Digital Media Production
If you aspire to produce a TV program, rock the airwaves as a radio personality, or report breaking news for a major network, you'll need the skills, ethics, and drive to navigate an ever-evolving media landscape. At SAU, you get that education, and more. Gain the experience, connections and confidence to master your goals.
Our graduates work at CBS, Big Ten Network, Harpo Productions, KWQC-TV, NBC Olympics, and many other TV and radio outlets.
Ambrose Advantages
- TV and Radio/Streaming Studio on Campus
- Award-Winning Student Journalists
- Get Involved On Day One
- Professors Know Your Name
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We take ethical and determined students and help them master the skills and state-of-the-art technology needed for a career in TV, radio or streaming media. Our faculty embolden creativity and give you freedom to push the status quo. You'll gain the confidence to tackle the wide world of digital media.
See Our Digital Media Production Fact Sheet (pdf)
SAUtv
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SAUtv
With two radio and streaming outlets plus a TV station, the SAU Communication and Digital Media Department gives you plenty of experience – and sets you up for valuable internships – to get started on your broadcasting career.
More Information on the Digital Media Production Program
You'll learn every stage of radio and television production: writing for Radio/TV, media ethics, news broadcasting, and audio production. In other courses, you'll learn about media management and communication law.
With this major, we layer your education. Each year of courses builds on the last. First-year students are encouraged to start with digital media production courses. Then, you'll get hands-on training in operating audio/video equipment and reporting broadcast news.
Larger universities envy St. Ambrose because our radio and television studios are equipped with the same technology used by on-air television and radio stations right now. We want you to learn by doing:
- SAUtv offers programming on education and technology. Students produce a weekly newscast, operate cameras, edit video, broadcast live sporting events, and gain experience as on-air talent. 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. We also have The Stinger, an online-only radio station featuring pop, alternative, and some new country music.
Our faculty push students to be creative, professional, and ethical. Students choose the shows, music, edit news specials, volunteer at community events, and broadcast live sporting events.
Each year SAU students are lauded for great reporting and producing by the Iowa Broadcast News Association, the Midwest Broadcast Journalists Association, and the Intercollegiate Broadcasting System. Read this story about our 2022 winners in broadcasting, and see a list of awards below.
Read the article about the 2022 awards
About the Awards
Midwest Broadcast Journalists Association - Presents awards to the best work done by broadcast news operations and journalists working in small, medium and large markets in the six-state region of Minnesota, Wisconsin, the Dakotas, Iowa and Nebraska.
Intercollegiate Broadcasting System Awards (IBSA) - A national competition honoring the best work among college and high school broadcasters.
MIDWEST BROADCAST JOURNALISM – ERIC SEVAREID AWARDS
Small Market Radio Documentary/Special
- 1st place, KALA - "Bix at 50"
Student Market Radio Sportscast/Program
- 1st place, KALA, Logen Howell - "Move the Chains: Week 2"
Small Market Radio Talk/Public Affairs
- 1st place, KALA - "Relevant or Irrelevant - #416 Long Grove Bank Robbery of 1921"
Student Market Television General Reporting
- Award of Merit, SAUtv, Charles Hart - "Bee'ing the Difference in their Community"
Student Market Television Newscast
- Award of Merit, SAUtv - "Dateline SAU: December 10, 2021"
IOWA BROADCAST NEWS ASSOCIATION - 2021
Student Radio - Play-by-Play
- 1st place, Logen Howell
- 3rd Place, David Meyer
Large Market Public Affairs
- 2nd place, KALA - "Relevant or Irrelevant"
Student TV Sports Coverage
- 3rd place, Charles Hart
Grant Price Scholarship Winner
- Sierra Mari
Elected to the IBNA Board as a Student Member
- David Meyer
The Communication and Digital Media Department at St. Ambrose has been winning awards for many years. Here are a list of awards since 2015.
About the Awards
Midwest Broadcast Journalists Association – Presents awards to the best work done by broadcast news operations and journalists working in small, medium and large markets in the six-state region of Minnesota, Wisconsin, the Dakotas, Iowa and Nebraska.
Intercollegiate Broadcasting System Awards (IBSA) – A national competition honoring the best work among college and high school broadcasters.
2021
Intercollegiate Broadcasting System Awards
Student Radio
- Finalist, Best Political Coverage, Charles Hart & Logen Howell, Bee Election Central PKGs
- Finalist, Best News Feature, Haley Rhoads - "SAU Dance Team adjusts to COVID"
- Finalist, Best Sports Talk Program, Logen Howell & David Meyer - "Unsportsmanlike Conduct: August 26, 2020"
- Winner, Best Radio Drama, St. Ambrose Theatre - "An Enemy of the People"
Midwest Broadcast Journalists Association, Eric Sevareid Awards
Student Radio
- Award of Merit, General Reporting, Charles Hart - "U.S. Election Through Lens of International Students"
- First Place, Newscast, Ryan Sandness - "SAU News This Week: November 6, 2020"
- First Place, Sportscast/Program, Logen Howell & David Meyer - "Unsportsmanlike Conduct: August 26, 2020"
Student Television
- Award of Merit, General Reporting, Charles Hart - "SAU Marching Band Adjust to COVID"
Small Market Radio
- Award of Merit, Documentary/Special, KALA-FM Staff - "Bee Election Central"
- Award of Merit, Talk Public Affairs, Relevant or Irrelevant Staff - "POWs in Iowa 1943-1946"
- Award of Merit, Talk Public Affairs, Relevant or Irrelevant Staff - "Cave Markings: Cherokee Life Before Removal"
Iowa Broadcast News Association Awards
Student Radio
- 1st Place, Sports Coverage, Haley Rhoads - "SAU Dance Team adjusts to COVID"
Student Television
- 3rd Place, Best Newscast, SAUtv
Large Market Radio
- 2nd Place, Public Affairs, Relevant or Irrelevant Staff - "POWs in Iowa 1943-1946"
- Third Place, Public Affairs, Relevant or Irrelevant Staff - "The Nordic Theory of Everything"
- Third place, Political Coverage, KALA-FM Staff - "Bee Election Central"
2020
Midwest Broadcast Journalists Association - Eric Sevareid Awards
Student Radio
- Award of Merit - Best Newscast - Sharon (Adasme) Bentley
- Award of Merit - "Sports Talk Show" - Logan Howell, Brad Burton
Intercollegiate Broadcast System National Awards
Student Radio
- 1st Place - Best Newscast - Sharon (Adasme) Bentley
- Finalist - Best Sports Interview - Logen Howell, Brad Burton
2019
Iowa Broadcast News Association
SAUtv:
- Honorable Mention, Best Newscast - SAUtv Staff
- 2nd Place, Excellence in Anchoring - Natalie Johnson
KALA Student Radio:
- 1st Place, Sports Coverage - Collin Leddy, Brad Burton - "Unsportsmanlike Conduct"
- 2nd Place, Sports Coverage - Collin Leddy & Brad Burton for "Unsportsmanlike Conduct"
- 1st Place, Sports Play-by-Play - Carter Foley
- 1st Place, Best Newscast - Holly Block, Kristin Enright
KALA Large Market Radio:
- 2nd Place, Public Affairs - Don Schneider & Shelby (Shepherd) Leabo for "Veterans Coming Home: Stories of St. Ambrose Student Veterans"
Midwest Broadcast Journalist Association - Eric Sevareid Award Winners
KALA Student Radio:
- Award of Merit, Sportscast/Program - "Unsportsmanlike Conduct 12/5/18"
KALA Small Market Radio:
- 1st Place, Talk/Public Affairs - "Relevant or Irrelevant: Civility in the Political Process"
- Award of Merit, Talk/Public Affairs - "Relevant or Irrelevant: Evangelical Masculinity/Donald Trump"
- Award of Merit, Talk/Public Affairs - "Election Rights: 2018 Midterms"
- Award of Merit, Documentary/Special - "Veterans Coming Home: Stories of St. Ambrose Student Veterans"
2018
Public Affairs
Large Market Radio
- 2nd Place KALA: Don Schneider and Shelby Shepherd, "Veterans Coming Home: Stories of St. Ambrose Student Veterans"
Sports Coverage
Student Radio
- 1st Place: KALA St. Ambrose; Collin Leddy, Brad Burton; "Unsportsmanlike Conduct"
- 2nd Place: KALA St. Ambrose; Collin Leddy, Brad Burton; "Unsportsmanlike Conduct"
Sports Play-by-Play
Student Radio
- 1st place: KALA St. Ambrose, Carter Foley; "Bees Football" Carter Foley
Excellence in Anchoring
Student TV
- 2nd Place: SAUtv, Natalie Johnson
Best Newscast
Student Radio
- 1st Place: KALA St. Ambrose; Holly Brock, Kristen Enright
Student TV
- Honorable Mention: SAUtv; "Dateline SAU" Adam Metzger, Josh Reid
2017
Large Market Radio
- 1st Place, Public Affairs - Relevant or Irrelevant - Jay Swords, Rick Sweet, & David Baker (SAU/KALA Staff Member & Community Volunteers)
- Honorable Mention Public Affairs - "Healing Harmonies: The Story of Charles Harper" - Johnna Kerres (SAU/KALA Staff Member)
Student Market Radio
- 1st Place Sports Play-by-Play - Carter Foley (Sophomore - Davenport, Iowa)
- First Place Best Newscast - "KALA This Week" - Luke Maiers ‘17 (Holy Cross, Iowa) & Storm Bogs ‘17 (Marion, Iowa)
Student Market Television
- 1st Place Overall Excellence in Anchoring - Natalie Johnson (Sophomore - Monmouth, Ill.)
- 1st Place Sports Play-by-Play - Carter Foley (Sophomore - Davenport, Iowa)
- 2nd Place News Photography - "FCA" - Griffin Rasche (Senior - Clinton, Iowa)
- 3rd Place In-Depth/Series - "Everett" - Griffin Rasche (Clinton, Iowa)
- 3rd Place Feature - "A Night to Shine" - Griffin Rasche (Clinton, Iowa)
- 3rd Place General Reporting - "Steve Tappa Fundraiser" - Abbey Nimrick (Johnsburg, Ill.)
- 3rd Place Overall Excellence - "Year in Review" - Abbey Nimrick (Junior - Johnsburg, Ill.), Carter Foley (Sophomore - Davenport, Iowa) & Natalie Johnson (Sophomore - Monmouth, Ill.)
- Honorable Mention Sports Coverage - "Micheal Ohoize" - Dustin Nolan (Senior - Bells, Texas)
2016
KALA - Large Market Radio
- 1st Place - Public Affairs, "Ebony Expressions" - Shellie Moore Guy & David Baker
KALA - Student Market Radio
- 1st Place - Political Coverage, "Election Night" - Amanda Bertolozzi, Storm Bogs, Luke Maiers, Christine La, & Shelby Scott
- 1st Place - Best Newscast - Shelby Scott
- Honorable Mention - Sports Play-by-Play - Luke Maiers
SAUtv - Student Market TV
- Second Place - Best Newscast - SAUtv Staff
- Second Place - News Photography, "Killer Bee"5K - Abbey Nimrick
- Third Place - Overall Excellence in Anchoring - Abbey Nimrick
- Third Place - Sports Coverage - "NAIA Golf Coverage" - Hailey Cook, Abbey Nimrick, Luke Maiers, & Jake Hannon
Former Ambrosians Janelle Tucker (KMCH radio, Manchester, Iowa) and Mike Ortiz '87 (KWQC-TV) again won awards this year from the IBNA.
2015
Student TV
- 1st place Sports Play-By- Play - Mitch Widmeier - Compilation
- 2nd place Overall Excellence - SAUtv Staff - SAUtv Compilation
- 3rd place Political Coverage - Danielle Baresel - Political Debates at Galvin
- 3rd place Sports Coverage - Ryan McEvoy - Ashley Dexter
- 3rd place General Reporting - Shelby Shepherd - Preventing Assault on College Campuses
Student Radio
- 1st place Sports Coverage - Mitch Widmeier - 2014 Sports Coverage Compilation
- 1st place Sports Play-By-Play - Mitch Widmeier - Compilation
- 1st place Best Newscast - Shelby Shepherd & Mitch Widmeier - KALA This Week
Large Market Radio (KALA)
- 1st place Public Affairs - Johnna Kerres, David Baker, Shelby Shepherd, Shelby Steger, Mitch Widmeier, Aly Blech - In Their Own Words: Voices of Our Veterans
- 1st place Best Use of Online Media - Johnna Kerres, David Baker, Shelby Shepherd, Shelby Steger, Mitch Widmeier, Aly Blech - In Their Own Words: Voices of Our Veterans
Large Market Radio (KJOC)
- 3rd place Sports Play-By-Play - Mitch Widmeier - KJOC High School Sports Play-By-Play
Former Ambrosians, Mike Ortiz '87 (KWQC-TV) and Janelle Tucker (KMCH radio), were IBNA award winners as well.
Build your reporting and communications skills. Join The Buzz, SAU's student-run newspaper. You can choose content; report and edit stories; design and layout pages; take pictures; and sell and design advertising.
Create programming that has real impact. For one project, funded in part with a $25,000 Corporation for Public Broadcasting grant, we interviewed veteran students and alumni to share what it was like to transition from the military to civilian life. It was part of a collaborative multi-platform public media project between Wisconsin Public Television and Kindling Group in partnership with local stations, like KALA, in an effort to shed light on veteran issues across the country. Read this story.
Intern and get hands-on, marketable experience. You'll learn from professionals and network with your future colleagues. The Quad Cities has two newspapers, five national TV affiliates, and dozens of radio stations. Our faculty have community connections that link you to internship opportunities.
Radio and Television majors have interned with local NBC, CBS, ABC, and FOX affiliates, and with many area radio stations.
Public Relations and Strategic Communication majors have interned with Quad City Mallards, Genesis Medical Center, The District of Rock Island, Quad City River Bandits, and several advertising and public relations agencies.
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.
The SAU Career Center will help you market yourself as the best candidate. Sign up for a resume review, mock interview, and much more.
Many of our graduates work at TV and radio stations, as on-air talent, producers, directors, photographers, and more. It's rare to find an unemployed Communication graduate.
You'll also find jobs at corporate audio/visual production departments, training centers, or creative agencies.
- Quetzal Morin '18 is with the Chicago Cubs, working its premiere club services and event operations.
- Haley Gibbs '16 was editor-in-chief of The Buzz, an intern at KALA and KWQC-TV, and a top reporter/anchor for SAUtv - all while completing a double major in Journalism and Radio/TV, and a minor in Spanish. A winner of several student awards from the Iowa Broadcast News Association, Haley's education and passion for writing and storytelling led to a position at RealWorld Marketing in Scottsdale, Arizona.
- Kelly Christopher '02 has skills at the camera and a love for sports which have taken him coast to coast. NFL Superbowl? NBA All-Star Game? Major League baseball playoffs? He's been front row (and sometimes on field) at all of them as a freelance camera operator.
- Stephanie (Massick) Alexander '01 is a Public Relations Specialist at Skiff Medical Center. Previously, she worked as a print journalist and copy editor, and as a writer and web designer for a major healthcare provider.
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
View Digital Media Production courses and descriptions in the online course catalog.
Required:
COMM 224 Digital Media Production
COMM 225 Introduction to Visual Communication
COMM 230 Media Writing
COMM 232 Media & Society
COMM 305 Media Theory & Ethics
COMM 334 Digital Media Writing
COMM 335 Techniques in Audio Production
COMM 337 Digital Media Practicum (6 credits)
COMM 339 Broadcast Technologies
COMM 432 Communication Law
COMM 475 Convergent Digital Production
DSGN 200 Intermediate Special Topics: Motion Graphics
C+ Average required throughout the major.
Required:
COMM 224 Digital Media Production, 4 credits
COMM 232 Media and Society
COMM 233 Topics in Communication or COMM 234 Intro to Sports Media
COMM 334 Digital Media Writing
COMM 335 Effective Podcast Production
COMM 337 Digital Media Practicum
Click here to read course descriptions in the online course catalog
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
This is the suggested plan of study to graduate in four years with a degree in Digital Media Production. 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.
Year One
| Fall | Credit | Spring | Credit |
|---|---|---|---|
| COMM 232 Media and Society | 3 | WI-COMM 230 Media Writing | 3 |
| ENGL 101 Composition | 3 | COMM 225 Intro to Visual Comm. | 3 |
| COMM 224 Digital Media Production | 4 | Oral Communication | 3 |
| Foreign Language 101 | 3 | THEO/PHIL | 3 |
| NSS 101 New Student Seminar | 1 | Foreign Language 102 | 3 |
| Wellness Concepts | 1 | Information Literacy | 1 |
| Total Credits | 15 | Total Credits | 16 |
Year Two
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| COMM 335 Effective Podcast Production | 3 | COMM 337 Digital Media Practicum | 3 |
| Quantitative Reasoning | 3 | COMM 233 or COMM 234 | 3 |
| Social Science | 3 | THEO/PHIL | 3 |
| Humanities | 3 | Natural Science | 3 |
| Elective | 3 | Elective | 3 |
| Total Credits | 15 | Total Credits | 15 |
Year Three
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| COMM 337 Digital Media Practicum | 3 | COMM 339 Broadcast Tech | 3 |
| THEO/PHIL | 3 | WI-COMM 432 Media Law | 3 |
| Social Science | 3 | Humanities | 3 |
| Humanities | 3 | Electives | 3 |
| Elective | 3 | COMM 375 | 3 |
| Total Credits | 15 | Total Credits | 15 |
Year Four
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| COMM 305 Media Theory and Ethics | 3 | COMM 475 Convergent Digital Production | 3 |
| COMM 334 Digital Media Writing | 3 | THEO/PHIL (300-400 level) | 3 |
| Creative Arts | 3 | Electives | 9 |
| Electives | 6 | ||
| Total Credits | 15 | Total Credits | 15 |
Note: Some courses need prerequisites, which have been factored into this plan. See the online course catalog for details.
WI writing intensive
Scholarships and Grants
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.
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
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
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.
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)
To qualify, you must file a FAFSA by the priority deadline of March 15 and you must 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
There are many opportunities to receive scholarships from outside sources, here are a few websites to begin researching your options:
- Fastweb
- College Board Scholarship Search
- Scholarships.com
- Peterson's Award Database
- Scholly (app download)
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.
Tim McNicholas '13
"A couple months after graduating, I landed a job doing exactly what I wanted to: reporting the news. Six months later, I was able to jump more than 30 markets and do the same job in a much bigger city. Because of the hands-on experience offered at SAU, I entered my field already familiar with the expectations of a professional journalist."
Read about another Communication Department graduate, Tim Bladel '14.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