Photojournalism
Overview
Growing demand for visual storytelling skills has strengthened the demand for professional-level photojournalism training. Each semester, photography courses give students hands-on experience shooting, editing and composing photo essays while developing a personal style.
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- Students routinely get photographs published in local and national news outlets.
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- Each year, the school awards two $5,000 fellowships named after photographer Jim Marshall to support a new generation of journalists who use photography to tell stories.
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- Students receive hands-on training in publishing photobooks and magazines.
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- Students are regularly accepted into prestigious photographic programs like the Eddie Adams Workshop.
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One of the most respected photojournalism programs in the country offering robust publishing opportunities alongside specialized training in documentary photography and producing photobooks and magazines.
Photojournalism
Featured Student Work
Realeyes magazine
The photo essays in this magazine were produced by the photographers
in the Spring 2025 Visual Storytelling class at U.C. Berkeley’s Graduate
School of Journalism. The instructor was Professor Ken Light.
Download 2025 edition of Realeyes magazine (PDF 16 MB)
Photojournalism
Instructor
Exceptional, hands-on education from experts in photojournalism and documentary photography.
Reva & David Logan Professor of Photojournalism
Ken Light
Ken Light has worked as a freelance documentary photographer for over fifty years, focusing on social issues facing America. He is a recipient of a Guggenheim Fellowship (2021) and his images have been published in twelve books including Course of the Empire (Steidl), Midnight La Frontera (TBW Books), What’s Going On? 1969-1974, Coal Hollow (U.C. Press), Delta Time (Smithsonian), To The Promised Land (Aperture), With These Hands (Pilgrim Press), Texas Death Row (University of Mississippi Press) and Valley of Shadows and Dreams (Heyday Books).
He is the author of Witness in Our Time: Lives of Working Documentary Photographers and the recipient of two National Endowment for the Arts Photographers Fellowships and the Dorothea Lange Fellowship. His work has been published in countless magazines, newspapers and a variety of media (electronic & film), and has been featured in over 230 exhibitions worldwide including one person shows at the International Center for Photography (NYC), Oakland Museum of California, S.E. Museum of Photography, Visual Studies Workshop, Visa pour L’image Perpignan (France) and the San Jose Museum of Art.
Photojournalism
Alumni Testimonials
Clara Mokri ('23) - freelance journalist
"...instrumental in my journey"
My experience at Berkeley Journalism enabled me to refine my skills as a filmmaker, photographer and storyteller. Having had the opportunity to study different visual mediums allowed me to diversify my skillset and become a more versatile freelancer upon graduation. The genuine enthusiasm and support of both my professors and peers at was instrumental in my journey, and I am grateful for my time at North Gate Hall.
Florence Middleton ('24) - freelance journalist
"...propelled me into my new career"
I attended UC Berkeley's Graduate School of Journalism to facilitate a career change from a completely different field to photojournalism. The opportunity not only propelled me into my new career, but it opened up doors I could not have imagined. Through the two-year program, I had the dedicated space to pursue long-form projects of my choice and receive critical feedback from professors and peers. By the end, I walked away with a solid portfolio, a Pulitzer Center fellowship, work experience, valuable connections, and clarity on my reporting passions. I couldn't have done that without the program.
Our photojournalism students are in high demand at news outlets
Photojournalism
Award Winning Student Work
The clearest demonstration of the success of our program is the achievements of our students, who have won numerous national awards for their work.
Photojournalism
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/
Contact Us
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.