Digital Media is a specialization in the communication major, which is compatible with minors in many other fields. In Digital Media, students learn by doing. Most of our digital media courses meet in Media Labs and stress active learning in tutorials, workshops, and projects.
Digital Media students examine a wide range of communication processes used by corporations, noprofit organizations, and the government. The Internet and computer-based communication generally have emerged as the most dynamic new media of this generation. Students who specialize in Digital Media prepare themselves for leadership roles in applying the computer technologies in a broad range of areas including journalism, creative storytelling, corporate Web sites, and online advertising. Students can take courses in video production and animation, audio production, Web publishing, interactive media design, and publication design, as well as in the social and cultural impact of the Web, personal communication devices such as cell phones and media players, and social marketing networks.
Faculty members include journalists, advertising and public relations professionals, documentary filmmakers, radio professionals, and Web site developers. Visiting faculty include Mark Bowden, a Loyola alumnus and author of best-selling books, Black Hawk Down, Killing Pablo, and Guests of the Ayatollah; Tim Tooten, award-winning television journalist for WBAL-TV11 Baltimore; and Reagan Warfield, Loyola alum and morning host for MIX106.5 Baltimore.
Our communication classes typically have 17 or fewer students, and there is open and ready access to the latest computer technology in our state-of-the-art media labs, radio and television stations, which are regularly upgraded to maintain professional standards. Faculty teach the latest techniques in computer graphics, interactive media design, news writing and gathering, publication design, audio and video production and animation. The high degree of verbal, computer and visual literacy of our students shows in the portfolios they bring to their internship and job interviews.
Co-Curricular Opportunities
Students work closely with communication department faculty and staff to build their skills and portfolios in several optional media organizations that provide professional-caliber experience and professional networking opportunities right on campus, including the Public Relations Student Society of America, Advertising Club, WLOY-Radio, GreyComm Studios TV, The Greyhound student newspaper, and the student online magazine Loyola Pound.
A unique opportunity especially for communication students is Apprentice House - the only book publisher in the country run by undergraduates. Apprentice House editors develop book manuscripts for publication, design cover and layout, and execute marketing and promotion.