Video and Broadcast
In today’s multimedia world, video is a crucial tool in the journalist’s toolbox. Medill’s broadcast heritage has depth and breadth, providing a solid foundation of video and broadcast journalism methods that use the latest technology to reach a demanding audience.
About the specialization
Students in the Video and Broadcast specialization will learn news judgment, storytelling and technical skills from seasoned faculty who are experts in the field. You’ll produce news stories in our Chicago newsroom. At the end of the program, you’ll have produced a professional resume reel with actual stories highlighting your talent, experience and potential.
Why Video and Broadcast?
Every journalist is now a multimedia journalist. Regardless of whether your career aspirations include newspapers, magazines, websites, TV stations, cable or network news programs or any other organization that produces and distributes content, you will need to understand video production to succeed.
What will I learn?
At Medill, you’ll learn how to create compelling videos, broadcasts or documentaries. Building upon a solid foundation of broadcast reporting methods, you’ll learn to use videos to bring news to life. The equipment you’ll use at Medill includes the latest cameras and software available at professional news organizations, preparing you for a career in content production.
You’ll hear from guest speakers who’ve covered stories across the globe, gaining knowledge and expanding your network. Whether you want to work in a newsroom, Fortune 500 company, nonprofit or your own business, you will learn the latest methods in video storytelling and production.
Watch an overview of the Video and Broadcast specialization below:
Our Faculty
Craig Duff
Prior to joining Medill as a professor, Duff was director of multimedia and chief video journalist for Time, where he oversaw video and other multimedia projects for the magazine’s digital platforms and Time.com. Previously, Duff worked with The New York Times on several television documentaries.
Ava Thompson Greenwell
Since 1993, Greenwell has taught broadcast writing, reporting and producing classes for undergraduate and graduate students at Medill. The professor's research interests include diversity in the news media and television ratings.
Brent Huffman
Huffman is an associate professor of journalism as well as a working documentary filmmaker and director of long-form television programs. At Medill, he teaches documentary theory and production, and long-form video storytelling.
Your Medill Experience
Curriculum
You’ll dive right into the Fundamentals of Video course, then continue honing your video techniques the next quarter at Medill Chicago. As you improve your reporting skills, you can choose from a variety of electives to round out your knowledge. By the end of your studies, you can expect to have mastered video reporting skills.
Learn about the curriculum
Equipment
The downtown Chicago space features a state-of-the-art broadcast studio with professional-quality video cameras. You also will have the opportunity to shoot still photographs and videos with a DSLR camera to produce clear, crisp pieces.
Learn about Medill's Digital Depot
Medill Documentary
In the documentary class, you will use cinema-style video cameras to produce character-driven, long-form videos with a strong emphasis on factual reporting. Student work has been published in The Atlantic, The New York Times and other top-tier media outlets, and shown at the Cannes Film Festival.
Learn about Medill Documentary
Medill Fridays
On select Fridays in your first quarter, you can learn about special topics and connect with other Medill students through the Medill Fridays program. Each day is different and aligns closely with our curriculum. Medill Fridays draw broadcast journalists and other guest speakers from both within and beyond the Medill family.
Learn about Medill Fridays
Career Services
Your time at Medill will pass quickly, so we encourage you to contact Medill Career Services to develop your career strategy early in the program. Advisers and programs cover a variety of topics, including job search strategies, resume and cover letter review, LinkedIn profile reviews and interview prep.
Learn about Career ServicesOur Alumni
Tracie Finley Potts (BSJ91, MSJ91)
Washington Correspondent
Potts provides daily live and taped reports from Capitol Hill on the day's top political news for 200-plus NBC local affiliates, Early Today/MSNBC, CNBC London and Asia, and Canadian networks.
Simone Del Rosario (MSJ12)
Business Correspondent
Del Rosario is a broadcast reporter and award-winning journalist. She is currently a correspondent based in New York City.
Kenneth Edward Piner (MSJ93)
Director of Broadcast and Digital Media
Piner directs, produces and sometimes appears in video content ranging from reality-style videos to straight news packages, as well as educational and training videos. He also serves as a media coach.