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Group of students at the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago.Group of students at the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago.

Technology and Business

Stories about how the technology business drives our lives are as limitless as the imagination behind the next tech advance.

That's why Medill launched a new specialization starting in fall 2018 for students interested in learning how to report and write about the business and technology industry.

You will spend half the program at our San Francisco campus, located in the heart of the city's financial district, interacting with some of the world's top technology companies. You will be well prepared for these opportunities in San Francisco after starting your time at Medill in Chicago learning fundamental business and economic reporting and writing skills while exploring Chicago's role in the tech and business world.

Medill's program is unlike any other, combining the excellence of a Medill education with one of the most exciting topics today: how the technology industry is guiding the future.

About the specialization

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From exploring the work of tech entrepreneurs to breaking news on Fortune 500 companies, the Technology and Business specialization provides you with the deep understanding and skills needed to explain these developments to your audience. Our downtown Chicago space features state-of-the art reporting tools, and our San Francisco campus puts you at the heart of media, technology and finance.

Why Technology and Business

Career opportunities in tech and business media, content creation, digital and multimedia reporting and social media are growing as consumers seek more meaningful information on how technological innovation affects their lives. Demand is high for reporters and writers who can explain complex technology and financial topics in ways that are easy to understand -- from the West Coast to Wall Street and everywhere in between.

What will I learn?

At Medill, you'll learn from experienced faculty who've seen technology and business coverage evolve over the years and who know how to use the latest tools to report on breaking news and trends. You'll uncover stories on your beat in Chicago and San Francisco. In addition to hands-on reporting experiences, you'll have the chance to participate in onsite training, attend guest lectures by experienced journalists and go behind the scenes at top media companies. You'll graduate with an impressive portfolio. Specifically, you'll learn:

  • How to read and report on companies' financial statements;
  • How to find financial and legal information in government filings;
  • The difference between public and private companies;
  • The roles and responsibilities of company executives and boards of directors;
  • The metrics that Wall Street and investors use to value companies;
  • And much more.

Why Medill for Technology and Business?

In addition to our San Francisco and Chicago campuses that put you at the center of the tech and business action, Medill has a broad and enthusiastic alumni network. Medill alumni who work in tech, journalism, and media in the Bay Area have been invaluable in connecting our students and programs to their companies.

Your Medill experience

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Curriculum

You’ll take classes in core journalism skills and take a deep dive into the field of technology and business. You’ll also study data journalism.

Learn about the curriculum
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Chicago

You’ll spend your first two quarters in the program at our Chicago campus, just steps from numerous financial institutions. Chicago is a hub for many Fortune 500 companies.

Learn about Medill's Chicago campus
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San Francisco

You’ll then spend your remaining to quarters in the program at Northwestern’s San Francisco campus, right in the heart of the Bay Area’s financial district and technology startup scene.

Learn more about Medill in San Francisco
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Medill Explores

Our weeklong, faculty-led Medill Explores trips will take you to major financial centers such as New York and Tokyo, where you will visit futures exchanges and meet business journalists.

Learn about Medill Explores
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Medill Fridays

During Medill Fridays events, we welcome renowned journalists to Medill and host technology and business writing workshops to help you expand your skills.

Learn about Medill Fridays
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Career Services

Technology and business journalists are in high demand at traditional and non-mainstream media organizations alike. Medill alumni work at Bloomberg, Facebook, The Wall Street Journal and many other technology and business media outlets and companies.

Learn about Career Services
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Alumni connections

At Medill, you join a community of journalists and media professionals working all over the world. Many of them speak with Medill students to share their experience working in the industry. One such alum is Dean Murphy (BSJ80), who is associate editor at The New York Times. Prior to his current role, Murphy was business editor at The Times. 

Watch a video of Murphy speaking to Medill students

Our Faculty

Headshot of Desiree Hanford.

Desiree Hanford

Prior to joining Medill as a lecturer, Hanford was an equities reporter for Dow Jones & Co., where she covered publicly traded companies and mutual funds.

See Hanford's bio page
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Joe Mathewson

Mathewson, an associate professor, was previously a Supreme Court correspondent for The Wall Street Journal and a lawyer in Chicago.

See Mathewson's bio page
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Ceci Rodgers

Rodgers, a lecturer at Medill, has worked as a financial journalist for more than two decades, primarily reporting business stories for CNN’s "Moneyline."

See Rodgers' bio page

Our Alumni

Headshot of Hannah Levitt.

Hannah Levitt (MSJ17)

Banking Reporter

Levitt, a recent alumna, covers banks for Bloomberg, particularly focusing on Wells Fargo. She credits Medill with showing her opportunities around the world for reporters interested in business, and for launching her career in this field.

Learn more about Levitt
Headshot of Lauren Young.

Lauren Young (MSJ93)

Editor of Digital Special Projects

As Reuters Money editor, Young is based in New York City, where she oversees personal finance coverage for the world's largest news agency on topics such as retirement, saving for college, family finances and others.

Headshot of Isabella Zhong.

Isabella Zhong (MSJ13)

Reporter and Writer

Zhong is a financial journalist who writes commentary on Asia-Pacific stocks for leading investments publication Barron’s, a Dow Jones company. She has interviewed some of Asia’s leading CEOs and investors.