According to the University of Wisconsin System Fact Sheet 2011-2012, students that pursue a communications major in the state will become a part of one of the biggest higher education systems in the nation. As the cornerstone for education in the state, the UW System lays claim to thirteen four-year universities and thirteen two-year colleges. These campuses strengthen the community by enrolling 182,000 students and creating 32,000 jobs for Wisconsin residents. Communications majors become pillars of the community by improving the quality of the printing, journalism, broadcasting, public relations and marketing industries of Wisconsin.
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.
Print Publishing
Wisconsin has always had a rich history of publishing, dating back to 1855 with the formation of the Wisconsin Historical Society Press. And in a time when corporate dominated markets choke out small, independent competitors, Wisconsin has managed to perpetuate the existence of these rare treasures. Scholarly publishers like the University of Wisconsin Press and the Marquette University Press continue to guide the next generation of publishers by involving students in the day-to-day operation of their respective presses.
Local Book Publishers:
- Orange Hat Publishing
- Printstar Publishing
- Northwestern Publishing House
- Title Town Publishing
Resources for Book Publishers
- Midwest Independent Publishers Association
- Inter-County Cooperative Publishing Association
- Midwest Independent Booksellers Association
Journalism
Journalism has a strong presence throughout Wisconsin. Although the highest-concentration of newspapers are primarily found in the Southeast region, small town journals like the Door County Advocate, the Peshtigo Times, and the Vilas County News-Review still sustain their rightful place.
Three newspapers with the highest circulation in Wisconsin can be found in Milwaukee and Madison:
- Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
- Madison Capitol Times
- Wisconsin State Journal
Wisconsin journalists also take pride in the creation of local city guide journals like the Shepherd Express, the Isthmus, and the Wausau City Pages that serve as go-to resources for regional locales. Always conscious of its multicultural demographics, newspapers like the Milwaukee Courier, the Milwaukee Community Journal, and the Italian Times offer journalistic artistry representing the cities various ethnic communities. Even the unique interests of the agricultural, business, and religious cross-sections are ensured literary expression through journals like Country Today, the Business Journal of Milwaukee, and the Madison Catholic Herald.
A couple great resources for Journalism Majors:
Society of Professional Journalist Wisconsin Chapter
TV and Radio Broadcasting
Wisconsin takes pride in several award-winning radio stations serving the diverse listening preferences of Midwesterners throughout the state. With bragging rights as the first licensed radio station in Northern Wisconsin, WHBY captures talk radio fans with its local news updates, talk shows and community events in Appleton, Green Bay and the Fox Cities.
The University of Wisconsin-Madison’s student-run radio station WSUM dominates the airways of this college town by broadcasting campus news, upcoming concerts and events, live college sports, and student preferred music. By routinely seeking students to fill volunteer and paid positions within its station, WSUM shines as an ideal setting for any communications major to jump-start a career.
For the more serious listener, WPR offers classical music and news coverage to all reaches of the state, boasting live streams, archived programs and features, and MP3 downloading.
Residents of the state’s largest city, Milwaukee, and its neighboring communities indulge in television programming that is affiliated with five major broadcasting networks in the country:
- ABC (WISN)
- CBS (WDJT)
- FOX (WITI)
- NBS (WTMJ)
- PBS (WMVS)
Wisconsinites are no strangers to colorful independent television networks, and tune-in to W08CK, WMLW-CA, and W43BR to get a fix.
A Resource for TV and Radio Broadcasting Majors:
Wisconsin Broadcasters Association
Public Relations and Marketing Firms
Here is a brief list of several public relations and marketing firms in Milwaukee and surrounding areas:
- Charleston/Orwig
- Mueller Communications, Inc.
- Interactive Promotions
- Zeppos and Associates, Inc.
- Ad Link Marketing, Inc.
- IPREX
- Morgan & Myers, Inc.
- Momentum Marketing
- Apexx Group, LLC
- Data Dog Interactive Marketing
- Third Person, Inc.