FJSC launches new courses: Totalitarianism, the press, and censorship, AI for Journalism: tools, practices, and ethical use, and War correspondence

The Faculty of Journalism and Communication Studies at the University of Bucharest (FJSC) is introducing three new courses in the undergraduate Journalism program starting in the 2025–2026 academic year: Totalitarianism, the press, and censorship, AI for Journalism: tools, practices, and ethical use, War Correspondence. FJSC recorded a post-pandemic record number of applicants in the July 2025 admission session, both for undergraduate and master’s programs.

Totalitarianism, the press, and censorship will be taught by Cosmin Popa, PhD a scientific researcher at the “Nicolae Iorga” Institute of History of the Romanian Academy. Cosmin Popa specializes in the history of the USSR–Russia, Central and Southeastern Europe, and the communist and contemporary periods. Course content includes: Institutional structures and societal construction in left-wing Totalitarianism, Female Figures in Totalitarian Systems: Official vs. Opposition Feminism, Commonalities and Specificities in the History of Left-Wing Totalitarianism: Stalinism, Kimilsungism, Maoism, Ceaușism, Propaganda, Journalism, and Communication in European Left-Wing Totalitarianism, Post-Totalitarianism: Residual Effects in European Societies. This course aims to provide students with the analytical tools needed to critically examine totalitarian regimes by exploring their ideological and cultural foundations, propaganda techniques, mechanisms of repression and social control, and their impact on media, public communication, and society at large. It will become a mandatory course for third-year students but will be offered as an elective until then.

AI for Journalism: Tools, Practices, and Ethical Use, taught by Lecturer Anamaria Neagu, PhD, a full-time faculty member at FJSC, addresses the need to align journalism education with technological advancements and shifts in the media industry. The course equips students with both theoretical and practical knowledge, as well as an ethical framework for the use of artificial intelligence in journalism—preparing them for the newsrooms of the future.
Topics include: Introduction to AI in Journalism: Collection, Production, Marketing, and Business Applications, Ethics of AI Use in Journalism: Regulations, Legislation, Institutions, Financial Implications of AI in the Media Ecosystem. This will be offered as an elective for second-year undergraduate students.
Renowned journalist and war correspondent Mircea Barbu, who has reported from conflict zones such as Ukraine, Syria, Iraq, and Gaza, will teach War Correspondence.
It aims to prepare students for the realities of war reporting by covering both journalistic practices and risk management strategies in conflict zones.
Topics include: Logistical Preparation and Personal Safety in War Zones, Legal Aspects and International Conventions for War Reporters, PTSD in Journalists: Symptoms, Risk Factors, and Coping Strategies, First Aid and Emergency Medical Techniques in Conflict Situations. This course will be offered as an elective in the third year of the undergraduate program.

FJSC continually updates its curricula to reflect the evolving demands of journalism and media. Recent curriculum changes also address the new realities of media economics and journalism financing, including models supported by NGOs, European and international grants, and donations. These updates support institutional journalism as well as independent and freelance work. Students will also explore the recent history of Romanian journalism (1990–2010) and gain entrepreneurial skills for the media industry.

“FJSC is strengthening its leadership in journalism education—not only keeping pace with technological developments, but staying ahead of them. Today, 9 out of 10 faculty members in our Journalism Department are active professionals, reinforcing our unique blend of academic and industry relevance. The record number of applicants this July, both at the undergraduate and master’s levels—despite a significant national drop in high school graduates taking the Baccalaureate exam—proves that we are successfully aligning our academic programs with the needs of the media job market. I thank our associate professors for joining our faculty with new courses, and I deeply appreciate the ongoing efforts of our permanent and associate staff to update and improve our educational offerings. In a world where the history of communism is being forgotten or rewritten, we believe it’s our duty to ensure every graduate of FJSC understands the horrors on which totalitarian regimes were built and the price Romania paid under such a criminal system. Mandatory courses on totalitarianism, censorship, and recent Romanian press history (1990–2010) will now complement our existing curriculum. Additionally, students will benefit from electives covering conflict journalism, war correspondence, AI in media, and the new business models shaping journalism—freelancing, donation-based funding, and European and international project financing. These skills will help our graduates remain competitive in a profession that is constantly evolving to keep pace with technological, economic, political, and social changes,” said lecturer Bogdan Oprea, PhD, and Head of the Journalism Department at FJSC.

FJSC students also achieved exceptional results during the 2024–2025 academic year. Seven awards from the 14th edition of the Superscrieri journalism competition went to FJSC students or alumni. Three of these awards were for articles originally submitted as undergraduate or master’s theses. FJSC students also took first place individually and as part of the winning team at the FuturePR 2024 international competition, organized by the European Public Relations Education and Research Association (EUPRERA), which brought together 77 students from 15 universities across 13 countries. At the Romanian PR Award 2024, three FJSC students received Junior PR Award distinctions. At PR Arena 2024, FJSC students swept the podium, claiming all three top spots. At the MoJo Arena 2025 international contest, which drew 30 students from five countries, second place went to a team that included FJSC students. And in the fifth edition of the România fără dosar – Portal de cartier investigative journalism competition, a student from FJSC was part of the winning team.

The Faculty of Journalism and Communication Studies (FJSC) was founded on January 19, 1990, and remains Romania’s only dedicated journalism faculty. FJSC is a member of the European Journalism Training Association (EJTA) and the Théophraste global Francophone journalism training network.

The University of Bucharest (UB), established in 1864, has been a member of the CIVIS European Civic University alliance since 2019, alongside ten other prestigious European universities. According to the 2025 edition of the Times Higher Education Impact Rankings—a global academic ranking that assesses universities based on their contributions to the UN’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), UB ranks first in Romania, 93rd globally, 25th worldwide for education quality, and 3rd worldwide for gender equality impact. This marks the first time a Romanian university has entered the global top 100 in this ranking.

UB also reaffirms its position as a national leader in higher education in the QS World University Rankings 2026, where it ranks in the 761–770 range globally, an improvement from last year’s 801–850 band, achieving some of its best results in a decade. UB stands out in areas such as graduate employability and employer reputation. According to QS, 81.1% of UB graduates find employment within 7–11 months after completing their studies.