Journalism

Our program is focused on preparing graduates for careers in rapidly changing media landscapes. We offer practice-based courses enabling our students to learn many journalistic skills by doing journalism, at a high standard, for real audiences.

Journalism students

Journalism at Melbourne

We are focused on producing and publishing work of industry-quality in The Citizen and The Junction, and in major industry publications. Our curriculum is designed so graduates develop confidence, contacts and portfolios of published work. We also offer pathways for graduates to pursue academic research to PhD level.

We are a unique program that plays a constructive role in the future of public interest journalism through innovation in research, engagement and teaching.

Our staff are outstanding professional practitioners with expertise across a diverse range of fields. This includes:

This includes:

  • News gathering and news writing
  • Video, audio, digital and social media production
  • International journalism
  • Data journalism
  • Media law and ethics
  • Traditional and emerging media

We are a hub of thinking, conversation and creativity that embraces the opportunities in change.

Our program is committed to harnessing the unprecedented potential for a more engaged citizenry through the power of journalism.

View our staff

Featured research

Our research is focused on supporting public interest journalism to survive and thrive amid digital disruption. Our public events provide essential opportunities for industry, academia and the public to intersect.

More featured research

Industry links and events

A N Smith Lecture

The Centre for Advancing Journalism hosts the A N Smith Lecture, Australia’s oldest and most prestigious annual lecture on Journalism.

Guardian Australia

The Centre  has a unique relationship with Guardian Australia and through the Guardian Civic Journalism Trust by facilitating philanthropic support for The Guardian.

The Science Gallery/All the Best

Students studying Audio Journalism collaborate with mentors from All the Best radio show to create audio stories for the University of Melbourne’s Science Gallery.   This allows students to learn from professionals and create networks with audio journalists while they are still studying. All The Best also offers a 20 day internship to our students as part of the Internship subject capstone for the Masters of Journalism and Masters of International Journalism

The Masterclass

The Centre has created an audio journalism pedagogical podcast hosted by Associate Professor Louisa Lim, who interviews some of Australia’s top journalists.  The podcast, which has three seasons, won awards for best Education podcast and best Specialist podcast at the 204 Australian Podcast Awards.

ABC

Students have the opportunity to visit the ABC studios in Southbank as part of their Video Journalism studies. ABC Also offers three separate internship opportunities for students, a 10 day internship with ABC TV Breakfast, a 10 day Internship with ABC Victoria and a 20 day internship with ABC Asia Pacific.

PEN MELBOURNE

The Centre for Advancing Journalism also maintains a close relationship with PEN Melbourne through Sami Shah’s role as PEN’s Ambassador-at-Large. This collaboration has fostered a shared commitment to defending press freedom and the public’s right to know. Together, CAJ and PEN Melbourne have co-sponsored public forums and panel discussions on whistleblowers, free expression, and the growing threats to investigative journalism—bringing journalists, academics, and advocates into conversation about how to protect truth-telling in Australia’s media landscape.

Other Internship Opportunities

The Centre for Advancing Journalism has a network of connections with local print and digital papers, radio stations and magazines which offer a variety of internships catering to different interests. In addition to ABC News, some of our popular internship organisations include: Broadsheet, Urban List, The Westsider, Hyperlocal News, Manningham Life, Australian Design Review, The Wire, 3CR and FBi Radio as well as some regional and interstate opportunities such as Canberra Times and Castlemaine Mail.

Journalism students outside Old Arts (Building 149)

Study with us

Become a journalist of the future. Our courses have trained leading Australian and international journalists, including a number of Walkley Award winners, through our unique combination of training, mentorship and industry partnership.

Graduate coursework

Build the skills you need to become an expert in your profession. Learn about applying for postgraduate programs, including sample course plans for our Master of Journalism and Master of International Journalism courses.

Meet our Journalism staff

Our academics are exceptional journalists, broadcasters, researchers and industry professionals who regularly contribute to the world’s leading news media.

Profile picture of Andrew Dodd

Prof Andrew Dodd

Director of the Centre for Advancing Journalism
adodd@unimelb.edu.au +61383445841
Profile picture of Craig Butt

Craig Butt

Subject Coordinator in Journalism
craig.butt@unimelb.edu.au
Profile picture of Liam Cochrane

Mr Liam Cochrane

Lecturer in Video Journalism and Photojournalism
liam.cochrane@unimelb.edu.au +61383442080
Profile picture of Louisa Lim

Dr Louisa Lim

Deputy Director CAJ, Associate Professor, Audio-Visual Journalism
louisa.lim@unimelb.edu.au +61390353921
Profile picture of Bernadette Nunn

Bernadette Nunn

Senior Tutor in Journalism
bernadette.nunn@unimelb.edu.au
Profile picture of Sami Shah

Sami Shah

Lecturer in Journalism
sami.shah@unimelb.edu.au
Profile picture of Lucy Smy

Dr Lucy Smy

Director of the Master of Journalism and the Master of International Journalism, Lecturer in Journalism
lucy.smy@unimelb.edu.au
Profile picture of Denis Muller

Dr Denis Muller

Senior Lecturer in Journalism 
dmuller@unimelb.edu.au +61383449439
Profile picture of Mell Chun

Mell Chun

Lecturer in Journalism 
mell.chun@unimelb.edu.au

Journalism honorary staff