Master of Arts in Public Media

"It's media with a mission."

Our flexible, interdisciplinary M.A. program in Public Media offers tracks in Multi-Platform Journalism and Strategic Communication. Both concentrations have the goal of using storytelling to promote dialogue, civic engagement, and social justice.

Now more than ever, public media matters.

It’s about real journalism, real communication strategies, and real narratives. It’s about committed, responsible storytelling across a variety of existing and emerging platforms, from radio to TV to mobile apps.

Our one-year program combines academic inquiry and hands-on experience. You’ll engage with media theory and build your own portfolio, working with committed scholar-activists, talented advocacy practitioners, and top professionals from traditional broadcasting and digital news media. Key partners for the program include pioneering public radio and television outlets WFUV, WNYC, BronxNet, and WNET.

Choose between two tracks:

• Multi-Platform Journalism, with a focus on audio, video, and interactive web content reporting, production, and distribution.
• Strategic Communication, with a focus on nonprofits, the public sector, and social enterprises, including social media marketing, public relations, fundraising, and advocacy.

Enhanced Partnerships, Accelerated Track Add to Public Media Program’s Growth

The Public Media program continues to grow as we incorporate public media partners and work with organizations to provide our students with practical experience. Read more about our efforts.

Program Highlights

• Gain communications skills that are grounded in media ethics and theory.
• Learn best practices for informative, compelling storytelling across platforms.
• Develop multimedia production expertise in graphics, audio/video production and editing, and web and mobile design.
• Take advantage of internships and courses at WFUV, WNYC, BronxNet, WNET, other media outlets, and public-interest and advocacy organizations.
• Enroll in courses taught by media professionals from WFUV, CBS, The New York Times, WNYC, DoSomething, and more.

Program Basics

• Designed as a one-year program for full-time students.
• Evening courses allow for daytime employment, fieldwork, or internships.
• Curriculum requires two core courses, four advanced courses, two electives or internships, and a summer master’s project for a total of 30 credits.
• Opportunity to take electives in other graduate programs across Fordham's Graduate School of Arts & Sciences, as well as the Gabelli School of Business.
• Courses are held at both the Rose Hill/Bronx campus and the Lincoln Center/Manhattan campus to take advantage of the different opportunities that each campus and neighborhood has to offer.

Careers

• Multi-Platform journalist
• Digital activist
• Social entrepreneur
• Communications director
• Public relations specialist
• Development director