Department of Multimedia Journalism

Chairperson of the Department: Jacqueline Jones

Associate Professors: Wayne Dawkins, Jason Johnson, E.R. Shipp

Assistant Professors: Stacey Patton, LaMonte Summers

Lecturers: Denise Cabrera, Milton Kent, Edward G. Robinson III

Director of Graduate Studies: Rod Carveth

The Bachelor of Science degree in Multimedia Journalism is designed to ensure that students are receiving the education, skills and experiences needed to be successful journalists in the 21st Century. Like real world journalism, this program requires that students learn to write and edit for traditional journalism media as well as for digital, online media. There is focus as well on the use of social media and other new technologies for reporting the news. In addition, like real world journalism, the program requires that students learn how to record and edit audio and video material for use across all the media platforms journalists are now using on the job.

As important as classroom instruction is, students need practical, hands-on experiences in as real world a setting as possible. They will get that experience through the Digital Newsroom, an on-campus, student-staffed and faculty-supervised news bureau. Students will develop or be assigned news stories, investigate those stories, write the stories and prepare multimedia packages that can be used across the various media platforms.

Finally, because the world is interconnected in ways never dreamed possible in earlier decades, the major in Multimedia Journalism has an important global focus. That focus has two directions. First, students will learn about reporting on what is happening in different parts of the world in ways that recognize the diversity of the world’s nations. At least as important, students will also learn how journalists in other nations view the United States and about how that is reflected in their reporting.

Goals

The following are the broad educational goals for the major in Multimedia Journalism:

to increase the numbers of highly trained professional journalists, especially from among minorities and urban dwellers,
to provide students with a knowledge of journalism history and traditions and its role in a democratic societies,
to provide students with global perspectives about journalism and journalistic practices in nations other than the United States,
to provide students with an understanding of journalistic ethics and with basic media law, and
to provide students with an understanding of, and with hands-on experiences with, field reporting and editing.

Learning Outcomes

The following are the learning outcomes expected for students in the Multimedia Journalism major.

Students will be able, under deadline, to craft compelling, accurate and ethical news stories that adhere to styles appropriate to the media for which they are writing.
Students will be able to communicate news in multiple formats, including through mobile devices, social media and other new technologies.
Students will be able to demonstrate proficiency in information gathering techniques, including the wide range of digital sources that are available.
Students will be able to demonstrate proficiency in the various techniques of presenting news stories including, but not limited to, audio/video recording and editing, print and digital media.

Programs

Bachelor of Science

Multimedia Journalism, B.S.