Introductory Message from the New Media Department
In the 1990s, any student wishing to become a communications and new media professional studied journalism, public relations or advertising at a school or department of journalism and communications. During that time, the study of the Internet and interactive media design were the domain of computer scientists. The development and fast adoption of digital media brought us “convergence,” or the blending of communication networks, computing and digital content into a common platform. This has resulted in changes in the way content is created and disseminated.
Today’s media companies are seeking communication and media professionals who not only can perform the duties of a journalist or a public relations or advertising practitioner, but who are also comfortable with visual design and content production for digital media—e.g. online publications, blogs, podcasts, virtual communities, interactive advertising.
New Media at ARUCAD is uniquely positioned to prepare students for today’s converging media environment, where communication professionals are expected to have a broad range of knowledge and creative skills, from critical thinking and excellent writing to the ability to create interactive media, digital arts, and strategic communication campaigns.
Students who opt for the New Media Department at ARUCAD shall surely benefit from a contemporary understanding of emerging trends in the evolving communication industry, as well as receiving guidance for connecting classroom learning with local and global market mechanisms.
Mission
Here at ARUCAD we intend to educate future media professionals using an integrated and multidisciplinary approach that reflects today’s converged media environment. Students majoring in New Media can take courses in journalism and public relations (traditionally offered in communication programmes), visual design (traditionally offered in arts programmes), and human computer interaction (traditionally offered in computer sciences) within one academic department.
Vision
New Media at ARUCAD offers a multidisciplinary approach which integrates the social sciences, humanities, arts, computing, and design to create a space for teaching, researching and practicing communication in new and emergent media contexts. The multi-disciplinary focus of our teaching staff enables us to integrate theory with practice, fosters an interdisciplinary education that integrates social science, humanities, arts and computing, and nurtures creativity and innovation through hands-on projects and critical insights to the practice of new media.
Program Description
The New Media degree program combines:
- creativity
- aesthetics
- critical analysis
- media studies and
- technical expertise
The program’s unique combination of fine arts courses, digital technology, and liberal arts electives is a response to the demands of two interwoven areas:
- The new media industry whose hiring focus has shifted from a primarily technical workforce to a more artistically developed, diverse talent pool
- New Media as a scholarly and artistic field dedicated to the intellectual and creative exploration and application of emergent media technologies
During their studies, students encounter instruction in a variety of areas including:
Digital arts, animation, graphic design, interaction design, new media theory and history, video and the moving image, web design and management, social media, content production and online journalism.
Program Objectives
While technical skills and knowledge are extremely important in any media program, we believe that it is equally, if not more, important to develop students’ conceptual and creative abilities. In all areas of the new media industry employers need individuals who have strong creative sensibilities, conceptual and analytical skills, strong problem-solving skills, and an awareness of issues surrounding contemporary entertainment, art, and society. The major objectives of the New Media program are to:
- Link the emerging field of digital and interactive media to the traditional practices, techniques and theory
- Allow exploration of interactive media—both individually and as part of a group within an environment of creative and critical inquiry
- Provide students with a range of media tools, including industry-standard hardware and software
- Provide opportunities to connect with the new media industry via a supervised internship semester
- Become familiar with and contribute to the literature dealing with the many aspects of new media and technology in society, including media history and media studies, social and political issues, and approaches to popular culture
- Provoke thoughtful debate and discussion concerning the role interactive and new media technologies play and how they contribute to society, art, business, education, and entertainment
Fields of Study
- Media Studies
We focus on the research and analysis of all media types and styles-news, advertising, photography, film, magazines, radio, television, web, and wireless/mobile media. Most broadly, we explore important questions related to the impact and influences that media are having on all of us.
- Digital Media Arts: Digital Photography, Digital Film, Animation, Interactive Web Design
We produce films, digital photographs, digital audio productions, television productions, TV ads, interactive web designs, animation, wireless/mobile design. We have state-of-the-art computing labs, high-definition video cameras, digital still cameras, broadcast video cameras, digital audio recorders, and a host of web and interactive authoring tools.
- Journalism: Writing, Reporting, Informed Citizenry
Our emphasis is on producing interesting and important investigative stories. How can we help make a more informed citizenry? How can we better understand our local, regional, and international connections?
Outcomes of the Program
Since today’s journalist must be a generalist – a Renaissance person in an age of specialization – we insist that each student obtain firm grounding in the liberal arts. You’ll find that beyond teaching you specific essential skills, we also continually promote your broad and perceptive understanding of society.
As a New Media student, you will learn to write quickly, accurately and under deadline pressure. You will learn to conduct research using traditional and electronic sources. You will acquire a deep understanding of the ethical and legal responsibilities associated with being a communicator – whether in the newsroom or the marketplace. And you will develop a mastery of current technologies, including multimedia, digital photography, digital video, digital audio and social media.
You’ll gain basic journalistic skills such as news-writing, editing and information gathering, grounding in the ethical responsibilities of a professional mediator, awareness of connections among various technologies and the messages delivered through them, and international understanding.
At the end of four years you will develop a comprehensive digital portfolio of the works you produce, which often includes research, thesis, news articles, films, websites, photo essays, and animations.
Post-Degree Employment
Our graduates will be able to work in a variety of traditional and non-traditional fields where media design and development are important. With this multi-faceted understanding of new media and communications, our graduates will be able to work in a wide spectrum of private corporations, public agencies, non-profit organizations and various media-related industries. Graduates may pursue careers in animation, graphic design, video/film production, television/radio, web design, game design, media relations, media design, corporate communication, research and information management positions, online journalism, media authoring, education, social media management, public relations, advertising, and many others too numerous to list.