Mass Communications with Emphasis in Writing

 As a Mass Communications graduate with an emphasis in media and writing, the previous four years of research and investing into my degree has left an extensive compilations of work to reflect my abilities as a media analyst and writer. Over the past four years, I have worked to improve my writing style, research abilities, verbiage/grammar, and communication skills to effectively report relevant and conclusive data as well as express insight of current matters. This final blog post will serve as a digital portfolio to compile all blog links into one place with a brief description of the said courses' purpose as to provide quick and easy access to any and all articles written during my academic career. 

Sophomore year

    My sophomore year, I took four courses that required me to create and maintain blogs for content and information. The first blogging course I took was Directed Study in Mass Media I (MM 3503). The purpose of this course was to be engaged in a variety of aspects of media (from television, music, apps, pop culture etc.) and discuss said topics in length. It was also the first course in blogging and was intended to help students gain experience in formatting and polishing a blog for aesthetics and readability. 

    That same year, I also took a deeper step into understanding the relevance and patterns in current media by taking the course Trends in Modern Media (MM 3223). The focus here was to take a wide perspective on current internet trends at the time and discuss in depth the significance these trends played in culture, news, and society. 

    Continuing on the concept of reporting, I took Reporting and Writing for Mass Media (MM 2003). While Trends in Modern Media was more focused on analyzing the current trends, this class had a more journalist approach with the emphasis being reporting current news. This course was focused on honing in your abilities to take a set of well researched information and being able to comprise it into well organized article. The range extended from local news to national news and a variety of topics in-between. 

    While reporting and analyzing media is the face of what writers and journalists do, a knowledge of behind the scenes is needed to develop a well rounded view. Internet Communications (MM 3123) was a course designed allow students to think about the technology side of blogging/reporting. As media is rapidly approaching into a digital age that has never been seen before, it is important that future media related workers understand a wider scope of what interrelations between media and technology is all about. 

Junior year

    The next year, I was required to take Directed Study in Mass Media II (MM3603) which help the same principles as Directed Study in Mass Media I, but this class, I was to show improvement in my content/writing by taking my acquired knowledge to the next level. 

    To continue to expand our horizons, a course in International Mass Media (MM 4123) was required. This course helped to give a global perspective on reporting and media. It forced exposure to see other formats of media that extended beyond our own country and allowed me to improve my writing in creative ways by reporting on ideas, concepts, and media structures that were different than what I was use to. Because of this class, I got to take my investigating skills to the next level by having a personal interview with a gentleman from another country to gain first hand account/data for my global perspective. 

    Another layer added to my understanding of reporting and media was the idea of public relations; the concept of engaging the audience in a two way communication where I was required to see how media geared its content to maintain positive relations with their viewers. This was the idea behind Principles in Public Relations (MM 3103). I had to look at large businesses, corporations, media outlets etc. to analyze their public relation tactics. I looked at both good and bad examples all the while obtaining a working knowledge of the importance of good PR skills in any media related field. 

    Media Law and Ethics (MM 4003) took those same concepts a step further where I began to expand on that acquired knowledge into a research based format to discuss not only the importance of those relations, but the laws set in place to keep media outlets in a check and balance. What issues/topics go beyond just good PR and bleed into rights of free speech, censorship, and what is journalists obligation to report even if the topics are difficult. 

Senior Year

    Having covered the core concepts of media, my senior year I explored less covered topics such as Foreign Language Media in America (MM 4133). It took the idea of international media a step further by having us look at how foreign media is reported on in America. So I had to look at the news from two different angles and be able to discuss both while providing insight. I had to see how news was reported on in one area of the world and then turn around with an objective eye and see how it was reported on in America to fledge out a full comprehensive view on the matter. 

    At the same time, I was also taking Media and Politics (MM 3133) which allowed me to take a deeper dive into the media surrounding politics. I learned the intertwined relationship between media and politics and how it shapes the public view on political matters as well as the ever growing importance of journalists providing transparent, unbiased information about politics and the devastation it can cause when they do not maintain that integrity. 

Acknowledgement

This degree program is overseen by Professor and Director of Mass Communications at Southern Arkansas University, James Reppert. He keeps a digital archive of the degree program requirements, plan of action, and detailed description of each course as well as an archive of all works submitted by students. Besides these blogs, all articles, papers, and media presentations submitted by me during my academic career can be found on his website.