Open Source Investigative Reporting
Open-Source Investigative Reporting Program Launches Fall 2025
Open-source reporting uses publicly available information to uncover data and the
truth. Through our MA concentration in Open-Source Investigative Reporting, journalists
with all levels of experience will learn how to discover, uncover, and report on information
found on the Internet, social media, public databases, books, and periodicals. You
will be given the tools to launch digital and visual investigations, an emerging field
in which journalists analyze publicly available video, satellite imagery, social media
networks, online databases and other data to produce in-depth, meaningful investigative
work. This one-year program is offered in residence on our Memphis campus. Students
begin the program in August and finish the following August — after completing courses
in the fall and spring semesters, students will complete an internship with a news
outlet to put their new skills to work. Funding is available through graduate assistantships
and scholarships. Want to learn more? Email Dr. Robby Byrd, associate chair for graduate studies.
Core for all MA J+SM
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JRSM 7002 - Pro Seminar (3 hours)
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JRSM 7050 - Mass Comm Theory (3 hours)
Open-Source Investigative Reporting Course Requirements
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JOUR 6183 - Open-Source Investigative Reporting (3 hours)
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JRSM 7122 - Open-Source Investigative Bootcamp (3 hours)
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JRSM 7124 - Data Journalism (3 hours)
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JOUR 6185 - Social Justice Writing/Reporting (3 hours) OR JOUR 6180 - Public Issues Writing/Reporting (3 hours)
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JRSM 7350 - Multimedia Reporting (3 hours) OR JRSM 7510 - Information Design (3 hours)
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JRSM 6700 - Media Law (3 hours)
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JRSM 7600 - Graduate Media Practicum (6 hours)