Broadcasting and Journalism

Curriculum

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Sports Broadcasting

The Sports Broadcasting option provides our students with unique on-air and behind-the-scenes opportunities. The department has a live sports truck with an HD camera set-up to do live sports broadcasts on ESPN3. The productions now reach more than 100 million people nationally and have the look of an ESPN broadcast. Our students announce, direct, and produce these events. This gives students valuable experience in front of and behind the camera, and in the production truck. Audio broadcasts of home games are also carried live on WIUS-FM, where students also produce nightly sports talk shows. Sports Broadcasting students also host and produce the WIU Football Coach’s Show and Local Sports Focus, a 30-minute local sports highlight show. Majors prepare to become multimedia sports broadcasters. Students work in front of the camera; behind the microphone and camera; in the production truck and TV studio; and from their laptops, editing, blogging and posting their work.

Multimedia Journalism

The Multimedia Journalism option focuses on the preparation of students for careers in all aspects of news production. Our students learn to tell stories and report information that will be distributed on multiple platforms. On our NEWS3 TV newscast, students learn to gather news, cover news events, edit news packages and produce and direct half-hour live newscasts that reach Macomb and McDonough County viewers. Students will also learn to write for print and digital-based media. There are opportunities to be reporters and anchors (news, weather and sports), as well as to produce and direct newscasts. Many of our students also contribute to the student-run newspaper, the Western Courier.

Broadcast Production

The Broadcast Production option is designed for students interested in working in video, audio and/or film production and post-production. The program is hands-on and students work with faculty and peers in an interactive environment to learn production and editing skills. They also learn camera techniques, post-production special effects, ENG and studio lighting and operating control room and how to use on-air studio equipment. They use those skills to produce audio, video and interactive programming for multiplatform distribution. Students also have access to our FM radio station, WIUS “the Dog”.

Advertising/Public Relations

The Advertising/Public Relations option provides students an opportunity to build both the creative and strategic skills necessary to pursue a successful career in public relations or advertising. Classes in this program focus on the techniques and processes used to create, produce, and place persuasive messages in both paid and earned media. Students in this program will also learn how to use the media to creatively and effectively deliver messages utilizing an integrated mix of traditional and new media and to develop complete campaign plans for a variety of products and services. In addition, Western’s Public Relations and Advertising Club provides opportunities for students to build a network, develop leadership skills, attend career fairs, and work with other students and businesses on real-world projects as they build their professional portfolio.

To view University general education requirements, click here.