Mass Media department | Washburn University

Studying Mass Media at Washburn

We live in a society dominated by the media where it is more important than ever to master the art of communication. At the same time, the mass media landscape is changing almost daily. That's why the Washburn University Mass Media program is designed to be flexible and help our students adapt and thrive in an era of rapid transformation.

Washburn's program prepares students to become successful communicators. Our students learn through real-world experience combined with education in the theory, art and practice of communications in today's media.

Upon graduation, Mass Media majors are ready to take their place in a wide range of fields including online, broadcast and print journalism, media analysis, film and video production, advertising sales, brand marketing or public relations.

Contemporary Journalism Concentration

The contemporary journalism concentration prepares students who want careers as writers, reporters, editors and designers, with newspapers, magazines, electronic entities and web publishers. The curriculum emphasizes storytelling through writing, reporting, editing, designing, producing and managing for print, audio, video and web.

Careers in Contemporary Journalism:

Students with a degree in contemporary journalism can choose to pursue a wide variety of media careers: reporter, editor, social media coordinator, newscaster, news analyst or program director. The contemporary journalism concentration produces graduates who are skilled at research, problem solving, critical thinking, meeting deadlines and creating content for diverse platforms for either internal or external audiences.

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Film and Video Concentration

The film and video concentration gives students an opportunity to gain both the technical and creative skills to be successful in the film and video industry. Courses emphasize each stage of the digital filmmaking process: pre-production, production, and post-production. Areas of study include but are not limited to: screenwriting, video editing, cinematography, sound recording, documentary filmmaking, and studio production.

Careers in Film and Video

There are many career paths in film and video including: independent filmmaker, cinematographer, film or video editor, screenwriter, production manager, web video producer, corporate multi-media manager and sound designer.

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Advertising & Public Relations Concentration

The advertising and public relations concentration prepares you to manage advertising campaigns and communication programs of public and private organizations. The concentration provides the knowledge and skills needed by professionals in all aspects of the advertising and public relations fields and gives you hands-on practice with real-world clients in the classroom to help you build your resumes.

Careers in Advertising and Public Relations

Students with a degree in advertising and public relations can choose to pursue many different types of careers including the following: account coordinator, marketing assistant, event coordinator, public relations specialist, copywriter, designer, digital media manager, conflict resolution specialist, crisis communications specialist, account executive, public information officer, or public relations manager.

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Student Success

The main focus of our department is the success of our students. In the past four years, Mass Media students have received such high recognitions as:

2023 — Kansas Collegiate Media — top “All Kansas” award — Indigo magazine
2023 — Kansas Collegiate Media — first place — feature writing
2023 — Kansas Collegiate Media — first place — spread design
2023 — Kansas Association of Broadcasters — first place — documentary category
2023 — Frosty — honorable mention — Student World Impact Film Festival
2022 — You Never Do - nominated for Best Student Film at the Toronto International Women Film Festival and official Selection for the International Manhattan Film Awards
2020 — Kansas Association of Broadcasters — first place — documentary category
2019 — American Advertising Federation — gold medal — direct marketing and logo design

For more news on student achievements, follow us on Facebook.

Stay connected with Mass Media through our alumni publications. Students in our advanced media classes design and publish the alumni e-newsletter and the Mass Media Messenger, our annual magazine. Email massmedia@washburn.edu to be added to our mailing list!