Offered Journalism Instruction in journalism at The University of Alabama began in 1925 with one course taught in the Department of English. Courses in advertising and public relations were added to the curriculum in 1947. Graduate instruction leading to the master of arts degree began in 1950.
Information is at the heart of the program in journalism.
The functioning of an open society requires an informed public. As a field of study, journalism emphasizes the gathering, assessment, and subsequent communication of information to both general and specific audiences. The student who studies journalism will be knowledgeable about the principles, structures, and techniques of modern news and information industries necessary to achieve the goal of an informed public. The knowledge students gain in the areas of writing, editing, photojournalism, law, ethics, and management has an impact on reporting, which itself influences what people think about themselves, their neighborhoods, and world affairs. This age has been called an information age, but the volume of information is often overwhelming and its quality limited.