Chair's Welcome
"Stories that matter from perspectives that matter." Through reporting, research, and film, our students tell the stories that define the future of mass communication — and bring their own perspectives to the field.
Mass Communication
216
Majors
5
Concentrations
6
Co-Curricular Student Media Activities and Organizations
Education
Education and Training
The Department of Mass Communication at North Carolina Central University offers five concentrations within the bachelor's degree program: Broadcast Media, Journalism, Public Relations, Digital Filmmaking, and Media Studies. Each concentration prepares students by providing them with career-specific curriculum and practicum hours to gain hands-on experience.
Faculty and Students
The department has approximately 200 majors. The faculty consists of 7 tenured/tenure-track faculty and 4 full-time lecturers. Besides developing writing, editing, audio, video, and multimedia production skills, students in the major learn the transferable skills of meeting deadlines, managing time, learning to speak, write, and think clearly and fluently.
Co-Curricular Media Experiences
Our program pairs strong academic instruction with real, hands-on experience. We give students the chance to write, report, produce, and create from day one. Our students don't just learn about media: they make it. Through student-run organizations, they gain practical experience in writing, editing, storytelling, promotion, and video and audio production:
- AudioNet: Our student-run radio station
- Campus Echo Online: Our student news organization
- Central News: Our student-produced newscast
Co-Curricular Student Organizations
Getting involved outside of class helps you grow as a media professional. Our student organizations offer prime opportunities to network, build leadership, and gain experience in your area of focus: National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ), contact [email protected]; Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA), contact [email protected]; and Nineteen10 Film Alliance, contact [email protected].
Research
Research and Creative Works
Researchers in the Mass Communication Department publish research on journalism studies, health communication, media cultural studies, gender studies, digital humanities and mass communication pedagogy. Faculty produce documentaries, news programming, and other creative works. Department faculty conduct grant-funded research in both STEM and humanities fields.
Alumni and Career Opportunities Stories
See where telling “Stories that matter from perspectives that matter” leads. Explore alumni stories and career paths across the mass communication field.
Degree Concentrations
The Broadcast Media concentration sharpens writing, storytelling and critical thinking while building audio, video and multimedia production skills for careers in radio, television, digital and social media, and corporate settings.
The Digital Filmmaking concentration trains students in producing, directing, editing, cinematography, production design and sound, preparing them for careers in narrative film, documentaries, music videos and branded content.
The Journalism concentration builds the reading, writing, reporting, storytelling and critical thinking skills vital to careers in every medium, teaching students both the theory and practice of news gathering.
The Media Studies concentration teaches students to analyze how and why communication works in society, introducing them to media literacy, critical media analysis and rhetorical communication studies.
The Public Relations concentration prepares students to promote people and organizations, building strong writing, technology and creative thinking skills while exploring ethical decision-making and strategic communication goals.
Additional Information
Internships
Gain hands-on work experience through programs like the NCCU/Duke Charmaine McKissick-Melton Fellowship, applying classroom theory under professional guidance.
Portfolio Requirement
Before graduation, all majors create a tailored professional portfolio showcasing their top work, skills, and creativity to launch their media careers.
Lambda Pi Eta Honor Society
The official NCA honor society recognizes top-performing majors, celebrating academic excellence and connecting students to a national professional network.
Endowed Scholarships
Majors can apply for department scholarships, including awards from Clear Channel, The News & Observer, Ernie Suggs, Minnie Forte, and Dalia Davies Flanagan.
Minor in Mass Communication
A minor complements any major by building versatile communication skills valued across industries. Contact the department chair to learn more.
NCCU TV Studio
Located in Farrison-Newton, our studio offers hands-on training in production and hosting Central News, preparing students for television careers.
WNCU 90.7 FM
NCCU’s jazz station offers real-world broadcast experience through paid internships, student content creation, and the Ambassador Program.
Meet the Team
Andrade, Kara
Adjunct Instructor
Mass Communication
919-530-5142 
Barnes, Bethany
Adjunct Instructor
Mass Communication
Barnes, Zevandah
Instructor
Mass Communication
Barstow, Eric
Adjunct Instructor
Mass Communication
Beaubrun, Beatrice
Adjunct Instructor
Mass Communication
Bennett, Sonja
Adjunct Instructor
Mass Communication
Berry-McCrea, Erin
Adjunct
Mass Communication
Carter, Chavis
Lecturer/TV Studio Assistant
Mass Communication
Casey-Hicks, Felecia
TV Studio Manager
Mass Communication
Chambers, Brett E
Lecturer
Mass Communication
Cruz, Gabriel
Assistant Professor
Mass Communication
Davis, Akilah
Adjunct Instructor
Mass Communication
Eisner, Sharon
Adjunct Instructor
Mass Communication
Farrison-Newton Communications Building, Room 341B
Grant, Charles H
Adjunct
Mass Communication
Hall, Calvin
Chair & Associate Professor
Mass Communication
Hart, Richard
Professor
Mass Communication
Holly, Dan
Adjunct Instructor
Mass Communication
Holman, Bianca
Adjunct
Mass Communication
Hooley, Daniel
Adjunct Lecturer
Mass Communication
Johnson, Ethel O
Adjunct Instructor
Mass Communication
Jones, Evan
Adjunct Instructor
Mass Communication
Letts, Thomas
Adjunct Lecturer-Part-Time
Mass Communication
O'Grady, Julia
Adjunct Instructor
Mass Communication
Paulin, Lisa M
Professor and Assessment Coordinator
Mass Communication
Pearce, Michael
Assistant Professor
Mass Communication
Rodgers-Williams, Anthony
Adjunct Instructor
Mass Communication
Smutherman, Maurika
Assistant Professor
Mass Communication
Struttmann, Madeline
Adjunct Instructor
Mass Communication
Underdue, Lolethia F
Adjunct Lecturer/AudioNet General Manager
Mass Communication
Waleed, Craig
Adjunct Instructor
Mass Communication
Womble, Brenda
Instructor
Mass Communication
Zhang, Tianduo
Assistant Professor
Mass Communication
Apply Now
Ready to tell your story? Apply to NCCU's Department of Mass Communication and start building the skills for a career in journalism, broadcast, film, public relations, or media studies.