Journalism + Design is collaborating with community colleges, local newsrooms and community organizations across the country to develop and host free, noncredit certificates that equip more people to participate in their local news ecosystems. Explore some of the programs we’re supporting below.
Philadelphia
In partnership with the Community College of Philadelphia and Resolve Philly, we have hosted three iterations of Community Journalism for Civic Power, a free, noncredit certificate program. We have trained more than 100 people through this program to date. Participants have gone on to intern with Resolve Philly, become Documenters, and more.
- Course description
- Base curriculum that we used for the workshops
New Jersey
In partnership with the New Jersey Council for the Humanities, we worked with four community colleges across the state to help launch their own noncredit certificate programs that equip community members with journalism skills. Each college designed programs unique to their own communities and expertise. Check out links and information for each program below.
- Mercer County Community College: Developed and led by Holly Johnson, professor of English and Journalism, the “J-Lab” first launched in January 2024 with more than a dozen people from the community. Participants produced original reporting that was published in a new section on the College VOICE, MCCC’s award-winning student newspaper.
- Atlantic Cape Community College: Developed by Sherwood Taylor, Senior Director of Workforce Development, and Jennifer Thomas, Assistant Professor of English and Communication, this program first launched in January 2024 with participants from Atlantic Cape and Cape May counties.
- Sussex County Community College: Developed by Nancy Gallo, Associate Vice President of Academic Affairs, and Cheryl Conway, instructor of journalism, this program launched in March 2024 through the college’s Center for Lifelong Learning.
- Middlesex Community College: Developed by Melissa Edwards, Professor of English, and Cristobal Espinoza-Wulach, Associate Professor of History and Social Science, this program launched in June 2024.
Cleveland
In partnership with Cuyahoga Community College, Neighborhood Media Foundation and Signal Cleveland, we launched a free, virtual certificate course in community journalism in fall 2023. We have awarded more than two dozen certificates to date. Participants have gone on to publish original news articles, become Cleveland Documenters, and more.
