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October 21, 2011

New ULM mass comm course puts program ahead of the curve

The University of Louisiana at Monroe's Mass Communication Program recently completed an extensive project to make its concentrations more competitive than ever.

One of the new concentrations is digital media, which addresses many new media issues; one is mobile media and mobile app/website design.

"We are really focusing on what's important in today's standards for mass media communication," said John Rodriguez, assistant professor of communication.

"It's imperative to keep up with the fast pace in which new media and convergent cultures collide."

MCOM 4055, Mobile Media Design, is a brand new course that introduces mass communication students to rich media content creation.

Students are faced with a broad spectrum of information as it pertains to how people consume today's rich media content, especially on their mobile devices.

Students must be able to demonstrate proficiency in mobile app development, mobile video formatting and mobile website design - both experimental and conventional.

"This is a very unique course that sets ULM's mass communication program apart from a lot of the others in the area," continued Rodriguez.

"One of our main goals is to prepare students to be critical thinkers in content manipulation and creation; especially in digital media."

Rodriguez has already started to put digital media theory and practices into action with several student teams in his MCOM 3052 video production class competing to produce ULM's 2011 Homecoming video.

The winning team of Devin Jones, Lauren Guerriero, Adrianna Fitzwater and Brandon Craven produced a 30-second video, which can be seen at www.ulm.edu/homecoming.

This video, as well as the runner-up in the Homecoming Video competition, is also posted at ULM's YouTube channel – www.youtube.com/hawksulm.

Other courses in the digital media concentration include: video production (digital cinema), web media design, electronic media design, and digital photography.

"If a mass communication program isn't including new media message systems, like our mobile media design class, then they are definitely behind the times. It's a challenge to keep up with the pace, but it is also essential to staying relevant."

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