All students are encouraged to consult with a departmental adviser prior to enrolling each semester. The department will assign a faculty or staff member for each student. Students will find their adviser’s name on NSU’s DegreeWorks. For questions or assistance with advising, please, contact newmedia@nsula.edu or call 318-357-5360.

For general planning purposes, please, see the Major Requirement Checklist below. The University Catalog provides course descriptions and other academic requirements.

• Major Requirements Checklist
• University Catalog
• Minors offered at NSU

Communication Major Requirements

Communication Major Requirements: (48 credit hours) Students seeking a major in Communication must complete 21 credit hours in the Communication Core and 27 credit hours in one of three available concentrations. Communication core courses include: Communication 1040, 2020, 2040, 2510, 3260, 4700, and 4910. All students enrolled in the Communication major must select a minor. Students who complete a second major outside of Communication have satisfied the minor requirement. A “C” or better is required for all Communication classes to complete requirements for graduation.

Communication Minor Requirements

Communication Minor Requirements: (24 credit hours) Students seeking a minor in Communication must complete Communication 1040, 2020, 2040, 2500, 2510, three (3) hours of any Communication elective, and six (6) additional hours in Communication courses as the 3000-4000 level. A “C” or better is required for all Communication classes in order to complete minor requirements.

Select Course Offerings

COMM2360
PRINCIPLES OF STRATEGIC COMMUNICATION. Course introduces students to strategic communication principles, procedures, and practices that
generate targeted messaging and build relationships between internal and external publics.

COMM2400
AUDIO PRODUCTION. An introduction to the planning and production of audio in electronic media, this course examines the special issues, techniques and production of audio communication. It will explore the elements of audio production and performance in electronic media.

COMM2440
VIDEO PRODUCTION. An introduction to the process of creating video including an overview of television equipment, studio and field practices, nonlinear digital editing and applicable theory for the development of visual messaging.

COMM2530
VISUAL COMMUNICATION. Practical, hands-on experience in the design, layout and production of materials for mass communications. Assignments completed using desktop publishing hardware and software.

COMM3260
SOCIAL MEDIA MANAGEMENT. Survey of current social media landscape and available tools for navigating today’s digital communication world. Students will produce and post content (written, photo, video) on various social media channels while exploring strategies to cohesively present clear, effective messaging across multiple platforms.

COMM3510
ADVERTISING, MARKETING, AND BRANDING. This course develops advertising, marketing and brand management skills that create effective online, social media, and traditional media strategies for governmental and other non- and for-profit organizations. Assignments completed using Photoshop and InDesign.

COMM4230
DIGITAL MAGAZINE PRODUCTION. This course emphasizes solid journalistic practice with a focus on long-form magazine writing, but also allows for a marketing component.

COMM4240
DOCUMENTARY PRODUCTION. This is an advanced video course where students produce, direct, film, and edit short and longer-form documentaries individually or as a team. All works have public screenings.

COMM4660
STRATEGIC COMMUNICATIONS MANAGEMENT. Theories and principles relevant to public relations practice in agency, corporate and nonprofit organizations, including development of goals and objectives, client relationships, budgets, and research methods specific to the public relations practice.

Friday, November 8, 2024, from 8 a.m. – 12 p.m.

About JaM Day: Journalism and Media Day (JaM) Day is an annual half-day event that provides high school students with the opportunity to meet industry professionals and participate in competitions that test skills in new media, journalism, and communication. Future media professionals hear from the experts, including faculty, alumni, and visiting communication professionals about careers in the new media, journalism, and communication fields. They also meet current students and will tour the campus to see our media labs, TV studio, and equipment.

April 2024

The New Media Student Showcase is an annual gallery exhibition featuring photography from students, faculty, and alumni of the Department of New Media, Journalism, and Communication Arts.

New Media Student Showcase 2022

Monthly screenings and discussions about some of the hottest documentaries on the film festival circuit, usually with the filmmakers present for Q & A’s.  Hosted and organized by Professor Melody Gilbert, the films provide access to fascinating subjects, people, and places from near and far. The final screening of the year reveals the documentaries produced by our own students.

The Katrina Babies Documentary Screening with Visiting Filmmaker Edward Buckles 2023

NSU Student Documentary Showcase Spring 2022

• Therefore by Colie Plaster
• Anything For You by Anna Duplantis
• Hieroglyphics by Waylon Washington

Students Winning Film and Documentary Awards

The International Student Resource Center at NSU promotes opportunities for students to participate in long or short-term study-abroad programs. Our department recognizes the importance of international education in academic learning and encourages students to incorporate international experience as part of their academic plans. Students in our department are always the active participants in available long or short-term international experience programs. Below are their photo stories.

Derrick Varnado’s Photo Story

Northwestern State University’s Speech and Debate team has been a program run by the Department of New Media, Journalism, and Communication Arts since 2015. Communication Professor Elaine Dorian Eaton currently supervises the team. Professor Eaton and her debate team are devoted to the bettering of public speaking skills and competitive debate. The team aims to improve public speaking, research, and argumentative skills through debate practice. Currently, the team focuses solely on IPDA style debate but is open to those students who would like to compete in individual (IE) speech events when available. The team travels to other schools in the tri-state area where students can get to know other debaters and rank nationally.

The debate team is located in Kyser Hall, room 337, and practices every Tuesday and Thursday at 3:30 PM. The team always welcomes new members no matter their experience level. Please feel free to email Professor Eaton at eatond@nsula.edu for any other questions!

Current Debate Team Members

Raquel Hill Chandler

Raquel Hill Chandler is a 2006 graduate of Northwestern State University and a proud Demon alum (Fork ’em!). After graduating from NSU, she began her professional career working in radio and building out a digital sales and event marketing program for Clear Channel Radio in Shreveport. This led her to managing a digital sales team at the Clear Channel branch in Austin, Texas—moving her passions from digital radio sales into strategic digital media planning in New York City. After several years of hiring and developing her teams within the media and creative space, she took her passion for ‘people connection’ into the creative recruiting industry. Currently, Raquel works as a strategic consultant for talent and culture within the product design and user experience (UX) community, focusing her work on coaching and career advancement for designers at Ford Motor Company (by way of SAP and USAA). She is a certified career coach through the Berlin-based Autoris program and has contributed to numerous UX Design and Design Operations speaking panels, adding insight on the importance of hiring and developing design talent. Outside of work, Raquel still enjoys using her journalism background by contributing to her travel, food and lifestyle blog and Instagram, The Tasteful Texan (@thetastefultexan). She resides in Austin, Texas with her husband TJ and daughter, Clayton.

Cindy Chapman

I am a 1988 NSU Graduate, with a Journalism major/German minor. I’ve spent the last 31 years in the tv news business at stations in Columbus, Ohio, Fort Wayne, Indiana, Green Bay, Wisconsin and most notably Minneapolis/St. Paul. I’m in my 25th year at KARE 11 TV, currently the Senior Executive Producer but I’ve produced every newscast, been on the air, started a mom’s website and helped create one of the most innovative shows in the “news” space called Breaking the News. Awards include national Murrows, Emmy’s and a Cronkite.

My passion: teaching young journalists how to become powerhouse producers!

Amanda Crane

Amanda Crane is the Digital Communications Coordinator at Bossier Parish Community College. She previously served as Managing Editor/Reporter/Photographer for the Bossier Press-Tribune in Bossier City from 2010-2018. While there, she won numerous Louisiana Press Association awards in news, feature, investigative and sports writing as well as photography and design. A native of Elysian Fields, TX, Amanda earned a bachelor’s degree in Journalism with a minor in Photography from Northwestern State University in 2010. She was the freshman scholarship recipient for the Potpourri in 2005 and later joined The Current Sauce staff. Amanda currently resides in Bossier City and is a very proud wife and mother.

Vanner Erikson

Vanner Erikson is the Interim Director of Enrollment Management and Director of Recruiting at Northwestern State University, where his purview includes recruiting, financial aid, and admissions. Prior to his current role, he’s been a part of the NSU Family since 2007, as an undergraduate and graduate student, recruiter, Alumni Director, and Director of First Year Experience. He’s also involved within the community. He serves as the Chair of the Natchitoches Historic District Development Commission, Chair of the Board of the Directors of both the Chamber of Commerce and Cane River National Heritage Area, and member of the Ready Start Natchitoches Early Childhood Board. He helped recharter the local Boys and Girls Club in Natchitoches, and now sits on the Acadiana board. He is married to Aly, who’s way out of his league, and together they have 2 daughters, Landry and Gray. Van credits his Journalism degree for helping to hone in his writing skills, communication skills, and eye for design and innovation that he uses every day at NSU.

Gary Fields

Gary Fields is a veteran journalist with more than four decades of experience ranging from sports reporting to investigative projects. He’s a former board member for the Fund for Investigative Journalism. In 2000, he joined the Wall Street Journal’s Washington bureau to cover the Justice Department where he was involved in coverage of 9/11 and its aftermath. He has extensive experience reporting on criminal justice, mental health and tribal issues. Most recently, Gary was the senior manager of content for Lutheran World Relief/IMA World Health. Gary joined AP as the deputy editor of the Religion Team and now serves as the editor of the law and legal team. His awards range from being the National Association of Black Journalists Journalist of the Year in 1997 to winning a Thurgood Marshall Award for the coverage of death penalty issues and a White House Correspondence Award for covering criminal justice. He was among the reporters at the Wall Street Journal who won a Pulitzer Prize in 2002 in Breaking News for the paper’s coverage of the 9/11 attacks in 2001. Gary is a 1982 and 1984 graduate of Northwestern. Gary is a member of the Long Purple Line and was the 2015 graduation commencement speaker at Northwestern.

Josh Green

Josh Green is a senior communications specialist at Boeing. He leads a team focused on flowing information to and from the aerospace manufacturer’s tens of thousands of employees around the world. Before Josh started at Boeing in 2016, he spent more than a decade as a television news reporter – with the majority of that time spent in the 25 largest markets in the country. Josh started as a traditional reporter but transitioned to being a multi-media journalist  – shooting, writing and editing all of his content for broadcast and web. He became an instructor for other multi-media journalists within the television groups for which he worked. The stories that shaped him most were covering the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, and the Virginia Tech shooting, where he was onsite immediately after the mass shooting in 2007. At Boeing, Josh has anchored the company’s worldwide webcasts of major milestones, served as a strategic communicator during multiple worldwide airshows in Paris, London and Dubai, and has been a part of teams in charge of communicating during multiple crises, including the COVID-19 pandemic. Josh credits much of his success in Communications to the broad range of education he received at NSU. He co-anchored and co-produced NSU 22 newscasts, which prepared him for live news. He wrote for the Current Sauce, which helped teach him writing. He was editor of the Potpourri yearbook, which taught him about layout, design and project management.

Lane Luckie

Lane Luckie anchors Good Morning East Texas each weekday on KLTV in Tyler, Texas. He previously served as evening anchor and executive producer at KTRE-TV in Lufkin, Texas and as a reporter at KTAL-TV in Shreveport, Louisiana. A 2008 graduate of Northwestern State University, Lane is a two-time recipient of a Regional Emmy from the Lone Star Chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences. His work has also been recognized by the Associated Press, Texas Association of Broadcasters, Broadcast Education Association and the Southeast Journalism Conference. In 2017, he was selected by the RTDNF as a RIAS Berlin Commission fellow, participating in a trans-Atlantic exchange program for American and German broadcasters. The following year, he traveled to China to report on trade tensions between the world’s largest economies as a fellow of the East-West Center. He returned to Germany to cover the 30th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall in 2019 and to cover the 2021 federal parliament elections. Lane serves on the board of directors of the NSU Alumni Association and was elected to terms as president and treasurer. He was also honored as NSU’s ‘Distinguished Young Alumnus of the Year’ in 2017. Lane volunteers with several nonprofit boards, including the ‘Remembering Columbia’ NASA Museum in Hemphill, Texas.

Shelli Briery Murphy

Shelli Briery Murphy is the director of Marketing and Creative Services at KTAL, KMSS, and KSHV in Shreveport, Louisiana. She is a 2002 graduate of Northwestern State University. While in school, she was active in student media and worked as an anchor, reporter, and producer for NSU 22. She was also the host of Demon Life and had a paying gig, filing feature sports reports on the community access channel in Natchitoches. Shelli’s career has been fun and interesting over the last 20 years; before graduating from NSU she began working at KTAL NBC 6 as a news producer, then moved on to roles as a general assignment reporter, news bureau chief, and morning news anchor.

In 2010, Shelli traded in her reporter’s notebook and pursued a communications role with Caesars Entertainment, the world’s largest gaming corporation. Shelli represented the Horseshoe and Harrah’s Casino Resort brands in Northwest Louisiana as the Public Relations, Advertising, and Community Relations manager. During her tenure, she was recognized in the Forty under Forty Class of 2012 by the Shreveport Chamber of Commerce, as an Athena Award finalist, and as a two-time Caesars Award of Excellence for her work in the community.

In 2020, during the height of the COVID pandemic, Shelli challenged herself by taking on a corporate communications role with CHRISTUS Health. For two years she worked as a Public Relations and Social Media Specialist for the CHRISTUS hospitals and health care facilities across Louisiana.

Her career in communications is now full circle with the return home to KTAL and Nexstar Media Group. In her first year back, there were many celebratory moments including being named the Community Station of the Year by the Louisiana Association of Broadcasters for the second consecutive year and national recognition as a station finalist for the National Association of Broadcasters Leadership Foundation’s Celebration of Service to America Award.

Shelli credits her career success and abilities to the instruction and opportunities she took advantage of at Northwestern State University. Fork ‘em Demons!

Denise Lewis Patrick

Denise Lewis Patrick is a Louisiana native born and raised in Natchitoches, now transplanted to New Jersey. She graduated from Northwestern State University of Louisianan in 1977 with a degree in Journalism, and immediately relocated to New York City. In 2015, she received an MFA in Creative Writing from the University of New Orleans. In 2014, she received the Creole People’s Award from the Northwestern State University Creole Heritage Center, and was inducted into the university’s Long Purple Line of Distinction that same year. She was one of the five Louisiana Legends chosen in 2019 by Louisiana Public Broadcasting. Her most recent published books are middle grade biographies Lewis Latimer, Engineering Wizard, and Mahalia Jackson, Freedom’s Voice. Other works include the Y/A short story collection, A Matter of Souls; a middle grade novel about Hurricane Katrina, Finding Someplace, and See Me, Hear Me, Know Me and No Ordinary Sound for American Girl. Her adult short story, “Mr. Bird,” was published in The University of New Orleans anthology, Monday Night Lights, and her short story “Face Down” was published in the Y/A online magazine YARN. She is a contributor to the anthology We Rise, We Resist, We Raise Our Voices.

Regis Perry

Regis Perry, a native of Mansura, La, is a two-time graduate of NSU. He received his Associates Degree in General Studies, in 2015, and Bachelors in Mass Communications in 2018. His journey to NSU wasn’t your typical journey. After receiving his GED, he wouldn’t enroll into college until age 21. Regis enrolled at BPCC@NSU until transferring over to the main campus. There he discovered college radio. He hosted his own radio show: “Live in the DawgHouse” with the friend JT and later the “Krew”. In 2016 he would move his attention to television. He would serve as sports reporter for all NSU sports as well as a sports anchor for NSU 22 tv channel. He now works on the creative team and as a sports photojournalist for KALB in Alexandria. The best advice he can give to anyone who is chasing their dreams is Proverbs 3-5 “trust in the lord with all your heart and lean not on your understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him and he shall direct your paths”.

Katie Quebedeaux

Katie Quebedeaux is a 2010 broadcast graduate of NSU who wants you to know that you can take your communications degree as far as your imagination inclines you to. She began her career in radio in Natchitoches at KDBH/KZBL doing live remotes and writing and producing radio commercials. After that, she became the producer and co-anchor of Central Louisiana’s Morning News on 104.3FM KEZP in Alexandria, Louisiana. She then saw an opportunity to carry her “live” skills into the hospitality industry where she announced live gameshow-type drawings on Friday and Saturday nights at Paragon Casino Resort in Marksville, Louisiana. Making big winners was addicting she says, especially after getting a bear hug from someone who just won $10,000 dollars. Her work in promotions for Paragon’s marketing department led her to a promotion as the Assistant Manager of Conference Services. Here Katie got the opportunity to practice the true art of hospitality and service which she became passionate about. She says she learned that leadership is always achieved through service and putting people first no matter who they are. Katie then went on to work for Caesar’s Entertainment as the Direct Marketing Coordinator for both Horseshoe and Harrah’s properties in Shreveport. Getting an itch from the media bug again, Katie moved to the coast to work as a television producer for WJHG TV in Panama City Beach, Florida where she produced the 11:00, noon, and 5:00 shows. But when the largest beach and golf resort on the Emerald coast, Sandestin, created a brand new hospitality position that matched her experience, Katie jumped at the chance to be the first. She is now defining daily a sole role that communicates between 5 event managers and hundreds of people from a handful of conventions going on at the same time in over 85,000 sq feet of meeting space both indoors and out. She is also the Video Director for Gulfview United Methodist Church where she broadcasts their sermon every Sunday morning on Vimeo, YouTube and Facebook.

Major David Royal

Major David Royal is a 2011 graduate of Northwestern State University’s journalism program and a former Editor in Chief of The Current Sauce. While at NSU, David earned his commission to serve as a US Army Intelligence Officer through the Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC). During his career, David has had combat and operational deployments to Afghanistan and Poland. Today, he is stationed in the National Capital Region and provides written strategic analysis on Chinese security activities in South Asia and Oceania regions to US policymakers and leaders, including the President of the United States and the Secretary of Defense. Later this year, David will assume the role as the personal intelligence advisor to the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Indo-Pacific Security Affairs.

Todd Sterling

Todd L. Sterling resides in Baton Rouge. He graduated from NSU with a degree in Journalism and a minor in History. While at Northwestern Todd was President of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., Vice-President of the Student Activities Board, among other organizational involvement. After NSU, Todd had a 16 year career in radio broadcasting, from sales to General Manager. He is now the owner of Alpha Media and Public Relations, an advertising firm that has done work for Brown-Forman – Jack Daniels, to the City of Baton Rouge & the State of Louisiana, and has produced the Southern University Football Coach’s TV Show for 23 years. Todd has also worked in political media helping to elect Governor John Bel Edwards, former Congresspersons Mary Landrieu, and Cedric Richmond, and numerous local politicians in Baton Rouge. Alpha Media also proudly has done work for many non-profits like the Big Buddy Program, CareSouth Medical and Dental, and others. Todd is married to NSU alum Shelia Delozia Sterling, and is the proud Dad of Todd, Jr. (26) and Elise Marie (24).

Kelli M. West

Kelli M. West, APR, is a graduate of Northwestern State University of Louisiana with a B.A. in Journalism (Public Relations) and has spent more than 14 years working in public relations and marketing in the tourism industry. Kelli is currently the Tourism Communications Officer for Chickasaw Country Tourism. Prior to joining Chickasaw Country, she was Director of Marketing and Communications for the Natchitoches Parish Tourist Commission and Marketing Manager for the Alexandria/Pineville Area Convention & Visitors Bureau. Kelli is a member of the Public Relations Society of America – Oklahoma City Chapter, Public Relations Association of Louisiana – Central Chapter, Junior League of Oklahoma City, NSULA’s New Media, Journalism, and Communication Arts Advisory Council, and alumna of Alpha Omicron Pi Fraternity. She is also serving on the board of the Southern Public Relations Federation as President-Elect and will serve as President in 2023. Kelli lives in Yukon, OK, with her husband (and fellow NSU Journalism grad) Patrick and their three sons – Mason, Eli and Nolan.

The Department of New Media, Journalism, and Communication Arts encourages all students to join student media: The Current Sauce, Potpourri, and KNWD. For information about student media or scholarship opportunities, contact student media coordinator Matthew Craig at craigm@nsula.edu or 318-357-5364. The student media suite is in 225 Kyser Hall. Visit https://purplemedianetwork.com/ for the digital content presented by student media.

The Current Sauce, NSU’s independent, student-run newspaper, is published during the fall and spring semester on the purplemedianetwork.com. In addition, the newspaper staff produces special print editions throughout the year. The Sauce covers campus and community activities as well as social issues that concern students. Student scholarships are available.

Potpourri, NSU’s yearbook, is an independent, student-run organization that publishes the yearbook annually in the spring. The yearbook covers campus events, personalities, and organizations. Student scholarships are available.

KNWD 91.7 FM, is a 24-hour, FCC-licensed, non-commercial, and student-run radio station. The station transmits public affairs, music, and other programming of interest to the NSU and Natchitoches communities. Students learn radio management skills and hone their on-air abilities. Scholarships are available as well as volunteer opportunities.

Have you ever watched ESPN on your phone or at your house and wondered what it would be like to work behind the scenes doing that?  Wonder no more!  NSU Athletics is going to have an ESPN+ platform starting in Fall of 2022 and students in the Department of New Media, Journalism, and Communication Arts will get the opportunity to work in the production trailer and on camera.  This is professional grade equipment, just like the stuff the pros use. COMM 3500 is the class you need to take to get involved.  The class is listed as a Wednesday night class but every student that signs up for this class needs to understand that the class only meets a few times on Wednesday at the beginning of the semester and the rest of the semester you are working games at night during the week and weekend games.  So only sign up if you are available for nighttime and weekend work.  We will work with you if you have one night class during the semester.  If you would like more information, please email David Antilley at antilleyd@nsula.edu.

David Antilley on ESPN+ and Department of New Media, Journalism, and Communication Arts

Student Worker Colin Vedros ESPN+ Debut

Travis Mitchell on being an ESPN+ Director

NSU-TV News Service (NTNS) is the student lead/faculty advised multimedia organization housed in the Department of New Media, Journalism, & Communication Arts. Student-Journalists for the organization can work as either interns or volunteers. NTNS members receive training in all aspects of multimedia production, understanding the newscast/news story distribution process, plus capturing stories focused on NSU and our local community. Once produced, NTNS work is streamed over the web, aired on NSU-TV and regional news stations such as KTBS in Shreveport LA or KALB in Alexandria LA. If becoming a multimedia broadcaster is your goal, NSU-TV News Service is a great place to start.

First Generation Students discussion with Dr. Kim Hunter Reed

Reporter: Lia Portillo Cantarero
Advisors: David Antilley and Dr. Dominique Taylor

Student Work Showcase

Reporter/Producer: Daviion Telsee (student)
Faculty Advisor: Dr. Dominique Taylor
Aired on KTBS

Reporter: DeAndre Ashley (student)
Faculty Advisor: Dr. Dominique Taylor
Aired on KTBS

Reporter: Brylee Brown (student)
Camera/Editor: Colin Vedros (student)
Anchor: Daniel Brown (KTBS professional)
Faculty Advisor: Dr. Dominique Taylor
Bronze Telly Award 2022: General, Television

Reporter: Naydu Daza Maya (student)
Camera/Editor: Jordon Johnson (student)
Faculty Advisor: Dr. Dominique Taylor
N-SIDE View News Story in Spanish

Multimedia Journalist: Hannah Angell (student)
Faculty Advisor: Dr. Dominique Taylor
Silver Telly Award 2022: Non Broadcast, General, Student

Hispanic Student Journalist Association (HSJA) has two primary goals (1) learn, practice and produce Spanish-speaking media and (2) celebrate Hispanic heritages/cultures. HSJA highlights Hispanic voices and provides student journalists a platform to interact multiculturally. Those students who participate in the creation of Spanish news, professional networking, and brand-building activities will have a positive advantage when looking for post-graduation professional jobs. NSU students of all cultural backgrounds are encouraged to join HSJA. As a member of the organization, you may help produce the award-winning podcast, “Latino Living” or create your own Hispanic influenced media. Plus, you’ll be invited to the meetings, dances, bake-sales and more. HSJA is a wonderful place to celebrate Hispanic cultures while building life-long friendships.

Podcast Series ‘Latino Living’ (2023 Bronze Telly Award)