College of DuPage Offers New Digital Broadcast Journalism Program

The new Digital Broadcast Journalism degree and certificate program at College of DuPage will prepare students for entry-level jobs as broadcast news journalists, news producers and news production crew.

Recently approved by the Illinois Community College Board, the program will train students for work in television, radio, print media and new media. As part of the curriculum, students will work on a newscast and learn skills in all facets of production, both in front of and behind the camera.

"Technology is constantly changing, and students need to keep up with where news coverage is going," said Jennifer Piehl, Professor of Motion Picture/Television at College of DuPage. "For example, right now news is about what people can access on their phones. So when you do a story, you post it immediately, because people want the news as it happens."

Six new classes have been created to complement existing offerings in Mass Communications and Motion Picture/TV. As part of the program's new capstone course, "Advanced On-Air Broadcasting," students will take what they have learned about writing and reporting, editing, announcing, and producing and create a multitude of broadcasts. These will include the weekly "Courier TV News" and talk shows such as "Chap Life" and "At the MAC."

The curriculum will also discuss such topics as writing a blog and producing videos in corporate or health care settings.

Piehl and her fellow faculty have worked closely with the Technology Center of DuPage and local high schools by providing secondary education in television production and news programming. Many local high schools produce a regular newscast, and she knows the Digital Broadcast Journalism program will attract high school students wanting to continue their work in this field.

"This program is also attractive to returning adults who may have a prior degree and either want to change careers or add a credential that will give them more skills for their current positions," Piehl said. "That's the great thing about this program. You can earn the degree and get into one of the more than 200 smaller job markets around the country. Or you can use the program as a springboard for transfer to earn a bachelor's. There are so many possibilities for students who choose the new Digital Broadcast Journalism program."

For more information about the program, visit www.cod.edu/programs/mptv, call (630) 942-2892 or email glinkeg@cod.edu.