Overview
The Broadcast and Online Journalism Diploma enhances your interviewing, announcing, and news delivery skills, shaping you into a versatile journalist and media professional. In this dynamic 2-year program, students can produce a 30-minute news segment, create multimedia content for BCIT News, and report on the student-run radio station.
You are curious and creative. You know what’s going on in the world and you want to make a difference as a multi-media storyteller. Join BCIT’s Broadcast and Online Journalism program to take the first steps in your new career. Our reputation in industry means that more than 90% of our graduates are employed. From day one you’ll be working as a hands-on journalist in news, sports and current affairs. Students will be mentored by experienced faculty and connect with professionals in the field. Our emphasis on multi-platform production puts this program on the cutting edge of journalism schools across the country. Check out our student work on our BCIT News website.
About the program
- Two years, full-time
- Program runs from September to May
- Prepares students for a range of journalism and media positions
To see more specifics about how BCIT’s unique training prepares you for a fast-paced journalism career, visit our Program Details page.
Work integrated learning
Every full-time diploma program has a practicum component where students spend time with an industry partner (TV and Radio stations; production, sports and entertainment companies). Practicums are typically four weeks in duration. In addition to practicum, students may have the opportunity to enter co-op in level four.
Who should apply for the Broadcast and Online Journalism Diploma?
This program was developed by industry professionals for people who have a strong curiosity about the world and want to develop critical thinking skills related to news and current affairs storytelling. You should also have strong written and oral communication skills.
If this sounds like you, apply today through our Entrance Requirements page.
What grads can do
There is always a strong demand for writers, reporters, video journalists, producers, and researchers who are skilled in producing radio, television, and online content. Our graduates work in newsrooms, sports stations, and media relations firms, including government and production houses. Some have established their own video production companies.
Learn more about the career possibilities available to our graduates on the Graduating and Jobs page.
- Next up Entrance Requirements
Entrance Requirements
Application processing
Open to applications beginning October 1st (or next business day).
Entrance requirements
Applicants will be accepted on a first qualified basis, as long as space remains. You must meet the following entrance requirements to qualify:
- English language proficiency: Category 2 – English Studies 12 (67%) or equivalent
Recommended for success
Attendance at one of the information sessions held each month of the school year at 5:30 pm in the Broadcast Centre, Building SE10 on the Burnaby campus
BCIT Broadcast and Media Communications Part-time Studies courses
Related industry experience
Previous post-secondary education, particularly English, political science and communications
Awareness of current events
International applicants
This program is available to international applicants. A valid study permit is required prior to starting the program.
Students enrolled in this program must complete the mandatory work component to qualify for graduation. A co-op work permit is required prior to starting the work component.
Apply to program
To submit your application:
- Include proof of meeting all entrance requirements.
- Convert all transcripts and supporting documents to PDF files.
- Have a credit card ready to pay the application fee.
Apply Now
Scheduled Intakes
September each year.
myCommunication
Within two business days of submitting your completed application, BCIT will send a message to your personal and myBCIT email addresses. All correspondence regarding your application will be posted to your online myCommunication account at my.bcit.ca. We will send you an email when a new message is posted. It is important to watch for these emails or regularly check your account online.
You can expect to receive communication concerning the status of your application within four weeks.
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Costs & Supplies
Bring your own device & additional equipment
Tuition fees
Use our tuition estimator to find tuition and fees for this program.
For more information on full-time tuition and fees, visit:
Books & supplies
Student spending above and beyond tuition depends largely on individual preferences and practices. The following estimates provide a range of spending:
Level 1: $1,000
Level 2: $350
Level 3: $300
Level 4: $300
These are general estimated costs, subject to change.
Additional costs and supplies
In addition to some textbooks and stationary, Broadcast and Online Journalism students must supply additional resources to ensure they can participate in classes, and deliver assignments to meet learning outcomes. These resources include:- Smartphone with a mobile plan
- Audio recording apps
- Microphone (for smartphone), mic/smartphone adapter
- USB flash drives with sufficient storage space
- 2 TB external hard drive
- SD memory card 64GB
Vehicles
There are also additional vehicle costs associated with our labs. All students in the Broadcast and Online Journalism program require access to a vehicle in order to cover stories off-campus, particularly in second year. Students without access to a vehicle will need to arrange transportation with colleagues, take a taxi, or pursue stories entirely on-campus. All vehicle costs (parking and gas) are shared equally among Television and Journalism students when covering stories for BCIT Magazine (in second year).Financial assistance
Financial assistance may be available for this program. For more information, please contact Student Financial Aid and Awards.
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Courses
The hands-on experience of working in radio, television, and online makes your training at BCIT completely one-of-a-kind. In your two years in the program, you’ll practice the everyday skills needed for journalism and learn how to investigate original news stories, shoot and edit stories, produce documentaries and more. We have a strong focus on digital journalism and how to use social media for news and information reporting.
Program matrix
Level 1 (15 weeks) | Credits | ||
---|---|---|---|
BCST 1108 | Videography | 3.0 | |
BCST 1118 | Video Editing | 2.0 | |
BCST 1128 | On-Air Performance | 3.0 | |
BCST 1130 | Introduction to News Reporting | 2.0 | |
BCST 1132 | Introduction to Audio Production | 2.0 | |
BCST 1134 | Introduction to Broadcast Writing | 2.0 | |
BCST 1139 | Visual Fundamentals for Journalists | 2.0 | |
Level 2 (16 weeks plus 4 week practicum) | Credits | ||
BCST 1331 | Media Law | 2.0 | |
BCST 2230 | News Reporting | 2.0 | |
BCST 2233 | Television News and Video Journalism | 2.0 | |
BCST 2234 | Audio Storytelling | 2.0 | |
BCST 2235 | Journalism Practicum 1 | 6.0 | |
BCST 2237 | Radio News Lab | 3.0 | |
BCST 2238 | Multiplatform Writing | 2.0 | |
BCST 2240 | Digital Journalism | 2.0 | |
COMM 1112 | Media Relations Skills for Journalists | 3.0 | |
Level 3 (15 weeks) | Credits | ||
BCST 3332 | Radio Newsroom | 8.0 | |
BCST 3333 | Video Storytelling | 8.0 | |
BCST 3340 | Advanced Journalism | 2.0 | |
BCST 3700 | Digital Newsroom | 8.0 | |
MKTG 3800 | Media Entrepreneur for Broadcast | 2.0 | |
Level 4 (16 weeks plus 4 week practicum) | Credits | ||
BCST 2215 | Web Design for Journalists | 2.0 | |
BCST 4431 | Multiplatform Newsroom | 17.0 | |
BCST 4435 | Journalism Practicum 2 | 7.0 | |
BCST 4436 | Documentary Capstone | 7.0 | |
Total Credits: | 101.0 |
Transfer credit
Do you have credits from another BC/Yukon post-secondary school? Do you want to know if they transfer to courses here at BCIT? Check out BCIT's Transfer Equivalency Database to find out.
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Program Details
Your journalism training at BCIT is unlike any you’ll get anywhere else. From the beginning of your first week, you’ll be involved in learning skills and knowledge journalists and media professionals use every day. We have a very active industry advisory committee which helps us keep our program up to date and which mentors our second year students in industry rotations throughout the year. We are live and on the air – our students:
- Prepare and deliver a 30-minute news program that’s broadcast online
- Report from the field and in the studio at Canada’s only FM student-run radio station, Evolution 107.9
- Produce photos, video and audio for our website bcitnews.com
Through this program, you’ll develop interviewing skills and announcing techniques, hone your writing, and learn how to deliver compelling news stories. All your courses and experience, including industry internships, are designed to give you the ability and confidence to start and succeed in your journalism career.
Program length
Two years, full-time.
The program runs from September to May each year.
Additional program options
Program delivery
In person: This program is delivered on campus.
Program location
Burnaby Campus
3700 Willingdon Avenue
Burnaby, BC
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Graduating & Jobs
With the practical career skills you’ll develop through this program, you’ll be prepared to begin an exciting career in a wide range of journalism positions, both online and in traditional print, TV, and radio.
Some career opportunities in journalism include:
- Video Journalist
- Field Reporter
- Sportscaster
- Sports Play by Play
- Writer/Editor
- Researcher
- Media Relations
- News Anchor/On-Air Host
- Video/Digital Producer
- Associate Producer
- Feature Editor/Reporter
- Online Writer/Editor
Testimonials
“Our Experience with BCIT Students in our newsroom in Vancouver…is that the people who are coming out of BCIT are able to fit into our newsroom immediately.”
Ian Hanomansing, CBC News
“BCIT’s Broadcast and Online Journalism program provides a solid foundation for any aspiring journalist. In the years since graduating, I’ve been able to report on some of the most complex issues of our time for the world’s finest news organizations. BCIT helped pave the way.”
Imtiaz Tyab, Correspondent, CBS News
“After completing my degree, I enrolled in the BCIT Broadcast Journalism program. The wonderful instructors gave me the tools to hit the ground running and start building a career as a working journalist. Best of all, they helped place me as an intern at the CBC, where I have been able to fulfill a wide range of rolls over the years. I love what I do and I wouldn’t be here without BCIT.”
Renée Filippone, CBC Foreign Correspondent
Graduate employment outcomes
The BCIT student outcomes report presents summary findings from the annual survey of former students administered by BC Stats one to two years after graduation. These reports combine the last three years of available results for the 2021-2023 BCIT Outcomes Surveys of 2020-2022 graduates and for Degree 2019-2021 graduates. The reports are organized into three-page summaries containing information on graduates’ labour market experiences and opinions regarding their education. More detailed information can be accessed at the BC Student Outcomes website.
To view these results, you may need to have the Adobe Acrobat Reader installed in your Web browser.
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Faculty, Advisors & Staff
Christine German, Program Head
Christine is the Program Head for the Broadcast and Online Journalism program at BCIT. Prior to becoming an instructor, Christine worked as a television producer for a variety of media organizations and production houses in Canada and the U.K. She has also worked as a host and play-by-play commentator, including at the Athens 2004 Olympic Games. Before becoming a journalist, Christine worked in sports media relations. She has a diploma in Broadcast Journalism from BCIT and a BA in English Literature from the University of Saskatchewan. As an instructor she specializes in television production, digital journalism, photography and all forms of writing.
Francesca Fionda, Instructor
Francesca has pursued a career as an investigative and data journalist. Her stories have uncovered fake Indigenous art in the tourism industry, exposed government failures in protecting sensitive health information and revealed new, in-depth data on Canada’s mobile workforce. Francesca has worked with newsrooms across the country including The Narwhal, The Tyee, The Discourse, CBC, Global, CTV and the Institute of Investigative Journalism. Francesca is a graduate of BCIT’s Broadcast and Online Journalism program and when she isn’t reporting or teaching journalism, she’s trying to find her way out of an escape room. Francesca is a first-generation settler of Filipino and Italian ancestry.
Ian Foote, Instructor
Ian became a BCIT instructor after spending several years as an anchor and reporter in South Korea where he covered local news and geopolitical affairs in East Asia. Ian has spent most of his career working in radio and is excited to share his passion for audio storytelling with students today. Ian holds a BA from the University of the Fraser Valley and a diploma in Broadcast Journalism from BCIT. Before his on-air work, Ian assisted in curriculum development and delivery of a course aimed at helping students improve their English-language skills through news media studies. Ian has been acknowledged for his work in South Korea with an outstanding program award and a recognition of service from the Seoul Metropolitan Government.
Julia Foy, Instructor
Julia is an award-winning broadcast journalist with more than 35 years of experience in radio and television news. Since attending BCIT’s Broadcast Journalism program, she has worked at radio stations CKNW and CISL, and television stations CKVU, CTV and Global. Julia has received awards from the B.C. Association of Broadcasters, Radio Television and Digital News Directors Association and Jack Webster Foundation for excellence in TV News Reporting. Julia has been an instructor at BCIT since 1997. Julia completed the Provincial Instructors Diploma in 2015 and she is proud to offer students a strong combination of current experience and professional guidance.
Keanan Kipp, Instructor
Prior to teaching at BCIT, Keanan worked as a television writer and producer, including as a control room producer. While she enjoys the fast-paced environment of the control room, Keanan also loves getting out to field produce on location. Her instructional focus is on multi-platform storytelling. She teaches Television, Radio, and Digital courses in both years of the Broadcast and Online Journalism program. Keanan is a BCIT Broadcast Journalism graduate. She also has a BA in Visual Arts and French from Vancouver Island University and is working towards a Master’s degree in Disaster and Emergency Management at Royal Roads University.
Theresa Lalonde, Instructor
Theresa Lalonde started working for CBC Radio when she was a teenager, hosting CBC North’s Saturday Night Request show. She was also a reporter, producer and host in Ontario and Nova Scotia before joining the Vancouver newsroom in 2000. She’s worked for national radio programs, local radio, television and digital news, as well as the award-winning current affairs TV program “Our Vancouver” and the digital streaming show, “Planet Wonder”. Theresa also mentors new journalists on major projects and series. She was recently the coordinating producer for CBC Vancouver’s Indigenous Jr J School. Theresa joined the Professional Advisory Committee for the Broadcast and Online Journalism program in 2010 and began teaching in 2016.
Zack Singer, Instructor
Zack is an experienced videographer, photographer, and musician with a strong passion for storytelling. Zack co-founded a videography and digital media company and has traveled throughout Canada producing compelling content, often driving social media campaigns. This experience lends well to his role in the Broadcast and Online Journalism program, teaching students the technical skills behind the camera, in the video editing suite, and on digital media platforms. He loves to help others share their stories and hopes to inspire students to do the same. Zack’s goal is to give students the ability to creatively combine visuals and sound to make a moving, polished, and versatile final product. Zack is a BCIT Broadcast Journalism grad and has a Bachelor of Music degree from the University of British Columbia.
Jacob Hall, Assistant Instructor
Jacob is a Broadcast & Online Journalism graduate who also has a BA in Communications from Simon Fraser University. Jacob’s industry experience includes working as the lead videographer for Fitness World and freelancing as a videographer and photographer, before heading up the communications and marketing department for SFU’s NCAA athletics program. Jacob joined the faculty at BCIT in 2023, bringing a decade of experience in editing, shooting, and web design. With his keen eye for detail and passion for storytelling, Jacob guides students through the intricacies of video production, from conceptualization to post-production. Jacob also serves as the internship coordinator in the Broadcast and Online Journalism program, working closely with students to identify opportunities that align with their talents and aspirations.
Advisory committee
- Chair – Bhupinder Hundal – Global BC
- Laura Ballance – Laura Ballance Media Group
- Ethan Faber – CTV News
- Renee Filippone – CBC News
- Fiona Hopewell-Jensen – Global BC
- Tina Lovgreen – TransLink
- Steve Lus – CBC News
- Joe Perkins – CHEK News
- Blake Price – Sports Journalism, Play-by-Play and Podcasting
- Scott Rintoul – Communications, Sports Journalism
- Terry Schintz – City News 1130
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Internship Opportunities
Students in the BCIT Broadcast and Online Journalism Program complete three different industry internships during their second year of study. This means each student spends a total of 12 weeks with different industry partners and learning from those currently working in the field. It’s an excellent opportunity for students to make connections and try out the work they will get to tackle after graduation.
Our regular internship partners include a mix of television and radio newsrooms, sports organizations, media relations and PR companies, and video production houses.
- CBC Vancouver
- Global News
- CTV Vancouver
- CITY News
- CKNW
- The Discourse
- CHEK TV (Victoria)
- CKPG (Prince George)
- CTV Victoria
- Global Okanagan (Kelowna)
- CBC Okanagan (Kelowna)
- Radio NL (Kamloops)
- CFJC (Kamloops)
- Roll Focus Video Production
- Sportsnet 650
- SFU Athletics
- Vancouver Whitecaps
- Vancouver Giants
- BC Lions
- Canadian Esports Championship Series
- Fraser Valley Bandits
- ET Canada
- Laura Ballance Media Group
- Jelly Marketing and PR
- Canadian Cancer Society
- BC SPCA
- Special Olympics
- TransLink
- Delta Police
We also partner with several established internship programs, such as:
- CBC Toronto News and Network Talk Internships
- CBC Joan Donaldson Internship
- CBC Vancouver Summer Internship Program
- The Botchford Project Media Mentorship Program
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Contact Us
General enquiries
Kai Mannella
Administrative Assistant
604-434-5734 | Kai_mannella@bcit.ca
Christine German
Program Head
604-432-8821 | christine_german@bcit.ca
Contact a Program Advisor with the BCIT program name in the subject line if you have a question about:
- Program selection and program planning
- Applying for transfer credit and advanced placement
- Job placement and graduate outcomes
- Student life
Questions or comments?
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