Journalism offers more possibilities than you may have imagined. Hollywood has the image of hard-driving reporters and photographers with cameras slung around their necks. But journalists are also radio/TV newscasters, public relations officers editing an employee magazine, copyeditors checking for accuracy and proper English, copywriters planning an ad, and artists laying it out. Sometimes, in today’s age of media convergence, a journalist may be one person doing several of these things across media platforms. Or the journalist may work only online, or as a freelancer, or as the editor of a small-town weekly. These jobs all have something in common – a passion for communication. If you like finding out information and telling people about it, there may be a place for you in journalism. It’s a big field with a place for many talents and temperaments.

A journalist’s body of knowledge is history and biology-as well as political science, economics, psychology, and dozens of other subjects. Employers want people with breadth of knowledge who can think and whose abilities won’t be outmoded in 10 years. Above all, they want people who can express themselves clearly and articulately. That’s why Franklin teaches journalism in the context of the liberal arts. You’ll learn the techniques taught in any good journalism school, but you may also find your journalism teachers advising you to take classes in English, art, logic and much more.  Pulliam School of Journalism provides many of the advantages of a large university journalism program, but in a small, liberal arts setting.

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Available Tracks in Journalism

• Public Relations
• News Editorial
• Broadcast Journalism

Departmental Highlights

The thread running through Franklin’s journalism program is an emphasis on clear and accurate reporting, writing, and editing. That applies no matter what track you choose. Early on, students are drilled and tested on basic skills of expression. Many opportunities are provided for assessment and improvement, but ultimately students with problems in writing and expression are not encouraged to stay in journalism, nor are those who cut ethical corners in their work.

Cutting Edge Technology

Broadcast students use first-rate equipment, while those in photography get to use digital cameras with the latest imaging software. Students can work either in a PC lab or in a wireless Mac lab using a variety of programs. Students have access to this equipment as early as their freshman year.

The National Pulliam Journalism Scholarship

Franklin College will award one full-tuition scholarship each year to a student interested in studying journalism, from an endowment provided by the late Eugene C. Pulliam, former publisher of newspapers in Indianapolis, Phoenix and other cities. Students who indicate that they intend to major in journalism on their application for admission to Franklin College will automatically be considered for this award. Top applicants may be contacted by the journalism department for additional materials and invited to an interview in the final stages of the selection process.

The Unity Journalism Workshop

This is an event for high school minority students that focuses on strong writing and journalism careers. It is open to multicultural Indiana high school juniors and seniors interested in journalism. A $2,500 Pulliam School of Journalism scholarship will be awarded to two participating seniors.

Society of Professional Journalists

Franklin is one of the smallest schools in the country to have an active chapter of this national organization for working professionals. Besides providing networking opportunities for students, the chapter brings speakers to campus each year on such topics as freedom of information and newsroom diversity.

Internships

Ideally, what journalism students learn in the classroom should be tested and expanded by experience in the field. This is why the Pulliam School stresses internships, either during winter term in January or at some other time of the year. Many internships are in Indiana, but a lot of other options exist. In recent years, students have done internships at newspapers in Rutland, Vt., Newport, R.I., and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Several have been interns in the Canadian Parliament in Ottawa. They have worked for television stations in Baltimore and West Palm Beach, and for the Scripps Howard News Service in Washington, D.C. Through a NASA program, students covered a space shuttle launch in Florida. Journalism students have gone on an expense-paid study tour to Germany each spring, and others have studied at Hong Kong Baptist University. The Pulliam School has its own internship/placement advisor, who will not only help you find internships, but will also help with your placement after graduation.

Examples of Student Media

The Franklin Online (newspaper)

TheStatehouseFile.com (News from the Indiana Statehouse) 

Midwest Cultural Tourism (Franklin Communications)

WFCI Sports Broadcasts (89.5 The Griz Radio Station)