The Communication Department at the University of Findlay prides itself in providing endless experiential learning opportunities for all students starting freshman year. Our students learn-by-doing in and out of the classroom, often times with real clients. Here are some examples of what our students get to experience and create in our programs:
Findlay Media Network
Outside of the classroom, many of our students are involved in the University of Findlay's student-led media known as
Findlay Media Network (FMN). This consists of the school newspaper called The Pulse, 88.3 WLFC radio station and UFTV. In addition to planning and creating stories and shows for these programs, they have to promote the programs as well. The videos created by Communication students below will tell you a little bit about each component of FMN:
When visiting professionals such as best-selling author and digital marketing pioneer Ann Handley visit campus, Findlay Media Network students often get a chance to sit down with them for an interview! Public relations major Mac Williams sat down with Ann to discuss content writing on UFTV and you can watch it right here:
Video Production
Communication students are introduced to video production as soon as their freshman year and continue to strengthen their skills throughout the program. To practice, our students complete a variety of projects. In the video below, journalism/digital media and English major Kelsey Nevius created a promotional video for the University of Findlay's Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA) chapter:
Our students incorporate their own interests and hobbies into many of their projects. These vlogs created by digital media/journalism majors Leah and Kaitlynn are perfect examples of our students putting their design and video production skills to work combined with a topic of their choosing. Take a look!
Web Design
Web design and content development skills are important for communication professionals to understand. One way our students learn and practice these skills is by building a personal website. Not only does this project allow students to showcase their web design skills, it also serves as an online portfolio that can be shared with employers. Throughout their time in the program, students continue to update their personal websites with work samples.
Journalism/digital media and English major Kelsey Nevius built a personal website with a clean and modern look to showcase her journalism pieces, creative writing and videography.
Click here to check it out!
Community Collaboration
What's even better than hands-on learning? Hands-on learning that also benefits the community! Communication students often work with real clients from planning and implementing a PR campaign, to building content for websites and social media. Here are some examples of projects where our students collaborated with area organizations:
Findlay Floods
Journalism and English graduate Sarah Stubbs '17 focused her senior capstone project around the history of floods in Findlay, OH in collaboration with the Hancock Historical Museum. What started as an interactive documentary for her final project before graduating has turned into a much larger effort to gather stories and share them with the community.
The Findlay Floods project is accessible on the Hancock Historical Museum website for the community to view and enjoy.
Click here to check it out.
Communication students and the University of Findlay's Center for Storytelling and Participatory Media have continued to gather Findlay Flood stories and even hosted a storytelling event where community members came to share their experiences with flooding in Findlay. It was 100 percent student-led from marketing the event to interviewing and filming the community members who participated. Click here to view the article and video published by Lima's Hometown Stations.
Listen to Sarah talk about her initial Findlay Floods project here: