Journalism in the Public Interest

Journalism in the Public Interest Minor

The Journalism in the Public Interest (JPI) interdivisional minor combines practical training in journalism with examination of the socio-political role of journalism. JPI minors consider what it means to be responsible citizens in a journalistic context.

Journalism in the Public Interest Minor At A Glance

100

Of students have completed internships with the College's student-run newspaper.

Journalism Approaches

Journalism as practice

JPI minors will develop significant experience in the production of journalistic stories as print, audio, and video media, reflecting the many various ways journalism is delivered.

Journalism as theory

JPI minors will be attuned to the ethical, economic, and socio-political implications inherent in how the news is made and consumed.

The JPI minor

The JPI minor requires two journalism synthesis courses, at least two applied journalism courses, and either another applied journalism course or a practical internship.

The JPI minor starts with Newswriting, the first journalism practice course, in which students learn to gather and write news stories. They engage in real-life newsgathering, writing, copy-editing, revision, with the short deadlines of a traditional newswriting practice.

Students in their second year typically take the first journalism synthesis course, Journalism and Democracy in the U.S. This course examines the history of journalism in the U.S. and its interactions with the practice of democracy. Students consider the current media landscape and the challenges and opportunities it presents for the development of an informed and responsible citizenry.

Two advanced courses are options for the third year of the JPI minor. Multimedia Journalism expands students' experience beyond print media to audio, video, and interactive digital media stories. The other course, Case Studies in Investigation, is organized around investigative case studies-journalistic pieces that have exposed unjust, criminal, or socially problematic situations and helped precipitate remedies for those situations.

If they haven't already done so, students in their final year of the JPI minor may complete two semesters of internship with the student newspaper, The Campus, or take a Topics in Journalism course, which varies from offering to offering (and has included Photojournalism and Beat Reporting).

A Dual Approach

Practical training in journalism

Students who minor in JPI will be able to write an effective hard-news story; demonstrate an understanding of the professional and ethical obligations of a working journalist; edit a news story; and create an effective piece of multimedia reporting.

Understanding of the evolving socio-political role of journalism in a democracy

JPI minors will be able to articulate the ways in which a free press matters to a healthy democracy, recognize how economic interests and power structures affect the nature of the news industry, and follow the news habitually and critically.

Alana Sabol, Student

Class of 2022, Environmental Science and Sustainability Major/Journalism in the Public Interest Minor

“ [JPI] covers many different ways that one can be a journalist, from writing hard news to being more media based and taking photos and videos. At Allegheny I’ve met some of the most involved, passionate, and encouraging educators that I’ve ever had. ”