The University of Montevallo’s Mass Communication Program recently hosted its annual Exploring Mass Communication Day, where central Alabama high school students visited Strong Hall for a chance to see all that the program has to offer.
“EMC Day guests got a taste of some key features of our department’s success, including engaging faculty and hands-on experience with industry-leading technology,” said Dr. Ray Ozley, chair of the Department of Communication. “Overall, it’s a wonderful opportunity for future Falcons to experience a day in the life of a UM communication student.”
This year’s event had the largest turnout so far with around 115 students from nine different schools showing up on Sept. 25 to participate in interactive career exploration workshops in TV, digital filmmaking, social media, multimedia journalism and more.
“It gives them an opportunity to see the wide variety of classes that we offer and have one-on-one time with our faculty,” said Dr. Kaley Martin, assistant professor of mass communication. “It really reflects the personality of the program in one day so that they know what to expect if they decide to come to Montevallo.”
In Martin’s session, students got a chance to fly a drone camera outside. Dr. Bruce Finklea, professor and coordinator of the mass communication program, instructed students on capturing videos with their phones, showing them how to produce quality footage on the go in a mobile journalist position. Dr. Samantha Kocan, assistant professor of mass communication, hosted a TikTok newsroom where she showed students how to take news stories and turn them into trending TikTok videos. Dr. Jay Cofield, professor of mass communication and Daniel Vest, instructor and Strong Hall operations manager, showcased all the aspects of working in a studio setting, and students were able to create their own mix of a news show, talk show and sports show. Assistant professor of mass communication Logan Freeman’s session was all about film, lighting and directing, as the program’s new digital filmmaking major is set to launch soon. EMC Day also featured a session showcasing the department’s nationally recognized Communication Studies Program.
“For a while we had been running the same kinds of sessions every year, and this year we really wanted to show something non-traditional in each of our areas of expertise,” Martin said.
Visiting students ended the day with lunch and a tour of campus. Martin said that she hopes their main takeaway was that Montevallo is a place where they could belong and find amazing opportunities in the classroom and after graduation.
“We want them to see that the faculty is close, and the students are close,” Martin said. “We have that small university feel, but that doesn’t limit your opportunities. Our program is very technical and advanced, and we give you all the training that you need.”
This year, the Mass Communication Program was included in the Broadcast Education Association’s Recognition of Institutional Excellence in Media rankings for the first time — UM was featured among the top 100 programs in the nation and was second in the state of Alabama. To learn more about studying mass communication at Montevallo, visit d220149.com/mass-communication.
