Stony Brook School of Journalism Launches Graduate Program

Stony Brook University's School of Journalism announced Wednesday it will offer a graduate journalism program beginning in June 2011 which focuses on the coverage of health, science, technology and the environment, the first of its kind in the SUNY system.

The University will begin accepting applications for the 40-credit program beginning August 16, 2010 and will accept them through March 15, 2011.

The decision to implement a graduate science journalism program was a natural one given Stony Brook's already-rich academic offerings in the areas of science, medicine and technology, according to Elizabeth Bass, interim director of the graduate journalism program.

"We also felt that coverage of science issues is dwindling in the mainstream media partly as a result of the changes in the media over the last few years," Bass said. "We felt it was an area we could contribute to nationally."

Students in the program will be able to take advantage of the University's relationships with Brookhaven National Laboratory and Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory to report on high-end scientific developments and discoveries by leading scientists. 

The curriculum is designed not only for students and journalists who want to pursue science journalism, but also for students of the sciences who may have career interests ranging beyond traditional research venues.

Stony Brook junior Frank Posillico, editor-in-chief of The Statesman, feels the new program will benefit journalists and scientists alike.

"I think it will really help journalists be able to communicate when something happens in the scientific community," he said. "A lot of what comes out is very technical."