Media Management and Leadership
Shape the future of journalism
A program built for media entrepreneurs, innovators and leaders.
Specialization Overview
At Medill, we believe leadership in journalism isn’t just about editorial judgment. It’s about understanding how news is produced, distributed and sustained. The Media Management & Leadership (MML) specialization will help you become the kind of leader the industry needs – analytical, creative, collaborative, and mission-driven.
Through a combination of course work, experiential learning, and exceptional experiences, the (MML) specialization prepares you to lead the next era of journalism – by combining a deep understanding of exceptional reporting, with the ability to build the systems that support quality journalism.
Whether you aim to innovate within a newsroom or launch a new media venture, this specialization equips you to make a more resilient, sustainable and vibrant journalism ecosystem.
What You’ll Learn
The MML specialization helps you understand how audiences find and engage with news, how media products are developed and improved, and how sustainable business models can protect the integrity and reach of journalism.
Gain the insight and skills needed to help ensure journalism thrives in the modern era. The MML specialization prepares you to:
- Leverage audience understanding to create news experiences people care about
- Manage and develop digital products across platforms and channels
- Design business models that align mission with sustainability
- Lead diverse teams through change, experimentation and innovation
- Bridge the gap between editorial values and operational realities
Career Paths
The MML specialization prepares you for roles that support, grow and lead media organizations and media-driven initiatives. Our graduates work in pivotal roles that drive revenue, audience engagement and the development of beloved products in both media and non-media contexts. Our alumni have taken on roles as product managers at reputable news organizations like the Baltimore Banner, Philadelphia Inquirer and Texas Tribune, lead subscriptions for magazines, and even spearhead growth efforts at major technology companies like Doordash, TikTok and Meta.
Experiential Learning
At Medill, we believe the best way to prepare for the future of journalism is to participate in shaping it now. You’ll learn by doing, applying ideas in real-world settings to solve urgent problems. For MML students this happens through three cornerstone experiences designed to move you from theory to practice.
- Knight Lab Studio
Collaborate with journalism, design and computer science students to prototype new tools, formats, and technologies for digital storytelling. You’ll learn what it takes to bring a product to life—from audience research to design sprints to testing and iteration. - Local News Initiative
Work on one of the most pressing challenges in journalism today: strengthening local news. You’ll analyze real audience data, apply practical frameworks for sustainability, and contribute to strategies used by working newsrooms. - Internships: You will participate in a mandatory, three-month internship in your final quarter where you will be immersed in real-world environments, which can mean launching news media products, finding ways to generate revenue for a news organization or designing new ways to streamline newsrooms in the age of AI. Partner sites, hand selected by your specialization leader, include innovative startups like Particle News as well as established organizations like the San Francisco Chronicle and City Bureau.
Watch an overview of the Media Management and Leadership specialization below:
Your Medill Experience
Unique Student Experiences
The Media Management and Leadership specialization provides unique experiences for students—from building and launching new products and services, to visiting innovative media companies in New York City (pictured here), to visiting Medill alums at companies such as Google. These experiences help grads land jobs at companies across the country.
Curriculum
You’ll learn foundational journalism skills–research, reporting and multimedia storytelling–while also developing a deep understanding of digital technologies, business principles and the art and science of product development.
Learn about the curriculum
Chicago and Evanston
You’ll spend your first three quarters in Chicago and Evanston. You’ll learn how media businesses work and build your understanding of digital publishing and audience engagement. Working with teammates, you’ll develop prototypes for a new publication or media product.
Learn about the Chicago newsroom
San Francisco
You’ll spend a week immersed in the Bay Area’s technology and innovation ecosystem taking courses, networking and visiting some of the world’s leading media and technology companies.
Learn about Medill in San Francisco
Knight Lab
Learn about the Knight Lab
Medill Fridays
Learn what it’s really like to work as an innovator and disrupter by hearing from Medill alumni and other guest speakers who’ve done just that during their careers. Medill Fridays offer regular programming opportunities on a variety of subjects, so you can broaden your learning beyond the classroom.
Learn about Medill Fridays
Career Services
Companies are looking for people who understand journalism, technology, audience behavior and the business side of journalism. Your education at Medill will open up new career paths in media and non-media organizations. Take advantage of the Medill alumni network as you make connections to further your career.
Learn about Career ServicesOur Faculty
Ashir Badami
Badami brings deep expertise in content strategy, product marketing, and user experience design acquired from more than 15 years of professional experience across a range of industries and organizations including publicly-owned and venture-backed companies.
Mary Lou Song
Based in the San Francisco area, Song is an adjunct lecturer at Medill. She joined eBay in 1996 as the company’s third employee. Since then, she has worked at and founded several start-up companies.
Jeremy Gilbert
Jeremy Gilbert is the Knight Professor of Digital Media Strategy. Before that, he was The Washington Post’s director of strategic initiatives, where he helped lead the transformation of the Post to an international, digital-first news organization. His work and teaching focus on content and revenue strategies for media companies.
Our Alumni
Melissa Bell (MSJ06)
Publisher
Bell is the Publisher of Vox Media and co-founder of Vox.com. She leads Vox Media's Growth and Development team. Prior to Vox Media, Bell oversaw digital platforms at the Washington Post. She was also one of The Post's most-read bloggers and a columnist for the Style section. Before joining The Post, she helped launch Mint, a Wall Street Journal subsidiary in India.
Jordan Monroe Schultz (MSJ13)
Head of Audience Development
As the head of audience development, Schultz is based in New York City where he oversees distribution, social media, data analysis and more for Atlas Obscura, the definitive guide to the world's hidden wonders.
Jessica Hilberman (MSJ05)
Integrated Marketing Lead
As a lead on Google's employment marketing team, Hilberman manages the product and content for careers.google.com and implements strategies for online hiring via owned, social and paid media. She has also lectured at Medill San Francisco.