University of Montana School of Journalism

University of Montana School of Journalism
Name	University of Montana School of Journalism
Established	1914
Type	Public
City	Missoula
State	Montana
Country	United States

University of Montana School of Journalism The School of Journalism at the University of Montana is a professional journalism unit located in Missoula, Montana, offering undergraduate and graduate programs that connect students to regional and national media outlets. The school emphasizes practical reporting, multimedia production, and investigative methods while maintaining relationships with organizations across the American West, the Pacific Northwest, and national institutions. It has produced alumni who have worked at outlets and institutions such as The New York Times, The Washington Post, National Public Radio, Associated Press, and The Wall Street Journal.

History

Founded in 1914, the school emerged during a period of expansion for American journalism education influenced by models at Columbia University, University of Missouri School of Journalism, and Northwestern University. Early leaders drew on networks that included figures associated with Pulitzer Prize winners and editors at Chicago Tribune, Los Angeles Times, and St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Throughout the 20th century the school adapted to changes driven by technological shifts championed by organizations like Broadcasting Board of Governors and National Press Club, and engaged with regional issues involving Yellowstone National Park, Bitterroot Range, and Flathead Lake. During the late 20th and early 21st centuries the school expanded curricula in response to trends from Google, Facebook, Twitter, and foundations such as the Knight Foundation and Carnegie Corporation of New York.

Academic programs

The school offers Bachelor of Arts, Master of Arts, and professional certificate programs aligned with professional standards set by entities like the Society of Professional Journalists, Radio Television Digital News Association, and Online News Association. Degree tracks include reporting, broadcast, digital media, photojournalism, and magazine writing, with coursework referencing canon works and outlets including Time (magazine), National Geographic, The Atlantic, ProPublica, and The New Yorker. Graduate study engages with investigative techniques taught in contexts linked to Center for Investigative Reporting, data journalism methods used at FiveThirtyEight and The Pew Research Center, and environmental reporting connected to institutions such as Environmental Protection Agency and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Facilities and resources

Facilities supporting instruction include newsroom labs, broadcast studios, and multimedia editing suites that mirror professional environments found at NPR West, CBS News, ABC News, and NBC News. The school houses archives and collections relevant to Western history and journalism that complement holdings at the Montana Historical Society and the Library of Congress. Students access equipment and software used across industry partners such as Adobe Systems, Avid Technology, and Canon Inc., and collaborate with regional outlets including Missoulian, Bozeman Daily Chronicle, and Billings Gazette.

Student media and organizations

Student-produced outlets provide hands-on experience through a weekly newspaper, a broadcast newscast, and digital publications modeled on organizations like The Guardian, Reuters, and Bloomberg News. Campus organizations include chapters of national groups such as Society of Professional Journalists, Investigative Reporters and Editors, National Association of Black Journalists, and Native American Journalists Association, and students participate in competitions hosted by College Media Association and Hearst Journalism Awards Program. Internships frequently place students at entities including The Boston Globe, Los Angeles Times, San Francisco Chronicle, and regional public radio stations affiliated with American Public Media.

Notable alumni and faculty

Alumni and faculty have worked across a spectrum of media and public life, contributing to outlets and institutions like The New York Times, The Washington Post, NPR, PBS, CNN, Fox News, National Geographic Society, Time (magazine), Esquire (magazine), The Atlantic, The Wall Street Journal, and ProPublica. Faculty have included scholars and professionals connected to awards and organizations such as the Pulitzer Prize, Peabody Award, Emmy Awards, Society of Professional Journalists, and John S. Knight Fellowships. Alumni have pursued careers in journalism, law, and public policy with associations tying them to U.S. Senate, U.S. House of Representatives, United Nations, and state-level media in Montana, Idaho, and Wyoming.

Admissions and rankings

Admissions follow University of Montana undergraduate and graduate standards, with applicants evaluated on portfolios, experience, and academic records comparable to peers at University of Missouri School of Journalism, Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism, and Medill School of Journalism. Rankings and evaluations reference national lists compiled by organizations such as U.S. News & World Report, Princeton Review, and professional assessments by the Associated Press and Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press. Financial aid and scholarship support draw from funds and donors associated with foundations like the Knight Foundation and alumni networks concentrated in media hubs such as New York City, Washington, D.C., and Los Angeles.

Category:Journalism schools in the United States Category:University of Montana