The School of Journalism, Writing, and Media (JWAM) at the University of British Columbia (Vancouver campus) is a dynamic unit for innovative research, teaching, and practice in journalism and media, writing and communication, and knowledge production and mobilization. It brings together the graduate Master of Journalism program and the undergraduate Writing Studies program.

Our school is led by highly experienced and diverse, award-winning faculty who are known globally for their leadership and contribution to the fields of journalism, writing, and media studies. As an incubator for interdisciplinary research, teaching, and applied practice, our students gain a versatile, diverse and relevant set of skills, supporting them to succeed as journalists, writers, researchers, and media professionals at a time of significant shifts in communication, politics, and society. Our award-winning boutique graduate journalism program provides students with the professional training and academic grounding to help them succeed as a journalist in any medium.

The new school was created in 2020 by bringing together the School of Journalism, founded in 1996, and the Arts Studies in Research and Writing program, formed in 2008-09.

UBC Journalism is a unique, boutique journalism master’s program, and the only graduate journalism program in western Canada. It is designed to provide you with professional experience and academic grounding, to help you succeed as a journalist in any medium. You’ll learn everything from long-form writing to web, video and audio production, social media analytics, investigative reporting skills, and critical analysis of news.

The Journalism Program’s Commitment to Truth and Reconciliation

The recognition of Indigenous (First Nations, Inuit and Metis) peoples and their histories is a pillar of the Journalism program and has been for many years. The Journalism unit endeavors to embed recognition of Indigenous peoples, their stories and their experiences into the curriculum. The curriculum creates learning environments that reflect the need for journalism practice to be built on a foundation of justice. From the first day students enter the program, faculty members introduce them to the history of the land where the campus is situated. We invite them to consider history, language, power dynamics and encourage them to build upon the strong relationships we have been able to nurture at the School.  

Journalism uses the UBC Indigenous Study Plan toolkit and learning materials to guide curricula and approaches. This includes centering Indigenous journalism and journalists in our courses and inviting Indigenous journalists into our program as often as possible. Over the past two decades, Journalism has built lasting relationships with members of UBC’s Indigenous faculty and with the First Nations House of Learning and the UBC Residential School History and Dialogue. The Indigenous Strategic plan is about changing the ways in which Indigenous peoples are represented and included. Our journalism training actively engages with this goal.  

Other Initiatives:  

Journalism was among the first schools in Canada to appoint an Indigenous faculty member, Associate Professor Candis Callison who joined what was then the UBC Graduate School of Journalism in 2009. Dr. Callison is currently the Canada Research Chair in Indigenous journalism, media, and public discourse.

The Journalism unit participates in campus events including the Belkin Gallery Decolonization Tour and First Nations House of Learning activities and ceremonies.  

The first mandate of the Global Reporting Centre, housed within the School of Journalism, is to “engage, facilitate, and support interdisciplinary research that identifies and analyzes issues, develops collaborative solutions, and innovates on both broad research areas (such as global supply chains) and issues within the practice of journalism itself – with a specific focus on decolonizing journalism.” 

UBC Indigenous Strategic Plan (2020)

We are the first university in North America to commit to implementing the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, and to take a human rights-based approach to our Indigenous strategic framework.

The Indigenous Strategic Plan sets out a series of eight goals and 43 actions the university will collectively take in order to advance our vision of becoming a leading university globally in the implementation of Indigenous peoples’ human rights.

Mission

To guide UBC’s engagement with Indigenous peoples and its commitment to reconciliation, as articulated and called for by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada. 

Indigenizing our curriculum

One of the eight goals: Include Indigenous ways of knowing, culture, histories, experiences and worldviews in curriculum delivered across Faculties, programs and campuses. 

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: Yes – Master’s Program

JRNL 520D 2023 W Credits: 3

Special Topics in Contemporary Journalism – Reporting in Indigenous Communities

Journalism has been a national leader in decolonizing journalism education through Dr. Candis Callison’s transformation of Media Ethics training and scholarship to its award-winning Reporting in Indigenous Communities course, now more than a decade old. It directly addresses recommendations in the Truth and Reconciliation Call to Action #86 to 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-Crow relations.”  

Our supplemental journalism materials include Indigenous approaches, perspectives and voices in courses 

Journalism Program’s Commitment to Call to Action # 86: 5 out of 5 = 100%

1	The history of Aboriginal peoples, including the history and legacy of residential schools
Yes. See JRNL 520D Course description above
2	The United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples
Yes. See JRNL 520D Course description above
3	Treaties and Aboriginal rights
Yes. See JRNL 520D Course description above
4	Indigenous law
Yes. See JRNL 520D Course description above
5	Aboriginal–Crown Relations
Yes. See JRNL 520D Course description above

Land Acknowledgement

Located on the Journalism, Writing and Media Home Page

We acknowledge that the UBC Vancouver campus is situated on the traditional, ancestral, and unceded territory of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam)

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