Welcome from Dean Batts

Welcome to the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication at Arizona State University, one of the premier programs of its kind, and a global force for change.

What makes the Cronkite School such a force?

First, it’s our people. The Cronkite community is made up of talented faculty, staff, students and alumni who are committed to their craft and to being leaders in their industry.

Next are properties, programs and facilities. The Cronkite building is home to Arizona PBS, one of the nation’s largest public television stations. The station serves as the hub of this “teaching hospital” and a testing ground for innovation in journalism. Students produce a nightly newscast that is broadcast across Arizona and on multiple digital platforms. The station is also a platform for collaboration with other academic units at ASU and in the community.

Students also have access to hands-on experiences in 13 different full-immersion professional programs that produce news, information and community engagement on critical issues for the state, region and nation.

All of these initiatives originate in a state-of-the-art media complex that is considered one of the best journalism education facilities in the nation. It is equipped with 14 digital newsrooms and computer labs, three TV studios, 385 digital student workstations. The school is located in the heart of the nation’s fifth-largest city, enabling easy access to internships, news events, sources at major sports and cultural complexes, and government agencies and offices.

Cronkite attracts bright, inquisitive, passionate and diverse students from around the world, and we consistently lead our peers in national journalism competitions, including the Society of Professional Journalists’ Mark of Excellence, the Broadcast Education Association’s Festival of Media Arts competitions and the Hearst Journalism Awards. Cronkite students have won six international Robert F. Kennedy Journalism awards for reporting on social justice – by far the most of any university in the country.

Students are guided by a committed faculty of master teachers, writers, scholars and practitioners with deep experience and expertise in every aspect of journalism and strategic communications. We also have a career development center that provides access to fantastic internships and jobs.

Our alumni hold positions around the world as reporters, editors, producers, correspondents, anchors, media managers and public relations specialists at online media outlets, television stations, newspapers, magazines, radio stations, newsletters, public relations firms and corporate and government public relations departments.

Aside from our students, our biggest asset remains the foundation of excellence and integrity set by Walter Cronkite. Since 1984, our program has carried the name of the former CBS News anchor, who is remembered as “The Most Trusted Man in America.” Cronkite’s legacy lives on in the spirit and passion with which we teach both the skills to practice journalism in today’s fast-paced media environment and the time-honored ethics and news values necessary to do it in the manner that would make him proud.

This site has much more information about the school, and we’re always happy to talk with you or visit in person.

Sincerely,

Dr. Battinto L. Batts Jr.
Dean and Professor
battinto.batts@asu.edu

Meeting the challenge: “The opportunities before us require bold thinking and leadership. Sometimes we will pioneer and go at it alone; other times in collaboration, but always with excellence and in service to the mission.” — Dr. Battinto L. Batts Jr., Dean

Our mission: We educate and empower communicators to create an informed and inclusive society, advancing understanding and connection among creators, audiences, industry and the academy.