SUNY Plattsburgh Provides Journalists with New Educational Opportunity

PLATTSBURGH, NY (09/08/2009)(readMedia)-- SUNY Plattsburgh is addressing the changing needs of journalists through a new certificate program.

In recent years, traditional print media have been on the decline. Newspapers are closing at a record level as more and more consumers turn to new media for news. According to CNN.com, between January 2008 and March 2009 at least 120 newspapers folded.

SUNY Plattsburgh's journalism department is working to help professional newspaper and magazine reporters adapt to the change by becoming contemporary multimedia journalists. The college's new certificate in multimedia journalism aims to teach its students to cover a story in words, graphics, sounds and images for use on the Web.

"Understanding multimedia journalism is essential to stay employed in today's rapidly changing print media business," said the college's Journalism Chair Shawn W. Murphy.

When looking to build upon her B.A. in print journalism, Melissa Hart, a 2001 graduate of the college, saw the certificate program as a way to expand her career options and job marketability.

"Getting involved with the program was all about the timing," said Hart. "After eight years of working for newspapers, I realized that I needed to further my new media skills in order to stay competitive in my field and take the traditional mediums of journalistic storytelling to another level."

The program consists of five, three-credit courses ranging from introduction to news writing to interactive journalism. The required courses are flexible to adapt to levels of knowledge and expertise in the field. For instance, through a waiver, an experienced reporter may bypass the introductory writing course.

For more information about SUNY Plattsburgh's certificate in multimedia journalism, contact Murphy at 518-564-2422 or shawn.muphy@plattsburgh.edu.