University of Kentucky College of Communication & Information

Students can send Nathan Stevens ( This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ) links to their work to be added here. Make sure your work includes the following information:

1. Your name,
2. The date when the work was created,
3. The class for which the work was created.

Kentucky Gov. Ernie Fletcher spoke to journalism students in an editorial writing course.

Patterson School Simulation

Students in several journalism courses participate each year in a crisis simulation with the Patterson School of Diplomacy and International Commerce.  In 2010, the crisis scenario involved an Israeli attack on nuclear sites in Iran, and diplomatic and military fall-out from that.  Our students developed content for two separate new sites, International News Network and Gulf News Network.  During the 22-hour simulation, students provided Web updates, videotaped coverage, managed the content management system for the two web sites, shot photos and coordinated background material and maps.

Journalism Organizations

- National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ: http://www.nabj.org/)

On campus contact: Lisa A. Brown, advisor ( This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it )

- Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ: http://spj.org/)

On campus contact co-advisors: Al Cross ( This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ) and Mike Farrell ( This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it )

The mission of the Society of Professional Journalists is:

• To promote the free flow of information.
• To maintain constant vigilance in protection of the First Amendment's guarantees of freedom of speech and of the press.
• To stimulate high standards and ethical behavior in the practice of journalism.
• To foster excellence among journalists.
• To inspire successive generations of talented individuals to become dedicated journalists.
• To encourage diversity in journalism.
• To be the pre-eminent, broad-based membership organization for journalists.
• To encourage a climate in which journalism can be practiced freely.

This section includes information on pre-major requirements, degree requirements for both the print and broadcast options, and a listing of courses offered by the Journalism program.

To see a list of course offerings for the current semester, visit the Office of the Registrar's Schedule of Classes.

Registration for classes is performed online through WebUK.

Degree Requirements (PDF): Includes information on pre-major requirements as well as major requirements.

List of Journalism Courses (PDF): A list of courses offered at the School. Not all courses are offered each semester, so students need to plan their schedules accordingly.

Broadcast students on the set of the live daily student newscast.

WARNING: Although every effort is made to ensure that materials on this page are accurate and up to date, it is provided for the convenience of the user and should not be considered the official version. The official version of these materials is available in the University of Kentucky Bulletin. The user is advised to refer to and rely upon the official version of this material when making significant decisions or judgments.

Founded in 1914, the Journalism program is accredited by the Accrediting Council on Education in Journalism and Mass Communications. Alumni include Pulitzer Prize winners, Nieman fellows and nationally known journalists.

The journalism major prepares students for leadership roles in rapidly changing media by requiring a strong core of journalism courses within the rich context of a liberal arts education. Courses are designed to foster analytical and critical thinking skills and to teach students to communicate effectively with a mass audience.

Our students learn the skills needed for success in their chosen field. They also learn about industry structures, ethics, and regulation. Our goal is for students in our classes to become skilled practitioners as well as critical thinkers – training for a first job AND a long-term career.

Journalism majors learn about media law, ethics and history, and about the media's role in an increasingly diverse society. The program emphasizes hands-on learning. Students select either a print or electronic emphasis in their professional skills courses, and all students learn basics of multimedia journalism. Majors choosing a print emphasis have the opportunity to write for a daily newspaper or the university's yearbook.

Students who select the electronic track gain on-air experience at the campus student radio station and report, anchor and produce a live newscast aired four days a week (Monday-Thursday) on a local cable channel.

We also have a number of active student organizations. These groups give students a chance to put what they’ve learned in class into practice, and also provide exposure to guest speakers and valuable networking opportunities.

Finally, students have the opportunity to work with several independent campus media organizations. UK’s award-winning daily newspaper, the Kentucky Kernel, is housed in our building; many of the Kernel’s editorial and advertising staff members are JAT students. UK’s yearbook, The Kentuckian, is also located in the Grehan Building and attracts many of our students as staff writers. And, there’s WRFL-FM, a student-run radio station.  UK Student News Network is our live, daily newscast produced by students in the broadcast emphasis.

Graduates are prepared for jobs as reporters and editors for print, broadcast and on-line media, and for positions as assignment editors, producers, managing editors, publishers and new media entrepreneurs. Courses are also offered for students interested in specialized careers such as sports reporting, business writing, arts criticism or writing for the equine industry.

Details on program requirements can be found in the University Bulletin.

NOTE:  All Journalism majors must complete at least 80 credit hours in courses outside the School of Journalism and Telecommunications.  Of those 80 hours, 65 must be in liberal arts coursework.

JOU grads and Washington Post reporter Sally Jenkins spoke about sports reporting.

The sequence coordinator for Journalism is Prof. Scoobie Ryan ( This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ).  For questions about the Journalism major, contact either Prof. Ryan or Dr. Beth Barnes ( This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ).  Faculty members teaching Journalism include visiting lecturer Terry Anderson, Dr. Deborah Chung, Prof. Mel Coffee, Prof. Al Cross, Dr. Mike Farrell, Dr. Yung Soo Kim, Dr. Richard Labunski, Prof. Buck Ryan, Prof. Scoobie Ryan and Prof. Kakie Urch.  You can read about them and their teaching, research and creative interests under the "About" tab.