Hands-on from day one in the classroom & community
At the School of Journalism and Media, we are “hands-on from day one.” Our students enjoy transformative applied learning experiences, taking part in real-world projects across video, audio, print, and digital media. Keep scrolling to take a look at the exciting work happening inside—and outside—our classroom walls.
What we’re doing in the classroom
Documentary Pieces
Dive deep into storytelling with long-form documentary projects. Students research, plan, film, and edit documentaries that explore local and global issues, giving them firsthand experience in investigative reporting and visual storytelling.
Students produce documentary on Vol baseball star Hunter Ensley
Podcast & Radio Segments
From concept to broadcast, students create original podcasts and radio segments, mastering storytelling through audio. Projects range from news features to creative narratives, preparing students for careers in audio media.
Reporting in the Field
Journalism takes place in the field and that’s where our classes go, too. Students cover local events, community stories, breaking news, and sports, applying storytelling skills to real-life situations.
Rocky Top Rundown – Sports Newscast
Produce UT’s student-led sports newscast, covering everything from football to basketball. Students gain hands-on experience in sports journalism, live studio production, and broadcast teamwork.
Photo Essays
Capture stories visually through curated photo essays. Students learn to tell compelling narratives using photography, exploring techniques from composition to photo editing.
Eyes on LaFollette: journey through a decades-long photo essay project
Special Topics Courses
Our special topics courses give students the chance to go beyond the standard curriculum and dive into niche areas of journalism and media under the guidance of industry experts. These courses are designed to provide focused, hands-on experience in subjects that reflect current trends and professional opportunities in the field.
Keep scrolling to see some of the special topics courses our faculty has offered recently!
Social Journalism
Explore the intersection of journalism and social issues, producing meaningful content that drives conversation and community engagement.
Covering Natural Disasters
Meteorologist and J&M faculty member Heather Haley prepares students on how to cover quickly evolving weather events before, during, and after they occur, and informs them how to stay safe as journalists.
Sports Commentary
Led by ESPN veteran and Professor of Practice Gene Wojciechowski.
Sports in Studio
Learn about live sports production from VFL Films associate director and former Tennessee Titans senior broadcast producer Ashley Farrell while working on The Mike Keith Show, hosted by our legendary voice of the Tennessee Volunteers,and gain insights into play-by-play announcing, sports commentary, and production.
Cover the Paralympics
Led by Professor Erin Whiteside, learn how to cover the Olympic Games and also how to cover athletes who compete on the world stage. Class involves travel to the Games and coverage of the events.
My time with the School of Journalism and Media was life changing. I went from not knowing what I wanted to do with my life to finding my passion and my people. During my time, I developed real world skills that help me in my job now and was surrounded by some of the next minds in journalism who shaped me into who I am today.”
Gray MacNicoll (’25)
AlumnaSchool of Journalism & Media