Criminal justice careers are varied and challenging, yet rewarding, such as the role of a Police Media Specialist. This career option combines features of a Media Specialist and Public Relations Specialist, plus the duties of a Training and Development Manager who provides informational and training materials for police department personnel.

According to the Princeton Review, the minimum degree for entry-level Police Media Specialist jobs is a bachelor’s degree in educational media or instructional technology. Media specialists work with multimedia equipment to create engaging, effective classes, presentations, lectures, or training sessions. The also “acquire, catalog, and maintain collateral material such as films, video and audiotapes, photographs, and software programs.”

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) does not refer directly to Police Media Specialists, but includes them under the category of Public Relations Specialists. As of May 2010, the BLS May 2010 projections were for a 23 percent growth rate in job opportunities between 2013 and 2020, with annual wages of about $52,090.

How to Become a Police Media Specialist

In order to become a Police Media Specialist, the minimum degree you will likely need is a bachelor’s degree in a specialty such as educational media or instructional technology. Most bachelor’s degree programs require a time commitment of four years in traditional schools, or 2 to 3 years in online education.

While most Media Specialists work in schools, many also find employment in government agencies and organizations such as police departments. A Police Media Specialist, for instance, would be responsible for creating, presenting, and distributing information and training materials to police personnel.

How Education Can Help

Individuals interested in becoming Police Media Specialists are likely already involved in careers, as well as responsibilities in their personal lives. Online courses, with their flexibility and accessibility, provide the opportunity to pursue the education necessary to become certified as Police Media Specialists.

You can typically complete a bachelor’s degree program in 2 to 3 years through online education, depending on the particular school’s program requirements and course availability.

Some courses you might expect to take include:

• Introduction to Educational Media
• Multimedia Tools and Applications
• Technology and Curriculum Integration
• Interactive Software Development
• Interactive Multimedia Systems
• Digital Video Production for Education and Training
• Instructional Design and Technology
• Web and Database Integration

Use our school finder to locate the right Police Media Specialist program for your needs.

Considerations for a Career as a Police Media Specialist

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) does not specifically address Police Media Specialists nor provide statistics for that career, but the BLS does offer May 2010 salary and job outlook predictions for the following related jobs:

• Public Relations Specialists: Median annual wage was $52,090, but annual wages ranged from less than $30,560 to more than $95,200. The job outlook from 2013 to 2020 predicts a 23 percent increase in job openings, or faster than average among all occupations, for a rise from 2010 figures of 258,100 to about 316,200 Public Relations Specialists employed by 2020.
• Training and Development Managers: Median annual wage was $89,170, but annual wages ranged from less than $50,470 to more than $148,950. The job outlook from 2013 to 2020 predicts a 15 percent increase in job openings, or about as fast as average among all occupations, for a rise from 2010 figures of 29,800 to about 34,100 Training and Development Managers employed by 2020.