Mission
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:
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the public interest for their knowledge, ethics, competence and service
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citizens, clients and consumers for their competencies and the quality of their work; and
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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, journalism (electronic or print option), public relations
and television production. 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 television
production 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.
Broadcasting facilities are located on the eighth floor of the Price Doyle Fine Arts Center.
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.
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.