UW-Madison School of Journalism and Mass Communication

What UW-Madison School of Journalism and Mass Communication does

The UW-Madison School of Journalism and Mass Communication (SJMC) is a public academic institution founded in 1905, operating as a constituent school of the University of Wisconsin-Madison under the Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System. It offers undergraduate programs in strategic communication and reporting/multimedia journalism, graduate programs including a PhD in Mass Communications, Research MA, and Professional MA, and several research centers: the Center for Communication and Civic Renewal, the Center for Journalism Ethics, the Mass Communication Research Center, and the Public Tech Media Lab. The school describes itself as one of the country's earliest mass communication programs and anchors its activities in the Wisconsin Idea, with hands-on coursework, student media organizations, study abroad programs, and community-facing nonprofit partnerships.

The SJMC serves prospective and enrolled undergraduate and graduate students seeking careers in journalism, strategic communication, media production, and academia. Its customer segments are undergraduate students, graduate students, and graduate student researchers. Revenue is not publicly disclosed at the school level, but the institution is funded through University of Wisconsin System state appropriations, tuition and fees, and donations. The school employs 44 staff and is headquartered at 5115 Vilas Hall, 821 University Ave., Madison, Wisconsin, with offices temporarily closed through July 2026 due to campus cooling capacity issues. Its marketing footprint is digital, relying on its website, social media channels (Facebook, X, LinkedIn, Instagram, YouTube), the SJMC News blog, and events.

The school has no proprietary technology products, no AI/ML capabilities, no funding rounds, and no M&A activity. Its recent strategic signals are governance-focused: a director succession (Mike Wagner as 16th director effective July 1, 2026), faculty recognition (Dhavan Shah's 2026 AEJMC Paul J. Deutschmann Award), and community partnerships with Sheboygan County Foster Care and the Milwaukee Diaper Mission for student-led campaigns. Alumni outcomes are highlighted in journalism (The Cap Times), advertising/media (Starcom), and academia (Cornell University).

Name

UW-Madison School of Journalism and Mass Communication

Legal name

School of Journalism and Mass Communication, University of Wisconsin–Madison

Website

https://journalism.wisc.edu

Company type

Public

Founded year

1905

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The UW-Madison School of Journalism and Mass Communication is a public academic institution founded in 1905, offering undergraduate and graduate programs in journalism, strategic communication, and mass communication. It serves prospective students via UW-Madison, supported by state funding, tuition, and donations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Higher Education

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Public Research Universities with Major Extension & Outreach Missions (EDAHAAAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Communications, Media Studies & Journalism (EDAGABAK), Student Media & Publications (Newspaper, Radio, TV) (EDALAHAE), Media Center & Audiovisual Lending Operations (Equipment Checkout, Production Support) (EDAEAGAG)

Keywords

• Journalism education
• Mass communication programs
• Graduate journalism degrees
• Media studies programs
• Strategic communication

Headquarters

HQ city

Madison

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Public University Funding: As a public university department, the school is funded through state appropriations, tuition revenue, and university-level budget allocations from the University of Wisconsin System.
2. Donations and Philanthropy: The school accepts donations from alumni and supporters through its dedicated donation page, supporting scholarships and program funding.
3. Tuition and Fees: Students pay tuition for undergraduate and graduate programs, with fees determined by UW-Madison residency status and program type.

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

The school delivers undergraduate and graduate academic programs in journalism and mass communication, supported by faculty research in media, communication, and related topics. It also provides applied learning opportunities for students preparing for professional careers in journalism, strategic communication, and related media fields.

Product overview

The School of Journalism and Mass Communication at UW-Madison is an academic institution offering a comprehensive portfolio of educational programs and research centers. The core academic offerings include undergraduate programs (strategic communication and reporting/multimedia journalism tracks), graduate programs (PhD in Mass Communications, Research MA, and Professional MA), and various research centers including the Center for Communication and Civic Renewal, Center for Journalism Ethics, Mass Communication Research Center, and Public Tech Media Lab. Student media organizations provide practical experience. The institution has been shaping the future of communication for over a century, with hands-on courses that enable students to lead campaigns, analyze data, and shape stories.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Journalism and Mass Communication Degree Programs Undergraduate and graduate academic programs in journalism and mass communication designed for individual students seeking professional credentials in media, journalism, and communication fields.

Named customers5 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Center for Communication and Civic Renewal (CCCR)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerA research center housed within SJMC that examines communication's role in civic life and democratic engagement. Students and faculty collaborate on research examining public attitudes, political communication, and civic participation.
• Center for Journalism EthicscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerA dedicated center focused on ethical journalism practice, providing resources, research, and programming on media ethics for students and the broader journalism community.
• Mass Communication Research Center (MCRC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch facility supporting mass communication scholarship and empirical research for faculty and graduate students at SJMC.
• Public Tech Media Lab (PTML)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLaboratory exploring the intersection of public interest, technology, and media, providing research opportunities for students and faculty.
• Sheboygan County Foster CareminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity partnership providing students hands-on experience developing creative campaigns to inform and mobilize community members about foster care services.
• Milwaukee Diaper MissionminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNonprofit partnership through which student agency teams created and pitched integrated digital media campaigns for the organization.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• University of Florida College of Journalism and Communications: Large public university CJC offering undergraduate and graduate programs in journalism, advertising, and public relations with multiple research centers. Comparable to UW-Madison SJMC in program breadth, research-center model, and public university mission.
• Indiana University Media School: Public university school offering undergraduate and graduate programs in journalism, media production, and strategic communication. Comparable to UW-Madison SJMC in program structure, public-university setting, and Midwest research profile.
• Northwestern University Medill School of Journalism: Top-ranked J-school offering undergraduate and graduate programs with a strong emphasis on hands-on reporting and strategic communication. Closely comparable to UW-Madison SJMC in program structure, research focus, and industry placement outcomes.
• University of Maryland Philip Merrill College of Journalism: Public university J-school offering undergraduate and graduate programs with research centers and a strong capital-media pipeline. Directly comparable to UW-Madison SJMC as a research-oriented J-school within a flagship public university.
• Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism: One of the most prestigious graduate journalism schools in the U.S., offering master's and doctoral programs alongside research centers. Directly comparable to UW-Madison SJMC as a leading research-oriented J-school with a national reputation.
• University of Texas at Austin Moody College of Communication: Public research university college housing journalism and communication programs with research centers and doctoral offerings. Comparable to UW-Madison SJMC as a constituent school within a flagship public research university with a similar academic portfolio.
• University of Missouri School of Journalism: The world's first school of journalism (founded 1908), offering undergraduate and graduate programs with a strong research mission. Directly comparable to UW-Madison SJMC as a pioneering public-university J-school with century-long heritage and doctoral program.
• University of Southern California Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism: Major research university school combining journalism and communication with multiple research centers. Comparable to UW-Madison SJMC in offering undergraduate and graduate programs alongside dedicated centers and a strong alumni network across media industries.
• University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Hussman School of Journalism and Media: Top-ranked public university J-school with undergraduate and graduate programs, research centers, and strong industry placement. Directly comparable in scale, program structure, and standing as a top public university journalism program.

Broad incumbents

• University of Pennsylvania Annenberg School for Communication: Ivy League graduate school for communication and journalism with a strong research and doctoral focus. Comparable to UW-Madison SJMC as a research-oriented communication school, though its graduate-only model and private-university funding set it apart as a broader incumbent.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/uw_sjmc
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/UWMadisonSJMC
• Facebookfacebook.com/uwmadisonsjmc
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/school/uwsjmc
• Instagraminstagram.com/uwsjmc

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about UW-Madison School of Journalism and Mass Communication