Colorado is a magnet for the creative industries, whether in arts, film, or literature. Communications majors who graduate in the Centennial State will find a rich media industry that includes award-winning newspapers, pioneering cable channels, and a bevy of outdoor magazines. Overall, the state’s employment outlook for media and communications workers is healthy – the Colorado Department of Labor & Employment projects jobs for Media and Communication Workers will grow 11.8% by 2018. Denver is likely to be the source for most of the state’s higher-profile employers, although the big cities of Colorado Springs, Lakewood, Pueblo, Boulder, and elsewhere also offer opportunities. In addition, the skills developed while pursuing a communications major are often useful for a career in government – one of the state’s largest employers.
Undergraduate Degrees in Communications – Choosing to earn an associate’s or bachelor’s degree with a major in communications will give you the qualifications you need to start a career in mass media and digital communications. Whether you’re interested in journalism, creative writing and independent filmmaking, or marketing and public relations, the know-how needed to reach people with a targeted message starts with a degree in communications.
Master’s Degrees in Communications – No matter your professional background or undergraduate major, you could earn a master’s in communications to prepare for a career in any number of diverse areas that include journalism, public relations, marketing, digital media and more.
TV, Radio Broadcasting, and Film
Colorado is known as a center for the cable television industry. According to a report commissioned by Colorado Council on the Arts, the state was a pioneer in the development of cable television and has been called the “cable capital of the U.S.” Companies such as EchoStar, Starz Entertainment, DISH Network, and Jones International are headquartered in the Denver area. The state is also a major player in the film industry, thanks to its more than 30 film festivals, and partnerships between nonprofit organizations and higher education institutions. According to the Colorado Council on the Arts, television broadcasting, radio networks, and radio stations all perform competitively compared to other areas of the country. The Denver-Boulder area is the 20th-largest radio market in the US, and the state boasts 316 FM radio stations, according to the Federal Communications Commission.
Resources and Professional Associations for TV and Radio Broadcasting
- Colorado Broadcasters Association
- Broadcast Professionals of Colorado
- Colorado Film & Video Association
Journalism
Colorado has 29 daily newspapers, according to the US Census Bureau; the Pulitzer-prize winning Denver Post is the state’s largest. Denver’s city magazine, 5280, has been a finalist for several National Magazine Awards, while the alternative weekly newspapers Westword, Colorado Springs Independent, and Boulder Weekly are known for hard-hitting investigate stories and in-depth local culture reporting. And for communications majors interested in the great outdoors, work at one of the many local outdoor sports and healthy lifestyle magazines (such as SKI, Skiing, Backpacker, or Women’s Adventure) could be a great way to combine business with pleasure.
Local Newspapers and Guides
- Denver Post
- The Daily Sentinel
- Colorado Daily
- Westword
- The Gazette
- Coloradoan
- Rocky Mountain News
- The Daily Camera
- Pueblo Chieftain
- Durango Herald
- Denver Business Journal
- Aspen Magazine
- 5280
Journalism Associations
- Denver Press Club
- Society of Professional Journalists – Colorado Pro Chapter
- Colorado Press Association
- Colorado Association of Black Journalists
Advertising, Marketing, and Public Relations
Communications graduates in Colorado are likely to find a plethora of opportunities in the public relations sphere, thanks to the state’s multi-billion dollar tourism industry and strong government sector. The Colorado Department of Labor & Employment projects a 13.6% rise in Public Relations Managers by 2018, and a 19.5% rise in Public Relations Specialists during the same period. And while the growth in advertising hasn’t kept pace with the growth in PR, an understanding of adveritising principles can be useful in other kinds of communications careers, from corporate communications to government.
PR and Advertising Firms
- Catapult PR
- Cactus Marketing Communications
- Walek & Associates
- Chase Communications
- GroundFloor Media
- JohnstonWells Public Relations
- Linhart Public Relations
- Weber Shandwick
- Englewood
- Red Jeweled Media
- Grand Junction
- Landman Research and Communications
Professional Associations for Advertising and Public Relations