Journalists provide the public with information using a variety of media from print to television and the graphics arts. Selecting the top 10 journalism schools in California relied on an average agreement between 2013 rankings from the Ranking Web of Universities, or Webometrics, who ranks all schools world-wide, and “Forbes” magazine, looking at indicators such as the most cited scientific papers and post-graduate success. When available, these rankings were compared to “NewsPro” magazine's top 20 journalism schools and to QS Top Universities top schools in the U.S. for communication and media studies.

Tier One

The University of California at Berkeley's Graduate School of Journalism ranked first, offering a rigorous two-year immersion program leading to the Master of Journalism. Their award-winning program and reputation contribute to their graduate's success by helping students develop competitive portfolios and publish before the completion of their degree. The University of Southern California's Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism of Los Angeles ranked second, offering bachelor's and master's degrees in journalism that explore the range of new media, such as social networks, as they push the technological boundaries while training journalists through numerous award-winning school news outlets.

Tier Two

The University of California at Irvine's School of Humanities ranked third, offering a program in literary journalism that focuses on nonfiction writing and literary history, a unique program that builds on the English Department's strengths and develops sophisticated writing skills. San Diego State University's School of Journalism and Media Studies ranked fourth, offering undergraduate and graduate programs in journalism, training students for the news media, with an extensive list of successful alumni, such as managing editors of major news programs.

Tier Three

San Francisco State University's Department of Journalism ranked fifth, offering a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism that focuses on accurate and responsible journalism in a multicultural world with an award-winning program, holding awards for excellence in journalism, such as the Hearst Journalism Award. The California State University at Northridge's Department of Journalism ranked sixth, offering bachelor's and master's level programs in journalism in one of the largest programs in the state, boasting award-winning media, with strong links to major media organizations for internships and jobs.

Tier Four

San Jose State University's School of Journalism and Mass Communication ranked seventh, offering undergraduate and graduate programs in journalism, focusing on a world of journalism where information is sent and received at any time or anywhere, with seasoned journalism professionals as faculty in a program that produced Pulitzer Prize-winning journalists. California State University at Long Beach, Department of Journalism and Mass Communication, ranked eighth, offering a bachelor's degree program with a range of majors, such as print journalism, and award-winning media, such as winning the Society of Professional Journalist's Mark of Excellence Award.

Tier Five

Sacramento State University, ranked ninth with a journalism program that provides general academic and professional preparation, preparing students for careers in media-related jobs with majors in journalism or government-journalism, the only such major in the nation. California Polytechnic State University of San Luis Obispo ranked 10th, offering a bachelor's level program that emphasizes broadcasting, multimedia, news-editorial and public relations training, boasting alumni in positions of authority in major media outlets.

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