After nearly five decades of churning out visual storytellers, SAIT’s photojournalism major — one of the last programs of its kind in Canada — will be discontinued this year, the college confirmed Friday. Read More
A SAIT spokesperson said the decision aligns with current industry trends and student demand
A SAIT spokesperson said the decision aligns with current industry trends and student demand
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After nearly five decades of churning out visual storytellers, SAIT’s photojournalism major — one of the last programs of its kind in Canada — will be discontinued this year, the college confirmed Friday.
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An email to program participants referenced the loss of international students as a main factor behind the decision to absorb SAIT’s two-year photojournalism diploma into its other journalism program, starting in 2026.
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“As most of you already know, without international students in the program due to the (Immigration, Refugee and Citizenship Canada) changes late last year, our numbers of incoming students are going to be quite low, and we will not have a new intake in January 2026,” the email stated.
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Frank Shufletoski helped launch SAIT’s photojournalism major in the 1970s, after photography was previously a component of the school’s print journalism program. He was the senior photo instructor for 34 years, before retiring in 2012.
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He said his vision for the course was for students to focus on the visual side of storytelling, while still developing their skills in traditional news writing and journalism ethics.
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“We were fortunate enough to have a really good program supervisor . . . who helped champion the cause,” he said. “We had a really good relationship with the vice-president.”
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Shufletoski added he was disappointed to learn of the major’s demise, but that it reflects challenges facing the journalism industry.
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“It’s a sad story but it’s the way things are going across the country,” he said. “I guess it was inevitable.”
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Echoing the sentiment was Leah Hennel, who graduated from the SAIT program in 1998 and also taught briefly as an adjunct instructor in 2019.
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Hennel, who was a Calgary Herald photojournalist for 18 years and now works as a freelance corporate photographer, said that in her time in the news industry, photo departments were often the first to be cut or downsized.
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“I feel bad for the students who want to take it, but where will the students go for a job after?” she said.
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Hennel added that in an age when visuals dominate much of people’s media consumption but AI-generated images are becoming more common, it’s important to recognize the value of ethical visual storytelling. She argued that was a benefit of a photojournalism education.
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She noted that SAIT was one of few post-secondary institutions in Canada to offer a journalism program specifically dedicated to visual storytelling. Loyalist College in Belleville, Ont., which operated since 1986, also shuttered its photojournalism major last year.
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