Cronkite School Launches New Media Academy

The Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication at Arizona State University is opening the Cronkite New Media Academy this summer in response to a growing demand for multimedia and Web training.

The academy, to be held at the school’s new state-of-the-art building in downtown Phoenix, is aimed at individuals who want to understand how communication is changing and how to set up and maintain a fully functional, multimedia-rich Web site.

The academy consists of 10 full days of training and will be held on Saturdays beginning May 30 and concluding Aug. 8.

Participants will learn how to design and develop a Web site, how to effectively present and edit photos for the Web, how to use social networking tools, how to create Web-based graphics, how to do podcasting and audio slideshows, and how to edit and use video on the Web.

At the end of the 10-week program, participants will have fully developed Web sites suitable for professional or personal use. Their new expertise will be recognized with a certificate from the Cronkite New Media Academy.

Individuals also have the option of choosing individual workshops that will teach them specific new media skills.

All sessions will be taught by trained Cronkite School professionals in small digital media labs, with an emphasis on practical hands-on training.

Cronkite Dean Christopher Callahan said the need for digital media training has grown exponentially in the past few years. “The Cronkite School is uniquely positioned to serve that need,” he said. “We have the most advanced technology, and we have a faculty and staff who are leading the country in the field of digital media.”

Callahan said the academy will appeal to a range of people, including individuals who want to launch their own Web sites or businesses, those who are involved in community-based non-profits and organizations and professionals who want to advance their careers by building their digital media skills.

For more information and to register, go to http://cronkite.asu.edu/newmedia.