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Studies & Degrees in Broadcast Journalism

Broadcast journalism is the branch of journalism that gathers, produces and presents news for television, radio and, increasingly, online video, podcasts and social media. Students learn the same core skills as any reporter: finding and checking stories, interviewing, writing clearly and working within media law and ethics. On top of that they learn to tell a story with sound and pictures.

A typical programme combines newsroom practice with studio and field production. At the University of Miami, for example, courses cover on-camera performance such as anchoring, interviewing and live reporting, electronic media production in the studio and the control room, non-linear editing, and television news reporting and producing. Most schools run their own student television or radio station, where students produce real programmes to a deadline. Sports reporting, podcasting, documentary and data journalism are common electives.

Qualifications and levels

  • Associate degrees and diplomas: two-year colleges teach production-oriented programmes. Northeast Community College in Nebraska offers a certificate and an Associate of Applied Science in Media Arts, taught in radio, television, sound recording and video production facilities. In Canada, the Digital Communications and Media diploma at Lethbridge Polytechnic (listed on SpainExchange as Lethbridge College) lasts 2 years and includes a 150-hour practicum.
  • Bachelor's degrees: the standard entry route. In the United States the subject is offered as a major, and sometimes as a minor; the University of Miami awards a Bachelor of Science in Communication (B.S.C.) in Broadcast Journalism and states that no prior study of or experience in journalism is required. In the United Kingdom a bachelor's degree with honours usually lasts three years: the BA (Hons) Journalism at the University of Sunderland has a duration of 3 years, and its students work for the university's radio station and websites.
  • Master's degrees: aimed at graduates of any field who want to move into journalism. The MS in Journalism at Boston University consists of 12 courses and 50 credits over three semesters, with electives that include broadcast news, documentary journalism and sports journalism. The university states that applicants do not need a journalism degree and that no GRE is required.

Accreditation is voluntary but worth checking. In the United States, the Accrediting Council on Education in Journalism and Mass Communications (ACEJMC) accredits professional journalism and mass communications programmes at institutions of higher learning. In the United Kingdom, the Broadcast Journalism Training Council (BJTC) brings together media employers and education providers and describes itself as one of the largest journalism accreditation bodies in the country; the National Council for the Training of Journalists (NCTJ) accredits courses such as the Sunderland degree. Ask each school which accreditation its programme holds.

Where to study it

SpainExchange lists 29 active schools for broadcast journalism. Most are in the United States (22), followed by the United Kingdom (2); Australia, Canada, Ethiopia, Ireland and Mexico have one each. Teaching is in English in almost all of them. The Mexican school, CINEMA - Escuela de Cinematografía y Medios Audiovisuales in Puebla, is a film and audiovisual media school.

The schools in the United States range from community colleges, such as Northeast Community College, Broward College and Bergen Community College, to large universities such as the University of Miami, Temple University, the University of Maryland, Boston University and West Virginia University. In the United Kingdom, the list includes the University of Sunderland and Robert Gordon University in Aberdeen.

International applicants should compare entry requirements and fees school by school. The University of Sunderland, for instance, makes a typical offer of 104-120 UCAS Tariff points and publishes an international fee of £17,500 for its journalism degree starting in September 2026. Because the work depends on language, schools ask non-native speakers for proof of English.

Careers

Graduates work as reporters, correspondents, news presenters, producers, video journalists and editors for television and radio stations, news websites and production companies. The same skills are used in podcasting, sports media, corporate communication and public relations.

The job market for traditional news roles is tight. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, news analysts, reporters and journalists held 47,100 jobs in the United States in 2025, and employment is projected to decline 6 percent from 2025 to 2035. Even so, about 3,400 openings are projected each year, mostly to replace people who leave the occupation. The Bureau adds that a bachelor's degree is the typical entry requirement and that an internship or experience at a college newspaper, radio station or television station may be helpful. This is why practical work at a student station and a portfolio of published reports matter as much as the degree itself.

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between journalism and broadcast journalism?

Broadcast journalism applies the general methods of journalism to television, radio and online video and audio. Students also learn camera work, sound, editing, presenting and newscast production.

Do I need previous experience to start a broadcast journalism degree?

Usually not. The University of Miami, for example, states that no prior study of or experience in journalism is required for its Broadcast Journalism programme.

How long does it take to study broadcast journalism?

It depends on the level. College diplomas such as the one at Lethbridge Polytechnic last 2 years, the journalism degree at the University of Sunderland lasts 3 years, and the master's at Boston University takes three semesters.