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 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.
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.
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New Beats: Mass redundancies, career changes and the future of Australian journalism
This ongoing project is investigating what happens to around 3,000 journalists who became redundant in Australia during or since 2012.
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First Nation’s Media Australia research
The Centre for Advancing Journalism (CAJ) is working with First Nations Media Australia (FNMA) on research to measure the reach and impact of Indigenous broadcasting channels and services across remote, regional and suburban Australia.
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Melanesia Media Freedom Forum
The Melanesia Media Freedom Forum was initiated in 2019 in response to concerns around increasing media repression in Melanesian nations which are our close neighbour.
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.
Australian Associated Press (AAP)
The Centre also supports the Australian Associated Press through the AAP Civic Journalism Project, supporting it as it re-emerges to serve Australian media outlets.
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. Guardian Australia provides high level internships for Journalism students to work on investigations and special reporting projects.
Public Interest Journalism Initiative (PIJI)
In 2021 the Centre confirmed a collaboration with PIJI, a specialist think tank advancing a sustainable future for public interest journalism in Australia.
This partnership seeks to advance public interest journalism in understanding and responding to the challenges the Australian news media faces as a result of disruption and market failure. Through a series of research projects CAJ and PIJI will work together to fill data gaps and develop fit-for-purpose policy design for a changing media market that produces a diversity and plurality of sustainable, public interest journalism in Australia.
University of Melbourne journalism students will benefit from the association through collaborative research, including involvement with PIJI’s Newsroom Mapping project, which is charting the state of Australian news outlets and their capacity to produce public interest journalism. If you are interested in supporting this initiative and in making a difference to the development of our students, providing them with opportunities to enrich and extend their learning in this field, please click to donate.
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
- Graduate Certificate in Journalism (Advanced)
- Graduate Diploma in Journalism (Advanced)
- Master of Journalism
- Master of International Journalism
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.
