Multimedia Journalism


Journalists are explorers who witness the world. They also share it. At SAU, you'll learn the art of balancing facts, perspective, and personal stories.

You'll build your ethics and creativity and gain the ability to inform readers and viewers in a thought-provoking manner. SAUtv, KALA radio, and The Buzz student newspaper give you hands-on opportunities to build your writing and technical skills. Start making your mark in journalism now.

Our students work at Freemont (Neb.) Tribune, NerdWerks, TownNews.com, WNWO-TV, Nickelodeon, CCTV America, and many others.


Ambrose Advantages

  • Learn by Doing: SAUtv and The Buzz newspaper
  • State-of-the-Art Technical Equipment
  • Faculty Who Teach & Mentor

student in radio booth

Student with Laptop outside

students working outside with laptops

Be inquisitive. Ask questions. Collect answers. Then share your dedication to the truth with the world. Through SAUtv and The Buzz student newspaper, you can inform readers and viewers about events, words, and actions that impact their lives, and those of people across the world. Be guided by faculty who are dedicated to helping you become an ethical, creative journalist.

see our fact sheet on the multimedia journalism major


SAUtv

SAUtv
Be part of the show

SAUtv is the home of the student-produced and award-winning news program, SAU Weekly. You can also catch the latest action from our Fighting Bees in our weekly sports show Inside SAU Athletics, which features game highlights and interviews with coaches and players.

Check out the SAUtv 'SAU Weekly' broadcasts


More Information on the Multimedia Journalism Major

What will I learn?

There are so many ways to share information and our Multimedia Journalism majors gain skills in them all. You'll learn to write news stories, in-depth features, sports, and advertising for print, radio, TV, and digital media.

You'll take courses in media law; build research skills; practice interviewing techniques; and learn to operate the technologies used in the field today.

What are some of my unique learning opportunities?

On-Campus Radio, TV Station, and Newspaper
We don't want you to sit still. Instead, we encourage you to explore the field of journalism, and here is your chance through our multimedia outlets: 

  • The Buzz is SAU's student newspaper. Join the staff and help choose content, report and edit stories, design and layout pages, take photos, and sell and design advertising.
  • SAUtv is the home of the student-produced and award-winning news program, SAU Weekly. You can also catch the latest action from our Fighting Bees in our weekly sports show Inside SAU Athletics, which features game highlights and interviews with coaches and players. Check out the SAUtv YouTube Channel.
  • KALA Radio broadcasts 24/7 on 88.5 and 106.1 FM, featuring everything from blues to gospel to urban to rock. The Stinger is an online-only radio station featuring pop, alternative, and country music. At SAU, you can choose the shows, music, edit news specials, volunteer at community events, and broadcast live sporting events.

Internships
Intern and you get marketable experience, learn from professionals, and network with your future colleagues. Our Career Center and Communication Department faculty have deep connections in media which give you so many opportunities to learn in the field.

  • Journalism students have interned with local NBC, ABC, CBS, and FOX affiliates, and newspapers including the Quad-City Times and The Dispatch/Rock Island Argus.
  • Radio and Television majors have interned with local NBC, CBS, ABC, and FOX affiliates, and with many area radio stations.
What are my career opportunities?

Our graduates are successful writers, reporters, and editors with newspapers, magazines, non-profit organizations, corporate communication departments and creative agencies.

Others built careers in closely-related fields such as advertising and public relations. Some have landed careers in political communications and public affairs.

Our multimedia journalism major can be a first step to graduate study in communication, business administration, public administration, law and more.

What have alumni of this program done?
  • Charles Hart ‘22 is a Reporter/Anchor for WQAD News 8.
  • Katie Link ‘22 is a Communications Specialist for Cottingham & Butler.
Faculty and Staff

Jim Baumann, PhD, Professor and Chair

Brett Billman, PhD, Assoc. Professor
Marianne Fenn, PhD, Assoc. Professor
Liz Lareau, MS, Lecturer

Communication Center/SAUtv and KALA Radio Staff and Instructors
Greg Armstrong, SAUtv Operations
Dave Baker, KALA Operations Manager
Jordan Franks, Production Specialist

Degree Requirements

Bachelor of Arts in Multimedia Journalism (43 credits)

All courses are 3 credits unless otherwise noted.

View courses and descriptions in the online course catalog

Required:
+ENGL 101 English Composition
COMM 224 Digital Media Production, 4 credits
COMM 230 Media Writing
+COMM 232 Media & Society
COMM 305 Media Theory & Ethics
COMM 326 Communication & Technology
COMM 332 The Buzz Student Newspaper
COMM 333 Digital Media Writing
COMM 340 Global Communication
COMM 337 Digital Media Practicum
COMM 432 Media Law
COMM 499 Internship
AD 240 Designing Data

One of the following:
ENGL 315 Written Business Communication
ENGL 316 Expository Writing Workshop
ENGL 317 Creative Writing Workshop
ENGL 319 Writing About Place
ENGL 320 Writing Topics

C+ Average required throughout the major.

Multimedia Journalism Minor (21 credits)

Required:
ENGL 101 English Composition
COMM 230 Media Writing
COMM 232 Media & Society
COMM 332 The Buzz
COMM 333 Digital Media Writing
COMM 432 Media Law
AD 240 Designing Data

Communication Studies Minor (15 credits)

Required:
COMM 203 Interpersonal Communication
COMM 232 Media and Society
COMM 326 Communication and Technology
COMM 340 Global Communication
COMM 327 Organizational Communication OR COMM 361 Topics in Strategic Communication

Plan to Graduate

This is the suggested plan of study to graduate in four years with a degree in Multimedia Journalism. Current students should use MySAU Portal Student Planning and consult with an advisor to determine graduation requirements.

This plan assumes the student has not taken three years of foreign language in high school. Check the online course catalog for prerequisites.

Year One

FallCreditSpringCredit
+COMM 232 Media and Society  3 COMM 230 Media Writing 3
ENGL 101 Composition 3 Humanities 3
Oral Communication 3 COMM 224 Digital Media Production 4
Foreign Language 101 3 Theology or Philosophy 3
NSS 101 New Student Seminar 1 Foreign Language 102 3
Wellness Concepts 1 Information Literacy 1
Total Credits 14 Total Credits 17

Year Two

FallCreditSpringCredit
COMM 332 The Buzz 1 Electives 6
STBE 137 Quantitative Reasoning in Business 3 COMM 332 The Buzz 1
Social Science 3 THEO/PHIL 3
Humanities 3 Natural Science 3
Elective 3 Creative Arts 2-3
KIN Activity 1-2
Total Credits 14-15 Total Credits 15-16

Year Three

FallCreditSpringCredit
COMM 333 Digital Media Writing 3 COMM 337 Digital Media Practicum 3
COMM 326 Communication and Technology 3 Elective 3
COMM 332 The Buzz 1 COMM 340 Global Communication 3
Social Science 3 ENGL 315, 316, 317, 319, or 320 3
Humanities 3 THEO/PHIL 3
Elective 3
Total Credits 16 Total Credits 15

Year Four

FallCreditSpringCredit
COMM 305 Media Theory and Ethics 3 COMM 499 Internship 3
Electives 9 Theology or Philosophy (300-400 level) 3
Electives 6
COMM 432 Media Law 3
Total Credits 12 Total Credits 15

+satisfies a general education requirement

Scholarships and Grants

First-Year

St. Ambrose offers excellent scholarships and grants, work-study and other financial aid options! Full-time students may be eligible based on your strong academic performance in college, your talent in fine arts or athletics or your demonstrated financial need as determined by the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The SAU school code for the FAFSA is 001889.

First-Year Scholarships and Institutional Aid 2024-2025

ON CAMPUS
Merit-Based Scholarships

4.0 GPA: $24,000
3.75-3.99 GPA: $22,000
3.0-3.749 GPA: $20,000
2.5-2.99 GPA: $18,000
2.0-2.49 GPA: $14,000
If GPA is 2.0-2.49, additional documents and review required for admission.

OFF CAMPUS
Merit-Based Scholarships

4.o GPA: $17,000
3.75-3.99 GPA: $16,000
3.0-3.749 GPA: $15,000
2.5-2.99 GPA: $14,000
2.0-2.49 GPA: $13,000
If GPA is 2.0-2.49, additional documents and review required for admission.

ADDITIONAL INSTITUTIONAL AID

Ambrose Advantage Full-Tuition Scholarship
Pell-eligible Iowa residents, learn more here

Fr. Welch Alumni Scholarship: $500 per year
Parent is a St. Ambrose graduate

Catholic Traditions Scholarship: $1,000 per year
Students with Catholic religious denomination or plans to graduate from Catholic high school 

Minority Scholarship: $500 per year
Ethnically diverse student

Athletic Scholarships: varies
Performance and ability

Fine Arts Scholarships: varies
Performance and ability in music, art and theatre

Faith Learning Justice Campus Ministry Scholarships: $2,000 per year
Recognition of involvement in church and community service and interest in strengthening faith and growing as a leader in campus ministry

Scholarships are determined by unweighted GPA, and are renewable for four years of undergraduate student. Increases in scholarship awards due to change in GPA will be reviewed until March 1.

State and Federal Grants, Work Study

Grants are money that you don't repay, and they can come from government or private sources. SAU receives all financial aid funds directly - including loans and grants - then applies them to your account: once in the fall term and once in the spring term. Grants can be used to cover your tuition, books, and housing costs. You must apply for grants each academic year. If you have any loan funds in excess of your costs, you may receive a refund. If you are a first-time borrower, there is a 30-day hold on your first disbursement. For all of these grants, you must complete the Free Application Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) as soon as it is available.


Iowa Tuition Grant
To be eligible for the Iowa Tuition Grant, you must be a resident of Iowa as defined by the State Board of Regents and currently enrolled or planning to enroll in an undergraduate degree program at an eligible Iowa college or university (SAU is eligible). Iowa College Aid administers need-based college financial aid for Iowans, such as the Iowa Tuition Grant.
Award: $7,500 maximum

Federal Pell Grant
Awarded to students of the highest need based on how much your family can contribute to your education. The U.S. Department of Education sets a threshold. Then, when you file your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), it computes where you land within that threshold and determines if you qualify for the grant and for how much.
Award: $6,895 maximum

Federal Supplemental Education Opportunity Grant (FSEOG)
You must file a FAFSA to qualify for a Pell Grant. This grant is awarded on a first-come, first-served basis to students who have submitted all required documents for review and in time for the review to be complete. If you are eligible for a Pell Grant or SEOG, the awards will appear on your financial aid award letter.
Award: $400 maximum

Federal Work Study
Must secure campus employment.
Award: $2,560

Federal Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education (TEACH) Grant 
Provides aid to students intending to teach in a high-need field at a school that serves low-income families (as determined by the U.S. Department of Education or a state education agency). Review criteria and all details here.
Award: up to $4,000

Outside Scholarships

There are many opportunities to receive scholarships from outside sources, here are a few websites to begin researching your options:

Another tip: Next time you're on campus, check out the bulletin board outside Student Financial Services where we post more flyers and applications for outside scholarships.


Shelby Steger '15


Shelby graduated in 2015 with a bachelor's degree in Communications and Journalism. She currently works at HON in Muscatine, Iowa, as a recruiter.

Read Shelby's story
Shelby Steger mobile headshot Shelby Steger headshot

Shelby Steger

Bachelor of Arts in Communication and Multimedia Journalism,Class of 2015


An internship can reaffirm a career passion or challenge a student to consider another direction – as was the case for Shelby. While she was hands-on working in broadcast journalism, she discovered it was not the career she wanted. She refocused her efforts and discovered a new field that perfectly fit her education and goals. Today, Shelby is the Human Resources Coordinator for BITCO Insurance Companies in Davenport, Iowa.

See My Story

Apply Visit Info

Contact


Marianne Fenn, PhD, Chairperson

Communication Department
Galvin Fine Arts Center, Office 42
518 W. Locust St.
Davenport, IA 52803
563-333-6074
FennMarianneE@sau.edu

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