A journalism school is a school or department, usually part of an established university, where journalists are trained. 'J-School' is an increasingly used term for a journalism department at a school or college. Journalists in most parts of the world must first complete university-level training, which incorporates both technical skills such as research skills, interviewing techniques and shorthand and academic studies in media theory, cultural studies and ethics.
Africa In 2007, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) named what it terms the Potential Centres of Excellence in Journalism Training in Africa. After thorough research, there were 12 journalism and media training institutions named on the list and they were not placed in any order.
These 12 UNESCO Potential Centres of Excellence in Journalism Training in Africa are the Department of Journalism at the Tshwane University of Technology in Pretoria in South Africa (TUT),Tshwane University of Technology Mass Communication Department at Makerere University in Uganda,Mass Communication Department at Makerere University School of Journalism and Media Studies at Rhodes University in Grahamstown in South Africa, Department of Mass Communication at the University of Lagos in Nigeria, School of Communication, Legal and Secretarial Studies at the Namibia Polytechnic, Mozambican School of Journalism in Mozambique, Centre d'études des sciences et techniques de l'information in Senegal, The School of Journalism and Mass Communication at the University of Nairobi in Kenya, Department of Journalism at the University of Stellenbosch in South Africa, Institut Supérieur de l'Information et de la Communication in Morocco, School of Communication Studies at Walter Sisulu University in South Africa and Ecole Supérieure de Sciences et Techniques de l'Information et de la Communication in Cameroon.
UNESCO's list is not exhaustive, and new schools have been founded since the study was conducted.
With the rise of the Internet and social media in the past five years there has been increasing demand for journalism schools offering specialized training in the kinds of modern challenges journalists face in the rapidly changing online-media landscape. E-jicom Graduate School of Journalism and Communication in Dakar, Senegal is one such institution.
Asia The most populous continent is also home to the world's largest democracy and its pace of growth and booming economies have led to a proliferation of media enterprises. The rise of digital publishing has created newer opportunities for employment and self-employment in the field of journalism and mass communication.
India Unlike the rest of the world, print media continues to grow and thrive in India with its over 1.4 billion people. With over 900 TV channels and over 100,000 registered publications, digital publishing has only added to the opportunities. Dozens of regional languages and English being the aspirational language, newspapers in India are now published in 100 different languages. The government of India established the "Indian Institute of Mass Communication (IIMC)" in 1965, which has now 6 campuses across India. Dozens of universities and independent institutes provide education for shaping journalism, media and mass communication professionals. Several universities and independent institutes provide education for shaping journalism, media and mass communication professionals. Notable among them is the Jindal School of Journalism and Communication at O.P. Jindal Global University, Sonipat, which offers courses in Film and Media, Corporate Communication.
Pakistan Pakistan is a large country of South Asia with a population almost 220 million people. It has all contemporary media i.e. print, electronic and social media widely used by the citizens. Each public and private university has established separate institute for imparting education in mass communication, journalism and media. Recently the Government of Pakistan has promulgated Protection of Journalists and Media Professionals Act 2021 in order to provide more safe and conducive working environment to the local as well as international journalists.
Philippines The University of the Philippines (UP) offered a journalism class as part of a curriculum designed by Walter Robb Wilgus beginning in 1919, though it was short-lived. At the University of Santo Tomas (UST), undergraduate journalism education was established during academic year 1928–1929 in the Faculty of Philosophy and Letters. The first graduates completed the program in 1933. Journalism instruction combined academic coursework with exposure to professional practice, with working journalists serving in the faculty and campus papers providing students with experience in reporting, editing and newspaper production. The University of the Philippines established its Institute of Mass Communication in 1965, later elevated to the College of Mass Communication (renamed College of Media and Communication in 2025).
Europe Central Europe The International Media Center (Slovenia-Austria-Serbia), offers in cooperation with South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO) and South East and Central Europe PR Organisation (SECEPRO) several courses, including master programme.
In Hungary, The Hungarian Bálint György Academy of Journalism (previously known as Hungarian School of Journalism) runs under the aegis of the National Association of Hungarian Journalists (MÚOSZ). Before 1989, the Hungarian School of Journalism served as a highly selective post-graduate program for well-trained journalists in Hungary. Since 2003, the Bálint György Academy of Journalism belongs to the accredited professional education system.
Budapest Metropolitan University was established as Budapest College of Communication in 2000 and has been providing students with journalism, communication, and media studies classes. The school is also in partnership with the Hungarian Public Television (MTVA).
Denmark In Denmark, the University of Southern Denmark established a journalism study programme in 1998 at the then founded Centre for Journalism, as did Roskilde University, following the political decision to break the Danish School of Journalism's monopoly on educating journalists in Denmark. The purpose was and is to increase the diversity of teaching and research within the field of journalism. Since its establishment, the Centre for Journalism has launched several innovative features within the field, including the by now renowned award for journalists, "The Journalistic Fellowship", and the introduction of a journalist's oath similar to the Hippocratic oath. Also, in terms of scientific publications it is the most productive journalism research department in Denmark (status: 2005).
Eastern Europe In Russia, the MSU Faculty of Journalism is the leading journalism school and the world's largest school of journalism. The majority of textbooks on journalism in Russian were written by MSU scientists. Other one is Media institute of Higher School of Economics. One of the leaders school of international journalism is faculty of international journalism of Moscow State Institute of International Relations. Vladimir Mezentsev school of journalism is the oldest media School for young journalism.
In Minsk (Belarus), the Institute of Journalism of BSU is one of the leading scientific and educational centers in the sphere of Mass Media in the territory of the former soviet countries. It possesses a highly respected scientific and pedagogical standard and prepares professionals in mass media for work in Belarus and abroad.
France In France, 14 schools are recognized by the profession at the national level. The Paris-Panthéon-Assas University's Centre de Formation des Journalistes (CFJ), was founded in 1946 by two Resistance leaders, although the University of Lille's École supérieure de journalisme de Lille had been founded earlier (1924).
Other Parisian journalism schools are Sciences Po Journalism School, the Sorbonne University's CELSA, the Paris-Panthéon-Assas University's French Press Institute (IFP) and the PSL University's Institut Pratique du Journalisme (IPJ).
In the different French regions : École de journalisme de Toulouse (EJT), the Bordeaux Montaigne University Institute of Journalism (IJBA), the Aix-Marseille University School of Journalism and Communication (EJCAM), the University of Strasbourg's Centre for Journalism Education (CUEJ), the department of Journalism and Communication at the University of Rennes in Lannion or Grenoble Alpes University School of Journalism (EJDG).
Founded in 1899, the École Supérieure de Journalisme in Paris, France is a claimant for the title of the first journalism school.
Germany During the Third Reich, the Nazis established the Reichspresseschule (Imperial School of Press), in which journalists were taught to write what the National Socialist German Workers' Party wanted the German public to think.
After the war, the first journalism school in Germany was founded in 1949 as Werner Friedmann Institute. 1961 the school's name was changed into Deutsche Journalistenschule (German school of journalism). In 1979, a new journalism school was created in Hamburg, later renamed after the founder of Stern magazine, Henri Nannen.
Spain The top journalism school in Spain according to El Mundo newspaper is the University of Navarra. It is the oldest school of journalism in Spain and among the top 10 world universities of medium size according to the QS ranking. Many reputed and well-known journalists have studied at Universidad Complutense de Madrid, one of Madrid's most prestigious university. Princess Letizia of Spain studied journalism at this university, which is the main public university in the country. Other universities include Charles III University of Madrid, Pompeu Fabra University, Autonomous University of Barcelona and Pontifical University of Salamanca.
United Kingdom Historically, in the United Kingdom entrants used first to complete a non-media-studies related degree course, giving maximum educational breadth, prior to taking a specialist postgraduate pre-entry course. However, this has changed in recent years with journalism training and education moving to higher educational institutions. There are now over 60 universities in the UK offering BA honours degrees in journalism. Postgraduate courses are more well-established, some of which are either recognised by the National Union of Journalists (NUJ) or the National Council for the Training of Journalists (NCTJ). A Diploma of Journalism was established at London University in 1919, but university journalism education in Britain did not become a significant endeavour until the 1970s, with establishment of the University of Wales postgraduate program. Most training from the mid-20th century was run by the National Council for the Training of Journalists.
The Department of Journalism Studies at the University of Sheffield is rated Number 1 in the UK by the Guardian (2019) for Journalism, Publishing & Public Relations, and number 1 in the UK by the Times/Sunday Times (2018) for Communication and Media Studies. The National Student Survey results for both 2009 and 2010 placed The University of Sheffield No. 1 in the UK for overall satisfaction with Journalism Studies.
Of City University London's Journalism Department The Independent commented that City's postgraduate courses had "rightly accrued legendary status within the media." Former Guardian editor Peter Preston wrote: "What's the passport to journalism? The dreaming spires of... City University". City's faculty includes Professors George Brock and Roy Greenslade. Alumni include Sophie Raworth of the BBC, Sky's Dermot Murnaghan and Channel 4 News Economics Editor Faisal Islam.