Would you like to learn more about journalism? Interested in taking a few classes for free online before committing to journalism as a degree choice?
If so, read on. In this article, we'll take a look at some free online journalism courses you can take that are offered by top colleges and universities.
Top 8 Schools with Free Online Journalism Classes and Courses
Find out about the top schools offering free online journalism courses and classes below.
1. Michigan State University
Michigan State University is a large public school in Michigan. In addition to offering many of its degrees remotely, the school also offers a variety of free online courses to the public.
Michigan State has several free journalism courses available through Coursera. Some of the options include:
- Become a Journalist: Report the News
- Journalism, the Future, and You
- Effectively Delivering the News to Your Audience
Courses vary in length but are all self-paced, so you can study whenever it's convenient for you.
2. University of Colorado, Boulder
The University of Colorado in Boulder is part of the University of Colorado System. This school offers many online programs and courses, both to students and the general public.
The school offers a series through Coursera focusing on public relations and media. One of these courses is titled Working with the Media.
While this course and the associated series focus more on public relations as applied to business, you can also learn a lot about journalism topics and techniques.
3. Johns Hopkins University
Johns Hopkins University, a private school in Maryland, offers several courses and degree programs online.
One free online journalism course is titled Responsible Reporting on Suicide for Journalists. This course teaches students how and how not to report on suicides since the delivery method can affect subsequent suicides.
The course is available through Coursera and consists of about seven hours of self-paced study.
4. University of California, San Diego
The University of California in San Diego is one of 10 campuses in the University of California System. This school offers a handful of free online courses.
Those interested in journalism can enroll in the self-paced Coursera course titled Communicating with the Public.
This course uses techniques from journalism, theater, and humanities to help you improve your public speaking skills.
This very short course requires just one hour of time to complete, and you can take it whenever it's convenient for you.
5. University of California, Berkeley
The University of California in Berkeley is another school in the University of California System. It offers both online degrees and free online courses.
This school offers a two-part course series on journalism called English for Journalism. The courses are available through edX.
Each course takes about five weeks to complete when studying three to four hours a week.
They are self-paced, and their aim is to help you improve your writing, grammar, and vocabulary to give you the necessary skills to become a journalist.
6. University of California, Los Angeles
Yet another member of the UC System, the University of California in Los Angeles offers a free online course titled Journalism Ethics.
This course is presented as a series of 14 lectures taught by Los Angeles Times editor Jim Newton. The lectures are presented in a playlist of videos on YouTube.
The course explores the relationship between media and society and the moral and ethical issues that can arise. It is an excellent series for anyone considering becoming a journalist.
7. Stanford University
Stanford University is located in California. It is a private school that offers online certificates, degrees, and free public courses.
This school offers a video-based course called Journalism Under Siege? Truth and Trust in a Time of Turmoil. All of the lectures are available as a series of YouTube videos.
This course presents lectures and interviews from 28 prominent figures within the field of journalism as they discuss the many challenges journalists face in today's world.
8. University of Illinois
The University of Illinois offers various online degrees and courses that cover a variety of topics.
If you're interested in journalism, check out this school's Coursera course titled Visualization for Data Journalism.
This unique course explores the art of news graphic design and how to create excellent visuals to further your reporting.
The course is self-paced and can be completed within about 17 hours of study.
FAQs About Free Online Journalism Courses
Now that you know about some of the top courses available, let's take a look at a few commonly asked questions.
Can You Take Free Journalism Courses Online?
Yes, all of the courses presented in this article are available for free, though some also offer paid upgrades to receive a certificate of completion.
Those interested in simply gaining information can take the courses without paying to receive a certificate.
What Topics Do Free Online Journalism Courses Cover?
Free online journalism courses cover a variety of topics relative to news, media, communication, reporting, and writing.
Some courses cover English skills as applied to journalism, while others deal with ethical issues or proper reporting of sensitive topics like suicide.
What Are the Benefits of Taking Free Online Journalism Courses?
If you enjoy journalism or are thinking about becoming a journalist, free online journalism courses can increase your knowledge and give you a taste of the classes you can expect to take on your degree path.
You can gain this knowledge on your own time and at no cost to you.
Find the Right School for Free Online Journalism Courses Today
All of the courses in this article will enable you to explore journalism or improve your journalistic skills. Go ahead and check them out today.