Bachelor of Journalism and New Media

Study Collarts’ Bachelor of Journalism & New Media in Melbourne to combine real-world projects, industry mentorship, and multimedia skills, preparing you for careers in journalism, digital content creation, and media communications.

2

years full-time (Accelerated) or 3 years (Standard)

4

units per trimester

STUDY MODES

On Campus

NEXT INTAKE

June 2026

LOCATION

Melbourne (Collingwood)

Study Your Bachelor of Journalism and New Media Degree with Collarts

Tell stories that matter, on every platform.

CRICOS Code 114780H (2 years)/ 114781G (3 years)/ 114782F (2 trimesters)/ 114783E (3 trimesters)


The Bachelor of Journalism & New Media at Collarts prepares aspiring storytellers to excel in today’s rapidly changing digital media landscape. You’ll gain a strong foundation in traditional journalism while mastering multimedia production, mobile reporting, and social media strategy, enabling you to create compelling stories across online, broadcast, and print platforms.

Throughout the degree, you’ll develop skills in video and audio production, podcasting, and live reporting, while learning to capture powerful narratives through photography and visual storytelling. You’ll also build expertise in engaging audiences and optimising content for social media, all while working in newsroom-style environments with industry-standard tools.

Learn from academics who are active in the media industry and gain hands-on experience through real-world projects, internships, and industry placements. Graduates leave with a professional portfolio and the confidence to pursue careers as digital journalists, multimedia reporters, content creators, podcast producers, photojournalists, or communications specialists in media, PR, and corporate sectors.

Voted as Australia's #1 provider of creative arts courses for Teaching Quality and Engagement, Collarts will get you there.

Course Information

Course Benefits

Collarts’ Bachelor of Journalism & New Media combines journalistic ethics, digital storytelling, multimedia production, and industry insight into a future-focused media education.

Throughout the Journalism & New Media degree, you will:

  • Develop a strong foundation in journalism principles, news values, media law, and ethical reporting across digital and traditional platforms.

  • Gain hands-on experience creating content for online, broadcast, audio, video, and print journalism.

  • Build advanced skills in video journalism, podcasting, mobile reporting, and live media production.

  • Learn how to research, write, edit, and publish compelling stories for diverse audiences and platforms.

  • Explore visual storytelling through photography, design, and data-driven journalism techniques.

  • Master social media strategy, audience engagement, and content optimisation for digital media.

  • Work in simulated newsroom environments using current industry tools and workflows.

  • Collaborate with creatives across disciplines, reflecting real-world media production teams.

  • Graduate with a professional portfolio that demonstrates your versatility, creativity, and journalistic voice.

  • Learn from industry-active academics and gain insights into freelancing, entrepreneurship, and evolving media careers.

Journalist

A skilled storyteller and investigator who gathers, verifies, and presents news and information to the public through various mediums such as print, broadcast and digital platforms.

Conduct interviews, research pressing issues, and adhere to ethical standards while delivering accurate and engaging content to their audience.

Average industry salary*:

$71K- $115K

PR / Communications Manager

Work in PR or communications teams in corporate, government or nonprofit sectors, crafting press releases, media materials, and managing public image.

Average industry salary*:

$60K - $95K

Editor

Responsible for overseeing the content creation process, ensuring accuracy, clarity, and coherence in written or multimedia materials.

Revise and refine drafts, provide feedback to writers, manage deadlines, and maintain the overall quality and integrity of the publication or project.

Average industry salary*:

$90K - $105K

Meet your faculty

Neil McMahon - Program Leader

Neil McMahon is Senior Lecturer in Journalism and New Media at Collarts, with more than four decades of experience in journalism across Australia and internationally. He has worked as a senior writer, news editor and foreign correspondent, reporting from locations including South Africa and Indonesia, and has contributed extensively to major outlets including The Sydney Morning Herald, The Age, ABC Online and Qantas Magazine. His expertise spans news reporting, feature writing, editing, media ethics and the evolving digital media landscape, with a strong focus on entertainment, culture and public interest journalism.

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Kate Arnott - Acting Program Coordinator

Kate Arnott is a journalist, presenter, producer and photographer who loves to inspire students and uncover new voices. As the coordinator of Entertainment Journalism at Collarts, she has a particular passion for video and audio story telling about arts and culture. Kate spent 18 years in the News & Currents Affairs division of the ABC and along with teaching is now enjoying a career as a short documentary maker.

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Tristan Courtney - Program Leader: Industry Awareness- Creative Foundations

Tristan is the Program Leader for the Industry Awareness department at Collarts, where he has taught since 2019. He has a rich background as a bassist, electronic musician, and producer, and is a member of the band Blackchords. Tristan shares his passion and extensive professional experience as a musician and producer with his students, inspiring the next generation of industry professionals.

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The Collarts Experience

Experience life at Collarts through a vibrant creative community shaped by industry insight, cultural relevance and real-world learning—explore campuses, events and student life via Collarts Life. This ethos is embedded throughout our courses.

Student Life

Student life at Collarts mirrors real-world creative industries, offering a collaborative, cross-disciplinary environment where students learn alongside peers from across the creative spectrum. From hands-on projects to campus events, students are supported by dedicated wellbeing and academic services throughout their studies. Discover what student life at Collarts is all about and how it shapes your Bachelor experience via Student Life at Collarts.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Your Bachelor of Journalism and New Media course can’t wait. Neither can you.