New Media Communications program combines journalism and technology
January 17, 2008
Students interested in joining the fast-paced world of online journalism have a new opportunity to gain training at MCC. The new Media Communications program, now available, blends the creative skills of writing and editing with the technical skills of multimedia technologies to prepare students to not only collect and write the news but also present it in an electronic format.
After completing this year-and-a-half program, students will earn a Certificate of Completion and be prepared to get a job in the field, as well as to continue their education toward a bachelor's degree. Students will learn to write and present news for print, Web pages, blogs, and video- and pod-casting.
"This program really hits on the specific needs of the media--getting someone who is a jack-of-all-trades," said program director Fred Hills. With the changing environment of print media, someone who can not only write the news but also distribute it in a variety of formats is very attractive to employers, Hills said.
Along with taking computer courses and journalism classes, students will have the option to complete an internship in communications, such as at a local newspaper or marketing office, to gain real-world experience. Hills said he thinks the Media Communications program will help a lot of students who want to be writers "get their foot in the door" because they'll have the technical skills that are so desirable in today's job market.
For more information about this program, contact Fred Hills at 299-8270 or fhills@mclennan.edu.