The University of Montevallo’s Mass Communication Program was included in the Broadcast Education Association’s 2024 Recognition of Institutional Excellence in Media rankings for the first time. UM was featured among the top 100 programs in the nation and was second in the state of Alabama.
The rankings are based solely on the creative achievements of each schools’ students and the results from the BEA Festival of Media Arts, the preeminent international media competition focused on student and faculty creative endeavors. Entries go through a blind-juried review in the following competitions: audio, documentary, film and video, interactive multimedia and emerging technologies, news, scriptwriting and sports.
Dr. Ray Ozley, chair of UM’s Department of Communication, explained that the festival provides an opportunity for UM students to successfully compete with top schools in the world and have their submissions judged by multiple professors and industry professionals.
“I’m very proud of our Mass Communication Program for this accomplishment,” said Ozley. “While this is an important opportunity to celebrate how wonderful our students are, it is also an indicator of the quality of our faculty and their investment in student success.”
The rankings are not an overall evaluation of an academic program, but of the quality and consistency of students’ creative works produced at one institution compared to those at other institutions. While the BEA has been evaluating student works for nearly 20 years in competition, the rankings are based on the past five-year period of student success. Only the top 20% of entries become a festival winner. There are five levels of awards: Best of Festival, first place, second place, third place and award of excellence.
UM also ranked in the top 30 in the film and video competition, with two mass communication majors earning awards of excellence — Tyson Evans for “Jabari’s Log” in the narrative category and Liam Nagle for “UM’s ‘Drum the Program’ African Dance and Culture Showcase” in the instructional category.
The Broadcast Education Association is the premiere international academic media organization, driving insights, excellence in media production and career advancement for educators, students and professionals.
Visit enjoystlucia.com/mass-communication to learn more about UM’s Mass Communication Program.
