Knight Center Brings Journalism Courses to 350K Worldwide

The Journalism Courses online learning program from the Knight Center for Journalism in the Americas has hit a major milestone, having served more than 350,000 students from 200 countries and territories — enough people to fill more than 10 soccer stadiums! 

The Knight Center, housed in the Moody College of Communication at The University of Texas at Austin, has offered 170 free and low-cost online courses and webinars since 2012, when it began its pioneering Massive Open Online Courses (MOOC) program. 

"Reaching this incredible milestone of 350,000 people served through the Knight Center's online training program is a testimony to our commitment to empower journalists and strengthen journalism worldwide," said Summer Harlow, associate director of the Knight Center. 

The achievement, Harlow added, reflects the Knight Center’s conviction that quality journalism thrives when journalists have free and low-cost access to innovative training and a global learning community. 

To date, The Knight Center has offered 134 free courses that are usually introductory in nature. Additionally, the program has offered 28 low-cost courses on advanced topics that offer personal interaction with expert instructors and peers.  

Courses have covered topics like solutions journalism, editing, newsletters, audio storytelling, artificial intelligence, elections, digital security and content creation. These learning opportunities equip students with the future-proofing tools and skills that are essential for an ever-evolving media landscape. 

All courses from the Knight Center’s Journalism Courses program are asynchronous, meaning they can be completed at the student’s own pace, though weekly deadlines are suggested. Course materials include video lectures, readings, quizzes and participation in discussion forums. 

The Knight Center’s Journalism Courses program also includes 75 on-demand courses adapted from previous free courses. These on-demand courses are always available and can be taken at any time, making them particularly valuable for journalists with busy routines. 

More than just part of a big number, each member of the growing Knight Center learning community plays a crucial role in shaping the future of journalism worldwide. 

To learn more about this milestone, read the full story on the Knight Center blog.