Phoenix Fall 2008

Department of Journalism

FALL/WINTER 2008 VOLUME 29, ISSUE 1

INSIDE

PH ENIX

BALL STATE UNIVERSITY

RECOGNIZED FOR EXCELLENCE IN THE FIELD

THIS ISSUE

Alumnus named to 2008 PRSA Fellows class

By Jason glassburn

FIRST OF ITS KIND

High school students take over Daily News newsroom for a week PAGE 4

(Left to right) Elaina Gemelas, assistant director of client operations, Jennifer Regnier, executive director and Alexandra Garritano, assistant director of business operations, pose with their PRSSA award for outstanding student-run public relations firm of the year. Photo provided by Ashley Keebler

ALUMNI AWARDS Alumni Association recognizes alumni at Homecoming PAGE 7

Cardinal Communications wins student firm of the year Award from Public Relations Student Society of America marks fifth national honor for PR firm

history, mission and staff structure The Public Relations Student of the organization.

Society of America has named In order to set them apart from Cardinal Communications the other student firms, the executive recipient of the Dr. Frederick H. team focused closely on six Teahan National Chapter Award clients in addition to providing an for Outstanding Firm. overview of its work.

Only one firm is selected “We had to think of something annually from more than 270 fresh and new and come up chapters across the country. with an idea that would spark “All the hard work we put into the judges’ interest,” said Elaina our clients is paying off,” said Gemelas, assistant director of Jennifer Regnier, executive director client operations and senior public of Cardinal Communications and relations student. senior public relations student.

Regnier said the award is an “This award reassures us that example of the creativity, hard our organization is the premier work and dedication demonstrated learning laboratory.” by Cardinal Student leaders Communications of Cardinal students, from C o m m u n i c a t i o n s Having that title is the account received the award impressive when coordinators all Oct. 26 at the 2008 the way up to the PRSSA Conference in seeking potential executive staff.

Detroit.

Alexandra clients. It could Robert “Pritch” Garritano, assistant Pritchard, associate help Ball State gain director of business professor of operations and more recognition journalism, advises senior public the organization and among students relations student, said the award was a said she believes who are interested the skills and long time coming.

“We’ve worked so in public relations.” lessons being hard for this award,” taught to students Elaina Gemelas, he said. “We’ve comassistant director in journalism and peted for it in the past relations of client operations public and it’s been a long classes are seen time since we’ve won this.” through the work being done at Cardinal Communications also Cardinal Communications. received the award in 1983.

“A lot of what we do here mirrors Preparation for the Teahan what we do in the classroom award took months. Each account and reinforces everything we’re team in Cardinal Communications learning,” Garritano said. “We wrote case studies about its clients have amazing support and during the spring semester. The encouragement within the executive staff compiled material department to be leaders.” including information about the The award adds to the repuBy KEEYANA HALL

STUDY ABROAD

Graduate student covers Beijing Olympic games PAGE 11

ALSO INSIDE

Faculty Notes PAGES 2-3, 5-6

Letter from the Alumni Society President PAGE 2

Alumni Notes PAGES 8

Keep in Touch PAGE 10 Outside cover: Daily News Photo Editor Irem Tunc reports on a collision between two cyclists on McKinley Avenue Sept. 18.

Photo by Jay Sowers

“

History of EXCELLENCE 1983

• Cardinal Communications wins its first Dr. Frederick H. Teahan award for outstanding student-run public relations firm of the year

2004

• Ball State PRSSA chapter, which includes Cardinal Communications, wins the Pacesetter award for most school spirit during the 2004 PRSSA national conference • Ball State PRSSA chapter recognized for its outstanding PRSA/PRSSA chapter relationship

2005

• Robert “Pritch” Pritchard named PRSSA Outstanding Faculty Advisor tation the journalism department has among other departments across the country as well as to the reputation Cardinal Communications has with its clients.

“Having that title is impressive when seeking potential clients,” Gemelas said. “It could help Ball State gain more recognition among students who are interested in public relations.”

Due to the rules for the award, which prohibit winning chapters from submitting for the same award again for the next year, the chapter will not apply for the 2009 award. However, there are plans to apply for the award again in 2010.

Erik Johnson MA79 is one of 19 public relations practitioners and educators selected to the 2008 class of Public Relations Society of America Fellows.

PRSA has more than 22,000 members nationwide, and fewer than 2 percent of members have been inducted into the PRSA College of Fellows.

“The qualifications are stringent, so I’m honored to be joining the ranks of Fellows in PRSA,” Johnson said.

Currently, Johnson is a principal at Borshoff, an Indianapolis public relations firm, and serves on the board of the Arts Council of Erik Johnson, MA79 Indianapolis and the Indiana Sports Corporation.

“Designation as a Fellow is one of the profession’s highest honors,” said Melvin Sharpe, retired Ball State professor of journalism and former chair of the PRSA College of Fellows. “Designation as a Fellow identifies the professional as a truly distinguished practitioner and as a role model for students and professionals nationally.”

Sharpe nominated Johnson for induction.

“Fellows may only nominate one person a year, and I frequently have more than one request in a single year from across the United States from professionals and educators,” Sharpe said. “So, I have had hard choices to make in some years. But, Erik was a request for which I had no hesitation in making a priority commitment last year.”

One requirement to become a Fellow is to have at least 20 years of experience in public relations.

Johnson began in the field in 1974, working for the insurance company OneAmerica.

Johnson worked at OneAmerica for about six years before obtaining his master’s degree from Ball State to hone his public relations and writing skills. “[Ball State] was recognized as the leading college in the state in public relations course work,” Johnson said. “The journalism courses and public relations courses were just what I needed.”

After leaving OneAmerica, Johnson began working for Indianapolis Power and Light.

Johnson stayed at IPL for 10 years and held various communications positions there.

In 1990, Johnson met with the founder of Borshoff, Myra Borshoff Cook ’69, and was eventually named one of Borshoff’s principals.

Borshoff Cook received a bachelor’s degree in English from Ball State and is also a PRSA Fellow.

She is the only female PRSA Fellow in the Indiana chapter. She first met Johnson nearly 35 years ago.

“I found him to be creative, detail-oriented, thorough and a good thinker,” Borshoff Cook said.

Johnson is one of five Ball State educators and alumni who have been named PRSA Fellows, joining Sharpe, Borshoff Cook, Fred Woodress EdD89 and Robert “Pritch” Pritchard MA88.

DEPARTMENT NEWS Business Fellows draw crowd at local food expo

LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT

Metzger named Society president, alumni survey sent to your inbox

At our last board meeting in September, the Journalism Alumni Society conducted its biennial election for its three elected positions.

Juli Metzger ’85MS88, publisher of the Muncie Star Press, will begin her two-year term as president in January 2009. Sam Keyes ’04 will replace David Knott MA71 as vice president, and I will replace Sarah Maisto ’96 as the alumni council representative.

In other business, the board discussed our annual alumni awards nomination process, evaluated the success of the journalism alumni reunion and brainstormed ideas for future alumni events.

During these conversations, it became evident it was time we updated some of our goals, initiatives and procedures.

To do this, however, we need your help. By now, you should have received an e-mail asking you to complete an online survey on behalf of the Journalism Alumni Society. If you didn’t, please go to www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm =53P4r7EMwuXHZ4ojdi4dOQ_3d_3d to take the survey. Your participation is critical as we try to determine what we need to do to better serve you.

In addition to surveying our alumni, we also discussed ways we could improve our current awards nomination process. One change we determined was absolutely necessary was

By matt kelly

metzger to begin term january ‘09

BRIAN HAYES

Alumni Society President ’96MA01 updating the actual nomination form and procedure itself.

In the past, whenever someone was nominated, we automatically sent out a form to the nominated person asking him/her to provide us with a current résumé and professional clips (if available). Now people can secretly nominate someone for an award. If someone chooses to make a secret nomination, it is up to that person to provide information about the nominee.

The information the nominator must submit would include a nomination letter stating why the person is worthy of receiving an award, plus at least one other piece of supporting evidence that may include professional clips, a bullet point list of accomplishments, and letters of support from close friends and colleagues.

Our alumni are doing great things in journalism and deserve to be recognized for their work and accomplishments. Nominate someone today at: www.bsu.edu/alumni/article/0,1384,73243-6870-9101,00.html.

Juli Metzger is president and publisher of The Star Press in Muncie, Ind., the newspaper where she started her journalism career as a reporter even as she attended journalism classes at Ball State University.

She also is president and publisher of the Palladium-Item in Richmond, Ind. She earned a master’s degree in Information and Communication Sciences from Ball State University in 1988.

In 1989, she joined the Gannett Co. and has held various editor roles in Ohio, Indiana, Vermont and Louisiana.

She was named the company’s Editor of the Year in 2000 and was named to her current position at the Star Press in 2005.

“

PROMOTING STUDENT MEDIA

The Department of Journalism presented its student media and education programs to the Sept. 26 meeting of the Beneficence Society, a group of university donors. Beneficence Society members Rosanna and Ted Grayson (right) stopped at the Cardinal Communications booth to meet Elaina Gemelas, assistant director of client operations. Student leaders from the Ball State chapter of the American Advertising Federation, the Ball State Daily News, Ball Bearings online publication and Expo magazine also were present. Photo by Megan McNames

FACULTY NOTES Alfredo Marin-Carle

Selected as one of five artists invited to participate in the Willisville Mountain Project exhibit in Ontario, Canada. The project promotes art related to and inspired by the Willisville Mountains of Northern Ontario, one of the oldest mountain ranges in the world.

Marin-Carle is one of only two U.S. artists invited. The exhibit is scheduled for July 25 to Aug. 9, 2009. For more information, visit www.willisvillemountain.com.

Artistic works were featured in The Business Journal of Hispanic Research.

Spoke at the launch of The Business Journal of Hispanic Research, hosted by the Indianapolis chapter of the National Society for Hispanic MBAs at the Indianapolis Museum of Art, September 2008.

Jennifer George-Palilonis

Co-teaching course in interactive media. The course spans the academic year as students develop interactive news and advertising applications for television and the iPhone.

Co-taught course focused on journalistic game

2 FALL 2008 / WINTER 2009 PHOENIX

development.

Co-authored with M. Hanley and V. Tanksale “Research-informed development for interactive media: Enhancing learning by engaging students with users: A case study.” Journal of Interactive Advertising, (9) 1.

Co-authored with M. Hanley and V. Tanksale “Research informed development for interactive media: Engaging students with their audiences enhances learning.” In Worley, D. W., et. al. (Eds.), Best Practices in Experiential and Service Learning in Communication. Book Chapter: In press, Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company.

Co-authored with J. Belcher “Visualizing electricity and magnetism: The collaborative development of a multimedia text, a case study.” This article is under review for The International Journal of the Book.

Co-authored with V. Filak “Visuals, path control, and knowledge gain: Variables that affect students’ approval and enjoyment of a multimedia text as a learning tool.”

This article is under review for Journal of Interactive Media in Education.

Co-authored with M. Hanley and V. Tanksale

Sheryl Swingley ’74MA82 touts the “five P’s of Indiana”: pies, pork, popcorn, persimmons and peppermint.

All of these food items are special to Indiana, and all are part of Indiana’s culinary heritage, which is the focus of one university Business Fellows client: the Indiana Foodways Alliance.

The IFA is a nonprofit membership organization dedicated to preserving Hoosier food culture and promoting culinary tourism in Indiana.

Swingley, a Business Fellows faculty mentor, began working with IFA in the summer of 2007.

The work started with I wanted to be a newsletter and is now involved in a real in a strategy stage.

Students provide business and do content for a Web site containing a data- things that actually base for IFA members mattered, not just to track Indiana food makers, design pro- read things from motional materials a book.” and contribute photoMichael beer, business fellow graphs.

Each Business Fellows project includes a tangible outcome. For the IFA campaign, the Business Fellows promoted a food expo Nov. 22 at Minnetrista Cultural Center to showcase Indiana companies and raise money for IFA. The expo drew 1,430 visitors.

New Day Meadery in Elwood, Ind., displayed their mead, which is wine made with honey. Wine, in particular, is important to the IFA expo because of its historical significance to Indiana. The first commercial winery in the United States began in 1802 when Swiss settlers planted vineyards in Vevay, Ind. Companies that could not attend the event were asked to donate money or goods to a general store at the expo where visitors could buy locally grown goods, with proceeds benefitting the IFA. Cole Brothers Water Co., from Peru, Ind., donated $500 worth of bottled water to the expo.

“If you’re tasting things, you need to wash your palette clean,” Swingley said.

The Star Press, Lilly Endowment, Minnetrista, SaintGobain Containers and Little Crow Foods also donated to the event.

Swingley said she uses her more than 30 years of teaching and public relations experience to guide her Business Fellows students through their projects.

“I’ve been doing this so long – even in junior high and elementary school working on student publications – it’s just part of me,” Swingley said.

Michael Beer, a senior entrepreneurship student and IFA team member, said working with IFA gave him a chance to gain practical experience.

“I wanted to be involved with a real business and do things that actually mattered, not just read things from a book,” Beer said. “Also, I like food.”

Richard Hughes, a senior magazine journalism student, joined as a food photographer in January 2008, and is the most senior member of the IFA team.

He traveled throughout Indiana taking photos for the IFA Web site.

“I have seen many places I probably would never have otherwise,” he said. “And I have met a ton of people along the way.”

The Lilly Endowment Inc. established the Business Fellows with a $1.5 million grant to give students opportunities to work with business clients.

“Research informed design: Process, experience, and results from students and their audiences.” This article is under review for iDMAa Journal.

Presented “Information graphics and education: Multimedia storytelling, teaching, and learning” at the AEJMC National Convention in Chicago, Summer 2008.

Presented with J. Belcher “Visualizing electricity and magnetism” at the American Association of Physics Professors.

Presented with J. Belcher “Visualizing electricity and magnetism” at the Course, Curriculum, and Learning Improvement conference.

Presented with J. Belcher “Visualizing electricity and magnetism: The collaborative development of a multimedia text, a case study” at the International Conference on the Book in Washington, D.C. Presented with V. Filak “Visuals, path control, and knowledge gain: Variables that affect students’ approval and enjoyment of a multimedia text as a learning tool” at the AEJMC National Convention in Chicago, Summer 2008.

Presented with M. Hanley and V. Tanksale “Research informed design: Process, experience, and results from

DEPARTMENT NEWS

News Scholars program now in second year

By Joe lanane

Now in its second year, the Louis E. Ingelhart News Scholars program continues to give gifted high school journalists the chance to shine upon their arrival at Ball State University.

Brian Hayes, director of the journalism department’s secondary education outreach office, took over News Scholars this summer and has already carefully outlined goals for the four-year program. Hayes said he is taking steps to ensure these 26 young journalists receive a well-rounded college experience.

“The premise is to give News Scholars students a nice exposure to the profession through a variety of methods,” Hayes said.

Hayes said personal discussion with professional mentors, special cohort classes and group projects will prepare the News Scholars for successful careers.

“In general, we’re trying to promote media careers to a group of individuals who have high interest in becoming journalists,” he said.

Each year, the journalism department accepts up to 30 incoming freshmen pursuing a future in journalism to the program.

Their backgrounds vary from newseditorial, magazine writing, photography and graphic design, but their goal is one in the same: learn to produce journalism at the highest level possible.

Such ambition is what helped sophomore journalism student Joe Cermak earn a spot in the News Scholars program last year. That

News Scholars students attended a luncheon with Indiana Court of Appeals Chief Judge John G. Baker, Judge Paul D. Mathias and Judge Elaine B. Brown (above) Oct. 28. Photo

by Megan McNames

same perseverance did not subside once at Ball State, as Cermak’s byline is often visible on the pages of the Ball State Daily News.

Cermak said he sees that same “hands-on”

approach in his freshmen counterparts, the new class of News Scholars. By getting involved in the student media available on campus, Cermak said News Scholars get the chance to see that “college is more than just class.”

He was recently among several sophomore News Scholars to travel to St. Louis, where the students were allowed exclusive access to KMOX-CBS radio, KSDK-NBC television and the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.

Their trip came just weeks after the freshmen class visited The Indianapolis Star and the WXIN-FOX television studio.

Both freshmen and sophomore News Scholars were privileged to receive personalized attention from working professionals, as well as an inside look at how daily editorial meetings operate.

The News Scholars also attended a luncheon with Indiana Court of Appeals Chief Judge John G. Baker, Judge Paul D. Mathias and Judge Elaine B. Brown in October.

Cermak said he has strived to implement such out-of-class experiences to his writing in and out of the classroom. There are often increased expectations for News Scholars in the student media, but he said he remains his toughest critic.

“I still see how far I am from where I want to be, but it’s always encouraging when people put so much energy and faith in you and in what you want to do,” Cermak said. “I think people do hold (News Scholars) to a higher standard, but I think that’s a good thing.”

University researchers awarded $2.5M Homeland Security grant

By DANA ZIEBARTH

The Federal Department of Homeland Security awarded Ball State University a $2.5 million grant to create crisis communication training modules, both online and on-site.

Out of 189 proposals submitted to the DHS, only 12 were accepted for the grant in the fall of 2007.

“We are one of the few universities that received a grant,” said Robert “Pritch” Pritchard, associate professor of journalism and lead principal investigator for the grant. “They typically are given to agencies.”

The interdisciplinary team, consisting of five principal investigators, four graduate assistants and one teaching coordinator, is creating four Advanced Crisis Communication Training courses. The courses will be used in training emergency communicators such as 911 dispatchers and call center supervisors.

Two courses will be available online and will focus on communication awareness. The other two will be offered on-site and will rely heavily on real-world scenarios and interactive exercises to reinforce key principles

and create an in-depth knowledge base, Pritchard said.

Each year, the DHS surveys its employees to determine where improvements can be made. The most important improvements are narrowed down to four, and a list is released to the public.

In 2006, the list included crisis communication training. Thaddeus Godish, professor of natural resources and environmental management at Ball State, saw the need for communication improvements and contacted the DHS. “He knows that our CCIM department is very strong and equipped to take on the challenge,” said Nancy Carlson, associate professor of telecommunications and a co-principal investigator for the grant. “We decided this grant was right for us.”

The Ball State team was formed and a proposal submitted in spring 2006.

Although the team did not receive the grant on their first attempt, they were not discouraged. They revised the proposal and resubmitted it in the spring of 2007. The proposal was accepted that fall.

One of the first steps for the newlyformed crisis communication team was to discover in what areas emergency communicators needed help.

A survey was created and sent out to members of the National Emergency Number Association, the voice of 911.

Survey results indicated members of NENA are interested in receiving additional training in effective public education strategies, effectively communicating with the media and understanding the legal ramifications of releasing information.

The Ball State team is currently writing course content for the Advanced Crisis Communication Training classes. They also are continuing research in order to fine-tune the courses.

“Participants will learn how to stay ahead of the curve rather than fall behind it — demonstrating that information and communications can be just as powerful of a force for mitigating or controlling the impact and scope of a crisis as fire trucks, EMTs or evacuation,” Pritchard said.

The training courses are set to be complete and implemented by May 2011.

He said he has been particularly encouraged by the on-campus participation of several freshmen News Scholars, including Jessica Mahanes and Teddy Cahill. Mahanes helped coordinate presidential campaign efforts for President-elect Barack Obama, while Cahill serves as the field hockey and baseball beat reporter for the Ball State Daily News.

Mahanes said her constant interaction with people along the campaign trail will particularly bode well for her down the road, but she said the overall political experience will help shape her career in journalism ethics and media law after college.

“News Scholars is giving me a really thorough background, which is awesome,” Mahanes said. “If you don’t have a good background of journalism, there’s a lot that you miss.”

She credited her Journalism 101 class with Hayes for developing much of her technical knowledge of the field so far.

Hayes requires such involvement outside News Scholars by sophomore year, but efforts such as these are all the more encouraging for the first-year director.

“One of the benefits of the News Scholars program is that students are serious, so there’s lots of potential to be successful in our field,” Hayes said, estimating that 90 percent of News Scholars are involved in student media.

“Some are more involved than others, but that’s okay as the freshmen are still trying to figure out what life is like in college.”

Professionals in Residence The Department of Journalism sponsored six Professionals in Residence over the course of the fall semester. Coverage of each event is available online at www.bsu.edu/journalism.

Digital freedom: A look at issues affecting student free speech on the Internet Frank LoMonte, Student Press Law Center executive director How to add value to your brand Tom Traynor, owner, Breehl, Traynor & Zehe Alumni panel: Making a name for yourself Alumni from the magazine, secondary education, public relations, advertising and journalism graphics sequences, moderated by Lori Byers, associate dean of the College of Communication, Information, and Media In pursuit: What it takes to be a commercial photographer Lesle Tomlin, owner, Studio Midwest

The future of journalism Webcast A Webcast of panelists presented by the Christian Science Monitor; moderated by John Yemma, editor of The Christian Science Monitor Today’s paper, tomorrow: A look at where the news industry is headed Hazel Reinhardt, Media Management Center at Northwestern University

FACULTY NOTES (continued from page 2) students and their audiences” at the International Design and Media Arts Association conference in Savannah, Ga. Presented with M. Hanley and V. Tanksale “An integrated approach to interactive advertising and news design pedagogy using the informed design research-informed development models” at the Direct/ Interactive Marketing Research Summit in Las Vegas.

Presented “Multimedia getting stale? Ways to better harness the power of the web” at the Society for News Design Conference in Las Vegas, Fall 2008.

Elected AEJMC VisCom Division Second Vice Head, 2008-09.

Elected AEJMC VisCom Division Newsletter Editor, 2008-09.

Brian D. Hayes

Received Master Journalism Educator certification from the Journalism Education Association, November 2008.

Presented a session on finding work and/or internships in journalism at the JEA/NSPA annual fall

convention, November 2008.

Presented a session on magazine design trends at the Indiana High School Press Association annual fall convention, October 2008.

Wrote a column and conducted a Q&A with Pegie Stark Adam from the Poynter Institute for Blend magazine, October 2008.

Participant in a Journalism and Mass Media Standards Creation Committee meeting with the Indiana High School Press Association and the Indiana Department of Education, September 2008.

Appointed as the 2009-10 Alumni Council Representative for the Journalism Alumni Society, September 2008.

Appointed to a position on the Journalism Education Association Certification Commission, June 2008.

ADAM MAKSL

Attended and presented sessions at the JEA/ NSPA high school journalism convention in St. Louis, November 2008.

Joined the New Media Committee of the Journalism

Education Association, November 2008.

Co-authored with V. Filak “‘Controversial’ definition unclear: If a school paper deals with sex or administrative criticism, chances are someone will be upset.” Published in the fall 2008 issue of the Dow Jones Newspaper Fund Adviser Update newspaper.

Attended and presented convergence session at the Indiana High School Press Association Convention in October 2008.

Assisted a group of young journalists from Indianapolis-based Y-Press in covering the Republican National Convention in St. Paul, Minn., in September 2008.

Received 2008 Ball State College of Communication, Information, and Media Core Competency Award for Outstanding Community Connections.

Co-presented with V. Filak and S. Reinardy “Expanding and validating applications of the willingness to self-censor scale: Self-censorship and media advisers’ comfort level with controversial topics,” at the AEJMC conference in Chicago in August 2008.

Co-presented with V. Filak and S. Reinardy

PHOENIX FALL 2008/WINTER 2009 3

EDUCATIONAL OUTREACH NEWS MENTORING YOUNG JOURNALISTS Secondary education students teach at Junior High Journalism Day

By Neil ruhland

More than 200 junior high school students and their advisers from across the state attended the 30th annual Junior High J-Day, Oct. 3.

Students took classes in interviewing, designing, writing and planning for their student newspapers and yearbooks.

Eleven secondary education students from the Department of Journalism taught 13 of the 30 sessions offered.

“Having journalism secondary education students teach junior high students is a valuable experience for the majority of them because most of them have not been in a classroom setting,” Brian Hayes, secondary education sequence coordinator, said.

Students began the day at Emens Auditorium where they listened to comments from Hayes, Department of Journalism Chairwoman Marilyn Weaver and the keynote speaker, Jerry Ackerman.

Students then dispersed to sessions in the Art and Journalism Building.

This was the first year all the sessions were held there.

“I think the Art and Journalism Building allows students to be in the focal point of campus,” said Adam Maksl, assistant director of Journalism Workshops.“ It also

demonstrates the energy of Ball State.”

Secondary education students taught classes on junior high yearbook or newspaper interviewing, writing and design.

“This experience helped me understand the importance of my audience when making lesson plans,” junior secondary education student Jincy Gibson said. “Our teachers talk about paying attention to our audience when writing for a newspaper, but now I see that it applies to teaching just as much.”

While most journalism students are required to complete at least one internship, secondary education students must wait until their second semester senior year to go through student teaching, so teaching sessions at Journalism Day is a great supplemental experience.

“I had 25 students that were providing real-life feedback that I can use to become a better teacher,” graduate student Aimee Williams said.

Williams taught two sessions and helped teach another with a fellow student.

“Junior High Journalism Day helped me progress as a teacher,” Williams said. “It was the first time I had ever led a class by myself or implemented a lesson plan that I had created.”

Junior high student Treva Clingenpeel takes notes in secondary education student Tori Thomas’ Junior High Journalism Day class.

Photo by Megan McNames

Adam Maksl, left, works with 15-year-old journalist Tommaso Verderame on an audio slideshow story about protesters at the Republican National Convention in St. Paul, Minn. Photo by Charlie Nye/Indianapolis Star

Instructor accompanies young journalists to GOP convention

By BECKY ROTHER

Adam Maksl is no stranger to conventions.

As assistant director of journalism workshops, Maksl has attended dozens of conventions over the years.

But this one was different.

Maksl was one of five chaperones who accompanied young journalists from Indianapolis-based Y-Press to the Republican National Convention Sept.

1 – 4 in St. Paul, Minn.

Y-Press is a youth media organization comprised of about 100 young journalists. They have their own newsroom at The Indianapolis Star and publish print stories in the Star every two weeks. The organization also maintains a Web site,

ypress.org, and produces radio stories.

Nine students — all under age 17 — traveled with Maksl and other chaperones in a 12hour bus ride to the convention.

“It was really neat to watch the kids stand sideby-side with journalists – some four, five, six times their age – acting professionally,” Maksl said.

Other adult chaperones included a Y-Press writing coach, a freelance radio reporter, an Indianapolis Star photographer and Y-Press Bureau Director Lynn Sygiel.

Sygiel was bureau director when Maksl was a student involved in Y-Press, then called Children’s Express. Maksl was 12 years old at that time, but Sygiel still

“

It was really neat to watch the kids stand side-by-side with journalists ... acting professionally.”

Adam maksl remembered him.

Maksl said the convention did not go as smoothly as they expected, however.

When the group arrived, they did not have the press credentials they had expected.

Although they were disappointed, Maksl said, there were still opportunities for the student journalists to experience the political process.

The group worked

High school workshop students produce Daily News

BY Megan mcnames

In the first program of its kind in the nation, 18 high school seniors and recent graduates took over the Daily News newsroom for four days this summer, immersing themselves in the world of college journalism.

The workshop, titled the Daily News Experience, or the DN|X, was held alongside the journalism workshops’ annual high school sessions July 20 - 24.

“We wanted to create a unique workshop that gave advanced students the ability to practice what they’ve been learning in their high school classes,” said Adam Maksl, assistant director of Journalism Workshops. “What better way to do that than to challenge them to create a publication in a very limited amount of time.”

DN|X students worked under the supervision of the Daily News adviser and the newspapers’ regular student editors.

Daily News summer staff copy chief and senior news-editorial sequence student Ellen Gilmer said she was impressed by the eight-page paper the students created.

“The paper they put out for that edition was just really incredible to look at,” she said. “Some of them really outperformed what we were expecting.”

Kate Burnett, who attended the DN|X as a feature writer and is now enrolled as a public relations student at Ball State, also was proud of the work she and her fellow workshop students did for the paper.

“It was pretty amazing to have such a small group of students produce a real newspaper where we didn’t have to fill any space with Associated Press stories,” she said. “It was all work we did ourselves.”

Burnett, who was editor-inchief of her high school yearbook prior to attending the DN|X, said she was glad for the opportunity to report for the paper, especially because her duties as editor had prevented her from writing much.

“It was good to get back to producing the story, writing the story and being part of the interviewing process,” Burnett said. “That’s what I loved about journalism in the first place.”

She wrote a front page story

4 FALL 2008 / WINTER 2009 PHOENIX

Teddy Cahill works at the sports desk in the Daily News newsroom for the Daily News Experience workshop. Cahill is now a News Scholar at Ball State and a sports reporter for the Daily News. Photo submitted by Journalism Workshops

about the filming of the movie “My Name is Jerry” on Ball State’s campus. For the story, she was given unlimited access to the film’s writer, producer and star.

According to Maksl, many advisers and high school students have already shown interest in applying or having their students apply to the 2009 DN|X. Although only high school seniors and students entering college at the end of the summer

were permitted to apply to the DN|X, Maksl said high school juniors will be allowed to apply for the workshop next year.

“They get to work for one of the best college newspapers in the country,” Maksl said. “There are good high school newspapers, but this is really taking them to the next step.”

Funding for the DN|X came from a $1,000 College Media Advisers grant.

with another student group from Michigan, 8-18 Media, in a room in the Minnesota Children’s Museum.

U.S. Congressman Mike Pence, from Indiana’s 6th District, made a special stop at the museum to speak with the Y-Press reporters.

Pence also helped get guest passes for the group. For Gov. Sarah Palin’s speech Wednesday night, three students had passes, and Maksl and eight students were able to attend Sen. McCain’s candidacy nomination acceptance speech at the Xcel Energy Center.

“To be in the presence of someone who could have been the next president was pretty inspiring,” Maksl said. “I felt like we were witnessing history.”

Sparking interest

Magazine in 5th issue

The Ball State Journalism Secondary Education Services Office released the fifth issue of Blend in November at the Journalism Education Association National Convention in St. Louis.

The magazine, which is geared toward high school journalism students and their advisers, is edited by Tom Gayda ’98MA06 and distributed in association with the National Scholastic Press Association.

DEPARTMENT NEWS

Former Indianapolis Star digital news editor joins faculty By candace moore

As an editor at The Indianapolis Star, John Strauss was known for training young reporters and college interns in the newsroom.

Now, the professional journalist brings his passion for helping young people to Ball State in a different capacity, preparing students to enter the career he knows and loves as adviser to the Daily News and instructor of journalism.

Strauss’ journalism career spans approximately 30 years. He has worked as a weekend anchor and talk show host in South Bend, Ind., as well as an editor for the Associated Press in Tennessee, New York City and Indianapolis. He currently hosts a Sunday morning radio show on Indianapolis WIBC 93.1.

For the past 10 years, Strauss has worked at The Indianapolis Star as the newspaper’s leading City Hall reporter; a metro columnist and an enterprise reporter; assigned to the “most sensitive coverage” such as stories on Bob Knight’s last months at Indiana University, he said.

Before joining Ball State, he was also the digital news editor and Sunday city editor for The Star. He also volunteered on Ball State’s Journalism Advisory Board and served as a regular presenter at Journalism Workshop’s High School J-Day. “As I looked at the opportunity and thought about the great experience I had as a volunteer, I knew this was something I wanted to do,” he said. “I left a great job in Indy, but this opportunity does not come up very often.”

Strauss also serves on the department’s Future of News Committee, which examines and revises the current news curriculum.

“

Students who are willing to learn and work will emerge from his class as competent, skilled reporters.”

Tom Leyden, INDIANApolis star

In his classroom and on this committee, he emphasizes the importance of convergence, an area in which he has great interest and experience.

Strauss has even created a Web site in his Advanced Reporting class – www. digitalmuncie.blogspot.com – so that his student reporters can post stories about local public affairs and business beats within Indiana media.

“We have to prepare students for online media experiences,” he said. “It’s great that Ball State has recognized this and the changes that this multi-platform [plays in today’s society].”

Dan Human, a senior in Strauss’ Advanced Reporting class and managing editor of the Daily News, said he feels he is gaining realworld experience from Strauss’ teaching and expects to benefit from his extensive journalism background.

“It’s been good having somebody that came right out of the professional world,” he said. “He tries to run class like an actual newsroom. It’s not a lecture everyday, it is hands-on learning.”

Tom Leyden, who worked with Strauss at The Indianapolis Star, has known him for more than 15 years. Describing him as a “highenergy, intelligent and resourceful journalist,” Leyden explained that Strauss “will feed off of

Instructor of journalism and Daily News adviser John Strauss talks to Bradi Heaberlin from Clark Pleasant Middle School about submitting short stories to magazines. Heaberlin attended one of Strauss’ sessions at Junior High Journalism Day in October. Photo by Megan McNames

the energy of his students, who, in turn, will learn from him how to become pros.”

“John lives by fairness and accuracy,” Leyden said. “Students who are willing to learn and work will emerge from his class as competent, skilled reporters.”

Bob Jonason ’80, a colleague of Strauss’ in the multimedia division of The Indianapolis Star, said, “He was great with interns in the newsroom, taking the time to show them how to make their stories better. He gets a lot of satisfaction out of working with young people.”

One of his goals as adviser to the Daily News this year is to increase the paper’s revenue to provide more opportunities for Daily News staff members to travel and cover

stories. He views this opportunity as a reward for the immense amount of time and effort the students put into producing the paper.

“These students have tremendous heart and work incredibly hard,” Strauss said. “They would test the endurance of any of their counterparts in the world of professional journalism.”

For this reason, Strauss said his first priority in the Daily News is to be a sounding board for the students’ ideas and to prepare them for careers in journalism after they graduate, believing it is his duty to prepare young people to excel.

“Part of being a good steward is to help others the way you were helped,” he said.

“And I just hope I live up to that.”

Former WHZR news director, current CNHI reporter joins faculty

By Maricris julie l. taeza

With 25 years of experience in writing and editing for the Logansport Pharos-Tribune, David Kitchell looks forward to sharing his knowledge as a journalism instructor at Ball State University.

“The department is doing an excellent job of being ahead of the curve in which the journalism industry is heading,” Kitchell said.

“It is exciting to be a part of this generation.”

Department of Journalism Chairwoman Marilyn Weaver said she is pleased with the professional experience Kitchell brings to the department.

“His journalism and public relations experiences are both valuable to our program and to students,” Weaver said.

Mary Spillman, news-editorial sequence coordinator, agreed.

“I think it is a very nice opportunity for someone with Instructor of journalism David Kitchell listens as a student reads aloud an David’s professional experience to interact with the students,” she said. article written in his journalism storytelling class. Photo by Megan McNames

“

I love being around students because I am trying to be a student myself — a life-long learner .”

David Kitchell

“We hope he will be an important part of the program.”

A native of Logansport, Ind., Kitchell has worked as a news director for Logansport WHZR 103.7 and as a broadcast marketing specialist at Purdue University News Service.

Currently, aside from working full-time at Ball State, he is also writing for the CNHI News Service and Howey Political Report. “[He] has a variety of experiences, so he can see beyond the immediate needs of a news reporter,” said John Strauss, a Ball State journalism

instructor. “In the university setting, he can see beyond the immediate educational opportunities and know what skills students need to possess to be competitive in a very tough job market.”

A Purdue University alumnus, Kitchell said he has had a lot of challenges in his career, but the greatest one is to stay in front of the challenges.

“The industry has changed so much in the 25 years that I have been in it. Sometimes, you just have to look at what is going on,” he said.

Despite his solid experience, Kitchell continues his quest for knowledge. He plans to pursue an online master’s degree in journalism either from the University of Missouri or University of Memphis.

“I would like to be in the field longer, so I need to retool myself,” he said. “I love being around students because I am trying to be a student myself — a life-long learner.”

FACULTY NOTES (continued from page 3) “Satisfied: The Maslach Burnout Inventory measures job satisfaction and lack of burnout among high school journalism advisers,” at the AEJMC conference in Chicago in August 2008.

Co-presented with V. Filak and S. Reinardy “An examination of high-school media advisers’ reactions to controversial news topics: A developmental and confirmatory analysis,” at the AEJMC conference in Chicago in August 2008.

Authored “Performance boost: Journalism adviser preparation helps pave the road to scholastic press freedom,” in April/May 2008 issue of Quill & Scroll magazine.

Co-authored with V. Filak “Sex, drugs and rock ‘n’ roll: Controversial topics that most often land high school journalists on the hot seat are identified.”

Published in February/March 2008 issue of Quill & Scroll magazine.

Mark Massé

Published the essay “Nobody’s Father” in “Nobody’s father: Life without kids.”

Co-authored with J. Canfield and M. Hansen the essay “Hallowed Ground” in Golf Digest’s “Chicken soup for the soul: The golf book.”

Panelist for discussing journalism curriculum innovations at the AEJMC National Convention in Chicago, Summer 2008.

Coordinated 10-year extension of funding for the Eugene S. Pulliam National Journalism Writing Award.

Jeff Newton

Presented with R. Pritchard “Measuring the effectiveness of media relations” at the I-CASE conference in Indianapolis, Fall 2008.

Robert Pritchard

Advised Cardinal Communications, which received the 2008 PRSSA Dr. F. H. Teahan Chapter Award for Outstanding Chapter Firm.

Co-authored with B. Mason “The status of public relations education in United States MBA programs.”

This article is under review for Public Relations Journal.

Co-authored with V. Filak “Confronting media

nihilism: How transparency builds meaning during crisis.” This article is under review for Public Relations Journal.

Wrote “Media nihilism.” Indianapolis Star online, February 2008.

Submitted with S. Duhé “It’s a matter of time: The interplay of public interest, ambiguity, and information demand in crisis response” at the International Public Relations Research Conference in Miami.

Submitted with D. Davis and V. Filak “Hoosier health care public relations practitioners’ role in the dominant coalition of organizations” at the International Public Relations Research Conference in Miami.

Presented with B. Sha and D. Dozer “Strategic communication: Aligning the practice with the profession in military public affairs” at the International Public Relations Research Conference in Miami.

Presented with V. Filak “Confronting media nihilism: How transparency builds meaning during crisis” at the Public Relations Society of America International Conference in Detroit.

Presented with V. Filak “Intrinsic vs. extrinsic

PHOENIX FALL 2008/WINTER 2009 5

DEPARTMENT NEWS

Digital media minor offered By natalie nauman

The College of Communication, Information, and Media is offering students a minor in digital media.

Mary Spillman, news-editorial sequence coordinator for the Department of Journalism, serves as program director for the minor.

“The digital media minor allows students from all majors to acquire the skills they need to succeed in today’s multimedia world,” Spillman said. “And, the interdisciplinary approach is very popular with students and faculty.”

To earn a minor in digital media, students must complete 18 credit hours of classes in digital storytelling such as image design, message analysis, interactivity, and sound and video design. Part of the 18 credit hours must include a senior capstone and colloquium.

Spillman currently co-teaches Digital Interactivity Design, a threecredit-hour course students can apply toward a digital media minor.

For the class, which she teaches alongside Jennifer George-Palilonis, assistant professor of journalism and graphics sequence coordinator, students are required to design an interactive video game.

Mobile phone marketing study nears completion

By Lynn Fultz

Jessica Booth (center) asks Mary Spillman for advice on the video game she is creating for a digital media class. Photo by Megan McNames

The students use Adobe Flash, working with classmates to develop content then testing their games on the public.

Jessica Booth, who graduated from the journalism graphics program three years ago and now works at Ball State’s Center for Business and Economic Research, is taking Spillman and Palilonis’ class as a continuing education

student.

“Why not take the opportunity to learn interactive graphics, which was not a part of the program when I was in it?” Booth said. “I couldn’t pass up the opportunity.” “[Spillman] is very knowledgeable about looking at where the media is going and sharing it with her students,” said Kimberly Lytle, a student in the class.

NEWS 201 VISITS CNN.COM VIRTUALLY

Assistant Professor of Telecommunications Suzy Smith speaks to students in the News 201 class she co-teaches with Instructor of Telecommunications Terry Heifetz via video iChat from behind the scenes at CNN.com’s headquarters in Atlanta on Nov. 4. Screenshot submitted by David Studinski

Michael Hanley, assistant professor of journalism, is wrapping up his study of the attitudes students hold toward receiving advertising on their mobile phones.

“This is the evolution of a whole new channel of delivery for news, information, entertainment and advertising,” Hanley said.

Hanley’s surveys about cell phone advertising have been passed out to students every semester for the last five years.

The use of the cell phone for advertising and marketing with coupons is growing, not only with students, but also with the population in general, Hanley said.

“Michael is one of the seminal researchers in the use of mobile marketing in the U.S.,” said Michael Becker, external vice president of iLoop Mobile Inc. and co-editor (with Hanley) for the International Journal of Mobile Marketing. “He has conducted one of the only lengthy, longitudinal studies showing how incentives and related methods can be used in mobile marketing, which is important for mobile marketers to be able to use in the channel.”

The channel – mobile devices – and advertising are fast becoming dependent upon each other.

“The ad industry, which runs a lot of this medium, sees the value in the companies that need funding, especially with new technologies like mobile,” Hanley said. “Basically advertising is a way to help fund it. So, they live together and that’s why we’re seeing the growth.

The mobile’s growing and the use of mobile devices for marketing and advertising are growing right along with it.”

There’s no definite timeline as to when we’ll see more advertising on our phones.

Hanley explained that it will take a while for the method to grow because there are regulations that prohibit advertisers from inundating your phone.

But Hanley’s research on the mobile advertising that does take place has yielded promising findings for advertisers.

“Every version of the survey keeps evolving,” Hanley said. “One of the biggest changes this year is that the number of students getting calls on their cell phones is up by nearly half, 46 percent. But then when you ask them whether it bothers them or not, it goes up a little bit but nothing close to [matching] the increase in numbers of the users who are getting them.”

Mobile institute now proposed Michael Hanley has submitted a proposal to the university for the creation of an Institute for Mobile Channel Integration.

The Institute would conduct mobile research useful to advertisers and other companies that make use of mobile technology.

“My next step, beyond the surveys, is to establish Ball State University as a leading academic institution for mobile research,” he said.

Hanley said he wants Ball State to create the institute in order to meet existing needs for research from mobile companies.

“The industry says ‘we can’t find anybody in the academic world to do research for us,’” Hanley said. “And the industry likes academics to do that because it gives a better respect to the research.”

So, statistically, while more people are getting more ads, fewer people are bothered by them.

Those inclined to feel annoyance at the potential for marketing on mobile devices might wonder why anyone would willingly accept advertisements.

“The more you use a technology,” Hanley said, “the more you assimilate to its impact on your life. And that’s exactly what is happening with the cell phones. It’s kind of ‘safe passage.’ So you use it, whether the first time you use it voluntarily, or if you get an ad when you don’t expect it. But if you have a good experience, then the next time you’re much more willing to try it.”

This research puts Hanley in the top of his field. “Hanley is a leader in the industry,” Becker said. “His research is forward-reaching. The biggest challenge facing marketers is one of measurement and concrete evidence to show reach – it will be the academic reader and entrepreneurial vision to help answer these questions.”

FACULTY NOTES (continued from page 5) motivation in a public relations internship” at the AEJMC National Convention in Chicago, Summer 2008.

Presented with J. Newton “Measuring the effectiveness of media relations” at the I-CASE conference in Indianapolis, Fall 2008.

Presented “Law and ethics” to the Hoosier PRSA Chapter Accreditation in Public Relations readiness review session, October 2008.

Presented “Making an educated decision to become an educator” to the Public Relations Society of America International Conference in Detroit, Fall 2008.

Panelist for “Learning to teach: Make the transition from professional practice to the classroom” at the Public Relations Society of America International Conference in Detroit, Fall 2008.

Planned and conducted crisis management table top training for Ball State University cabinet.

Served as member of the International Public Relations Research Conference Executive Board.

6 FALL 2008 / WINTER 2009 PHOENIX

Mary Spillman

Wrote “The silence of the blogs at daily newspapers” for Newspaper Research Journal, Fall 2008.

Moderated “Changing paradigms: Collaboration among newspapers, television stations and the wire” at the AEJMC convention in Chicago, Summer 2008.

Presented “Convergence continuum redux: Does the Web jeopardize newspaper-television partnerships?” at the AEJMC convention in Chicago, Summer 2008.

Presented “Multimedia storytelling for journalists” at the JEA National Convention in St. Louis, Fall 2008.

Presented “Story focus: What’s important, what’s not” at the JEA/NSPA convention in St. Louis, Fall 2008.

Received grant from the Ball State Provost’s Initiative in Immersive Learning for her Journalist Game Development Project.

David Sumner

Co-authored with H. Miller the second edition of “Feature and magazine writing: Action, angle and

anecdotes.” Wiley Publishing, Spring 2009.

Contracted to write “The magazine century: American magazines since 1900” with Peter Lang Publishing.

Sheryl Swingley

Mentor for Indiana Foodways Alliance Business Fellows project, Fall 2008.

Warren Watson

Blogged twice monthly on the First Amendment for The Indianapolis Star.

Wrote five articles this fall; two for the Indianapolis Star, one for the Star Press of Muncie, Ind., and two editor profiles for The American Editor.

Submitted paper for the mid-winter research competition of the AEJMC Scholastic Journalism Division on First Amendment attitudes of high school principals.

Traveled more than 6,000 miles conducting seven training events for J-Ideas.

JOURNALISM AWARDS

ALUMNI HONORED

Photo by John Huffer

The Ball State University Alumni Association presented five Department of Journalism alumni with awards at an alumni celebration held Sept. 26, the start of Homecoming Weekend

By MElissa dodd

BENNY AWARD

BORSHOFF COOK

BRENDA COX

G.O.L.D. AWARD

Principal founder of Borshoff, a major Indianapolis communications firm, Myra Borshoff Cook ’69 received a Distinguished Alumni Award for her significant contribution to the legacy of Ball State University.

Along with three other principals, Borshoff Cook has built Borshoff from the ground up. Today, Borshoff has more than 30 employees and a client base that includes the Indianapolis Colts.

“It’s an honor to be in the company of the other awardees this year,” Borshoff Cook said. “To be recognized for my career and community accomplishments is greatly satisfying, and, I hope, a sign of encouragement for other Ball State women who have entrepreneurial aspirations.”

Although Ball State did not offer public relations courses during Borshoff Cook’s time as an undergraduate student, Borshoff Cook credits the university with an invaluable experience.

She gained experience working for the Daily News, the Orient yearbook and a magazine during her undergraduate years.

Later, Borshoff Cook returned to take graduate courses in public relations, which she said enabled her to develop the talents that led her to start a firm.

“Though it’s difficult to describe the four years I spent on campus, the words energy, passion, controversy, challenge and change all come to mind,” Borshoff Cook said.

Borshoff Cook attributes her successful career to creating a business environment that has attracted talented professionals and successful clients.

“My success in business has given me opportunities to lead community initiatives through the Chamber of Commerce and serve on boards like the Greater Indianapolis Progress Committee,” Borshoff Cook said.

“I’ve remained connected to Ball State through the journalism department and value very much that relationship. Finally, my ability to raise two accomplished and loving young adults, my son Tom and my daughter Amanda, while building a business is something of which I’m very proud.”

As the president of the Greater Indianapolis Alumni Chapter Board of Directors and chairwoman of this year’s Indianapolis Alumni Theatre Outing, Brenda Cox ’84 received a Benny Award, the Alumni Association’s top award for service.

Cox also is currently the manager of product technical support at Wiley Publishing in Indianapolis.

“I am honored and humbled to be recognized,” Cox said. “I had no idea when I arrived on campus in 1980 that my life would be impacted by Ball State so much over the last 28 years. While riding in the [Homecoming] parade on Saturday morning, I was overcome with emotions as I passed through the campus of BSU and City of Muncie streets.”

Cox said she felt particularly gratified to receive the award with Mark Popovich, who was chairman of the Department of Journalism during her enrollment and helped her secure both her practicum and an internship.

Today, Cox said she has enjoyed assisting the college with recruiting events in Indianapolis.

“My specialty is talking to parents who are sending a first generation college student to Ball State,” Cox said.

Cox credits Ball State for crafting her communication skills into a “polished jewel.”

“Everyday I utilize tools that I learned at Ball State,” Cox said. “Additionally, the school is a very credible source in the publishing circles that I interact with everyday and a recognized source of excellence.”

As president of the Indianapolis Alumni Chapter, Cox said members should expect “fun and fellowship.”

“We work hard to engage Indianapolis-area alumni in activities of interest and connecting old and new friends with exciting campus news and activities,” Cox said. “Our mission is to always reach out and connect with as many of our alumni as possible. This means researching interest, events and venues that are compelling. I want to continue and increase alumni involvement, participation and ownership of Ball State’s legacy.”

Indianapolis’ North Central High School journalism teacher and publications adviser, Tom D. Gayda ’98MA06 received the Graduate of the Last Decade (G.O.L.D.) Award for his outstanding accomplishments as a recent Ball State University graduate.

Gayda also received Ball State’s Young Alumnus Award for journalism in 2005.

“It is a really nice honor,” Gayda said. “I was excited to be named a Young Alumnus in journalism a few years ago, but to now receive an award that represents the whole school is pretty cool. I’ll try not to let anyone down and work hard the next 10 years.”

Gayda credits Ball State with enabling him to make new friends, access great networking opportunities and for allowing him to enjoy things that catered to his particular interests.

Although he majored in journalism secondary education, Gayda said he believes the university prepared him with the skills to practice in any number of related fields.

“Everything I have done professionally can be linked back to Ball State, and more importantly, the journalism department,” Gayda said.

Recently, Gayda’s journalism students received an award from the National Scholastic Press Association’s Spring National High School Journalism Convention held in Anaheim, Calif. Gayda also serves as adviser to students who received third place in the literary magazine category for their publication Etchings in Thought.

In 2006, Gayda’s students also received fifth place in the newspaper special edition category for their publication Northern Lights and 10th place in the newsmagazine category for their publication Central Intelligence from NSPA. Gayda foresees the greatest challenge facing the journalism discipline as change.

“Students who want to study journalism will have to be openminded,” Gayda said. “The field is changing quickly. I am trying to keep up, but it is hard. News can be found in the paper, online, on your phone or your TV. In many ways, journalism is everywhere.”

DISTINGUISHED ALUMNI

MYRA

TOM GAYDA

BENNY AWARD

MARK POPOVICH Mark Popovich ’63MA68 received a Benny Award for his substantial contributions and exceptional efforts on behalf of the university.

Popovich is professor emeritus of journalism at Ball State, and had been with the university for 38 years.

“I am honored to receive this award because it is an award recognizing service to Ball State, which has assisted me in my major accomplishments by being open to efforts of faculty members to further the university,” Popovich said.

“And, as a graduate of BSU, the university has instilled the importance of selflessness and making contributions into me.”

Popovich credits Ball State with changing his entire outlook on life by giving him the opportunity to be involved with the London Centre, a Ball State subsidiary school in London.

Popovich spent eight semesters as director of the Centre.

“The London Centre broadened my outlook on the world and my life in general, and that opportunity was made available by BSU,” he said.

He attributes his successful career to multiple areas of involvement, including extensive involvement in the Alumni Association, five years as chairman of the Department of Journalism, chairman of the faculty senate and 14 years as adviser to Kappa Tau Alpha, an honorary journalism fraternity.

Popovich foresees the greatest challenge facing the journalism department in the future as “maintaining a curriculum that mirrors the merging of the [journalism] industry into electronic.”

He said he believes it will be important for educators to train people who can meet that challenge and thinks the department should also further their efforts in students’ understanding of First Amendment rights.

Popovich adds, “Ball State is one of the hidden jewels of the education system in Indiana and the United States. The university has a warm and friendly atmosphere, so once you’re from the Ball State family, you’ll always be Ball State family.”

BENNY AWARD

CHARLOTTE SHEPPERD Charlotte Shepperd ’68MA75 received a Benny Award for her outstanding support to Ball State and the Alumni Association.

Shepperd recently retired after serving 26 years as editor of Alumnus magazine.

“It is humbling, and it is an incredible honor for me,” Shepperd said. “For 26 years I have had the privilege of becoming acquainted with many of the Benny and Distinguished Alumni Award recipients. All of them have extraordinary talents and have demonstrated unwavering loyalty to Ball State.

So, to be placed among those ranks by my alma mater is indeed special for me.”

During her tenure, Shepperd edited and managed the production of 162 issues of Alumnus.

She considered it a distinct honor to represent her alma mater in such a significant way on behalf of the Ball State University Alumni Association.

She said her experiences with Ball State were extraordinary, and the many friendships and affiliations she has established along the way are invaluable.

Shepperd attributes her successful career to always putting integrity first and a genuine enjoyment of her work at Ball State. She has especially enjoyed and appreciated the alumni volunteers, staff and students with whom she has worked closest.

“It [success] comes from making a career of something you love doing. I was so lucky to be chosen in 1981 by thenVice President Bob Linson and Alumni Association Executive Director Ed Shipley for the role with the Alumni Association,” Shepperd said. “It was really a great fit.”

Honored for more than two decades of support and contribution to Ball State, Shepperd concludes with the same words of wisdom she used at her retirement speech in June: “Though I have officially retired from Ball State, I’m hopeful my life, past and future, might be reflected in these words of Eleanor Roosevelt: ‘I could not, at any age, be content to take my place in a corner by the fireside and simply look on.’”

PHOENIX FALL 2008/WINTER 2009 7

DEPARTMENT NEWS

Mary Schranz remembered at lectureship By matt kelly

Peter Debreceny delivered the 30th annual Schranz lecture Sept. 25. The retired vice president of corporate relations at Allstate Insurance spoke about the importance of being genuine in public relations. Photo by Megan McNames

Schranz lecturer espouses importance of authenticity By matt kelly

The lecturer for the Vernon C. Schranz Distinguished Lectureship in Public Relations told the crowd of students and professionals something they haven’t heard before: press releases are out.

“The broad-based distribution of the newswire or press release has certainly become the communications media of the past,” said Peter Debreceny, 2008 Schranz lecturer. “What is said by the individual who knows the organization is going to become the communications medium of the future.”

In his Sept. 25 lecture titled “The Age of Authenticity: The Revolution in Public Relations and What It Means to You,” the retired vice president of corporate relations at Allstate Insurance spoke to an audience of more than 100 about the importance of being genuine in public relations.

“If public relations is regarded as ‘spin,’ then we’ve got our own house to put in order,” Debreceny said.

He began practicing PR in New Zealand more than 30 years ago when the field was vastly different from what it is today.

“It wasn’t the world of ‘Sex

in the City’ at all,” he said.

“In fact, it was as far away as you could get from glitz and glamour.”

Debreceny spoke about topics ranging from politics to the Wall Street crisis, stressing the international implications of PR. He said we all live in a global community now and must be aware of technology’s impact.

“Next door has become global, and relationships have become virtual,” he said.

Roger Lavery, dean of the College of Communication, Information, and Media, spent 17 years in advertising before coming to Ball State.

“I found myself just nodding in agreement through all the things he was saying,” Lavery said.

And because of the breadth of knowledge exhibited by lecturers each year, Lavery said all students should attend the lectureship, not just PR students.

“It’s these kinds of events that make our programs distinctive,” he said.

Associate professor of journalism Robert “Pritch” Pritchard MA88 chose Debreceny as this year’s lecturer after meeting him in March at

ALUMNI ALUMNIUPDATES UPDATES 1937

RAMONA J. HOLSINGER celebrated her 93rd birthday June 1. She has served on the Steuben County Council of Aging Board in Angola, Ind., for 28 years.

1972

Gary graham is editor of the SpokesmanReview in Spokane, Wash. He was managing editor for the Spokesman-Review for five years. brian kanof shot the cover photograph and numerous other photos for the spring issue of Texas Music magazine.

He has owned and operated Brian Kanof Photography since 1985.

peter nye’s book, “Six-Day Bicycle Racing: America’s Jazz-Age Sport,” won USABooknews.com’s best sports book. The documentary he scripted as a companion

the annual International Public Relations Research Conference held in Miami.

“With Debreceny, we continue the tradition of bringing top people in public relations to the lectureship,” he said.

The lectureship was the first endowed PR lectureship in the United States and began in 1978 upon the retirement of Vernon C. Schranz, the first public relations officer for Ball Corporation. The company provided the endowment to Ball State in his honor.

As for the future of PR,

Debreceny said the field is burgeoning.

“I think that this is the most exciting time that there has ever been to be in the world of public relations,” he said. “There is a revolution happening in front of our very eyes. And while no one knows exactly what the state of our profession might be when the revolution’s run its course, what we do know is that there is unprecedented opportunity and the ability for us to control our own destiny in a way we have never seen before and may never see again.”

Mike Schranz talks with Robert “Pritch” Pritchard and Kate Schranz after the 30th annual Vernon C. Schranz Distinguished Lectureship in Public Relations. Photo by Megan McNames

Mary Schranz wore a corsage to every Vernon C. Schranz Distinguished Lectureship in Public Relations for nearly three decades.

At this year’s Lectureship, a corsage, nestled in her front-row aisle seat, wore her memory.

The wife of the late Vernon C. Schranz, Mary Helena Purky Pressler Schranz, died peacefully in her Naples, Fla., home on March 14.

Mary was a mainstay at the lecture, attending every one of the 29 lectures since the lectureship began in 1978.

“She’s been the backbone of the lectureship since it started,” Robert “Pritch” Pritchard MA88 said. “She’s truly special and will be missed dearly.”

Mary was a Pressler for 33 years and a Schranz for 30, said Mary’s daughter Barbara Pressler.

“Right after my dad passed away and Vern’s wife died, a friend told him, ‘I think you should go out with Mary Pressler because you’d make a nice couple,” Pressler said.

Mary and Vernon married July 29, 1978, only a few months before the MARY SCHRANZ first Schranz Lectureship began.

“Vern was always trying to encourage students and young entrepreneurs,” Pressler said. “This lectureship provides the extra incentive to students to accomplish their dreams.”

This year’s lecture was a celebration of Mary’s life, Department of Journalism A corsage adornChairwoman Marilyn Weaver said. ed Mary’s frontrow seat at the Several Schranz family members attended, and the memorial corsage Lectureship. adorning the front-row aisle seat at the lecture was accompanied by a placeholder, which read “In loving memory of Mary Schranz.”

The sentiment comes from a Navy tradition in which an empty seat is left for those servicemen who are missing in action, Pritchard said.

Pritchard’s voice began to tremble as he spoke about Mary during his opening remarks.

During his seven years at Ball State, Pritchard said he got to know Mary well.

An accomplished pianist and graduate from the prestigious Eastman School of Music, Mary taught piano at Ball State from 1961­– 1978.

In lieu of flowers during her beach memorial service in Naples, guests were asked instead to donate to the Vernon C. Schranz Lectureship.

Her contributions to the university continue through fond memories shared by those who knew her at Ball State.

Weaver said she and Mary would get together to talk, not about Ball State, but about their lives and their children.

“She wasn’t a donor to me,” Weaver said. “She’s a wonderful woman, and I look forward to having her children back to the lecture. They’ve become the department family.”

to the book has been shown at more than 20 film festivals. More information is available at www.sixdaybicyclerace.com.

mentary on the changing state of Chicago newspapers.

1980

GEORGIA WINGATE (ROZELLE) THOMPSON participated in the Society of Professional Journalists’ Narrative Writing Workshop in Houston, Texas, June 21.

CHRISANN RICHARDS (STARK) developed course materials and taught the Advanced Public Relations and Crisis Management course at the International Council of Shopping Centers John T. Riordan School for Professional Development held in Phoenix, Ariz., in April.

1988

JULIE-ALLYSON IERON published “The Overwhelmed Woman’s Guide to ... Caring for Aging Parents.”

1996

Steve Patterson is director of communications for the Cook County Sheriff in Chicago. He also appeared in a docu-

8 FALL 2008 / WINTER 2009 PHOENIX

1997

2008

alaric dearment is associate editor for Drug Store News, a trade publication serving the retail drug industry. Drug Store News is based in New York.

KATIE MONTAG NIESE is account coordinator at hyperQUAKE, an interactive design firm in Cincinnati. kristin smith is operations assistant at hyperQUAKE.

Five recent alumni returned Oct. 29 to answer current students’ questions about finding jobs in the field. Photo by Megan McNames

CORRECTIONS AND NOTES

Alumni notes are provided based on information received from the Alumni Association, individual e-mails and “Keep in Touch” forms. Information is printed based on updates received from May 2008 through November 2008. The Department of Journalism apologizes for any omissions or job changes that have occurred since receiving this information.

DEPARTMENT NEWS Recognized for their teaching

COMMITTED TO THE FUTURE OF JOURNALISM

Instructor of Journalism Brian Hayes accepts a plaque announcing his certification at the November JEA/NSPA convention. Photo by Megan McNames

Brian Hayes earns MJE certification

Brian Hayes was one of six who received the Master Journalism Educator certification from the Journalism Education Association at its Nov. 13-15 convention.

To earn the certification, Hayes submitted an application to a JEA review board, showing that he has earned a minimum number of graduate credits, passed an essay exam and had at least five years teaching experience.

He also had to show his skills as an educator by completing an educational project. In 2007, for the project, Hayes created a partnership between Ball State secondary education students and a local middle school to establish a student newspaper at the school.

Hayes is head of the Department of Journalism’s secondary education sequence, Alumni Society president and coordinator of the Ingelhart News Scholars program.

More than 5,000 high school students attended the Journalism Education Association Convention Nov. 13-16 in St. Louis. Instructor of Journalism John Strauss critiqued high school newspapers, noting outstanding work and offering suggestions for improvement. Photo by Megan McNames

Department promotes BSU at high school convention 30 journalism students, faculty attend event

By megan mcnames

Senior secondary education student Autumn Nolder accepts an award at the Nov. 13 JEA/NSPA conference keynote.

Photo by Megan McNames

Secondary education student awarded teaching scholarship Senior secondary education student Autumn Nolder was awarded a $1,000 Future Teacher Award scholarship at the Nov. 13 JEA/NSPA keynote speech.

She was one of only three students selected.

Nolder is the fifth Ball State student to win the award since it was created in 2000. Brian Hayes, instructor of journalism at Ball State, was the first-ever recipient.

“I am waiting anxiously for graduation when I can have my own classroom,” Nolder wrote in her application essay. “I look forward to continuing as a fighter for students’ press rights, and I want to build a drive in my students to fight for their rights as well.”

Nolder plans to student teach at Muncie Central High School during the 2009 spring semester and wants to teach in Indiana after graduation.

“I would really love to stay in Indiana just because I think the journalism programs here are top-notch,” she said.

The Department of Journalism brought 30 representatives to the Journalism Education Association/National Scholastic Press Association National High School Journalism Convention in St. Louis Nov. 13-16.

Among those representing Ball State were nine faculty and staff members, four graduate assistants, seven Ingelhart News Scholars and nine secondary education students.

“Over the last several years this convention has become kind of the one event a year we put a lot of effort into,” said Brian Hayes, secondary education sequence coordinator and director of Journalism Workshops. “We feel the benefits that come out of it are great for the department.”

Ball State has been a convention sponsor for the last four years. As a sponsor, the university receives a large promotional booth in the exhibitors’ hall, where the conventions’ 5,030 student attendees spend their down time. The university also receives advertising space in the convention registration packet and program.

At the Ball State booth, secondary education students, faculty and staff handed out promotional material about the department’s sequences, student media and programs.

“There was something in our booth that applied to everyone, whether they were coming to Ball State or not,” said Jincy Gibson, a

Seven students in the Ingelhart News Scholars program attended the JEA/NSPA convention.

They toured newsrooms in St. Louis and also visited the Gateway Arch, pictured above.

Photo by Megan McNames

John Butler, news director at KMOX, gives Ingelhart News Scholars who attended the JEA/NSPA Convention, a tour of the KMOX broadcast studio. Photo by Megan McNames

“

Having the presence we do shows that Ball State has a strong commitment to scholastic journalism.”

Adam maksl

junior secondary education student. “If a student had already committed to another college, we talked to him or her about our summer workshops and the DN Experience workshop, which will prepare them for college journalism.”

Gibson also taught a session to high school students at the convention about generating story ideas. Journalism department students, faculty and staff taught 11 other sessions.

Also at the department’s booth, Ball State representatives held critiquing sessions for high school students.

Adam Maksl, assistant director of Journalism Workshops, estimated that about 300 students from 70 high school publications stopped at the booth to have their newspapers, magazines and broadcasts critiqued.

“The critiques showcase our programs and faculty, and gives people an introduction to what we actually can do here,” Hayes said.

Seven Ingelhart News Scholars students also attended the convention, although they

frequently left to tour newsrooms in St. Louis.

The students toured KMOX-CBS radio studio and newsroom, KSDK-NBC television studio and the St. Louis Post-Dispatch newsroom, sitting in on a live broadcast at KMOX-CBS and an editorial board meeting at KSDK-NBC. “It gave me three totally different perspectives on the news and journalism,” sophomore News Scholar Laura Merz said about the tours. “And hopefully, I met people I can network with in the future.”

Hayes, coordinator for the News Scholars program, said he wanted the students to see how newsrooms operate in large markets, pointing out that the students can apply what they learned about St. Louis’ news outlets to the news media in any large market.

When they weren’t touring newsrooms, many of the News Scholars students staffed the booth.

“Having the presence we do, whether it’s at the booth or the sessions, shows that Ball State has a strong commitment to scholastic journalism,” Maksl said.

Funding for the event comes from a variety of sources at Ball State.

“We’ve been fortunate to have the support of the department, of Journalism Workshops, of J-Ideas, the Department of Telecommunications, the college and the university to help us be there,” Hayes said.

PHOENIX FALL 2008/WINTER 2009 9

ALUMNI NEWS

Alumna publishes murder mystery with crafting flair

By MEGAN MCnames

Doug Tony ‘75 and Donna Penticuff ‘76MS05 talk at the alumni reunion June 21. Photo by Desiree Frederick

Good friends and a goodbye characterize alumni reunion

By Neil Ruhland

The Department of Journalism alumni reunion held June 21 was both a coming together of old friends and a sending off of one of the department’s own, Mark “Popo” Popovich ’63MA68.

Popovich retired this year after 38 years of service to the university.

The event started off with campus tours by Dan Waechter, assistant professor of journalism, Charlotte Shepperd ’68MA75 and Gerry Appel ’01MA03.

They highlighted new additions to campus since the last reunion, including the newly built Letterman Building, Park Hall and the renovated Scheumann Stadium.

“It seemed like all the alumni really enjoyed the tours of campus,” Appel said. “The tours truly catered to everyone by highlighting all aspects of campus life from sporting events to the residence halls.”

After the tours, everyone convened at the Alumni Center for a cocktail hour and block party games. But the majority of the time was spent reconnecting with former classmates, professors and staff members.

“I don’t think I can even count the number of stories I overheard about the good old days at Ball State,” Waechter said. “People were talking about West Quad, their time at the Daily News and, of course, Louis Ingelhart.”

When alumni were asked to

start filing into another part of the Alumni Center for dinner, it took several tries for the event staff to get everyone to stop chatting.

“I guess it is just a testament to how much fun everyone was having that they did not want to shift gears and think about doing anything besides playing catch-up,” said Brian Hayes, Alumni Society president and coordinator for the reunion.

Hayes, emcee for the evening, started off by giving away several pieces of Ball State merchandise that had been donated by departments from all over campus.

The dinner played off the block party theme by offering traditional cookout food that kept the summer tone going throughout the event.

While people ate, a slide show of photos and videos showcased the growth of the department since Sharley DeMotte began offering journalism classes at Ball State in the late 1920s.

The final and arguably most prominent part of the reunion was the roast of long-time professor Popovich.

Mark Massé, professor of journalism, served as roast master by offering both his opinion of Popovich and coordinating all of the other people who wanted to say goodbye in a tongue-in-cheek manner.

Everyone in attendance seemed to be on the verge of tears and laughter at the same time throughout the presentation.

Mark “Popo” Popovich ’63MA68 sits in the hot seat during his farewell roast. Photo by Desiree Frederick

“I thought it was a lot of fun and I think Popo did too,” Hayes said. “And of course, everyone else who contributed in roasting Popo from the audience made it that much funnier. In my opinion, it was the highlight of the night.”

Popovich’s former students and fellow faculty went after his teaching style, favorite sayings and events that characterized his tenure at Ball State.

“No stone seemed to go unturned when it came to the things he had done over the years,” Waechter said.

“Overall, I was very pleased [with how the reunion turned out],” Hayes said. “It seemed as though those who attended had a good time talking and catching up with friends.”

Joanna Campbell Slan ’75 has written 10 nonfiction books and travelled the world as a motivational speaker, writer and a scrapbooking instructor.

Now, with the release of her new mystery, “Paper, Scissors, Death,” she can add fiction writer to her long list of accomplishments. “[Writing non-fiction] gave me a lot of satisfaction,” said Slan, who visited Muncie, Ind., Oct. 25 for the Magna Cum Murder mystery writers festival. “But I love telling stories. I think that even if you’ve written nonfiction you don’t truly feel like a writer until you’ve written something that’s a novel.”

Slan said she was excited to explore fiction, which allowed her to create her own universe and characters.

‘The universe is as big as your imagination,” she said. “So that’s a huge leap.”

Seven of Slan’s nonfiction titles are about scrapbooking, something Slan excels at and has taught on cruise ships in the United Kingdom and Mexico.

In “Paper, Scissors, Death,” Slan tells the story of Kiki Lowenstein, a scrapbook lover whose life is cut apart when her husband is found dead in a hotel room.

Lowenstein takes on the case, following leads and hunting down clues.

“I thought scrapbookers are really undervalued in our society,” Slan

Graduation Year

By MEGAN MCnames

Michelle Linn-Gust ’94 thought that after receiving her doctorate in family studies from the University of New Mexico in May her life might get a little less hectic.

“I felt like when the diploma arrived I could go ahead and clean out the files,” LinnGust said. “What I found was that I had a whole MICHELLE LINNbunch of projects GUST ‘94 I had started.”

Never one to take a break, LinnGust is busy at work finishing those projects, which includes a series of children’s books based on her dogs.

The idea for the books grows out of her last book, “Ginger’s Gift,” a story about how owning dogs has helped her family cope with life-altering events.

News Degree Earned

Place of Employment Job Title Home Address Phone Fax E-mail

Send to: Ball State University, Department of Journalism, Phoenix Editor, Muncie, IN 47306-0485 Phone: 765.285.8200 • Fax: 765.285.7997 • E-mail all the information above to: bsujourn@bsu.edu

10 FALL 2008 / WINTER 2009 PHOENIX

said.

She said meeting scrapbookers from all over the world in the classes she taught opened her eyes.

“Women would hand me these photo albums and tell me extraordinary stories,” she said. “And I thought, ‘Wow, these women aren’t given enough credit for the lives they are living. Some of them had made tremendous sacrifices, or were living with tremendous burdens.”

Slan’s book is published by Midnight Ink.

Alumna writing children’s book earns doctorate in family studies

KEEP IN TOUCH LET US KNOW WHERE YOU ARE AND WHAT YOU ARE DOING Name

After publishing 10 non-fiction titles, Joanna Campbell Slan ’75 released “Paper, Scissors, Death.”

The first book in the series will focus on Hattie, a dog Linn-Gust’s husband brought back from the wreckage of Hurricane Katrina.

“We decided to start with Hattie because the people in new Orleans are still feeling the effects of the hurricane,” said Linn-Gust, who is working on the book with Jennifer Timmons, a long-time friend. “It still resonates with people.”

Linn-Gust also is travelling around the globe giving lectures on recovering from losing someone to suicide.

Linn-Gust’s sister committed suicide in 1993.

“There are times I feel like, ‘Oh my gosh, I am still telling the story of something that happened to me when I was 21,” she said. “But it’s something that people still connect to ... I’ve realized the reason I am here is to help people heal and to help them find hope.”

Linn-Gust has spoken in Ireland, Scotland, Australia and Hong Kong.

DEPARTMENT NEWS GOING THE DISTANCE ON AND OFF CAMPUS

Jamie Manuel ’08 poses with Ball State President Jo Ann Gora after receiving the Outstanding Senior Award in May. Photo submitted by Jamie Manuel

President awards ’08 graduate By matt kelly

Senior PR student Jennifer Regnier (right, with PR student Elaina Gemelas) finished 7,380 out of 31,401 finishers, placing 267th in her age group. Regnier raised money for the American Cancer Society. Photo submitted by Jennifer Regnier

PR student runs Chicago marathon

By Melissa dodd

Senior public relations student Jennifer Regnier ran in the 31st Bank of America Chicago Marathon Oct. 12, following 18 weeks of preparation.

Regnier, who is originally from the Chicago area, participated in the 26.2-mile marathon for the first time and ran to raise money for the American Cancer Society. She was encouraged to participate by a friend who ran the marathon last year.

“I’ve always been a runner. It’s my form of a workout, and I’m always trying to better myself,” Regnier said. “I ran for the American Cancer Society, which was a motivation factor, and participants raised more than $12 million, which is amazing in itself.”

PR STUDENT OF THE YEAR

Grad student recognized for PR success

Matt Kelly was named one of four public relations students of the year by PR News Nov. 6 at a luncheon at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C. “I was elated for the opportunity to basically rub elbows with some of the best PR minds in the country,” Kelly said.

Kelly was associate director of Eastern Illinois University’s student PR firm and PRSSA chapter president before coming to BSU.

“

My mentality was just to run. Don’t think about the time: Just do it.”

Jennifer regnier

Regnier began training for the event in June; however, training was not without its obstacles.

Regnier explained that “August injuries,” as Chicago Marathon runners often refer to them, are common during the preparation stages for the marathon.

Regnier suffered a swollen ankle, which required her to rest it for a week, and only a couple weeks prior to the marathon, she injured a muscle in her hip-joint area referred to as the IT-band.

“The injuries make you feel defeated when you cannot complete the final miles in training,” Regnier said. “But, I did overcome them, and while my IT-band hurt for the first six to seven miles of the marathon, [the pain] went away. Everyone was so encouraging, and the experiences and sites there were amazing.”

Regnier finished the marathon in 7,380th place out of 31,401 total finishers. She placed 267th in her age group and was the 1,940th female to cross the finish line.

“My mentality was to just run.

Don’t think about the time: Just do it,” Regnier said. “It definitely made me want to set another goal for myself.”

Since her sophomore year at Ball State, Regnier has held leadership

positions in the journalism department. She currently serves as executive director of the student-run PR firm Cardinal Communications.

She credits the faculty of the department as instrumental to her recent success in completing the Chicago Marathon.

“The journalism faculty are very encouraging, allowing us to make mistakes, but setting the learning curve high,” Regnier said. “Being in the journalism department has allowed me such great leadership opportunities to work on self-improvement and learn from those around me.”

The Chicago Marathon generates more than $10 million for charity annually. Runners raise money for more than 110 non-profit organizations and community causes.

Graduate student reports at Olympics

By Jason glassburn

Graduate student Yang Zhang flew out of the states May 8 expecting to cover the Olympics as an editing intern for Phoenix Television in Hong Kong.

But mid-flight, the Sichuan earthquake shook China and killed nearly 70,000, interrupting life in her homeland and the scope of her coverage.

Upon arrival in China, Zhang’s first assignment as editor of the “Hands in Hands in 2008” program was to relate the earthquake to the Olympics for Phoenix TV’s 140 million viewers.

She found the connection between the earthquake and Olympics through the Olympic buildings, titling her piece “Architects in 2008.”

“The special issue ... focused on how strong and anti-seismic the Olympic buildings are,” Zhang said. “If something goes wrong, will people be able to get out of the buildings?”

As her internship progressed, Zhang also worked with numerous stories covering athletes such as Xiang Liu, who won gold in the 110-meter hurdles in the 2004 Olympics and was a favorite to win gold in 2008.

Zhang said her most successful work concerned U.S. Women’s

Yang Zhang poses for a photo at the Olympic National Stadium in Beijing.

Photo submitted by Yang Zhang

Volleyball Coach Lang Ping, a former Olympic athlete and coach for China. The piece about Ping earned “Hands in Hands in 2008” its highest rating ever.

Although Zhang had previously interned at Phoenix TV during her undergraduate studies at Communication University of China, Zhang credited her experiences at Ball State with teaching her how to best tell a story, and, in turn, gain viewers.

“My experience at Ball State and the United States opened my eyes,” she said. “I know that storytelling matters in the United States ... Such active details and showing stories is different from reporting in China.”

Zhang said a more American style of reporting that focuses on

narrative structure and putting faces to stories is catching on in China. In her undergraduate studies, some of her professors in Beijing taught students using American broadcasts.

“I think we are learning about the program style and how to tell stories from the United States,” she said. “That is why I came to the U.S. to study.”

Zhang is in her second year of graduate school and hopes to obtain her degree in May. After graduating from Ball State, Zhang wants to return to China to continue her career in journalism.

“I have to work with the Chinese,” Zhang said. “I think I will go back. I really love my home country.”

Ball State University President Jo Ann Gora presented Jamie Manuel ’08, alumnus of the advertising sequence, with the John R. Emens Outstanding Senior Award for his leadership in Ball State’s greek life.

Gora gives the honor to a top senior class leader each May. Manuel served as president of the Interfraternity Council, the governing body of Ball State’s 10 recognized fraternity chapters. He was elected to the position just one year after joining Phi Gamma Delta fraternity, or Fiji.

“Jamie served the institution as a student leader,” said Aimee Ash MA04. “The school could not be the caliber of school that it is without students like Jamie.”

Ash has served as Manuel’s professor for three leadership courses, his supervisor at an internship and as adviser for the Student Leadership Development Board at Ball State, where Manuel was a consultant.

“She was my personal mentor,” Manuel said. “She was there to challenge me and helped me develop as a leader at Ball State.”

Ash wrote Manuel’s letter of recommendation and sent it to the vice president’s office. From there, a committee verified his academic records and reviewed his nomination.

“He was a leader in and out of the classroom,” Ash said. “That made him the ultimate candidate for the president’s award.”

Ash said Manuel was a successful role model for so many students on campus because he never lost sight of the reason he was at school.

“If it weren’t for Jamie, I wouldn’t have accomplished as much as I have,” Shawn Meier, Fiji president, said.

Meier and Manuel first met each other as pledge brothers for Fiji in fall 2004.

Meier said Manuel made the biggest impact as historian and academic chair of the fraternity.

“He’s just one of those guys that the Fiji brothers definitely appreciate,” he said.

Meier also said the president’s award was just one of Manuel’s many achievements at Ball State.

Some of his biggest accomplishments include serving as vice president of the Student Government Association and as consultant to the Student Leadership Development Board.

Manuel also was named 2008 Greek Man of the Year by the Office of Student Life. It’s an honor he shares with Ash, who was named Greek Woman of the Year.

As for his professional future, Manuel said winning the award would not change anything.

“It’s a line on a resume,” he said.

“Ball State’s taught me that you take the reward with a ‘thank you’ and just keep working harder. It’s not the end.”

PHOENIX FALL 2008 / WINTER 2008 11

Department of Journalism Muncie, IN 47306-0485

E D U C AT I ON R E D E FI N E D

Department Chairwoman Marilyn Weaver

Assistant Editors Melissa Dodd, Neil Ruhland

Editor Megan McNames

FALL 2008/WINTER 2009 VOLUME 29, ISSUE 1

Phoenix

NONPROFIT U.S. POSTAGE PAID BALL STATE UNIVERSITY

Phoenix is published periodically for the alumni and friends of the Ball State University Department of Journalism.

Any comments or suggestions should be directed to: Department of Journalism, Ball State University, Muncie, IN, 47306-0485, (765) 285-8200, bsujourn@bsu.edu. The department’s Web site address is: www.bsu.edu/journalism.

DEPARTMENT OF JOURNALISM

Department of Journalism

College of Communication, Information, and Media

Fall 2008