School of Journalism
Why study journalism and public relations at USC Annenberg
The journalism and public relations fields are grounded in the telling of powerful stories that inform, enlighten, educate, advocate, and heal. By telling these stories to, about and for a wide mosaic of people, journalists and PR professionals strive to hold institutions accountable, build communities and advance brands.
At USC Annenberg, our faculty — both scholars and practitioners — provide a unique blend of critical theory and ethical practice that prepares our students for careers in a culture in which their stories and messages carry greater influence than ever before.
Our mission is to lead the fields of journalism and public relations through groundbreaking scholarship, teaching and public service in a global multicultural environment. We consider this mission to be inseparable from our commitment to diversity. We cannot advance the fields of journalism and public relations without full representation and participation across all manners of difference.
School of Journalism’s Degree Programs and Academic Majors
Master’s
Journalism (MS)
Develop into a deadline-driven multimedia journalist producing cross-platform stories in a converged news environment.
Public Relations and Advertising (MA)
Prepare to advocate on behalf of a person, brand or organization by executing strategies informed by audience insights, and producing multiplatform storytelling grounded in ethical frameworks and data intelligence.
Public Relations Innovation, Strategy and Management (Online) (MS)
Evolve and lead the PR industry as emerging technologies expand the ways organizations communicate.
Specialized Journalism (MA)
Produce high-level, long-form reporting grounded in content-area expertise developed by taking courses across the university.
Specialized Journalism (Arts and Culture) (MA)
Learn to report on and magnify the arts as a critical aspect of culture while building multi- media journalism skills.
Undergraduate
Journalism (BA)
Guided by rigorous journalistic and ethical standards, report, write and produce news stories across platforms — while harnessing emerging technologies.
Public Relations and Advertising (BA)
From developing brand messages to establishing a content strategy to implementing social media campaigns, learn how to advocate on behalf of a person, brand or organization.
See the impact
Amplifying Latinx stories in the media
Mariela Gomez, inaugural Paramount Latinx Diversity in Journalism Endowed Scholar, is looking forward to bringing authenticity to storytelling.
The Ghana immersive reporting project
Through the new course “Ghana Immersive Reporting Project,” USC Annenberg professors Miki Turner and Afua Hirsch will take USC Annenberg students to Ghana to intern at local news outlets and to report on the country’s evolution and global cultural significance.
Charting the #PRFuture
ZaZu Lippert ’22 takes you behind the scenes of a podcast series hosted by Fred Cook, director of the Center for Public Relations.
Hands-on experience
Newsroom, classroom, incubator
Our state-of-the-art media center allows students to cover breaking news, create high-impact journalism on multiple platforms, produce podcasts, and collect and integrate audience analytics.
Create impact
Annenberg Media, an entirely student-led team of journalists has produced award-winning coverage on topics such as politics, sports, entertainment, culture, and more.
The future of PR
The Center for Public Relations connects corporations, agencies, academics and students to define the future of the public relations industry and to develop those who will shape it.