Master of Arts in Public Media
Media with a mission
In today’s fast-changing media landscape, storytelling isn’t just important: It’s essential. At Fordham, we harness the transformative power of media to shape informed, engaged communities. Our Master of Arts in Public Media program equips you with the expertise, hands-on experience, and ethical foundation needed to create media that serves the public good. Here, you'll master technical skills while gaining a deep understanding of media in the public interest and its impact on society, ensuring your work drives meaningful change.
Choose between two tracks:
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The multi-platform journalism track will focus on audio, video, and interactive web content reporting, production, and distribution.
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The strategic communication track will focus on nonprofits, the public sector, and social enterprises, including social media marketing, public relations, fundraising, and advocacy.
At a glance
- Degree type: Master of Arts
- Credit hours: 30
- Cost per credit: $1,810
- Total tuition: $44,614 (plus taxes and fees)
- Duration: one year (for full-time students)
- Classes begin: August 2026
- Applications due: Financial aid consideration: January 9, 2026; Recommended deadline without financial aid consideration: April 1, 2026; then applications accepted on a rolling basis
- Location/Modality: Evening courses at both the Rose Hill (Bronx) and Lincoln Center (Manhattan) campuses, accommodating daytime employment, fieldwork, or internships
- Full-time or part-time: Full-time or part-time
- Is there an accelerated option? Yes
Can you see yourself in the M.A. in Public Media program? Start your application today or register for an information session.
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What defines Fordham’s M.A. in Public Media?
Now more than ever, public media matters.
It’s about truth in journalism, impactful communication strategies, and compelling narratives that inform and inspire. It’s about responsible, mission-driven storytelling across a range of platforms—from radio and television to digital media and emerging technologies.
Fordham’s one-year program blends rigorous academic inquiry with real-world experience. You’ll engage with media theory while building a professional portfolio, collaborating with dedicated scholar-activists, leading advocacy practitioners, and top professionals from both traditional and digital media landscapes.
How we are fulfilling our mission
- Mission-driven media: Rooted in our ethos of "Media with a Mission," this innovative program empowers students to create impactful content that informs, inspires, and drives change. With a focus on storytelling for the public good, students learn to produce media that fosters dialogue, promotes civic engagement, and advances social justice.
- Hands-on experience: Located in the heart of New York City, our program offers unparalleled opportunities to collaborate with top media outlets, where our longtime adjuncts work and/or we have routinely placed interns, such as WFUV, WNYC, BronxNet, and WNET. We also connect students with major nonprofits that work in the public interest, such as Human Rights Watch, Catholic Charities, and the New York Botanical Garden, among others. These partnerships provide hands-on experience, industry connections, and the chance to build a dynamic portfolio that sets you apart in the field.
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How to apply for a Master’s Degree in Public Media
To ensure that we are able to holistically evaluate the candidate’s suitability for the Master of Arts in Public Media program, the following application components are needed (optional items are indicated as such):
- Resume or curriculum Vitae (CV)
- Academic transcripts
- Official graduate record examination (GRE) scores (optional)
- Statement of intent
- Supplemental essay (optional)
- Writing sample
- Three letters of recommendation
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Tuition
As part of Fordham’s Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, our tuition rates are by credit. To learn more about our tuition costs, please visit the GSAS Tuition and Fees page.
Fordham is proud to offer students and families a variety of financial aid options and resources.
If you apply by the deadline for financial support, your application is automatically reviewed for full merit scholarship consideration and either GSAS funding or PMMA-specific funding.
Beyond GSAS funding, the PMMA has a program-specific WFUV Scholarship and employment opportunities through various community partners.
For a full list of our financial aid and scholarship offerings, visit the GSAS Financial Support page.
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Courses at a glance
- Public Interest Media Theory and Practice
- Public Journalism
- Strategic Communication
View the Fordham bulletin for course descriptions
Curriculum Highlights
Our one-year program consists of 10 classes, or 30 credits, taken over the course of 12 months, including the option to take summer courses.
For more information, please visit the M.A in Public Media Curriculum page
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Fordham’s M.A. in Public Media program prepares graduates for a wide range of impactful careers, including multiplatform journalism, digital advocacy, social entrepreneurship, and leadership roles in communications, public relations, and nonprofit development. The program equips students with the skills to create meaningful content, shape public discourse, and lead strategic media efforts across sectors.
Potential Job Titles Relevant Job Sectors Communications director Communications Development director Journalism Digital activist Media Production Multiplatform journalist Non-profit development Public relations specialist Public relations Social entrepreneur -
Jessica Baldwin-Philippi, Ph.D.
Program DirectorProfessor Baldwin-Philippi teaches about and researches civic media and political communication and is interested in how citizens’ engagement with new technologies can restructure forms of political participation and ideas about citizenship. She has approached this area of study from a variety of political contexts, from political campaigns’ use of social media and games designed to increase participation to the innovation efforts of municipal governments.
The M.A. in Public Media (PMMA) program, Fordham, and WFUV, has changed my life forever. Attending Fordham is the best decision I have made in my life thus far.
Maya Sargent, PMMA '23, Associate Producer, Multimedia Journalist for WTXL in Tallahassee
- Read more testimonialsF.A.Q.
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Fordham’s M.A. in Public Media program equips students with the critical-thinking and strategic communication skills today’s media employers value most. As the industry evolves, graduates are prepared to navigate the ethical and societal dimensions of their work while adapting to a media landscape that increasingly demands versatility across journalism and communications.
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What sets this program apart from traditional communications programs is its distinctive emphasis on ethical media practices, community engagement, and purpose-driven storytelling. Rather than focusing solely on commercial media or corporate communication, Fordham prepares students to create content that serves the public good—amplifying underrepresented voices, fostering civic dialogue, and addressing real-world social challenges through thoughtful, community-oriented media.
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Fordham’s PMMA program is designed for students who want to use media and communications to make a positive impact on society and their communities.
