Southeast to open Center for Excellence in Mass Media

Providing strong classroom education coupled with key learning experiences is important in any discipline. Southeast Missouri State University has taken another step in its mass media program to provide a first-class experience for students.

Dr. Ken Dobbins, Southeast president, announced at the Cape Girardeau Area Chamber of Commerce annual dinner that the university will lease space from Rust Communications at 325 Broadway (the old bank building) to start the new Center for Excellence in Mass Media.

The location -- formerly the Security Bank & Trust building -- will have the university's television and video production program and The Arrow student newspaper and digital production office. Now the students will have a facility designed to best meet needs for news, advertising, television and video production. As Dobbins said in his announcement, the center is part of "media row," with the Southeast Missourian next door and River Radio and KFVS12 across the street.

While this is exciting, it's not the first time the university has developed a dynamic partnership to help students.

In 2014, Southeast formed an agreement with KFVS12 to provide programing time on WQWQ. KFVS also provides education and training.

In 2011, Rust Communications became a partner with the university to help operate the student-run newspaper, formerly known as the Capaha Arrow. The new print product, The Arrow, and its website southeastarrow.com have been recognized with awards from the Missouri College Media Association, and the students are receiving experience that prepares them for the profession.

This is an exciting time for the university's mass media department. The Center for Excellence in Mass Media should be a selling point for Southeast to future students interested in a career in mass media.

Congratulations to the university on its efforts to find innovative ways that provide excellent educational value to students.