Multimedia journalism concentration

About 93 percent of Americans got at least some portion of their daily news online in 2018, according to the Pew Research Center. The Pew team studied both “legacy” news organizations and “born on the web” media outlets.

• Legacy organizations like the New York Times, NPR, and CNN are traditional media companies that originally got their starts by publishing daily newspapers, broadcasting radio news reports, and producing evening television news programs.
• In comparison, digital-native outlets like HuffPost, BuzzFeed, and Mashable are new media companies that publish information online via the web, social media channels, and podcasts.

Both are important components of the media industry. Journalists, beat reporters, bloggers, writers, editors, and other communication pros now routinely publish in two, three, or more formats. This maximizes their reach and influence, giving the public broad access to information.

Why choose a multimedia journalism concentration at Marian?

Today, we are more informed about breaking local and global news than at any other time in human history. Citizens around the world rely on the power of the media to understand local politics and foreign affairs, uncover crime and corruption, and make the world a better place.

But until 2016, the notion of “fake news” hadn't deeply penetrated our collective consciousness. Americans now rate fake news as a bigger concern than racism, climate change, and terrorism finds a new Pew Research Center study. Many believe it is the responsibility of journalists to fix the problem.

If you follow breaking news, national affairs, and global trends, this communication career is a great choice. Communication majors concentrating in multimedia journalism will:

• Study the role of the media in reporting news. You’ll learn what makes a story newsworthy, how to evaluate the credibility of sources, and whether reports are fair and unbiased.
• Explore the ethical implications of journalism, including professional and legal standards for truthfulness, fairness, accuracy, impartiality, and accountability.
• Graduate career-ready for roles requiring exceptional written and verbal communication skills and expertise in digital communication technologies.

Throughout the course of your studies, expect to:

• Develop practical, hands-on skills and experience like interviewing subject-matter experts, writing feature stories and news reports, taking photos, shooting videos, designing graphics, creating and managing website content, planning social media campaigns, and recording podcasts.
• Apply narrative logic to produce accurate, informative, and creative journalistic works. You’ll complete assignments that challenge you to produce a range of high-quality, short-form content. You’ll learn to check your facts and work on deadline.
• Build robust digital literacy and citizenship skills. You will engage in skills-based surveys of mass communication and digital journalism theories while critically evaluating a range of digital textual, visual, and audio material.
• Craft timely, accurate, and compelling reports and stories. Develop communication strategies for building community, navigating bureaucracy, and mobilizing public advocates and activists to promote social change and justice.

In addition, you will:

• Partner with your advisor to develop a personal plan of study that fits your educational interests and career goals. Choose from a range of communication courses, concentrations, minors, and second majors to add focus, depth, and breadth to your studies.
• Participate in co-curricular programs like MU Knight Watch, the Speaking Studio, Writing Center, and speech and debate team. You can also take advantage of study-abroad courses and programs, participate in varsity and intramural athletics, join a range of student organizations, and participate in campus ministry, community engagement, volunteer/service programs.
• Engage with and learn from expert communication faculty dedicated to your success. Our professors will challenge, encourage, and mentor you as develop your journalism talent. And thanks to small classes, you’ll build lasting relationships with your professors and peers.

Find out what we're made of! Here are a few more things that make the Department of Communication at Marian different. 

What will you study?

Marian University’s 12-credit multimedia journalism concentration is only available to students majoring in our 128-credit B.A. in communication program. To earn this concentration, you will take courses including:

• COM 205: Student Media
• COM 245: Fact Finding and Checking
• ENG 210: Public Action Writing
• COM 326: Digital Journalism

All communication majors are required to complete at least one internship, participate in at least one community engagement project, and complete a capstone research project.

What are your career paths?

With bachelor's degree in communications and a concentration in multimedia journalism, you will be well-prepared to pursue entry-level careers requiring (1) strong written and verbal skills and (2) good knowledge of digital tools and technologies used to reach wide audiences. 

You may work as a reporter, editor, or news analyst for a newspaper, radio station, or television network or as a journalist for a digital media company. You can pursue communication careers in the nonprofit and corporate arenas.

Here are some of the most common career paths from which you might choose. Data is provided by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).

* NOTE: This occupation includes roles such as social media coordinators, managers, and strategists.

If you planning to enter graduate school directly after completing your bachelor’s degree, we can also prepare you to score well on standardized exams like the GRE, LSAT, or GMAT which may be required for admission to the school(s) of your choice.