Master of Arts in Specialized Journalism (Arts and Culture)
We prepare you to be leading-edge food and arts journalists in the world’s most dynamic and culturally rich city: Los Angeles.
As you immerse yourself in the vibrancy of L.A., you will build your storytelling, and multimedia skills with our expert faculty. You will also have opportunities to work behind-the-scenes with professional journalists, artists and culinary experts to experience and produce work that sets you apart as a cultural reporter and critic.
Whether you’re interested in food or arts, including film, TV, visual art, architecture, performance, or fashion, you can craft a customized program of study by taking courses from USC Annenberg and across USC’s six arts schools. Your work will also be amplified through our state-of-the-art media center and collaborations with major media outlets.
Student and alumni work
Filmmaker and activist expands his impact
Writer, filmmaker and community organizer John Kwesi Broadway applies his passions to the Master of Arts in Specialized Journalism (Arts and Culture) program.
Thespian-turned-entertainment journalism grad lands first job at news start-up
Charlotte Phillipp’s journey into arts and entertainment journalism was fueled by her two loves: theater and writing.
Amplifying Black social change makers on the West Coast
Founded by Professor Allissa V. Richardson, the Charlotta Bass Journalism & Justice Lab saves, studies and shares history about Black social justice trailblazers on the West Coast.
Learning about cultures through anthropology, food and journalism
Olivia Dansky’s desire to explore dishes and their relationships to historical culture events and contemporary social issues spurs from her unique educational background.
Transforming storytelling with open-source investigative journalism
USC Annenberg is building America’s premier open-source investigative reporting education program — providing students with an unparalleled opportunity to chart the future of the profession.
From the classroom to the newsroom
The Los Angeles Times, Poynter, NPR, USA Today, and Salon. These are just a few of the media outlets in which journalism master’s students have published their reporting.
Find your community with Ampersand
As an arts journalism master’s student, you will create, edit, manage and sustain Ampersand, our award-winning online arts and culture magazine. You will set the publication’s mission while gaining entrepreneurial expertise as you engage in real journalism in real time.