Communication Studies Bachelors and Masters Degrees in Oregon

Oregon’s stunning natural beauty has been luring visitors since the days of Lewis and Clark, and in recent years the state’s thriving high-tech sector and vibrant cultural scene have been drawing new attention. The media has played an integral role right from the start: the first newspaper published west of the Rockies was the Oregon Spectator in 1846. Oregon’s bustling tourism sector (its third-largest industry), its tradition of progressive politics and citizen engagement, and new opportunities in the digital sphere mean that communications jobs are multiplying — the Oregon Employment Department forecasts a 14% growth in media and communication jobs between 2010 and 2020. Communications grads will find a variety of ways to engage with the state’s outdoorsy, active, and community-oriented culture, whether it’s sharing local news or telling the world about the region’s award-winning restaurants, coffee, and wine.

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 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.

Journalism Careers in Oregon

Journalists have long played a vital role in Oregon’s tradition of citizen engagement. While newspaper opportunities are more scarce than they once were, journalism skills have a variety of applications in other areas, such as social media, corporate communications, and freelance writing and editing. Below are some of the state’s most established newspapers and organizations.

Oregon’s Local Newspapers and Guides:

  • The Oregonian
  • Portland Tribune
  • Willamette Week
  • Portland Mercury
  • Eugene Register-Guard
  • Eugene Weekly
  • Salem Statesman Journal
  • Portland Business Journal
  • The Portland Alliance

Journalism Associations in Oregon:

TV and Radio Broadcasting in Oregon

Portland is the 23rd largest radio market in the country, according to the media and marketing research firm Arbitron. The state has 28 commercial TV stations and 195 commercial radio stations, according to the Oregon Association of Broadcasters, and is also home to a number of community radio stations, such as Portland’s anti-establishment icon KBOO – on the air since 1968.

Resources and Professional Associations for TV and Radio Broadcasting

Advertising, Public Relations, and Marketing in Oregon

One of the world’s largest independently-owned advertising agencies, Wieden+Kennedy, is based in Portland, and thanks in part to the expanding tourism sector, public relations and marketing are likely to be growth area for future communications majors.

Oregon Public Relations Associations

Advertising firms in Oregon

  • Wieden+Kennedy
  • Celeste Daniels
  • Fish Marketing
  • Bradshaw Advertising
  • The Mandala Agency
  • White Horse
  • Magneto

PR firms in Oregon

  • Maxwell PR
  • Vox Public Relations and Public Affairs
  • Big Deal PR
  • Edelman
  • Savy Agency

Book Publising in Oregon

Oregon publishers have battled the national decline in print by focusing on specialty audiences (think comic books and artist presses), and by using innovative, small-scale approaches (see Portland’s Publication Studio, which prints and binds books on demand). The Oregon Employment Department forecasts a 25% growth in publishing industries between 2010 and 2020, though much of that is likely to be in digital products. Resources for book publishers include:

Oregon-Based Book Publishers

  • Beyond Words Publishing
  • Publication Studio
  • Dark Horse Comics
  • University of Oregon Press
  • Lone Goose Press
  • Calyx Press
  • Inkwater Press

Book Publishing Associations in Oregon