The School of Journalism and Mass Communication regularly engages alumni, professionals, and professional organizations through its professional advisory board, visitors programs, student organizations, networking events, and community engagement.

The professional advisory board is comprised of alumni and media professionals. Board members interact with students and faculty through classroom visits, drop-in sessions, presentations, and informal meetings during annual visits to the school.

Media professionals routinely visit SJMC classes as guest lecturers, consultants on student projects, and professional partners. Professionals also visit classes and meet with faculty and students through the school’s visitors programs.

The school’s student organizations regularly sponsor events that bring students into contact with professionals. For example, students in the Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA) attended two professional conferences in 2025-2026. Students in Association for Women in Sports Media visited Chicago and Milwaukee in 2025-2026. 

SJMC also sponsors annual trips for students to the NICAR conference and to the College Photographer of the Year, among other professional trips.

SJMC hosts two speed networking events each year. These events bring 30 professionals and 30 students together for short networking meetings. Professionals visit from across Iowa and the region interact with SJMC students in this lively format.

The school hosts several webinars each year. The webinars feature SJMC alumni and professionals working across media industries. Recent webinars have focused on careers in strategic communication, technology and startups, politics, visual media, digital media, and writing.