Although not affiliated with the University of Florida, The Independent Florida Alligator offers students experience in all facets of running a newspaper. Each year journalism students place in numerous national competitions, including those sponsored by the William Randolph Hearst Foundation. College photojournalists have consistently earned top awards in the Hearst and College Photographer of the Year competitions.

The College of Journalism and Communications has four departments - Journalism, Advertising, Public Relations, and Telecommunication.

Journalism majors can also gain work experience at the local daily newspaper, the Gainesville Sun, or at the college's campus-wide magazine, Orange & Blue. Online journalism experience is gained by working at "Newszine" and several other internet venues including the Florida FlyIns program website. Some 400 students in our college receive internship credit each year for paid and volunteer professional work.

Department faculty are on the cutting edge of the business. They return often to the profession to enhance skills, stay up to date on industry practices and learn new techniques to teach students.

In addition to 63 full-time faculty and 86 full-time staff, the college receives outstanding support from professionals from around the nation and the world. Advisory groups counsel each undergraduate program in the college and internationally-esteemed visiting professionals lecture at the college each semester.