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San Diego City College

Radio, TV and Film

Radio, Television & Film students at San Diego City College

Starting in the fall 2024 semester, Radio, Television & Film and Digital Journalism will merge into a new program -- Film, Journalism & Media Production.

Look for new and updated courses to appear on the SDCCD Class Schedule starting May 1. The following resouces are also available to help you find your fit in the new FJMP program.

The Film, Journalism, and Media Production (FJMP) program at San Diego City College provides the opportunity for students to develop fundamental skills in these fields for employment in media and related industries or transfer to a four-year institution.

The program includes all aspects of multiplatform content creation and production, including fiction and documentary films, journalism, broadcast news, radio, podcast, and media production. Students also develop skills to think critically, problem-solve efficiently, and communicate ideas effectively.

Courses address legal and ethical issues in media and include the implications of social and cultural constructs, economics, technology, and equity and social justice. Students gain hands-on experience working as part of the online platform City Times Media with its award-winning partners in state-of-the-art facilities.

From massive IMAX screens at international film festivals to the smallest screen in your pocket or on your wrist, the need for high quality, well-produced content has never been greater.

In the Radio, Television and Film program at San Diego City College, you'll get hands-on, technical experience working with the latest industry equipment to give you the skills to produce a wide range of content in preparation for transfer to a four-year institution or the careers of today and the future.

RTVF encompasses the fields of film, radio, broadcast news and multimedia production. The fields include all aspects of creation and production both behind and in front of cameras and microphones. You'll become knowledgeable in all aspects of the creation and production process while learning how to problem-solve efficiently and communicate your ideas effectively.

Multiple areas of specialization are offered, with numerous options for an Associate Degree and certificates. Many of those can be tailored to your specific interests or transfer requirements. Among the options for degrees (all offer a minimum of one certificate):

  • Broadcast News - A.S.
  • Film Production - A.S.
  • Film, Television and Electronic Media - A.D.T.
  • Video Production

RTVF is housed in the Media Center and Performing Arts building in the heart of City College's downtown San Diego campus. Depending on your focus, you could help run our student radio station, SDS Radio , or help us produce our award-winning weekly television news show Newscene in our HD digital TV studio and control room.

 

Course Catalog Description

Click here for course description from Catalog

Program Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of one of the emphasis in the Radio, Television and Film program, the student should be able to:

  • Analyze media's impact on the public
  • Operate audio, video or film equipment
  • Produce audio, video, film or multimedia projects
  • Direct or perform as voice or acting talent

Get involved

City College News Network combines four student news platforms into one, giving students practical, hands-on experience in multi-platform, collaborative journalism and media production. Get your start in the business without every leaving campus! SDS Radio and Newscene are run from classes in RTVF, while City Times and Legend are based in the Digital Journalism program. City students can participate in any of the four, regardless of major, and can even join two or more at a time. Joining the staff is as simple as enrolling in a class.

  • CTTV & Newscene (weekly TV news broadcast) - RTVF 145
  • CT Sound (student-run radio station) - RTVF 130
  • City Times (digital-first news organization and newspaper) - DJRN 210
  • CityScene (news magazine) - DJRN 210

The San Diego City College Film Society is a student film club open to all City students. Meetings and other information is shared on Instagram.

Careers

Careers in film, television and radio are expanding to new realms thanks to technology. Some of the careers in TV news and radio you can get with an associate degree include on-air-personality, news reporter or multimedia journalist, news writer, news producer, operations engineer, news photographer, audio engineer, director and videographer, and numerous studio positions.

Careers that require four-year degrees include motion picture writer/producer, radio and television salesperson, manager, news writer/reporter and news producer.

To learn more about the wide range of occupations, salaries and projected growth visit the Bureau of Labor Statistics Beyond the Number report, published in April 2018 .

Faculty

Chris Acedo (he/him/his) - FJMP Chair; Professor, Radio, Television & Film; Co-Adviser, CTTV & CT Sound - cacedo@sdccd.edu

Acedo was a student at San Diego City College when he landed his first job in the television news industry. Acedo has worked behind the scenes at local television news stations including Fox 5 and NBC San Diego.

Cy Kuckenbaker, M.F.A. (he/him/his) - Professor, Radio, Television & Film, Film Society Advisor - ckuckenb@sdccd.edu

Kuckenbaker has directed fiction and documentary films that have screened at festivals, shows, and websites including: MoMA NY, Centre Pompidou Paris, The LAFF, The Vancouver IFF, True/False, the NBC Today Show, Adult Swim, Atlantic website, Juxtapoz website, Designboom, Journal Du Design and more.

Jodina Scazzola, M.A. (she/her/hers) - Associate Professor, Radio, Television & Film; Co-Adviser, CT Sound - jscazzola@sdccd.edu

Scazzola’s career has spanned the dial, from radio to TV to podcasts. Her voice is heard on radio and TV promos/imaging and commercials for clients including Nickelodeon, Home Depot, Hampton Bay Fans, Sony Pictures Entertainment and PBS. She is also an award-winning producer and copywriter and consults as a media and voice-over coach.