Master of Science in Journalism

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You will advance excellence and drive innovation in today’s converged media landscape because we prepare you to be a highly-skilled, technologically fluent journalist.

The complex and culturally rich city of Los Angeles provides endless sources for stories as you report, produce, code and publish your work in a deadline-driven environment while also pursuing in-depth, multimedia projects. Through our intense, 11-month program, you will build a foundation of excellence in writing and ethics that emphasizes the importance of journalistic rigor, investigative reporting, and furthering the role of diverse communities in storytelling.

As our award-winning faculty guide you to create high-impact journalism, our media center’s cutting-edge capabilities will allow you to cover news across media and platforms — on the web and on the air, through podcasts and documentaries, and by embracing new and emerging technologies.

By the numbers

1/2

of students receive merit-based scholarship or fellowship fundingSince the program's inception in 2014, nearly half of our students have received support toward their education.

Since the program's inception in 2014, nearly half of our students have received support toward their education.

students in each graduating classEach graduating class is a small, close-knit community of journalists who receive personal attention from professors with experience in the field.

Each graduating class is a small, close-knit community of journalists who receive personal attention from professors with experience in the field.

100% %

of students learn digital journalism skillsOur students build a critical foundation in coding and data storytelling.

Our students build a critical foundation in coding and data storytelling.

100% %

of our Class of 2023 employed within 12 months of graduationOur recent graduates have gone on to distinguished careers with employers such as the Washington Post, BuzzFeed, National Public Radio and The World Bank.

Our recent graduates have gone on to distinguished careers with employers such as the Washington Post, BuzzFeed, National Public Radio and The World Bank.

Student, alumni and faculty work

Young woman standing in front of the USC Annenberg Media Center media halo, smiling.

GRoW @ Annenberg scholar has an appetite for storytelling

Master’s student and veteran podcaster Daniella Lake sets her sights on the anchor’s desk.

Brothers and storytellers

From their days as young actors, identical twins Matthew and Benjamin Royer have always been by each other’s side.

L.A. on the margins

From pitch to final mixdown, students produce professional-quality longform audio stories for LAist Studios’ “How To LA” podcast.

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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.

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Showcasing Tijuana with LA TACO

Led by professors Amara Aguilar and Laura Castañeda, the intensive, two-week class trains students to engage with the local community while reporting on food and culture.

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.

Build your multimedia storytelling skills

USC Annenberg’s Media Center is a classroom and working newsroom with state- of-the-art capabilities, allowing you to gain firsthand experience in all fields of the news media. You will join the student-led news outlet Annenberg Media to explore writing, podcasting, television, and producing videos for social media. The media center’s award-winning faculty advisers will guide you as you tackle the day’s news and delve deeper into topics that matter to the USC community.

Learn more