Western Washington University

07/07/2026 | News release | Distributed by Public on 07/07/2026 15:02

The Department of Journalism, Public Relations & Multimedia rolls out its new name

The Department of Journalism, Public Relations & Multimedia rolls out its new name

July 7, 2026

by Mary Gallagher

WWU Communications

Western's Department of Journalism, Public Relations & Multimedia recently updated its name to reflect the breadth of its coursework and the changing field of mass media.

The department has long housed courses and degree tracks in news/editorial journalism, environmental studies/journalism, public relations and visual journalism, said Chair Brian J. Bowe.

"The mass communication industries are increasingly multimedia," Bowe said. "This means that success in the job market hinges on students mastering a variety of ways to tell stories. The name change better reflects the state of the field."

Including more concepts in the name also helps students find the department, Bowe said.

"Over the years, we observed that some students ended up in other programs that maybe weren't as good of a fit," he said. "Often, they would find their way to us later in their academic careers."

As department faculty discussed the name change, they wanted to reflect the evolution of the field as well as the 55-year-old department's journalistic roots, Bowe said.

"It was important for us to retain journalism in the department's name to show that our commitment to the civic role of a free and fair press endures," he said.

The Department of Journalism, Public Relations and Multimedia provides students with strong skills in research, critical thinking and analysis, and an ability to write clearly and quickly on complex topics. Through robust classroom and practical experiences, students learn to use a variety of digital storytelling techniques for multiple audiences.

Mary Gallagher covers Western's College of Humanities and Social Sciences for WWU Communications and edits WWU's Window magazine and the Family Connection Newsletter. Email her story ideas at [email protected]

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