New major joins revised Corporate Communication and Intercultural Communication majors

Dana College is proud to announce that it will begin offering a Community Journalism major starting with the 2005–06 academic year. The new major is part of an overhaul of Dana’s Communication Department offerings. The changes will also bring a new focus to the Organizational Communication major — now to be called Corporate Communication — and modifications to the Intercultural Communication major and the emphases offered to majors.

Community or “grassroots” journalism is characterized by intensely local-first coverage. The term frequently applies to journalism by newspapers with circulations of less than 50,000 that focus on service to their communities. Expected career routes for Dana graduates with this major include editor, reporter, broadcaster, script writer, technical writer, newsletter production, public information office, press secretary and interviewer.

“Our research into this area shows that community journalism will be the next hot thing,” said Dr. Kate Joeckel, associate professor of communication. “This emphasis fits well for Dana because of our tradition of training the community leaders of the future.”

Community Journalism majors may select to emphasize in Visual and Broadcast Media, Design or Writing.

Dana’s Organizational Communication major will also be undergoing changes. To help incoming and current students better understand the focus of the major, it will now be called Corporate Communication. Students will still receive excellent instruction in theory and real-world experience through internships and practicums, but changes have been made to sharpen the focus of the major and enhance its marketablity for graduates. Corporate Communication majors will be able to choose from three new areas of emphasis: Business, Global Commerce and Media Relations.

These new areas of emphasis will also be available to Dana’s Intercultural Communication majors, who participate in an emerging area of study at Dana. The Intercultural Communication major reflects the growing need by employers for graduates who can not only communicate effectively within the mainstream American culture, but understand the communication patterns and expectations of minority populations and foreign populations.

“I’m excited about offering these majors in growing communication fields,” Joeckel said. “The programs are innovative and responsive to the market. Employers consistently report that they are looking for people with strong writing and speaking abilities. Teamwork and interpersonal skills also rank high on their lists of desirable attributes. These are the skills students develop in our programs.”

Dana College is a place where all students make things happen — in their own lives and in the lives of others. Through a highly supportive faculty and campus community, Dana students develop interpersonal skills, leadership abilities, and other important values and knowledge as they make choices about their future. Dana’s outstanding academic programs in business, education and social work, among others, ensure that students have the knowledge, skills and experience necessary to pursue challenging careers or placement in graduate school.

Dana College is a private, liberal arts institution in Blair, Neb. To learn more, visit www.dana.edu.

Dana College: Develop talents, Take charge, Build a future — We’re with you all the way.

— END—

For more information contact: Sarah Cavanah
Communications Coordinator
Dana College
(402) 426-7216
scavanah@dana.edu