Fact Sheets

Mass Communications @ MSUM

The mass communications department prepares students for a rapidly changing world of communications by providing a theoretical and practical foundation in its profession. The department offers seven emphases leading to careers in broadcasting, print and online journalism, public relations, advertising and photojournalism. Writing is essential to the profession and is developed through courses in media writing, broadcast journalism, reporting, public relations processes, magazine writing, copy editing, advertising copywriting, as well as other courses. In addition to the course work in their chosen emphases, many mass communications majors complete internships during their junior or senior years to enhance employability. Internships and volunteer work provide valuable hands-on experience.

Department Benefits

  • Department organizations and facilities provide mass communications students with opportunities for hands-on experiences in the areas of television broadcasting, photojournalism, print journalism, advertising, online journalism and public relations.
  • Digital cameras and editing equipment are a recent addition to the mass communications department, providing up-to-date technology for television news production.
  • Campus News is the university's weekly program that airs on Prairie Public Television. The half-hour newscast features local and regional colleges, as well as stories from campuses around the world. It is written, reported, photographed, edited, produced and anchored by students in the department.
  • The university's award-winning student newspaper, The Advocate, gives mass communications majors an opportunity to learn about print journalism, business management and advertising.
  • Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA) is an organization that provides students with opportunities to develop professional leadership skills. Participation in Positive Reactions, a student-run public relations agency, helps students develop their portfolios and make professional contacts.
  • Ad Club members attend Fargo-Moorhead Advertising Federation meetings at discounted student rates. Guest speakers and conferences give students the chance to learn about the world of advertising and meet professionals in the field. Ad Club students produce the professional newsletter for the F-M Ad Federation.
  • Journalism Club is a student organization that is affiliated with the Society of Professional Journalists. Members attend conferences and make on-site visits to news facilities to learn about the profession and build a network for internship and job opportunities. SPJ is the campus host for a number of live, interactive, satellite seminars each year.

Students Succeed at MSU Moorhead
Students in photojournalism annually produce a documentary that visually captures some aspect of life in the midwest. The most recent book highlights the lifestyle of "Going to the Lakes."

  • MSUM's advertising team placed 11th out of 135 schools competing in the 1995 National Student Advertising Competition sponsored by the American Advertising Federation. They placed second in District 8 in the 1996 American Advertising Federation campaign featuring the American Red Cross and fourth in the 1997 Pizza Hut campaign.
  • The 1999 Bateman Case Study team placed as a "runner-up," in the national competition sponsored by Kick Butts Day, Inc. MSUM's public relations team won first place in the 1998 national Bateman Case Study contest with Family Services of America as its client.
  • MSUM's public relations team tied for first place in the 1997 national Bateman Case Study, which had Big Brothers Big Sisters of America as its corporate sponsor. The team made the top eight in the 1996 Bateman Case Study competition featuring Coca Cola. The team also placed third nationally in the 1995 campaign featuring Girls Incorporated and second nationally in the Jergens Body Shampoo campaign.
  • Most years, the department produces a magazine. Featuring photography and writing by students and faculty, the magazine is a joint project of students in photojournalism and print journalism. The most recent publication won first place in national competition sponsored by the Society of Professional Journalists.

Alumni at Work

  • Gail Liebl, `97 public relations account executive at Morgan, Meyers, and Thoms in Minneapolis, recently served as the national president of the 5,000-member Public Relations Student Society of America, and received the National Gold Key Award for her academic and leadership accomplishments, the highest honor granted by the organization.
  • Jean Leier, `94, broadcast journalism, is an assignment editor at WITN-TV, an NBC affiliate in Washington, D.C.
  • Jason Schumann, `95, public relations and broadcast journalism, is an account executive at a Minneapolis-based public relations firm.
  • Tom Forsythe, `80, individualized major in public relations and political science, is the director of state government relations and employee communications for General Mills, Inc.
  • Ross Raihala, `95, print journalism, is the entertainment editor for The Forum in Fargo.
  • Richard Hertz, `92, advertising, is the owner of IMAGE PRINTING in Bismarck, N.D.
  • Greg Ness, `88, advertising, is owner of G.L. Ness Agency, a Fargo-based advertising and marketing agency.
  • Patrick Kellar, `93, advertising, is general manager of the Valley City (N.D.) Times-Record.
  • Mindy Grantham, `92, advertising, is the project director at Message Factors in Covington, KY.
  • Eric Blumer, `84, photojournalism, was named Top TV News Photographer of 1996, by the National Press Photographers Association.

Careers
Mass communications employers include newspapers, universities, advertising and public relations agencies, corporations, health care facilities, broadcast companies, non-profit organizations and government agencies. Positions as editors, reporters, fundraisers, broadcast technicians, webmasters, news anchors, public relations specialists and advertising copywriters are just a few of the career possibilities.