Mass Media

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.

Our students graduate ready to take their place in a wide range of fields including online, broadcast and print journalism, media analysis, film and video production as well as 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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Creative Advertising Concentration

In the creative advertising concentration, you'll explore the structure of the advertising industry and learn the strategies and tactics used in successfully advertising products and services on behalf of organizations and businesses. This includes strategically determining and understanding your target audience’s needs and desires, establishing the purpose of your brand’s advertising, and creating successful advertising campaigns and other marketing activities to fit within a business’s or organization’s goals.

Careers in Creative Advertising

Students with a degree in creative advertising can choose to pursue the following careers: account planner, brand manager, copywriter, advertising manager, advertising account executive or creative director, to name a few.

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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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Public Relations Concentration

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

Careers in Public Relations

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

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Mass Media: Celebrating 25 Years as a Department

The mass media field is always evolving. Society, culture or technology changes and we change with it. Even the beginning of this department was generated by change. The Department of Mass Media officially began in the spring of 1993. It offered concentrations in broadcast, public relations and journalism. In 1994, the program celebrated its first four official graduates.

In the past 25 years, the department has had eight department chairs who have each made improvements to the curriculum, requirements and technology. Today, the Department of Mass Media offers concentrations in contemporary journalism, creative advertising, film and video, and public relations. Mass media is still an evolving field.