The MISSION of the Department of Journalism and Mass Communications is to prepare students with a body of knowledge and a system of intellectual inquiry, scholarship and training for careers in which they are accountable to:
employers for their performance.
Our students understand the VALUE of ...
1. Truth, accuracy, and fairness
2. Freedom of expression
3. Ethical thought and practices
4. Historical perspective on the role of the mass media in civil society
5. Diversity of the workforce and audiences
We expect our students to LEARN HOW TO ...
1. Write clearly and accurately
2. Use media technology appropriate to the task
3. Apply media theory in presenting images and information
4. Engage in research and critical evaluation
5. Understand data and statistics
6. Think creatively and analytically
Areas of Study
The Department of Journalism and Mass Communications was
established in 1975 and is part of the College of Business and Public
Affairs at Murray State University. It is one of only 110 programs in the United States (with one in Chile) accredited by the Accrediting Council on Education in Journalism and Mass Communications (ACEJMC). The department offers four majors
leading to a bachelor's degree: advertising, electronic media, journalism (electronic
or print option) and public relations. The
department also offers minors in advertising and journalism.
In addition to career-oriented classes students are required to
follow a liberal arts program that is designed to give them a broad
educational base.
Background
Murray State has offered journalism courses since 1927. In 1968 a
full major was instituted leading to bachelor's and master's degrees.
Three majors have been added since 1968. The programs are updated
frequently. In 1987 the Accrediting Council for Education in
Journalism and Mass Communications approved accreditation for all
departmental programs. The department received re-accreditation in
1992, 1998 and 2004.
Facilities
The main classrooms and offices for all majors except electronic media
are located in historic Wilson Hall, the second oldest building on
campus. Wilson Hall also houses The Murray State News, the
award-winning student newspaper.
The Shield, the
University's award-winning yearbook, is located in the Business Building.
Broadcasting facilities are located on the eighth floor of the
Price Doyle Fine Arts Center.
The department has active student chapters of the following
organizations: the American
Advertising Federation; Public
Relations Student Society of America; and Kappa Tau Alpha, honorary
journalism fraternity.
Affiliations
In addition to ACEJMC, the department is also affiliated with the Association for
Education in Journalism and Mass Communications (AEJMC), American Society of
Journalism School Administrators (ASJSA), West Kentucky Press Association (WKPA),
Kentucky Press Association (KPA), Kentucky Intercollegiate Press
Association (KIPA), College Media Advisers (CMA), American Advertising Federation (AAF), and Public Relations Society of America (PRSA).
Broadcast affiliations include the Broadcast Education
Association, National Association of Broadcasters, Radio-Television
News Directors, Kentucky Broadcasters Association, and International
Radio-Television Society.
This page is provided by the Department of Journalism and Mass
Communications at Murray State University, Murray, Ky. Feel free to
contact us at jmc@murraystate.edu.
