Radio, TV, and Digital Media Production

The School of Journalism and Mass Media (JAMM) at the University of Idaho combines engaging classroom learning and real-world training with personal guidance from seasoned faculty to prepare you for a successful career as a professional communicator. With a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) or Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in Radio, Television, and Digital Media Production, you will have the creative and technical skills, broad media knowledge and practical experiences you need to produce and direct news, documentaries, narratives, sports, commercials, entertainment shows and a variety of other digital media program formats.

Through courses and hands-on experiences in digital audio and video, you will learn to incorporate digital technologies and to apply aesthetics (such as composition and lighting) and professional techniques in the preproduction, production and postproduction processes. You also will develop the ability to effectively write and edit for both fiction and nonfiction formats. Courses in literature, theatre, film studies, art, music and philosophy will give you the well-rounded perspective and aesthetic appreciation you need for a career in radio, television and digital media production.

You’ll also receive one-on-one mentorship from faculty experts who know what it takes to succeed in the real world. Your professors draw from years of professional experience in radio, television and digital media production to ensure that you are equipped with the technical skills and knowledge you need for a career in this diverse field.

University of Idaho JAMM students graduate with valuable practical experience – an expectation of future employers. Students work at the student radio station, KUOI-FM. They also use state-of-the-art, high-definition equipment to produce two monthly programs: "Mostly Moscow" and "UI Voices." Seniors produce video projects for the student digital media festival and also operate cameras and serve as production assistants for programs on KUID-TV, part of Idaho Public Television. Students also may work as reporters for Northwest Public Radio.

Additionally, our strong ties to the regional media industry open doors to many excellent internship and job opportunities. Field trips, guest speakers, alumni events and other activities give you the chance to network with practicing professionals from around the world.

Prepare for Success

A career in radio, television and digital media production demands a high level of creativity, as well as the ability to use advanced technologies and equipment. To be successful, you must develop strong critical, analytical and creative writing skills. You should also be able to work under pressure and to meet deadlines. Prepare in high school for the program with courses in writing, film production, drama or speech and other related disciplines. We also encourage you to get involved in your high school student media organizations, such as a newspaper, yearbook, or broadcast station, and to work behind the scenes in musical and theatrical productions.

Your First Year

During your first year in the program, you will complete lower-division media courses required by the School of Journalism and Mass Media (JAMM). All students must successfully complete the following courses with a C grade or better to enroll in upper-division JAMM courses:

• JAMM 100 – Media and Society*
• JAMM 102 – Media Writing*

You will also complete university core requirements, including:

• English 102 – Writing and Rhetoric
• Communication 101 – Public Speaking
• Math (3 credits)
• Science (7-8 credits)
• Core Discovery (a yearlong interdisciplinary course that combines humanities and social sciences, along with valuable study skills)

Four-year plan

*The School of Journalism and Mass Media is part of the College of Letters, Arts, and Social Sciences (CLASS). We encourage students to pursue a minor or second major from other CLASS departments, such as international studies, history, political science or foreign languages. A minor in film studies from the University of Idaho is also an excellent complement to a radio, television, and digital media production degree.

What You Can Do

With a Bachelor of Science or Bachelor of Arts in Radio, Television, and Digital Media Production from the University of Idaho, you’ll be prepared for a wide range of career opportunities. You may become a:

• News anchor/reporter
• Television or radio personality
• Sports broadcaster
• Television producer
• Radio producer
• Camera operator
• Video editor
• Videographer
• Production manager
• Documentary producer or director
• Music video producer
• Film director
• Audio engineer
• Lighting specialist
• Scriptwriter

Opportunities

Thousands of graduates of the School of Journalism and Mass Media have gone on to successful careers in advertising, journalism, photography, public relations, television and film production, and other fields where strong writing skills and the ability to quickly organize information are valued. With a degree in radio, television and digital media production, you may have a career in:

• Radio or television
• Newsrooms
• Cable networks
• Production and postproduction firms
• Corporations
• Manufacturing facilities
• Hospitals
• Professional sports organizations
• Colleges, universities and schools
• Government agencies

Current Research

University of Idaho faculty members in the School of Journalism and Mass Media are recognized nationally and internationally for their work in advertising, journalism, public relations, and radio, television and digital media production. Professional expertise and current research interests include:

• Public radio reporting and broadcasting
• Lighting design for theatrical productions
• Production of documentaries, including a multiyear look at a high school football team, and a collaborative project examining environmental and public health impacts of chemicals released into municipal wastewater treatment plants
• Freedom of the press among Native American tribes
• Research on political reporting, civic journalism, and the relationship between public opinion and public policy
• Marketing, creative, and public relations work for corporate giants such as B.F. Goodrich, Mitsubishi Motors and McGraw-Hill Publishing
• Research on the history of mass media; social and cultural movements; women in the West; and social welfare, labor, and immigration
  
• Community fund-raising and public issue campaigns
• Science writing on outdoors and environmental topics, including the worldwide story on the University of Idaho’s famous first equine clone
• Energy, environmental and financial journalism

Activities

Learn more about your chosen field and gain exposure to real-world media professions by getting involved in the following student groups: 

• Society of Professional Journalists: Allows journalism majors to interact with regional reporters and editors to discuss ethical and professional issues.
• Native American Journalists Association: Open to students from all backgrounds interested in the complexities of reporting about Native American issues.
• Public Relations Club: Invites guest speakers to campus. Gives students opportunities for job shadowing.
• Ad Club: Provides advertising majors the opportunity to visit agencies in Seattle or Portland each spring.

Hands-On Experience

As a student in the School of Journalism and Mass Media, you will have many opportunities to gain the valuable practical experience that you need to jump-start your career after graduation. Hands-on learning opportunities include:

• Radio-TV Center: Develop technical skills and learn firsthand about the television industry at the recently renovated Radio-TV Center, adjacent to the School of Journalism and Mass Media. You’ll gain experience with the industry’s latest equipment and technologies, and have opportunities to assist in producing programs for Northwest Public Radio and Idaho Public Television.
• Internships: On-the-job experience is key to your readiness for the real world. We maintain strong connections to the media industry, which create outstanding opportunities to learn your profession alongside some of the region’s top journalists.
• Senior Capstone: This intense semester-long course gives you a chance to apply your years of professional training and classroom learning to real-life projects. Seniors produce video projects for Moscow Kino, the student digital media festival.          
• Student Media Outlets: Build your professional skills and portfolio by working for a University of Idaho independent student media outlet, including Blot magazine, The Argonaut student newspaper, and KUOI-FM radio.

Online & Outreach

Scripps Howard Multicultural Journalism Workshop: A free weeklong workshop designed to help high school students and recent graduates from the West learn more about the news business. Participants work with University of Idaho journalism faculty and practicing professionals to write newspaper stories, produce radio news reports, and appear in a TV news program.

Faculty Involvement

The School of Journalism and Mass Media (JAMM) prides itself on its advisers and mentors. Faculty members hold extended office hours and work closely with student clubs and organized off-campus field trips. All skills classes (reporting, editing and production) are capped at 20 students, allowing plenty of personal attention.