Vibrant. Vital. Invigorating and lively.

Hone your journalistic skills in a community where important things happen, where diverse groups gather, where serious thought and lively conversation spills out of classrooms into year-round sunshine.

UC Berkeley is one of the greatest public universities in the world, a center of innovation and a destination for thought leaders in politics, science, the arts – all areas of human achievement.

Nestled in the Bay Area within hailing distance of Silicon Valley’s technological mecca, we’re a comfortable commute from San Francisco and a quick drive from the scenic Sierras and spectacular ocean vistas of Big Sur and Point Reyes. And the city of Berkeley is home to a world-class array of cultural activity.

It’s an ideal location for an engaged, diverse community who intend to shape the future.

Student Life

We host many organizations that support diversity in the journalism community, including those listed below. To find out more about these organizations and our connection to them, please contact the students listed with each group.

Logo of the Asian American Journalists Association UC Berkeley chapter. It features the text "Asian American Journalists Association UC Berkeley" on a blue background with stylized overlapping white initials "AAJA." The word "UC Berkeley" is in yellow, capturing what it's like to be here.

Asian American Journalists Association (AAJA)

The AAJA is committed to “advancing diversity in newsrooms, and ensuring fair and accurate coverage of communities of color.” 

Contacts:
Hana Beach
hana.beach@berkeley.edu

Sachi Mulkey
skmulkey@berkeley.edu

The NLGJA logo features the letters "nlgja" in black and blue, with the "j" styled in blue and topped with a pen nib. A gray arc partially encircles the letters, curving from bottom right to top left. This design subtly conveys what it's like to be here—embracing journalism's essence.

Association of LGBTQ Journalists (NLGJA)

Working within the news media to advance fair and accurate coverage of LGBTQ communities and issues, the NLGJA provides education, professional development and mentoring. 

Contacts:
Gisselle Medina
fiercewriter22@berkeley.edu

Jeremiah Rhodes
jerorho@berkeley.edu

The UC Berkeley School of Journalism Outlist is a place for students, faculty and staff who identify as LGBTQAI+.

We envision the Outlist as a tool to connections and support amongst those who identify as LGBTQAI+. We would like for the Outlist to generate connections, foster mentorship conversations and celebrate the many LGBTQAI+ contributors at our school.

If you are interested in having your name on the Outlist, please fill out the form. We recognize that visibility is an entirely personal decision and there are many barriers that prevent individuals from safely coming out. With this in mind, participation is entirely voluntary.

Yours in Pride,

The UC Berkeley School of Journalism NLGJA student chapter and LGBTQAI+ Staff and Faculty

Here is a spreadsheet with the names and identities.

Disabled Journalists Association (DJA)

DJA aims to support disabled and chronically ill students, as well as advocate for better representation in media.

Contact:
Kathleen Quinn
kathleen_quinn@berkeley.edu

International Journalists Association (IJA)

Contact:
Simmerdeep Kaur
Simmerdeep_kaur@berkeley.edu

Journalist Association for Mental Health (JAMH)

Journalist Association for Mental Health is dedicated for advocating for supporting mental health needs, and expanding resources for dealing with trauma.

Contacts:
Danica Simonet danica_simonet@berkeley.edu
Emma Garcia emmagarcia@berkeley.edu
Celeste Hamilton celeste_hdennis@berkeley.edu

Logo of the Society of Professional Journalists featuring the organization's name in bold capital letters at the top and the acronym "SPJ" prominently displayed below in white on a blue background, inviting you to be here and experience the journalistic lifestyle.

SPJ at Berkeley Journalism Chapter

In 2023, we started our first-ever SPJ at Berkeley Chapter. SPJ at Berkeley coordinates with SPJ national, having discussions about ethics in journalism, journalism tools and hosting fun/inspiring events. Both undergrad journalism minors and journalism grad students are welcome to join.

Contact:
Kelsey Oliver kelseyoliver@berkeley.edu

J-Care Bears

J-Care Bears is committed to providing support to and advocacy for students caring for children, parents, family members, or anyone else, as well as fostering community among student caregivers and student caregiver allies.

Contact:
Florence Middleton
florence.middleton@berkeley.edu

 

A yellow and black graphic with text, "The National Association of Black Journalists" at the top, "NABJ" in the center, and "At the University of California Berkeley" at the bottom. The text is surrounded by a black border with stylized microphone and pen icons attached to NABJ. Experience what it's like to be here.

National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ)

The National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ) offers innovative training, career advancement opportunities and advocacy initiatives for Black journalists and media professionals worldwide. 

Contacts: 
Bria Suggs briasuggs@berkeley.edu
Jeremiah Rhodes jerorho@berkeley.edu

Logo for the NAHJ Chapter.

National Association of Hispanic Journalists (NAHJ)

Created in 1984 to provide “a national voice and unified vision for all Hispanic journalists,” the NAHJ is “dedicated to the recognition and professional advancement of Hispanics in the news industry.” 

Contacts:
Bella Arnold bellaarnold@berkeley.edu
Shannon Faulise shannonfaulise@berkeley.edu

The logo features the acronym "SAJA" in bold black letters, with "South Asian Journalists Association" written underneath in smaller, capitalized black letters. The top left and bottom right corners have minimalist blue angular lines, capturing a glimpse of what it's like to be here.

South Asian Journalist Association (SAJA)

The South Asian Journalists Association (SAJA) is a non-profit organization that provides a networking and resource forum for journalists of South Asian origin and journalists interested in South Asia or the South Asian Diaspora.

Contacts:
Tarini Mehta tarini_mehta@berkeley.edu
Varun Srikanth varun_srikanth@berkeley.edu

Student Leadership

The Leadership Committee (TLC)

Chosen by students through elections, these student leaders plan and implement events, represent the student body in discussions with the administration and faculty, host visiting guests, and raise and foster dialogue about important school issues.

Women in Media (WIM)

Founded by students wishing to engage in discussions about their experiences, insights and aspirations, WIM also hosts events such as “Safety in the Field and Sexism on the Set” and self-defense classes in conjunction with the Rape Aggression Defense (RAD) system.

Contacts:
Bella Arnold
bellaarnold@berkeley.edu

J-Peers

J-Peers are students who provide the school with essential support on various fronts. They are mentors, innovators, and change makers. They exhibit leadership abilities, high levels of engagement and enthusiasm. They help make this place run!

Admissions
To be announced.

Career Development
To be announced.

Communication
To be announced.

International, Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
To be announced.

Events & Bloomberg Diversity Program
To be announced.

 

Entrepreneurial Journalism Association (EJA)

Entrepreneurial Journalism Association (EJA) is a UC Berkeley student organization that promotes innovation in the field of journalism and supports students to develop new storytelling tools, platforms, and mediums. EJA's mission is to connect student journalists to collaborative networks for innovation and to venture opportunities for funding.

Contact:
To be announced.

People are sitting on the grass and walking around on a sunny day in a park with large trees. In the background, a tall, white bell tower is prominently visible, surrounded by buildings with red roofs. The bright blue sky sets the perfect scene for Berkeley Journalism students to gather and share stories.

Cross Campus Experiences

As one of the leading public universities in the world, UC Berkeley is home to several leading professional schools in addition to the J-School. Students can pursue degrees that combine J-School coursework with programs at other schools, including the School of Law and the School of Public Health.

Human Rights Center

The Human Rights Center at the UC Berkeley School of Law conducts research on war crimes and other serious violations of international humanitarian law and human rights. The Center trains students and advocates how to research, investigate, and document human rights violations and turn this information into effective action, guided by the need to listen to and support survivors, test innovative ideas, draw from multiple disciplines, use rigorous methods and collaborate.

School of Public Health

Students can combine interests in public health, journalism, communications and media with a three-year MPH/MJ program, designed to give journalists the training and knowledge needed to cover public health and medical issues. You can choose from four public health concentrations available: environmental health, infectious diseases, epidemiology/biostatistics, and health and social behavior.