Why We Love It
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$89,240Potential Avg. Salary*
* Salary & growth data is based on the recent Bureau of Labor and Statistics data published at https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes273021.htm for 27-3021 Broadcast news analysts 11/2021. Based on national data, not school-specific information. Conditions in your area may vary.
With a bachelor of science in broadcast journalism, you can launch your career as a radio, television, or online personality. Broadcast journalism is the study of delivering the news through audio and visual methods.
Graduates go on to become television reporters, local and national news anchors, photojournalists, cameramen, radio show hosts, YouTube broadcasters, and podcast hosts.
What is a Degree in Broadcast Journalism?
With a bachelor’s degree in broadcast journalism, you’ll learn how to write scripts for audio broadcasts; how to operate broadcast equipment like voice recorders, cameras, and video recorders; and how to ensure the news and stories you report meet legal and ethical standards. Students today also benefit from learning digital publishing, mobile reporting, and social video production, because modern journalism increasingly reaches audiences across websites, apps, newsletters, podcasts, and streaming platforms.
During college, you’ll work to develop a portfolio of clips that you can use when applying for jobs after graduation. You may intern with a local news station, an internet news source, or a college-hosted newsroom. That portfolio is especially important in a changing media environment, since employers often want evidence that graduates can report, edit, and present stories in multiple formats rather than in only traditional broadcast form.
After gaining professional experience in entry-level positions, you may move on to produce entire news broadcasts, anchor national news broadcasts, or photograph and film major sporting events.
Most graduates begin their careers as reporters in small, local markets where they’re responsible for writing, filming, and editing their news stories. However, over time and with impressive portfolios of work, they can move into larger markets working as investigative reporters, evening news anchors, and producers. This versatility remains valuable because many newsrooms now expect journalists to handle reporting, camera work, editing, and online distribution as part of the same role.
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What Courses Would I Take For a Major in Broadcast Journalism?
- Media Law and Ethics
- Fundamentals of Journalism
- Beat Reporting
- Narrative Radio
- Journalism Research
- Photojournalism
- Investigative Reporting
- Reporting with Audio and Video
What Jobs Can You Get with a Degree in Broadcast Journalism?
While consumption of local and national news broadcasts has been on the decline in recent years, online news consumption has risen rapidly. Recent audience research supports that shift: Pew says just over half of U.S. adults, 54%, at least sometimes get news from social media, while Reuters Institute’s 2025 report says audiences across many markets continue moving toward social, video, and online platforms.
In the coming decade, it’s expected that more traditional news outlets will begin delivering news online, which should increase demand for broadcast journalists who understand the needs and preferences of online viewership. Many aspiring news reporters have even found success and have been able to form careers creating their own broadcasts and podcasts. The latest U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics outlook shows employment of news analysts, reporters, and journalists is projected to decline 4 percent from 2024 to 2034, but about 4,100 openings are still projected each year on average, and the median annual wage was $60,280 in May 2024.
How Long does it take?
A bachelors in Broadcast Journalism will have a typical length of 4 years in a full time schedule. That said, there are many ways to speed up the timeframe by either taking more units via online coursework, community college, or taking free classes at OnlineDegree.com that could transfer to universities in the US.
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Best Jobs for Broadcast Journalism Degrees
Broadcast journalism graduates are the faces and voices of the news. They work as reporters in the field, anchors for local and national news broadcasts, and radio and podcast hosts.
They may work for major news producers like NBC, ABC, or CBS, or major radio show broadcasters like NPR. Some also work as photojournalists, capturing images and videos from newsworthy events like major sports competitions.
How to save time and money
Our mission is to help you to avoid paying full price for college. We want your Broadcast Journalism degree to be affordable and accessible. Here’s how you could save:
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Create My SmartPlanPursue an Associate’s Degree First
With an associate’s degree in broadcast journalism, you may be able to find work in small, local markets.
While a bachelor’s degree will be required for larger markets or national news outlets, starting off with an associate’s degree and taking jobs in the field while pursuing a bachelor’s will expand the quality of your portfolio and may help you land higher-paying jobs sooner after graduation with a bachelor’s degree.
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