The records in the fonds were created, received or used by the School of Journalism staff and administrators in the course of their work. The School transferred most of the records arranged and described in this project to the Archives in 2010, at the time Kelly Toughill became Director in 2010.

The primary activity of the School of Journalism is to provide education to aspiring and seasoned journalists. By training students in the art, craft and profession of informing the public about matters of public interest, the program equips its students with the abilities to work as reporters and editors in the Canadian news media (from paper to broadcast to online), and provides excellent training for careers where being able to write and speak well, interview people, research topics and puzzle things out are assets.

The records are predominantly textual, including student records, correspondence, reports and promotional materials. Some photographs are included in student records (most appearing between 1987-1991). Some audio/video discs and videocassettes that were submitted as part of some students' portfolios in their admission applications, are in the fonds. In recent years, records have arrived in digital format, e.g., photographs on CDs and magazines created in the Magazine Workshop .