Specialization in environmental journalism
A new specialized master’s degree program in environmental journalism was launched in the fall of 2007 by Michigan State University’s School of Journalism. The new program includes courses in environmental reporting, environmental science and policy and an internship in science and environmental journalism.
“We believe this new program will provide students with the background they need to be successful environmental journalists in a world where technology in the news industry is rapidly changing,” said Jim Detjen, director of the Knight Center for Environmental Journalism.
A number of graduate assistantships and scholarships will be awarded to members of the incoming class. The Knight Center for Environmental Journalism will offer assistantships to students who can help design and edit EJ, the Knight Center’s award-winning magazine; assist in developing a television program on the environment; and other Knight Center projects.
The School of Journalism at MSU is one of the nation’s largest, oldest and best journalism schools with 4,658 alumni. It is ranked among the top 10 journalism programs by the Gourman Report, a national organization that ranks academic programs. The J-School’s graduates work at virtually all of the nation’s top news organizations, including the New York Times, Washington Post, CNN, NPR, National Geographic Magazine, Associated Press and many others.
The Knight Center for Environmental Journalism is internationally recognized for its educational and training programs for students and professional journalists. Each year it brings to campus award-winning journalists to meet with students, organizes training programs in the United States and other countries and carries out research on a variety of topics related to environmental and science journalism.
It is the home of the Environmental Journalism Association, the only student environmental journalism organization in the country, and houses the Meeman Archives, the nation’s finest collection of environmental reporting in newspapers.
Students in the Knight Center have a chance to work for EJ Magazine, a student-produced magazine that won a first-place Mark of Excellence award from the Society of Professional Journalists for best student magazine in March 2006. They also can work on other news media, including a student-produced television program on the environment and online journalism projects.
Alumni of the Knight Center and its programs work at a variety of news organizations including National Geographic Magazine, the New York Times, the Detroit Free Press, Wall Street Journal, Field and Stream Magazine, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute, the National Wildlife Federation, the Carter Center and other organizations. Profiles of some of the center’s recent alumni can be found here.
Admission information
The deadline for submitting applications for the new program is Feb. 1 each year. Students should send an electronic application, Graduate Record Examination scores and two copies of their official undergraduate transcript to the MSU Admissions Office, 250 Administration Building, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Mich. 48824 (International students should also submit TOEFL scores.)
Applicants should also send to the MSU School of Journalism, c/o the Graduate Secretary, School of Journalism, 305 Communication Arts Building, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824-1212 the following: three letters of recommendation, a 750-word autobiography, a 1,000-word statement of purpose, a resume and whether they are interested in an assistantship or other financial aid.
For more information contact Jim Detjen, Knight Center director, at 517-353-9479 or Detjen@msu.edu.
