The School of Journalism and Communication is a department within the Faculty of Public Affairs at Carleton University in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. It is the oldest four-year journalism program[1] in Canada. The journalism program is recognized as one of North America's most well-respected centres for the study of journalism.[2]
The School of Journalism and Communication is part of the Faculty of Public Affairs[3] and has a distinct institutional status within the university, on account of its well-established history, higher admission requirements[4] and distinct degree programs.
The School of Journalism offers a four-year Bachelor of Journalism Honours program. Graduates of the undergraduate program receive an honours Bachelor of Journalism (BJ) degree.
In 2018, a Bachelor of Media Production and design degree was added to the program offerings.[5]
At the graduate level, the School of Journalism offers a two-year Master's program. Its graduates receive a Master of Journalism (MJ) degree.[6] Applicants with professional journalism experience or degrees in journalism may be admitted directly into Year Two of the program, allowing them to complete the graduate program in one year.[6]
The School of Journalism and Communication offers its students workplace experience through the Apprenticeship Program.[7] Apprenticeships are unpaid work intended to provide hands-on experience to students outside of the classroom setting.[7]
BJ students with third- and fourth-year standing have an apprenticeship/internship requirement[8] and may use the Apprenticeship Program to meet this requirement.
MJ students must to complete four months of practical experience to their fulfill degree requirements[6] and may use the Apprenticeships Program to meet program requirements.[9]
From 2006 to 2011, the School of Journalism and Communication ran a teaching partnership and student internship exchange program called the Rwanda Initiative.[10] The program sought to address the shortage of journalism educators in Rwanda and improve journalism standards through a teaching exchange between the Carleton University School of Journalism and Communication and the National University of Rwanda in Butare.[11] The project involved curriculum development for the university programs and media-training workshops for working journalists in Rwanda presented by faculty from both universities.[11]
The Initiative also included internship program for senior journalism students from Carleton. The journalism students would travel to Rwanda for two months, where they would intern at local media outlets.[12] The Rwanda Initiative also facilitated travel for Rwandan journalists to study at Carleton or take up internships with Canadian news organizations.[13]
The program was suspended in 2011 due to a lack of funding when a partnership agreement with the U.S. Government lapsed.[14] The annual cost of the program was stated at $240,000 CAD.[10]
In 2020, the School of Journalism and Communication launched a research initiative called The Future of Journalism Initiative.[15] The endeavor has designated funding, an emerging reporter bursary and a visiting research fellowship and works in service of "projects that serve a public interest and/or bolster the study of journalism in society."
Founded in 1945, The School of Journalism and Communication celebrated its 75th anniversary in 2020.[16] The first class was held on October 9, 1945 in downtown Ottawa.[17]
Early classes at the school were taught by Henry Marshall Tory, who was also the president of the Carleton at the time.[18] Tory is credited with personally spearheading the creation of the School of Journalism as a response to demands from returning World War II servicemen.[19] The program began as an extension course and later became a four-year program.[20]
The school granted the first degrees in journalism on October 23, 1946, all of which were conferred to women.[19] They were also three of the first six degrees granted in the history of the University.[19]
The School of Journalism graduated approximately 5,000 alumni.
The school's notable alumni include Edward Greenspon, former editor-in-chief of The Globe and Mail, Paula Newton, International Affairs correspondent for the CNN, Nahlah Ayed, Middle East correspondent for the CBC, Rosemary Barton, chief political correspondent for the CBC, Arthur Kent, Emmy award–winning war correspondent, Dennis Gruending, former Member of Parliament, Paul Watson, Pulitzer Prize–winning photojournalist, Trina McQueen, founding president of the Discovery Channel, Claudia Mo, former Member of the Legislative Council of Hong Kong, Warren Kinsella, blogger, Toronto lawyer and political strategist for the Liberal Party of Canada and Peter Howell, movie critic for The Toronto Star.[21]
| Name | Graduating Year | Degree | Publications & Work |
|---|---|---|---|
| Faith Avis[22] | 1945 | BJ | First director of public relations at Kingston General Hospital, book reviewer for the Kingston Whig-Standard |
| Betty Cameron[23] | 1945 | BJ | Ottawa Citizen reporter, BBC reporter |
| Wilfred H. Kesterton[24] | 1949 | BJ | Scholar of Canadian journalism history and media law |
| Ellen Lennox[25] | 1945 | BJ | Ottawa Citizen reporter |
| Name | Graduating Year | Degree | Publications & Work |
|---|---|---|---|
| Carman Cumming[26] | 1955 | BJ | Reporter at the United Nations and Parliament of Canada for the Canadian Press |
| Peter Worthington[27] | 1956 | BJ | Founder of the Toronto Sun, Canadian News Hall of Fame inductee |
| Marguerite Hale[28] | 1954 | BJ | Member of the Order of Canada[29] |
| Name | Graduating Year | Degree | Publications & Work |
|---|---|---|---|
| G. Stuart Adam[30] | 1963 | BJ | Toronto Star reporter, Director of the School Journalism & Communication[31] |
| David Eisenstadt[32] | 1967 | BJ | PR professional |
| Joyce Fairbairn[33] | 1961 | BJ | Communications coordinator for Pierre Trudeau, Senator |
| Eric Malling[34] | 1968 | BJ | Regina Leader-Post and Toronto Star reporter, host of The Fifth Estate on the CBC, host of W5 on CTV |
| Trina McQueen[35] | 1964 | BJ | Officer of the Order of Canada, Founding president of the Discovery Channel |
| Louise Rachlis[36] | 1968 | BJ | Writer for Postmedia newspapers, advertising features editor at the Ottawa Citizen |
| Carol Lutes Racine[37] | 1962 | BJ | Ottawa Citizen reporter, federal public servant |
| Gail Scott[38] | 1966 | BJ | Host of W5 on CTV, host of Canada AM on CTV, commissioner of the CRTC |
| Linda Thom[39] | 1967 | BJ | Olympic Gold Medallist, Member of the Order of Canada |
| Name | Graduating Year | Degree | Publications & Work |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mark Bulgutch[40] | 1974[41] | BJ | Senior Executive Producer at CBC News, Gemini Award winner |
| Michel Cormier[42] | 1979 | BJ | Executive Director of News and Current Affairs at Société Radio-Canada |
| Edward Greenspon[43] | 1979 | BJ | Editor-in-chief at The Globe and Mail |
| Arthur Kent[44] | 1975 | BJ | War correspondent for NBC News, Emmy Award winner |
| Sheila MacVicar[45] | 1977 | BJ | Foreign correspondent at CBC, ABC, CNN and CBS; Emmy Award, Edward R. Murrow Award and Peabody Award winner |
| Giselle Portenier[46] | 1978 | BJ | Documentary filmmaker, Peabody Award winner |
| Michael Rose[47] | 1979 | BJ | Author, journalist, broadcaster, communications consultant |
| Claudia Mo[48] | 1979 | BJ | Journalist, former Member of the Legislative Council of Hong Kong, activist |
| Name | Graduating Year | Degree | Publications & Work |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mike Blanchfield[49] | 1987, 2015 | BJ ('87)
MJ ('15) |
War correspondent, reporter for the Ottawa Citizen, reporter for the Canadian Press |
| James Duthie[50] | 1989 | BJ | Sportscaster with TSN, Olympic anchor with CTV |
| Joe Friday[51] | 1983 | BJ | Public servant, Office of the Public Sector Integrity Commissioner |
| Paul Watson[52] | 1982 | BJ | Photojournalist, Pulitzer Prize winner |
| Carl Hanlon[53] | 1981 | BJ | Washington correspondent at Global Television, corporate communications for the World Bank |
| Greg Ip[54] | 1989 | BJ | Economics journalist at The Vancouver Sun, The Economist, The Wall Street Journal |
| Jason Kay[55] | 1989 | BJ | Editor in chief at The Hockey News |
| Warren Kinsella[56] | 1984[57] | BJ | Lawyer, author, musician, political consultant, and commentator. |
| Laurie LeBlanc[58] | 1986 | BJ | Deputy Minister at Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing for the Government of Ontario |
| Laura Lynch[59] | 1983 | BJ | Host, foreign correspondent, parliamentary correspondent and senior reporter at CBC |
| Brian Maracle[60] | 1982 | BJ | Writer at The Globe and Mail, host of Our Native Land on CBC, Mohawk language advocate and teacher |
| Susan Ormiston[61] | 1981 | BJ | Senior correspondent at CBC News, Gemini Award winner, Foreign Press Association Award winner |
| Shelley Page[62] | 1986 | BJ | Writer at the Ottawa Citizen, communications professional |
| André Picard[63] | 1987 | BJ | Health reporter and columnist, the Globe and Mail |
| Miles Socha[64] | 1988 | BJ | Editor in chief at Women's Wear Daily |
| Name | Graduating Year | Degree | Publications & Work |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nahlah Ayed[65] | 1997 | MJ | Foreign correspondent at CBC News |
| Kim Brunhuber[66] | 1995, 1997 | BJ ('95)
MJ ('97) |
Foreign correspondent at CBC News, anchor of CNN Newsroom |
| Rita Celli[67] | 1991 | BJ | Host of Ontario Today on CBC Radio |
| William Fox[68] | 1994 | MJ | Ottawa bureau chief and Washington bureau chief for the Toronto Star, press secretary and director of communications for Prime Minister Brian Mulroney |
| Dennis Gruending[69] | 1996 | MJ | Host at CBC Radio, Member of Parliament |
| Neil Herland[70] | 1997 | BJ | Network news reader at CBC Radio, United Nations bureau chief for CBC/Radio-Canada |
| Alison Korn[71] | 1998 | MJ | Olympic medallist, media relations advisor at the Senate of Canada |
| Andree Lau[72] | 1999 | BJ | Editor in chief at HuffPost Canada |
| Sarah Lawley[73] | 1998 | BJ | Assistant Deputy Minister for Consultations & Communications at the Department of Finance, World Health Organization board member for Canada |
| Mark MacKinnon[74] | 1997 | BJ | Reporter at the Globe and Mail |
| Karen Mason[75] | BJ | Reporter at CBC TV, non-profit co-founder | |
| Paula Newton[76] | 1990 | BJ | Correspondent at CNN, reporter at CTV News, Gemini Award winner |
| Nancy Payne[77] | BJ, MJ | Producer at CBC Radio, editor at Kayak magazine | |
| Nelofer Pazira[78] | 1997 | BJ | Director, actress, journalist and author |
| Jacques Poitras[79] | 1990, 1991 | BJ ('90), MJ ('91) | Writer at the Kingston Whig-Standard, New Brunswick Telegraph-Journal; reporter at CBC |
| Karyn Pugliese[80] | 1998 | BJ | Parliamentary reporter for the Aboriginal Peoples Television Network, Gordon Sinclair Award winner, assistant professor at the Ryerson University School of Journalism |
