The Department of Mass Communication at Jackson State University pulled out all the stops during its open house Tuesday night at the Mississippi e-Center@JSU, 1230 Raymond Road, by introducing its star slate of faculty, adjuncts, media managers, staff, students and advisory board. The event included a reception and tours of the department.
Administrators and students expressed excitement about the department, which aims to double its enrollment and eventually morph into a School of Journalism.
Speaking almost prophetically to more than 200 people, Dr. Elayne Hayes Anthony, director of the mass communication department, said, “The future is bright and limitless for students. JSU will produce quality students who will inundate newsrooms as multimedia experts because of the infrastructure here to create an outstanding media department.”
Hayes Anthony said JSU has a solid foundation on which to build, including a radio station, two television stations, access to two radio stations, WeatherVision, a newspaper and a magazine.
“There are not many universities that have this kind of structure already set up. We will utilize these resources, coupled with quality instruction and practical applications. And now, we have a national internship program, where students can work anywhere in the United States because we have that kind of contact. The media have been absolutely fantastic in helping us.”
Dr. James C. Renick, provost and senior vice president for academic and student affairs, described the refinements as a watershed moment in the history of JSU’s College of Liberal Arts.
“The Department of Mass Communication is on track to becoming a free-standing school. The open house was another milestone in the development of the new school,” he said.
Meanwhile, Jeremy Anderson, a junior mass communication major, expressed excitement about being a beneficiary of the department’s evolution.
“These new changes are important because students really deserve to have classes and instructors who teach them exactly what they need to know in the workforce. A transition to a School of Journalism would give us the professional setting we need to succeed in the media world.”
Also, Anderson says he’s particularly confident about his own future.
“We now have an internship coordinator. There will no longer be as much stress when applying for internships. Now, we have someone whose role is solely to make sure we are placed in internships throughout the country for vital experience before graduation,” he said. “In addition, we have administrators who are passionate and dedicated to making our program better. This will trickle down to the students because we, too, are going to be passionate about going into the workforce.”
Ronnie Agnew, chair of the advisory committee for mass communication and executive director of Mississippi Public Broadcasting, said he was inspired by Hayes Anthony’s vision.
“I’m on five national boards. And I’m thinking that I don’t have time to be the chair of the advisory board. But when she called me I bought into her vision. I felt compelled to help,” he said. “It’s the perfect storm for having a really committed faculty and a really good professional staff. And, I see greatness in these students. We’ve put together a team of people who are well-connected all over the industry who can make sure that these students are not just getting a classroom education but also getting a practical education in a very competitive world.”
As a strong advocate for newsroom diversity, Agnew said, “When we have conversations across the country involving race we can’t have just totally white newsrooms that may be ill-equipped to cover some of the nuances associated with many stories. It’s irresponsible if we do not make Jackson all that it can be. America needs Jackson State to be better. The industry needs Jackson State to be better.”
Hayes Anthony says she is forever grateful for the support of JSU’s leadership and volunteers.
“I’m very thankful we have an administration that believes in my leadership and what this program can become. And they’ve said, ‘We are behind you 100 percent. We need you to tell us exactly what you need.’ I’m really trying to organize what’s already here. So, I’m not inventing anything. I want to make sure our students get the full benefits of their experiences.”
Hayes Anthony said support flows from all directions, citing one adjunct faculty member who refuses to accept a salary. Instead, she said, he asked that the money return to the department to benefit students.
The evening capped off with tours of the facility.
