Communication Studies Associates, Bachelors and Masters Degrees in Louisiana

Louisiana is home to Pulitzer Prize-winning newspapers, a historic public broadcasting system, and a growing number of opportunities for public relations and marketing professionals. The state’s diverse mix of cultures contributes to an active arts and cultural scene, with a host of festivals and events that encourage the state’s multi-billion dollar tourism industry. In addition to the bustling travel and hospitality sector, communications majors are also likely to find opportunities in the Pelican State’s growing energy, health care, and high-tech industries. Many of these opportunities will be concentrated in New Orleans, although communications majors will also find work in the bigger cities of Baton Rouge, Shreveport, Metairie, and Lafayette.

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.

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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 and Radio Broadcasting

Over 240 FM and 150 AM radio stations inform and entertain Louisianans, according to the FCC. Nearly 200 TV stations serve Louisiana, and New Orleans alone has over 600,000 television households, according to the Television Bureau of Advertising. Louisiana was one of the first states in the Deep South to have a public broadcasting system, and eleven public radio stations plus six public television stations now serve the state. These include the Baton Rouge-based Louisiana Public Broadcasting, a network of six non-commercial television stations. In terms of employment, communications majors might want to brush up on their technical skills: the state’s labor department forecasts a growth of 21% in jobs for film and video editors between 2008 and 2018.

Professional Association for TV and Radio Broadcasting:

Journalism

New Orleans is home to the Pulitzer-Prize winning Times-Picayune, as well as more than 20 other daily papers and 18 Sunday papers, according to the US Census Bureau’s 2009 data. While the Times-Picayune and other papers have struggled with declining revenue, a number of entrepreneurial start-ups have emerged to fill the void in local coverage, including the New Orleans-based nonprofit journalism organization The Lens and the artsy Nola Defender.

Local Newspapers and Guides:

  • Times-Picayune
  • New Orleans CityBusiness
  • Gambit
  • The Advocate
  • New Orleans City Guide
  • Alexandria Daily Town Talk
  • American Press
  • Ascension Citizen
  • Banner-Tribune
  • Baton Rouge Business Report
  • Beauregard Daily News
  • Bossier Press-Tribune
  • Houma Courier
  • Crowley Post-Signal
  • Lafayette Daily Advertiser
  • Daily Comet
  • Daily Iberian
  • Bogalusa Daily News
  • Morgan City Daily Review
  • Hammond Daily Star
  • DeRidder Beauregard Daily News
  • Donaldsonville Chief
  • Inquisitor
  • L’Observateur
  • Leesville Daily Leader
  • Livingston Parish News
  • Louisiana Weekly
  • offBeat
  • Shreveport Times 

Journalism Associations:

Advertising, Marketing, and Public Relations

With its vibrant tourism scene, booming energy sector, and the on-going need to rebuild after Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, jobs in marketing and public relations are expanding in Louisiana. The state’s labor department forecasts a 10% rise in jobs for Marketing Managers, and an 11% rise in jobs for public relations managers and specialists between 2008 and 2018. The skills developed in these areas also come in handy in corporate communications, governance, and a variety of other areas.

PR and Advertising Firms:

  • Right Angle
  • Peter Mayer Advertising
  • Williams Creative Group
  • Rockit Science Agency
  • Zehnder Communications
  • Gremillion & Pou and Associates
  • Newcomer, Morris & Young Inc.
  • Palmer Tingley
  • Wall & Associates LLC
  • Boudrie Communications
  • Prescriptive Marketing
  • The Ehrhardt Group
  • MDSA Strategic Communications

Professional Associations for Advertising and Public Relations:

Print Publishing

Louisiana is home to larger trade publishers such as Pelican, scholarly presses like the University of Louisiana Press, and acclaimed smaller publishers such as Garrett County Press. Many of the local publishers focus on the state’s rich history and cultural scene, with its mix of diverse cultures and unique artfofrms. A number of festivals and events – such as the annual Louisiana Book Festival and NOLA Book Festival – also support the state’s literary culture. A number of magazine publishers also call the state home, including the Louisiana Publishing Company, which focuses on outdoor titles.

Book and Magazine Publishing Companies:

  • Garrett County Press
  • Louisiana Publishing Company
  • University of Louisiana Press
  • Pelican Publishing Company
  • Creative Imaginations
  • Margaret Media, Inc.
  • University of New Orleans Publishing
  • Cornerstone Book Publishers
  • Corner Store Press
  • Press Street Books
  • The Historic New Orleans Collection

Book Publishing and Writing Associations and Resources: