CURRENTLY PAUSING NEW ADMISSIONS

At the University of Regina School of Journalism, you’ll learn to craft stories for all forms of media. Stories that engage. Stories that inform. Stories that empower the public. Stories that build a stronger, smarter and more democratic society. Through thoughtful discussion and interactive approaches to writing, researching, reporting, editing, broadcasting and photojournalism, we hope to inspire our graduates to be educated, effective and enlightened journalists in service to their communities.

Please note that effective March 2023 that admission into the Bachelor of Arts in Journalism, Bachelor of Journalism and the Masters of Journalism program have been suspended for the 2023-2024 academic year.”

Bachelor of Arts in Journalism, News Media, and Communication

The program is a four- year integrated program across all years of a student’s degree.

The new program offers students more flexibility in the courses they can take towards their degree.

It includes the study of traditional areas of journalism like broadcasting and print, as well as digital media, new avenues for journalistic output such as podcasting, and a new focus on strategic communications. The redesigned curricula means that the program is up-to-date in terms of the changing landscapes of journalism, digital media and communications practices.

The program builds Indigenous Communication Arts and Public Relations courses into the degree, while offering more choice of electives to encourage students to take related courses in other subject areas.

All of our undergraduate students complete a paid 13-week internship as part of the program.

The University of Regina offers the only journalism degree program in Saskatchewan.

The Faculty of Journalism Commitment to Truth and Reconciliation

The School of Journalism has a long tradition of working with Indigenous academics and journalists to teach students how to responsibly and respectfully cover First Nations people, communities and issues. This has resulted in an impressive list of distinguished Indigenous alumni now working in journalism and communications. 

Our current teaching capacity does not allow us to teach separate classes fully dedicated to the Indigenization in Journalism. However, individual faculty members indigenize course content, especially in the areas of media and society, digital news writing and contemporary issues in journalism. 

We as a unit continue to work with the University Advancement and industry partners to obtain funding for the Chair in Indigenous People and Media during the next three years.

Indigenous Communication Arts (INCA) offerings and the Certificate in Reconciliation Studies each reflect the increasing importance of Indigenization in contemporary journalism and professional communications. This special mention alerts students who may be interested in developing specializations in this area.

University of Regina’s Statement of Commitment to Truth and Reconciliation

The University’s commitment to Reconciliation is based on five goals. The members of the response to the University of Regina’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission Working group suggest every faculty, unit, and division also commits that each and every student, staff, or faculty member will have tools for reconciliation, or mutual respect, through:

• Knowledge of treaties, specifically Treaties 4 and 6;
• A basic understanding of Canada’s history with and continuation of colonialism, including of the Indian Residential Schools and the Indian Act
• An awareness of Indigenous ways of knowing and how these relate to their program of study;
• Knowledge of the key elements of the Final Report of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission and its Calls to Action, the Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples, and the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples; and
• An understanding of the role they can play in reconciliation on the basis of the knowledge and skills they will have acquired at the University of Regina.

Call to Action # 86

We call upon Canadian journalism programs and media schools to require education for all students on the history of Aboriginal peoples, including the history and legacy of residential schools, the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, Treaties and Aboriginal rights, Indigenous law, and Aboriginal–Crown relations. 

Mandatory Course: In progress – The program will have one in the future.

Our program collaborates with Indigenous Communication Arts (INCA) incorporating:

INCA 391 AA 3:3-0 Investigative and Collaborative Journalism into program requirements. 

This course is an introduction to the techniques and processes of investigative journalism, with a focus on Indigenous issues, research and storytelling collaborations.

INCA 283 3:3-0 Indigenous Media in Canada – Our program also strongly suggests that the students take this course to fulfill our Major Requirements. In this class, students review Indigenous media in Canada, the legislative and policy developments that have impacted communication, and the role in Indigenous media in constituting alternative public spheres of discourse. The School of Journalism is also open to offering the INCA students our classes without restrictions. 

Other elective courses:

JRN 480AC The Journalist’s Role in Reconciliation

Students will look at the role Journalists can play in reconciliation, as well as explore how perspectives can often be lost even when all the right characters are included in the story. The goal of the course will be to gain an understanding of the different forms of reconciliation, the history that lead us to this need for reconciliation, and learn how the inclusion of Indigenous perspectives in all stories is essential.

*** Prerequisite: Completion of 60 credit hours and permission of the Department Head

JRN 482 Indigenous People and the Press

This course investigates the fairness, accuracy and inclusion of Indigenous representations in the media. Topics range from under-representation and under-reporting of Indigenous issues, media cultural imperialism, negative stereotypes, and reporting challenges and alternatives.

*** Prerequisite: Completion of 30 credit hours or admission to the School of Journalism

Journalism Commitment to Call to Action # 86: 1 out of 5 = 20%

1	The history of Aboriginal peoples, including the history and legacy of residential schools
No. No explicit reference.
2	The United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples
No. No explicit reference.
3	Treaties and Aboriginal rights
Limited: Implied in INCA 391 AA 3:3-0 Investigative and Collaborative Journalism
4	Indigenous law
Limited: Implied in INCA 391 AA 3:3-0 Investigative and Collaborative Journalism
5	Aboriginal–Crown Relations
No. No explicit reference.

Land Acknowledgement

Located on the University of Regina – Home Page

The University of Regina and its federated colleges are on Treaty 4 and Treaty 6 —  the territories of the nêhiyawak, Anihšināpēk, Dakota, Lakota, and Nakoda peoples, and the homeland of the Michif/Métis nation.

We recognize that, as an institution founded by settlers, we benefit from being on this land. We are grateful for the privilege to learn, teach, and work here. We demonstrate our commitment to reconciliation by incorporating Indigenous knowledge and world views in our research, teaching, and studies to ensure that there are increased economic, social, and creative opportunities for current and future generations. It is our responsibility to strengthen relationships with Indigenous communities and build a more inclusive future.

NOTE: All content has been submitted to the respective faculty for validation to ensure accuracy and currency as of the time of posting. The University of Regina School of Journalism reviewed and approved the document. Managing Editor: Douglas Sinclair: Publisher, Indigenous Watchdog Lead Researcher, Timothy Maton, Ph.D