Mass Communication
Welcome to the Mass Communication Department
The Mass Communication major prepares students for a career in the mass media. After completing a series of foundation courses, students may choose one of four specialty tracks – broadcast journalism, convergence journalism, sports journalism or public relations.
The major leads to a Bachelor of Arts degree that requires 59 hours of general education courses, including a foreign language, and 36 hours of mass communication courses.
Students must choose 18 semester hours for a minor in another discipline or complete two 12-hour collaterals.
Elective courses are also required for an overall total of 120 semester hours.
Discover Exciting Opportunities in Communication
Students gain valuable experience by working with professors who have spent decades in the field of journalism and public relations.
The Spirit of the Students.
The Face of FMU.
FMU is home to an award winning student newspaper, The Patriot. As a member of The Patriot newspaper staff, students have the opportunity to write articles, columns, photograph university events and work on layout. Hands on experience while working with talented professors.
The Patriot is published twelve times during the academic year for the students, faculty and staff of Francis Marion University. The Patriot office is located in the Smith University Center, Room 201. To learn more, call (843) 661-1350.
Read the Latest EditionStudent Media Association
The Student Media Association at Francis Marion University is a group of students who share a common interest in mass communication. The group meets regularly throughout the semester for discussions about broadcast journalism, public relations, convergence journalism, and sports journalism.
In conjunction with the Department of Mass Communication at Francis Marion University, the group takes field trips to media-focused locations, invites special guests, hosts panel discussions and encourages spirited conversation about mass media and journalism. SMA members need not be a mass communication major but members should share an appreciation of mass media, journalism and PR.
STAFF & FACULTY
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Dr. Butler JeniferDr. Jenifer Butler Assistant Professor Mass Communication Jenifer.Butler@fmarion.edu Phone843-661-1686 DepartmentsMass CommunicationOfficeCEMC 111 A
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Dr. Diel StanDr. Stan Diel Chair, Associate Professor of Mass Communication sdiel@fmarion.edu Phone843-661-1532 DepartmentsMass CommunicationOfficeCEMC 111CMore info
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Dr. Diop LayireDr. Layire Diop Assistant Professor of Mass Communication Layire.Diop@fmarion.edu Phone843-661-1621 DepartmentsMass CommunicationOfficeCEMC 111EMore info
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Dobbins DouglasDouglas Dobbins Part Time Instructor: Mass Communication douglas.dobbins@fmarion.edu Phone843-661-1435 DepartmentsMass CommunicationOfficeCEMC 111-F
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Ellis Adalia B.Adalia B. Ellis Part-Time Instructor: Mass Communication aellis@fmarion.edu Phone843-661-1629 DepartmentsMass CommunicationOfficeCEMC 104A
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Dr. Fisher BryanDr. Bryan Fisher Emeritus Faculty of Speech, Years at Francis Marion University: 2003-2024 bfisher@fmarion.edu DepartmentsMass CommunicationOfficeMore info
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Hanson Timothy L.Timothy L. Hanson Associate Professor of Mass Communication thanson@fmarion.edu Phone843-661-1560 DepartmentsMass CommunicationOfficeCEMC 111-BMore info
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Dr. Koomson PaulDr. Paul Koomson Asssistant Professor of Mass Communication Paul.Koomson@FMarion.edu Phone843-661-1617 DepartmentsMass CommunicationOfficeCEMC 111D
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Moore Sherrie Y.Sherrie Y. Moore Administrative Assistant - Mass Communication & Modern Languages Sherrie.Moore@FMarion.edu Phone843-661-1605 DepartmentsMass CommunicationModern LanguagesOfficeCEMC 112
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Dr. Diel StanDr. Stan Diel Chair, Associate Professor of Mass Communication sdiel@fmarion.edu Phone843-661-1532 DepartmentsMass CommunicationOfficeCEMC 111CAdditional information
Bio:
Dr. Diel has bachelor's degrees in economics and journalism from the University of Kansas, a master's degree in communication management from the University of Alabama at Birmingham, and a doctorate in communication and information science from the University of Alabama. He spent 25 years in the news business, working at news organizations in Missouri, Arkansas, Tennessee, Pennsylvania, New York and Alabama.
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Dr. Diop LayireDr. Layire Diop Assistant Professor of Mass Communication Layire.Diop@fmarion.edu Phone843-661-1621 DepartmentsMass CommunicationOfficeCEMC 111EAdditional information
Bio:
Dr. Layire Diop, who hails from Senegal, joined the Department of Mass Communication in January 2022. He holds a master’s degree in TV Management from Drexel University in Philadelphia, where he studied as a Fulbright grantee. Dr. Diop also has a Ph.D. in Communication and Media Studies from the University of Oregon. His educational journey started in Senegal where he graduated in journalism, communication, and foreign languages. He then worked for the Senegalese National Television for 15 years and occupied several leadership positions including chief editor for National Languages, Special Events and the Regions, Chief Editor for Africa and International News, and Deputy Coordinator and Secretary General of the News Department.
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Dr. Fisher BryanDr. Bryan Fisher Emeritus Faculty of Speech, Years at Francis Marion University: 2003-2024 bfisher@fmarion.edu DepartmentsMass CommunicationOfficeAdditional information
Bio
Bryan Fisher joined the Francis Marion faculty in the Fall of 2003 after having taught various Communication courses served as the Coordinator of Speech Communication. He taught at a number of universities including, Bowling Green State University, Indiana University (both in Speech Communication and in the Kelley School of Business), and East Tennessee State University.
Education
Ph.D. Speech Communication and American Studies, Indiana University, 2003
M.A. American Culture Studies, Bowling Green State University, 1993
B.A. American Studies, University of California, Davis, 1989
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Hanson Timothy L.Timothy L. Hanson Associate Professor of Mass Communication thanson@fmarion.edu Phone843-661-1560 DepartmentsMass CommunicationOfficeCEMC 111-BAdditional information
Bio
Tim Hanson joined the FMU faculty in 1996 after spending nearly 20 years as a newspaper writer, wire service reporter, magazine editor, news bureau chief and foreign correspondent.
After earning his bachelor's degree in journalism from Eastern Washington University, Hanson worked as a reporter for three newspapers in the Northwest - including a five-year stint with The Spokesman-Review in Spokane, Washington - before moving to Asia in 1985.
Hanson lived and worked in Asia for nearly a decade. He served as News Bureau Chief for Pacific Stars & Stripes in the Philippines and later as that paper's Assistant Pacific Editor in Tokyo. He also was South Asia Correspondent for United Press International in New Delhi and, in Hong Kong, was Managing Editor of The Reader's Digest (Asian Edition).
During his time in Asia, Hanson covered a variety of stories, including the People Power Revolution in the Philippines, the fall of Prime Minister V.P. Singh's government in India, the long-running Tamil revolt in Sri Lanka, and the Pro-Democracy Movement in Nepal.
Returning to the United States in 1994, Hanson accepted a teaching fellowship at the University of Montana's School of Journalism in Missoula where he earned his master's degree in journalism.
Hanson has received several writing and reporting awards, including one for investigative reporting from the Society of Professional Journalists. That award stemmed from a series of articles Hanson wrote about a man who had been arrested for kidnapping and armed robbery. Hanson's reporting proved that police had arrested the wrong man.
A selection of his articles and photos are available at www.timhansonclips.com
Education
M.A., University of Montana