Your story. Your career.
If you are a born storyteller with a strong command of the English language, an insatiable sense of curiosity, a drive to get to the truth and a desire to witness history, you may have the makings of a journalist.
Journalists weave words into stories and capture images that matter. Those words and images become part of history’s first draft. Journalists have opportunities to travel, cover exciting events and projects, and meet interesting, diverse people. Journalists can be the voice of a generation.
CNA’s Journalism program is a learning ground for the deadline-driven, adaptable and observant. Here, you’ll train to deliver the news in a variety of media and gain the skills employers want. You’ll learn how to dig for the story, interview people, shoot video and still images, and describe happenings. You'll work on radio, television and web productions. Training both behind and in front of the camera, you'll be immersed in history, politics and current affairs. And you'll master research and context to understand the impact of media on the world today.
This program will prepare you for one of the most fascinating, multifaceted and satisfying careers in the world.
Join the courageous and dedicated people who bring us the world every day!
Program Highlights
- Hands-on training in reporting the news
- Drone journalism and mobile journalism
- Training in broadcast, print, and still and news photography by award-winning instructors
- Industry-standard video and audio equipment
- Radio and video studios
- A new TV studio in the heart of the campus
- An expanded and enhanced newsroom
- Internships with professional news organizations
- Training in how to use social media, analytics and search-engine optimization
- Experience in covering a criminal trial
- Coverage of Indigenous communities
- News photography and broadcast quality-camera skills
Did You Know?
- Graduates from our program are working at every major media outlet in Newfoundland and Labrador.
- Students have interned with such outlets and organizations as the Globe and Mail and the United Nations, and they have taken part in student projects in the Middle East.
- A partnership with the Newfoundland Rogues is seeing students staffing the cameras and doing play-by-play for professional basketball games.
- Almost 80 per cent of Canadians get news online. That’s one reason we place a lot of emphasis on teaching students how to promote their own journalism via social media.
- In recent years, court rulings and legislation have given journalists more ability to protect their anonymous sources. We teach student journalists these and other important points of law that enhance freedom of expression.
- A kicker is a journalism term for a strong ending to a story. It is also the name of our students’ news website.
OBJECTIVES
Upon successful completion of the program, graduates will be able to:
1. Discern newsworthy happenings in their communities and develop them into stories.
2. Tell stories across several platforms – text, video, audio, photography, websites, social media and mobile applications.
3. Perform the writing, research, video, audio and photography skills expected of modern multiplatform journalists.
4. Apply a discipline of verification in seeking and reporting the truth.
5. Provide the context of the news to their audiences.
6. Reflect in their work a deep understanding of the news media, its influence and their own responsibilities as journalists.
7. Reflect in their work a broad understanding of politics, history, economics and current affairs.
8. Apply high ethical standards to their work.
9. Demonstrate a strong understanding of media law in their work.
10. Deliver high-quality journalism on deadline via different platforms within the 24-hour news cycle.
FUTURE OPPORTUNITIES
There are many diverse opportunities for graduate of the Journalism Diploma program. A graduate may choose to become a broadcast journalist or may choose a profession as a freelancer, or a graduate may become gainfully employed while working with various television networks. Online journalism and print media are also options for gainful employment. Further to employment opportunities, graduates may also choose to further their studies towards degree-related opportunities at other post-secondary institutions.
ENTRANCE REQUIREMENTS
1. High School
Provincial High School Graduation Certificate with a 60% average in nine level 3000 credits or equivalent including a minimum of 60% in level 3000 English
2. Comprehensive Arts and Science (CAS) Transition
Comprehensive Arts and Science Transition Certificate
3. Adult Basic Education (ABE)
Adult Basic Education (Level III) Graduation with General College Profile (or Business-Related College Profile or Degree and Technical Profile) with an average pass mark of 60%
4. Mature Student Requirements
Applicants who do not meet the education prerequisites for this program, are 19 years at the time of application and out of school for at least one year may be considered on an individual basis under the Mature Student Requirements; for more information regarding the Mature Student Requirements please refer to
Procedure AC-102-PR Admission.
5. International Applicants – English Proficiency
All international applicants must meet the College’s English language proficiency requirements for acceptance into regular programs. The College will accept these recognized tests of English language proficiency (TOEFL paper based 550, TOEFL Internet based 79, TOEFL computer based 213 or equivalent, IELTS Academic Test overall band score of 6.0, or Pearson PTE 53 or greater, etc.).
If a language proficiency test other than those referenced above was used, applicants can forward for assessment.
If an international applicant has attended an educational institution (high school or post-secondary) for a period of three years or more where the official language of instruction was English, the English language proficiency test will not be required.
Note: Some programs may require specific English language requirements and proficiency scores that differ from those stated above; therefore international applicants are advised to please refer to the specific program admission requirements as identified in the College Calendar.