Introduction
This Communication Pathway prepares the next generation of journalists by combining sound fundamentals of journalism with cutting-edge digital technologies. Students develop skills in writing, editing, and ethics, as well as big data, Generative AI, social media, immersive media, and algorithms. Students learn best practices for conducting interviews, producing multiplatform news and feature stories and sharing the content over social media.
The coursework provides students training in current topics and issues in journalism: data-driven storytelling, social media analysis, fact-checking, copy editing, ethics and copyright issues related to AI, researching and interviewing, news judgment and reporting on local issues.
Career Opportunities
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Journalism
Reporter, copy editor, web producer, multimedia production, fact-checker, data analyst, data visualization and graphics artist.
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Digital Media
Social media manager, digital creator, podcast host or producer.
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Corporate Communication
Technical writers, web development. Media relations coordinator, corporate communication manager, content marketing manager.
Potential Courses
Students interested in this Concentration may select courses from this list to satisfy some or all of their major requirements as well as electives. Choose courses you are most interested in or most relevant to your career direction. Digital journalism students are not expected to take all of the listed courses.
- COMM 216. Digital Journalism
- COMM 240. Data Journalism
- COMM 230. AI and Journalism
- COMM 294. How to Edit Your Boss – News Editing
- COMM 294. Sports Journalism
- COMM 294. Digital Forensics
- COMM 294. Immersive Journalism
- COMM 311. Interviewing and Communication
- COMM 316. Writing for the Electronic Media
- COMM 335. Digital Storytelling
Meet Communication Alumni
College is where you go to create who you are going to be. UIC is the canvas. Your diploma is the blueprint. UIC allowed me to create in my hometown and leave an impact in my hometown. Communication is key. Learn what you can and use it. It can take you from talking to a group of 30 people to a ballpark of 40,000.
UIC is a really special place. The mix of people and proximity to opportunities in the city creates an environment full of creativity. Professors like Mike Reilley and Zizi Papacharissi encouraged me to color outside the lines on projects, which helped prepare me for a career in journalism.
Featured Student Experience
The Red Line Project | RedLineProject.news
The Red Line Project student lab publication covers news and urban issues in Chicago neighborhoods through the lens of data reporting, multimedia, social media and mobile reporting. The site has won more than 65 national, regional and local awards. UIC journalism students write, edit, do data analysis and produce multimedia and graphics for the site.
