Volume 23, Number 1
Fall 2003
PHOENIX
THE CONVERGENCE ISSUE The iCommunication program, along with the journalism department’s new curriculum, explore new methods of storytelling using multimedia technologies.
T H E B A L L S TAT E U N I V E R S I T Y D E PA RT M E N T O F J O U R N A L I S M A LU M N I N E W S L E T T E R
Cheney awarded top honor BY BETSY HATCH
Erika Seydel Cheney’s downtown office overlooks the Indiana Capitol Building.
INSIDE
Erika Seydel Cheney (B.S. 1994) of Indianapolis, a journalism and political science graduate, was one of seven graduates to receive the 2002 Graduate of the Last Decade Award from the Ball State Alumni Association. The GOLD award honors alumni who have shown personal and professional achievement, community involvement and com-
mitment to Ball State within the first 10 years of graduation. Recipients are those who have established their promise and potential for outstanding endeavors by becoming involved in different aspects of life after college. “The idea is to recognize people who are doing good things early in their careers so they will continue to make contributions later on,” said Ed Shipley, executive director of Alumni Programs.
Cheney, now a stay-at-home mom with her newborn daughter, Dale, had served as director of the office of business and legislative relations for the Indiana Department of Environmental Management since 1998. Prior to that, Cheney served as special assistant to both Lieutenant Governors Joe Kernan and Frank O’Bannon. Besides coordinating volunteer efforts for the lieutenant governor’s office, Cheney has
remained active in the community by volunteering as a reading tutor at Indianapolis Public Schools 42, serving as a mentor to an eighth grade student, and serving as a member of the Ball State Legal Assistance Studies Advisory Committee. She is also a member of the Indianapolis North Central Delta Zeta Chapter where she serves as an officer. See Cheney, Page 3
Curriculum changes offer more opportunity
INDIANAPOLIS ART WALK
BY JENNIFER GRAVEL
CONVERGENCE NEWS Daily News staff takes on multimedia project. PAGE 6 Department creates Digital Storytelling master’s degree. PAGE 7
ALUMNI NEWS Butorac takes on high-profile PR clients in Seattle. PAGE 9
ABOVE: Brian Hayes (M.A. 2002) and Tom Gayda (B.S. 1998) admire a piece featured in the art walk. The event was sponsored by College of Fine Arts and the Ball State Alumni Association.
FACULTY NEWS New iComm hires share unique professional experiences with students. PAGE 4 DEPARTMENT NEWS UniverCity offers week-long celebration of community. PAGE 9 Workshops preview college journalism experience for high school students. PAGE 10
LEFT: Dawn New (B.S. 2002), Amy Ahlersmeyer (M.S. 1980), Brian Blackford (B.S. 2001) and Bridget Bobel (B.S. 2002) share dessert and a few laughs at The Abbey. Photos by Dan Waechter
Broadcast, print and radio are not necessarily separate entities anymore. The journalism faculty is aware of this and has spent more than four years researching the industry’s changing needs and brainstorming educational ideals to create a set of programs reflecting the merging aspects of the field. The goal is to offer students all the knowledge possible to keep up with the technological changes. The new curriculum unveiled this fall is designed to offer students practical experience in the variety of journalistic disciplines. Professionals in the industry recognize a need for professionals to be more well-rounded than ever before. “Most media outlets are looking at media convergence,” said Dan Waechter, faculty adviser and assistant professor of journalism. Students, as professionals, must be comfortable writing for more than one form of media and able to work with new technology that has become a part of the industry. “Storytelling is what we do,” See Curriculum, Page 7
Trip to Brazil builds international friendships BY KELLY B. EVERLING
Entering her Brazilian hotel room for an International Tourism Conference, LuAnn Tanzilli (M.A. 1996) was greeted with exotic flowers and beautifully wrapped packages. Carefully unwinding the bright ribbons, she unmasked a wrapped box of chocolates. Another package revealed a T-shirt while
yet another basket overflowed with fresh fruit. Responsible for International and Group Sales for the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Tanzilli encounters many interesting people on her trips abroad. But none, she admits, are as warm and welcoming as the Brazilians. “From the moment that I arrived in Recife, [Brazil] I felt right at home,” Tanzilli
said. “The hospitality that the Brazilians show is unlike anything I’ve ever seen.” Working for the Indianapolis Motor Speedway for over 10 years, Tanzilli has hosted many groups, both international and domestic. Although normally accustomed to coordinating and hosting groups, Tanzilli See Tanzilli, Page 2
LuAnn Tanzilli poses with fellow conference attendees in Recife, Brazil.
ALUMNI NEWS
Graduate says Butorac journalism skills works with useful in new field high-profile
Gibbs ends search for a ‘better text’ BY JENNY LESSELBAUM AND JENNIFER PEEK
BY KATIE ZIMOLZAK
Cheryl Gibbs (M.A. 1995) believed she needed a better textbook for her journalism classes at Earlham College in Richmond, Ind. She felt something was missing from all the books she had read and used. This led her and a colleague to write “Getting the Whole Story: Reporting and Writing the News,” published by Guilford press in September. As an assistant professor of journalism, Gibbs said there are a lot of introductory reporting textbooks that do a great job in focusing on the right news values, such as accurate news reporting and writing skills. In her book, Gibbs covers not only these traditional news skills, but also the role of journalists in their community. “We try to rock some of the unquestioned assumptions about journalism,” Gibbs said. Gibbs said journalists are in a position to increase or diffuse tension within the community, depending on how they frame their stories. “You can be the most skilled story writer who doesn’t understand the role of journalism in society,” she said. “What about cooperation and consensus and resolution? Journalists are not mere conveyers of benign information. They pick and choose their sources and quotes. They pick what information to include or omit. They decide how to frame the story.” Some of the chapters in her book are titled: The Journalist’s Role in Society, Community as the Context for News, Journalists’ Rights and Responsibilities and Framing News Stories. According to a news release by Earlham College, Gibbs describes the flaw of the timehonored practice of teaching the reporter to get “both sides” of the story. It presumes, she said, that there are only two sides to a story. As a result, Gibbs said stories represent only the most extreme and contrary views on issues. However, if news reporting can portray the many ways in which people are divided by such issues, such as the views from private citizens as well as experts, then reporters’ stories will be more thorough.
Charlene Mires (B.S. 1979) has been in the news in more ways than one these days. Her recently published book, “Independence Hall in American Memory,” has helped this 1979 graduate expand her horizons in publications from journalistic to historical writing. While earning her bachelor’s degree as a double-major in journalism and political science, Mires said she devoted a great deal of her time to student publications. “This served me well on the job,” she said. The job included work at various newspapers in Michigan City, Fort Wayne, and Philadelphia. Mires was a member of the staff at the Fort Wayne News-Sentinel when it won the Pulitzer Prize in 1983 for general local reporting. Mires went on to become an assistant professor of history at Villanova University. When she began to pursue the field of history, she was able to retain the use of many of her journalistic skills. “History and journalism involve similar skills,” said Mires. “The best historical writing embodies some of the same characteristics of good journalism, like clarity of expression and attention to detail.” She also said knowing how to attract publicity has helped her to bring the book to the pub-
TANZILLI Continued from Page 1 enjoyed being the guest in Brazil. “Many of my Brazilian hosts have visited me in Indianapolis in the past,” Tanzilli said. “It was a great experience to visit them in their own countries and observe them in their own environments.” Tanzilli said the language barrier is challenging at times. “There was a translator at my
lic’s attention. Before she could publicize the book, Mires had to write it “First, I had to identify a reason to do it – what more could we possibly need to know about Independence Hall? As it turned out, there was a great deal of unknown history about the building.” She found little had been written about the 19th century history of the building and went through eight years of research and writing to come to a final product. The book isn’t the only writing Mires has been doing lately. “As a historian, I have published articles in two academic journals: Pennsylvania History and The Public Historian,” Mires said. In this line of work, she has won the G. Wesley Johnson Prize from the National Council on Public History for her 1999 article in The Public Historian. Mires currently has other projects in the works, including efforts to develop local museums and historical sites. “I have recently been doing research on the Pennsylvania Emancipation Exposition of 1913 and the competition among American cities and towns to become the permanent host city for the United Nations in 194547,” she said.
booth in Brazil,” Tanzilli said. “She was a delight and a lifesaver on several occasions.” Tanzilli represents the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and the city itself with her bright smile and welcoming demeanor. “The tourism industry offers wonderful opportunities for meeting many interesting people,” Tanzilli said. “I’ve learned so much about other cultures, and I’ve made some great friends during my time here. Who could ask for anything more?”
clients BY JENNIFER GRAVEL
Capturing media attention for Starbucks, adidas and London Fog – that is how Laura Butorac (M.A. 1999) spends her days. After graduating from Ball State with a master’s degree in public relations, Butorac worked in Indianapolis for a short time before deciding to “go for it in Seattle.” She applied with three agencies on the west coast and has been working in Seattle for three years with Edelman, an international public relations agency. As a senior “Creativity and account executive, Butorac has gained writing are vital to status as a mid-level employee. Her agency work. And office has 75 to 80 people who focus on understanding consumer product your client’s promotions for Seahawks Stadium bottom line is and Microsoft Xbox. “Working with fundamental.” high-profile clients is exciting and challenging,” said Butorac. She was hired to work with the Experience Music Project, which involved MTV and VH1. When that project ended, she promoted Microsoft hardware for a year and a half. Currently, as much as 80 percent of her time is dedicated to promotion for Starbuck’s national coffee chain. As a conduit between her clients and the media, Butorac’s roll is to get media attention for her clients. This includes getting the client’s product discussed in the pages of magazines, newspapers, television, radio and online outlets. Butorac said she writes media pitches and plans upcoming PR plans to “garner positive exposure with her clients’ target audiences.” “Creativity and writing are vital to agency work,” said Butorac. “And understanding your client’s bottom line is fundamental.” The client must see the value in public relations activities, and knowing their goals is essential, said Butorac. In terms of consumer products, if the public is to be part of the upper string, it must have a positive impact on the bottom line. “Garnering media coverage is definitely a tool, but driving sales, store traffic and other quantifiables is what really makes an impression,” Butorac said.
ALUMNI NOTES CLASS OF ’54 Donald Charles Lacy: A member of both the Scottish and York Rites. A representative sampling of his published material can be found in his “Collected Works” published by Providence House.
CLASS OF ’60 James R. Howard: Retired from Gary Post-Tribune and the Indiana Department of Corrections.
CLASS OF ’61 Jayne (Decker) Sullivan: Retired after teaching 37 years in Logansport, Ind., two years in Munster, Ind. and one year for Caston Schools in Fulton, Ind. Husband, Dale, is also retiring after working 39 years at Logansport High School teaching
2 FALL 2002 PHOENIX
art and coaching track and cross-country.
CLASS OF ’62 Phil McFarren: Retired from USX (a U.S. Steel Corporation) after 25 years, and is now owner of The McFarren Group.
CLASS OF ’63 Jan Clark: Named the Indiana Sportswriter of the Year for 2001 by the Indiana Sportswriters and Sportscasters Association.
CLASS OF ’67 David C. Stout: Retired from Ball State after 34 years. He now works in the news department for Sabre Radio Group (WLBC, WXFN, WERK, The Max and WHBU) as a newscaster. He anchors an
hour-long daily newscast on WHBU News/Talk AM 1240 from 5-6 p.m. Monday through Friday, and also does news broadcasts for the other Sabre radio stations.
CLASS OF ’79 Shawn McGee Kahle: Became president of the Detroit Science Center in April and still remains a member of the Board of Directors. Pete DiPrimio: Won two awards in 2002 in the United States Basketball Writers Association Contest. Received first place for Game News Spot Coverage and fourth place for moderate length feature story. Craig A. Potter: Returned to sportswrit-
ing after 13 years out of the field. Responsible for four suburban weekly newspaper sports sections in the Rochester, N.Y. area. Started out as stringer in Sept. 2001 and was hired full time in December.
CLASS OF ’80 Tom McLaughlin: Recently accepted a new position as Great Lakes Region Marketing Manager – responsible for executive marketing and production plans for Indiana, Michigan, Illinois and Wisconsin. Tracy Warner: Recently won first place for editorial writing, newspapers of more than 50,000 circulation, from the Indiana Associated Press Managing Editors 2002
ALUMNI NEWS
Graduate finds success with IU coverage BY JENNIFER YEADON
In high school, Pete DiPrimio (B.S. 1981) knew he wanted to be a writer. He carried that passion into college at Ball State, where he wrote for the Daily News when he wasn’t busy wrestling. His love of sports coupled with his love for writing led him to become a successful sportswriter at
the Ft. Wayne News-Sentinel and the winner of two awards from the United States Basketball Writers Association. DiPrimio won first place for Spot News Game Coverage in the USBWA contest. The article, written in March 2001, was about the hiring of Mike Davis as the permanent coach of the Indiana University basketball team. He won
fourth place for Moderate Length Feature with an article detailing the much-debated firing of IU coach Bob Knight. He felt his stories stood out because of “the topics.” “Bob Knight remains one of the most compelling figures in sports,” he said. “His firing was rich in intrigue, passion and conflict. All I did was try not to screw it up.” The awards for the USBWA
contest are given out every year during the Final Four. Winning the awards was quite a surprise to DiPrimio. He did not find out until a journalist from the St. Louis PostDispatch told him during one of the games. “A lot of people win awards. Sometimes you get lucky. Sometimes inspiration strikes in a big way. But the key is doing it well
Alumna attributes success to adaptive technologies
CHENEY
BY YASHEKIA SMALLS
Anybody could say computer technology is the wave of the future, but what about those who can’t see, those who can’t even move a mouse? Nicki Washburn (B.S. 1995), a graduate of Ball State’s journalism and public relations programs, can attest to how necessary technology is for such people. She has retinopathy of prematurity – in her case, a condition in which an eye abnormality stemming from birth complications led to blindness. Despite her condition, she currently works as a disability resource assistant in Marion County. But she doesn’t see her condition as an obstacle. “I don’t really think of it as overcoming,” she said. “I had to learn how to do things differently. It’s just the way things are.” Part of doing things differently is using helpful technologies like Zoom Text and closed-circuit television software, both of which enlarge images on a computer screen. She credits Ball State for preparing her for work with these tools. “Going to Ball State certainly helped,” she said. “I was introduced to a lot of technology and learned how to use the computer with adaptive technology.” Washburn worked for customer service at Bank One after leaving Ball State. When her department was eliminated, she decided to try something different – a job where she would be able to do more human services work. This led to an administrative assistant position
all the time,” DiPrimio said. Although he wants to continue writing news, DiPrimio has another goal. “Like many writers, I would like to branch out into fiction,” he said. “I have had one short story published, and am working on a novel. I am certain I will finish the novel. I’m less certain about when or if it will ever get published.”
Continued from Page 1
Nicki Washburn is at work with the hardware that makes her job a little easier. Photo provided at Goodwill Industries, where she helped with their newsletter. She also met with companies and groups to introduce services within WorkOne, an organization that helps people find jobs. As a disability resource assistant, Washburn trains her staff on disability awareness and etiquette. She also works directly with Marion County’s WorkOne offices to ensure that all sites are accessible to people with disabilities. In
coping with her visual impairment, she has learned a lot about herself. “I think I’m still learning,” she said. “I don’t think of myself any differently than I think of others.” Washburn said WorkOne services are valuable to people with disabilities. “It’s helpful for people to know what resources are available around [their] community,” she said. She also said it is important “to not let others’ doubts or mis-
conceptions tell you what you’re capable of because I think everyone is capable of achieving their goals.” Goodwill Industries is an advocate for people all over the country, helping them become self-sufficient by gaining employment and learning skills. Washburn says she believes they show employers that people with disabilities “really do have abilities.”
As a member of the Ball State Legal Assistance Studies Advisory Committee, Cheney has interacted with undergraduate students for the last five years and has helped place them in jobs. Cheney says she owes a lot of her success to Ball State. Both the journalism and political science departments pushed Cheney to pursue an internship, which helped form her career. “I’m really proud of where I went to school and I feel like it’s a big part of who I am,” she said. “I picked Ball State for a reason, and it has a lot to do with where I am today.” Cheney is currently working on a master’s degree in public administration and exploring her options for freelance work and research. Cheney, along with other award recipients, was honored at Homecoming 2002 with a reception and dinner at the Alumni Center. The GOLD award has been in existence since 1999 and has recognized 24 alumni since then. Alumni are nominated by others or selfnominated and then chosen by a panel of volunteer alumni.
ALUMNI NOTES Awards. She also won first place in editorial writing for papers with 40,000 circulation from the Hoosier State Press Association 2001 awards.
Julie (Kelsey) Makarewicz: Continues her career as a freelance writer, while at the same time, enjoying the benefits of being home with two young sons.
CLASS OF ’82
CLASS OF ’88
Kelly (Thomas) Updike: Recently accepted a position with The Leona Group, a charter schools management company with academics in Michigan, Ohio, Indiana and Arizona. Was formerly Media Relations Manager with Lincoln Financial Group, annuities division.
Emily Reece: Recently accepted the position of Training Manager for Igniting Ministry, the national television and welcoming ministry of the United Methodist Church.
CLASS OF ’83 James B. Lee: Vice President and CEO of M.L. Development in Fishers, Ind.
CLASS OF ’85
CLASS OF ’00 Rebecca Berfanger: Working as an associate editor for Massachusetts and Rhode Island Lawyers Weekly for the last year, doing work in feature writing and editing Verdict and Statement Reports. Heidi Monroe: Working at Dittoe Public Relations in Indianapolis.
CLASS OF ’93
CLASS OF ’01
Tanya Potts: Led an agency team that won the Silver Anvil award from the Public Relations Society of America. The award went to Hetrick Communications and its client, Nurses for a Healthier Tomorrow, a coalition of nearly 40 nursing and health organizations that’s helping to combat the national nursing shortage.
Tabitha Edwards: Working as marketing assistant for Hills Floral Group.
CLASS OF ’02
Kathryn Furtaw: Working as the editorial assistant at the Million Dollar Round Table in Park Ridge, Ill. Matt Mace: Working as a graphic journalist at the Carolina Morning News. Tamara New: Working as project manager at the Creative Department Advertising Agency in Cincinnati. Stacey A. Shannon: Working at The Indianapolis Star covering business and also writing a weekly column on downtown.
Dawn New: Joined Hetrick Communications as an account coordinator.
PHOENIX FALL 2002 3
FACULTY NEWS Fellowship helps professor continue summer project sure to the mecca of magazine publishing provides more crediDavid Sumner, recipient of bility as a teacher to be able to an iCommunication faculty relate firsthand experience to summer fellowship, participat- the students.” ed in researching information The group also visited with from three major the founding editor of news magazines – New York Review of Time, Newsweek, and Books. This additionU.S. News and World al tour was to gain Report – in an effort insight in the workto determine how ing aspects of the these major publicamagazine industry tions are attracting and to develop connew readers through tacts within the their Web sites. industry for student Barbara Straus internship opportuniReed, Rutgers David Sumner ties. University, arranged Sumner said his visits during June experience will pro2002 with online editors and vide students with a better print managers from the news understanding of the nuts and magazines in New York. bolts issues within the magaSumner said the major chal- zine industry as well the issues lenge of digital media hinges on involved in publishing magathe news magazine’s ability to zines. attract new readers and become The contacts Sumner made profitable. have already proven valuable “Magazines do not consider with students and alumni. their Web site to be in direct “I had a former student call competition with their maga- me asking for information zine, but feel they are adding a regarding internships,” he said. new source for readers,” he “I was able to give the student said. the names of eight editors to Sumner, along with other contact.” colleagues, participated in a Sumner hopes to publish separate three-day tour of Time research gained from this felInc., Publishers Weekly Trade lowship and has applied for a Magazine and American special assigned leave in order Business Media. to pursue this endeavor. This “It was very rewarding to see research will build upon several people working behind the articles on 20th century print,” said Sumner. “The expo- American magazine history. BY MAUREEN MUSTARD
New iComm faculty help encourage convergence BY YAVONDA SMALLS
The goal of Ball State’s new iCommunication program is to prepare students for the digital media revolution by converging technology with communications. As part of that program the journalism department received two faculty and two professional staff positions. Angelita Abrams-Rains received her undergraduate degree in special education and a master’s degree in English and technology curriculum. She has worked in instructional technology for the Indiana University system. Abrams-Rains is now the convergence workshop coordinator at Ball State and appreciates the journalism department’s integration of technology and communications. “I love to watch students get excited about using the technology,” she said. “I like the size and focus of the university and how it has been supportive of the whole iComm initiative.” Larry Dailey earned his bachelor of arts in secondary education in 1980, his bachelor of journalism in 1982 and his master’s degree in photography in 2000. In addition to working as a multimedia producer for MSNBC for the three years, he has worked as a picture editor for The Associated Press and for United Press International, in Washington D.C. After teaching at Southern Illinois University in Edwardsville, University of Missouri and Syracuse University,
Lori Demo Photo by Jenny Lesselbaum Dailey is now assistant professor of journalism at Ball State and is excited about how committed the department is to quality. “They have a vision here for what new media can become, and I want to help them develop it,” Dailey said. Lori Demo, assistant professor of journalism, received her bachelor’s degree in journalism from the University of Nebraska in 1976. Originally from Griffith, Ind., she
taught journalism courses at Ohio University and the University of Kansas. She has also worked for several newspapers, including Florida Today, where she served as managing editor, and USA Today, where she a was a founding staff member for the Money section. With her 17 years of newspaper experience, she hopes to prepare students to become the next generation of journalists. “Journalism is a vital part of democratic society,” Demo said. “I like the energy in the department. People here have a vision to prepare students for the future.” Jerry Pierce is the Integrated Media Lab administrator. He earned his bachelor’s degree in telecommunications at Ball State in 1988. Though originally from Muncie, he lived in South Bend for nine years, where he was a partner at a multimedia company and served at Notre Dame as an Internet manager. Additionally, he worked at Villing Company in Mishawaka for more than four years, where he served as director of new media. He now enjoys implementing technology at Ball State’s journalism department. “Ball State is an excellent means for students to get experienced in items pertinent to what they’re going to school for,” Pierce said. “It’s a university where you can come to get a degree and great hands-on experience.”
Hanley brings Fortune 500 experience to advertising sequence BY NOELLE BOWMAN
Michael Hanley (M.A. 1978) joined the journalism department staff this year as a full-time advertising instructor. He previously taught at Ball State as an adjunct instructor in the news-editorial sequence. Hanley received a bachelor’s degree from Purdue University in visual design and a master’s degree
in journalism from Ball State. Upon graduation, he worked as a field editor for a magazine and then as a photographer for two newspapers. He then went into corporate advertising and marketing, including positions with Fortune 500 companies. Before he joined the journalism department full time, Hanley owned and operated a communica-
tions consulting firm based in Carmel, Ind. Now his full-time focus is on teaching, but he continues to operate the company on a part-time basis. He said actively working in the advertising field allows him to stay current. He uses the consulting work as “unofficial research” to learn new and emerging technologies he can bring to the classroom as real-world experience.
“This allows me to be on the leading edge of technology instead of the trailing edge,” Hanley said. His 20 years of experience in all areas of journalism have made him fit for the journalism department. Hanley has received numerous advertising and journalism awards, including a Pulitzer Prize as part of team coverage of flooding, while working for the News-Sentinel.
Mike Hanley
FACULTY NOTES Robert Gustafson Associate Professor Published: with Mark Popovich and Cliff Fraser, “Seniors’ Perceptions of Senior Stereotypes Featured in Magazine Advertisements: A Q Method Analysis,” Proceedings of the 2002 Conference of the American Academy of Advertising, May 2002. Published: with Thomsen, S., McCoy, J., Williams, M. (2002) “Motivations for Reading Beauty and Fashion Magazines and Anorexic Risk in College-age Women.” Media Psychology, 4, 113-135. Published: with Thomsen, S., McCoy, J., Williams, M, (2002) “The Relationship Between Beauty and Fashion Magazine Reading Frequency and Dieting for Weight Loss Among Female College Students.” Southwestern Mass Communication Journal, 17 (2), p. 51-61. Served on Editorial Review Board for Journal of Advertising Education. Industry Relations Committee Chair for American Academy of Advertising
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Reviewed manuscript for Journal of Consumer Affairs, 2002. Book manuscript reviewer for The Copy Workshop Publishing Company, 2002. Currently writing a high school textbook on advertising and discussing publishing possibilities with The Copy Workshop Publishing Company. Michael Hanley Instructor Participation in Ball State University convergence workshops, Summer 2002. Mark Herron Assistant Professor Received the Columbia Scholastic Press Association Gold Key, April 2002. Inducted into the Scholastic Journalism Hall of Fame, April 2002. Received “Outstanding Contribution to CCIM teaching,” August 2002.
Mark Masse Associate Professor Published: “Writing Profiles with Personality Plus,” The Writer, scheduled for 2003 publication. In-progress: “Coaching and Editing in the Classroom: National Journalism Educator Survey Results.” Submitted: with Mark Popovich “Revising Student Writer Apprehension: A Q Interpretation of the Riffe and Stacks’ Writing Apprehension Measure,” AEJMC Southeast Colloquium, Gulfport, MS, March 2002. Co-coordinator of summer 2002 Faculty Convergence Training Workshops. Appointed to University Assessment Advisory Committee, spring 2002. Drafted the Department of Journalism Learning Outcome Assessment Plan, April 2002. Principal investigator and co-investigator of two faculty training/convergence workshop grants, totaling $49,800.
Pat Mills Instructor Accepted to “Diversity Across the Curriculum” workshop at the Poynter Institute for Media Studies, June 2002. Accepted to Diversity Policy Institute fellowship, project to teach diversity issues, awareness and coverage, at Ball State University, 2002-2003 school year. Mark Popovich Professor Elected Treasurer, International Society for the Scientific Study of Subjectivity, September 2002. Published: With Tom Robinson, Robert Gustafson and Cliff Fraser, “Seniors’ Perceptions of Senior Stereotypes Featured in Magazine Advertisements: A Q Method Analysis,” Proceedings of the 2002 Conference of the American Academy of Advertising, May, 2002, pp. 117-127. Published: “The Press, Privacy and Politicians,” in Sloan, Wm. David and
FACULTY NEWS
Massé takes summer to write book BY NOELLE BOWMAN
Next semester, Mark Massé, coordinator for the news-editorial sequence and associate professor of journalism, will be taking a break from classes to concentrate on faith. During Massé’s sabbatical he will finish work on a literary journalism book tentatively titled “Faith Works: Dramatic Stories of Religious Social Activism.” When Massé returns next fall, he will be able to share first-hand experience with the type of writing he teaches to graduate students, which has also been called “narrative journalism” and “immersion reporting.” The book focuses on 12 people of faith and the social causes to which they have committed themselves such as homelessness, unemployment, poverty, neighborhood improvement and environmental protection. The 12 personalities come from a variety of faiths and interests including an Episcopalian minister working to improve severely blighted neighbor-
hoods in Chicago and a Catholic nun working with migrant workers in Florida. “What I hope to show is a unique group of individuals who share a common bond of committing to making a better society,” Massé said. He said the traditional media often ignore these people. The profiles extend beyond biography by focusing on the issues each individual works for and the impact on society. Massé got the idea for the book while he was teaching at the University of Oregon five years ago. He met a Jesuit priest who had been working the streets of Portland with drug addicts, ex-convicts and poor, disenfranchised people for 30 years. Massé spent time walking the streets with the priest, observing how he interacted with people while interviewing him. Massé received a Freedom Forum grant enabling him to expand the book and cover more activists. Tom Price, assistant professor of photojournalism at Ball State, trav-
NEW GRAD ASSISTANTS Malaun Willie GA position: Graduate assistant in the integrated media lab Hometown: Chicago, Ill. Graduate Program: Public Relations Expected graduation date: 2004 Favorite thing about being a GA: I not only get to learn new software programs, but I also get to teach them to other students during workshops. Plans after graduation: I plan to obtain a job within the news/weather or public relations field. Tara Gerber GA position: Writing Center coach
eled with Massé to take photographs for two of the stories. Massé did his own photography for the other 10. He spent several days with each subject trying to capture the days in the life of each person, what drives them and what motivates them to do the work. Massé said the subjects represent a range of personality types from humble and selfeffacing to ego-driven personalities. He said even though the personalities differ, what drives each individual is a strong faith and strong spiritual convictions. “I’m trying to put a human face on issues often times the media don’t cover,” Massé said. Four stories are complete. During his time off next semester, Massé will finish the research and write the remaining eight. He hopes to deliver the book to Indiana University Press by Sept. 1, 2003. A publication date has not been set for the book, but Massé hopes to have it in print by the end of next year.
Hometown: Bluffton, Ind. Graduate program: Merchandising Expected graduation date: 2004 What you like best about being a GA: Meeting new people! Future plans after graduation: Work for a Fortune 500 company in marketing or merchandising. Amanda Stetzel GA position: Journalism Hometown: Fort Wayne, Ind. Graduate program: Journalism Expected graduation date: 2003 What you like best about being a GA: My projects. It’s fun stuff and I’ll be learning a lot at the same time. Future plans after graduation: (If I’m not burnt out) obtain my Ph.D.
Mark Massé chats with a colleague at UniverCity. Photo by Jenny Lesselbaum Beth Sines GA position: Graduate Programs marketer Hometown: Valparaiso, Ind. Graduate program: Public Relations Expected graduation date: May 2004 What you like best about being a GA: Developing friendships, helping the journalism department, and having your own private computer lab. Future plans after graduation: Start my career. Jennifer Gravel GA position: Graduate assistant for Mark Popovich and Bob Gustafson Hometown: Bedford, N.H. Graduate program: Public Relations Expected graduation date: Spring 2004 What you like best about being a GA:
Feeling involved in the department Future plans after graduation: Hopefully I’ll get a job I love with a salary I can live with, but I want it to be in the Charlotte, N.C. area. Jennifer Peek GA position: Graduate assistant for Sheryl Swingley, Jennifer George-Palilonis and Tendayi Kumbula Hometown: Anderson, Ind. Graduate program: Public Relations Expected graduation date: 2004 What you like best about being a GA: meeting the other graduate assistants and working with the professors in the department. Future plans after graduation: Get a great job!
FACULTY NOTES Emily Erickson Hoff, eds. Contemporary Media Issues, 2nd. Ed. (Vision Press, Northport, AL, 1998), in press. Presented: with Kim Jana, journalism graduate student, “An Attitudinal Study of Job Satisfaction for Full-Time, On-Air Female Personalities at Commercial Radio Stations in Indiana,” presented to the 18th annual conference of the International Society for the Scientific Study of Subjectivity, University of Durham, United Kingdom, Sept. 22, 2002. Presented: with Ken Heinen, “Newspaper Photo Editors’ Perceptions of Women in Photojournalism,” presented at the annual conference of the Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communications, Visual Communications Division, Aug. 7, 2002, Miami Beach, Fla. (chosen Top Faculty Research Paper). Presented: with Mark Masse, “Revisiting Student Writer Apprehension: A Q Interpretation of the Riffe and Stacks’ Writing Apprehension Measure,” AEJMC Southeast Colloquium, Gulfport, Miss.,
March 2002. Panelist: “Covering Government,” Bowen Institute on Political Participation, Indianapolis, Ind., April 6, 2002. Robert Pritchard Assistant Professor Panelist: “Bridging the Gulf from Cuba to Afghanistan: U.S. Military Public Affairs and Its Media Coverage,” Association of Educators in Journalism and Mass Communication annual convention, Miami, Fla., Aug. 7-10, 2002. College of Communication, Information, and Media representative for UniverCity 2002, September 2002. Conference Programmer and Coordinator, “Digitally Conscious: Effectively Integrating Technology into the PR Classroom,” Oct. 3-5, 2002. Faculty Advisor for the Public Relations Student Society of America. Chair, Public Relations Society of America, Educators Academy, “Alliance for Learning” Committee, 2003-2004.
Subject matter expert and member, Ball State University Crisis Management Team. Expert Trainer, Naval Strategic Communications Training, Cartegena, Colombia, May 15-16, 2002. Expert Trainer, General Command Strategic Communications Training, Bogota, Colombia, Aug. 29-30, 2002. Expert Trainer, Air Force Strategic Communications Training, Rio Negro, Colombia, Sept. 11-13, 2002. Participated in Advisor Resources and Training program, Aug. – Nov. 2002. Participated in When All Hell Breaks Loose Webinar, Oct. 2002.
Analyzed election night coverage for WBST and projected results, November 2002. Served on a Freedom of Expression panel at the Virginia Ball Center for Creative Inquiry class. Panel session televised on WIPB public television in June 2002.
Larry Riley Instructor Wrote a weekly social-political commentary column for The Star Press’s Sunday newspaper. Commentator for an Indiana Public Radio Delaware County Political candidate forum broadcast on WBST, November 2002.
Sheryl Swingley Instructor Attended: “Reporting With the Internet for Educators” at the Poynter Institute, St. Petersburg, Fla., May 19-24, 2002.
David Sumner Professor Published: “Sixty Four Years of Life Magazine: What Did Its 2,128 Covers Cover?,” The Journal of Magazine and New Media Research, Summer 2002.
PHOENIX FALL 2002 5
W H E N WO R L D CURRICULUM Continued from Page 1 Waechter said. “Our students have to be comfortable telling stories in a variety of packages.” The Internet, radio and television are just some of the places students can use their writing, photography and technological skills, and the department wants to give students as many advantages as possible. The development of the new curriculum came at a time when the department itself was experiencing changes. The new Art and Journalism Building, now the department’s home, offered the opportunity for implementing many of the faculty’s “ideal educational goals.” This includes a room for focus groups with video and audio recording equipment, labs for practical work, classrooms better aimed at integrated teaching and an integrated media lab. The Integrated Media Lab allows students to produce news stories for print, broadcast and the Web from a single workstation. The iLab is a working newsroom with live broadcast capability and a fully automated control room that can be run by one or two students. Video can be digitally edited with Final Cut Pro or iMovie. Digital video cameras and digital still cameras are available for students to check out and use for class projects. A joint partnership between journalism and telecommunications was created as well. “Journalism’s news-editorial sequence and (telecommunication’s) broadcast news option now require students to take a number of courses together,” Waechter said. Termed NEWS, this new program is teamtaught by professors from both disciplines so students can experience as much integration as possible. Just as the industry is changing, the new curriculum is a “fluid concept,” open to growth and further changes as students offer feedback over the next few years, Waechter said. Internships will further determine if students are as prepared for the changing world of journalism as the faculty intends.
DN expands its cyber-realm BY GERRY APPEL
In the age of convergent media, newspapers across the country must change just to keep up. The Daily News is no exception. As a result, the DN is looking to the future for answers to age-old questions. Of course the print edition of the DN is not going anywhere. However, DN staffers are not only publishing all content from the print edition on their Web site “dn now,” but they are also creating original content at www.basketballstate.com. Sophomore Meghan Farr is acting as “convergence director” for the DN and has helped establish a bond between the DN and Newscenter 43, a student-produced nightly newscast in the Department of Te l e c o m m u n i c a t i o n s . Newscenter 43 provided the DN with updated content for “dn now” as Newscenter 43 promoted “tomorrow’s headlines today” during their evening newscasts. Farr said the two media outlets learned a lot from each other and someday DN staffers will be video experts. “Convergence and a partnership are two different things,” Farr said. “The partnership was great; we learned a lot and now have open door communication. But convergence is really something we can do out of the Daily News (newsroom). With all the equipment that we’re getting, we’re going to be able to do it without the TV station’s help,
Basketballstate.com is one of the many porjects being incorporated into Daily News coverage. eventually.” DN staffers were inspired Daily News Revamps to create interactive multimeFeatures Section dia content after the Chicago Tribune produced a CD ROM The Daily News scrapped its documenting Sept. 11 events. Diversions section this DNinteractive’s first project is semester and replaced it with “Basketballstate.” five different feature themes; a “We’re taking something different theme appears each on campus, taking an issue, day. Below is the schedule and bringing it to the viewers for the features page. through interactivity and multimedia storytelling,” Farr Mondays: “Radar” said. Covers upcoming trends “Basketballstate” features Tuesdays: “Faces” original print stories, photoPersonality profiles graphs and video packages, Wednesdays: “Tech” which has brought the site lots Focuses on technology of attention. DN editor-inThursdays: “Rec” chief Jon Seidel said the site Features about recreation had at least 17,000 hits on the Fridays: “72 Hours” first day. Seidel has been The weekend scene impressed with the staff’s dedication and with their early initial work leading to the site’s would leave at night when the paper’s done, and then they early success. “Students have spent entire would still be here in the nights and mornings here. I morning working,” Seidel
said. “They are working really hard on this, and it’s getting even better as it goes along.” Seidel said a redesign to “dn now” is currently underway. While DNinteractive is undergoing change with “dn now” and “Basketballstate,” the print edition of the DN has also undergone changes, which includes a major redesign. “We took a year of readership surveys, lots of meetings, debating on what to do with the layout that would be different from what we had,” Seidel said. “We had an award-winning design previously, but we all kind of felt it was getting kind of stale. We felt like it wasn’t working anymore. We created new design concepts such as the dog leg and the billboard on the front page.” The opinion page has also been restructured. Seidel said the opinion page is no longer the “usual hodgepodge” of columnists who “write a daily diary.” “He’s (Opinion Editor John King) gotten a group of columnists who are really going to provoke some thought. We’ve had an overflow of letters (in response to the columns)…we have so many letters people are getting upset because they aren’t getting published as soon as they’d like.” Both Farr and Seidel hope DNinteractive will someday have its own staff and fall under the “umbrella” of the Daily News, creating a larger media conglomerate.
CONVERGENCE ACROSS THE CURRICULUM MAGAZINE SEQUENCE
JOURNALISM GRAPHICS SEQUENCE
NEWS-EDITORIAL SEQUENCE
The Magazine Sequence is the only sequence with its own Web site (www.bsu.edu/magazine). It contains an Indiana-Illinois Magazine Directory to help students find jobs and internships, links to every Indiana newspaper, syllabi for all the magazine courses and study guides to help students David Sumner with various aspects of writing and editing. Internet proficiency is integrated into the content of every magazine course—magazine writing, editing and production. Students are equipped to do investigative reporting and research by learning to tap the vast resources of the Internet and its access to worldwide experts and resources. Students are also encouraged to develop their own Web sites and online portfolios. Students graduate from the sequence knowing the communications industry is constantly changing, and they must become lifelong learners—that means being prepared to work in magazines, newspapers, web companies, corporate communications and even television or radio.
As graphics technologies and software become more advanced, visual journalists become capable of translating their print graphics and design skills to other media such as the Web and broadcast. Several new courses have been created in the journalism graphics sequence so that we may begin to Jennifer explore these concepts and skills. GeorgeMultimedia Storytelling, which will be Palilonis taught by Larry Dailey and Pamela Liedig-Farmen, will expose students to a variety of digital storytelling methods for the Web. Students will study concepts related to non-linear storytelling and the navigation abilities that the Web offers to this process. This course will be offered as an elective for all journalism and telecommunications students. In addition to this, an advanced graphics course has been added in which students will apply the print skills they learn in the introductory graphics course to the concepts related to animation and interactivity for broadcase and Web graphics.
The News-Editorial sequence has prepared for convergence by offering new classes, integrating news reporting with the telecommunications department and training. Several new core classes were introduced this past fall: J102 Infogathering, J104 Journalism Writing Skills, NEWS 201 Newswriting, and Mark Massé NEWS 202 News Reporting. NEWS 201 prepares students from both journalism and telecommunications for reporting and writing in print, broadcast and online formats and is team taught by journalism and telecommunications faculty. Each student had to complete weekly sessions at print and broadcast campus media. In NEWS 202 News Reporting students utilize video technology to support their assignments. Coordinator Mark Massé and telecommunications professor Bob Papper, led 16 faculty and administrators from the journalism and telecommunications departments in two weeks of workshops from late July to early August. Training sessions were held in digital audio acquisition and editing, video acquisition and editing, Web page design, digital photo processing and writing styles for print, broadcast and online media.
6 FALL 2002 PHOENIX
DS CO N V E R G E College creates new master’s degree BY BETSY HATCH
Jerry Pierce, Integrated Media Lab administrator, illustrates the use of the department’s new Parker Vision Automated Video Broadcast System. The new system will allow journalism students to practice both being on camera and operating robotic cameras. With one camera located in the Daily News newsroom, the Parker Vision system will also enable live newscasts to be sent from the newsroom to television stations located in the Ball Building and onto the Web. Photo by Jenny Lesselbaum
The Graduate Education Council approved the proposal for a master of arts in Digital Storytelling on Nov. 26. According to Dan Waechter, faculty adviser to the Department of Journalism, the master’s program is an interdisciplinary program between the journalism, communications studies and telecommunications departments that will be housed in the telecommunications department. “The three departments will work together to give students a wide exposure to storytelling experiences,” Waechter said. Beth Messner, associate professor in the Department of Communication Studies, said story is a fundamental and highly compelling form of human communication, one that is common not only to telecommunication, but also journalism, public relations, corporate communications, animation, film and Web design. The newly approved master’s program is a revision of a dormant TCOM program that existed in the 1980s. “Given the evolution of digital technologies, the old M.A. in telecommunications was ripe for transformation into the new media arena,” said Messner. Digital technologies enable storytellers to approach storytelling from a different perspective and to devise nontraditional story forms, such as non-linear and interactive narratives. Given its potential, digital storytelling promises to play a significant role in both the corporate and creative arenas associated with telecommunications and related fields. Thus, the skills of digital storytellers, whether they are broadcasters, film producers, corporate media consultants, scriptwriters or journalists, will be in great demand. Few academic institutions offer a master’s program in digital storytelling.
Therefore, this program places the college at the forefront of this digital transformation. “When we looked at other programs we didn’t find many of this nature that encompass telecommunications, journalism and communication studies,” Waechter said. “I think there’s a need for this at the master’s level.” Messner said that while there are other digital media programs being developed across the nation, the Ball State program is the only comprehensive academic program that focuses upon marshalling its features for the purpose of storytelling. According to Waechter and Messner, students who pursue this degree will be provided with a great deal of flexibility in its application and a wide-range of possibilities to market their skills. Students wanting to enroll in the program must meet the admission requirements of the Graduate School and must have completed the GRE. Applicants must also demonstrate proficiency in written, verbal, and visual communication and have relevant computer skills. Students may only enter during the fall semester of each year, and the program has a target enrollment of about 20 students per entering class, which will give the two-year program a total enrollment of about 40 students at a time. Waechter said prospective students started showing an interest before the master’s program was approved by GEC. The program’s development was funded through the iCommunication grant, and some of the faculty who will teach the classes are also funded through the grant. However, Waechter says he hopes that the program will become self-sufficient and capable of supporting itself once students start enrolling.
SECONDARY ED SEQUENCE
ADVERTISING SEQUENCE
PUBLIC RELATIONS SEQUENCE
The secondary education students are being introduced to the topic of convergence in a variety of ways. They are learning what the topic is, methods used to teach convergence, and how they can teach their students to write for the Web as well as regular print publications and broadcast. Secondary education majors face Mark Herron scholastic journalism at an exciting time but there are still many unanswered questions. Coordinator Mark Herron is currently doing thesis work in how convergence can and will develop in the high school publications room. This is a topic of great interest because many schools have access to the Web, yet rarely use it. Lack of use is due to privacy issues that face schools wishing to use students’ names and pictures.
Because of the unique place of advertising within the world of journalism, convergence in the traditional sense affects the sequence differently. However, the use of new media is one aspect of convergence that students are becoming very proficient with. In particular, students are learning more about Web site design, writing for the Bob Web, and managing Web sites. There Gustafson is a great deal of focus on the two uses of the Internet – as an advertising medium and as a storefront for direct purchase.
Although, convergence is mainly a subject for the news related sequences, public relations is definitely benefiting from the equipment used for convergence education. Students have used the Parker Vision video broadcasting system to develop video news releases and video presentations for clients. Additionally, they have had the opporMelvin tunity to become comfortable using Sharpe equipment that they may be using in the workplace and to practice being on camera in a spokesperson capacity. The public relations sequence is also planning to incorporate convergence into the media relations and campaigns classes by planning projects that will enable them to work on convergence issues and assist organizations in preparing media releases and press kits for a convergent media.
PHOENIX FALL 2002 7
CONVERGENCE NEWS Conference explores media convergence BY BETSY HATCH
Ten Ball State faculty members, including CCIM dean Scott Olson and five journalism department faculty, traveled to South Carolina to see how another university is approaching the topic of media convergence. The University of South Carolina, Columbus, held the twopart conference Nov. 13-16. The purpose of the conference was to provide a scholarly examination of the attributes and implications of the power of integrated information systems and the consolidation of media organizations. It also focused on the realities of media economics that are propelling a new generation of media products, production processes and information services. These trends are affecting all areas of communication. Some of the conference events were focused around the grand opening of Newsplex. Newsplex is a prototype multiple-media micronewsroom for demonstration, research and training in next-generation news handling tools and techniques. It will provide opportunities for training and research affecting the next generation of news practices. Newsplex is a joint venture of the University of South Carolina, Ifra and South Carolina Educational Television. Construction on the $2 million facility began in March 2002. Lori Demo, assistant professor of journalism and fellow for the Center for Media Design, said that the conference gave her the confirmation that Ball State is on the right track. “We’ve been exploring some research projects dealing with convergence that will allow us to help the industry,” Demo said. “Ball State is in a great position to do some work that is really meaningful to the industry and to the public.” Mark Herron, Director of Secondary Education Services and the sequence coordinator for journalism secondary education, said he walked away with new insights and knowledge of convergence. “I was given the chance to look at convergence from a higher academia standpoint and see what’s applicable to the high school market,” Herron said. The first part of the conference, “Defining Convergence,” took place Nov. 13-14. It was attended by Olson, Center for Media Design Director David Ferguson, journalism department Chair Marilyn Weaver and journalism faculty members Demo and Larry Dailey. Joining Weaver on Nov. 15-16 for the second phase of the conference titled, “The Dynamics of Convergent Media,” were journalism professors Mark Herron and Jennifer George-Palilonis, and telecommunications faculty Nancy Carlson, Bob Papper and Terry Heifetz
8 FALL 2002 PHOENIX
Cultural Exchange BY BETSY HATCH
For the past two terms the public relations sequence has been using technology to teach effective international public relations techniques through a partnership with the Pontifical Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul in Porto Alegre, Brazil. Melvin Sharpe’s campaigns students and public relations students in Brazil have been learning through interaction of planning campaigns for implementation in each other’s countries. The interaction is made possible through Internet-based videoconferences. Both groups of students are conducting campaigns for the Red Cross. Ball State students are working on a campaign for the Porto Alegre Red Cross chapter in Brazil, and Pontifical Catholic University students are conducting a campaign for the Hoosier Heartland chapter in Muncie. According to Sharpe, this experience has been beneficial to both groups of students. “The greatest learning experience has been the two groups of young professionals bouncing ideas off each other, using each other for research and counsel, and explaining cultural differences to one another,” Sharpe said. The Internet-based videoconference technique has taught students how to work with Brazilian professionals in collecting and conducting research in planning so that concepts and decisions reflect cultural needs, show knowledge of
In July, Dr. Melvin Sharpe and Brazilian instructor Dr. Helanie Rosa join their students Yuichi Hasegawa, Julia Osso, Jeff Leitch and Aaron Crone in communicating with Brazil via the videoconferencing system in Ball State’s Art and Journalism Building. media and government require- caused some difficulty. the project this summer were able ments, and avoid needless verbal Nonetheless, the students have to meet the Pontifical Catholic and nonverbal errors. tried to maintain communication University students when the According to senior Lee on a regular basis. Brazilian students traveled to Morrison, the videoconferences Senior Allison Zuber says she has Muncie in June. are held on a weekly basis for developed new skills as a result of Sharpe said he hopes Ball State about an hour. this class. students will have a chance to travel “The videoconferences have given “I’ve learned how to communi- to Brazil at some point. He also said students in the class a direct interna- cate on an international level, he plans to continue the partnership tional perspective,” Morrison said. which will help me when I enter for future campaigns classes. “Through this type of communica- the profession,” she said. “We’ve already identified clients tion we’ve learned how different Student communication and inter- in Muncie and Porto Alegre to cultures think and how different cul- action is further supported by a Web work with next year,” Sharpe said. tures present information.” site developed for the class providDue to the different schedule of Scheduling the videoconferences ing information in two languages, seasons between the United hasn’t always been easy. The two- international information links, easy States and Brazil, the partnership hour time difference between e-mail exchange, and a chat room will be an aspect of campaigns Muncie and Porto Alegre, as well for group input and interaction. classes taught during summer and as the students’ schedules, has Ball State students involved in fall term.
Professionals pool ideas at PR conference BY BETSY HATCH
The Department of Journalism public relations sequence hosted “Digitally Conscious: Effectively Integrating Technology into Today’s PR Classroom” in early October. The three-day conference, planned in conjunction with the 24th annual Vernon C. Schranz distinguished lectureship, was based around the answers to the question, “What should we be teaching in public relations classes today with regard to new media and technology?” Thirteen speakers with a variety of professional and educational backgrounds told participants what graduates in public relations programs should know regarding the use of new media and technology in the practice of public relations and how to better use technology in the classroom. The keynote speaker was Shel Holtz, author of “Public Relations on the Net,” (recently re-released in a second edition), and “Writing for the Wired World.” Holtz presented “Futurist View of PR on the Net,” where he discussed the communications professionals’ loss of ability to control information about their companies due to the increased use and reach of the Internet. His complete presentation can be viewed at www.holtz.com/bsu.
Three other speakers contributed to the conference. Larry Burriss, dean of the College of Mass Communication at Middle Tennessee State University, developed one of the nation’s first online courses in 1995. Jim Parham, vice president of public relations at Hirons & Company and a Ball State alumnus, spoke on the various technology tools and trends in public rela-
tions today and offered suggestions on what students should know about each. Neal Linkon, director of communications for Aurora Health Care of Milwaukee, spoke on how the Internet and current technologies can be used across a variety of public relations competencies to enhance communication and achieve success in public relations efforts.
Dr. Melvin Sharpe, head of Ball State’s public relations sequence, spoke about the partnership between campaigns students at Ball State and public relations students at the Pontifical Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul in Porto Alegre, Brazil. The two groups of students have been planning campaigns for implementation in each other’s countries. The students use an Internet-based videoconference technique to communicate with Brazil while working on these projects at Ball State. Conference participants were able to sit in on a live videoconference and talk with students in Brazil about their work and the partnership with Ball State. The syllabi critique section of the conference critiqued the syllabi of Ball State public relations classes suggested by the Public Relations Society of America for an ideal undergraduate major in public relations. Six conference presenters gave their suggestions for what technology should be covered in these courses and what technology should be used to teach these courses. A majority of the conference events took place in the Art and Journalism Building. Conference participants took full advantage of the technology available in the new facility.