Interactive Environmental Journalism M.A. Program
"As a newspaperman for 30 years, I've watched technology change the print industry to the point where it may not survive. The master's program at RSJ gave me the tools to continue my career in journalism and the understanding to deal with whatever changes are to come."
Frank Mullen, class of 2007
"The most valuable learning experience for me was collaboration, both with my peers and my professors. I was able to work with journalists of all backgrounds, including my local journalism hero, on a variety of projects that challenged my opinions, exposed me to new ways of thinking, and developed critical interactive media skills."
Katie Palani, class of 2007
"This graduate program helped me change career paths from the non-profit sector to the field of interactive media. I gained a new set of skills, and formed lasting relationships with emerging and existing leaders in the field. Through the networking opportunities provided by the program, I was able to land a job that I thoroughly enjoy. During the program I learned how fulfilling it is to work on creative, ground-breaking projects with a team of talented people. I continue to work in a collaborative environment on initiatives that identify new online revenue streams for media companies and new ways to engage users. The program introduced me to this work environment and the challenges media companies face."
Abbey Smith, class of 2007
"Being a part of the Environmental Journalism Program has given me a broader perspective at the opportunities that the journalism and journalists have. I was given the freedom to make my own choice about what I want to focus on in the program and I decided to learn more about the business side of media. This skill helped me to find a really interesting job in the industry and I've made valuable professional relationships."
Kamila Pawlik, class of 2008
The Interactive Environmental Journalism M.A. program at the Reynolds School of Journalism is three-semester intensive program for students who have a journalism degree and/or experience in professional journalism and who want to help invent the next forms of journalism.
Our program focuses on three key principles:
(1) To be successful in the future, journalism needs to reconnect with citizens and communities
(2) Web 2.0 and multimedia technologies offer innovative possibilities for new forms of connection between citizens and between citizens and journalists
(3) The environment is a key policy issue that makes an excellent subject for experiments in new forms of journalism
Unlike master degree programs that focus solely on the individual student’s goals and interests, our program creates a collaborative environment in which faculty and students work together to address questions related to the issues we’ve identified: how to create a journalism more in tune with public life and better able to address the pressing issues of the 21st century.
The journalists who complete this program will:
- Sharpen their knowledge of environmental issues and science
- Master a range of interactive new media tools
- Gain insight into how ordinary citizens connect to public affairs
- Analyze how experts and activists think
- Gain valuable experience in managing innovation
We believe that for journalism to survive and thrive in ways that matter to citizens, we need to question old assumptions, think creatively, challenge ourselves to come up with new ways of working and test our ideas with hands on experiments in real communities.
The degree requires completing 33 credits of course work, including developing, designing and implementing a professional project that experiments with a key journalistic question of your choice within the parameters of the program. The process concludes with the successful completion of a professional paper.
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At the Reynolds School you will find a dedicated faculty committed to creating journalism that matters. We have a small program so you will have individualized study and plenty of contact with faculty. You will work closely with a small cadre of students who provide support for each other. We encourage a collaborative and cooperative work environment.
Excellent Facilities: You will work in a beautiful building in a lab specifically set aside for graduate students. Each student has access to a dedicated Mac computer during the program, with access to Mac Pro laptops, video cameras, still cameras and audio equipment available for check out during the program.
Rich outdoor environment: Our campus is close to some of the most beautiful scenery on the planet. We regularly take field trips to Lake Tahoe where we have done much of our work over the past two years. From the nearby Black Rock desert to the alpine meadows of the Sierra Nevada, we have an outdoor environment that encourages exploration and study.
Outstanding campus resources: The University of Nevada campus hosts a number of environmentally oriented programs, from the unique Literature and Environment graduate program in the English department to the Ecology, Evolution & Conservation Biology Interdisciplinary Graduate Program. The Academy for the Environment provides a central clearinghouse for all the environmental programs on campus. The nearby Desert Research Institute also serves as a world-class resource for access to scientists working on environmental issues.
For more information about the program, contact:
Todd Felts, director of graduate studies
mfelts@unr.edu
775-784-4188
