Multimedia Journalism Major | Classroom and Practical Work | Harding

Designed to prepare students to engage professionally with a diverse media landscape

The Bachelor of Arts degree in Multimedia Journalism is designed to prepare students to engage professionally with a diverse media landscape. Students can choose the focus that aligns with their interests, which includes broadcast, news-editorial, photojournalism and sports, while also taking classes that allow for a broad understanding of the field as a whole.

Our facilities are part of the Donald M. Reynolds Center for Music and Communication and feature a nationally recognized cable television station, as well as two radio stations that operate around the clock. These platforms, along with The Bison newspaper, Petit Jean yearbook, and a variety of student podcast productions, have garnered numerous awards and are accessible via our digital platform, The Link.

Many positions within our student media organizations are paid roles or include scholarship opportunities. We pride ourselves on garnering national and regional awards from industry and academic organizations. Our faculty members and alumni are seasoned media professionals who have received prestigious awards such as Emmys and Peabodys. Because of our access to these individuals, our graduates enter their careers with real-world skills and a robust alumni network that makes them highly employable.

Completing an internship is a requirement for Multimedia Journalism majors. This experience ensures that our students work with industry professionals. Our students have completed internships at local media outlets in their hometowns and major national (or international) organizations like Fox News, CNN, NPR, The New York Times and NBC's Today Show.

Multimedia Journalism program

Jobs, publications and on-campus work opportunities

There are multiple work-study opportunities depending on your media interests.

HU16: Our live weekday newscast is staffed by student producers, writers, directors, operators, on-air talent and others. Some positions are paid hourly, some are covered by scholarships and others are given course credit. Applications and auditions for the newscast are held at the beginning of each semester. Those interested in participating should contact our News Director Mr. Noah Darnell.

Harding Sports Network: Our live sports production team produces around 150 live sporting events on campus during the academic year and hires students for positions including operating cameras and directing the game productions. On-camera opportunities are available for sideline reporting for football and conducting players and coaches interviews for each sport that is broadcast on Harding Sports Network. Students also produce sports content for social media including the HU16/Harding Sports Network Instagram account. Those interested in participating should contact our Director of Sports Programming Mr. Mark Prior.

Student Publications: Our student publications hire editors-in-chiefs, page editors, copy editors, online editors, photographers, graphic designers, and business managers for The Bison newspaper, Petit Jean yearbook and digital production team. Applications for these positions are available in the spring semester for the following year. Students are paid through scholarships. Course credit is also available. For more information, contact Student Publications Adviser April Fatula.

Additional student opportunities in the department include working in the department’s equipment checkout room, assisting the TV station’s studio manager, contributing to live productions for sports and other streamed events, and overseeing radio announcers on our FCC-licensed radio stations, KVHU 95.3 FM and AM 1660. Those interested in technical positions at the TV station should contact the HU16 General Manager Mark Prior. Those interested in positions in the radio stations should contact the KVHU General Manager Dr. Dutch Hoggatt.

Learning opportunities outside the classroom

Awards and honors earned by students

Broadcast

Society of Professional Journalists (Region 12) Mark of Excellence Award for HU16 News Election Special, 2019

Southeast Journalism Conference Award for Best College TV Station (2nd place), 2019

Broadcast Education Association’s Festival of Media Arts Award for Best College Television Newscast (2nd place), 2018

Mid-America Emmy Crystal Pillar Student Award, Long-Form Nonfiction Television Programming for HU16 Breaking News Tornado Warning Live Coverage, 2017

Harding Sports Network

National Broadcasting Association-Finalist Live Sports Production for basketball play-by-play, Jackson Duncan, 2019

South Central Broadcasting Society "Sports Program Grand Prize" for the "Chasing the Herd" Show, 2017

South Central Broadcasting Society- Finalist/TV Program for Chasing the Herd. Finalist/Television Talent, Abby Loring, anchor for Chasing the Herd, 2018

South Central Broadcasting Society Grand Prize for "Informational Video" for Harding University Softball, 2015

Student Publications

Student Publications editors attended the 2019 Associated Collegiate Press/College Media Association National College Media Convention in Washington, D.C. and received Best of Show Awards for Shockwave Radio Digital Team, The Bison and Petit Jean.

In addition to a number of awards for individual staff members, The Bison won Third Best College Newspaper in the 2020 Best of the South competition at the Southeast Journalism Conference. Other Best of the South awards went to the following Bison staff members:

10th best news writer - Emily Nicks
2nd best arts and entertainment writer - Danielle Turner
10th best press photographer - Ryann Heim
3rd best news graphic designer - Darrian Bagley
2nd best journalism research paper - Hannah Wise

Bison staff members also won the following awards in the on-site competition:

1st feature writing - Emily Nicks
2nd op-ed - Danielle Turner
1st page layout and design - Darrian Bagley
Tied for 4th as On-Site Journalism Championship team

Student Publications editors Emma Aly (Petit Jean), Emily Nicks (The Bison) and Hannah Wise (Shockwave Radio) attended the annual 2020 College Media Association conference in New York City. The winners of the 2020 David L. Adams Apple Awards contest included The Bison in third place for Best Newspaper, and Shockwave Radio in third place for Best Podcast.

Student Publications received more than 70 awards from the Arkansas College Media Association’s 2020 College Media Contest, including second place overall in general excellence for The Bison and Petit Jean.