The Photojournalism Skills Competency Award offers a fast-track introduction to the American news media and expanding opportunities in digital publication and social media. Students immediately become media practitioners as they produce journalistic projects for The Channels, SBCC’s award-winning student news publication.

This award is offered in concert with the SBCC photography-graphic design and the film and television production departments. This collaboration offers students the chance to work with their counterparts in other media production areas for a more well-rounded education in visual journalism.

The profession of journalism has undergone a seismic shift in the last decade. Newspapers and broadcast journalism have moved online, allowing for more immediate reporting, faster news cycles and extensive public interaction. The popularity of mobile devices and social media has exponentially increased the demand for up-to-date news. It's led to a new class of journalists able to tell stories using the full array of digital tools. This is the world for which we prepare our students.

The Journalism Program at Santa Barbara City College provides an overview of the workings of the mass media today, along with a foundation to the journalistic skills, knowledge and ethics needed to work in the industries that are hiring our graduates. Through the award-winning 24/7 online news site, thechannels.org, students practice reporting and nonfiction story production for multiple platforms, including photography, video, audio and social media. Students also learn about news writing, interviewing, reporting, editing, freelancing, photojournalism, video storytelling, journalism history, media law and journalism ethics.

SBCC offers a Transfer Agreement Guarantee (TAG). A TAG is a contractual agreement between the student, SBCC, and specific four-year colleges or universities. This includes six University of California ( *UC) institutions, six California State Institutions (CSU), seven California private institutions, nine out-of-state institutions, as well as Honors Transfer Agreements with ten institutions and 8 CSUs without campus impaction. Students must enroll in the TAG program and work with a TAG advisor. Please click here to learn more on the TAG program website.