Communications majors who study in Massachusetts will find a state with influential public radio stations, multi-prize-winning newspapers, and some of the most highly-respected publishers around. In addition to opportunities in traditional media, communications students who hone their skills will find opportunities in public relations or corporate communications serving the state’s higher education, health care, and tourism industries. While many of these openings will be concentrated in the bustling and historic city of Boston, the bigger cities of Worcester, Springfield, Lowell, and Cambridge have their own mix of opportunities.
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.
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 130 AM and 160 FM stations serve Massachusetts, with pop music and news/talk/information the most popular genres, according to Arbitron. The state also enjoys 69 television stations, according to the FCC. The Boston/Manchester market is the seventh-largest television market in the United States, according to Neilsen, and all the major TV networks are represented. Boston is also home perhaps the state’s most famous broadcasting institution, WGBH. The public broadcasting juggernaut serves southern New England with 11 public television services and three public radio services, as well as local productions. WGBH has been recognized with Emmys, Peabodys, and Oscars for its enlightening content, which includes Nova, Frontline, American Experience, Antiques Roadshow, and Curious George.
Resources and Professional Associations for TV and Radio Broadcasting:
Massachusetts Broadcasters Association
Journalism
Massachusetts is home to 32 daily and 16 weekly newspapers, according to 2009 data from the US Census Bureau. The Boston Globe is the state’s most widely-read and most prestigious local newspaper, with nearly two dozen Pulitzer Prizes to its credit. Other major local papers include the Boston Herald, Springfield Republican, and Worcester Telegram & Gazette. Boston is also the headquarters for the Christian Science Monitor, a newspaper-turned-website with an international reach. While employment at many traditional newspapers is falling, startups such as CapeCodToday — one of the first hyperlocal news sites in the nation – have emerged to fill the gap in local coverage and provide opportunities for journalists.
Local Newspapers and Guides:
- Boston Globe
- Boston City Guide
- Boston Herald
- Cape Cod Times
- Springfield Republican
- Worcester Telegram & Gazette
- Lowell Sun
- Quincy Patriot Ledger
- North Andover Eagle-Tribune
- Pittsfield Eagle
- Salem News
- Waltham News Tribune
- Boston Business Journal
- Boston Phoenix
- Cape Cod Today
- Springfield Journal
- Springfield Valley Advocate
Journalist Associations:
- Society of Professional Journalists – New England Pro Chapter
- American Society of Business Publication Editors — Boston/New England
- New England Newspaper & Press Association
Advertising, Marketing, and Public Relations
Communications majors would be wise to focus on their marketing and public relations skills, at least judging by the state’s employment statistics. The Massachusetts Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation projects that between 2008 and 2018 job openings for Marketing Managers will grow by 5%, while openings for Public Relations and Fundraising Managers will grow 6%, and opening for Public Relations Specialists 15%. Many of the nation’s largest advertising, marketing, and public relations firms have offices in Boston, which provides great employment and internship possibilities for communications majors.
PR and Advertising Firms:
- Palley Advertising
- Mullen
- Clarke Goward
- Davis Advertising
- Gearon Hoffman Inc.
- Harpell
- Lehman Millet Inc.
- Regan Communications Group,
- Rasky Baerlein Strategic Communications
- Davies Murphy Group
- Matter Communications
- Schneider Associates
- McDougall Interactive
- Epsilon
- Allen|Roche Group
- Market Vantage
Professional Associations for Advertising and Public Relations:
- The Ad Club of Western Massachusetts
- PRSA Boston
- Advertising Club of Greater Boston
- American Marketing Association — Boston Chapter
- Publicity Club of New England
Print Publishing
Massachusetts is one of the publishing capitals of the country, trailing only New York and California for the number of quality presses.. The state is home to a number of top-tier scholarly outfits, such as MIT Press and Harvard University Press, as well as respected independents such as Da Capo Press and Shambhala Publications. And while in-house jobs for editors are declining, the state’s labor department projects that jobs for writers and authors will rise 10% between 2008 and 2018, which means an independent writing career could be a good option for communications majors.
Book and Magazine Publishing Companies:
- Da Capo Press
- Shambhala Publications
- AK Peters, Ltd.
- Artech House
- Applewood Books
- Barefoot Books
- MIT Press
- Beacon Press
- Black Sparrow Press
- Candlewick Press
- Circlet Press
- Harvard University Press
- Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
- MIT Press
- Red Wheel/Weiser/Conari
- Small Beer Press
Book Publishing and Writing Associations and Resources: