FALL 2014
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VOLUME LXXV
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ISSUE 1
TRULY
TRANSFORMATIONAL HOW YOUR SCHOOL IS REMAINING RESPECTED, RELEVANT AND REAL
Photo: Sophomore Graham Smith
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CONTENTS FALL 2014
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DIRECTOR’S NOTE
JMC NEWS
TRULY TRANSFORMATIONAL
RELEVANT & REAL
4 TOP HONORS
12 JMC’S ROAD TO REACCREDITATION
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JMC receives high marks both nationally and regionally
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NEW FACULTY New colleagues, new perspectives
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Reaffirming national standards of excellence
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NEW LEADERSHIP
JMC appoints new Associate Director
STUDENT SUCCESS WEEK
TAYLOR AWARD
FAST TRACK AWARDS Two young alumni making an impact
BRANCHES DIGITAL MAGAZINE
Students produce innovative, tablet magazine
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DIGITAL MEDIA PRODUCTION
Enhancing student learning through curriculum changes
CHANGES IN FRANKLIN
Student Resource Lab & The Kent Stater
ON THE COVER: The front cover photograph of the iconic StarSphere sculpture in front of Franklin Hall symbolizes global communication and the First Amendment. Kent State University School of Journalism & Mass Communication 204 Franklin Hall, P.O. BOX 5190, Kent, OH 44242
Phone: 330-672-2572 | Fax: 330-672-4064 | E-mail: thor@kent.edu JARGON is also available online at www.kent.edu/jmc .
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Compassionate Storytelling
INTERNATIONAL IMPACT 18 JMC TRAVELS ABROAD Kazakhstan and India
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JMC celebrates student achievement
Wayne Dawson receives prestigious alumnus award
BIG DATA
JMC partners with TV station for new course
LEARNING OUTSIDE THE CLASSROOM
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INTERNATIONAL STORYTELLING Students report in Estonia
ALUMNI PROFILE 21 VALERIE SMOCK & SHANNON WALDSCHMIDT Two JMC alumni reunite in the Burgh
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FACULTY AND ALUMNI NEWS
managing editor/
S h a n ta e Ro l l i n s
art director/
Meredith Pangrace
production manager/
K atie Barnes
DIRECTOR’S NOTE
Truly Transformational
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Over the past few years, the School of Journalism and Mass Communication — your School — has benefitted from the tremendous impact created by its students, faculty and alumni. As we are beginning to see now, the impact is transformational.”
n the spring 2014 edition of JARGON, I wrote about the impact we hope to have on our journey. Of course, we want that impact to be positive and long lasting.
Our students are continuing to earn high marks in national award competitions. Our Photojournalism students placed fourth in the country in the William Randolph Hearst awards in 2014. Our writing entries resulted in a tenth place finish and we finished in the top-15 overall for the second year in a row. Our Public Relations students received Honorable Mention in the national Bateman award. Our students are innovative. A couple of Advertising students participated in a groundbreaking virtual internship with a company in Chicago (First appeared in the spring 2014 issue of JARGON).
Our students are stronger academically. In 2009, the mean high school GPA of entering freshman in JMC was 3.17; in 2013, the mean high school GPA increased to 3.31.
Members of our faculty have consistently appeared in local, national and international media, published books and taught overseas. They are having an impact on our students each day through their teaching and their incredible passion and commitment for helping students prepare for life after JMC. Our alumni and friends have helped launch the JMC Promising Scholar Awards, supported our students who have been selected in the prestigious News21 program, provided internships and other professional opportunities and committed their time, talent and treasure to the School. The impact you have all had on JMC is both positive and long lasting – truly transformational.
Thank you. Thor Wasbotten Director, School of Journalism and Mass Communication
JARGON | FALL 2014 | ISSUE 1
SECTION JMC NEWS HEADER
TOP HONORS Students Earn Prominent National and Regional Awards 2013-2014 Academic Year Closes with More Industry Recognition: It was an academic year filled with good news, as students and faculty continued to be recognized by industry leaders for exceptional work at the close of the academic year. Some of the top honors included:
Society of Professional Journalists Mark of Excellence Awards Kent State took home honors from both the national and regional Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ) Mark of Excellence competitions.
Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication (AEJMC) Student Magazine Competition Two students writing for The Burr won significant awards in the first-person category of AEJMC’s annual magazine competition. Senior journalism major Christine Bucciere took first place for her story, “My Upright Life,” and senior journalism major Nick Shook, ‘14 won second place for “Head Games.” Both
Kent State won two finalist placements in the national SPJ awards: The Burr’s “KSU Bucket List” issue (November 2013) for Best Student Magazine, and JMC senior Brian Smith’s “Piling On” for Best Sports Photography. Both were first-place winners in SPJ’s region 4 competition, which made them eligible to compete nationally. Kent State earned six firstplace awards and nine finalist placements in region 4 competitions: Television In-Depth Reporting and Sports Reporting; Best Use of Multimedia; Sports Photography; Best Student Magazine for The Burr and Breaking News Photography. SPJ’s region 4 comprises Michigan, Ohio, West Virginia and parts of western Pennsylvania, including Pittsburgh.
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Students were advised by JMC faculty members Traci E. Williams and David Smeltzer, but students were ultimately responsible for the video’s concept and creation. Filmed for the Columbus-based band, Captain Kidd, the video was shot in Kent, Columbus and Youngstown. It follows lead singer Nate Baumgard as he goes on dates with an "unconventional" girl. The Telly Awards honors outstanding local, regional, and cable TV commercials and programs, the finest video and film productions, and online commercials, video and films. The Telly Awards generate nearly 12,000 national and international entries, and only 25 percent win the Bronze Telly.
Ohio News Photographers Association
stories were commended by the AEJMC judge for “well-written” and “very effective” first-person accounts of what it is like to undergo serious illness and injury.
Telly Awards Kent State University Independent Films (KSUIF) received its first Bronze Telly Award for an original JMC student-produced music video, “Freaky Love” at the 35th Annual Telly Awards. The video was directed and produced by Tyler Pina, ’14.
Five JMC photojournalists won recognition in the 2013 Ohio News Photographers Association (ONPA) Pictures of the Year competition, held at Franklin Hall last spring. Top honors went to senior visual journalism major Jenna Watson, who finished in first place for the Larry Fullerton Photojournalism Scholarship, which includes a $3,000 financial award; and visual journalism major Jacob Byk, who won the James R. Gordon Ohio Understanding Award, one of the top categories of the competition. ONPA judges also gave “Awards of Excellence” to: Shane Flanigan, ’13, in the Product
JMC NEWS
News of student and team awards is regularly updated on www.kent.edu/jmc. Illustration category; Coty Giannelli, ’13, in the News Picture Story competition; Andrea Noall, then a freshman, in the Pictorial category; and Jenna Watson, in the Sports Feature category.
William R. Hearst Foundational Journalism Awards The highly competitive 2013-2014 William R. Hearst Journalism Awards Program came to a successful conclusion for Kent State. The strong performance of JMC students enabled Kent State to finish tenth in the nation in the year-long intercollegiate writing competitions.
the top ten of each category receiving Hearst medallions. Often called "The Pulitzers of collegiate journalism," the Hearst program holds yearlong competitions in writing, photojournalism, broadcast news and multimedia for journalism undergraduates. Journalism schools accumulating the most points earned by their students in each category are designated the winners of the intercollegiate competitions.
Effie Collegiate Brand Challenge
As reported in the spring issue of JARGON, Kent State finished fourth in the nation in the intercollegiate photojournalism competition—Kent State's highest finish ever in the Hearst intercollegiate competition.
“MINI NEXT: Pre-Owned, Pre-Loved,” a multi-channel marketing campaign created by students Maggie Holleran, Gabe Schut and Emma Tomczak — all members of JMC’s Creative Ad Strategy course — won a semi-finalist berth in the 2014 Effie Collegiate Brand Challenge competition.
The 2013-2014 prizes are awarded to the top three universities in each division of the Intercollegiate Competitions, with
The Effie Collegiate competition gives college students the opportunity to create professional-quality marketing communication cases and have their work reviewed and judged
by industry professionals selected from the fields of marketing, media, strategy, design and digital. Students enrolled in Creative Ad Strategy participate in the Effie challenge as part of the coursework, but are not required to submit their work into the actual competition. Those who choose to do so must essentially complete a semester’s worth of work in 10 weeks, in order to make the early April entry deadline. JMC entered the Effie Collegiate competition for the first time in 2013, and one of the School’s team finished in the top five in the nation. This year, four JMC teams entered the Effie competition.
Public Relations Student Society of America A team of JMC public relations students earned an honorable mention in the annual Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA) Bateman Case Study Competition. The Bateman Gold Team was one of 11 teams – out of 51 teams that entered the competition – that was recognized with the honorable mention ranking by PRSSA. The team was made of seniors Meghan Caprez, Abby Prulhiere, Hannah Hamner and Julie Myers and junior Marcus Donaldson.
Cleveland Press Club Three JMC students took top honors in the student media section at The Press Club of Cleveland’s Ohio Excellence in Journalism Awards, with four
first-place awards in print and TV news. In the Best Print News Story for a Four-Year School category, senior Rex Santus, ’14 placed first for “Popular Professor Dismissed” In the Best Print Feature Story category, alumni Grant Engle, ‘13, received first place for “Behind Those Hazel Eyes.” Engle also received first place in the Best Print Sports Story category for “The Cost of Losing a Conference Title.” In the Best TV News Story category, senior Kaitlynn LeBeau placed first for “KSU Professor Faces Rare Cancer.”
Ohio's Best Journalism Competition The Kent Stater received first place among college daily newspapers in the 2014 Ohio’s Best Journalism Competition. Presented collaboratively by The Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ) Cincinnati, Columbus and Cleveland chapters, the awards honor journalists who fulfill the SPJ mission: defense of the First Amendment, support of literacy, resistance to censorship, advocacy for openness of public records and meetings, media self-criticism and community service. The competition recognizes the best college daily and weekly newspapers, and awards up to $2,000 in scholarships for excellent student writing in news, feature, sports and opinion. ■
JARGON | FALL 2014 | ISSUE 1
JMC NEWS
JMC WELCOMES TWO NEW FACULTY MEMBERS Chance York, Ph. D.
a quantitative, social scientific researcher focusing on news media, public opinion and political communication, joins JMC as an assistant professor. York earned his Ph.D. in mass communication from Louisiana State University in 2014 and an M.S. in mass communication from Kansas State University in 2010. He earned a bachelor’s degree in English literature and anthropology from the University of Kansas in 2008. York has published peerreviewed articles in the journals Communication Research Reports and Electronic News and has numerous articles under review or revision at journals such as Journalism & Mass Communication Quarterly and PS: Political Science & Politics. His co-authored book chapter called “Predictors of Youth Voting in 2008: Parent/
FUN FACTS • I'm a first generation college student. • My high school GPA was so low a guidance counselor advised me to avoid college. • I wrote humor columns for two college newspapers. • My favorite author is Philip K. Dick, but Voltaire, Thoreau and Vonnegut are pretty good too.
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Child Relationships and Young Adult News Use” will appear in the book Political Socialization in a Media Saturated World edited by Drs. Esther Thorson, Mitchell McKinney and Dhavan Shah (Peter Lang, 2015). Q: Why are you excited about teaching in JMC? A: I’m excited about the wide range of professional skillsbased courses at both the undergraduate and graduate level, which will lead to better job prospects for students. JMC is teaching a good mix of courses that blend theory and skill that students can actually use in the real world. Q: When did you first become interested in mass media? A: I was doing a lot of reading about mass media and it’s influence on perception. People underestimate the effects of mass media on them, but believe that media influences everyone else around them. I became intrigued about how mass media shapes how you see the world, other people and events. Q: What’s your teaching style? A: I’m really interested in what students have to say. I ask the tough questions to encourage the off-the-wall answers that feed back into the research. Students have incredible ideas and the art of teaching is trying to incite those ideas. I enjoy interacting with students and having meaningful discussions. ■
David Foster joins JMC as an assistant professor of multimedia and photography. Foster received his undergraduate degree in photojournalism from Kent State in 2009, and then attended the Salt Institute for Documentary Studies in Portland, Maine. He recently completed his master’s degree in journalism education. While in college, Foster was named Ohio News Photographers Association Student Photographer of the Year, in both 2006 and 2007. David has interned as a photographer at the The Columbus Dispatch and the Akron Beacon Journal. Q: When did you first become interested in photography? A: My father passed away when I was 11. He had done some amateur photography during his time serving overseas in the military. I flipped through his black and white photo albums and it was like a portal to another world. Those photos had a way of connecting me with my dad.
FUN FACTS • I completed my Master's degree. • I’m a huge podcast junkie. I think I’ve logged 1,200 hours of podcast listening. • If I had a second career, it would be in radio because I love the power and intimacy of it. • I have a passion for films and documentaries.
Q: Why is teaching important to you? A: Having gone through the program as an undergraduate, I have a good understanding of what’s important for students to learn. I enjoy being a mentor and a friend to them because I can relate. The term ‘college life’ is a bit of a misnomer. Sometimes college is at odds with life and sometimes life can get in the way of college. I try to help students learn to create balance and use their time effectively to get the most of their college experience. Q: What do you want your students to get out of your classes? A: The camera is such a versatile tool. It’s like an amazing passport that can take you anywhere and make you see things in a brand new way. ■
Three JMC Faculty Members Receive Promotions Danielle Sarver Coombs, Ph.D., Associate Director Mitch McKenney, Associate Professor (Tenure Track) Stefanie Moore, Associate Professor (Non-tenure Track)
JMC NEWS
THE STATE OF LEADERSHIP
JMC names Danielle Sarver Coombs New Associate Director Over the past two years, JMC has experienced tremendous growth and change. Dr. Danielle Coombs’ appointment to Associate Director is one more step toward building a nationally recognized and respected journalism program. For Coombs, it’s all about taking a strategic, systematic approach to streamline processes that will positively impact both students and faculty. “The goal is to provide students with the best possible experience with minimal speed bumps,” Coombs said. “It’s extremely important to give students what they pay for, and it is my goal to maximize the benefits while minimizing the barriers.” Coombs knows that creating beneficial learning experiences for students begins at the top with great teaching, and she is committed to giving faculty the tools to build a strong foundation for student success. “I am in the process of creating a resource for faculty to help them look at the big picture and do things from a strategic
standpoint,” Coombs said. “This [resource] will provide faculty with tips and tricks to better prepare students.” Coomb’s recalled that she was initially hesitant about leaving the classroom, but soon realized the importance of stepping into a leadership role. “As an administrator, I have the opportunity to impact thousands of students and help them get the best education possible,” she said. “I’m an idea person and have a good grip on processes and determining how to do things efficiently. I’m focused on getting the ideas executed and showing that we are producing the very best graduates.” To help with the transition, Coomb’s can rely on the expertise of former Associate Director Greg Blase. Blase is the new Undergraduate Program Coordinator and will remain in this role until his retirement in June 2015.
Blase said he is confident that this change in leadership will be good for the School. “Thor arrived two years ago and I had the opportunity to serve as Associate Director under him,” Blase said. “He is a good leader with a strategic vision for the School. Danielle was born for this role because she has the management chops for it. They’re a great team.” As Blase hands off the baton, he said he’s looking forward to retirement and what’s still ahead of him. “My 2015 retirement date has always been there,” he said. “I’ve accomplished a lot in my career. I have all the confidence in Danielle and am looking forward to what’s next.” ■
I’VE ACCOMPLISHED A LOT IN MY CAREER. I HAVE ALL THE CONFIDENCE IN DANIELLE AND AM LOOKING FORWARD TO WHAT’S NEXT.”
“I’m a consultant in a sense,” Blase explained. “I’ll be here through the end of the school year to assist with JMC’s reaccreditation and help Danielle make a smooth, seamless transition.”
JARGON | FALL 2014 | ISSUE 1
JMC NEWS
RIGHT/ JMC's Student Voice Team served pizza during Free Food Monday.
JMC CELEBRATES SECOND ANNUAL STUDENT SUCCESS WEEK
IT'S NICE TO SEE WHAT TYPES OF AGENCIES ARE OUT THERE AND ACTUALLY TALK TO THEM IN PERSON.” — HEATHER FESENMYER, SENIOR ADVERTISING MAJOR
Achievement, Potential and Plenty of Pizza “It’s great to be recognized by a school that actually celebrates its students.” The words of David Hrvatin, ’14 capture the spirit and purpose of JMC’s second annual Student Success Week, a week set aside to celebrate the achievements and potential of all JMC students. This year, the “week” started in early April and ended in late April, just as finals were about to begin. It included a series of events that launched students, faculty and staff into final exams, commencement and, in some cases, new careers.
CCI JobExpo2014 Professionals from 23 northeast Ohio businesses and organizations met with Kent State University's College of Communication and Information (CCI) juniors and seniors on Friday, April 4, at CareerExpo2014 at The Silver Grille in downtown Cleveland. Organized by JMC’s Career Services Coordinator John Butte, the event is the only communication-focused career fair at Kent State. The event enabled 65 students from JMC and the Schools of
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Communication Studies and Visual Communication Design to visit with recruiters of their choosing, get information on internships and entrylevel positions, benefit from professional critiques of their resumes and gain insight on the skills and attributes companies are seeking in communication professionals. Participating companies were carefully selected to appealed to a wide range of communication students and included the Akron Beacon Journal, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum, WJW Fox 8 TV and Marcus Thomas LLC. Companies invited to the event are among the region's top employers. "We always think it's important to attend these kinds of events because we like to build relationships," said Sarah Hihn, Director of Human Resources at Dix & Eaton Communications. "It's important for us to get our name out there and make sure that people are aware of our opportunities at the internship level." "It's nice to see what types of agencies are out there and actually talk to them in person,"
said Heather Fesenmyer, a senior advertising major. "It's hard to get a feel of what they're like when you just do a Google search. It was nice to actually talk to professionals for more than a couple minutes." Megan Confer, ’13, who attended the CareerExpo last year, learned firsthand about the benefits that can emerge from attending the event. "I was introduced to the agency where I now work," said Confer, a public relations associate at Studiothink. "The CareerExpo is a great opportunity for students to learn about different opportunities with the agencies and organizations in the area, network with professionals and hopefully make connections that lead to a job. If nothing else, the mini-interviews are great practice."
Free Food Monday! Donuts by the dozen (about 16 dozen, but who was counting?) and pizza by the pies (13 sheet pizzas, to be exact). Free Food Monday! is exactly as advertised: a morning and late afternoon of free food for all JMC students. It’s also an opportunity for all JMC students, faculty and
JMC NEWS staff to congregate in the Franklin Hall first-floor atrium for great conversation, a look back at a year of growth and opportunities and a carboloading break before finals begin. This year, members of JMC’s Student Voice Team dished pizza to their peers. No one left hungry.
Kappa Tau Alpha Induction Ceremony Twenty-two JMC students and Director Thor Wasbotten were inducted into Kappa Tau Alpha (KTA), the national honor society for journalism and mass communication, during Student Success Week. KTA recognizes academic excellence and promotes scholarship in journalism and mass communication. Professor Jeff Fruit, a KTA member and Kent State’s KTA adviser, presided at the induction ceremony and told students that the privilege of membership comes with significant responsibilities. “The letters KTA represent the English words knowledge, truth and accuracy. That is the purpose of our society.” Only the top 10 percent of students in the junior and senior classes are eligible for induction and become lifetime members.
’14, were honored as JMC’s top scholars for 2013, the first time in more than a decade the honor was shared. Both had grade point averages of 3.97.
Ranking fourth in the nation in the Hearst photojournalism competition—the highest ranking Kent State has ever attained in Hearst competition.
2013-2014 Student Award Ceremony
Placing 10th in the nation in the Hearst writing competitions (page 5).
Forty-seven JMC students won, placed or were nominated in the most prestigious national, international and regional intercollegiate award, fellowship, internship and scholarship programs in the 2013-2014 academic year. Another 24 advertising majors were recognized for their entry in the highly competitive Collegiate Effie Awards, in which JMC doubled its number of entries from 2013, and our first entry in the international Young Ones creative competition. All were honored by faculty and staff at JMC’s second annual Student Award Ceremony. “We have had an amazing year, and we have much to celebrate,” JMC Director Thor Wasbotten told those in attendance. “In the Hearst Foundation awards, which are often called The Pulitzers of collegiate journalism, JMC students finished in the top 10 four times, in four different competitions.” The long and impressive list of JMC’s 2013-2014 academic year awards includes:
Winning a gold medal and two Awards of Excellence in the College Photographer of the Year awards, the largest student photography competition in the world. Winning TV Station of the Year—for the second year in a row—in the Associated Collegiate Press/College Media Association (ACP/CMA) awards. Achieving six first-place wins in the SPJ regional Mark of Excellence Awards and earning two finalist placements in the national Mark of Excellence Awards (page 4). Earning two top honors and two awards of excellence in the Ohio News Photographers Association competition. Winning a News21 fellowship for the second time in JMC’s history, two Dow Jones internships and a Pulliam Fellowship.
The newly inducted members recognized the importance of the honor and of the academic success that led to it. “It’s great to be surrounded by people who understand the value of learning. What you learn in the classroom is important, but what you learn about yourself is just as important,” said Jason Kostura, ’14, who joined ESPN’s Content Associates Program days after graduating. During the KTA ceremony, KTA members Katherine Boetger, ’14, and Kelli Fitzpatrick,
Robert Sorino Sr. shares a photo of his son, Robert Jr., with visual journalism major Rachael LeGoubin, who received the scholarship named in Robert's honor. Robert was a JMC alumnus and photography major. (Photo by Graham Smith.)
Scholarship Dinner JMC's annual Scholarship Dinner set two important new records: More than $65,000 in scholarships and financial awards, the highest total ever, were given to 54 undergraduate and graduate students, also the School's highest total ever. The ceremony enabled JMC scholarship recipients to spend the evening with the generous donors who make their scholarships possible. JMC donors reflect the diversity of the JMC family itself: alumni, faculty, parents, siblings and friends of former students, JMC Professional Advisory Board (PAB) members, and media and communication industry leaders. “Our donors believe in supporting and sustaining high-potential, hard-working students. They understand that a college education can transform lives, provide hope and opportunity, and build better citizens," JMC Director Thor Wasbotten told the donors, students and guests who celebrated in the Kent Student Center Ballroom Balcony. The evening included a moving speech by Cindy Schulz, a magna-cum laude graduate of JMC, chairman of the School's Professional Advisory Board and scholarship donor. Schulz offered students three pieces of advice: "Know that you are smart, be proud of who you are and where you came from and pay it forward." She spoke of growing up in the projects on the west side of Cleveland and attending Kent State with the help of scholarships and financial aid. "As a scholarship recipient myself, I can tell you it is just as good to be a benefactor as it is to be a recipient," Schulz said, encouraging students to "make a pledge today to give back to other students when you can." ■
JARGON | FALL 2014 | ISSUE 1
JMC NEWS
WAYNE DAWSON NAMED THE 2014 TAYLOR AWARD WINNER When Wayne Dawson, ’79, entered the School of Journalism and Mass Communication, he had aspirations of pursuing a career in sports writing; however, when he became involved with TV2, Dawson’s interests shifted to broadcast journalism.
MY EDUCATION GAVE ME THE CONFIDENCE AND SKILLS I NEEDED TO SUCCEED.”
“When I was a student at Kent State, I was exposed to the broadcast and telecommunications side of journalism, not just writing,” he explained. “It was there that I got my first taste of TV and radio,” said Dawson, who worked as news director for JMC’s awardwinning TV station, TV2. Dawson recalled doing a bit of everything as a student, which made him well rounded and prepared for the real world. “I wrote, shot, edited and produced, and when I graduated I was hired on the strength of my TV2 audition tape,” Dawson recalled. “My education gave me the confidence and skills I needed to succeed.” And succeed he did. After gradating, Dawson was hired by former Fox 8 general manager Virgil Dominic and was on the air by January. Dawson has spent the past 34 years at Fox 8, building a career that many could only dream about. He has been the co-anchor for the station’s morning program, News in the Morning, for the last 15 years, which has consistently
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been ranked number one with Dawson at the helm.
recipient, he said that he was in complete disbelief.
Dawson has done and seen it all. He has reported on thousands of news stories from John Glenn’s second historic space shot, to the inaugural celebration of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day to a visit from the Pope. Of his careermaking moments, Dawson said one of the most memorable was interviewing a sitting U.S. president.
“When I received the call, I was in total shock,” he said. “There are so many great, talented people who have graduated from JMC, and I’m just so honored and humbled to be selected.”
“A shining moment in my career was my one-on-one interview with President George H.W. Bush,” Dawson said. “He was running for a second time, and I remember sitting down preparing to interview him in Houston. At that moment, I thought to myself, ‘I’ve really made it. This is what I was meant to do.’” During his 30+ years in television, Dawson has seen an incredible amount of change including seven general managers, eight news directors, four station sales and one network change. Through it all, he has remained committed to journalistic excellence. “I have had a great career,” Dawson reflected. “I’m blessed to have been here so long doing what I love with such dedicated people. I try to do the best job that I can every day for the viewers.” When Dawson was notified that he had been selected as the 2014 William D. Taylor Award
Dawson didn’t get where he is today without heeding great advice imparted to him from professors and mentors. He advises current JMC students to take an early, active role in building their professional brand, so that they can also have a long and fulfilling careers. “Do the best you can in your classes, put together a resume showcasing your work, get involved in extracurricular activities and start early,” he said. “You can’t just do work in the classroom. Be attentive and always work hard.” Dawson is an eight-time Emmy winner, a member of the NAACP, the National Association of Black Journalists and the Phi Beta Sigma fraternity. He is also a member of the Broadcasters Hall of Fame and was recently inducted into the Silver Circle of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences, Lower Great Lakes Region. On Nov. 7, 2014, The Press Club of Cleveland will present its annual Chuck Heaton Award to Dawson. He is the seventh recipient of the award. ■
JMC NEWS
Two ambitious young alumni to receive Fast Track Awards JMC alumni Kyle Michael Miller, ’09, and Christina Stowers, ’08, are the 2014 Fast Track Award Winners for their early career successes.
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any broadcast journalists aspire to work in a big city for a major television network, but few ever land their dream job, especially right out of college.
to his current position as a digital producer and reporter for NBC’s TODAY Show in New York City.
Kyle Michael Miller is the exception to the rule. Before obtaining his bachelor’s degree in journalism in 2009, Miller knew he would only be satisfied following his dream of working at NBC.
Miller spends his days shooting and editing segments for Today. com, building the digital brand, creating inspiring stories, helping to produce content for the Orange Room and rubbing elbows with the likes of Matt Lauer, Carson Daly and Kathie Lee and Hoda.
“I applied to 140 on-air jobs and turned down 10 job offers,” Miller said. “I wasn’t going to take a job unless I had peace about it, and I really wanted a job at the Today Show.”
He attributes his success to hands-on learning opportunities and instruction from JMC professors Karl Idsvoog, Gary Hanson, Jan Leach and Sue Zake.
Miller said he relied on his faith, praying for guidance about his career path.
“When I entered the program, I had never used a camera,” he recalled. “I had to be a oneman-band and learn to shoot, edit and produce. Now I use those skills every day. For every hour in the classroom, I spent two or three out in the field.”
“I prayed for the right opportunity to come my way and the next day I received an email from NBC. Funny thing is that I never applied,” he said. His faith and persistence led
Miller’s advice to current JMC students is to work hard, believe in themselves and never settle.
Photo: Lance Booth \ TODAY
“Learn everything you can. The business is constantly changing and evolving and it’s important to be open, flexible and ready to jump in,” he said. “People gave advice and wanted to steer me in a certain direction, but it’s important to follow your heart. You don’t have to take a job in a small town. There are so many great opportunities, you just have to find them.”
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hen she entered the public relations sequence in JMC, Christina Stowers had no way of knowing that eventually, she would serve in a role where she is able to positively impact the conversation about energy efficiency and influence change on a national scale. As a Communications Specialist at the U.S. Department of Energy in Washington, D.C., no day is exactly the same and always comes with new obstacles and challenges. Stowers researches barriers to energy deployment at the State and local levels, assists with the development and dissemination of educational materials to target audiences and coordinates communications strategies to inform stakeholders, including the Members of Congress and the media. She is most excited about being able to shape the narrative about energy efficiency and renewable energy options, while also working to increase communications support for grantee and subgrantee projects. “I am most passionate about energy efficiency, about working for the deployment of clean energy technology and what it means for our country as a whole,” Stowers explained. “I believe it will have a positive impact on the future of our environment as we continue
Christina Stowers, ’08 to work toward decreasing our dependence on oil and fossil fuels. I am most excited when I see our work in action. I’ll see a wind farm or solar panels and wonder if we funded it.” Stowers chose to major in public relations because she said it offered a broader, overarching curriculum. She credits her hands-on education in JMC for helping her launch a successful career in public affairs. “I felt prepared because while in JMC, I had the chance to get real-world experience, which is so important in the profession, versus just learning in the classroom,” Stowers said. Stowers took advantage of experiential learning opportunities afforded to her by JMC including studying abroad and gaining experience as a government relations intern during her last semester, and she encourages current JMC students to do the same. “Take advantage of every opportunity that JMC has to offer,” Stowers said. “My advice is to get involved, get exposure, and don’t be afraid to leave campus.” ■
Kyle Michael Miller, ’09
JARGON | FALL 2014 | ISSUE 1
TRULY TRANSFORMATIONAL
JMC’S ROAD TO REACCREDITATION by
M ark N yl ander
As consumers, we look for evidence that the products and services we purchase have met rigorous standards of accountability and continuous improvement—whether it’s the Good Housekeeping Seal of Approval or an endorsement from the Better Business Bureau (BBB). In higher education, this validation comes in the form of accreditation. The structure for evaluating and accrediting journalism and mass communication programs was established in 1945, when the Accrediting Council on Education in Journalism and Mass Communication (ACEJMC) was formed. ACEJMC is the agency formally recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) for accrediting programs for professional education in journalism and mass communications in institutions of higher learning. JMC was first accredited in 1965 and today is one of 114 fully accredited programs in the U.S., one of only three in
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Ohio, and the only school of journalism and communication in northeast Ohio accredited by ACEJMC. Reaccreditation occurs at six-year intervals— the School’s most recent reaccreditation was in 2008— and we are currently engaged in a process of reaccreditation that follows three steps.
1.
JMC and CCI faculty, administrators and staff have been conducting a rigorous self-study and detailed examination of the program over the past 10 months. The self-study is based on ACEJMC’s set of expectations about quality and is organized in nine standards that were
developed by educators and working professionals. The nine standards recognize institutional diversity: the unique mission, situation, and resources of each program. The standards by which units are evaluated cover such areas as instruction, curriculum, teaching, facilities, resources, research, and diversity. The JMC self-study will be submitted to ACEJMC in mid-October.
2.
The submission and review of the self-study will be followed by a site visit from a five-person team consisting of educators and professionals who will spend four days conducting an assessment of the School’s curriculum, faculty, administration, students, facilities, and resources. The site team visit, which will occur Jan. 20-23, 2015, will include meetings with faculty, staff, students and administrators, reviewing resource materials available in a workroom in Franklin Hall dedicated to the site team for the duration of their
visit, observing classes, and engaging with students in co-curricular activities. Upon the completion of its visit, the site team will prepare a report and submit its recommendation for reaccreditation to the national Accrediting Committee, composed of educators and professionals. The Committee will review and discuss the report and vote whether to recommend JMC's reaccreditation to the Accrediting Council.
3.
As a final step, the national Accrediting Council will review the work of the site team and the recommendation of the Accrediting Committee and take final action and hopeful approval of reaccreditation. The reaccreditation process is rigorous and time-consuming. However, viewed from various perspectives, the value of accreditation is evident.
TRULY TRANSFORMATIONAL
• For students and prospective students accreditation is an assurance of quality in professional education in journalism and mass communications. Students in an accredited program can expect to find a challenging curriculum, appropriate resources and facilities, and a competent faculty. • Parents want to know their children will have an educational experience of high quality that will help prepare them for a career. Accredited programs offer the assurance that they have been evaluated by academic peers and leading practitioners and have met the tests of the nine standards. • High-school teachers and guidance counselors can influence students' choices of college or career. To these advisers, accreditation provides a sound basis for recommendation. • Accreditation provides external validation to university administrators that a program on their campus is recognized by national academic and professional organizations. Measuring the educational merit and relevance of the program typically brings
NATIONAL ACCREDITATION IS IMPORTANT TO OUR SCHOOL BECAUSE IT DRIVES US TO CONTINUE TO IMPROVE THE EDUCATION OF OUR STUDENTS.” —JMC DIRECTOR THOR WASBOTTEN improvements, both through the internal examination by the staff and administrators and through the insights of external evaluators. • Practitioners seeking to hire entry-level or more experienced candidates know that accredited programs prepare students with a solid professional education and a firm grounding in the liberal arts and sciences. • To a public concerned about the performance of the media, accreditation offers an assurance that those entering journalism and mass communications are appropriately educated. ■
New Big Data course equips students with sought-after skills
O
ver the past few years, there have been significant advances in our ability to generate, collect and interpret data. In an effort to give students a competitive edge, JMC is offering its newest special interest course, Big Data, beginning this fall. The course is the result of partnership with Gannett’s Cleveland affiliate, WKYC Channel 3. Over the course of one semester, students will learn about data mining, analysis and comparison, visualization, investigative reporting and real-time digital content creation. WKYC Assistant News Director Dustin Wadsworth said that that journalism has become increasingly data-driven. “Broadcast journalists typically gather news with video top of mind, but this course is helping us take a different approach and tell stories beyond videos to give enhanced story online,” Wadsworth said. The overall goal is to assist WKYC to improve its website and give students a chance to hone in-demand data skills. “Like all media outlets, WKYC is moving away from the traditional way of doing things,” said JMC Director Thor Wasbotten. “The Big Data course allows JMC to partner with a news station to create experiential opportunities for our students to help reshape and redefine the industry.” Data mining and analysis skills are in high demand and this course will help prepare students meet the growing needs and expectations of employers. Assistant Professor Susan Zake, who is teaching the Big Data course, said that students will utilize Microsoft Excel and Google Fusion Tables to help them organize and analyze data, necessary for solid reporting. “Students will learn to identify and analyze data, which can be a powerful tool for effective storytelling,” Zake said. “They will apply what they’ve learned to create one major project that will live on the WKYC website.” This course is open to students in the College of Communication and Information (CCI), Digital Sciences (DSCI) and Computer Science. ■
JARGON | FALL 2014 | ISSUE 1
TRULY TRANSFORMATIONAL
Mobile Publishing students collaborate to create tablet magazine by
A udre y F letcher
Create a tablet magazine with a focus on conservation. Kent State University Associate Professors Jacqueline Marino and Joe Murray gave this task to their Mobile Publishing class at the beginning of the spring 2014 semester. Their 22 students from the schools of journalism and digital sciences had 15 weeks to complete it. “Prof. Murray and I ran the class like a startup. We just gave the students the topic and secured access to experts,” Marino says. “The rest of what happened was the result of the students' combined efforts and talents. Luckily, we had a lot of both in the class.” Branches, the resulting tablet magazine, is the first of its kind created in a course at Kent State University. Branches brings the topic of conservation to young people,
ages 18 to 35. The student editors chose articles to provide a balance of content for those new to conservation and for those who have more knowledge of the topic. As a group, the class wanted to inspire readers to think about conservation. The class partnered with The Holden Arboretum in Kirtland, Ohio, Holden provided access to information, sources and the environment itself. The arboretum was started in 1931, and today, it serves as a living museum and research facility. Journalists chose topics, researched, interviewed and wrote. The completed articles covered everything from 10 simple ways to conserve to what happens when invasive species take over. Photographers and videographers shot and edited photos and videos, including
one filmed from a drone flying above Holden.
trying to get everything to work and look good in Mag+.
Then, programmers and designers took that content and built it into the completed magazine. This included coding interactive elements such as the 10 ways to conserve article where users can tap leaves to get more information. The class also created a social media plan, including a website to publicize the app, branchesmagazine.jmc. kent.edu.
“Another difficult thing was having an idea in my head about what I wanted a page to look like and then trying to see if we could get the actual page to look that way using the tools that we had,” Wright says.
They tried three different workflows before settling on a fourth.
JMC senior news major Kelli Fitzpatrick, who served as the magazine’s editor-in-chief, says through the process she saw how editorial and production had to rely on one another.
“In some cases during the production, we unintentionally replaced one obstacle with a new one,” Murray says. “But we were able to jump over most obstacles, flatten others, and in the end, students succeeded in doing something no other group of students was able to do.” The final workflow, an InDesign plug-in called Mag+, allowed the class to create the interactivity it wanted to make this magazine more than just a print-like publication on a tablet. Senior digital sciences major Clinton Wright, who worked on production, says the most difficult part of the project was the time crunch at the end. He and others spent hours a night
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The magazine was officially launched May 8 and is now available as a free download in the iTunes App store.
“Overseeing the editorial side was nothing new for me, but communicating and making decisions with the computer production team was a brandnew experience,” Fitzpatrick says. “I learned a lot, and I'm extremely proud of the magazine we produced after 15 long, hard weeks” Murray says he is ready to teach a class like this again. “Exploring the theory of things and applying what is learned to actual practice in the world is more fun than anything I have ever known.” ■
TRULY TRANSFORMATIONAL
New School Year, New Major JMC reevaluates one of its undergraduate majors
I
t’s important for educators to be thoughtful and measured in their approach to curriculum. One of JMC’s four undergraduate majors has undergone change. This fall, the Electronic Media sequence is changing its name to Digital Media Production (DMP), and educators are hopeful that curriculum changes will enhance students’ learning experiences. The Bachelor of Science in Digital Media Production comprises two concentrations: Television and Digital Film. Both concentrations give students first-hand experience in single camera and live multicamera production. Digital Media Production Sequence Coordinator and Associate Professor David Smeltzer along with other faculty members examined the old curriculum to determine
the challenges and growth opportunities. “The name ‘digital media’ is more inclusive and allows for expansion of the major in the future,” Smeltzer said. “The previous curriculum’s structure did not have one coherent path for students to follow. DMP will allow students more flexibility and room for electives, while giving them a foundation grounded in the basics.” The changes give students more requirements designed to help them build stronger fundamental skills and also reduce redundancy in the major, which makes the entire learning experience more efficient. In addition to learning shooting, audio recording, editing, writing, directing and producing digital films and live television, students will also take classes
focused on the business aspects of production including the science of film making. “You know that students have taken the foundational courses and have developed the necessary skills that will enable them to find employment post graduation,” Smeltzer said. “The business courses will round out their experience and make them more marketable.” DMP majors interested in live television have the opportunity to learn about news, sports, and entertainment programs in JMC’s high-definition studio and outside the studio in the College's remote production truck. Students who are more interested in digital film have the chance to study narrative fiction, documentary, commercial and corporate productions. ■
THE BUSINESS COURSES WILL ROUND OUT THEIR EXPERIENCE AND MAKE THEM MORE MARKETABLE.” — JMC ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR DAVID SMELTZER
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TRULY TRANSFORMATIONAL
JMC enhances the student experience with Student Resource Lab Keeping up with the increasing speed at which technology changes is at the forefront of what JMC strives to do for its students. Dedicated faculty members provide students with the essential tools to build a solid, professional foundation by training them to be skillful multimedia storytellers through the use of technology. This fall, the School is launching the Student Resource Lab (SRL), which will enhance the student learning experience. The facility consists of two state-of-the-art resource and equipment training suites where students can checkout one of the 1,500 pieces of equipment and receive extensive hands-on training. "By providing students with training we are equipping them with invaluable technical skills," said JMC Director Thor Wasbotten. "The Student Resource Lab will make a monumental difference in students' education and careers." In an effort to create a seamless process, JMC hired Senior Media Specialist Tracy Baughman to lead the SRL and has also partnered with Kent State's main library to implement a new-and-improved equipment tracking system. Baughman’s role is to train students on proper equipment use so that they can apply their newly acquired skills in the classroom. “The Student Resource Lab is one of the many ways that we can significantly impact the learning experience of nearly every JMC student in every major across the School,” Baughman said. “By providing students with the proper training, we enable them to create better work and land internships and jobs.”
ABOUT THE STUDENT RESOURCE LAB • By circulation, JMC’s SRL is the second largest checkout lab in the entire Kent State library system, second only to the library at the main campus. • Nearly 90 percent of the 1,100 JMC undergraduate and graduate students will utilize SRL at least once during their student careers. • During the Fall 2014 semester, 11+ classes will use the equipment checkout and training lab. ■
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Evolution of Student Media
“T
here is nothing wrong with change, if it is in the right direction.” These words by Winston Churchill, are representative of the changes happening in student media in JMC. This fall, the award-winning student newspaper, The Kent Stater, will go to press three days a week instead of five. The Student Media Task Force researched best practices of other student media organizations throughout the country and made budget and structural recommendations that would continue to allow student media to thrive.
“Across the board, newspaper and magazine editors are looking at ways to enhance their online presence,” said JMC Director Thor Wasbotten. “We recognized the change in how media are being delivered, and a special task force was created to discuss how to help student media continue to thrive and maximize the educational and experiential benefits.” The Kent Stater will be available on campus newsstands on Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, while KentWired.com will be updated daily with new, relevant content. “In an effort to keep a viable print format, while taking a ‘digital first’ approach, the decision was made to move forward with a new model that will increase opportunities for students to focus on the 24/7 news cycle,” Wasbotten explained. In addition to print schedule changes, the Student Business office will receive new leadership with the creation of a Director of Student Media position. The Director of Student Media will be tasked with helping to build the strategic infrastructure that will help Student Media stay at the forefront of change. Dr. Timeka Rashid, Associate Dean of Students/Center for Student Involvement, and Mark Goodman, JMC professor and Knight chair, are leading the search to fill the newly created position.
RELEVANT & REAL
Compassionate Storytelling JMC photojournalism majors remember Flight 93 JMC Professor David LaBelle and nearly one dozen students from his photojournalism and advanced photojournalism classes traveled to Shanksville, Pennsylvania, to the Flight 93 National Memorial on September 10 and 11.
both powerful and eye opening. “I learned way more than I expected on this trip,” he said. “Having shot many events of all sorts of features for the Stater, including emotional memorials, I thought I knew what to look for. But this was different. This trip taught me the importance of opening your eyes and being attentive to what is going on not just in one area, but all around you. I really focused hard on capturing more unique moments the entire time I was there, looking for the quiet things that no one else noticed. I am so glad I went to Shanksville and got to view this powerful memorial.”
The hijackers on Flight 93 planned to attack Washington D.C.; however, the courageous actions taken by 40 passengers and crewmembers prevented that attack from happening. This year marks the 13th anniversary of the September 11th terrorist attacks that killed nearly 3,000 people at the World Trade Center, Pentagon and on Flight 93. The students had the unique opportunity to photograph the annual memorial service held in Shanksville.
opportunities for students in the near future. “The more we can get students out of the classroom—away from someone talking ‘at’ them —the better, richer the learning experience.” ■
Family members of the Flight 93 passengers and crew placed forty candle lanterns at the Wall of Names as part of the luminaria program.
LaBelle hopes to create more experiential learning
LaBelle, who has taken groups of students to Shanksville for the past five years, said that he believes in giving students exposure to hands-on learning opportunities beyond the classroom.
The students had the challenging task of capturing the solemn mood of the memorial and visually telling the story of the fallen heroes of Flight 93. Sophomore Graham Smith described the trip experience as
Photos: David LaBelle
“I believe in experiential learning,” LaBelle said. “I learn so much about their personalities, strengths, weaknesses and fears by watching and learning with them, and I think they learn a lot watching how I approach strangers.”
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INTERNATIONAL IMPACT
Professor Leach with students from the Journalism School at SRM University in Chennai, India.
Professors take lessons in journalism, ethics abroad by
THE ADVENT OF FREE, CREDIBLE AND INDEPENDENT MEDIA IN KAZAKHSTAN IS IMPORTANT TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF DEMOCRATIC PRACTICES.” — U.S. EMBASSY COUNSELOR FOR PUBLIC AFFAIRS
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M eghan C aprez
As Kent State University’s School of Journalism and Mass Communication strengthens its ties with the global community, so do its professors. JMC professors Jan Leach and Karl Idsvoog both traveled to Asia to train journalists abroad. Leach visited four cities in India in what she described as a “nonstop trip where every single minute is packed.” Through the International Information Project, Leach taught diverse audiences about genderbased violence coverage in the media from July 4-24. “There are serious societal issues in India over the status of women,” Leach said. “It’s improving because more young women are being educated, but there are definitely still problems.” The Poynter Institute recommended Leach for the program. Leach, an ethics fellow for Poynter, said the institute has strong ties with the
global community and often sends its fellows on trips similar to hers. Leach said Poynter sent four other Fellows to India in March, helping pave the way for her travels. “I didn’t know what the underlying foundation of media ethics was there,” Leach said. “[I was] excited to see how they define democracy, view an open and free press and consider audiences. I wanted to learn more about their media systems, especially to see if they are going digital.” While her trip to India was Leach’s first teaching excursion abroad, Idsvoog is no stranger to traveling, having spent last July leading seminars in the Republic of Georgia. He has also trained journalists in Tunisia, Armenia, Kenya, Botswana and Cambodia. This summer, Idsvoog traveled to Kazakhstan through an initiative of the U.S. Embassy from May 11-24.
television holding companies in the country. “The advent of free, credible and independent media in Kazakhstan is important to the development of democratic practices,” wrote U.S. Embassy Counselor for Public Affairs Catherine J. Jarvis in a letter praising Idsvoog for his work abroad. “Professor Idsvoog advanced this process by teaching journalists important techniques for producing their own multimedia content and sharing American values of openness, government transparency and journalistic integrity.”
said. “Kent State is being recognized internationally as a place that can provide international journalism education. It’s wonderful to have support when you go in and do these things.” ■ Professor Idsvoog with graduates of his journalism training course in Pavlodar, Kazakhstan.
“Kent State University is highly supportive of international work,” Idsvoog
“It is always enjoyable to work with people who want to do journalism,” Idsvoog said. “They’re in a tough situation over there. It’s not a free press at all.” In Kazakhstan, Idsvoog visited four cities to train mass communication professionals in new media techniques and journalism ethics. Among those who sat in on his presentations was the director of one of the largest public radio and
Professor Idsvoog provides some demonstrative training in interview techniques to media professionals in Astana, Kazakhstan.
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INTERNATIONAL IMPACT
International Storytelling Class Travels to Estonia by
K yle V ertoch
A group of 17 students ranging from broadcast, newspaper, magazine and graphic design majors traveled across the Atlantic Ocean to Tallinn, Estonia, to report for the 2014 International Storytelling project, led by JMC professors Gary Hanson and Mitch McKenney, along with CCI Associate Dean LuEtt Hanson, Ph.D. This is the fourth installment of the International Storytelling class. In previous years, students traveled to Brazil, India and China. The course was in partnership with Tallinn Technical University (TTU) in Estonia.
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After more than 24 hours of travel time and a few layovers, Kent State University students officially landed in Tallinn. Students were greeted with cold temperatures and an opportunity to embark on a new journey in news reporting in the small Baltic country. The next day, students had the chance to meet with their respective Estonian partners to discuss story ideas and to explore the culture.
In Tallinn, students were pressed with a breaking news story. Russia annexed Crimea on March 17, 2014, their first full day in the country. Following the annexation, the class met the Ukrainian ambassador to Estonia, Viktor Kryzhanivsky, for a press conference, where he discussed Estonia’s role in the conflict and stressed the seriousness of Ukraine’s divide.
Before the adventure overseas, the class met once per week to discuss story ideas, learn about the culture and become immersed into Estonia for two weeks. The students broke into reporting groups and researched stories in America that resembled issues in Estonia. From stories about the culture, language or free public transportation, students were prepared to take on the challenge of reporting.
Students spent days and nights researching, planning and meeting with sources for their respective stories. A few students traveled to Narva, a small town near the Russian border, while the 15 other students gathered information around the Tallinn area to focus on stories brewing locally. From learning about whether ethnic Russians in eastern Estonia had any interest in rejoining Russia, to why Estonian is a unique
language, to Tallinn University offering free tuition to its students, Kent State students had the opportunity to report on several hot topics in the country. Nick Shook, ‘14, and Professor Gary Hanson, both mention that learning about a new culture helps understand the world better. “It was fun meeting different cultures, actually being there instead of just seeing it on screen,” Shook said. Reporting the news was not the only objective. During the last few days of the trip, students were able to take a trip to Helsinki, Finland, to explore the shopping malls and visit several churches. They also took a trip to the Dachau concentration camp, explored the Neuschwanstein Castle in Germany and traveled to the famous Linderhof Palace.
Hanson said that making sure students understand the world is a large part of the course. “It shows students really fundamental ways to learn about the world because you understand that while this (the U.S.) is a great country, it's not the only country. That while we are a great culture, we are not the only culture.” After the students returned to America, the last five weeks of the course were dedicated to producing a multimedia website with audio, video, photos and other elements. The fourth installment of International Storytelling also invited several graphic design and visual communication design students to help produce the artistic elements of the site. ■
ALUMNI PROFILE
Top: Waldschmidt and Smock with their classmate at the 2005 commencement ceremony. Bottom: Waldschmidt and Smock on the WPXI-TV news set.
JMC Alumni Friends Reunite in Big TV Market
W
hen Valerie Smock decided to interview for a meteorologist position at WPXI-TV in Pittsburgh, she had no idea that her path would cross with one of her closest college friends, Shannon Waldschmidt. Smock and Waldschmidt became close friends after joining TV2 to get involved with student media. Waldschmidt was the TV2 News Director and Smock served as Assistant News Director, and together they learned how to shoot, edit and produce news segments and hone their skills. Waldschmidt said she knew from an early age that she wanted to work in the television business. “Back when I was a kid, I used to watch the news with my mom and knew I wanted to be an anchor.” At TV2, Waldschmidt was able to do a bit of everything from making executive decisions about news content and programming to performing all on-air responsibilities. Meanwhile, Smock was always interested in weather, but ironically, it was the only thing she didn’t cover while working at TV2.
To satisfy her interest during an internship, she asked if she could connect with Mark Nolan, then chief meteorologist at WKYC in Cleveland. “I interned at WKYC and didn’t want to just sit at the assignment desk,” she said. “I asked the assignment editor if I could sit with Mark Nolan for a day and I ended up sitting with him for the last two weeks of my internship. I really enjoyed everything that I learned.” Following commencement, life took the two friends in different directions and they eventually lost touch. “I remember being at our final TV2 dinner,” recalled Smock. “Everyone was just starting to talk about Facebook and staying connected after graduation.” Waldschmidt started her career at News 14 Carolina where she worked as a reporter and producer for four years, but she became unhappy with the work and homesick for family and friends in her hometown of Pittsburgh. “I didn’t like reporting as a one-man band, and I knew that I wanted to come back
home,” she said. “I came back to Pittsburgh without a job, but I knew it was the right decision.” Before long, Waldschmidt landed a freelancing opportunity with WPXI-TV, where she started out doing online correspondence, covering high school musicals. She was able to move to the web department and was hired as a full-time news editor. Waldschmidt has spent the past five years at WPXI-TV,
working her way up the ladder and is currently the Executive Producer of Web Content and Social Media. “Years ago people didn’t think there was a future in social media, and now it’s the future of the television industry, Waldschmidt said. “The coolest part of my job is that social media is always evolving and everyday is a new learning (continued on p. 22)
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FACULTY & ALUMNI NEWS ALUMNI PROFILE
(continued from p. 21)
experience. I have to figure out how to take the news and turn it into something social, and the goal is always to increase engagement.” For Smock, starting her professional career off in Great Falls, Montana, proved to be a huge challenge, but also an invaluable learning experience. “When first started, I was terrible at it,” Smock said. “But after awhile, I improved and got the hang of it .” Her career took her from Montana to Youngstown and Toledo and then to AccuWeather in State College, but she said that all of her job experiences expanded her skillset and made her extremely marketable. “I’ve always had the mindset that I’m going to learn everything I can,” Smock said. “I could carry a camera, edit, produce and run the audio board. I'm satisfied to know I can do more than just the weather.” WPXI-TV was in search of a morning meteorologist and took notice of Smock. As chance would have it, Smock would be reunited with Waldschmidt during her interview. “I was at WPXI for an interview walking through the studio with the news director,” she said. “I knew Shannon was working in Pittsburgh, but I wasn’t sure where. I heard someone yell my names and turned around to find Shannon.” “I heard a familiar voice and yelled her name. She was in the middle of her interview,” Waldschmidt said.
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After Smock’s interview, Waldschmidt reached out to her via Facebook to let her know that everyone liked her and in December 2013, Smock was hired as a meteorologist for Severe Weather Team 11's weekday morning newscast. Each day she reviews the weather, conducts research, creates graphics, puts the show together and briefs producers, all before the morning show begins. The two grads have since rekindled their friendship and are excited that they’ve been able to reconnect. “We were very close friends in school, and I’m so glad we’re together again,” Waldschmidt said. “It’s nice to have someone who knew me in a another life.” Waldschmidt and Smock said they have had great careers so far thanks to their time as JMC undergrads. They advise students to take advantage of every opportunity to learn and to develop a strong work ethic. “Hit the ground running and never take no for an answer,” Waldschmidt said. “I sent out 40 resume tapes and had two offers. Get down and dirty. Your first job may not be glamorous, but work hard every day. Get experience and always try to further your career.” Smock echoed Waldschmidt saying that it’s important to be flexible when it comes to your career aspirations. “Do as much as you can and be open to anything,” Smock said. “Know what you want to do, but be prepared to do something completely different because it may lead to something that you love.” ■
Faculty News MICHELE EWING has been inducted into the PRSA College of Fellows, an honorary organization within PRSA composed of more than 300 senior practitioners and educators, each of whom has left a significant footprint on the public relations profession. It is a special honor to be selected as a member of such a prestigious program. The requirements for applicants include: a minimum of 20 years of public relations experience, superior capability in the practice or teaching of public relations and leadership in the profession or community. FEDERICO SUBERVI is a member of the national advisory council of the newly launched Child Trends Hispanic Institute, the first national research center focused on Hispanic children and youth. The Institute will provide timely and insightful research-based information and guidance to improve outcomes for Latino children and youth in the U.S. JOHN BOWEN was honored with the Scholastic Journalism Division’s David Adams Journalism Educator of the Year Award at the AEJMC annual convention in Montreal, Canada. This prestigious award, given annually during the association’s summer convention, recognizes a deserving division member for his/her outstanding performance in the college/ university classroom and in scholastic journalism workshops and conferences. JOHN BUTTE was inducted into the Silver Circle of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences, Lower Great Lakes Region. The Silver Circle recognizes individuals who have made significant contributions to television for 25 years or more. The broadcast pioneers who become part of this distinguished group have had significant careers in many different aspects of the industry—engineering, management, on-air, technical, production, administration, talent. ANN SCHIERHORN and DAVID LABELLE received an Award of Merit from the American Association for State and Local History (AASLH) in the 2014 Leadership in History Awards for their exhibit “They Led the Way." The Leadership in History Awards recognizes “achievement in the preservation and interpretation of state and local history.”
JEFF FRUIT is the incoming vice president of Kappa Tau Alpha (KTA), the national college honor society for journalism and mass communication. JAN LEACH received a Distinguished Teaching Award and STEFANIE MOORE received an Outstanding Teaching Award from Kent State’s College of Communication and Information.
Alumni MARY CONTINI GORDON, ’68, is the author of “TIQ SLO’W: The Making of a Modern Day Chief” (Amethyst Moon Publishing), the ethnographic biography of California Indian activist Charlie Cooke. The book was written with the cooperation of the National Park Service. Gordon met Cooke on a TV talk show she hosted in Southern California while she was working on her doctorate in educational media at UCLA in the 1980s. Gordon writes that she “remembers well her days teaching as a grad assistant in the Kent TV lab.” RANDY HINES, ’69 and ’72, has retired from teaching public relations and advertising at Susquehanna University (SU) and moved to Venice, Florida. A full professor, Hines advised the PRSSA chapter for 11 years and started the ad sequence at SU. The second edition of his book, “PR Writer’s Toolbox: Blueprints for Success” (Kendall/Hunt) was recently published. He and wife, Cathy, also a Kent State alumna, have already started volunteering with the Venice Theatre. ANTHONY LANGE, '10, won first place for sports coverage and first place for best local feature in the Ohio Newspaper Association's 2014 Osman C. Hooper competition for weekly newspapers. Lange is sports editor and education reporter for the Chagrin Valley Times and Solon Times. The Chagrin Valley Times captured the contest's general excellence award for the 18th time in the past 24 years. CONNIE SCHULTZ, ’92, a Pulitzer Prize-winning columnist and nationally syndicated columnist for Creators Syndicate, and STAN BULLARD, ’76, of Crain's Cleveland Business, received Distinguished Service Awards (DSA) from the Society of Professional
Journalists, Cleveland Professional Chapter. ANDY BASKIN, ’90, of News Channel 5 in Cleveland, was one of five alumnI selected to receive the 2014 Distinguished Citizen Award from Kent State’s Alumni Association. JACKIE MANTEY, ’08, won three awards at the Cleveland Press Club's annual statewide Excellence in Journalism contest. She took home first place at the Cleveland ceremony in personality profile writing for nondaily newspapers and second place for arts and entertainment writing for nondaily newspapers. Both awards were for feature articles she wrote for Columbus Alive newspaper. She also earned Best in Ohio: Freelancer status for her 2013 portfolio of freelance writing and reporting for the Dispatch Printing Company. CARRIE CIRCOSTA, ’07, has been selected to participate in the 2014 Fulbright Seminar for U.S. Administrators in International Education in Berlin, Germany. She was selected by the J. William Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board, which is made up of 12 members appointed by the president of the United States. With this award, Circosta joins the ranks of other distinguished Fulbright alumni who have participated in the program since its inception more than 60 years ago. TAMMY STABLES, ’9 0, left the Detroit Free Press as a top digital news journalist to become Senior Media Relations Specialist at Henry Ford Health System in Detroit. Tammy wrote that “she can trace her 20+ year career path directly back to experience and relationships established at Kent State University.”
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CELEBRATING OUR STUDENTS & ALUMNI JOIN US FOR HOMECOMING 2014 FRIDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2014 JMC Alumni Award Ceremony 4:30 P.M. to 6:30 P.M., FirstEnergy Auditorium, 340 Franklin Hall
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 18, 2014 Hospitality Tent/Parade 10:30 A.M. to Noon, Lincoln and Main Streets JMC Lunch/PRSSA Auction Following Parade, Franklin Hall Kent State vs. ARMY 3:30 P.M., Dix Stadium
Watch www.kent.edu/jmc for more information.