Pat Janssen, MFA
Assistant Professor
Pat Janssen teaches in the Communication Arts Department at Wayne State College. He is a WSC graduate who has worked in news, sports, and entertainment for more than two decades. Janssen most recently served as the news and content director for News Channel Nebraska’s statewide network of radio and TV stations. In his role, he made programming choices for the entire company, hired and trained reporters and anchors, and oversaw the overall TV, web, and radio product. He has provided live coverage of sporting events at the high school, college, and professional level for numerous networks across multiple markets for TV, print, radio, and digital. He has also contributed writing and performance work for film and television entertainment programs. He has written, directed, and produced multiple fictional and documentary films. He is also the board chair for the Great American Comedy Festival in Johnny Carson’s hometown of Norfolk, Neb.
Janssen's academic interests include journalism ethics, sports and popular culture, social commentary in comedy, ethical film production, Midwestern narratives, and the relationship between politics and mass media.
Education
MFA Film, Vermont College of Fine Arts, 2026
B.S. Mass Communication (Broadcasting and Journalism), Wayne State College, 2006