have a breadth-and-depth curriculum that teaches foundational skills that all journalists need to know, as well as advanced skills and subjects that students can study based on their interests. We offer classes in video and photo journalism, digital design, feature writing, sports and social media, media law and ethics and podcasting. Discover ways we educate democracy’s next generation.
Through courses in the Journalism major, students learn to find and tell stories that matter on multiple platforms for a variety of audiences. They develop storytelling skills in audio, visual and written forms. They learn what makes a story important, how to gather credible information and how to present it in the most effective way while balancing the ethical and legal needs of news organizations and audiences.
Note: This is not an exhaustive list of all courses offered within the Journalism Department, and it should be kept in mind that not all courses are offered each semester.
Students will develop basic skills in videography and video editing using digital camcorders and non-linear editing software. Students will produce one news package that deals with a local event or issue.
Students will apply design and user-centered concepts to journalistic storytelling involving layout, data visualization, web/mobile design, basic coding, interactives, social media, and basic animation.
Teaches students to write engaging feature articles suitable for a range of platforms. Students will write several publishable-quality stories of various lengths and formats, and they will learn to critically read and analyze good writing.
Exploration of the extended visual essay using still photography and audio to create stories with social impact. Students research, propose, and complete multiple in-depth projects and look at how the visual story affects community understanding.
Equips students with the tools to be adaptable audio storytellers by introducing them to podcast production. Students will develop technical audio skills and hone their writing skills, ultimately producing short-form audio stories as well as a podcast episode and a series proposal.
This course enhances the ability to discern between news and misinformation through critical examination of how we access, analyze, verify, and create media messages.
Provides foundations of camera operation and principles of visual literacy and communication. Students develop a critical eye toward visual imagery and learn to make better pictures, whether for personal or professional goals.
First Amendment principles and communication law affecting print, telecommunications, advertising, and public relations.
Mass media of the world – what they are like, how they operate, and what impact they have. Philosophies of different systems will be compared, as well as efforts at development or regulation of these systems.
Mass media in the United States from the colonial period to the present. Special attention is given to newspapers, magazines, radio, and television and their relationship to the history and development of the nation.
Admissions Process & Requirements
Degree Requirements
Listing of Major Courses
Journalism Technology Requirements
Head, Department of Journalism; Director, James M. Cox Jr. Center for International Mass Communication Training and Research; Associate Professor
Clinical Assistant Professor
About: Anthony Amey is a clinical assistant professor in the Carmical Sports Institute. He worked for more than two decades as a sports anchor and reporter, including ESPN and three […]
Assistant Professor
About: Dr. Karin Assmann teaches video journalism, multimedia production, reporting and storytelling, as well as graduate courses on journalism and mass communication theory. She studies the sociology and business of news […]
Charlayne Hunter Gault Distinguished Writer in Residence; Director of the MFA Narrative Nonfiction Program
About: Moni Basu, otherwise known as Prof B, teaches feature and narrative nonfiction writing. She is the director of the low-residency MFA in Narrative Nonfiction and the Charlayne Hunter-Gault writer […]
Lead Business Manager
Prior to Grady College, Barbara Bond spent the last ten years in the health care industry – nine years as a lead certified pharmacy technician and one year as a […]
Clinical Associate Professor; Director, Cox Institute Journalism Innovation Lab
ABOUT Amanda Bright, PhD, MJE, is a clinical associate professor specializing in community journalism, news product innovation, design and pedagogy. She is the managing editor of Grady Newsource, assistant editor […]
About Andrea Briscoe teaches a variety of journalism classes, such as News, Media and Consumers, Introduction to Photojournalism and Entertainment Reporting. She and Dodie Cantrell created Grady College’s first-ever late-night […]
Knight Chair in Visual Journalism
About: Andrea Bruce is a photographer, educator, artist and writer whose work focuses on ideas of democracy and the aftermath of war. She concentrates on the social issues that are […]
Part-time faculty
About: Burns serves as publisher of The Red & Black Publishing Company, Inc., an independent student media nonprofit that publishes the largest student newspaper in Georgia, provides journalism training, produces […]
About: Nick Chiles is a clinical assistant professor/writer in residence, primarily teaching Feature Writing courses. Previously he was the writing coach at the Grady Writing Lab for journalism students and […]
Part-time Instructor
Tracy Coley (ABJ ’90, MFA ’19) worked for nearly 30 years as a writer, editor, graphic designer, and student mentor in marketing and communications for the University of Georgia. She […]
Grady College Dean, Professor
About: Charles N. Davis is the Dean of the Henry W. Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication at the University of Georgia. He was appointed in 2013, after a […]
Clinical Associate Professor
About: Jennifer Duck, Ph.D., is an Emmy-winning journalist and clinical associate professor specializing in community journalism, academic-industry collaborations, and the impact of social media on news and public understanding. View […]
Lecturer, Assistant Director of Carmical Sports Media Institute
Carlo Finlay is the assistant director and lecturer for the Carmical Sports Media Institute.
Ph.D. Student
Roberta Fiorito is an instructor of record and doctoral student at the Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication, University of Georgia, Athens. Prior to pursuing her Ph.D., she worked for nine years […]
William S. Morris Chair in News Strategy and Management; Executive Director, James M. Cox Jr. Institute and Professor of Practice in Journalism
About: Dr. Herndon teaches courses in the Business of News and Financial Journalism along with Food Journalism as a special topics course and as independent study. He also teaches Media […]
Principal Lecturer
About: Mark E. Johnson teaches photojournalism, multimedia journalism, video journalism and graphic design courses, serves as the college’s Chief Technology Officer and is director of the National Press Photographers Association […]
Andy Johnston is the editor of The Oglethorpe Echo, a weekly newspaper in partnership with Grady College that provides real-word community journalism experience for UGA students. The Echo was second […]
Senior Lecturer; Director, Cox Institute Journalism Writing Lab
About: Lori Johnston teaches a variety of journalism classes, including reporting and writing across platforms, religion reporting, home and garden reporting, critical writing, feature writing and investigative reporting. View Curriculum Vitae […]
Assistant Professor, courtesy appointment from University of Georgia School of Law
Education Ph.D., Yale Law School J.D., University of Michigan Law School M.A., University of St. Andrews View Curriculum Vitae About Thomas E. Kadri joined the University of Georgia School of […]
Lecturer, Sports Media
David Lawson in a lecturer at Grady College.
About:: His professional background includes work in both the print and broadcast media. He’s currently the award-winning Atlanta Falcons Beat Writer for The Atlanta Journal Constitution. He has appeared on […]
PhD Candidate
About: Alexia (Lexie) Little is a PhD candidate specializing in mass communication. Her research interests center around media history, specifically how media construct and negotiate conceptions of collective memory, culture, and […]
Associate Professor; Director, News Literacy Certificate
About: Dr. Lough studies visual communication and solutions journalism, with an emphasis on photojournalism. He teaches graduate-level visual communication method & theory, as well as undergraduate photography and journalism ethics […]
John Huland Carmical Chair in Sports Journalism & Society
About: Vicki Michaelis is the director of the John Huland Carmical Sports Media Institute at UGA. She teaches classes in the institute’s undergraduate Sports Media Certificate program. View Curriculum Vitae […]
Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, Carolyn McKenzie and Don E. Carter Chair for Excellence in Journalism, Associate Professor
ABOUT Dr. Jonathan Peters is the associate dean for academic affairs and the Carolyn McKenzie and Don E. Carter Chair for Excellence in Journalism. He also holds a faculty appointment […]
About: Dr. Pjesivac teaches undergraduate and graduate courses in digital storytelling, public opinion, and international communication. She studies international and cross-cultural communication, media trust and credibility, and effects of digital […]
PhD Student
Brittany Shivers’ research focuses on the psychological processing of disinformation and conspiracy theories, as well as the societal implications of information disorder exacerbated by social media. She researches how organizations, […]
Senior Lecturer
About: Chris Shumway teaches classes in Video Journalism and manages Grady’s video production facilities, which include a digital newsroom, TV studio and field equipment supply room. View Curriculum Vitae Education […]
Associate Professor
About: David Welch Suggs, Jr. is associate director of the Carmical Sports Media Institute and an associate professor of journalism. He has had previous careers as a journalist, as a policy […]
Part-time Instructor; program coordinator, News Literacy Certificate
Charlotte Norsworthy Varnum (ABJ ’19, MA ’20) is a part-time instructor at Grady College and serves as program coordinator for the Cox Institute’s News Literacy Certificate. Varnum is also executive […]
About: Ralitsa Vassileva teaches undergraduate courses with hands-on learning. One of her classes produces live news for TV, online and social media dissemination, while the other focuses on creating multimedia […]
Executive Director of the Cox International Center, Senior Research Scientist
About: Dr. Vlad’s research focuses on media challenges in emerging democracies and impact of midcareer training programs for journalists. He conducted workshops for journalists around the world. Education Ph.D. Philology, […]
About Dr. Walker’s teaching specialties focus on how social justice and race issues are covered in journalism. View Curriculum Vitae Education Ph.D., Mass Communication, University of South Carolina M.A., Mass […]
Jim Kennedy New Media Professor; Director of the Digital Media Attention and Cognition (DMAC) Lab; Professor
About: Dr. Wojdynski teaches courses in multimedia journalism, interactive media, and psychological effects of communication technology. He researches the effects of design and presentation characteristics in digital media on attention, […]
The Carmical Sports Media Institute is home to the Sports Media Certificate, the most in-depth yet wide-ranging program of its kind.
The six-course certificate program uses hands-on experience to help students develop a variety of skills, including broadcasting (on-air and production) and creating social and digital sports content. The Sports Media Certificate is open to all UGA undergraduates, regardless of major or year in school.
Certificate students explore the societal impact of sports and sports media while gaining the multiplatform skills that give them a distinct job-market advantage in one of the media industry’s growth sectors.
The Sports Media Certificate debuted in 2014. Its graduates are working across the sports media industry, for networks such as ESPN, for professional and college teams, and for media outlets such as The Washington Post and The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
For more information about the Sports Media Certificate and up-to-date information on how to apply for the program, please visit sportsmediainstitute.uga.edu.
Clickbait. Deepfakes. Disinformation. Bias. Conspiracies. Hoaxes. The media, especially the news media, shapes what people know about their community and the world. Being literate about the information you receive is essential for making good decisions. A healthy democracy needs as many people as possible to engage in the digital world, including citizens, journalists, educators, and other professionals. We should have the concepts and tools to tell the difference between truth and falsehoods.
Above Grady’s door is the slogan, “Democracy’s Next Generation.” Key to this mission is the role of journalism. Grady’s journalism scholars study public opinion, journalism history, media law, media management and international journalism.
Founded in 2014, the Digital Media Attention and Cognition (DMAC) Lab is focused on studying how people view, understand, and form impressions of digital media. We are housed in the Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication at the University of Georgia.
Founded in Spring 2022, the Qualitative Research Lab, directed by Dr. Karin Assmann, an assistant professor in the Journalism Department, has the software needed for students, both undergraduate and graduate, to conduct qualitative research, which involves analyzing texts, video and audio. Under Dr. Assmann, the lab also provides a space for student researchers to interact and brainstorm with their peers. The Qualitative research lab is located in room 252.
Learn the craft of travel reporting, with a special emphasis on photography. Visit historical sites and learn more about the significance of the Czech Republic and Central Europe.
Join us in May for an intensive, exhilarating and immersive experience in International Mass Communication taught in Croatia! Don’t speak the language? No problem. English fluency is widespread in Croatia.
Immerse yourself in an exciting travel writing course that focuses on subjects that you are most passionate about.
Learn More About Our Study Abroad Opportunities
A Journalism degree from Grady is a ticket to a world of opportunities in media. Our graduates have gone on to successful journalism careers at:
Other graduates, drawing on the transferable skills and entrepreneurial mindset offered by a journalism degree, have gone on to work for the government, social media companies, book publishers, nonprofits and public relations agencies. Still others have gone on to law school or graduate school.
Journalism is more important than ever, and we are helping students to develop the knowledge, creativity, and critical thinking needed to serve the public interest.
Grady College Career Services offers individual counseling sessions for students to discuss career options, job and internship search strategies, resumes and cover letters and interviewing skills. They also provide workshops on topics related to career planning and development.
Contact Director of Experiential Learning, Samantha Meyer, at (706) 542-5032 or sam610@uga.edu, or Grady Career Consultant, Whitney Denney, at (706) 542-3375 or whitney.denney@uga.edu.
As part of our experiential learning at Grady, students have the opportunity to earn academic credit while completing an internship. If you successfully complete all of the requirements of an approved internship while concurrently enrolled in JOUR 5010, you can earn up to three (3) college elective hours of credit.
For more assistance and guidance with internships, visit our Careers and Internships page.
The James M. Cox Jr. Center for International Mass Communication Training and Research (Cox International Center or “Cox Center”) is one of the fully established units in the United States dedicated to international outreach and research in mass communication, media, and journalism. Named after the late James M. Cox, Jr. – chairman of the board of Cox Enterprises – the Cox International Center began operations in 1985. Since 1990, the Center has been supported by annual contributions of the Jim Cox Jr. Foundation of Atlanta as a living memorial to James M. Cox, Jr.
The James M. Cox Jr. Institute for Journalism Innovation, Management and Leadership at the Grady College prepares students and professionals for leadership roles in the news media. By sponsoring intensive training programs and funding applied research, the Cox Institute is at the forefront of addressing the strategic challenges faced by contemporary news organizations.
The Carmical Sports Media Institute gives UGA’s undergraduate Sports Media Certificate program a home base and a distinct brand. The institute provides the resources for student support and experiential-learning opportunities, on-campus programming, community outreach and industry networking.
Housed in the Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication, the Carmical Sports Media Institute emphasizes foundational journalistic principles while helping students adapt and innovate as sports storytellers.
For four decades, the McGill Lecture has brought significant figures in journalism to the University of Georgia to help us honor Ralph McGill’s courage as an editor. In 2007, we added the McGill Symposium, bringing together students, faculty and leading journalists to consider what journalistic courage means and how it is exemplified by reporters and editors. In 2009, we awarded the first McGill Medal to a U.S. journalist whose career has exemplified journalistic courage. All of this is for a single purpose: to advance journalistic courage.
That’s the mission and purpose of the Solutions Journalism Hub at the University of Georgia—to support storytelling that covers both the problems and the actions being taken to address them.
We are committed to advancing education, research and industry collaboration and innovation to improve the understanding and reach of solutions journalism, with a special focus on the southern United States.
As a leading institution in visual journalism education, Grady College is proud to be the home of the National Press Photographers Association (NPPA) and the Best of Photojournalism Competition, which is judged each year within the college’s walls.
Read the newest headlines, get updates and discover events happening at Grady.
InternViews is a series where we ask Grady College students to describe their internship experience. Lily Aldrich is a journalism and atmospheric sciences double major who currently works at WCNC, […]
This is part of a series where we ask Grady College students to describe their internship experience. Ana Escamilla is a rising fourth-year journalism major with a minor in sports […]
Grady College proudly announces Jonathan Peters has been named associate dean for academic affairs and the Carolyn McKenzie and Don E. Carter Chair for Excellence in Journalism. “I am so […]
Andrea Bruce, an internationally recognized and award-winning documentary photographer, publisher and educator, will join the University of Georgia’s Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication on Aug. 1, 2025, as […]
The Oglethorpe Echo was second in General Excellence, the top category in the Georgia Press Association’s (GPA) annual Better Newspaper Contest. General Excellence was one of a record 14 section […]
This is part of a series where we ask Grady College students to describe their internship experience. Kyle Tatelbaum is a journalism and sports media student working for FOX 5 […]
This is part of a series where we ask Grady College students to describe their internship experience. Libby Hobbs graduated with a journalism degree in May 2025 and is in […]
This is part of a series where we ask Grady College students to describe their internship experience. Nicholas Eriksen is a fourth-year journalism major, sport media certificate student and broadcasting […]
Three colleagues who have had an incredible impact on the Department of Journalism and Grady College over the past 30 years are retiring. Janice Hume, former head of the Department […]
We look forward to recognizing our Alumni Award honorees and Grady Fellowship inductees at Grady Salutes on March 27, 2026. More information coming soon.
Grady College’s Spring 2026 Convocation Celebration will take place on May 6, 2026. More information can be found at https://grady.uga.edu/graduation/
“Do what others think is impossible. Go for that big story or project that seems back breaking. When I graduated high school I was denied from the University of Georgia. Once I eventually made it here, I was denied from the sports media program. Both of those moments in my life taught me so much. If I gave up instead of taking the chance to work at making my way in, I never would have become the person I am today and had the privilege to graduate from this university.”
“Grady offers great opportunities that you should take advantage of! But don’t feel like all your involvements have to be confined to just Grady. UGA has 18 colleges worth of clubs, certificates and minors! Go meet different kinds of people and learn additional skills that will ultimately make you a more well-rounded individual.”
“Take advantage of more opportunities on campus! If there’s free time, go to a club meeting that might be of interest to you. It’s an easy way to meet new people and better determine what you’re looking for in a career. Not to mention it’s a great networking opportunity with professors!”
“Professor Mark Johnson has had the biggest impact on my life during my time at UGA. It was Professor Johnson’s intro to photojournalism class my first semester of freshman year that first drew me to visual journalism, and I haven’t looked back since. Professor Johnson is also the professor who gave me the advice that convinced me to double major. He not only taught me the techniques to make a good photograph or the different ways to sequence a set of images, but more importantly he taught me that the most important thing is to care.”
“Stop thinking of yourself as purely a student, or purely a young professional. Take pride in your work. Don’t just write it off as an assignment or scrape by because you don’t think it matters since you’re still in school. You are already what you want to be. You’re there. Now, just focus on the next step.”
Your media career starts here. Choose from four majors: Advertising, Entertainment and Media Studies, Journalism and Public Relations.
