Strategic Initiatives

The School of Journalism & Media Studies has identified these initiatives that will help shape the strategic plan for the school over the coming decade. Please click on any to learn more about what we are hoping to accomplish.

Launched in Fall 2013 with a competitive $25,000 grant from the Public Relations Society of America Foundation, this initiative is designed to encourage Spanish/English-bilingual students to pursue media professions. Grant supporters included:

  • Entravision / Univision
  • Azteca America San Diego
  • Allison+Partners (public relations firm)
  • inewsource (journalism nonprofit)
  • National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials (NALEO) Educational Fund
  • San Diego Unified School District
  • San Diego Press Club
  • Public Relations Society of America, San Diego/Imperial Counties chapter
  • Public Relations Student Society of America, San Diego State University chapter
  • SDSU College of Professional Studies and Fine Arts
  • SDSU Glen M. Broom Center for Professional Development in Public Relations
  • SDSU Center for Latin American Studies

Thus far, three JMS courses have been developed and are regularly offered: Writing for Spanish-language and Latinx Media, Border Reporting, and Media in Latin America. The School has hired Spanish/English-bilingual faculty members who will help to further expand this program in the coming years.

The School of Journalism and Media Studies aims to innovate and push our students into new career paths. One such career path is media entrepreneurship.

Starting in spring 2020, the School of JMS will be offering a designated media entrepreneurship course, JMS 515, to upper-level undergraduate and graduate students. This course was previously offered in past spring semesters as an advanced topics course, but will now be an official class in the course catalog. The course is in collaboration with the SDSU Fowler College of Business and Lavin Entrepreneurship Center in which entrepreneurship students will also be able to enroll in JMS 515 as an elective. Students who enroll in the class will learn about the models of media creation, ownership, innovation, and sustainability in the digital age. Furthermore, they will get the opportunity to meet local, national and global entrepreneurs as part of the class experience. For more information on the course, contact Associate Professor Amy Schmitz Weiss at [email protected]