Journalism and Public Relations

Department Chair: Jennifer Fleming

Office: Liberal Arts 4 (LA4) Room 106
Telephone: (562) 985‑4981
FAX: (562) 985-5300
Website: http://www.cla.csulb.edu/departments/journalism/

Faculty: Lee Brown (Emeritus), Christopher Burnett, Emma Daugherty, Holly Ferris, Jennifer Fleming, Daniel Garvey (Emeritus), Todd Henneman, Heloiza Herscovitz, Robin Jones, Christopher Karadjov, Wayne Kelly (Emeritus), Peter Larsen, Gary Metzker, William Mulligan (Emeritus), Danny Paskin, Teresa Puente, Nick Roman, Soumitro Sen, Gwen Shaffer, Barbara Kingsley-Wilson, Whitney Mandel (Emeritus)

Administrative Support Coordinator: Nesha Saucier

Administrative Support Assistant: Ana Canela

Technology Coordinator: Dan Olsen

Academic Advisors: Jennifer Fleming, Danny Paskin

Librarian: Carol Perruso

College: College of Liberal Arts

Courses: JOUR

Career Possibilities

Journalist • Public Relations Specialist • Editor • Online Journalist • Marketing Communications Professional • Multimedia Journalist • Publicist • Editor • Photojournalist • Reporter • Social Media Manager • Television Producer • Sports Writer • Designer • Photographer • Special Events Coordinator • Newscaster • Copy Writer • Critic • Technical Writer • Proofreader • Communications Manager • Public Information Officer • Digital Communications Specialist • Magazine Writer • Radio Announcer (Some of these, and other careers, require additional education or experience. For more information, see www.careers.csulb.edu.)

Introduction

The Department of Journalism and Public Relations offers undergraduate programs that prepare students for careers in journalism and public relations. Students take courses that provide both a strong theoretical foundation and real-life, hands-on training in the skills they need to pursue careers in communications. Journalism graduates become reporters, editors, bloggers, broadcasters, designers and managers at media organizations and are trained in multimedia storytelling and communicating across multiple platforms, including newspapers, magazines, online media, social media, radio, and television.

Public relations graduates become public relations professionals in corporations, nonprofit organizations, and communication firms and specialize in employee relations, media relations, community relations, multicultural relations, consumer relations, marketing communications, public affairs, and special event management. In their classes, public relations students learn how to use both traditional and digital forms of media, including social media, to communicate with target audiences. Advanced students become skilled in strategic planning and campaign development.

Throughout their coursework, journalism and public relations students have the opportunity to work as staff writers, editors, designers and photographers at campus media affiliated with the department: the Daily 49er, the campus newspaper; DIG Magazine, the campus monthly magazine; Beach Byline, the department’s alumni magazine, and 22 West Media, which offers numerous experiences in radio, video, and magazine production. Students also serve as account supervisors, creative directors, art directors, copywriters, event planners, and social media managers on the Bateman Case Study Competition Team. The Bateman Case Study Competition is the prestigious national collegiate contest for public relations students. All students working with department-affiliated media and the Bateman team work closely with department faculty members who serve as advisors for each group.

The department is home to four active student organizations: National Association of Black Journalists, National Association of Hispanic Journalists, Public Relations Student Society of America, and Society of Professional Journalists. The department also sponsors special events for students, including Journalism & Public Relations Day each spring.

In addition, the department maintains a comprehensive directory of placements, and internship opportunities are abundant in Southern California, one of the nation’s largest media markets.

Programs

Undergraduate Degrees

Minor

Courses

Journalism

General Education Category A must be completed prior to taking any upper-division course except upper-division language courses where students meet formal prerequisites and/or competency equivalent for advanced study.