Florida is home to some of the nation’s most respected journalism programs, offering students a balance between traditional newsroom training and modern media skills. Across the state, universities and colleges provide a range of experiences, from large public campuses with extensive media facilities to smaller private schools with personalized instruction.
The state’s diverse media landscape provides advantages for aspiring journalists. Students can gain hands-on experience through internships or part-time work with newspapers, radio and television stations, online media outlets, and even international organizations, depending on their location. Many schools also support student-run media, allowing learners to build portfolios, experiment with different storytelling methods, and work under realistic deadlines while still in school.
This article highlights the best journalism schools in Florida, selected based on respected rankings and verified program information. We focused on what students actually experience in these programs: access to professional labs and production equipment, guidance from faculty with real-world newsroom experience, and opportunities to work on student-run publications, broadcasts, or digital media projects.
Best Journalism School in Florida
1. University of Florida (Gainesville)
The University of Florida’s College of Journalism & Communications offers a journalism program that blends traditional skills, reporting, writing, and ethics, with modern tools, including social media, video, and data journalism.
Students gain practical experience early on through affiliated media outlets such as WUFT-TV and WUFT-FM, producing real news content across multiple platforms. Facilities like media labs and a student-run news center allow learners to experiment and refine their craft while still in school.
For those pursuing advanced study, UF offers a Master of Arts in Mass Communication with a focus on Digital Journalism and Multimedia Storytelling, which can be completed online.
2. University of Central Florida (Orlando)
The journalism program at UCF offers a Bachelor of Arts with two main tracks: Digital News, which focuses on writing, reporting, and online content, and Electronic News, designed for broadcast and video storytelling.
Students apply to the program after being admitted to the university, thereby demonstrating their commitment and focus on the field. Coursework emphasizes practical, digital-era skills such as multimedia reporting, video editing, and online publishing.
The Orlando location provides easy access to internships and media outlets in a major metropolitan area, giving students opportunities to gain real-world experience.
3. University of Miami (Coral Gables)
The journalism major at the University of Miami emphasizes strong writing, reporting, and multimedia storytelling across print, online, audio, and video platforms. Students are trained to identify newsworthy stories, gather and analyze facts, and then present material in the format that best fits the audience and medium.
The curriculum includes core courses in writing, broadcasting, data visualization, and media law, and students also select from tracks like sports, travel & lifestyle features, or visual & documentary storytelling. The location in South Florida gives students access to a major media market, local news outlets, and internship possibilities in a vibrant urban setting.
The program also encourages a minor or second major outside its department to ensure breadth, and students graduate prepared to navigate diverse newsroom environments or emerging digital media roles.
4. University of South Florida (Tampa)
At the University of South Florida, the Department of Journalism and Digital Communication offers a Bachelor of Arts in Digital Communication & Multimedia Journalism, where students learn to produce, publish, share, sh and distribute news across multiple platforms.
The program blends liberal arts foundations with hands‑on production in print, online, audio, and video formats, and the school operates its own working newsroom called the Neighborhood News Bureau to give a realistic experience.
Graduate students can deepen their skills through the fully online Master of Arts in Digital Journalism & Design, which covers web publishing, social media strategy, infographics, and multimedia editing. Throughout the program, emphasis is placed on free speech, ethics, and digital innovation.
5. Florida International University (Miami)
The Lee Caplin School of Journalism and Media at Florida International University offers a Bachelor of Science in Digital Journalism and Digital Broadcast Journalism, both part of the larger Digital Communication and Media program.
The program highlights “learn‑by‑doing” through professional‑grade facilities, including a newsroom, broadcast TV studio, virtual reality lab, and advanced labs. A notable partnership with Island TV has created a Creole‑language journalism program, giving students a unique experience producing content for multilingual audiences and underserved communities.
6. Florida Atlantic University (Boca Raton)
Florida Atlantic University’s Multimedia Journalism major is built for students who want to work in print, broadcast, and online storytelling, especially where media formats converge. Students develop writing and editing skills along with digital tools and storytelling techniques for multiple platforms, web, video, audio, and mobile.
The program requires core journalism and production courses, and also encourages students to pair the major with another discipline (like political science or environmental studies) to deepen their voices and subjects. On top of that, student media outlets such as Owl TV, Owl Radio, and the University Press allow learners to practice reporting, editing, and production while still studying.
If you enjoy storytelling across formats and want experiences while you’re in school, this program gives a very practical path.
7. Florida Institute of Technology (Melbourne)
The Bachelor of Science in Multiplatform Journalism at Florida Tech combines journalism skills — writing, editing, reporting- with digital production across text, image, video, and interactive digital formats. Its relatively smaller campus gives you close faculty‑student interaction and a chance to build a strong portfolio with hands‑on work early on.
Because the program sits in a tech‑oriented university, there is an added benefit: combining media skills with digital and technical tools, which is increasingly important in media today. For students who like storytelling but also enjoy technology, data, and multimedia formats, this type of program offers an interesting blend.
8. Nova Southeastern University (Fort Lauderdale)
Nova Southeastern’s journalism option is embedded within its communication major and gives you access to the Mako Media Network, a student‑run collection of newspapers, radio, and TV operations.
Students gain production, editing, reporting, and multimedia skills through direct participation in real media outlets. The environment is friendly for students who are still exploring their exact path in media because the structure is flexible, offering both journalism and digital media experiences.
If you like being in South Florida, want to practice media production early in your career, er and build a portfolio, Nova Southeastern offers solid hands‑on opportunities in a supportive setting.
9. Florida State University (Tallahassee)
Though journalism at Florida State may be organized slightly differently (often as a track or concentration within larger communication schools), its program offers strong access to production facilities, newsroom-style experiences, and media‑industry networks.
Located in the state capital, students have a unique advantage of being near governmental, political, and public affairs media opportunities. The curriculum covers writing, reporting, editing, and multimedia production, and gives students the chance to engage in real news‑oriented work.
For students interested in journalism with a public‑policy, government, or political angle, FSU offers a meaningful environment where those interests can align.
10. Florida A&M University (Tallahassee)
Florida A&M University’s School of Journalism & Graphic Communication (SJGC) is distinguished as the first journalism program at a historically Black college or university to receive national accreditation from the Accrediting Council on Education in Journalism & Mass Communications (ACEJMC) back in 1982.
Students there engage with award‑winning student media outlets, including The FAMUAN newspaper, WANM radio, and FAMU‑TV, and they receive training in print, broadcast, and digital journalism, plus public relations options.
The program emphasizes ethical storytelling, diversity, and representation, and its graduates leave with strong skills in reporting, editing, and multimedia production.
FAQs – Best Journalism Schools in Florida
1. What should I look for when choosing a journalism school in Florida?
When selecting a school, consider the program’s focus, digital, broadcast, or print journalism, the faculty experience, internship opportunities, and whether the school offers hands-on media labs or student-run media outlets. Accreditation, graduation outcomes, and alumni success are also important.
2. Can I complete a journalism degree online in Florida?
Yes. Some schools, like the University of Florida, offer online master’s programs in digital journalism and multimedia storytelling. Most bachelor’s programs are in-person due to hands-on production work, but hybrid courses are becoming more common.
3. How important are internships for journalism students?
Internships are crucial. Florida’s top schools usually have connections with local TV stations, newspapers, digital media companies, and other organizations. Internships allow you to gain real-world experience and build a portfolio that will help when applying for jobs.
4. Are journalism programs in Florida accredited?
Many of the top programs are accredited by the Accrediting Council on Education in Journalism & Mass Communications (ACEJMC). Accreditation ensures the curriculum meets professional standards and helps graduates in their careers.
5. What career opportunities can I expect after graduating from a Florida journalism school?
Graduates can work as reporters, editors, digital content producers, multimedia journalists, broadcast anchors, social media managers, or public relations specialists. Florida schools often place students in local, national, or international media outlets thanks to strong networks and internship programs.