Journalism Certificate

The DeWitt Wallace Center for Media & Democracy is Duke University’s hub for the study of journalism. We study the interaction between news media and policy; we support watchdog and accountability reporting in the U.S. and around the world; and we teach about the media’s role in democracy. The Center hosts the Policy, Journalism & Media Studies program (PJMS), an undergraduate certificate program for students aspiring to become future journalists, or private and public sector leaders who will interact with the media.

The DeWitt Wallace Center, with support from Duke’s Trinity College of Arts & Sciences and the Sanford School of Public Policy, utilizes an approach to the discipline emphasizing the analysis and understanding of public policy, and the complex relationships between media and public policy making, supported by courses in effective media writing and production.

The Certificate curriculum has these student learning objectives:

PJMS students will:

1) Synthesize an interdisciplinary understanding of journalism and media studies, through both theoretical and practical exercises;

2) Demonstrate engagement in dialogue about the institutional, economic, social and political complexities of the role of the media in society through regular participation in programming and events;

3) Explore the ethical standards of practice for journalists, and understand the role of the news media in democracy, holding the government accountable to the public for its policies and actions; and

4) Practice the essential skills of critical thinking, reporting, writing and storytelling through the required internship, skills courses and portfolio development.

Academic Requirements:
The Certificate draws upon established courses relating to journalism, public policy and media studies; it also recognizes the contributions to media studies originating in the disciplines of history, law, literature, economics and sociology.  The Policy Journalism and Media Studies Certificate is open to all Duke undergraduates, in any major.  The requirements include:

• 6 courses are required: 1 core course on journalism ethics (PJMS 371-01), 1 practical course (PJMS 365S-01: Television Journalism, PJMS 366S-01: Long-form Journalism or PJMS 367S-01 News Writing and Reporting), 3 elective courses, and 1 capstone/internship course (PJMS 410).
• Required core and practicum courses (PJMS 365S/366S/367S, PJMS 371, and PJMS 410) must be taken for a letter grade to count toward certificate requirements.
• No more than four courses may originate in PJMS: 3 of these are the core courses, which means that students may take only ONE PJMS course as an elective.  The other 2 electives must be originate from outside  of PJMS. In our list of courses, electives that originated in PJMS are listed first and include a note “(Course originated in PJMS).”
• At least four courses must be 200-level or above.
• A progress requirement by the end of the junior year, of a minimum of 3 courses completed; or a completion plan approved by the DUS, Professor Ken Rogerson.
• Students must complete a media-related internship. Students should complete the internship before the capstone course. Students will make a presentation on their internship experience during the capstone course and should keep this in mind while doing the internship. Students should return to Duke with print, audio or video clips which represent the student’s work during the internship.

Students must take PJMS 410S, the certificate capstone course. This course cannot be taken S/U (Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory). The capstone course will consist of a major research paper that integrates ideas and concepts learned in all previous coursework with the hands-on experience from the internship that the students have already done.

Engagement Requirement:

We ask that PJMS students attend at least two DeWitt Wallace Center events per semester during their junior and senior semesters, if they are attending classes on campus (students on study-away programs or on leave are exempted from this requirement). Be sure to RSVP for or sign-in at events that you attend!

How to add the PJMS certificate to your course of study:

Once you have declared your major, you may change, add, or delete a certificate through the Office of the University Registrar.  A form is available online.

(This form will not work if you are a senior.  In that case email: trinity_graduation@duke.edu)

For more information:
Core courses and electives
Internships
Career guidance and other resources

Feel free to contact us with any questions!

Faculty Chair and DUS: Ken Rogerson, Associate Professor of the Practice of Public Policy

DUSA’s: Shelley Stonecipher and Kim Krzywy