East Carolina University
-CURRENT Fall 2017
The Newsletter for Alumni and Friends of the School of Communication
Alumna finds new(s) home at Virginia station
In This Issue:
by Bianca Franco
New faculty member brings reporting and teaching background to ECU..... 2 Take a look at those who have helped the SOC grow......... 5 Help support the School of Communication. Join CommCrew!......................6
We’d love to know what you’re up to! Email Barbara Bullington at bullingtonb@ecu.edu with any •updated information •news (volunteerism, job info, awards, etc.). • E ven if you’ve only had a change in phone number, email address or mailing address, please let us know so we can keep you informed about the School of Communication and what we’re up to.
We welcome any article/photo/ content ideas for C-Current!
J
essica Jewell, an East Carolina University alumna, has taken her communication talents beyond her college years, from Elite Pirate to talented reporter. Jewell’s hard work landed her a new job opportunity in May when she was offered a position at WSLS 10 News in Roanoke, Virginia. Jewell packed up and moved to continue her career as a weekend anchor and reporter. “Getting my new position at WSLS- TV was a huge step forward for me,” said Jewell. “It has been a whole new experience, especially because I have lived in North Carolina for so long.” She added that it is an experience she wouldn’t trade for the
world because of the variety of stories she has been able to report on. “Since coming to WSLS, I’ve been able to cover a lot of big news and discover what types of stories I’m most passionate about,” Jewell stated. In June, she was in Northern Virginia covering the primaries for the governor’s race. “I thought that was a big story...Then I woke up the next day to the news of a shooting at a congressional baseball game continued on page 5
Joining Pirate Natio New faculty member Gina Presson shares storytelling passion and experience with students
E
by Michelle West ver
since she was
a young girl,
Gina Presson had a
passion for storytelling. Now she hopes to
bring her enthusiasm for storytelling and the media to East
Carolina University
as a new communication professor.
“My passion for journalism started in the fourth grade, when I created a neighborhood newspaper with my sister for the summer,” said Presson. “Our mother printed our one-page paper each week at her office and we sold them for 3 cents a copy. I covered stories like Mr. Johnson’s stolen boat, while my sister drew pictures of the anatomy of a cat. She later became a doctor.” C-Current • Fall 2017
Presson is continuing her journalism career at ECU, and is enjoying her first semester here. “The whole experience is even better than I could ever have imagined. Both students and faculty are bright and interesting, and I am delighted to join this Pirate Nation!” said Presson. When Presson first visited, she liked the students and School of Communication • 2
on Presson is an award-winning journalist with experience reporting, writing and producing long format news for commercial and PBS radio/TV stations, print and Internet, photo courtesy of Gina Presson
the faculty that she met, and knew that she wanted to be part of ECU. “I loved the dedication to teaching and to the students that I saw exhibited among our excellent faculty. I also liked the hands-on approach to learning that the School of Communication embraces,” said Presson. She hopes to help students and inspire them to proceed with their career endeavors, no matter the medium. “It is all about the stories and our privilege to tell them,” said Presson. “Some of those stories will stick with you for a lifetime. We need people who care to join this field and I hope to inspire you to do so.” Not only does Presson have a background of teaching, but she has a lot of experience in the field of journalism. She has been a reporter/producer for both network and PBS television stations—most recently for WEDU-TV PBS in Tampa.
Special thanks to: Fall 2017 COMM 3310 Copy Editing and Design students for their contributions to this newsletter.
continued on page 6 C-CURRENT • Fall 2017
School of Communication • 3
Jewell
continued from page 1 not far from where we were. That was the biggest story I have covered in my career thus far. I have never seen so much media in my life, all packed in a couple blocks, scrambling for the same information and interviews on what seemed to be the hottest day of the year. It was exhausting, but exhilarating.” In the midst of it all, Jewell realized she is most passionate about telling stories that can help people in some way. “It’s not easy to do that with every story, but it’s my goal.” She recently did a story about a local high school raising money for a new fitness facility to honor a former student, veteran, and police officer who was killed during a pursuit. “Talking to his dad about how the facility would carry his son’s legacy forward was heart-wrenching and genuinely touched me. I’ve always wanted to do something that helped people and that’s not always easy in journalism, but the days when I can make it all worth it. It reminds me to keep chugging through the long, strenuous days because my work can make a difference.” Jewell received her Bachelor of Science degree in communication with a focus in broadcast journalism and a minor in business administration. As a student at ECU, Jewell accomplished a lot. She earned the School of Communication’s Outstanding Senior Award and Outstanding Journalism Student of the Year, Phi Kappa Phi Most Outstanding Senior Award, The Robert H. Wright Alumni Leadership award, EC Scholar Award and Full Ride Scholarship, and the Honors College Scholarship. “Jessica was an outstanding student,” said Charles Twardy, who was one of Jewell’s communication instructors. “Her C-CURRENT • Fall 2017
Jewell preparing to go on air live for WSLS-TV in Virginia hard work in and out of the classroom is the reason why she is so successful today.” She said one of her biggest accomplishments was becoming an Elite Pirate. Through videos produced by University Marketing, Jewell informed the East Carolina community and student body about the history of ECU. After graduating Summa Cum Laude with a 4.0 GPA, Jewell accepted her first job with WNCT–TV in Greenville, North Carolina as a digital journalist and anchor. While at WNCT–TV, Jewell was a one-man band. She was required to shoot, write and edit stories daily. Other job tasks included writing stories daily for an On Your Side regular fill-in anchor, and managing web articles and social media accounts. “Going from college to having a real job was an eye opening experience,” she said. “I am thankful for all the hard work I put in during my time at ECU. It truly prepared me for the adult world.” Jewell hopes to continue her career as a news reporter on the East Coast. She wants to continue to work with hard news and maybe one day do something in politics. Jewell said her biggest goal is to become a national news reporter. n Photos contributed by Jessica Jewell
School of Communication • 5
Thank you to our School of Communication donors! Donors up to $249
Donors $250 to $499
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Donors $1,000 to $3,000
C-CURRENT • Fall 2017
Photo by Hannah Taylor
School of Communication • 5
You can help the School of Communication continue to grow by:
joining CommCrew
for friends and alumni of the East Carolina University School of Communication Name: ______________________________________________ Please make your check payable to the ECU Foundation and return to: Address: ____________________________________________ Dr. Linda Kean, Director School of Communication, ____________________________________________________ 102 Joyner, Mail Stop 524, East Carolina University, Phone: ______________________________________________ Greenville, NC 27858-4353 E-mail:_______________________________________________
Your membership supports academic scholarships, student journalism, and creative media production. •Recent Alumni ($25) •Member ($50) •Patron ($100) •Benefactor ($250) •Director ($500)
•Chancellors’ Society ($1,000) • Call me about corporate sponsorship. •Other (amount) _____________________
You can also donate online at: onestop.ecu.edu/onlinegiving/ Please designate your gift to: “College of Fine Arts and Communication,” then “School of Communication,” and under “Other Area” type “CommCrew.”
Presson continued from page 3 “There, I reported and produced ‘Florida This Week,’ ‘Suncoast Business Forum,’ and special projects, including the GOP Convention coverage and other issue-oriented shows. I continue to serve as the voice of a science/technology show called ‘Quest.’” Previously, Presson was the Florida Bureau Chief for Public News Service, doing radio and multimedia stories that aired on NPR and CBS affiliates nationwide. “The hardest thing for me to adapt to is not being able to actually cover the breaking news events as they happen, like Hurricanes Harvey and Irma,” said Presson. “Although, sharing those stories with students is indeed proving to be the next best thing to being there.” Presson is excited to show what she can bring to the classroom and teach students, the next generation of journalists. “I plan to treat the classroom as a newsroom and encourage you all to do your best work,” Presson said. “This is a hands-on curriculum, which requires you to School of Communication 102 Joyner East Mail Stop 524 East Carolina University Greenville, NC 27858-4353
cover real news and perform as a real reporter. I have both real world and academic experience in the field that enables me to help develop your talents and gifts. My experience also gives me tools to share with you that I hope will help you produce better work.” One of her students from her Multiplatform Journalism class is Kayla Alderman, a senior with a journalism concentration. “She teaches very well and is passionate,” said Alderman. “She wants us to understand the news and what is going on in the world, which keeps it entertaining.” Presson related that she is also motivated by preparing students to tell news stories that will have an impact on society. “We have never needed great journalists more than we do today, and our democracy depends upon our ability to give voice to the voiceless and to hold the powerful accountable,” said Presson. n