The winter 2015 edition of MTSU Magazine profiles MTSU’s College of Mass Communication at a time when its multifaceted and innovative media offerings are coming of age.
The College of Mass Communication consists of a Department of Recording Industry noted as one of the best in the country, a Department of Electronic Media Communication whose students and state-of-the-art facilities have attracted national recognition, and a tradition-rich School of Journalism that houses the John Seigenthaler Chair of Excellence in First Amendment Studies.
In order for the college to reach its full potential, however, Dean Ken Paulson, who was hired in 2013, and who was on the team of young editors that launched USA Today in the 1980s, knew the college also needed retooling.
“All traditional media have been buffeted by digital technology, and that in turn has led to cutbacks and job losses,” Paulson said in the article. “But there will always be news. There will always be music. And film. And commercial art. And communication. Our challenge is to prepare our students for the new era of opportunities.”
Preparing students to succeed despite those realities isn’t just about having tech-savvy faculty and cutting-edge tools, Paulson said. It’s about reinforcing traditional communication skills such as research, writing, ethics and critical thinking, while breaking down traditional academic barriers, thinking beyond traditional media platforms and finding nontraditional ways to communicate.
“It’s not enough for us to just teach journalism, media, and production skills,” Paulson said. “We need to anticipate the future and help reinvent these industries.”
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To contact news editor Meagan White, email newseditor@mtsusidelines.com
