#emergentmedia

Department of Media and Journalism honors its top students

Bloomsburg University’s Department of Media and Journalism named its top students from each of its four concentrations for the 2019-20 academic year.

Both GPA and faculty recommendations factored into deciding the winners.

It’s no secret technology is constantly changing and often at a rapid pace. So is the world of mass communications, particularly media.

And now Bloomsburg University’s mass communications program is set up to align students with both through its new emergent media track, which also includes an option for a minor.

“We want (students) to have experiences that simulate working in the mass communications industry,” said David Magolis, associate professor of mass communications, who designed the emergent media program. “These hands-on experiences teach students invaluable skills such as face-to-face and mediated communications, teamwork, website and graphic design, and how to be a leader. These are skills hiring managers expect from our graduates, and are skills we incorporate into the curriculum so our students are prepared for internships and jobs.”

This fall, students studying multimedia are not only getting their feet wet in emergent media but are getting real-world experience in the process. Through BU’s Center for Community Research and Consulting, the class partnered with the Berwick United Way in identifying local non-profit organizations in need of a new website.

“I like this class a lot, because it’s not just all technical skills,” said Raijene Dreuitt, mass communications major. “We’re getting to learn how to work with other people, developing professional skills in working with a client. This is the first time I’ve gotten to work with a client, so this class has prepared on that level.”

According to Magolis, students are learning all facets of web design starting with the foundational concepts of internet networks and quickly advancing to learning how to create, design, and implement a fully functioning website. 

“Halfway through the semester, the course progresses to the web design application portion of the curriculum where the students partner with local non-profit organizations to help develop their web presence,” said Magolis, adding the process started with a student-client website interview. “Students and clients shared their ideas for the website, talked about the website design, and the students gathered content for the website.

“Throughout the website development process, students maintain open communication with the client, demonstrate good web design principles, and facilitate a balance between the client’s ideas and good web design practice.” 

Magolis said upon completion of the websites, a debriefing meeting between the students and clients is held during which students present their final websites to the class and show the clients how to maintain their website.

“It grounds us as students, enabling us to work with people who are already professionals,” said Andrew Turnure, mass communications major. “Since it’s something already intensive, such as website design, you’re going to be working with a lot of people in the future.”

Bloomsburg University's mass communications program prepares students to work as professionals in public relations, journalism, telecommunications or in emerging media technologies. This bachelor's degree program balances a broad knowledge of the liberal arts and natural sciences with the professional and theoretical preparation needed by today's media professionals.

Internships are necessary to complete the student's professional training, along with experience with four campus media. Other opportunities are available through active chapters of the Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA), and the National Broadcasting Society-Alpha Epsilon Rho (NBS-AERho).

Mass Communications Tracks

- Telecommunications: Studies include video production, video editing, broadcast journalism, programming and management. Students can also study sports, documentary, corporate video or dramatic/comedy production.

- Journalism: Studies include online journalism, editing, feature writing, magazine editing and production, public affairs reporting, and broadcast journalism.

- Public Relations: Studies include public relations theory and practice, publicity and public relations, PR cases and problems, as well as options in video production, feature writing, online journalism, introduction to business, economics, marketing principles and practices and advertising management. As a capstone, students participate in a mass communications seminar, practicum or internship.