Middle Tennessee State University’s College of Mass Communication is gaining national attention, ranking among the top 20 programs in the United States, according to a survey by a popular news industry trade publication.

TV Week’s NewsPro Magazine released results of the survey in its December issue, listing the nation’s top mass communication and journalism colleges. The University of Missouri had the top-ranked program.

The survey was distributed to members of the Radio Television Digital News Association, with 1,321 respondents participating.

MTSU was the only Tennessee university in the rankings.

Ken Paulson

“We appreciate this recognition by the nation’s broadcast and digital professionals, particularly because it reaffirms the important role our graduates are playing in America’s media,” said Ken Paulson, dean of MTSU’s College of Mass Communication.

MTSU’s Center for Innovation in Media, which opened in January 2012 within the Bragg Mass Communication Building, houses operations for all student media outlets — the student newspaper, Sidelines, TV station MT-10 HD and radio station WMTS-FM 88.3 — as well as WMOT 89.5FM, MTSU’s 100,000-watt public radio station.

The Associated Press Media Editors recognized the Center for Innovation in Media last year for its efforts to converge MTSU student media and foster collaboration across media platforms.

“It is an honor to be recognized by media professionals that we are a leading program for journalism education and training,” said professor Dwight Brooks, director of the MTSU School of Journalism.

Dr. Dwight Brooks

Billy Pittard

“Being named on this list is a testament to our many outstanding students and dedicated faculty and staff. As director, I see this as an affirmation that we are on the right track in building our program. We remain committed to excellence and innovation in journalism and mass communication education.”

Billy Pittard, chair of MTSU’s Department of Electronic Media Communication, pointed to the impact MTSU graduates are already having within the industry.

“It’s impressive to see so many of our Multimedia Journalism alumni working at every level of TV news across the nation. This recognition is evidence of their professionalism, and of the passionately committed and forward-thinking faculty we have here in the college.”

For more information about the MTSU College of Mass Communication, visit www.mtsu.edu/masscomm.

— Jimmy Hart (jimmy.hart@mtsu.edu)

An MTSU electronic media communication student moves in close for footage from the Oct. 29 “Freedom Sings” 15th anniversary celebration at Nashville’s Bluebird Cafe. (MTSU file photo by J. Intintoli)