At Ball State, Media students don’t have to wait until they get into the "real world" to shoot their short film, make a sales pitch, produce a newscast, or host their own radio show. Students join our active organizations to hone skills learned in the classroom, have fun building their professional portfolios, and develop leadership skills.

All Ball State University students are welcome to participate in our student organizations. No experience is required.

Film + TV + Video

Ballvivor

Similar to the popular reality TV show Survivor, Ballvivor simulates the game on Ball State's campus. Sixteen to eighteen students are cast and divided into tribes, where they compete against each other in a weekly challenge. The losing tribe then must vote out one of their own members the following week. Drama ensues as tribes swap members, merge together, and twists emerge. Eventually, one contestant is victorious and earns the prestigious award of Sole Ballvivor!  Learn more.

BSU Tonight

For over 20 years, BSU Tonight has been Ball State's premier student-run sketch comedy show. In addition to sketches, BSU Tonight shoots a monthly "In-Studio" episode filmed inside Studio A in the Ball Communications Building. These episodes are typically a game show, interview, improv nightmare, or all at the same time. New episodes are available on YouTube. Learn more.

Cardinal Aces

Students who join Cardinal Aces learn to demonstrate and fly unmanned aerial vehicles. They also go on field trips to UAV workshops, demonstrations, and flying events. Cardinal Aces supports other Department of Media organizations by providing aerial footage for programs, films, and television broadcasts.

Cardinal Filmworks

A student organization that operates like a real-life movie production company— just without paychecks. Cardinal Filmworks provides a platform for students of all majors to network and gain experience in the making of short films.

Cardinal Sports Live (CSL)

Cardinal Sports Live is a weekly television show that looks at Ball State intercollegiate and club sports from the unique perspectives of the show’s personalities, highlighting sporting events and featuring interviews with coaches and players. Learn more.

Frog Baby Film Festival

Since the late 90s, Frog Baby Film Festival has showcased the best student films produced by Ball State students. Films are juried by a panel of faculty, but the entire event is planned, organized, implemented, and hosted by student members of Frog Baby Film Festival. Get festival updates on Instagram at @frogbabyfilmfest. 

Indiana Outdoors 

Indiana Outdoors produces mini-documentaries and podcasts highlighting Indiana natural resources, historic sites, and recreational opportunities. Students shoot on location across the state and in Ball Communication's podcast studio.  Learn more.

NewsLink Indiana and NewsLink Sports

NewsLink Indiana is Ball State’s Emmy Award-winning nightly newscast. Students perform every role, both on-camera and behind the scenes, streaming new episodes Monday through Thursday at 9:00 p.m. Eastern during the Fall and Spring semesters. NewsLink offers Ball State students opportunities to learn firsthand how to write, produce, shoot, edit, report, anchor, and begin building a portfolio of their work. No experience is required to get started with one of the nation's outstanding student news programs. Learn more. 

The Reel Deal

Reel Deal is a student-run entertainment news show, podcast, and website that highlights the latest news and trends in movies, TV, and music. Learn more.

Waking Up with Cardinal Weather

Waking Up with Cardinal Weather is Ball State University's first and only morning show focused on getting you ready for the day through local news, weather, and lifestyle trends. Waking Up with Cardinal Weather streas every Friday at 8:15 a.m. Eastern on YouTube. Learn more.

Audio Engineering Society

Housed in Ball State's School of Music, the Ball State chapter of Audio Engineering Society serves its members, the industry, and the public by stimulating and facilitating advances in the constantly changing field of audio. It encourages and disseminates developments through annual technical meetings, exhibitions of pro audio equipment, and the Journal of the Audio Engineering Society, the professional archival publication of the audio industry. Locally, it hosts biweekly meetings that discuss many different subjects across the field of the audio industry, a bi-annual Battle of the Bands, and several social events. Learn more.

WCRD-FM (91.3)

WCRD is a student–run radio FM station licensed by the Federal Communications Commission. It broadcasts at 91.3 FM and streams from www.wcrd.net. It also is accessible on the TuneIn app. WCRD broadcasts a variety of music genres, talk shows, up-to-date weather forecasts, a weekday evening newscast and regular news updates. To pitch a show idea for WCRD, students should contact the station's management to get started. Learn more.

Cardinal Sports Live (CSL)

Cardinal Sports Live is a weekly television show that looks at Ball State intercollegiate and club sports from the unique perspectives of the show’s personalities, highlighting sporting events and featuring interviews with coaches and players. Learn more.

Indiana Outdoors 

Indiana Outdoors produces mini-documentaries and podcasts highlighting Indiana natural resources, historic sites, and recreational opportunities. Students shoot on location across the state and in Ball Communication's podcast studio.  Learn more.

NewsLink Indiana and NewsLink Sports

NewsLink Indiana is Ball State’s Emmy Award-winning nightly newscast. Students perform every role, both on-camera and behind the scenes, streaming new episodes Monday through Thursday at 9:00 p.m. Eastern during the Fall and Spring semesters. NewsLink offers Ball State students opportunities to learn firsthand how to write, produce, shoot, edit, report, anchor, and begin building a portfolio of their work. No experience is required to get started with one of the nation's outstanding student news programs. Learn more. 

The Reel Deal

Reel Deal is a student-run entertainment news show, podcast, and website that highlights the latest news and trends in movies, TV, and music. Learn more.

Waking Up with Cardinal Weather

Waking Up with Cardinal Weather is Ball State University's first and only morning show focused on getting you ready for the day through local news, weather, and lifestyle trends. Waking Up with Cardinal Weather streas every Friday at 8:15 a.m. Eastern on YouTube. Learn more.

Ball State National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ)

Our chapter of the National Association of Black Journalists provides support and networking opportunities for journalism professionals and students. Members must have a major or minor in the School of Journalism and Strategic Communication or Department of Media, and membership is open to currently enrolled Ball State University students without regard to race, religion, color, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression, disability, genetic information, ethnicity, national origin or ancestry, age, protected veteran status, or other legally protected category. Learn more.

Ball State National Association of Hispanic Journalists (NAHJ)

The National Association of Hispanic Journalists (NAHJ) is a national network of professionals and students dedicated to the recognition and professional advancement of Hispanics in the news industry, while providing a national voice and unified vision for all Hispanic journalists. Membership is open to currently enrolled Ball State University students without regard to race, religion, color, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression, disability, genetic information, ethnicity, national origin or ancestry, age, protected veteran status, or other legally protected category. Learn more.

Pi Sigma Epsilon (PSE) 

Pi Sigma Epsilon is a national professional and coeducational fraternity in selling, sales management, and marketing. It’s open to any Ball State student interested in those fields or related ones. In addition to other social and career-focused activities, PSE organizes the annual Sales Career Fair Spritzer, an opportunity for sales students to network with the fair’s recruiters.

Women in Business

Women in Business strives to empower members to become future leaders in the business world despite gender-related barriers. WIB does this by facilitating discussions with successful businesswomen, organizing professional development activities, and encouraging its members to speak up for themselves and future generations. Membership is open to currently enrolled Ball State University students without regard to race, religion, color, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression, disability, genetic information, ethnicity, national origin or ancestry, age, protected veteran status, or other legally protected category.

Immersive Learning

Student-led immersive learning opportunities are at the core of the Media academic experience. Guided by a faculty mentor as part of a course, students produce short films, documentaries, and commercials. They record bands, host promotional events, sell sponsorships, and create marketing plans for local, regional, and national clients. Learn more.