College Catalog

The Mass Media Communication curriculum prepares students for a variety of production positions with media and media-related organizations. The curriculum offers students hands-on writing, production and programming experience at the College's radio station, WPTC-FM, and video-production lab, which houses the College's cable channel PCTV.

Students also are encouraged to intern with local or regional media organizations. Practical courses in journalism, advertising, public relations, photography, digital editing and electronic publishing, among others, create a solid foundation for careers in media fields.

Career Opportunities

Production positions at radio and television stations, cable systems, video production companies and other production facilities.

Recommended High School Subjects

Academic subjects that strongly emphasize written and verbal communication (especially grammatical structure) are helpful. Keyboarding is especially beneficial. A course in journalism or participation in print, radio, or video production will increase the possibility of success at the college level.

Remediation Strategies

All entering students will be tested for English, math, and reading deficiencies. Students are expected to remediate any deficiencies as explained in this catalog (see http://www.pct.edu/catalog/PlacementTesting.htm ).

Transfer Procedures

This major is subject to the transfer standards established by the College (see http://www.pct.edu/catalog/TransferringCredits.htm ). Exceptions must be approved by the school dean.

Program Goals

A graduate of this major should be able to:

• gather information needed to produce specialized material for media - for example, news, sports, commercials, press releases and public service announcements.
• demonstrate basic skills and sufficient discipline needed for basic electronic writing, announcing, producing and programming.
• demonstrate overall proficiency in the use of standard audio and video production equipment, including audio and video digital editing.
• electronically produce properly formatted text and appropriately designed graphics for modern print production.
• explain the organizational structures and departmental functions of radio and television stations and of cable and video outlets.
• demonstrate skills in employee and management relations that reflect sound business principles as practiced by media organizations.
• produce materials specific to a job search in the electronic media - for example, audition tapes and career portfolios.
• demonstrate information literacy by remaining current on the ethical canons, laws, and governmental regulations that influence the production of mass media.
• distinguish among the philosophical and practical standards and goals of the various forms of mass media.
• discuss the power and the responsibilities of the mass media in the United States and evaluate the trained media professional's unique role as an individual citizen who has the potential for influencing the lives of many others in the community.
• discuss the potential impact of mass media on the user; society's influence in shaping those media; the historical patterns of media development; the effects that the media have on other institutions; and the social and ethical questions that new technologies are raising.
• explain the role and value of non-profit media in a local community and produce programming with those concepts in mind.

Curriculum