Reed College of Media at West Virginia University
West Virginia University is an R1, land-grant institution located in Morgantown, West Virginia. It’s home to 30,000 undergraduate students. The WVU Reed College of Media is an accredited student-centered journalism school that has been graduating journalists and strategic communicators since 1939.
Reed College of Media is home to 750 undergraduate students from nine countries and 49 states studying Advertising and Public Relations, Interactive Design for Media, Journalism and Sports and Adventure Media. The College has two locations on the WVU campus – Martin Hall, the oldest building on campus located in iconic Woodburn Circle, and the Media Innovation Center located in the heart of the modern and growing Evansdale campus.
Reed College of Media continuously adapts curriculum to stay innovative while maintaining the principles, ethics and skills necessary to be an effective journalist and communicator. Class sizes are relatively small, and students take ownership of projects with external clients and partner news networks to gain unique experiences that prepare them for careers in today’s media industry.
The College is also known for its innovative course delivery, both in-person and online, and ability to build community in the classroom and beyond. In all programs at Reed College of Media, students learn by doing. They use the latest digital media technologies to produce professional stories and projects that get published and shared with audiences across the country.
Reed College of Media administration believes in a robust, independent media is fundamental to a democratic society in which individuals are empowered as critical thinkers, creative problem-solvers and engaged citizens. Students, faculty and staff are expected to use their communications skills and expertise to help our communities adapt and thrive in a complex global society. There is a clear mission to aspire to be a catalyst for positive change in the region and a national leader in modern media education.
At WVU, students learn how to create and share stories across a variety of media platforms. They master skills in writing, video, photography and even augmented and virtual reality. They practice deciphering the truth in a world of information overload. And in the end, they have a strong portfolio of real-world projects and a skill set that will take them anywhere they want to go – whether that’s the newsroom, private industry or the nonprofit world.
Students in the Advertising and Public Relations major choose an area of emphasis in one of those areas. Throughout the program, students learn to build, plan and execute communications campaigns that help companies thrive and create positive change in society. They plan events, build relationships with key publics and produce media messages that influence others and inspire action.
Advertising students learn how to research audiences and influence them in creative ways through different types of media including print, digital ads and social media. In 2011, the College established Martin Hall Agency, a student-led and student-run advertising and marketing agency that creates comprehensive integrated marketing communications plans for professional clients like Mon Valley Habitat for Humanity and Morgantown BOPARC.
Public Relations students learn how to create and communicate strategic messages and campaigns that enhance an organization’s relationship with the community. At WVU, PR students work with a variety of non-profit organizations and West Virginia communities. In 2015, the College was awarded a grant to launch BrandJRNY, a project aimed at revitalizing West Virginia communities through integrated branding efforts and creative strategy. Through BrandJRNY, students have embedded themselves in communities including Matewan, Grafton, Whitesville, Pineville and Point Pleasant to learn about the history and culture and develop a plan and creative deliverables to help increase tourism, improve economic development and boost community pride. Learn more about BrandJRNY at www.brandjrny.com.
Students majoring in journalism learn how to write, produce and aggregate content across all media platforms — print, broadcast, digital and mobile. They engage modern audiences through social media and the latest interactive tools, and they develop real-world projects, products and apps designed to advance the journalism industry and their careers. Journalism alumni have the skills to take them anywhere they want to go — from newsrooms to private industry to the nonprofit world.
Broadcast inclined students get hands-on experience through WVU News (mediacollegenewscast.wvu.edu), the College’s award-winning, student produced newscast which airs statewide on West Virginia Public Broadcasting and on Time Warner Cable. WVU News students report, write, shoot and edit television news stories and serve as on-air anchors, producers, directors and technical crew during newscast tapings at WVU’s professional television studio. In 2015, WVU News won a national first place Emmy from the Television Academy for best college newscast in America. And in 2017, the Broadcast Education Association awarded WVU News first place in the Television Newscast category for top college newscast in the country.
Students also have the opportunity to work with 100 Days in Appalachia (www.100daysinappalachia.com), an independent, nonprofit national news outlet incubated at the Media Innovation Center and published by the WVU Reed College of Media in collaboration with West Virginia Public Broadcasting and The Daily Yonder of the Center for Rural Strategies in Kentucky. 100 Days has an open-source, co-publishing model and shares content from Appalachia’s diverse communities with regional, national and international media organizations.
The Interactive Design for Media major is perfect for students interested in using graphics, animation, images, video, audio and mobile apps to tell captivating stories. This program combines courses in journalism and strategic communication, art and design and coding to provide students with the creative and analytical skills to evolve with a media industry that is rapidly changing. There is a growing demand for interactive audiovisual media experiences, mobile application and video game production. Students in this program are exposed to innovations in digital media to create visually stunning and timely interactive experiences. Labs are equipped with Adobe Creative Suite, 360-degree video, augmented and virtual reality and the latest technologies on the market. The College’s expert faculty train students on how to use them, instilling a confidence to embrace new technologies as they arise.
The Sports and Adventure Media major is the only one of its kind in the country. From snowboarding to football, America’s appetite for sports is insatiable. Fans want information fast and on-the-go, and employers are looking for professional communicators with specialized skills to handle the demand. Students in this major decide between the sports and adventure track. They take a combination of coursework that includes media and sports science classes and build skills specifically in storytelling and audience engagement, while learning the fundamental journalism principles and media ethics. Students have full access to modern facilities and skills-based courses to gain real-world, tangible experience as well as access to the latest digital technology and opportunities in audio and video production.
Outside the classroom, students receive hands-on, practical experience through the College’s partnership with ESPNU. “Campus Connection” allows young journalists to work with broadcast news sports’ professionals and showcase their work on various platforms associated with ESPNU. In addition, students engage in professional field experiences like whitewater rafting, rock climbing and mountain biking.
In addition to supporting students throughout their college experience and preparing them for a fulfilling career, Reed College of Media puts heavy emphasis on encouraging students to follow their passions and do work that has purpose. Students are encouraged to get involved in the wide array of media organizations and publications as early as their first semester on campus. Experiences outside of the classroom and internships are just as important as building a portfolio in the classroom. And the network of more than 8,000 engaged alumni help make these opportunities possible.
Reed College of Media’s alumni work in top news organizations and communication agencies around the world, leading the industry and transforming the media landscape. They are a constant source of valuable information regarding the future of the industry and how the College can prepare students for it. Many alums work closely with the College’s full-time director of careers and opportunities to hire students for internships or full-time employment.
Reed College of Media graduates are highly marketable and can find work in advertising and public relations agencies, newspaper, radio, and television stations, corporate communications, the sports industry, nonprofit organizations and government.
For more information about the WVU Reed College of Media, visit mediacollege.wvu.edu and follow @wvumediacollege.