Economic Journalism Master's Programs

How to Earn a Master's in Economic Journalism

Students who are interested in reporting on various economic events and topics can usually pursue a Master of Arts (MA) in Journalism with a concentration or certificate in business and economic reporting. Some of these programs may require as many as 44 credits. Most incorporate business- and economic-related coursework from Master of Business Administration (MBA) programs to provide students with a well-rounded background in business, and/or include a range of unique hands-on learning experiences, such as summer internships and study abroad trips. Students in these programs may participate in mentoring relationships with faculty members, build their professional portfolio throughout the program to assist with a career search in the field, and take some of the common courses discussed in more depth here.

Multimedia Storytelling

Courses in multimedia storytelling are designed to train students in reporting and producing stories across various media platforms. Students may learn how to write articles for websites, mobile devices, and more, as well as how to utilize audio, video, and still images in their pieces. Some of these courses may even provide students with the opportunity to publish work in a school or local news blog for hands-on experience. Students might also discuss how to utilize social media and other methods to build an audience for their work.

Business and Economics Reporting

Students take business, finance, and economics reporting courses to further develop their writing skills and study how to cover business-related news. Some of these programs may utilize guest speakers, readings, and/or writing assignments to provide students with unique, hands-on learning opportunities in the field. Students in these courses may learn how to develop reliable sources in the field, analyze the strengths and weaknesses of economies, and/or identify economic issues.

Investigative Reporting

Some courses in investigative reporting may serve as a capstone course, while others may focus on a specialized subject in reporting. In general, these courses aim to teach students how to develop a plan for reporting on a story, collect sources and conduct interviews for the story, and then critically-think and analyze the story to produce a news-worthy piece. Students in these courses may gain hands-on experience using spreadsheets to analyze information, working in teams of 2 or 3 students, and/or producing an investigative article and/or broadcast.

Legal Issues

Depending on the program, students may take a broader, more general course in the legal and ethical issues of journalism and/or a course that focuses on a particular legal issue, such as the First Amendment. Broader courses aim to teach students how to identify and tackle legal issues in the field by exploring court cases and ethical debates. Students in courses that focus on the First Amendment may discuss ethical considerations and constitutional protections, such as topics in privacy, free press, and libel.

Research, Writing, and Reporting

Students generally take one or more foundational course in journalism that focuses on developing students' abilities to research, write, and report on a topic. Some of these courses may be offered in a workshop format where students use their local area as a laboratory and report on real-world news events. Beyond writing assignments, students may discuss topics in writing techniques, story structure, news judgment, and more.

Admittance Requirements for Master's Programs in Economic Journalism

Applicants to master's degree programs in economic journalism generally need to have at least a bachelor's degree, but most programs do not require this degree to be in a particular field or ask for any prior journalism experience. These degree programs may not require the GRE, but depending on the format of the program, some business-related courses may require students to have proficiency in math and know how to use a business calculator. Applicants usually need to include their official transcripts, letters of recommendation, a resume, personal statement/essay, and/or writing samples with their application. Some programs may require students to submit as many as 3 writing samples and/or multimedia samples, though these do not necessarily have to be published works. After submitting the application some programs ask students to participate in an interview process.

Economic journalism is usually offered as a concentration area for an MA in Journalism and may help students develop a professional portfolio for the field. Many of these programs provide students with unique, hands-on learning opportunities in business and economic reporting and most require a bachelor's degree, letters of recommendation and samples of work.