New degree crosses disciplines

Recent trends and technology prompted the media communications department at this college to create a media convergence degree last fall.

"Media convergence means the traditional forms of media and the newer forms of media are merging, forming a new hybrid media," said Markene Bennett, coordinator of radio-television-broadcasting in the media communications department. "President Robert Zeigler and Dr. Jessica Howard, vice president of academic affairs, encouraged us to develop a new degree option in order to better meet the needs of the industry," Bennett said.

"This program is more interdisciplinary, offering courses not only from radio-television-video-broadcasting but also journalism, photography, digital design, computer information systems, theater and speech," she said.

The idea for this degree option was conceived when an advisory committee of Mark Landis, Jeff T. Hinson and other local media experts met with Zeigler, Howard and Bennett Jan. 29, 2009, to discuss the changing field of media. Landis is vice president of English language programming for Border Media, where Hinson is CEO and president. Border Media is a Texas-based company that owns nearly 30 radio stations in the Waco, Austin, San Antonio, Laredo and Rio Grande Valley markets.

Jack-FM 102.7 (KJXK) is one of seven Border Media stations in San Antonio.

Landis and Hinson introduced their concept for a comprehensive mixed-media Web site during the meeting last year and asked if this college had students capable of producing a variety of media work.

"Their idea was to develop a cross between a regular radio station Web site and YouTube," Bennett said. "They wanted bilingual people who can write, speak, produce audio and design Web pages."

The degree plan, which leads to an associate of applied science in media convergence and production, was approved July 2009. The program has fewer than 30 students currently, and the committee is working on the development of new courses, she said. "The discussion grew about radio and how employees in the media need to know so much more than just radio and audio," Bennett said.

Howard said during an interview Feb. 5 that Border Media Partners "let us know what they are looking for in prospective employees."

"People proficient in online social media networks, one-person production, as well as acting, speaking and camera skills are in need," Howard said.

The media convergence degree option offers additional electives as well as a larger variety of required courses than the traditional RTF program. Aaron Nielsen, media convergence freshman and transfer student from McMaster University in Ontario, Canada, commented Feb. 2 on the relatively small class sizes of this program, saying it "can be more nerve-wracking but more focused than classes at a large university." "The eclectic, jigsaw-puzzle approach to this program at first seemed scattered and without focus, but I think it has the potential to prepare students for the rapidly changing field of electronic media," Nielsen said. For more information, call Bennett at 486-1363.