It gives students a better understanding of broadcasting and presentation skills which should be helpful in a variety of fields such as teaching, business, theatre and film studies. The University of Nebraska was one of the first universities to offer courses in broadcasting and one of its early graduates was renowned broadcaster Johnny Carson. The department, as part of the College of Journalism and Mass Communications, has had a consistently outstanding national reputation. Broadcasting students have enjoyed broadcasting and communication based internships in Nebraska as well as all parts of the United States including all the major radio and television networks, The Late Show with David Letterman, NBC's Today Show and Late Night with Conan O'Brien. Lincoln and Omaha have successful television and radio stations, several large cable companies and several private production companies.
Many students gain professional experience on a part-time basis while they attend the university.
In addition to their teaching responsibilities, all the broadcasting faculty have professional positions with the university's radio and television stations. All of the faculty have received teaching awards and two have received awards for distinguished teaching. All have excellent professional broadcasting experience and many have served on the board of directors and as officers of professional broadcasting organizations. Full-time faculty members advise all the current 350 majors enrolled in the department. All the professional classes are limited to 16 students so that faculty can spend time helping individual students.