Welcome from the Chair

Welcome to Emerson and the Department of Journalism.

If you are thinking about entering the field of journalism, you could not have selected a more critical period in its history, nor a college better poised to prepare you for that future. Here at Emerson, we teach traditional values and cutting-edge technology. As turbulent as the journalistic landscape may be, our mission is clear -- to prepare the next generation of journalists to assume roles of leadership in the field. Our students understand that it is the role of the press to serve the public, to produce work of balance and distinction, and to remain ever mindful that they are not the center of the world but merely instruments by which others may learn of that world.

The journalism we practice is a seamless blend of word and image and sound, taking advantage of the best technology, but never forgetting that technology is but a tool in service to journalism. We recognize that even though a student’s career interests may change, he or she will find the skill set acquired here – critical thinking, resourcefulness, clarity of expression, adaptability – of lasting value in the years ahead.

What sets our faculty apart is not only the breadth of its professional experience in newsrooms across the nation and the globe, but also its singular devotion to you, the students. Whether it is your goal to report on government, business, foreign affairs, entertainment, sports or climate change, there is someone here who has done it and is ready to show you the way.

At Emerson, we draw no false line between theory and practice, between the classroom and the so-called “real world.” The school’s two television stations, two radio stations, online news outlets, and scores of internships attest to our commitment to prepare you. We are situated in the heart of Boston, minutes from the state capitol and the theater district, and a short subway ride to some of the nation’s most prized sports franchises. A dazzling cultural landscape is at our doorstep. All of this is our classroom. Ours is a vibrant city possessed of a rich journalistic heritage (nearby, America’s first newspaper was published in 1690) and an entrepreneurial spirit that promotes experimentation and creativity. Tradition and technology, we offer the best of both.

Whether it was the political conventions, the Olympics in China or the Emmys in L.A, Emerson’s student-reporters were there to cover it. Ours is a roll-up-the-sleeves brand of journalism, but it is also a place where values are nurtured, and a moral compass indispensable.

We demand much of our students, and they demand much of us.

Here at Emerson, even in such tempestuous times as these, we do not fear what lies ahead. Indeed we intend to have a say in helping to shape that future. That is where you come in.

We welcome you.

Ted Gup, Professor and Chair