Full-time Programs

BRJN / BRJF - Broadcast Journalism

Program Entry

SEPTEMBER

Program Length

Two-year Ontario College Diploma

Contact:	E-mail:
Andy Sparling	asparling@loyalistc.on.ca
Len Arminio	larminio@loyalistc.on.ca

Highlights

• Students work as reporters and anchors on cable television programs which can be seen in 35,000 homes.
• On-air experience is obtained at a federally-licensed college radio station with a potential audience of nearly 200,000 people.
• Loyalist facilities include industry equipment and software found in major North American newsrooms.
• Qualified applicants may complete a fast-track diploma in just one year.
• A minimum one-month internship provides a foot in the door for a job in the industry.

Career Opportunities

Graduates find employment in radio, television and online newsrooms across Canada as:

• news and sports journalists
• anchors
• program hosts
• weather reporters
• video journalists
• video editors
• writers
• editorial assistants
• video librarians

The skills developed in this program can also lead to careers in:

• public and media relations
• educational, training or industrial production
• broadcast sales

Program Description

Broadcast Journalism is first and foremost a journalism program focused on presenting balanced, accurate reporting. Students hone skills in:

• anchoring
• interviewing
• reporting
• writing
• meeting deadlines
• digital audio and video production

Discussion-based, faculty-mentored courses provide instruction in:

• politics
• history
• research
• ethics
• job preparation

Learning emphasizes hands-on experience developing news, sports and feature-length public affairs material for radio and television.

• Second-year students are the reporters and anchors for the cable programs 6:30 News and Quinteview, which can be seen in 35,000 homes.
• Students gain experience as reporters, news and sports announcers for 91X-FM, a federally licensed college radio station that broadcasts throughout the region.
• The intensive hands-on component and live, on-air experience requires a time commitment beyond the normal class schedule.
• Belleville provides an intimate urban environment in which students enjoy a high level of access to public figures.
• Students have the opportunity to assemble electronic résumés of their news coverage of Quinte area events for use in future job searches.
• The program finishes with a minimum month-long internship with professional electronic journalists, permitting those who are hired on to start immediately.

Graduates are job-ready with hands-on experience using industry equipment and software comparable to that found in major North American newsrooms, including:

• Sony® High Definition video field cameras
• Final Cut Pro® digital video editing system
• Burli® wire, text, digital audio and radio newscast assembly software
• QNews® television text and newscast creation software

Approximate Cost

Tuition first year: $2,688
Tuition second year: 2,661
Books and Supplies: $200 (first year only)
Consumables Fee: $450 (first year); $500 (second year)
Consumables fees include items that become the property of the student, such as memory storage devices, tapes, instruction manuals, guides, subscriptions, and membership in the Radio-Television News Directors Association of Canada.

Note: Students must provide suitable clothing for television appearances and reporting assignments in the community.

Driver’s Abstract: Students are strongly urged to acquire a driver’s license during their studies at Loyalist and must obtain a Driver’s Abstract from the Transportation Ministry of their province in order to use the college-owned vehicle. The college insurance covers students using school vehicles on assignment. The cost of a Driver’s Abstract in Ontario is approximately $12.

Admission Requirements

(a) Required academic preparation –

• OSSD/OSSGD or equivalent with courses at the general, advanced, (C), (U), (M) or (O) level
  
  OR

• mature applicant

Recommended academic preparation –

• English, computer literacy, basic photography, knowledge and interest in current events, history, geography, politics, writing, and public speaking.

(b) FAST-TRACK ENTRY: Broadcast Journalism is one of the Media fast-track programs designed for applicants who have completed a university degree, college diploma, or who have significant related work experience. Students complete a seven-week fast track semester in May and June and enter the second year of study in September. Fast-track students come to Broadcast Journalism from a variety of backgrounds including politics, English, and kinesiology. Please see the Loyalist College calendar for details.

(c) Advanced standing:Qualified applicants with a related degree or diploma and/or a minimum of three years of related industry experience may be eligible for direct entry to the second year of study in September, with the approval of the faculty and Dean of Media Studies. Please contact the program coordinator for details.

Loyalist / University Transfer

Turn your diploma into a degree. Credit transfer agreements are in place with the following institutions as of September 2006:

Athabasca University
Carleton University
Griffith University
Nipissing University
University of Ontario Institute of Technology

Graduates may contact the university to make individual arrangements. Informal agreements are in place with other institutions and new transfer agreements are added annually.

Curriculum