Journalism

The journalism major, part of the Communication Department and the College of Arts and Communication, is a specialized degree offering career preparation in print and broadcast journalism, advertising, and education (when paired with an English major). Students can choose emphases in one of four areas: Advertising, broadcast journalism, international journalism or print journalism. Students may also minor in advertising or journalism with 24 credits of course work.

Upon graduation, students will have had extensive coursework in which proficiency in written and oral forms of communication are stressed. In addition, at least one internship is strongly recommended.

The department's computer laboratories and audio and video studios provide students the opportunity to learn the latest audio, video, text, layout, photo editing, advertising and multimedia software and production techniques. Job preparation is enhanced by hands-on experience at Cable 19, the cable television station serving the campus and more than 100,000 cable households in southern Wisconsin; The Royal Purple student newspaper; and the Advertising Laboratory, which competes with other universities in creating national advertising campaigns.

The College of Arts and Communication is fully accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools.

The UW-Whitewater journalism major prepares students for a number of careers, including:

• Writing, reporting or editing for a newspaper, magazine, web site or other publication
• Working as a photographer or photo editor for a newspaper, magazine or other publication
• Working as a radio or television journalist
• Working in advertising for print, broadcast or on-line media
• Teaching or advising journalism in high school or in college after completing graduate work and experience

Faculty and academic staff in the communication department hold doctoral and other advanced degrees from some of the leading journalism and mass communication programs in the nation. Many also have extensive experience in both print and broadcast journalism.

Journalism students need good communication skills, such as writing, speaking, editing and graphic design. They should have a feel for and high interest in the use of language, and excitement about news gathering and a curiosity about how the world works. High school students planning to major in journalism are best prepared by emphasizing courses in English composition and literature, history, art, psychology, public speaking and social sciences, including economics, sociology and political science. They will benefit from working for their high school newspaper or yearbook, taking summer or part-time jobs with local media, reading news magazines and urban newspapers, listening to public and commercial radio newscasts and watching national newscasts.

The faculty in the Communication Department have received many awards. Bill Johnson, electronic media, was awarded a prestigious Fulbright Scholarship to Peru. John Luecke received the President’s Award from the Wisconsin Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America.

Local and area companies and media outlets employ UW-Whitewater students part time and offer internships. Available in all areas, internships assist students in gaining practical experience in work settings, which may lead to full-time careers. Media organizations regularly contact the Communication Department about job opportunities. Some companies that hire journalism interns include:

• Cygnus Business Publications
• Channel 6-Milwaukee
• Channel 15-Madison
• Mercy Health System
• Milwaukee Public Museum
• Whitewater Chamber of Commerce
• Channel 3-Madison
• Channel 58-Milwaukee
• Bliss Communications, Janesville
• The Janesville Gazette
• St. Coletta's of Wisconsin
• Thomson Financials
• LaMar Outdoor Advertising
• Stevens and Tate Advertising
• Ellingsen Brady Advertising
• Adventures in Advertising
• KISS-FM
• Putzmeister America
• Kalahari Resort

In addition, the Journalism Department has a student exchange program with Dublin University in Ireland and Deakin University in Australia.

Journalism graduates find jobs in various media outlets, including daily and weekly newspapers, radio and television stations, magazine publishers and other organizations.

Students have opportunities to network with professionals by joining the campus chapters of the Society of Professional Journalists and Alpha Epsilon Rho, a broadcasting organization.

Required courses for all majors

• Mass media writing
• Mass communication in society or Communication and Public Opinion

Advertising emphasis

• Foundations of advertising
• Advertising copywriting and layout
• Advertising media planning and buying
• Advertising campaigns
• Principles of marketing
• 15 additional credits in art, journalism, marketing or speech

Broadcast, International or Print Journalism Emphasis

• News gathering
• Law of mass communication
• Reporting public affairs
• Other courses vary by specialty

Broadcast Emphasis

• Foundations of electronic media
• Electronic media announcing or public speaking
• Fundamantals of audio production or video production
• Electronic media newswriting and production
• Television news reporting and production
• Practicum in television news
• Six additional credits in journalism or speech

Print Emphasis

• Foundations of print advertising
• Publication editing
• Feature writing
• Nine additional credits in journalism or speech

International Journalism Emphasis
Students can concentrate in either broadcast or print journalism. In addition to three years' study at UW-Whitewater, students live and study for two semesters at Deakin University in Australia. All credits at Deakin apply toward the UW-Whitewater degree.