Although communication in the digital age is most often focused on technology, delivery and platform, compelling and timely writing and storytelling is crucial to making the message heard. The Writing for Print and Digital Media certificate provides a solid foundation in journalistic writing, editing, and narrative technique for work in print and across digital media platforms. Students develop a robust skill set for communication in formats from blogs to brochures, websites to direct marketing. The program teaches clear, concise writing, foundations of persuasive communication, visual content production and design, and long- and short-form storytelling in multimedia formats. The core journalistic writing courses are taught by current and emeritus faculty from Northwestern’s Medill School of Journalism; all courses are offered evenings and weekends.
The program is ideal for online content producers and editors, designers, and professionals working in communications, social media, marketing, public relations or advertising roles.
Post-baccalaureate students at Northwestern's School of Professional Studies pay per course. For more information about financial obligations and tuition, please visit the Tuition page.
Admission for Writing for Print and Digital Media
In addition to completing an online application, you'll also need to submit a few supplemental materials. A list of requirements for admission including application deadlines and tips on how to apply can be found on the Admission page.
Writing for Print and Digital Media Registration Information
Whether you're a first-time registrant or current and returning student, all students register using our online student registration and records systems. Important information about registering for courses at SPS, including registration timelines and adding or dropping courses in which you are already enrolled, can be found on the Registration Information page.
Find out more about the Writing for Print and Digital Media Certificate
Program Courses:
Course Detail
Intro to Public Relations <> ADVT 370-CN
Public relations is a core management function for every type of
organization, whether public or private. Public relations spans a
wide range of marketing disciplines including media relations,
corporate reputation, community affairs, issues/crisis management,
investor relations, and government affairs. PR is one of the
primary tools used to reinforce a company's brand and support its
competitive position. Students learn the essential components of an
effective PR strategy; how to evaluate and manage outside PR
counsel; essentials of media relations and crisis management; and
how to draft PR messages. Students select a "beat" or coverage area
to investigate as part of the class homework projects. This course
involves heavy writing; it may not be audited.This course is
cross-listed as MKTG 390-CN.
There is no available section.
Visual Communication <> ADVT 380-CN
The fast-paced world we live in is flooded with visual messages
including advertisements, products, dashboards, slide decks,
charts, infographics, videos, memes, emoji, and more. Visuals are
infused into every aspect of our lives, from the boardroom to the
classroom to the subway station. It is increasingly important that
we are well-equipped to communicate visually using a human-centered
approach.
In this course, students will develop strong and creative visual
communication skills in an increasingly digital world while
learning to design communication vehicles for specific audiences.
We will study a human-centered design framework for creating
connections. Students will use their skills to develop
visualizations for branding, advertising, marketing, presentations,
data analysis, websites, and more. No previous technical or design
experience is required for this course.
This course will be meeting remotely on Wednesdays on 1/3, 1/17,
1/31, 2/14 and 2/28 via Zoom from 6:15 p.m. – 9:15 p.m.
Acts of persuasion influence us in all aspects of our lives.
This course will examine the different ways in which we utilize
persuasion in the communication we have with our families and
friends, our workplace, and the general public. How effective are
we? How are we affected? This will culminate in assessments of how
persuasion impacts us, as individuals and as a society.
The course is conducted completely online. A technology fee will be
added to tuition.
Acts of persuasion influence us in all aspects of our lives.
This course will examine the different ways in which we utilize
persuasion in the communication we have with our families and
friends, our workplace, and the general public. How effective are
we? How are we affected? This will culminate in assessments of how
persuasion impacts us, as individuals and as a society. This course
is part of the Business Leadership Program (BLP) cohort
program.
This course is conducted completely online. A technology fee will
be added to tuition.
There is no available section.
Introduction to Health Communication <> COMM_ST 246-CN
People who understand communication are uniquely positioned to
solve health-related problems and their services are increasingly
in demand. As such, this course covers theory and research on
communication in health and illness contexts, focusing on how
messages from interpersonal, organizational, cultural, and media
sources affect health beliefs and behaviors. We will explore
communication in health care delivery, health care organizations,
as well as health promotion and disease prevention. Spanning
multiple levels of communication, different communicative channels,
and the use of diverse communication media and technologies, this
course will demonstrate a variety of perspectives from which
scholars examine health communication at an individual, family,
professional, and societal level.
This course helps students improve their basic writing skills.
It emphasizes clarity and conciseness in expressing thoughts and
facts. Through readings, discussion, writing exercises and
rewrites, along with remote-site interactive instruction, students
gain confidence and demonstrate improvement in written expression
each week. By the end of the term, students can write clear,
logical and accurate stories within the assigned deadline. We will
practice writing: on assigned topics; on space requirements; on
deadlines. While this is not a writing course exclusively for those
who wish to pursue journalism, it nonetheless places heavy emphasis
on news. Specifically, the course intends to clear up problems with
grammar; sharpen word selection and usage; clean up sentence
structure; introduce the basic discipline of journalism; increase
writing speed; make stories both accurate and appealing to the
intended audience. The skills developed in the course provide solid
techniques to apply toward future course work at NU in most other
disciplines and at work. Several assignments will concentrate on
these three primary writing techniques: narration, description, and
exposition.
This course helps students find their writing voice through
independent reporting, coaching and class critiques. It emphasizes
visual story telling -- i.e., photos and text together. This course
focuses on reaching a specific audience -- professional, academic,
familial. It does so by allowing the student to select an
appropriate topic for a photo essay. Students research, report and
write their stories which become the script for a final project
that resembles a slideshow. Coaching and class critiques help
students along the way.
Public relations is a core management function for every type of
organization, whether public or private. Public relations spans a
wide range of marketing disciplines including media relations,
corporate reputation, community affairs, issues/crisis management,
investor relations, and government affairs. PR is one of the
primary tools used to reinforce a company's brand and support its
competitive position. Students learn the essential components of an
effective PR strategy; how to evaluate and manage outside PR
counsel; essentials of media relations and crisis management; and
how to draft PR messages.
This course is conducted completely online. A technology fee will
be added to tuition.
