De Anza College's Journalism amd Mass Communication Department seeks to equip students with basic media literacy skills, communication skills, journalistic skills and an understanding of first amendment rights and responsibilities as a basis for sound news judgments and editorial decisions.

Fundamentally, we believe that all students need a grounding in media literacy and technology to understand the fast-changing world around us. Media and journalism classes are valuable assets regardless of whether students plan to pursue upper division studies in media, find a job in the field, or simply wish to improve their critical thinking skills.

The program serves a variety of students:

• General Education students from all majors
• Journalism, Mass Communication, Communication, Broadcasting, Advertising and Public Relations Transfer students
• Vocational students
• Re-entry students

Students whose professional goals are to work in the mass media can best develop their skills by combining rigorous media and journalism classes with hands-on work in a newsroom environment, with the support of experienced faculty advisers. In addition to traditional classes, students write news stories, opinions, feature articles and take photographs for publication in the award-winning first amendment student newspaper, La Voz. The department gives students the opportunity to learn all aspects of print and online newspaper production.

Courses transfer to colleges and universities in California and throughout the U.S. Additionally, our aim is to equip students with the skills and newsroom experience needed to seek internships and begin careers in mass media.