College of Mass Communication & Media Arts

Departments and Programs

The College of Mass Communication and Media Arts (CMCMA) is located on the campus of Southern Illinois University Carbondale and was established in 1993. The CMCMA has three programs of undergraduate study including the Department of Cinema & Photography, the Department of Radio-Television, and the School of Journalism. The Department of Cinema & Photography and Radio-Television award a Bachelor of Arts degree and the School of Journalism awards a Bachelor of Science degree.

The CMCMA also offers four graduate programs:(MA

Master of Arts (postgraduate)

A Master of Arts from the Latin Magister Artium, is a type of Master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The M.A. is usually contrasted with the M.S. or M.Sc. degrees...

, MS

Master's degree

A master's is an academic degree granted to individuals who have undergone study demonstrating a mastery or high-order overview of a specific field of study or area of professional practice...

, MFA

Master of Fine Arts

A Master of Fine Arts is a graduate degree typically requiring 2–3 years of postgraduate study beyond the bachelor's degree , although the term of study will vary by country or by university. The MFA is usually awarded in visual arts, creative writing, filmmaking, dance, or theatre/performing arts...

, and a PhD Program

Doctor of Philosophy

Doctor of Philosophy, abbreviated as Ph.D., PhD, D.Phil., or DPhil , in English-speaking countries, is a postgraduate academic degree awarded by universities...

).

WSIU Public Broadcasting, an NPR affiliate, is also housed with in the CMCMA.

Student Involvement

MCMA is also home to The Daily Egyptian, a student-run newspaper published five times a week on printing presses located within the School of Journalism. Other student-run productions include alt.news 26:46

Alt.news 26:46

alt.news 26:46 is a student-run television program from the College of Mass Communication & Media Arts at Southern Illinois University Carbondale that airs on the University's PBS member station, WSIU. This half hour magazine-style TV program has won national acclaim by capturing twenty-two...

, which is a magazine-style news show, and the River Region Evening Edition, which airs on the CMCMA's PBS affiliate, WSIU

WSIU-TV

WSIU-TV digital channel 8 is a PBS member station based and located in Carbondale, Illinois, at Southern Illinois University. Programming can also be seen on WUSI-TV digital channel 19 in Olney, Illinois, a translator. Both stations serve the extreme southern part of Illinois and portions of...

Facilities

The College has production facilities which include two television studios, a sound stage, audio and video post production labs, the Norm Pattiz Audio Lab, and the New Media Center.

Global Media Research Center

The Global Media Research Center (GMRC) functions as the branch of CMCMA dealing with global media communication studies and arts and was founded in 2004 by Professor John DH Downing

John DH Downing

John D. H. Downing is a communications scholar who has written extensively on Alternative Media and Social Movements. He is Professor Emeritus of International Communication at the College of Mass Communication and Media Arts, Southern Illinois University and currently affiliated to the Information...

. Within the CMCMA, its faculty comprises social scientists, critical theorists, and arts practitioners whose work encourages thoughtful reflection and action on the centrality of global media in contemporary societies. The Center is also the institutional extension for the greater SIUC faculty whose interests in globally focused research and creative practice are enriched by the Center's interdisciplinary focus.

The GMRC:

•maintains dialogue among researchers, artists, activists, and media industry professionals on global communication issues

•creates a site for rich intellectual exchange among faculty, graduate and undergraduate students

•supports cutting-edge research and discussion of all aspects of global media studies and arts

•collaborates inside SIUC and externally with other institutions and individuals

The GMRC is unique in advancing work through:

•various research and performance approaches

•a wide range of media sites and forms

•the study of phenomena that are central to global life

Big Muddy Film Festival

The Big Muddy Film Festival was first held at SIUC in the Spring of 1979 and continues to be held annually at the University. It has about 150- 300 entries per year that come from all 50 states as well as many international entries. It creates community engagement and fosters international communication about cinema as an art form.

Notable alumni

William P. Livek, CEO, Rentrak Corporation
Donald A. Stork, Former President, Advancers, St. Louis
Dennis Lyle, President/CEO, Illinois Broadcasters Association
Arthur Weise, Former Vice President, Corporate Communications, Entergy Corporation
Craig Sinclair, CEO, The Sinclair Group, Inc.
Nyhl Henson, CEO, National Lampoon
Christopher "Chris" Wilson, President of National Linear Television, Rentrak Corporation
Judith Roales, former newspaper publisher
Jim Bittermann
Jim Bittermann
- Career :Bittermann graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree from Southern Illinois University in 1970 and began in print journalism from 1969 to 1970 as a reporter for the Waukegan News-Sun in Waukegan, Illinois. His television career began at WTMJ-TV in Milwaukee from 1970 to 1972...

, Senior CNN European correspondent based in Paris
Randy A. Daniels, Vice Chairman, Gilford Securities
Jackie Spinner
Jackie Spinner
Jackie Spinner is an American journalist who worked for The Washington Post from 1995 to 2009.Spinner grew up in Illinois, the daughter of a pipe fitter and a schoolteacher...

, Instructor, Georgetown University
Liz Ralston, Academy Award winner in the Hollywood film industry's visual effects business
Robert K. Weiss
Robert K. Weiss
Robert K. Weiss is an American film and television producer. His productions include films by director John Landis, producer Lorne Michaels, and the “Z. A. Z.” team of Jim Abrahams, David Zucker, and Jerry Zucker. He also co-created the science-fiction TV series Sliders...

, major American film and television producer
Milcho Manchevski, feature film director, whose film "Dust" won the Golden Lion at Venice International Film Festival
Steve James
Steve James
Steve James may refer to:* Steve James , American actor* Steve James , Welsh contemporary Christian musician* Steve James , English cricketer and journalist* Steve James , English football player...

, independent documentary filmmaker, whose credits include the Oscar-nominated, "Hoop Dreams"
Dr. Georgette Wang, Chair Professor and former dean, Hong Kong Bapitst University
Kurt Miche, President and CEO KNPB Channels
Tom Blomquist, Lecturer California State University
Joe Swanberg
Joe Swanberg
Joe Swanberg is an American independent filmmaker. He is a member of the "Mumblecore" movement. His films include Kissing on the Mouth , LOL , Hannah Takes the Stairs , Nights and Weekends and Alexander the Last...

, Owner of www.filmbrats.com
Hilla Medalia, Producer EJH, Productions
Steven Poster President, International Cinematographers Guild
James Chressanthis , Director/Cinematographer