Clubs and Organizations

Participating in student organizations and clubs will create professional contacts for you while you’re in college. You’ll learn how the media industries work — from people already working in those industries. Internships and jobs sometimes result from the contacts and friends you make through these organizations.

Ad Club
Public Relations Student Society of America
Society of Professional Journalists
National Association of Black Journalists
Radio and Television News Directors Association
Kappa Tau Alpha

Ad Club

Guided by faculty adviser Will Sims, our organization’s mission is to introduce and create awareness of our members and the student body through the surrounding advertising industry by means of networking, workshops, conferences and many more opportunities.

Want to contact us? We are on Blackboard and open to guests.

We meet Mondays or Tuesdays depending on the week, in the MASC Conference Room. The dates for our meetings are posted on Blackboard.

PRSSA

The Public Relations Student Society of America is the student arm of the Public Relations Society of America, the PR industry’s key professional organization. The faculty adviser is Mrs. Carol Mawyer and the current president is Leah Rullman.

As a member of Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA), You have the access to a wide range of benefits that will enhance your knowledge of the public relations profession and provide you with resources to increase your marketability. You will network with colleagues and professionals, obtain access to internships and jobs around the country, and gain leadership experience.

The meetings feature public relations news, PRSSA events and trips, guest speakers, and free refreshments.

The PRSSA's first meeting for the Fall 2008 semester will be September 8 at 5:00 p.m. in the Temple Building room 2219.

For more information contact Leah Rullman at rullmanlk@vcu.edu .

Society of Professional Journalists

SPJ is the leading organization for journalists in both print and electronic media. VCU has one of nation’s top student chapters of SPJ. The faculty adviser is Wilma Wirt.

VCU’s SPJ chapter meets once a month — at 5 p.m. on a Thursday to be determined — in Temple 1145. SPJ holds programs on such topics as Freedom of Information, diversity, Project Watchdog and other journalistic concerns.

NABJ

The school recently established a student chapter of the National Association of Black Journalists. Interested students should contact the faculty adviser, Dr. Clarence Thomas.

RTNDA

A student chapter of the Radio and Television News Directors Association was established at VCU during the 1999-2000 school year. The faculty adviser is Paula Otto. The current president of the student chapter is Lisa Figueroa.

The RTNDA is the world’s largest professional organization devoted exclusively to electronic journalism. The group represents local and network news executives in broadcasting, cable and other electronic media in more than 30 countries.

Student membership gives you the same benefits as professional members, including a subscription to Communicator, an award-winning monthly magazine that offers in-depth features on technological advances and innovative newsroom practices.

RTNDA’s members-only Web site includes job openings, awards and scholarship information, and the latest news and research about the broadcast industry.

Kappa Tau Alpha

This is the honor society for journalism and mass communications.