With a career in journalism and media, you will communicate information about current events and community issues to readers, listeners, and viewers. As a Theology major or minor, you can make a distinctive contribution to this field through your familiarity with a range of cultures and belief systems. Alumni of Fordham have gone on to pursue journalism or media in both religious and non-sectarian outlets.

Your theology coursework has given you skills and perspectives that will be helpful in this field:

• Articulating and showing a commitment to values of human flourishing and the common good, which is helpful as you convey the information people need to follow current events and understand important issues facing their communities.

• Cultivating an understanding and respect of various cultures and perspectives, which you can use to responsibly cover events and issues in a culturally-sensitive manner.

• Synthesizing and communicating complex information to different audiences.

While at Fordham

Get involved with student newspapers and publications, such as the Fordham Observer or the Fordham Ram. One of the most common suggestions from journalists is to take advantage of these opportunities on campus, which will help you hone your writing skills and signal to potential internships and employers that you have relevant experience. For a recent survey of the publication landscape at Fordham, refer to this article.

Intern for media outlets during the academic year or summer. One of the benefits of studying in New York City as a potential journalist is that it is one of the primary cities for opportunities in the field.

Most major newspapers, radio stations, and broadcast networks offer either internships or fellowships. For example, in the New York area, the New York Times, NPR, and broadcast networks such as CBS News regularly offer opportunities to current undergraduate students and recent graduates. The specific details and benefits of these internships vary. Generally, you will work in multiple stages in the production process, from research and reporting to editing and publishing.

Faith-based media internships in the area include:

• Commonweal Internship Programs
  Each semester and summer, Commonweal offers internships to young Catholic writers, journalists, theologians, and critics. Interns work closely with editors in writing original articles for the Commonweal website or print magazine and participate in day-to-day and long-term operations of Commonweal’s editorial, marketing, development, and digital departments.

• America Media Summer Internship Program
  America Magazine is a Jesuit publication that features not only a biweekly magazine, but also podcasts and social media. During the summer, it offers an Editorial Intern position that involves work in various forms of media.

Following Graduation

The key to finding opportunities in journalism is to build experience, cultivate expertise, and foster connections. To be a strong applicant for a job in journalism or broadcasting, you need:

• Strong references from people in the field, such as internship supervisors.

• Excellent writing skills, as demonstrated through relevant samples of your writing or production. Most positions require you to submit sample “clips,” so maintain a portfolio of your writing or productions that you can share with potential employers. (This is where internships and work on campus publications will come in handy!)

• Familiarity with a particular subject area or “beat.” For example, given the specialized knowledge you have gained in religion, consider looking for opportunities to report on religious issues. Other journalists might focus on local or national politics, the arts, popular culture, sports, health and science, criminal justice, or the environment.

Following graduation, there are a number of fellowships that can help you continue to build your skills and make professional connections:

• James O’Hare, S.J. Postgraduate Media Fellowship
  For 11 months, fellows create content for print, web, and social media. They receive housing, a stipend, healthcare, and mentorship from editors at America.

• NCR Bertelsen Editorial Internship Program
  For a half-year, recent graduates intern at the National Catholic Reporter in Kansas City, MO. Interns work as a full-time staff member in a fast-paced newsroom, reporting for print and web and helping with newspaper production. Interns receive a monthly stipend.

• Atlantic Media Fellowships
  Atlantic Media offers 12-month fellowships in positions related to publishing and online media production.

• ProPublica Fellowships
  ProPublica offers fellowships of varying lengths and positions related to investigative reporting.

Helpful Resources

• Jenna Goudreau, “Top 10 Tips for Young Aspiring Journalists.” Offers helpful suggestions for getting started as a journalist.