Washington State University - Edward R. Murrow College of Communication

What Washington State University - Edward R. Murrow College of Communication does

The Edward R. Murrow College of Communication is an academic unit within Washington State University, headquartered in Pullman, Washington, with additional campuses in Everett and Vancouver. Founded in 1990 and named after the legendary broadcast journalist Edward R. Murrow, the college delivers undergraduate, graduate, and online degree programs spanning journalism, strategic communication, media studies, and related disciplines, while serving a student body drawn from Washington state and beyond.

The college operates eight applied research laboratories covering virtual reality, media psychology, digital media, media analytics, and communication policy. It employs approximately 74 faculty and staff, curates a proprietary dataset mapping 353 Washington-state news outlets, and supports experiential learning through fellowships, internships, and partnerships with media outlets and technology companies. Faculty have secured externally competitive recognition including a 2026 Carnegie Fellowship and a 2026 Fulbright award.

The college's revenue model is characteristic of a public land-grant university unit: a mix of state appropriations, tuition, sponsored research, and philanthropic contributions. Documented funding inputs include a $2.4 million state investment in the Murrow News Fellowship, a multi-year Microsoft philanthropic commitment, and a five-year Report for America partnership valued at $10 million. There is no commercial product or proprietary platform; the unit's outputs are graduates, research, and policy/community engagement.

Name

Washington State University - Edward R. Murrow College of Communication

Legal name

Washington State University - Edward R. Murrow College of Communication

Website

https://murrow.wsu.edu

Company type

Public

Founded year

1990

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

The Edward R. Murrow College of Communication is an academic unit within Washington State University offering undergraduate, graduate, and online programs in journalism, strategic communication, and media studies across Pullman, Everett, and Vancouver campuses, funded through state appropriations, tuition, and philanthropy.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Higher Education - Communication Studies

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113), Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (61131), Radio Broadcasting Stations (516110), Television Broadcasting Stations (51612)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Radio Broadcasting Stations (4832), Television Broadcasting Stations (4833)

akta.pro primary industry

Educational/Instructional Public Media Services (Schools, Distance Learning) (MPABADAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

University/College-licensed Public Broadcasting (TV & Radio) (MPABADAD), Language & Communication Continuing Education (EDAAAEAF)

Keywords

• Communication education
• Journalism programs
• Media research labs
• Strategic communication
• Online graduate certificates

Headquarters

HQ city

Pullman

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. State Legislative Funding: The Washington State Legislature appropriated $2.4 million to support the Murrow News Fellows Program, which helps news organizations across the state bolster civic news coverage in underserved communities.
2. Tuition and Fees: Revenue generated from undergraduate and graduate program tuition for on-campus and online education offerings.
3. Philanthropy and Grants: The five-year $10 million initiative relies on private philanthropy and public support. Microsoft has announced support for the partnership. Carnegie Fellowship provides $200,000 grants to faculty researchers.
4. News Fellowship Program: Partnership with Report for America and philanthropic support to place reporters in Washington newsrooms, with a goal of covering all 39 counties by 2029.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

The Edward R. Murrow College of Communication is an academic college within Washington State University that delivers communication-focused education across undergraduate majors, minors, master's and doctoral degrees, plus fully online certificate and degree programs. It also conducts applied research through eight specialized labs and operates the Murrow Local News Fellowship program that places early-career journalists in Washington newsrooms to strengthen civic journalism in underserved communities.

Product overview

The Edward R. Murrow College of Communication at Washington State University is an educational institution offering a comprehensive portfolio of academic programs. The college provides undergraduate majors in advertising, broadcast news, broadcast production, integrated strategic communication, media innovation, multimedia journalism, public relations, and risk and crisis communication, plus additional majors in sports media and sports promotion, along with four undergraduate minors. At the graduate level, the college offers an MA in Communication, a Ph.D. in Communication, and multiple online programs including graduate certificates and BA/MA degrees. The college also operates the Murrow Local News Fellowship, a professional fellowship program placing journalists in Washington newsrooms, and conducts research through specialized labs including the Digital Media and Society Lab, Murrow Media Mind Lab, and Murrow Virtual Reality Lab.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Murrow News Fellowship: A program that places early-career journalists in newsrooms across Washington state to strengthen local and civic coverage. Launched in 2023 with $2.4M state funding, expanded in 2026 through partnership with Report for America.
• Murrow Symposium
• Murrow Local News Fellowship
• Murrow College Online Programs

Products and services

• Advertising Major (Undergraduate) Undergraduate advertising program focusing on strategic messaging, media planning, and creative development for advertising campaigns.
• Broadcast News Major (Undergraduate) Undergraduate program preparing students for careers in broadcast journalism, news anchoring, and television reporting.
• Broadcast Production Major (Undergraduate) Undergraduate program focused on television production, directing, cinematography, and post-production techniques.
• Integrated Strategic Communication Major (Undergraduate) Program combining advertising, public relations, and marketing communication into an integrated strategic approach.
• Media Innovation Major (Undergraduate) Undergraduate program exploring emerging media technologies, digital storytelling, and innovative communication formats.
• Multimedia Journalism Major (Undergraduate) Program training students in written, visual, and digital journalism across multiple media platforms.
• Public Relations Major (Undergraduate) Undergraduate program focused on strategic communication, reputation management, and media relations.
• Risk and Crisis Communication Major (Undergraduate) Program preparing students to manage communication during emergencies, disasters, and organizational crises.
• Sports Media (Additional Major) Additional major focusing on sports broadcasting, sports journalism, and sports media production.
• Sports Promotion (Additional Major) Additional major covering sports marketing, sponsorship, and promotional communication strategies.
• Communication Minor Minor program providing foundational communication skills and knowledge for students across disciplines.
• Health Communication & Promotion Minor Minor focusing on health messaging, public health campaigns, and health promotion strategies.
• Public Relations Minor Minor covering public relations principles, writing, and strategic communication practices.
• Sports Communication Minor Minor exploring sports media, sports journalism, and sports-related communication.
• MA in Communication (Graduate) Master of Arts degree in Communication offering advanced study in communication theory, research, and professional practice.
• Ph.D. in Communication (Graduate) Doctoral program preparing scholars for research and academic careers in communication studies.
• BA in Strategic Communication (Online) Bachelor of Arts degree in Strategic Communication available entirely online.
• BA in Journalism & Media Production (Online) Bachelor of Arts degree in Journalism & Media Production available entirely online.
• MA in Strategic Communication (Online) 30-credit Master of Arts in Strategic Communication delivered online.
• MA in Health Communication & Promotion (Online) Master of Arts in Health Communication & Promotion delivered online.
• Graduate Certificate in Strategic Communication (Online) 12-credit graduate certificate program in strategic communication delivered online.
• Graduate Certificate in Health Communication & Promotion (Online) Graduate certificate focusing on health communication strategies and health promotion practices delivered online.
• Murrow Local News Fellowship Fellowship program placing early-career journalists in newsrooms across Washington state to strengthen local civic journalism; funded by Washington State Legislature with $2.4 million appropriation.
• Accelerated Program Accelerated program allowing students to fast-track their degree progress.

Quantifiable outcome

• 16 fellows placed in newsrooms, producing over 3,000 stories
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Report for AmericaflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 4 February 2026Landmark partnership between WSU and Report for America to place reporters in all 39 Washington counties by 2029. The collaboration builds on the existing Murrow News Fellowship program, combining Washington's land-grant university reach with Report for America's national infrastructure to strengthen local journalism statewide.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• University of Florida College of Journalism and Communications: Public university college offering journalism, advertising, public relations, and telecommunication programs with active research labs. Comparable on public-university setting, program portfolio, and research output.
• University of Georgia Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication: Public university college providing journalism, advertising, public relations, and mass communication programs with research centers. Closely comparable on size, public-university status, and program breadth.
• Indiana University The Media School: Public university school offering journalism, media production, and strategic communication programs. Comparable on curriculum scope, public-university setting, and integration of digital media research.
• Northwestern University Medill School of Journalism: Elite private journalism school offering undergraduate, graduate, and professional programs in journalism and integrated marketing communications. Directly comparable on academic rigor, research output, and industry placement, though private rather than public.
• Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism: Ivy League graduate journalism school with degree programs across news, broadcast, and new media. Comparable as a top-tier research-oriented journalism school with strong industry brand, though primarily graduate-focused.
• University of Texas at Austin Moody College of Communication: Large public university college offering journalism, advertising, public relations, and communication studies degrees. Comparable as a multi-department public-university communication college with research labs and online programs.
• USC Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism: Private university school offering journalism, communication, and public relations programs with strong research and professional placement. Closely comparable on the strategic communication and journalism curriculum Murrow delivers.
• University of Maryland Philip Merrill College of Journalism: Public university college offering journalism and public policy programs with strong research reputation. Comparable on public-university setting, graduate and undergraduate journalism offerings, and proximity to a major media market (Washington, D.C.).
• University of Missouri School of Journalism: The world's first established school of journalism and a flagship research program in the same field as Murrow. Highly comparable as a comprehensive journalism and strategic communication college with strong research reputation and extensive media-industry placement.
• University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Hussman School of Journalism and Media: Public university school offering journalism, media, and strategic communication programs with notable research activity. Comparable on public-university status, program breadth, and applied research focus.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/MurrowCollege
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/murrowcollege
• Facebookfacebook.com/murrowcollege
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/school/washington-state-university-edward-r-murrow-college-of-communication
• TikToktiktok.com/@murrowcollege

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Washington State University - Edward R. Murrow College of Communication