Frequently Asked Questions

What is Medill looking for in applicants for the specialization?

On one level, we are looking for what we have always looked for in the MSJ program: curiosity, strong analytical and writing skills, an interest in having an impact and making the world a better place. But for the Media Management and Leadership specialization, we’re also looking for applicants who motivated by the challenges of creating new publications, leading interdisciplinary teams and finding the right combination of content, audience and business strategy to build sustainable media products and communication strategies.

In terms of background, we love to see students with backgrounds in journalism and/or media, but many kinds of prior experience could be relevant. For example, those with backgrounds in software development, business strategy, marketing, social/community engagement and product design have chosen and do well in this program.

What career opportunities will be available?

Given the versatile skill set that graduates from the Media Management and Leadership specialization acquire, it should come as no surprise that our graduates go on to a variety of roles in either the media or technology sectors. Recent graduates have gone on to take roles as product managers at leading media organizations, while others have landed senior roles in audience development, content strategy, content design, media operations, and product marketing. Others become entrepreneurs or key players in media startups. Regardless of their title or role, Media Management and Leadership alumna tend to find roles that put them at the forefront of leading highly strategic and influential programs.

Why is the Media Management and Leadership specialization relevant?

The journalism industry is changing – fast. From AI to evolving audience habits, today’s newsrooms need journalists who are capable of not only producing excellent journalism, but also capable of being strategic thinkers, product innovators, and cross-functional leaders. The Media Management & Leadership (MML) specialization prepares you to be the kind of media professional the industry is calling for— someone who connects the dots between editorial, audience, product, and revenue to effectively support high-quality journalism that benefits the public good!

What is the San Francisco immersion experience?

In your final (Summer) quarter, you will get hands-on with building delightful digital media experiences, while being immersed in the Bay Area’s culture of innovation and technology leadership. The curricular core is a week-long, highly interactive and engaging course in design thinking and research where you will learn how to understand the needs of audiences conduct observational research and build and iterate digital media products.

How does the specialization prepare students for success?

Recent insights from Financial Times Strategies (FTS), the Poynter Institute, and Nieman Reports emphasize the need for a new type of news media professional, one who not only understands how to report and produce, but also recognizes the connections between revenue models, digital products and audience expectations.

Medill’s Media Management & Leadership specialization offers exactly the type of training the industry is talking about. Through a combination of coursework, experiences and practical training MML produces news media professionals comfortable with and capable of tackling a range of needs desperately needed in the news industry, be it product design, product management, revenue strategy or cross-functional leadership.

Students in Medill’s Media Management & Leadership program augment their training in foundational journalism and storytelling skills and techniques with competency in:

• Audience Development: Learn how to understand, serve and grow loyal communities, as well as quantitatively measure impact
  
• Cross-Functional Leadership: Gain competency with the frameworks, practices and skills needed to align cross-functional teams and lead change
  
• Revenue strategy: Gain a strong foundation in revenue strategy to help inform or lead financially viable programs in news media contexts
• Value Creation: Leverage best practices and techniques from digital product development to create news media products that satisfy audience needs and wants

How can I learn more about students’ experiences in the specialization?

Read more about students’ experiences on the Medium.com channel for the specialization.