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Program Structure

Western’s Master of Media in Journalism and Communication (MMJC) program mixes practical skills with theory and critical inquiry to prepare you for your career. Each course is carefully designed to immerse you in the world of media; to teach you advanced storytelling skills to connect with, persuade and educate audiences on a variety of mediums.

In the fall and winter terms you'll be working closely with your classmates in the FIMS & Nursing Building. In the summer term, you will complete an internship (minimum 4 weeks) allowing you will take your practical classroom skills into the field. Where you would like to pursue your internship is up to you.

Courses in the fall term

In the fall term, students take five courses that introduce them to a variety of media formats, including print, digital, social, video and audio. The goal is to familiarize students with the central skills required to start producing media. Courses include the following:

MMJC 9101: Introduction to Journalism
An introduction to the basic principles and practices of journalism, MMJC 9101 explores the fundamental elements of journalism, including its purpose, its role in society and its practice.

MMJC 9102: Introduction to Communications
This course introduces students to the communications field, including media relations, public relations, marketing, crisis and reputational management, community building and other fundamental skills.

MMJC 9103: Audio and Visual Storytelling Skills
This course will give students the skills and knowledge they need to tell stories using audio and video—a desired skill for both journalism and communications career opportunities.

MMJC 9104: The Social Media & Digital Production Dojo
Introducing students to technologies that will help them excel in integrated media environments, MMJC 9104 teaches visual communications, new technologies and user-centered design.

MMJC 9200: Doing Democracy Right or Doing Right by Democracy? Ethics, Critical Theory and the Public Right to Know
Using theoretical frameworks borrowed from ethics, cultural studies and political economy, this course explores concepts of democracy and responsibility in story-telling practices and products.

Courses in the winter term

In the winter term, students will take on learning more advanced journalism and communications skills through two required courses and three electives.

All students will take Media Law and can choose between advanced storytelling courses focused on either journalism or communications (or students can choose to enroll in both).

Winter term courses include the following:

MMJC 9105: Information and Media Law
This course introduces students to the rights and legal responsibilities of journalists and communicators. Students will learn, examine and critique concepts such as privacy, copyright and freedom of expression.

MMJC 9201: The Newsroom: Reporting Essentials For Today’s Journalists
In this advanced journalism course, students will build skills in mobile journalism and longer-form multimedia. Part of the course includes a capstone assignment where students will work in groups to produce a multimedia project that includes text, video, audio and graphics.

MMJC 9202: Advanced Communications
Building on the skills from the first semester, students will produce professional-level communications stories and strategies. This includes exploring how organizations handle challenging communication issues such as crisis communications, strategic planning, branding, ethical practice and other advanced communications skills.

1.5 Electives
Check the course list below for possible elective choices.

Summer term

MMJC 9700 - Internship
MMJC’s Internship course is a chance to gain real-world, practical experience. Students will complete a minimum of four weeks on internship. While on your placement, an MMJC instructor will continue to guide you and help you reflect on your experience. Browse the list below for examples of where students have interned in the past.

MMJC 9702: Business Essentials for Communications Professionals and Journalists
Students will learn the skills necessary in today's career landscape, including topics like setting up a business, creating a website, pitching for freelance, understanding contract language, invoicing, NDAs and more. Students will develop knowledge and practical skills that will allow them to be nimble and respond quickly to evolving job trends.

0.5 Electives
Check the course list below for possible elective choices.

MMJC Course Catalogue:

"All Courses" is a list of the entire MMJC course catalogue. Not all courses are offered in every term or every year.

Examples of past internship placements

Please see the lists below for some examples of where students have interned over the last few years.

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