Do you relish being the first to know what’s going on in the world? Are you passionate about telling stories and dream of seeing your name in print? If so, you should consider earning a bachelor's degree in multimedia journalism. At PLNU, you’ll gain an in-depth understanding of this dynamic and crucial field from faculty members who are key practitioners of journalism and from those who publish on both mass-media and scholarly sites.
After completing introductory courses in journalism, mass media, and literature, you'll learn investigative reporting techniques and creative ways to tell stories. Upper division courses will introduce you to the challenges of media ethics and ever-changing technology. You'll be given opportunities to develop skills in interviewing, editing, web and page design, investigative techniques, and data research — all skills that are important for careers in journalism as well as in law, education, business, public relations, advertising, marketing, science, research, psychology, and beyond.
PLNU's professors have an in-depth understanding of this dynamic field and many of them are practicing journalists. Our faculty members have anchored television network news, written pieces for publications such as The New York Times and The Boston Globe, and published in scholarly journals such as Princeton University Library and The Journal of Mass Media Ethics.
The multimedia journalism program offers many opportunities for firsthand experience on and off campus, including KPLR, PLNU's campus radio station, and PLNU's Point TV television station, which includes Coastline newscast, a live biweekly news program, and many other TV and film programs. Also, the campus newspaper and website, The Point Weekly, provides hands-on opportunities for students to inform the campus community. In addition to the newspaper, students can participate in the campus yearbook (Mariner) and literary magazine (Driftwood).
For even more real-world applications, internships are available at U-T San Diego, San Diego Magazine, Orange County Register, San Diego Home and Garden Magazine, Voice of San Diego (online news site), all local television and radio stations, One America News national cable television network, and dozens of other organizations in the San Diego region. These internships provide invaluable experience, and often lead to the employment of many PLNU students and graduates.
At PLNU, our multimedia journalism program focuses on growing four skills:
- Knowledge of investigative reporting techniques
- Finding creative ways to tell stories
- Robustly understanding the challenges of media ethics and ever-changing technology
- Interviewing, editing, web and page design, investigative techniques, and data research
Concentrations
- Writing: This program will immerse you in great storytelling that will span from present-day writers to those who produced some of the world's best literature. Courses in narrative journalism, creative writing, and investigative reporting will facilitate critical-thinking skills and a deeper understanding of why storytelling matters. You'll have the opportunity to have your work published, posted, and broadcasted on student media and beyond.
- Visual Storytelling: This program will immerse you in writing, production, and multimedia courses through which you'll learn how to tell stories across the most effective contemporary platforms. Courses will prepare you to tell visual narratives in the most creative and professional manner using video, audio, images, data, and text.
