Sights and sounds in the Palmetto State pulse with beat of communicative energy. Media figures like Carolina Currents Magazine, television station WTAT TV 24, and Columbia Star continue to inspire the young minds of media’s future. State colleges and universities awaken students to the boundless nature of communications by captivating them through internships with local companies such as Forte Publishing, Carter Todd & Associates, Interactive Media Group, SC Radio Network, and Lamar Advertising.
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.
Public Relations and Marketing Firms
Although some public relations and marketing specialists become self-employed, many find greater success working for local firms. Carolina Public Relations & Marketing, Inc. in Columbia is one of the oldest and most established firms in the state improving employee, community, internet, financial, and government communications for businesses throughout the South Carolina. Community events like the United Artists for Hope-Music & Arts Festival, Water Missions International-Walk for Water, and the African American Historical Alliance-Legacy of Freedom Gala go off without a hitch thanks to the gifted event planners of Trio Solutions, Inc. in Charleston. Healthcare giants, the Charleston County Medical Society, Roper and St. Francis Hospitals, and the Tridents Health System trust in HHK Healthcare Marketing Specialists in Mount Pleasant to keep their images pristine.
PR and Marketing Companies:
- Impact! Inc.
- Zafari, Inc.
- E. Boineau and Company, Inc.
- Fuel Interactive
- Splash Marketing
Resources for PR and Marketing Majors
Public Relations Society of America-South Carolina Chapter
Publishing
The vast array of publishing companies in South Carolina echoes the diverse taste of its residents. The Sandlapper Publishing Company in Orangeburg relishes in local pride, publishing books about the South and South Carolina in aspects non-fiction recreation, history, travel, cooking, photography, natural history, and folklore. Further east in Charleston, T.C. Jude Publishing, LLC hooks up desktop publishing and customization with a flourish while Advantage Media Group allocates international publishing for elite entrepreneurs, business leaders, and professional speakers. To the far north, BEM Publishers in Rock Hill spices up education by publishing instructional materials in academics, life skills, employment readiness, and transition.
South Carolina Publishers:
- Honeycomb Adventures Press, LLC
- HYPD Publications
- Data Publishing, Inc.
Resources for Publishing Majors
Association of American Publishers
Journalism
Before plunging into the local journalism circuit, students can sharpen skills by joining the ranks of university papers like the Clemson Tiger and the Daily Gamecock. College careers can quickly progress into professional realities as graduates become shining stars in city guides such as the Charles City Paper and the Columbia Free Times or fearless leaders in independent periodicals like the Anderson Independent Mail and the Camden Chronicle Independent. Even lesser known newspapers, such as the Boiling Springs Sentry and Seneca Daily Journal Messenger, scout for new talent to enrich their journalism crews.
Popular Newspapers:
- Charleston Post & Courier
- South Carolina State
- South Carolina Black News
Resource for Journalism Majors
South Carolina Press Association
TV and Radio Broadcasting
The South Carolina Broadcasters Association (SCBA) is champion of community and student interests. In fact, the SCBA’s latest survey reveals that broadcasters helped raise over $19 million in charitable contributions to non-profits in a single year. And each year, the SCBA welcomes communication majors throughout the state to attend a job fair where students can schmooze with local broadcasting employers. Professional networking could lead to positions at area TV stations like WCBD TV 2, WACH TV 57, and WYFF TV 4 or radio stations like WSSX 95.1 FM, WOMG 103.1 FM, and WSPG 1400 AM.
TV Broadcasting Companies:
- Media General, Inc.
- Sinclair Broadcasting Group
- Barrington Broadcasting Group
Radio Broadcasting Companies:
- Miller Communications
- Apex Broadcasting
- Qantum Communications
Resource for Broadcasting Majors