WIP-Audio
Overview
Our curriculum helps students build a solid foundation in all aspects of professional audio journalism and storytelling, from research, reporting and writing for the ear, to production, performance and pitching.
- Accomplished professionals in audio journalism teach small, hands-on courses in which students produce broadcast-quality stories.
- Throughout their training, students have access to professional audio recording and editing equipment, and to the Madeleine H. Russell Radio Lab and other studio spaces.
- Nearly all of the students graduate having had an audio feature broadcast locally or nationally.
- Students meet and work closely with top audio reporters, producers, editors and podcasters.
No journalism graduate program in the country offers these robust publishing opportunities alongside sustained training in audio storytelling and production.
WIP-Audio
Featured Student Work
Across the ocean: a Japanese American story of war and homecoming
Forced Sterilization Survivors Undertake Own Healing After Feeling ‘Silenced Again’ by State
Audio thesis documentary by Cayla Mihalovich (’24) for The California Report’s weekly Magazine on KQED spurs reforms.
New Generation Of Mexican Singers Embrace Corridos
Aisha Natalia Wallace-Palomares (’25) reports on a new generation of Mexican singers embracing corridos, for KQED’s “California Report.”
Take No Prisoners
Chris Harland-Dunaway ('17) reports on an American war crime nearly forgotten to history for Reveal from The Center for Investigative Reporting, a story that he began at Berkeley Journalism.
The Enduring Reign of El Daña, Drag King of the Central Valley
Celeste Hamilton Dennis ('24) profiles El Daña, the oldest performing drag king in the country for KQED.
The clearest demonstration of the success of our program is the achievements of our students, who have won numerous national awards for their work.
WIP-Audio
Instructors
Exceptional, hands-on education from experts.
Assistant Professor
Shereen Marisol Meraji
Shereen Marisol Meraji is a veteran audio producer and journalist who has been telling stories with sound for more than two decades. She helped create NPR's groundbreaking and critically acclaimed podcast covering race and identity, Code Switch. During her time as co-host and senior producer, the show won numerous awards and Apple Podcasts named it its first-ever "show of the year." She was awarded a Harvard Nieman fellowship before becoming an assistant professor of race in journalism and head of audio.
Lecturer
Queena Sook Kim
Queena Sook Kim is an audio reporter, producer, host and editor. Her most recent project is a seven-part podcast called "The Pill Plot," which is about a ragtag group of activists and their quest to bring the abortion pill to the United States in the 1990s. The podcast broke into the top 200 podcasts and was produced for Sony Music Entertainment.
Her stories have appeared on NPR, WNYC's The Takeaway, Here & Now, BBC's Global Perspective and The New York Times' multimedia page.
WIP-Audio
Alumni Testimonials
Bria Suggs ('24)
Audio Producer
"Gave me the opportunity to learn from some of the best producers, editors and hosts in the field"
Berkeley Journalism is where I discovered my love for audio storytelling. The program gave me the opportunity to learn from some of the best producers, editors and hosts in the field, and access to Berkeley exclusive internships that have impacted my career for the better. Through the courses, I was able to gain experience in field production, audio reporting, editing, engineering and sound design -- a varied skill set that has been vital to my growth as a producer.
Celeste Hamilton Dennis ('24)
Freelance Audio Producer
Vulnerability doesn't get talked about much in journalism. Yet it's what makes the best audio stories sing and my biggest takeaway from Berkeley. I entered as a career switcher, unsure if I could pick up audio storytelling again. Shereen made me feel like I could. She championed me constantly - expecting excellence, modeling vulnerability. I gained a national public radio byline and versatile storytelling skills.
Ariel Plotnick ('18)
Audio Producer, The Washington Post
Berkeley Journalism gave me the confidence and experience needed to become a journalist. The professors and working journalists I met as a student became advocates for me and my work, connecting me with opportunities to publish my first stories. These early mentors - as well as the networking I did at J-school events - set me up for success after graduation.
Tamara Keith ('01)
Senior White House Correspondent, NPR
I can easily draw a direct line between the work I do now and the skills I gained at the J-School. Berkeley builds better journalists, work that is as essential as ever.
Our audio students are in high demand at news outlets
WIP-Audio
Frequently Asked Questions
Round 1 deadline is Dec. 16, 2024 8:59 pm PT
Priority consideration for departmental funding
Round 2: Feb. 3, 2025 8:59 pm PT
Admission based on space availability
Concurrent Degrees
Application Deadline: Dec. 2, 2024 8:59 pm PT
Master in Journalism/Master in Public Health (MPH/MJ)
Master in Journalism/Asian Studies (MJ/MA)
Visit our admissions page for all of the information you need and a list of FAQ about your application: https://journalism.berkeley.edu/admissions/
Attend a Berkeley Journalism Information Session to learn more about the the school and application process. Visit our admissions page for information on dates and times: https://journalism.berkeley.edu/admissions/
Get More Info
Interested in receiving more info?
Complete the form below to receive a syllabus.
Director of Admissions
Nelly Provencal-Dayle
nelly@berkeley.edu
510-664-1234
Would you like to speak with someone directly? Let's talk. Our admissions team is here to help.