Mass Communication
What makes the program special?
• Hands-on learning happens through classroom activities, internships, production projects, and practical experience.
• Sioux City is home to four network television stations, 11
radio stations, a daily newspaper and several advertising agencies/public relations firms. Morningside students have
completed internships or have held paid positions at many of these companies.
• Professors incorporate their real-world experience into their
coursework.
• The department’s small size gives professors time to advise
students, work with them on independent projects, and help
them develop programs of study that meet their academic and career goals.
• Students get experience with all media: print, radio,
television, and the Web.
• An emphasis on First Amendment issues and connections
with political science make mass communication a strong
foundation for law school.
How will I benefit?
As a mass communication major or minor you will develop the
following:
• Strong writing skills, accuracy, and professional standards
• Technical knowledge of print, video, radio, and multimedia
production
WHY STUDY MASS
COMMUNICATION AT
MORNINGSIDE?
A program that introduces students to
major media: print, radio, television, and the
Web. An emphasis on ethics, contemporary
issues, and professional standards. Excellent
preparation for a career or for graduate
work. Faculty with years of professional
experience. An issue-oriented curriculum
that encourages students to examine the role
of mass communication in society.
• Broad-based exposure to many disciplines in the liberal arts,
essential for understanding and interpreting contemporary
communication issues
• Leadership skills, accountability, and maturity
• Awareness of the ethical responsibilities involved in
communicating with the public.
Mass Communication at Morningside
How about the details?
Majors
The BA in Mass Communication prepares students to pursue
careers in journalism, radio and television, public relations,
and related fields or for graduate work in advanced media
studies. The major emphasizes converged media, combining
skills courses in journalism, broadcasting, and the web with
theoretical courses about media more generally.
The BS in Mass Communication draws on courses from several
departments and includes a choice from one of three emphasis
areas: Media Management, Corporate Communication, and New
Media Production. The Media Management emphasis prepares
students for leadership in media organizations. The Corporate
Communication emphasis prepares students for internal and
external communication in business, government, non-profits,
politics, and sports information. The New Media Production
emphasis gives students a well rounded background for creating
web-oriented communication.
Courses
COMM 101 Introduction to Mass Communication
COMM 204 Audio Production for Radio and Web
COMM 207 Video Production for Television and the Web
COMM 208 Fundamentals of Journalism for Print and the Web
COMM 244 Topics in Mass Communication
COMM 245 Media Management
COMM 260 Sports Journalism and Broadcasting
COMM 264 Media Practicum: Audio and Radio Production
COMM 265 Media Practicum: Media Sales
COMM 267 Media Practicum: Video and Television Production
COMM 268 Media Practicum: News Writing and Reporting
COMM 269 Media Practicum: New Media Production
COMM 270 Media Practicum: Sports Broadcasting
COMM 300 News and Feature Writing
COMM 307 Advanced Video Production
COMM 311 Law of Mass Communication
COMM 324 Electronic Journalism
COMM 330 Public Relations
COMM 395 Seminar in Media, Politics, and Democracy
COMM 404 Adv. Media Practicum: KMSC Department Head
COMM 407 Adv. Media Practicum: MCTV Department Head
COMM 408 Adv. Media Practicum: Collegian Reporter Editor
COMM 409 Adv. Media Practicum: New Media Production
COMM 410 Adv. Media Practicum: Sports Broadcasting Management
COMM 430 Senior Thesis
COMM 444 Topics in Mass Communication
COMM 455 Mass Commnication Capstone Seminar
Who are the faculty?
Ross Fuglsang, Associate Professor
Teaches Introduction to Mass Communication, Fundamentals
of Journalism, News and Feature Writing, Law of Mass
Communication, Senior Capstone and courses in the first-year
curriculum. Serves as advisor to The Collegian Reporter student
newspaper. Research interests include pop culture.
Education: B.S., M.S., Iowa State University; B.A., Central
Missouri State University; Ph.D., University of Iowa
Professional experience: Reporter/Photographer for community
weekly; Sports Editor for Iowa daily
Mark Heistad, Associate Professor
Teaches Introduction to MassCommunication, Audio Production,
Electronic Journalism, Law of Mass Communication, Media
& Democracy, Senior Capstone and courses in the first year
curriculum. Serves as advisor to Morningside’s student-run
radio station KMSC-FM and supervises the Sports Broadcasting
program. Research interests include broadcast history,
broadcast news, and media law.
Education: B.A., Luther College; M.A., Ph.D., University of
Minnesota
Professional experience: 15 years in Public Radio, including
Minnesota Public Radio, St. Paul, MN
Dave Madsen, Assistant Professor & Dept. Chair
Teaches Introduction to Mass Communication, Media
Management, Media Sales, Public Relations, Senior Capstone
and First Year Seminar. Serves as advisor for MCTV student-run
television station.
Education: B.A., M.A. Journalism/Mass Communication
University of Nebraska-Lincoln.
Professional experience: More than 30 years of commercial
television and radio experience in station management,
programming, promotion, production, news, engineering and
sales.
Adjuncts. The Mass Communication Department also has
qualified adjunct instructors to teach Television Production,
Sports Broadcasting and Public Relations.
What happens inside the classroom?
• Courses examine the role of communication at both the local and global levels.
• Students learn to produce and process information in various media—television, radio, print, and Web—and to adapt to new technologies.
• Courses are taught within the context of the liberal arts. Students learn the role mass communication plays in society and how it is connected with other subjects such as business, art, theatre, science, and political science.
• All courses promote clear, concise writing, which is central to
all human communication.
What happens outside the
classroom?
Internships
Internships completed by mass communication students have
included:
• KCAU, KTIV, KMEG and KPTH television stations, Sioux City
• Powell Broadcasting radio stations, Sioux City
• Clear Channel radio stations, Sioux City
• KWIT-FM Public Radio, Sioux City
• Sioux City Explorers Baseball Team
• Sioux City Bandits Indoor Football Team
• Sioux City Convention Center
• Sioux City Journal
• WOWT-TV, Omaha
• WCCO-TV, Minneapolis, MN
• Anchorage Daily News, Anchorage, AK
• KHMX/KODA radio, Houston, TX
• KGGO radio, Des Moines
• South Dakota Public Television
• The Globe, newspaper for the Sioux City Catholic Diocese
Hands-on experience
• KMSC-FM, Morningside’s student-run radio station, heard throughout the Sioux City area. Voted a “Siouxland Choice” radio station twice by readers of The Weekender. Named Eric
Sevareid award winner for best student play-by-play
broadcasts by the Northwest Broadcast News Association.
• MCTV, the student-run campus television outlet with digital production and computer editing equipment, digital cameras,
and studios. MCTV is available on a local
cable channel. Video web casting of many sporting events.
• The Collegian Reporter, weekly online campus newspaper,
written and produced by students.
Where can I go from here?
Careers. A degree in mass communication can lead to a
number of different careers. Our alumni have become reporters,
producers, camera operators, videographers, journalists, public
relations professionals, and advertising executives.
A sampling of jobs alumni have held includes:
• 5, 6 and 10 o’clock news anchor, KCAU-TV Channel 9,
Sioux City
• Creative Services Director, KTIV-TV Channel 4, Sioux City
• Weekend Sports Anchor, WABC-TV, New York
• Weekend Sports Anchor, KCAU-TV, Sioux City
• Account Executive, KDSN Radio, Denison, IA
• Ass’t. News/Sports Director, KCHE Radio, Cherokee, IA
• Play-By-Play Announcer, Sioux City Bandits
• Sports Director, KABD Radio, Aberdeen, SD
• Feature writer, The Springfield Sun (Named Cox Newspapers’ best feature writer of 2003)
• Assistant Director of Media Center, Kansas City Art Institute
• Producer/Director and mid-day host, KGBI Omaha, NE
• Promotion Director, KTNF-AM, Minneapolis
• Promotions, Prosthetic Records, Los Angeles, CA
• Reporter/Videographer, KTIV, Sioux City
• Graphic Designer, Denver, CO
• Director of Marketing and Alumni Relations, Iowa State University
• Advertising & Promotions Coordinator, Bentonville, AR
• Sports Editor, The LeMars Daily Sentinel
• Trade Marketing Manager, ConAgra Foods
• Reporter/Producer, South Dakota Public Television
• Promotion Director, Air America, Minneapolis
• Promotion Manager WHO-TV, Des Moines, IA
• Senior Broadcast Operations Manager, TPT Twin Cities Public TV, St. Paul, MN
• WCCO TV, Chief Photographer, Minneapolis, MN
• Videographer, QVC, Minneapolis, MN
Graduate school. Our alumni have also been accepted into
graduate programs in History, English, Women’s Studies,
Law, Political Science, Philanthropy and Development,
and Photography (in addition to mass communication) at
institutions such as Bradley University, the University of Iowa,
George Washington University, Middlebury College, Sam
Houston State University, the University of South Dakota, and
the University of Nebraska.