About Journalism
The Journalism and Media Production major is a dynamic, interdisciplinary program designed to prepare students for impactful careers across today’s rapidly evolving media landscape. Whether pursuing roles in traditional newsrooms, digital media startups, content creation, or podcasting, students gain the skills to research, write, report, produce, and distribute powerful stories across a range of platforms. Emphasizing both ethical practice and creative innovation, the program empowers students to become thoughtful communicators who can craft compelling content for print, broadcast, and digital audiences alike.
Blending storytelling fundamentals with cutting-edge production techniques, the major offers hands-on training in writing, reporting, multimedia editing, podcasting, and live broadcasting, while also exploring the broader social, political, and technological forces shaping the media industries. Students graduate not only with technical fluency and professional polish, but also with a deep understanding of the media’s role in society and the ethical responsibilities that accompany it.
Students majoring in Journalism enjoy a blend of theory and practical application. In addition to experiential learning in the classroom, students have opportunities to gain real time work experience and leadership skills by working with Orbit Media, our converged media program which includes WMCO—a Class A 1.32 KW FM radio station with 60+ years of success, Orbit TV—a television studio operating on streaming platforms, and the Magenta Journal online newspaper.
Mission:
Our faculty believes that media education thrives at the intersection of the liberal arts and digital innovation. We aim to equip students with the knowledge, tools, and ethical grounding to succeed as journalists, producers, and creators in an increasingly global, networked world. We encourage students to explore storytelling as both craft and civic responsibility—connecting individual experiences to broader societal issues and using media as a tool for understanding and effecting change.
We envision our graduates as curious, critical thinkers and collaborative professionals who lead with integrity, engage diverse communities, and embrace the responsibility of shaping the public conversation through informed and impactful media.
Program learning goals:
- Explain the evolving role of journalism and media production in society, including foundational milestones, ethical frameworks, and the challenges and opportunities of today’s globalized media landscape.
- Demonstrate advanced proficiency in writing, reporting, researching, audio-visual storytelling, and digital production in collaborative, deadline-driven environments.
- Create a professional multimedia portfolio that showcases a range of formats and voices, reflecting both creative expression and industry-standard practices.
- Collaborate respectfully and ethically, employing fact-based storytelling, critical thinking, and media literacy in the service of truth, representation, and community engagement.