记者负责收集信息，分析和编辑给大众，并使用某种形式的媒体平台分发。分发的方法越来越复杂，但是记者的基本任务仍然是不变的：通过查找，定义，编写和编辑信息为公众服务。视觉新闻学课程的课程为学生提供新闻的视觉组成部分的概念，专业实践和课程工作应用程序：新闻摄影，信息图形，视频和音频剪辑，地图绘制和版式。视觉新闻专业的学生在文科专业学习理论和实践交流。学生将在Western屡获殊荣的学生媒体上获得实践经验，专业还将参加报纸，杂志，广播电台，公共关系机构和其他专业组织的现场实习。
Journalism is the work of supplying content, primarily news, for the ever-expanding world of mass media. Journalists are responsible for gathering information, analyzing and editing it for a mass audience, and dispensing it using some form of media platform. Increasingly the methods of distribution have become more complex, but the basic mission of a journalist remains the same: to serve the public by finding, defining, writing and editing information.<br><br>Today's journalist may be found on traditional publications such as newspapers and magazines, broadcast outlets and specialized publications. They may utilize online delivery or other forms of electronic communication. Trained journalists may use their skills in the expanding field of public relations, working to serve as a bridge between those with a message to communicate and the journalist who seeks information.