SOJ Insider Magazine 2012

Perley Isaac Reed SCHOOL OF JOURNALISM

SUMMER 2012

EPUTATION REP R N UT O I AT T A IO UT

RESOURC S E C ES R U O RE S E SO R

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ESOURCES RE S O U SR R C CE E S UR

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ELAVANC R E C Taking on the N E A V A

Three Rs

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Building a foundation for the future

ES RESOUR C E S URC R SO E S RE O

Message from the Dean

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Welcome to the SOJ Insider, our magazine for alumni and friends of the P.I. Reed School of Journalism. In this edition, we focus on our vision and goals for the future, playing off the classic “Three Rs” of education.

Mapping on to the University’s 2020 plan, the School of Journalism has created its own strategic plan for future growth and success.

Similar to WVU, the School aims to enhance our undergraduate and graduate programs, provide global experiences for our students, and create a diverse and inclusive community. We also look to elevate our research profile not only to benefit industry but also to enhance local communities within our state and region.

In addition, the School’s plan addresses our response to a changing industry and world. At the crossroads of the digital revolution, our program must continue to adapt and evolve, so we can prepare our students to be skilled multimedia communicators and leaders, innovators and entrepreneurs who will ultimately redefine and reinvent the media of tomorrow.

Alex Wilson

If our new strategic plan is a roadmap toward that future, our new “Three Rs” offer a more simple set of directions. By ensuring the relevance of our academic programs and research, we will enhance our national reputation as a leader in journalism and media education and be able to attract the resources necessary for our continued evolution.

But even with a good map, the road forward is not entirely clear. During this critical time of media disruption and transformation, we will need to work together to chart a successful future and “crowd source” the best ideas and insights.

That’s where you fit in. Along with our students and faculty, I ask you to join in our journey toward an unknown but exciting future. This is the time to act boldly and stake our claim within the changing communications landscape. We have the talent and drive to reach our goals, but to achieve excellence at the highest level we will also need your ideas, contributions and support.

Thank you!

Maryanne Reed Dean

Read the SOJ’s Strategic Plan

goo.gl/luxWb

Contents ADMINISTRATION

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Around Martin Hall

James P. Clements President West Virginia University

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Main Street goes mobile: Mobile app development strengthens rural communities

Maryanne Reed Dean

8 Steeping Tea: SOJ students journey through China

Diana Martinelli Associate Dean

11 SOJ extends global reach: Enters exchange agreement with Chinese university

Steve Urbanski Director of Graduate Studies Chad Mezera Director of Online Programs

12 The world was watching: Social media and the Arab Spring

EDITORIAL STAFF

14 IMC students focus on attracting businesses to the Mountain State

Kimberly Walker Executive Editor

15 Interdisciplinary minor creates unique opportunities for SOJ students

Christa Vincent Managing Editor

16 Rita Colistra: Finding zen within the chaos

Angela Lindley

18 Student-run agency provides integrated communications experiences

Kelly Taber Kristen Wishon PHOTOGRAPHY WVU University Relations, News Alex Wilson DESIGN WVU University Relations, Design Special thanks to: Graham Curry, Forrest Conroy, and Angela Caudill

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Main Street goes mobile: Mobile app development strengthens rural communities

20 Visiting Committee connects the SOJ to industry leaders 21 Despite national attention, alumnus keeps his focus close to home 22 Hometown classmates tackle national media 23 “WVU News” is winning awards and launching careers 24 IMC program and PRSA join forces through university partnership

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Hometown classmates tackle national media

26 Finding “natural” talent: Alumna traverses rural America for reality TV 27 INTEGRATE conference becomes national event for professionals 28 IMC student helps Floridians live to a healthy 100 30 The heart and soul of WVU: A tribute to George Esper 32 Building resources for the future: Comprehensive Campaign kicks off for WVU and SOJ 33 “J-Harmony”: Mentorship program proves valuable for SOJ students 34 About Our Donors 35 About Our Scholarships

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The heart and soul of WVU: A tribute to George Esper

36 Faculty Briefs and Additions 38 Class Notes

West Virginia University is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Institution.

West Virginia University is governed by the WVU Board of Governors and the West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission.

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Around Martin Hall

By Christa Vincent

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Dahlia earns WVU’s top teaching award

G. Ogden Nutting receives Honorary Doctorate, serves as Commencement speaker On May 12, nearly 220 School of Journalism graduates crossed the Creative Arts Center stage during the School’s 2012 May Commencement ceremony. During the ceremony, WVU officials awarded keynote speaker G. Ogden Nutting with an Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters.

Nutting is chairman and publisher of Ogden Newspapers Inc., which publishes six daily and three weekly newspapers in West Virginia, as well as 34 daily newspapers in 10 other states. The newspaper company was founded by Nutting’s grandfather, H.C. Ogden, a WVU graduate of 1887, who published the first edition of the Wheeling News on September 22, 1890. West Virginia’s largest newspaper company, Ogden Newspapers has had its headquarters in Wheeling ever since.

Nutting has been a member of the WVU Foundation Board of Directors, and as a member of the School of Journalism

Visiting Committee, he was instrumental in establishing the Ogden Newspapers and Nutting Family Journalism Endowment Scholarship Fund for juniors and seniors studying print media. Ogden Newspapers and the Nutting family also created the WVU Journalism Library Endowment Fund, the Ogden Newspapers Seminar Series, the Ogden Newspapers Multimedia Classroom, and the Ogden Newspapers Endowed Visiting Professorship, which was held for 10 years by the late George Esper.

WVU has recognized Nutting’s service with the Most Loyal West Virginian Award, the Distinguished Service Award and the first Paul A. Atkins Friend of the Journalism School Award. He also has been inducted into the Order of Vandalia and the WVU Business Hall of Fame. In addition, the Nutting Foundation received the WVU Foundation’s Outstanding Philanthropy Award.

Watch the SOJ’s Commencement video

goo.gl/M019p 2

In April 2012, Teaching Assistant Professor Gina Martino Dahlia received WVU’s highest teaching honor, the WVU Foundation Award for Outstanding Teaching. One of six professors selected for the honor each year, Dahlia knew she was a teacher after watching a student’s television story and realizing how much the student’s work had improved over time.

Known for teaching “with an iron fist and a warm heart,” Dahlia has witnessed her passion and refusal to accept mediocrity put students on paths that improved their lives. With her guidance, support and recommendations, Dahlia’s former students now work at television stations across the country.

Dahlia began teaching at the School of Journalism as an adjunct instructor in 2001. She now serves as a teaching assistant professor and chairs the television journalism sequence. One of her main roles is as executive producer of “WVU News,” an award-winning student-produced newscast that airs on PBS and cable television in West Virginia.

Though considered to be a demanding professor, Dahlia is beloved by students for the time she invests in their work and for her accessibility.

“They know they can call or text me any time of the day or night with interview questions, camera help in the field or editing support in the newsroom,” said Dahlia.

Dahlia was recognized during WVU’s Week of Honors in April.

Top Graduates

PR seniors honored as WVU representatives

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SOJ students were awarded top honors during WVU’s Homecoming and the Mr. and Ms. Mountaineer competitions this past year.

In October, public relations senior Evan Bonnstetter was announced as WVU’s 2011 Homecoming King. A Morgantown native, Bonnstetter is a member of the WVU club tennis team and the Alpha Kappa Psi business fraternity. He is a student liaison for the WVU Gold and Blue Student Ambassadors and was part of the Student Evan Bonnstetter and Julie Diamond Government Association from 2009-2011. Bonnstetter is a member of the Honors College, an instructor of an Honors 199 class and an Honors Hall tutor.

The following month, Katlin Stinespring was recognized as WVU’s 2011 Ms. Mountaineer and was crowned during halftime of the Katlin Stinespring and Ryan Butler WVU-Louisville football game on Nov. 5. Stinespring, a Hurricane,W. Va, native and public relations senior, was sponsored by the National Society of Collegiate Scholars. Stinespring is the assistant clarinet section leader and woodwind rank leader of the Mountaineer Marching Band and the vice president of public relations and membership for the National Society of Collegiate Scholars.

May 2012 School Of Journalism Top Graduating SeniorS Casey Hofmann Alexandria Koscevic Codi Yeager

School of Journalism Top Scholars Casey Hofmann (Journalism) Alexandria Koscevic (Journalism) Rachel Nieman (Public Relations) Logan Venderlic (Advertising) Codi Yeager (Journalism)

December 2011 School Of Journalism Top Graduating Senior Whitney Godwin

School of Journalism Top Scholars Lauren Dushkoff (Advertising) Whitney Godwin (Journalism) Kathryn Pappa (Public Relations)

Student Awards 2011 Society of Professional Journalists Region 4 Mark of Excellence Awards Second Place

Kelsey Pape – “WVU News” Television Sports Reporting

Third Place

“WVU News” Best All-Around Television Newscast

2012 Broadcast Education Association’s Festival of Media Arts

Christa Vincent

First Place Mallory Bracken and Evan Moore

Erica Mokay – “WVU News” Television News Anchor

Honorable Mention

Erica Mokay – “WVU News” Television Hard News Reporting Paul King – “WV Uncovered” Television Feature Reporting

“WVU News: Big 12 Special Edition” Best Newscast for Television produced by Whitney Godwin

Watch the United Way videos

goo.gl/0yH2d

Students create videos for WVU’s 2011 United Way campaign Organizers for WVU’s 2011 United Way campaign exceeded their original fundraising goal, and two SOJ students played a role in their success. Graduate student Evan Moore and visual journalism senior Mallory Bracken produced four multimedia videos for the campaign. The videos demonstrated the importance of employee and student involvement in the campaign and the campaign’s impact on Morgantown communities. WVU raised $335,100 for the United Way of Monongalia and Preston Counties.

Other Notable Awards Ava Awards

“WVU News: Big 12 Special Edition” Gold Winner, produced by Whitney Godwin “WVU News: September 11 Special Edition” Platinum Winner, produced by Eva Buchman “WVU News Remembers Milan Puskar” Platinum Winner, produced by Whitney Godwin

Marcom Awards “WVU News: September 11 Special Edition” Gold Award, produced by Eva Buchman

Telly Awards “WVU News: Big 12 Special Edition” Bronze Award, produced by Whitney Godwin “WVU News: September 11 Special Edition” Bronze Award, produced by Eva Buchman 3

Around Martin Hall

Industry professionals bring expertise to SOJ students Each year, the School of Journalism hosts guest speakers who bring their industry expertise directly to the students of Martin Hall. During the 2011-2012 academic year, students had the chance to hear from a top cable television executive, a national publication photography director, the marketing VP for a national restaurant and retail chain, and a New York reporter.

In November, Mark Whitaker, executive vice president and managing editor of “CNN Worldwide,” visited campus to share an insider’s perspective on the rapidly changing news industry. Responsible for leading editorial coverage across CNN’s multiple platforms and directing the overall approach, tone and scope of CNN’s reporting, Whitaker has witnessed first-hand the evolution of the 24-hour news cycle.

His presentation, “Covering the World 24/7: CNN’s Role in a Changing Media Industry,” was co-sponsored by the P.I. Reed School of Journalism’s Emery “Pete” L. Sasser Lectureship in Journalism and WVU’s Center

for Black Culture and Research.

Photography editor and media consultant MaryAnne Golon also visited campus to speak with journalism students in November. Golon, the former director of photography at TIME magazine and now director of photography at The Washington Post, is well known for discovering talent and placing photojournalists in assignments that fit their niche.

In her presentation, “21st Century Photojournalism: Branding, Multimedia and Social Networking,” Golon discussed how she finds emerging photographers for projects and how those photographers market themselves.

Tom Marchese, vice president of marketing for Bob Evans, presented “Breakthrough Thinking” in November as part of The Martin-Hall Agency’s “Power Up Your Professional Network” speaker series.

Marchese is responsible for the marketing of 570 Bob Evans Restaurants and has focused those efforts on reaching a younger family audience. Formerly the chief marketing officer at Yum Brands, vice president of innovation

at Elmer’s Products and the director of brand marketing for Wendy’s International, Marchese has an extensive background in the marketing and communication industry. He shared with students insights on advertising, communication, brand positioning and strategy in the digital age.

In April, New York Daily News reporter Michael Feeney shared with students what it’s like to work in a New York City newsroom and offered advice on launching a career in today’s media industry. Feeney not only writes for one of New York’s top papers, but he also was the 2010 recipient of the National Association for Black Journalists’ Emerging Journalist of the Year award and is the author of the pop culture blog mfeenz.com.

Feeney provided guidance on ways students can utilize social media to improve their reporting and how to brand themselves as writers and make their blogs a “must read.”

His visit was hosted by the WVU Association for Black Journalists.

Michael Feeney Submitted photo

Watch the video of Whitaker’s presentation

goo.gl/K6Mm8 Mark Whitaker Submitted photo

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RELEVANCE noun \’re-l

a: relation to the matter at hand b: practical and especially social applicability In response to the dramatically changing communications landscape, the School of Journalism must remain relevant to our students, the University and the industry we serve and lead. Our challenge is to provide the current generation of journalists and professional communicators with an education that prepares them to be successful in the evolving media industry while grounding them in the principles of ethics, strong writing and critical thinking.

And while the University looks to enhance its research profile, our faculty and students will innovate and incubate new solutions to the communications challenges of the 21st century.

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Main Street Goes

Mobile

By Kelly taber and kimberly walker Photo by Brian Persinger

Mobile app development strengthens rural communities If you are a tourist traveling through West Virginia’s “high mountain paradise” and looking for a good fishing hole, where to buy tackle or just relax with a nice latte – there is now an app for that.

The app – short for “mobile application” – was developed by Associate Professor Dana Coester. She has been researching the fast-paced market of mobile platforms since 2008 and believes the project, called Mobile Main Street, has the potential to positively transform rural economies.

“We hope to see apps powered by Mobile Main Street across multiple rural communities before this project is done,” said Coester. “Mobile Main Street is engineered to be a flexible communitybased mobile publishing system that enables small communities with limited resources to early adopt and become part of the mobile economy.”

Tip Top Coffee Bar owner Cade Archuleta is one of nearly 50 business owners in Tucker County, W.Va., partnering on the pilot project. He has attended workshops hosted by Coester and School of Journalism students during the development of the Mobile Main Street project.

Coester’s vision is for Mobile Main Street to become a platform for community groups and small businesses to reach new audiences, an alternative revenue stream for local media and a technology-transfer project for the School of Journalism. Her research began with a pilot partnership with The Parsons Advocate, a weekly newspaper that serves Tucker County and the Canaan Valley tourist community.

“Through this model, the media organization can begin to reclaim its role as the vehicle for commerce and, in a sense, the hub of rural economic development,” said Coester. “Local businesses signed on to Mobile Main Street to provide specialized content to mobile users. The app helps to showcase the county’s natural attractions and supplement the area’s tourism industry.”

“My hope is for people to realize how accessible the businesses are around here. I think Mobile Main Street really helps that.” — Cade Archuleta “It’s exciting to me that [WVU] is seeking out small communities and helping support our small businesses that really help fuel the economy,” Archuleta said.

At the center of this community-based project is the search for new economic models for media through a networked, hyper-local, mobile publishing system.

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At Tip Top Coffee Bar, an iPad serves as the register. There’s also an iPad available for customers to use, thanks to the grant-funded project.

Archuleta says that customers often ask him for local ski conditions or stream levels in the area. Now he can direct them to the Mobile Main Street app on the iPad. Archuleta and other business owners are currently learning how to use the app to post daily deals, videos and other promotions targeted to mobile users.

Coester and her students are not just developing the app, they also are working directly with business owners to help them understand the technology and its benefits.

Through local workshops and one-on-one

“It’s going to help everyone.

Once it gets out, it’s going to be great.” — Titi Ferguson

Local.

Buy Eat Play Live

“This project has been a crucial part of my college experience. It has given me knowledge that I couldn’t have gained from inside the classroom and an edge in the emerging mobile marketplace.” — Ethan Messineo

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Cade Archuleta, owner of Tip Top Coffee Bar, is one of nearly 50 business owners in Tucker County, W.Va., partnering on the pilot project.

sessions, students work with community members to develop news ideas for attracting customers to their businesses and connecting with other local business owners through mobile technology.

“It’s neat that they’re coming out and getting students involved,” said Archuleta.

“Students are learning a lot about communication with business owners, and using these test communities is a way to connect me with West Virginia and the University.”

Titi Ferguson and her husband, John, own WV Highlands Artisan Gallery in Davis, W.Va., another quaint town in the Canaan Valley area. Their biggest challenge has always been “getting the word out” about their town and their gallery to potential tourists.

Ferguson is an iPhone owner – carrying it with her everywhere and referring to it as her “backup brain.”

An early mobile adopter herself, Ferguson is enthusiastic about using her business’ Twitter and Facebook accounts to

feed the app. The app offers full integration with individual business’ social media efforts for more streamlined outreach to their target audience.

By spring 2012, four additional pilot communities were added, including TwoLane Livin’, a regional magazine serving 17 W.Va. counties and featuring a community of bloggers; The Hampshire Review, a weekly newspaper in Romney, W.Va.; the Spirit of Jefferson newspaper in Jefferson County, W.Va.; and a grassroots cooperative effort promoting historical tourism in McDowell County, W.Va. A sixth community will be selected through a competitive process in early fall.

In addition, Shaun Vendryes joined the project team as a full-time mobile developer.

His top priority is to move the app from “pilot” phase to open source freeware.

“Although we’re piloting multiple apps right now to beta the system, our big release at the end of the project will be Mobile Main Street as an open source publishing system,” said Coester. “We’re building a flexible, plugand-play solution to get community media into mobile space fast.”

With a full-time developer on board, Coester looks forward to the opportunities the next phase of the project presents.

“At the end of the day, this project is less about shiny apps and more about initiating new behaviors and seeding rural mobile economies,” said Coester.

“I’m a big believer in the transformative potential of early adoption for individuals and communities.

I’d like to see more rural voices be part of the next generation of media entrepreneurship.”

“I’d like to see more rural voices be part of the next generation of media entrepreneurship.” — Dana Coester “Websites are great, but you have to get people to your website,” Ferguson said. “You’ve got to get a lot of electronic advertising, and I think this app will be just the perfect thing for us and for everyone else in the community.”

To date, the project has received $250,000 in grant funding from the Ford Foundation, Verizon, the Verizon Foundation and CTIA – The Wireless Association. With this support, the School continues to expand the Mobile Main Street project.

Visit the project website mymobilemainstreet.com

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Katie Patton

Steeping Tea

A Beijing couple connect in a rare moment of privacy during rush hour on board a Beijing subway. China’s urbanization has forced the need for massive and efficient public transportation projects. Beijing’s subway system, launched in 1969, now hosts 14 lines and 172 stops, delivering more than 1.8 billion rides in 2010.

SOJ students journey through China

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Compiled by Lois Raimondo and Kimberly Walker

In summer 2011, a group of School of Journalism students traveled overseas to one of the most dynamic regions in the world, applying lessons from the classroom to the streets, villages and mountaintops of the People’s Republic of China.

Participants embarked on the journey after completing an International Media course designed to survey global journalism and provide a more in-depth understanding of Chinese media and culture. Ultimately, the course served as a platform from which to more deeply engage with China, move among the people with greater awareness and more responsibly tell their stories through pictures and words.

Led by Visiting Shott Chair of Journalism Lois Raimondo, the group entered China through Shanghai, capturing images of the mega-modern city’s maglev trains, futuristic skylines and

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cutting-edge art colonies. From there, they flew to Guilin – the launching point for hiking and story gathering in the thousand-year-old rice terraces and ancient villages of Longji.

This immersion experience was enhanced

by Chinese hospitality – bamboo rafting and swimming with local college students in the Li River, touring Xian with English-language students and feasting on fresh fish during communal meals.

Every step of the trip was designed to show the diversity of life and lifestyle inside this amazingly complex and charged region. The students were, in a sense, steeping tea.

Lois Raimondo

Students spent two days trekking in hills and valleys of the the Longji (Dragon’s Backbone) Rice Terraces in Guangxi, China.

The following is small sampling of the images produced by students during the trip. More photos and blog entries can be found online at steepingtea.wvu.edu/.

CatLovell “In a city of 20 million, it’s easy to view the immense population as a mass rather than a city made of individual people with their own stories. With more experience, I will not feel as nervous to take photographs of strangers and ask questions to develop an understanding of the subject.”

A second-grade student at Fuli Primary School approaches teacher Xu Yahong with work from a Chinese class.

Cat Lovell

MalloryBracken “I was both discouraged and disappointed on that first evening in Shanghai but have built up nerve and self-assurance that maybe I really can approach a situation, convey my sincere purpose and execute it in a part of the world so foreign to me.”

In Fuli village, a young student peeks from between beams of a broken door while playing a game with classmates during recess. Giggles erupt from around the corner as crumpled paper pieces get pushed through the opening from either side of the barrier.

Mallory Bracken

RachelDavis “The strangest thing about the whole trip was that nothing felt all that strange.”

SethMorrell “Always desiring to match vision with the other senses, my physical transportation to China was a learning experience that could not have been resolved from any textual reading.”

Tourists on bicycles break from the midday heat along a stretch of road in Yangshuo. Guilin’s picturesque landscapes and waterways are hightraffic tourist spots for China’s outdoor enthusiasts.

Seth Morrell

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BarbaraYanero “From a Soho-style art village to tea tasting in a popular warehouse, we were able to indulge in so much culture in a very short amount of time. When you go and experience the culture, it’s completely different from sitting in a classroom and learning facts from afar.”

Freshly pulled noodles are stacked on bamboo poles to dry before delivery to local restaurants and packaging for distant lands.

Barbara Yanero

MeganGreco “No matter how hard we studied or what was researched, it was impossible to learn everything about the country and its people. It was time to jump in – feet first.”

A group of young Chinese students, all studying English at a private language school, spend the weekend swimming and biking country roads in the picturesque Guilin landscape.

Megan Greco

KatiePatton “This was a journey in a foreign land but also a personal journey where I learned a lot about myself. I learned I could go off alone into a place where the majority of the people do not speak the same language as me.”

A lady sells watermelons at a busy market hidden among the skyscrapers of Beijing.

Katie Patton

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Christa Vincent Hong Zhao (left) and Zicheng Gao were the first students to participate in the exchange program between WVU and GDUFS.

SOJ Extends Global Reach Enters exchange agreement with Chinese university

By Christa Vincent

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Exchange student Hong (Sabrina) Zhao came to America and “fell in love” – with multimedia storytelling. Zhao, a student journalist from Sichuan Province, China, says she came to WVU expecting to hone her skills as a print journalist but was surprised to find a new passion.

“Multimedia stories require much more than interviewing and writing,” said Zhao. “I also learned how to take photos and shoot videos. I think multimedia storytelling is becoming a necessary skill for journalists.”

Zhao and fellow exchange student Zicheng Gao (Summer Ko) learned multimedia techniques as student contributors to the School of Journalism’s “West Virginia Uncovered” project – one of several classes they took during the 2011-2012 academic year.

Zhao and Gao were the first students to take part in the newly established exchange program between WVU and Guangdong University of Foreign Studies (GDUFS) in Guangzhou, Guangdong, China. The five-year agreement will give SOJ students the opportunity to study alongside their Chinese peers at GDUFS’s School of Journalism and Communication. In return, journalism students from China will study at WVU. School of Journalism Dean Maryanne Reed says the partnership will help better prepare students to live and work in a global society.

“As part of the University’s strategic vision, our students need to be exposed to a variety of cultures on an international level,” said Reed.

“The relationship with Guangdong University is a natural fit – given the growing role of China in the global economy and the expertise of our faculty. In addition,

Guangdong has a top communications program that can add value to our students and curriculum.”

Visiting Shott Chair of Journalism Lois Raimondo helped facilitate the agreement with GDUFS. Raimondo has lived, studied and worked in China.

She says GDUFS’s extensive English language curriculum and opportunities for professional internships will give WVU students a comparative perspective on media in other cultures.

“As a journalist, it’s important to be able to step outside of yourself and experience other people’s perspectives,” said Raimondo. “When you travel, you learn about the relativity of your own cultural truths.”

Raimondo also has been instrumental in establishing a faculty exchange between the two schools. This summer, Jim Ebel, the School’s Harrison/Omnicom Visiting Professor of Integrated Marketing Communications, is spending five weeks in China lecturing for GDUFS’s master of business administration and advertising programs and at other universities in Guangzhou.

“There is a great deal of interest among Chinese students in learning about positioning and brand building,” said Ebel. “I’m excited because these subjects have been my life’s work, and I can’t wait to impart my nearly 30 years of experience in these areas.”

In May, Zhao and Gao left Morgantown to return to China with a unique cultural experience and a new skill set. The School is working with GDUFS to bring two more students to WVU this fall and to send its first contingent of students to China.

“As a journalist, it’s important to be able to step outside of yourself and experience other people’s perspectives.” — Lois Raimondo

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The World Was Watching

By CHRISTA VINCENT AND Kelly Taber photos by m.g. ellis

Social media and the Arab Spring

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When protestors gathered in Cairo, Egypt, in January 2011 to demand political change, they used their mobile devices to share their stories across international borders. Photos, videos, tweets and status updates pieced together the narrative of their revolution, as people around the globe followed along in real time on social media sites like Facebook and Twitter.

The series of protests, known as the Arab Spring, toppled regimes in North Africa and the Middle East, sparked debates about the role of social media in democracy and highlighted its new role in journalism.

In April, the School of Journalism explored the topic in a moderated panel discussion, “The Revolution Will Be Tweeted: Social Media and Free Speech in the Middle East.” The discussion, moderated by Dean Maryanne Reed, was co-sponsored by the School’s Ogden Newspapers Seminar Series and WVU’s David C. Hardesty Jr. Festival of Ideas.

The panel consisted of bloggers, political analysts and influential journalists like National Public Radio’s Andy Carvin. Carvin, who is considered a pioneer in online reporting, covered the revolts from NPR’s rooftop in Washington, D.C., gathering tweets, images and videos from halfway around the world and vetting his information with trusted eyewitnesses.

“Basically I’ve used Twitter over the last year as my newsroom,” said Carvin. “I see my Twitter followers not as followers. I see them as my researchers, my editors, my producers.”

Civil rights outreach director at the Carvin says while social media clearly American Islamic Congress Nasser Weddady played a central role in disseminating says the most important thing that social media information and organizing protests, he wouldn’t did in this scenario was “smash the narrative” label the Arab Spring a “Twitter Revolution.” that had always been used – and commonly “Ultimately, it still took people going out into the streets and raising their fists, raising signs, accepted – by the media and decision makers when discussing the Middle East. shouting slogans and putting their lives on the “Most of line,” said Carvin. the conventional “If you didn’t see “Ultimately, it still took people going out wisdoms about that combination into the streets and raising their fists, the Middle East of really savvy raising signs, shouting slogans and putting were shown for organizing what they are – a online, getting their lives on the line.” — Andy Carvin bunch of hype, their message out outdated, disconnected from the realities of that online, in conjunction with what was happening area of the world,” he said. on the ground, I don’t think we would have seen “For the first time – at least in my the revolutions play out the way that we did.”

Issandr El Amrani, a Cairo-based blogger lifetime – the Middle East and North Africa was seen to produce something positive other for “The Arabist,” added that social media than chaos and destruction.” was crucial to the way the revolution was Countless personal stories emerged, and experienced by the rest of the world. continue to emerge, from the Arab Spring “The world was watching, on television of course, but also in real time on Twitter and listening to activists – to participants in these uprisings – relay their fears, their emotions, their exhilaration,” said El Amrani. “I can’t think of any other event like that.”

Pictured from left: Jigar Mehta, Jillian York, Andy Carvin, Nasser Weddady and Issandr El Amrani.

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@bmlmeister soc media may not be the primary force in any revolution, but networks of people are. Now it’s both offline & online. #WVUIdeas—Andy Carvin #WVUideas an audience that was once silent has turned into an audience with some of the largest voices in the 21st century @wvutoday—Carlyn Stefanelli @weddady: this time, to the world, more was coming out of the Arab world than violence #WVUIdeas—WVU Today

@arabist: The young revolted because “I think it’s a fairly simple basic impulse to bear witness.” #WVUIdeas—WVU Today We have to consider our new idea of place. We come together ideologically, not physically. #WVUideas—Heather Sammons I think characters also make it seem real because the revolution is taking place so far away. These are real people talking. #wvuideas—Heather Sammons UR—News

uprisings – most submitted by ordinary citizens. Some of those are captured in the crowd-sourced documentary, “18 Days in Egypt.” Documentary co-creator Jigar Mehta says the power of social media is in its storytelling function and the fact that followers become vested in the characters.

“What’s really interesting is these [stories] are being told by people that are on the ground and so they are characters that you can follow,” Mehta said. “The people who had used these tools to document themselves in the 18 days had kind of written the first draft of their own history.”

Social media has not only provided the opportunity for people around the globe to observe intimate, first-hand accounts of the uprisings but also allowed the mainstream media to monitor and broadcast these personal perspectives from countries where citizens normally would not have a voice in the government-controlled media.

According to Weddady, traditional media were “enamored with this class of social activist.”

“Because of social media, reporters … and new media organizations were compelled to all of the sudden show these people who did not fit any of these perceived ideas,” he said.

But the question of social media’s direct impact on the uprisings is irrelevant, says Jillian York, director of international freedom of expression at the Electronic Frontier Foundation.

“I think a lot of the discussion that’s been had is frankly useless,” she said. “The Internet had no part in it. The Internet was all of it. Obviously it was somewhere in the middle. We don’t know if this [revolution] would have happened without the Internet – we can’t say that for sure. But what we do know is that it wouldn’t have happened the way it did without the Internet.”

So while social media didn’t create the revolution, it certainly played a role. Perhaps the most obvious impact is how it has forever influenced the storytelling and reporting process.

“A lot of [television reporters] – especially with Tunisia, Al Jazeera and France 24 – were using social media to inform their stories and to create their stories and then broadcast those back into people’s homes,” said York.

Carvin agrees. He says that tools like Twitter are “making our reporting better.”

“I do a lot of retweeting and have a lot of conversations, the goal of which is to create a narrative arc for different aspects of the Arab Spring,” said Carvin. “Sometimes it involves a lot of fact-checking … in other cases, it’s allowing people to speak for themselves.”

“I’ve used the Twitter over the last year as my newsroom. I see my followers as my researchers, editors & producers.” - @acarvin #WVUIdeas—Jordan Tyler

@RimaDrema I think Syrian citizen journos have learned many lessons from the revolutions and applied them, esp YouTube and livestreams.—Andy Carvin

@acarvin I love that you have a ‘twitter newsroom’ #futureofjournalism #WVUIdeas—Kristin Skeweris @acarvin: Saw a Libyan video on young girl he thought was being prepped for surgery.

His followers corrected him. She was dead. #WVUIdeas—WVU Today “Not only is it improving the freedom of expression, it’s improving our access to different areas of the world.” - @jilliancyork #WVUideas—Jordan Tyler Most. Interactive. Panel. Ever.—Jillian York

Watch a video of the panel discussion

goo.gl/Se1eh 13

IMC students focus on attracting businesses to the Mountain State

By Briana Wilson photos by alex wilson

W

idea might actually be used to solve these problems is a tremendous West Virginia has an enormous communications challenge – motivation to do the best work possible.” attracting businesses and entrepreneurs to a region not necessarily known Jade Waddy, a graduate from Houston, Texas, who for innovation and commerce. A recent project, however, tapped into completed the new IMC capstone project in the late fall term, the School of Journalism’s student and faculty expertise. What better says the course was challenging but well worth it. assignment could there be for Integrated Marketing Communications “I learned so much about the West Virginia Department of (IMC) graduate students at the state’s flagship university?

Commerce, what the state has In the fall of 2011, the to offer, and the hard work and School’s IMC master’s degree planning that it takes to attract program partnered with the businesses and build a strong West Virginia Department of economy,” said Waddy. “It was Commerce to create a new a challenging course but an capstone project for its students. incredibly rewarding experience.

While the Department of I now have an incredible portfolio Commerce is comprised of piece in my final IMC campaign.” nine divisions, IMC students Students’ projects included worked directly with the target market analyses, research Economic Development division findings, internal and external toward retaining and recruiting communications plans, evaluation businesses and entrepreneurs to plans, budget charts and more. the Mountain State.

Harbour finds great value in Kim Harbour, director of the communications tactics and marketing and communications supporting research presented in for the West Virginia Department the students’ campaigns. of Commerce, says IMC students “I have been very impressed bring a valuable perspective to with the students’ primary research the marketing challenges of her and focus groups,” said Harbour. department.

“One student held focus groups “We were very excited to with small-business owners and begin working with the IMC entrepreneurs outside of West program because it is made Virginia, asking what they consider up of working professionals when locating to a new place. from across the country,” This is valuable, original research said Harbour. “Now that that emphasizes how people look there’s so much movement favorably on a state government in social media and mobile that supports businesses. West applications, it is a perfect Virginia does a good job of this, time to be tapping into and student research reinforces students who are in touch that we should strengthen those with cutting-edge applications communications.” and have fresh ideas for new The IMC program offered social media tools.” the capstone for three terms last Ray Gillette (BSJ, year. Students’ ideas were shared 1971), instructor for the new Pictured above are campaign booklets produced by IMC students Jade Waddy and Jaime Hunt. with West Virginia’s Secretary of capstone section, believes Commerce and considered in the state’s marketing efforts. real-world clients are important for communications students.

“The IMC program has been a really good brain trust to tap into,” “Hearing and learning directly from clients about their problems, said Harbour. “We aren’t at ground zero in our marketing efforts. We have issues and opportunities is incredibly important,” said Gillette. “When implemented projects and documented results, but it is always good to take a student knows that they’re working on a real problem, like driving a step back and get some new insight on where we go from here.” business to a state, they become inspired. And knowing that their

“It was a challenging course but incredibly rewarding experience…” — Jade Waddy

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Interdisciplinary minor creates unique opportunities for SOJ students

I

By Kimberly Walker

In the era of digital and mobile media, traditional news organizations are struggling for their share of the marketplace. Increasingly, journalism graduates are being called upon to contribute new ideas and help develop new economic models to strengthen and reinvent media.

Recognizing the need for students to be innovative and entrepreneurial, the School of Journalism and the WVU College of Business and Economics will launch a new blended minor in Media Entrepreneurship in fall 2012.

The Media Entrepreneurship minor will build upon the existing College of Business and Economics’ entrepreneurship minor to support emerging industry trends in journalism and new media entrepreneurial development. Created specifically for SOJ students, courses will allow students to explore such areas as new economic models for publishing; audience building and

social media; content monetization; technology trends in media; new media marketing; and mobile opportunities.

The new minor will significantly enhance any of the current SOJ majors, providing students with an edge in today’s competitive marketplace and broadening their career opportunities. School of Journalism Dean Maryanne Reed says the Media Entrepreneurship course of study will give students a stronger foundation for a career in the media industry.

“In today’s evolving media landscape, it’s not enough for journalists and professional communicators to know their craft,” said Reed. “They also have to be enterprising and entrepreneurial and able to develop new projects, applications and platforms that will attract audiences and revenue in an increasingly

crowded media marketplace.”

This minor is the second blended program the School of Journalism has partnered to create at WVU. In 2009, the School and WVU’s College of Physical Activity and Sport Science launched a blended minor in sport communication to offer WVU students the opportunity to gain practical skills as professional communicators in the multibillion-dollar sports industry.

College of Business and Economics Dean Jose Sartarelli says the Media Entrepreneurship minor is an opportunity to expand the College’s popular curriculum to an external audience.

“I am very excited about this initiative between our two colleges,” said Sartarelli. “To be able to ‘turbo charge’ students’ careers as they prepare to enter the marketplace is beneficial all the way around.”

18 6 3

Media Entrepreneurship Minor Coursework credit hours

ENTR 320 Small Business Finance (3 hours) Students are introduced to the concepts of accounting and business finance necessary for an entrepreneurial venture and taught to apply these concepts in the entrepreneurial decision-making process.

The program requires 18 credit hours, which can be completed in three semesters. By summer 2013, all courses will be offered online.

courses

semesters

ENTR 310 Communication, Law and Ethics (3 hours) Through experiential assignments, students will evaluate situations facing entrepreneurs, recognize potential legal and ethical issues, and develop and communicate action plans.

JRL 458 Interactive Media and Audience Building (3 hours) Studying audience development and user behavior for multiple media platforms, students will be introduced to the latest and evolving practices for audience development and monetization in media and to the technology disruption in media and its impact on user behavior across platforms and applications.

ENTR 415 Entrepreneurship in Action (3 hours) In this course, students will envision and participate in a simulated “real-world experience” in managing an entrepreneurial business enterprise.

ENTR 335 Small Business Entrepreneurship (3 hours) This course will offer a study of the concepts necessary to become a successful small-business entrepreneur.

Coursework will include practical application of marketing and management skills.

ENTR 435 New Venture Creation (3 hours) This course will provide students with a general understanding of the issues involved in the planning and creation of a new venture. Students will be exposed to the various roles of the entrepreneur.

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UR窶馬ews

Finding

Rita Colistra:

ZEN within the chaos chaos chaos

By Angela Lindley Photos by M.G. Ellis

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Colistra explains and tests a newer theoretical approach, “agenda cutting,” which refers to people and organizations attempting to keep certain news out of the media spotlight. Her research is the first-known study that attempts to develop and test the phenomenon.

Peers have described Colistra as “a workhorse.” Others might consider her the face of the future of academia – a ground-breaking researcher, dedicated educator and working mother.

“I’m one of those people who can’t sit still,” said Colistra.

Not surprisingly, Colistra approaches her teaching with the same zeal.

Her coursework and community service projects have received grant funding and

Educator of the Year by the West Virginia chapter of the Public Relations Society of America. Colistra also was honored as the first-place recipient of AEJMC’s Promising Professor Award in August 2012.

Projects like the Buy Local initiative are particularly important to Colistra, who is drawn to efforts that help her home state and teach her students to engage with their communities as responsible practitioners.

“I tell my students, ‘If you trust me on this journey, you’ll be so very proud of yourself and what you’ve done for your community.’

And they work hard because they believe in themselves, and they know I won’t have it any other way,” said Colistra.

Colistra at home with her three sons, from left, Waylon, Blaze and Arlo.

UR—News

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Dr. Rita Colistra might have a to-do list each day, but it usually goes out the window once she’s up and running.

“I can have a plan for my day, but some days I’ll only get one thing crossed off the list,” she said.

“But it’s okay. I’ve learned to be flexible.”

Colistra, an assistant professor of public relations in the School of Journalism, never lets any obstacle stand in her way. She juggles her current responsibilities with the same fervor she has attacked every goal in her life.

A native of Rockcastle, W.Va., Colistra is the first person in her large family to graduate from high school, much less earn a Ph.D. She was initially motivated by the desire to leave her hometown but later realized she wanted to set an example for her nieces and nephews.

“I wanted to show them how to persevere and be up to the challenges of life,” said Colistra.

She taught herself to apply for financial aid and came to WVU at 18 years old to study public relations, earning her bachelor’s degree in 1998. After working in events and sports marketing in Colorado and traveling abroad, she returned to WVU for her master’s degree in journalism. But she didn’t stop there. She claims she was “bitten by the research bug” while working on her thesis.

“In graduate school, I would get deep into a topic and realize there were more questions I wanted answered,” Colistra said. “So I learned the skills to do research studies.”

Colistra then earned a Park Fellowship and enrolled at the School of Journalism and Mass Communication at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, finishing her doctoral program in 2008.

“I think I pushed myself harder than my professors did,” she said. “I wanted to not just get through my work – I wanted to do it well.”

After finishing her doctoral program in 2008, Colistra returned to Morgantown, W.Va., where she accepted a tenure-track faculty position at her alma mater. She and her husband, Kevin, settled in with their son Waylon, now 5, and soon grew their family to five with twins Arlo and Blaze, now 2.

One of the School’s most prolific researchers, Colistra recently published a major, highly lauded research paper – the culmination of five years’ work. “Shaping and Cutting the Media Agenda: Television reporters’ perceptions of agenda- and frame-building and agenda-cutting influences” is the focus of the summer 2012 issue of Journalism & Communication Monographs.

The piece also unveils her new groundbreaking research that uses three different theoretical approaches to help explain and evaluate how forces both within and outside the media attempt to influence news coverage.

“I can have a plan for my day, but some days I’ll only get one thing crossed off the list. But it’s okay. I’ve learned to be flexible.” state-wide attention. Colistra has received two Campus-Community LINK grants to engage her classes in Buy Local initiatives in Ritchie County and Fairmont, W.Va. Because of the project’s success, Colistra was selected to take part in a Buy Local Roundtable in December with Sen. John D. Rockefeller in Shepherdstown, W.Va. She and her students also executed campaigns to promote the WVU Center for Civic Engagement and The House That WVU Built, a Habitat for Humanity partnership.

These community service projects earned Colistra the WVU Center for Civic Engagement’s Faculty Excellence Award and the Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication’s (AEJMC) SuPRstar Award. In addition, she was named the 2012

Colistra says it is gratifying when students tell her they admire her as a strong woman, mother and educator – and particularly when they tell her they are inspired to succeed because of her.

“To be able to motivate, mold and give confidence to my students, and then to see a change in them, is a very special moment,” she said.

Sitting at her desk, surrounded by manuscripts, student papers and photos of her family, she shows students that you can have it all if you have the right attitude.

“I once had multiple projects to finish in graduate school,” she said. “One of my professors just smiled at me and said, ‘Rita, you’re Zen with chaos. You’ll be fine.’”

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Student-run agency provides integrated communications experiences

By Kristen Wishon

F

BLUE

MOUNTAINEER

MARCHING

TRADTION

SPIRIT UNITY

GOLD

ACADEMICS

FOREST

ROCK CLIMBING

FOOTBALL

GOLD

MOUNTAINEER

MOUNTAIN

From planning and executing integrated marketing campaigns to Members also put their creative skills to work designing logos, fundraising and competing on a national level, students in the new Martinslogans, brochures and websites for their clients.

Hall Agency are applying classroom lessons to real-world projects.

“We developed a website and slogan for Flying High Zip Line Formerly known as the WVU Advertising Club, the Martincompany,” said Amy Bruzgo, the agency’s chief communications officer.

Hall Agency is now a student-run integrated marketing “Our slogan for this client is ‘Earn Frequent Smile Miles.’” group within the School of Journalism. Members To help fund the agency’s work and travel are charged with creating campaigns for clients to meet with clients, students implemented a like the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra fundraising speaker series focused on industry WEST VIRGINIA and Snap Lab Media, a mobile marketing trends and networking opportunities. Industry d M grate arketin management company based in Appleton, professionals, including Tom Marchese, the g Inte FOOTBALL Wis. During the past year, they also vice president of marketing for Bob Evans WVU STUDENT RUN ADVERTISING AGENCY worked with Flying High Zip Line, a Restaurants, and Marty Boyer, the vice BAND MARTIN-HALL Morgantown-based portable zip line president of technology and innovations A WWW.MARTINHALLAGENCY.COM GENCY start-up company, and WVU College for Possible Worldwide, attracted diverse APPALACHIA MONTANI of Creative Arts’ 2012 Designing for the audiences from across campus.

WONDERFUL PRIDE Divide conference.

“We were able to draw people from Pre pare t ersuade In fall 2011, Harrison/Omnicom public relations, engineering and the oP MOUNTAIN Visiting Professor of Integrated Marketing business school. We’re having a broader MORGANTOWN Communications Jim Ebel was tasked reach,” said Ebel, the group’s faculty advisor. with reshaping the Advertising Club into a “We don’t think of ourselves as an ‘ad club.’ We more professional-oriented group that would provide think of ourselves as integrated communicators.” students with real-world experiences. Out of this challenge grew In addition to its client work and speaker series, Martin-Hall the Martin-Hall Agency, through which students work directly with Agency competed in this year’s American Advertising Federation’s professional clients.

National Student School of Journalism Advertising Dean Maryanne Reed Competition says the hands-on for District 5, experience that the presenting their agency provides is crucial campaign for in today’s competitive NISSAN auto marketplace. manufacturer.

“It’s imperative that our advertising students have experience Martin-Hall Agency members agree that they are receiving producing projects for real clients,” said Reed. “This exposure not valuable guidance and opportunities that they often wouldn’t receive only helps to boost their resumes but allows them to enter the job in an entry-level advertising agency position. force ready to take on client work.”

“We’re learning the skills to be successful – how to talk to a Through their work, the Martin-Hall Agency has increased client, how to be reliable and how to work quickly,” said Palmer ticket sales for the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra by 22 Brown, the agency’s president. “Not only do we get experience percent, driven Snap Lab Media’s digital presence and garnered working on campaigns but also on managing multiple projects at a media attention for their clients using media briefs and pitches. time. Overall, it’s helping us become more confident.”

“It’s imperative that our advertising students have experience producing projects for real clients.” — Maryanne Reed

Snap Lab Media™

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-’ta-sh n\ e

e

REPUTATION noun \’re-py

a: overall quality or character as seen or judged by people in general b: a place in public esteem or regard: good name

Through our innovative research, awardwinning students and faculty, and the success of our graduates, the School of Journalism is poised to be a national leader in journalism and communications education. Our prestigious alumni network helps to connect our students and faculty to leaders in the industry and to spread the story of our success. By engaging our alumni and friends at every turn, the School remains at the forefront of change, developing a reputation for being both nimble and adaptive. Moving forward, our strategic goal is to build on that reputation to become an even bigger player on the national stage.

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Visiting Committee connects the Kimberly Walker SOJ to industry leaders By Photos by alex wilson

A

Current Visiting Committee Members

At the School of Journalism, we

pride ourselves on staying connected – engaging with our alumni and friends on a regular basis, connecting with local and global communities, and leveraging our relationships with industry professionals so that we can remain on the forefront of the ongoing media revolution. These relationships help to inform how we educate our students and our planning for the future.

Throughout the years, we have partnered successfully on strategic initiatives with our Visiting Committee members – high-level professionals, alumni and friends who serve in an advisory capacity to the School. Appointed by the University’s Provost in consultation with Dean Maryanne Reed, committee members share their advice and connections to help the School achieve academic excellence and gain national prominence. These individuals represent the broad range of industries we serve and a diversity of experiences and expertise.

With the radical shifts in the media and strategic communications industries, as well as the inevitable changes required in journalism education, the School relies now more than ever on the expertise and insights of our friends and industry leaders. The School of Journalism Visiting Committee helps to bridge the gap between the world of academe and the journalism and mass communications professions and provides valuable support that often moves forwardthinking initiatives from ideas into action.

Utilizing their professional connections, our Visiting Committee members also help students land internships and jobs in major markets and promote the School’s achievements on a national stage.

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TOM HARRISON, COMMITEE CHAIR Chairman and CEO Diversified Agency Services, Omnicom Group

DOUG MITCHELL Project Manager National Federation of Community Broadcasters

LINDA ARNOLD Chairman, CEO and Founder The Arnold Agency

JASON NEAL Technical Operations Manager NBC News

JAMES BLAIR Chairman ONLINE Information Services

BILL NUTTING Vice President Ogden Newspapers Inc.

SCOTT BOSLEY Former Executive Director American Society of Newspaper Editors

STEPHANIE MATHEWS O’KEEFE Executive Vice President for Communications American Bankers Association

ROB BYERS Executive Editor The Charleston (W.Va.) Gazette

DAVID PAVELKO Head of Travel Google, Inc.

PETER CHERUKURI General Manager, Politics The Huffington Post

ALEXIS PUGH Owner and Principal Lakeshore Advertising Consultants

DAVID FOREMAN Director, Office of Corporate and Foundation Relations Bucknell University

JAMES J. ROOP President Roop & Co.

NANYA FRIEND Editor and Publisher The Charleston (W.Va) Daily Mail MICHAEL FULTON President, Washington, D.C., office The Arnold Agency SAMME GEE Attorney Jackson Kelly Attorneys at Law PLLC DEBORAH HAYES Communications and Business Development Consultant NOAH KADY Journalism Adviser Middletown (Md.) High School BETSY KLEBE Vice President of Corporate Communications Air Products and Chemicals, Inc. JUDY MARGOLIN Executive Director Bowles Rice McDavid Graff & Love LLP JANE MCNEER Fundraising Consultant

JOE STERANKA CEO The PGA of America MICHAEL TOMASKY Special Correspondent Newsweek Editor Democracy: A Journal of Ideas LORETTA UCELLI Vice President of Communications and Public Affairs Peter G. Peterson Foundation JOHN WALLS Vice President, Public Affairs CTIA - The Wireless Association SCOTT WIDMEYER Chairman and CEO Widmeyer Communications DAVID WILKISON Director of Major Accounts The Associated Press

Read the SOJ’s Strategic Plan online

goo.gl/luxWb

UR—News

Award-winning journalist Ken Ward Jr. keeps the people of his home state informed about environmental issues from his office in Charleston, W.Va.

Despite national attention, alumnus keeps his focus close to home

By Angela Lindley photo by M.g. ellis

S

Since his college days, Ken Ward Jr. (BSJ, 1990) has reported on environmental issues that affect his home state and his readers. More than two decades later, the award-winning Charleston (W.Va.) Gazette reporter has earned a reputation that reaches far beyond West Virginia’s borders, garnering national attention for his investigative pieces and his well-known blog, Coal Tattoo.

Ward is a three-time winner of the Scripps Howard Foundation’s Edward J. Meeman Award for environmental reporting and winner of the foundation’s Roy W. Howard Award for public service reporting.

Other accolades include the 1996 Scripps Howard National Journalism Award, given for his reporting on a proposed paper mill in southern West Virginia, and a 2006 medal from Investigative Reporters and Editors for his coverage of mine safety in the wake of the Sago mine disaster in Upshur County.

In 2010, Ward was named a “Game Changer” in the Green category by The Huffington Post for his coverage of the coal industry – an honor he shares with U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lisa P. Jackson, among others. He also was featured in a 2011 Columbia Journalism Review article, “Sustained Outrage: Ken Ward Jr. stayed home to make a difference,” by Brent Cunningham.

But Ward is less concerned with the attention and more so with keeping the people of his home state informed. As an environmental journalist,

A native of Piedmont and Keyser, W.Va., he digs deeply into the state’s environmental Ward began his journalistic career as an issues and the coal industry, in particular. environmental writer at WVU’s Daily In February 2009, the Gazette Athenaeum. His talent caught the eye of launched Coal Tattoo, a blog dedicated former journalism professor Harry Ernst, to investigating and chronicling coal who recommended Ward for an internship mining in West Virginia and its impact at the Gazette. on the state’s “The blog format lets people In the summer environment, of 1989, United Mine mine safety interact with me and challenge me Workers members practices, and on what I’m saying.”­— Ken Ward were striking against the issue of the Pittston Coal Company in southern West mountaintop removal mining.

Virginia. The Gazette sent Ward to cover the Ward says that while the blog format story. complements the paper’s strong print product, it “The joke was that I wasn’t on the company also has several features that make it unique – the health plan, so they sent me to cover the picket immediacy of information delivery and ability to lines,” Ward said. He spent the summer with a link to source documents and data. It also enables colleague, driving through Raleigh and Logan Ward to connect directly with his readers.

Counties and talking with people about their “The blog format lets people interact lives and the business of mining. with me and challenge me on what I’m In 1991, Ward joined the Gazette staff and saying,” said Ward. “This allows me to engage has been there ever since. His advice to emerging readers and get people talking.” journalists is simple: you can have a rich career as Dedicated to investigative reporting, Ward a journalist without ever leaving the state. believes journalists’ primary responsibility is to “I can’t imagine a place that needs good keep readers fully informed – remaining everjournalism more than West Virginia does,” vigilant and cognizant of the issues and providing Ward said. “The people of West Virginia are continual, clear assessments for their readers. good people. It’s a place where your neighbors “Coal has been a dominant political force will help you if you need help. It’s a place where throughout the history of the state and has had a people emerge from all manner of disaster and defining impact on the environment and on the people who live here,” said Ward. “There’s no end try to move on, and that’s uplifting. Journalists should be a part of that.” to the stories that need to be done on this topic.”

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Print journalism senior Shay Maunz is spending the summer producing multimedia content for The New Yorker’s website and iPad app.

Hometown classmates tackle national media

By CHRISTA VINCENT photo by alex wilson

G

Growing up in the same town, Shay Maunz, Jamie McCracken and Ashton Marra shared many milestones – birthdays, prom, high school graduation. But they never shared their dreams of becoming media professionals until they came to WVU. “I don’t think we ever talked about our careers, but we all assumed that we would go into journalism,” said Marra. “It’s kind of strange that we’ve all done such big things with it.”

All three Clarksburg, W.Va., natives are either interning or working for major media organizations this summer.

Maunz, who will graduate in August with a degree in print journalism, is spending her summer working as a multimedia intern at The New Yorker. She is shooting and editing video for the magazine’s website and iPad app – an opportunity that didn’t exist a few years ago.

Maunz says she always wanted to work for The New Yorker but thought that it was a dream to be reached far into the future. She says the multimedia skills that she learned while participating in the School of Journalism’s “West Virginia Uncovered” project pushed her resume to the top of the pile.

“If I were solely a writer, it would be harder to get there,” said Maunz. “But there’s something about these emerging fields where they need young blood.”

McCracken says his goal is to be “well

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rounded” by the time he graduates in December 2012. Having already completed an internship with ESPN last fall, McCracken wanted more experience with print and digital media.

This summer, he is interning on the National Football League desk at USA Today in McLean, Va., where he is interviewing players, writing stories and selecting photos and videos for the USA Today website. McCracken says the opportunity is off the beaten path for a television journalism major, but it’s a detour worth taking.

Morning America.”

Although Marra is positive that broadcast news is the right career choice for her, she says a strong background in print journalism laid the foundation for her to build her skills.

“When I took public affairs reporting, I started to realize there is so much more than just putting together a news story and sticking it on TV,” said Marra. “You have to be able to do everything. Especially now with online, you have to know how to write a story, and I think that’s all based in print.”

Marra, who graduated in May with a degree in television journalism, says the transition from working in local media to working on a national level is grueling – another bonding experience for the long-time friends.

“Even though we are in different aspects of journalism, we’re all kind of in the same boat,” said Marra. “Being in the world of national media is a huge change from local news. I think having the same things going on, and the same backgrounds, and the same hometowns – it’s just a really good support system to have.”

“There’s something about these emerging fields where they need young blood.” — Shay Maunz “Say yes to every opportunity you can get.

That’s what I’ve been taught,” said McCracken.

“Whether it ends up being a fantastic experience or not, you at least learn about yourself and what you truly want to do for a career.”

Marra was able to turn her spring 2012 internship at ABC in New York into a freelance job as a production assistant. This summer, she is assisting with video shoots, pulling archive video for stories and monitoring wires for breaking news during the third hour of “Good

UR—News

Erica Mokay, an award-winning student journalist, began working as a weekend TV news anchor before she graduated.

“WVU News” is winning awards and launching careers

By CHRISTA VINCENT photos by Brian persinger

“Professor Dahlia is the one who approached me to submit a montage for the BEA competition,” said Mokay. “I never thought I would be the one to get first place, but she always had confidence in me.”

Mokay said the exposure she has received from anchoring “WVU News” has not only helped her to win awards but to launch her career as well.

“I never thought I would be the one to get first place, but she always had confidence in me.” — Erica Mokay During her final semester at WVU, Mokay commuted from Morgantown to Steubenville, Ohio, to anchor the weekend editions of “NEWS9 at Six” and “NEWS9 Tonight” at WTOV-TV. Mokay joined the NEWS9 team in December 2011 after the station’s former news director, Brandon Gobel, discovered her on the “WVU News” website. Mokay interviewed at the station and was offered a full-time position as an anchor/reporter.

“I was completely floored,” said Mokay.

“Here it was November, and I wasn’t graduating until May. All of the sudden, I had this wonderful job opportunity. It just goes to show

you never know who’s watching.”

“The website for ‘WVU News’ is a great avenue for students to get jobs,” said Dahlia. “Erica Mokay is proof positive of the benefits of social media. She never applied for that position, and it’s almost unheard of for a student to get an anchoring job while still in school. That’s the power of social media as well as a testament to an extremely talented student.”

In addition to starting a high-profile career while still taking classes at the School, Mokay was able to maintain a strong academic record. She graduated magna cum laude in May 2012.

UR—News

T

The School of Journalism’s award-winning “WVU News” airs statewide on West Virginia Public Television, but the show’s reputation reaches far beyond the state’s borders. Both national and international media organizations have recognized “WVU News” and its students as being among the best in college journalism.

Under the leadership of Teaching Assistant Professor Gina Dahlia, the School’s studentproduced news program has garnered more than 50 prestigious awards in the past six years, including 15 Hearst Journalism Awards and the Broadcast Education Association’s (BEA) award for best student newscast in the country.

Erica Mokay, a native of Belle Vernon, Pa., is one of Dahlia’s award-winning students. In 2011, she placed 10th in the nationwide Hearst Journalism Competition for her radio news stories about Morgantown sidewalks and the controversial alcoholic energy drink, Four Loko. This year, BEA named Mokay the best student television anchor in the country for her work on “WVU News.” Mokay says Dahlia has been one of her biggest cheerleaders.

Teaching Assistant Professor Gina Dahlia serves as executive producer for “WVU News.”

Watch “WVU News” online

sojnewscast.wvu.edu

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IMC program and PRSA join forces through university partnership

I

By Briana Wilson

In 2011, the nation’s largest public relations membership organization asked its 31,000 professional and student members what they considered to be the most important PR proficiencies. Integrated marketing communications (IMC) ranked in the top five.

goo.gl/Ohsrr

“As PR professionals are being asked to wear more hats than ever before, they have a need for an IMC perspective. As an educational partner, we have been able to promote the concept of integrated marketing communications to tens of thousands of new and seasoned professionals across the country. We have provided content that serves PR practitioners in their everyday jobs and, more importantly, advances the IMC industry.”

Through the partnership, the School’s IMC faculty and advisory board members have contributed to PRSA publications including

Tactics, PRSA’s monthly newspaper; ComPRehension, the organization’s professional development blog; and PRSA’s Issues & Trends e-newsletter. In addition, IMC faculty member Rebecca Andersen was featured in PRSA’s “On the Case With…” series, and faculty member Lisa Fall conducted a professional development webinar on generational marketing for PRSA members.

PRSA Chief Operating Officer William M. Murray, CAE, sees great value in tapping into the knowledge base of the IMC program’s faculty.

Alex Wilson

To meet the interests of their members, the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) approached the School of Journalism’s IMC graduate program to establish an educational partnership.

While PRSA members across the country have gained an inside look at the School’s premier graduate program and the field of integrated marketing communications, the partnership has added value to the program’s stature as well. Now in its second year, the partnership places the School of Journalism and the IMC graduate program at the forefront of educational thought-leadership in integrated marketing communications.

“The partnership is a logical one,” said Chad Mezera, the School’s director of online programs.

Learn more about the IMC/PRSA partnership online

The IMC program faculty and staff attended the PRSA International Conference last fall, presenting a breakout session, networking and recruiting future students.

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Submitted photo

“As PR professionals are being asked to wear more hats than ever before, they have a need for an IMC perspective.” — Chad Mezera “PRSA is honored to be associated with West Virginia University and pleased with the benefits the partnership is delivering,” said Murray. “As an academic thought leader in the area of integrated marketing communications, the knowledge and practical advice that WVU faculty are contributing to our publications and conference programming are helping PRSA members succeed in this increasingly important area of public relations practice.”

Of course, the partnership has led to significant exposure of the School’s IMC graduate program to a large – and very targeted – audience.

In 2011, the program was a featured sponsor of PRSA’s Digital Impact Conference and their International Conference, with WVU IMC faculty members presenting at both events.

More than 1,500 communications professionals attended the International Conference.

Full-page ads for the IMC program have been seen in PRSA’s Strategist, Tactics and Forum publications, and web banners can be found throughout the PRSA and PRSSA websites. The School also developed a targeted direct mail piece that delivered the IMC program’s message to more than 17,000 public relations practitioners.

“Ultimately, this partnership is about communicating the value of integrated marketing communications and sharing resources with this impressive group of communications practitioners,” said Mezera. “We are happy that at the same time we’ve been able to increase WVU IMC’s national visibility and also accept several experienced PRSA members into our graduate program.”

As part of the partnership, the IMC program developed a series of print mailers directed to PRSA members, banner ads for the PRSA website, and ads for various PRSA print publications.

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PRSA survey respondents have identified integrated marketing communications as one of the top-five proficiencies needed through the next five years.

In today’s saturated media marketplace, it is harder than ever to get the attention of distracted key audiences. Learn how to mix today’s trends with traditional media to form a strategy, focus your message and break through the clutter.

Gain the skills to stay ahead in today’s competitive marketplace. Earn an M.S. in Integrated Marketing Communications online from West Virginia University.

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We offer courses in:

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I started working at a PR agency in Washington, D.C., and wanted additional skills in branding, marketing analysis, and creative strategy. The flexibility of the fully online IMC program at WVU allowed me to continue working while earning my graduate degree, and the curriculum gave me the edge I needed.

“

Learn more at Public

Watch Alison’s video story by scanning the QR code.

Brand Equity Management Creative Strategy & Execution Emerging Media & the Market Multicultural Marketing Mobile Marketing

imc.wvu.edu

Digital Storytelling Social Media & Marketing Consider a Master of Science in Integrated Marketing Communications (IMC). West Virginia University’s online IMC program will give you the practical skills needed to build, implement, and measure integrated communication programs in today’s dynamic digital environment – and it can be completed from anywhere in the world. Learn more about our dynamic curriculum and how it can enhance your career path at imc.wvu.edu.

SOJ alumnus joins PRSA College of Fellows During PRSA’s 2011 International Conference, SOJ alumnus Joe Gollehon (BSJ, 1973) was inducted into the prestigious College of Fellows. Gollehon was one of only nine inductees nationwide and was recognized for his lifetime dedication to the public relations profession.

He currently serves as Senior Vice President and Director of Governmental Affairs for TSG and Consulting, LLC – a public relations and governmental affairs firm with offices in Charleston and Beckley, W.Va. Prior to that, Gollehon worked at Charles Ryan Associates for 27 years, serving as their first Director of Public Relations, Regional Vice President, Senior Vice President of Public Relations and Senior Council. He also spent seven years at Union Carbide and four with Columbia Gas in public relations and government relations roles.

“It was an incredible experience and honor,” said Gollehon about the induction. “I’ve had a wonderful career and have worked with so many outstanding people, clients and companies. Having the chance to reflect on and remember all of them was very fulfilling.”

PRSA College of Fellows is an honorary organization, and inductees must be accredited PRSA members with more than 20 years of experience. Gollehon remains active in PRSA at the national and local levels.

25

Finding “Natural” Talent

By Kristen Wishon

Alumna traverses rural America for reality TV

Submitted photo

“I still tell people at Discovery and all over that the experience of going to WVU is what got me to where I am.”

F

Submitted photo

From the icy waters of Alaska to the swamps of Louisiana, skills, she also discovered their reluctance to be on camera. Many of School of Journalism alumna Gretchen Palek (BSJ, 1999) gives these “characters” didn’t envision themselves on television. Palek credits a voice to the characters of television’s most authentic reality her broadcast news background for providing her with the “scoop” shows. Palek’s ability to connect with ordinary people who have mentality that helped her capture their stories. phenomenal stories has blossomed into a 12-year career at the “Having the nose for that is something I learned in the journalism Discovery Channel and its sister networks — working on such school — finding that story, getting people to open up and tell you shows as “Deadliest Catch,” “Man vs. Wild” and “Curiosity.” things they wouldn’t tell someone else,” said Palek. “I want them to trust Palek, a Clarksburg, W.Va., native who currently lives in that Discovery is a great brand — and to trust me.”

Los Angeles, began her career as a tape librarian and project To bridge the gap, a new role was created at the Discovery manager at Animal Planet, Channel, and Palek assumed the Discovery Channel’s sister position of Senior Director, Talent “Having the nose for that is something I network. Within a couple of years, Strategy and Management. learned in the journalism school — finding she moved to Discovery where she “Discovery needed someone that story, getting people to open up and tell found herself gravitating toward who could provide human contact, the talent side of the business. understand their business and you things they wouldn’t tell someone else.”

In her first position with understand that they were people but Discovery, Palek negotiated and who could also be part of the network,” handled talent agreements for the Business and Legal Affairs said Palek. “I’m sort of a voice that can help lead them to other department. However, she found she was more interested in opportunities, such as books, advertisements and events. But also if they telling people’s stories than negotiating their contracts. have questions, they only have to go to one person.”

“On the side, I would look for these characters that I Palek credits the School of Journalism for preparing her for thought would make good TV shows,” said Palek. “I had her career. She says she learned to work hard — but be kind — relationships with [talent] development officers and would ask, and to never “bulldoze your way into anything.” These lessons and ‘What do you think of this person? Would it make a good show?’ the understanding that “content is king” have helped her create a Then, we might create a series from that.” unique niche in the industry.

Her initiative ultimately landed Palek a job as Director, She remains proud of her education and of her alma mater.

Talent Development. Soon she was traveling the country with a “I still tell people at Discovery and all over that the experience of cameraperson, scouting and casting Discovery’s latest television shows. going to WVU is what got me to where I am,” said Palek.

As she continued to find everyday people with extraordinary

Gretchen Palek takes a break from shooting the Discovery Channel series, “Alaska: The Last Frontier,” in Homer, Alaska.

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INTEGRATE conference becomes national event for professionals

By Briana Wilson photo by alex wilson

S

Social media posts from INTEGRATE 2012 speak volumes about the growing impact and quality of this annual conference.

“If you’re wondering what the head of a top-ten agency was doing at a banquet in Morgantown, W.Va., on a Saturday night, well so was I,” said Barry Fuchs — a conference attendee — in his blog post. “It says a lot about the IMC program.”

In June, the School of Journalism’s Integrated Marketing Communications (IMC) graduate program hosted its most ambitious INTEGRATE conference to date. Participants travelled from all over the country to attend, including Fuchs, who made his way from Seattle, Wash.

Fuchs, who graduated from the IMC program in December 2011, was referring to GolinHarris CEO Fred Cook, the keynote speaker at INTEGRATE 2012. Cook described how he led the restructuring of GolinHarris from a seniority-based hierarchy to global teams of dedicated specialists who are “embedded in every account.”

Cook also talked about how his agency’s innovative — and much talked about — “g4” model leverages both traditional and social media.

“The idea of media channels doesn’t make sense anymore,” said Cook. “Ad Age did a survey with 20-somethings that found they switch media 27 times per hour when they’re at home . . . from Facebook to email to text to television to whatever.

They’re just getting information. They’re not even thinking about where it’s coming from. It doesn’t get anymore integrated than that.”

While Cook was the highlight of the conference’s keynote dinner, INTEGRATE 2012 also featured other high-profile guest speakers,

Fred Cook, CEO of GolinHarris, served as the keynote speaker at INTEGRATE 2012.

interactive workshops, breakout sessions and networking opportunities.

The Head of Google Travel, Dave Pavelko, led a general session in which he provided an indepth look at the latest in web consumption and marketing. Pavelko told attendees that they can’t just “run an ad and pray it works.”

“If you’re marketing campaign is based on faith, you will lose,” said Pavelko.

Instead, he encouraged them to watch the trends, do their research and make informed decisions. During Pavelko’s session, prospective student Jennifer Nichols tweeted: What a great conference! I just learned more about Google Travel and how to leverage online marketing and analytics.

Other conference presenters included globally recognized marketing consultant, author and 1982 SOJ graduate Mark Schaefer; WVU Vice President for University Relations Chris Martin; and IMC faculty members from across the country.

The two-day conference also highlighted a “Social Media Challenge,” which produced more than 425 tweets for #integrate2012 and more than 70 Facebook posts.

The IMC program has been bringing faculty and students to the Morgantown campus since 2005 for its first annual “IMC Weekend.” In 2011, the program shifted the focus to a two-day professional conference.

This year, INTEGRATE 2012 attracted 130 attendees, with more than one-third coming from outside of the IMC program.

INTEGRATE 2013 is scheduled for May 31-June 1, 2013.

more Tweets Rachel Nieman @rachelnieman8r Learned: Treat your followers like they’re customers.... and your #biz is customer service. @markwschaefer #Integrate2012 @wvuimc

Qiana McKoy @adashofpr Wonderful time at the @wvuimc #integrate2012 conference. Fred Cook blew me away with the innovation at GolinHarris. Still excited!

LeAnn Dickens @LeAnnMarieWV Had a great time at #integrate2012. Met some awesome people and learned a lot.

Can’t wait till next year!

Karen Freberg, Ph.D. @kfreberg Chris Martin discusses the importance of stories related to graduation / commencement #integrate2012

Kim Rine Schwalje @schwaljek At the Pittsburgh airport heading home from #integrate2012 awesome time. Great speakers, new friends.

For INTEGRATE 2012 session videos, visit the IMC Knowledge Base

goo.gl/pVgkU 27

IMC student helps Floridians live to a healthy100

By Briana Wilson photo by alex wilson

W

What do you want to do when you’re 100 years old?

Integrated marketing communications (IMC) master’s degree student Kayla Eubanks asks central Floridians this question every day as the marketing specialist for Florida Hospital’s “Healthy 100” program. The wellness program encourages people to make a pledge and practice healthier habits to take them to 100 years old and beyond.

In 2004, a National Geographic photographer and writer teamed up to examine regions of the world where people tend to live longer. These regions, identified as “blue zones,” include places like Okinawa, Japan, and Loma Linda, Calif., which has a high concentration of Seventh-Day Adventists. Florida Hospital, a Seventh-Day Adventist facility in Orlando, decided to set up the Healthy 100 program based on the findings from this “blue zone” research.

The program follows eight secrets to healthy living, matching the acronym “CREATION”: choice, rest, environment, activity, trust, interpersonal relationships, outlook and nutrition.

Guidance on how to successfully improve these aspects of one’s life and many other resources are available on the program’s website – www.Healthy100.org – which Eubanks manages.

The website features articles on healthy living, wellness events, videos, health calculators, recipes and discounts at local stores – all helping members on their path to a healthy 100.

Eubanks also develops and distributes program e-newsletters, provides event support and works on strategy for many of the subsidiary Healthy 100 programs, including a program for the hospital’s more than 15,000 employees.

Eubanks finds her job at Florida Hospital incredibly rewarding.

“I knew from a young age that I wanted to go into the healthcare field,” Eubanks said.

“I thought about being a doctor, but then I thought I really should combine my two passions – communications and that willingness to help others.

I came into this healthcare marketing role, and it really is the perfect fit for me.”

The Healthy 100 program was launched in 2009 and has approximately 20,000 members, mostly residents of central Florida. One of the features offered through the website is a lifeexpectancy calculator, and Eubanks encourages

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Kayla Eubanks applies the skills that she learns in her IMC courses to market Florida Hospital’s “Healthy 100” wellness program.

those signing up for the program to complete the calculator upon initial membership and again one year later. Participants are able to see how many years they’ve added to their lives by committing to the program.

Eubanks says that she is able to apply the skills she is learning in her IMC classes to her job on a regular basis.

“I took the mobile marketing class while developing a mobile app for the Healthy 100 program,” Eubanks said. “Thanks to the course, I was able to strategically think about the type of app I wanted to build. Through the course readings and discussions, I learned what works and what doesn’t. I’m also using skills from previous courses every single day.”

Eubanks enjoys talking with program members who have been able to turn their lives around. She remembers the story of one Florida Hospital employee who was diagnosed with diabetes through the Healthy 100 employee program. The employee received the medical treatment that she needed, changed her lifestyle and diet, and

now credits the program with saving her life.

“Everyone wants to stick around and be with their family for as long as possible,” said Eubanks. “I love educating people on how to do that while also being on the cutting edge of communications. I know that what we’re doing is changing people’s lives. What’s great is that I’m able to communicate with our members and the general public in a way that makes them want to engage and come back to our website again and again.”

Watch Kayla’s video online

bit.ly/McA3Jk

RESOURCES noun \’re-,sors\ a: a source of supply or support: an available means b: a source of information or expertise

With our strategic plan serving as the roadmap, the School of Journalism is committed to achieving our vision for the future and exceeding our goals. To do so, we must rely on our most valuable resources: the expertise of our alumni, the intellectual capital of our faculty and students, and the financial support from external grants and private giving. While our alumni keep us connected to current industry practices, they also provide important networking opportunities and scholarship dollars for our students. Our faculty generate award-winning research and teaching that serve our students and the larger communications industry as well. As we move into the University’s Comprehensive Campaign, our focus is not just on the dollars raised but also on the impact those funds will have on future generations.

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UR—News

Dr. George Esper walks with former student Jessica Rhodes between classes in 2007.

The heart and soul of WVU A tribute to George Esper

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By Angela Lindley photos m.g. Ellis

Years ago, Christine Martin, former School of Journalism dean and current vice president for WVU University Relations, had a long talk with Associated Press (AP) Special Correspondent George Esper about what he would do when he “grew up” and left the AP. “I thought there was a place for him – a really important place for him – at WVU,” said Martin.

Although leaving the AP was difficult, Esper agreed to come to WVU to teach in the School of Journalism.

“He instantly found his place here as a beloved professor,” said Martin.

This past February, Esper passed away at age 79 after teaching at the School for more than 10 years.

Before returning to his alma mater as a faculty member, Esper had an illustrious 42-year career with the AP. He earned accolades for his coverage of the Vietnam War and was named bureau chief for his last two years there. With the fall of Saigon to the North Vietnamese in April 1975, he was one of the last Americans to leave the city. The Uniontown, Pa., native also was one of a handful of AP reporters to earn the title of 30

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AP Special Correspondent.

Esper also covered the presidential primaries in 1980 and 1988. He was there for the first Gulf War and U.S. peace missions in Somalia and Bosnia, and he reported on the devastation of Hurricane Andrew and the terror of the Oklahoma City bombing.

But for all the prestige of Esper’s reporting career, perhaps his greatest gift was teaching.

The 1953 WVU alumnus returned to his alma mater to teach in 2000. That same year, Esper received an honorary doctorate degree from WVU. In 2003, he was named the School’s first Ogden Newspapers Professor of Journalism.

In addition to teaching writing, reporting and journalism history, Esper served as a coach and mentor to countless journalism students throughout the years. Most notably, though, he would take a personal interest in his students and encourage

them in their growth as individuals and journalists.

“Not too many people take the time to get to know each of their students, but George did that,” said Cassie Waugh, a former student and now an instructor at the School of Journalism.

Candace Nelson, a graduate student in the journalism program and former editor of The Daily Athenaeum, says the pressure of classes and working for a student paper was sometimes overwhelming – but Esper was always there to support her.

“There were a lot of times when I would think, ‘I don’t know why I’m doing this. I don’t know if I’m the right person for this,’” said Nelson, “but George would always encourage me to keep going. I feel like he gave a lot of himself to his students.”

Associate Professor John Temple says Esper had a passion not just for teaching but also for

Watch a video tribute to George Esper

goo.gl/9fro0

George Esper International Study Enhancement Fund As a tribute to Esper’s dedication to teaching and learning, the School of Journalism established the George Esper International Study Enhancement Fund to support students participating in study-abroad or faculty-led international trips. The fund was endowed this June by 1979 alumnus Joe Steranka, CEO of The PGA of America. Steranka has led the international development of golf for the PGA and views the fund as a catalyst for more global personal development of SOJ students.

Learn more about the fund at http://journalism.wvu.edu/contribute. giving students the confidence they needed to succeed.

“George inspired students because he believed they would go on to careers as farreaching and exciting as his own,” Temple said.

“Many times I heard him say that his students were better journalists than he had been in college. Students aren’t accustomed to hearing this from their professors, and coming from one as distinguished as George, it bolstered their confidence and inspired them to reach higher.”

Dr. Rita Colistra, assistant professor of public relations, agrees that Esper’s influence extended well beyond the classroom.

“He would take the time to sit down and talk with his students about their lives,” Colistra said. “And George taught me life lessons, too.

He made me want to be a better person.”

“George Esper was a great journalist, teacher, colleague and friend,” said SOJ Dean Maryanne Reed. “His time in Martin Hall was relatively short, but he gave us so much. He taught me forever-lessons about facing life with courage, curiosity, tenacity and joy.”

Bill Nutting, whose family established the professorship that brought Esper to WVU, traveled to Esper’s home in Boston with Reed and Martin for a visit just two months before Esper passed.

“We reminisced about everything,” said Martin. “We talked a lot about Vietnam – that was one of his favorite things to talk about.”

Nutting commented that Vietnam must have been the most exciting time of Esper’s life. Esper agreed but only momentarily, claiming that his time teaching at WVU was the best time of his life.

“And he meant it,” said Martin. “He was the heart and soul of this place.””

facebook posts Kasey Hott I met Dr. Esper as a wide-eyed sophomore, who had NO idea how to write a good newspaper article. :) I was nervous for him to even see my work, but he treated me like a star. That’s how he treated all of his students. Despite his busy schedule, I’ll never forget him making it a point to get together for lunch or dinner. He would offer advice and encouragement that shaped who I am as both a journalist, and as a person. I am so fortunate to have known him . . . and I’m sure that everyone else who he taught feels the exact same way.

Ryan Ver Berkmoes I met George when I was in college in the early 1980s when he spoke at a journalism conference. Afterwards I got to know him and he was incredibly generous with advice which has shaped my career to this day. He was also just very fun to be around. My condolences to everyone who cared about him.

Heather Sammons I remember the last time I talked to George. We were in his office and he told me how proud he was of me. I never would have gotten to this point in my life without his influence. I’m glad I got to tell him I love him and give him a hug that day.

David C. Briscoe Jr. George Esper was one of those rare journalists you meet and you immediately love. That was the secret of his success in attracting the affection of colleagues and in getting people to open up.

He and fellow AP correspondent John Nance were my link to Vietnam when I was in Asia.

Both are gone now. Gen. Douglas MacArthur said, “Old soldiers never die; they just fade away.” Journalists and mentors like Esper and Nance never die either. Their spirit passes on through the colleagues they inspire, and their words write history. Old journalists never die; they just move on to the next story.

Vicki Smith He made us all better.

Brad Pedersen My time with him was extremely short, but his passion for the field and extreme knowledge helped shape my reporting style and career. My heart goes out to his family.

Bill Frye It was an honor to have learned from him and know him.

Ivy Guiler Dr. Larry Schwab, a dear friend of George, sent me a quote from Dr. Seuss that I wanted to share. It’s very fitting of George.

“Don’t cry because it is over. Smile because it happened.”

Andy Soloman I worked with George in Hanoi in 1993. He was a gent, a lovely man. Every story was important, he would drive everyone really hard, but once it was done he would genuinely thank us all. RIP George.

Tweets Chris Martin @ctonk144 Journalism lost a hero. We all lost a friend.

Zu LeHoang • He and Nick Ut loved to go to Vietnam any time. Together they reopened the AP Hanoi Bureau, covering all the first stories of the AP when it was reopened in Vietnam in 1993. They were such nice and cool reporters of the AP Hanoi.

Those were the beautiful days . . . They both loved riding “xich lo” to go to the office and to go to the local restaurants to eat the tasty Vietnamese and other food. And worked “effortlessly” to cover the news for the AP.

Dave Ryan @ddryan RIP George Esper. You were nice enough to guide me for a few years and help me where I am today.

Wayne Slater @WayneSlater George Esper was my friend and one of the greatest reporters I’ve ever known. Rest in Peace, buddy.

Margie Mason @MargieMasonAP Remembering George Esper, my hero. U left too soon. Your girl n Hanoi misses u dearly.

Michael Fulton @hillrat1156 George Esper was a well-loved and respected reporter, teacher and father.

Nicole Lemal @runninamazon Looking on Twitter, it touches my heart to see how loved George Esper was on this earth. No doubt we were all better people for knowing him.

Rebecca Dole @Rebeckster A journalist. A mentor. An amazing human being.

RIP George Esper

Daniel Coyne @RareCoyne I never knew until now how much of a legend George Esper was. I’m honored that I was one of his students #WVU

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Building resources for the future

Comprehensive Campaign kicks off for WVU and SOJ

By Kimberly Walker

This June, the School of Journalism joined WVU and the WVU Foundation in the public launch of the new Comprehensive Campaign, “A State of Minds: The Campaign for West Virginia’s University.”

The School’s aim during this campaign is to raise funds around our strategic goals including providing students with a relevant 21st century education; producing research and discoveries that advance the industry and empower rural communities; building technology-enhanced learning labs that foster teamwork and innovation; and creating real-world, hands-on opportunities for our students.

Beyond funding individual priorities, the campaign offers the School a unique opportunity to engage SOJ alumni and friends in our goal to become a national leader in journalism education and media innovation.

The School of Journalism has identified a list of essential funding priorities that will power our accomplishments in education and research in the coming decades.

Named Professorships and Faculty Support As we face increased competition for top faculty, we must create salary and incentive packages that will allow us to recruit and retain the best professionals in our field. Our goal is to create one additional endowed professorship, an endowment to support a rotating research position and funds that support faculty research and travel to relevant academic conferences.

Student Scholarships and Enhancement

SOJ Campaign Committee Members Scott widmeyer, committee chair

Chairman and CEO of Widmeyer Communications James Blair

Chairman of ONLINE Information Services Peter Cherukuri

General Manager, Politics for The Huffington Post David Foreman

Director of Corporate and Foundation Relations at Bucknell University Samme Gee

Attorney with Jackson Kelly Attorneys at Law PLLC Ellen Goodwin

Former Vice President for Development at the WVU Alumni Association

By creating new scholarship endowments, we will be able to provide financial support to many more eligible students. We also seek funds to support students doing internships and studying abroad – experiences that enhance their portfolios and professional opportunities.

Ray Gillette

Visiting Professional Program

Chairman and CEO of Diversified Agency Services, an Omnicom Group

With the industry changing so rapidly, it is imperative that we are able to hire professionals whose experience is current and cutting-edge. An endowed Visiting Professional Program would allow us to bring top professionals to campus on a rotating basis to teach classes and seminars, give public lectures and help the School develop innovative curricula and programs in new areas.

Multimedia Innovation Lab We are building an innovation lab in which students will develop new applications, projects and platforms that utilize digital and mobile technologies and enhance rural media.

One-time funding is needed to create the lab, and an additional endowment is needed to generate funding to replace technology and equipment on an ongoing basis.

Integrated Marketing Communications (IMC) Doctoral Program The School of Journalism plans to launch a doctoral program in Integrated Marketing Communications (IMC) that would prepare graduates for careers in academia and targeted industry positions. The fund would provide monies for curriculum development, program research, travel and research support for IMC faculty, as well as additional start-up costs.

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Former President of DDB Chicago Tom Harrison

Pamela maphis Larrick

CEO of Javelin Marketing Group Jane McNeer

Fundraising Consultant Jason Neal

Technical Operations Manager at NBC News Bill Nutting

Vice President of Ogden Newspapers Inc. John Walls

Vice President, Public Affairs, for CTIA – The Wireless Association

Read more about the SOJ’s campaign

goo.gl/22y6j

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During her senior year, Paige Lavender was paired with Peter Cherukuri of The Huffington Post as part of the School of Journalism’s Professional Mentorship Program.

“J-Harmony”

By Kristen Wishon photos by alex wilson

Mentorship program proves valuable for SOJ students

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When Paige Lavender’s (BSJ, 2011) mentor offered to set up meetings with major media professionals in the Washington, D.C., area, Lavender held him to it.

With the help of Peter Cherukuri, general manager (Politics) for The Huffington Post, Lavender met with professionals from the Los Angeles Times, ABC News and CSPAN. Eventually, she landed an internship and later a full-time position at The Huffington Post.

“I made it a priority when he said, ‘I can get you meetings,’” said Lavender. “Peter got me the meeting that got me my internship.”

Lavender, a print journalism senior at the time, was paired with Cherukuri as part of the School of Journalism’s Professional Mentorship Program. Created in 2009, the program now pairs students with nearly 40 professionals working in the industry. Through a competitive application and selection process, students are matched with their mentors based on career goals and interests.

“One of the things that struck me about my introduction to what the journalism school is trying to achieve – and is something that is also an area of interest for me – is training journalists for the realities of the media industry,” said Cherukuri.

“That’s something that attracted me to being involved with the J-school: the opportunity to share with someone whatever small lessons I can impart and whatever doors I can open.”

As a result of the program, current and

“Peter got the ball rolling, and I made sure I kept up.”

— Paige Lavender past mentees also have connected to network and provide internship and career guidance. In 2011, advertising senior Margaret Matsko was paired with her mentor, Ray Gillette (BSJ, 1971), former president of DDB Chicago and adjunct faculty in the School’s IMC graduate program.

Matsko approached Gillette about finding an advertising internship for the summer. Her interests fell in line with Gillette’s first mentee, Sean McNamara (BSJ, 2009), who was working as an associate media planner in Philadelphia at the time.

Gillette worked with Matsko to refine her resume and prepare her for agency work, and McNamara connected her with an internship opportunity by forwarding her resume to an

advertising agency in the Philadelphia area.

When Steve Butera (MSJ, 2010) entered the Mentorship Program, his mentor was Mark Casey, vice president and news director of KPNX-TV Gannett Broadcasting and a 1976 SOJ alumnus.

Casey helped Butera define his career goals, refine his resume tape and prepare for job interviews.

This guidance helped Butera land his first job at WBIR Channel 10, another Gannett Broadcasting station, in Knoxville, Tenn.

“Mark really helped me get my career going in the right direction, and for that I am forever grateful,” said Butera.

While the Professional Mentorship Program has provided resume assistance, networking opportunities and internships for many students, participants agree that the program is not a job service.

“Peter got the ball rolling, and I made sure I kept up,” said Lavender. “My mentor did not get me my job. You can get out of the mentorship what you want to get out of it.”

Cherukuri agrees.

“I was very honest in my relationship with Paige in terms of what I could provide and what I could do,” said Cherukuri. “She’s gotten two promotions in the short time that she’s been here, and I think that has nothing to do with me whatsoever. It has a lot to do with the School of Journalism and with how good she actually is at her job.”

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About Our Donors SOJ Giving Societies In recognition of the growing importance of private giving, the School of Journalism honors its friends and supporters through a tiered system of giving levels and inducts new members each fall. Below is a list of new donors and donors who have moved into new giving societies during the past year.

Friends of Martin Hall ($100,000 - $249,999) • Cary Foundation, Inc. P.I. Reed Circle of Friends ($25,000 $99,999) • Colonel Thomas J. Boyd • CTIA – The Wireless Association P.I. Reed Society ($10,000 - $24,999) • Mr. and Mrs. Frank B. Ahrens • Verizon Foundation • Verizon Wireless

SOJ Donor Honor Roll The School of Journalism would like to thank our donors who have given to the 2011-2012 annual fund. We especially want to recognize those supporters who give $1,000 or more on an annual basis. Those donors are part of the SOJ’s Loyalty Club, established in 2010 and indicated by an asterisk. The annual giving list represents cash and pledge payments received through May 15, 2012. $15,000 OR MORE • Verizon Foundation* $5,000 - $14,999 • Cary Foundation, Inc.* • CMGRP, Inc.* • Nutting Foundation* • Verizon Wireless* • West Virginia University Hospitals, Inc.* $1,000 - $4,999 • Air Products Foundation, Inc.* • Mr. Paul A. Atkins* • Ms. Barbara S. Casey* • Mr. and Mrs. Wendell Cochran* • Mrs. Elizabeth K. Diedzic* • Ms. Samme L. Gee* • Mr. and Mrs. Raymond Gillette* • Ms. Luella T. Gunter* • Mr. Marcus Hassen* • Mr. James R. Hunkler • Mr. Stephen N. Hunsicker* • Mr. and Mrs. David G. Lied* • Ms. Jane McNeer* • Mr. and Mrs. Chad Mezera* • Ms. Maryanne Reed* • Mr. Stanley J. Reed* • Mr. James J. Roop* • Dr. and Mrs. Larry Schwab* • Mrs. Louise Crumrine Seals*

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• Ms. J. Janet Shaffron* • Ms. Margery A. Swanson* • WVU Med Corp* $500 - $999 • Ms. Bonnie J. Bolden • C. Peter Magrath Revocable Trust • Mr. and Mrs. H. Nelson Crichton • Mr. Giles C. Davidson II • Mr. and Mrs. Thomas P. Dowling • Mr. and Mrs. Michael Fulton • Mrs. Nichole E. Gatto-Wild • Global Strategy Group LLC • Mr. Norm Goldstein • Mrs. Suzanne K. Johnson • Mrs. Pamela M. Larrick • Mr. James A. Pahl • William F. Queen DDS • Dr. and Mrs. Guy H. Stewart • Mr. Michael J. Tomasky • Mrs. Julianne S. Worrell • WV Press Association Foundation, Inc. $100 - $499 • Allison & Partners • Ms. Susan M. Aspey • Mr. and Mrs. Charles R. Bailey • Ms. Johnna G. Barto • Ms. Maria T. Bips • Mr. and Mrs. Walter C. Bird • Mr. Daniel W. Bosch

• Mrs. Joyce A. Bower • Mr. and Mrs. Jerry Bowles

• Mr. Edward O. Buckbee • Mr. Francis B. Buckley • Campaign Workshop • Mr. John S. Carroll • Chubb & Son, Inc. • Consolidated Edison Company of New York, Inc. • Mr. and Mrs. Ronald L. Cutright • Mr. and Mrs. Mark Dalessandro • Mr. and Mrs. Gary L. Davis • Davis & Gilbert LLP

• Ms. Sandra M. Desbrow • Mr. and Mrs. D. Lyn Dotson • Mr. Douglas Elwood • Ernst & Young Foundation • Mrs. Stephanie N. Finnegan • Dr. Jennifer L. Fisher • Mr. Maurice R. Fliess • Mr. and Mrs. David M. Foreman • Ms. Susan E. Fox • Freddie Mac Givingstation • Ms. Ann H. Garcelon • General Electric Company • Ms. Ronda J. George • Grant County Press • Ms. Leigh F. Gregg

• Rev. and Mrs. Leonard S. Gross • Mr. and Mrs. Jonathan R. Hickey • Ms. Alison N. Hill • Ms. Jacquelyn H. Hinchliffe • Mrs. Jane N. Hopkins • Mr. and Mrs. R. Douglas Huff • Ms. Donna M. Huffaker-Evans • Mr. Benjamin A. Inzel • Mr. Arnold R. Isaacs • Johnson & Johnson Family of Companies

• Mrs. Virginia G. Kavage

• Mrs. Constance M. Kelly • Mr. James A. Kelly • Mr. and Mrs. Rory J. Kelly • Mr.and Mrs. A Nicholas Komanecky • Mr. Richard H. Korn • Mrs. Diana H.D. Kuai

• Ms. Paige Lavender • Leadership Academy • Mrs. Edith M. Lederer • Ms. Asuntina S. Levelle

• Mr. and Mrs. Daniel L. Lofstead • Dr. Brenda J. Logue • Mrs. Stephanie M. Louden • Mr. Michael Madia • Mr. Lawrence J. Malone

• Dr. Diana L. Martinelli • Mr. and Mrs. Victor W. Mason III • Ms. Lisa C. Mattiace • Mrs. Kassy J. McGourty • Ms. Marrianne McMullen • Ms. Patricia Meyer • Ms. Deborah L. Miller • Mrs. Taunja Willis-Miller and Mr. Perry F. Miller • Mindspire Technologies, LLC • Mr. and Mrs. Harry J. Mitchell • Ms. Christina L. Myer

• Mr. Henry C. Nagel II • National Center on Education and The Economy • Mr. and Mrs. William J. Nevin • Dr. Cynthia Nkana • NYC Leadership Academy • Mr. Phillip D. Page • Mr. Lance A. Parry • Mr. Thomas D. Perry • Pill & Pill • Mr. Michael Putzel • Mr. Robert M. Rine • Mrs. Karen P. Robbins

• Dr. David L. Rodgers • Mr. Archie A. Sader • SAIC • Searchmojo

• Mr. David B. Sherman

• Mr. and Mrs. Preston L. Shimer • Mr. Albert M. Skinner

• Mr. Bernie D. Sousa

• Mr. and Mrs. Richard A. Stewart • Mr. Thomas J. Stewart

• Mr. Sidney W. Stolz • Ms. Stephanie D. Taylor

• Mr. and Mrs. Timothy J. Tewalt • Mr. and Mrs. Gordon R. Thorn • Ms. Susan W. Tice • Mr. and Mrs. William S. Tiernan • Mr. and Mrs. John B. Ullom • Ms. Sandra Utt • Mrs. Kathleen S. Vincent

• W.K. Kellogg Foundation • Mr. Edwin Q. White

• Mr. William G. Wilkinson • Mrs. Karen K. Wohl • Mr. David E. Wozniak • WV United Health System • Mr. Bill Yahner • Mrs. Tatiana G. Yastremski

About Our Scholarships Six New SOJ Scholarships Established During the 2011-2012 academic year, SOJ

2011-2012 Scholarship Recipients Scholarship donations are the School’s top

alumni and friends contributed to the School’s

priority. Private contributions for student

scholarship funds by establishing six new

academic support have helped ease the

endowed student scholarships.

financial burden many students face.

Brown Communications LLC School of Journalism Scholarship • John H. (BSJ, 1968) and C. Bryan Brown (BSJ, 1994)

Cary Journalism Scholarship • Kelsey Amsdell • Rachel Browski • Amanda Harshman • Katherine Murdock • Joseph Rinaldi

Dr. Elizabeth A. Atwater School of Journalism Scholarship • Samme Gee (1983, JD; 1976, MPA; 1975, BSJR; 1973, AA, Potomac State College) Frank and Rebekah Ahrens School of Journalism Scholarship • Frank (1987, BSME) and Rebekah Ahrens Madelyn Jeanne Rupinsky School of Journalism Scholarship • Jennifer (Rupinsky) Manton (BSJ, 1991) Ralph and Janet Izard School of Journalism Scholarship • Ralph (1962, MSJR; 1961, BSJR) and Janet Izard (1963, BS Home Economics) Robert and Luanne Kittle School of Journalism Scholarship • Robert (BSJ, 1975) and Luanne Kittle

Why I Give . . .

“I think it is important to give to the School of Journalism to recognize the role that the School played in my career development and that, because of my education, I was able to accomplish the things that my mother, Jeanne Rupinsky, envisioned for me. Giving to the SOJ means making a resource available to someone who can be another example of that vision.”

– Jennifer Manton (BSJ, 1991) Chief Marketing Officer for Loeb and Loeb, LLP

How Do I Give?

To learn more about providing scholarship funding, visit our website at http://journalism.wvu.edu/contribute or contact: Luella Gunter Director of Development WVU P.I. Reed School of Journalism Luella.Gunter@mail.wvu.edu 304.293.6775

Catharine Patton Clark Presidential Scholarship • Jessica Austin • Chelsi Baker • Katherine Saria Cummings Scholarship • Jessica Austin David Matthew Hassen Journalism Book Scholarship • Mallory Bracken Don S. Marsh Scholarship • Sarah Cordonier • Jesse Tabit Douglas and Ruth Ann Widmeyer Endowed Journalism Scholarship • Kelsey Pape • Alexandra Sebestyen Edith Watson Sasser Scholarship • Rachel Nieman • Kate Smallwood

Mark S. and Frances S. Grove Endowed Scholarship • Brittany Furbee Martha E. Shott Endowed Scholarship • Brian Aluise • Samantha Redd • Katlin Stinespring • Logan Venderlic Ogden Newspapers and Nutting Family Journalism Scholarship • Eva Buchman • Sarah Cordonier • Zachary King • Logan Venderlic Paul A. Atkins Scholarship • Alexander Berry • Cori Lucotch • Dan Sweeney • Jim Yaria Peggy Preston Tierney Scholarship • Rachel Duryea • Shay Maunz • Allyson Parrish • Kelsey Shingleton Perley Isaac Reed Scholarship • Whitney Godwin Raymond and Susan Gillette Minority Scholarship • Malika Holder Scott D. Widmeyer African American Scholarship • Jocelyn Ellis Scott D. Widmeyer First Generation Scholarship •Chelsi Baker Thomas Picarsic Scholarship in Journalism • Andrew Silva

George Gianodis Journalism Scholarship • Rachel Browski • Laura Clark • Nicole Curtin • Alicia Elkin • Alyson Furey • Melanie Hoffman • Sarah O’Rourke • Ashleigh Pollart • Lauren Sobon • Victoria Stambaugh

W.E. Chilton III Journalism Scholarship • Chelsi Baker • Lacey Beattie • Alexander Berry • Sarah Cordonier

Gilbert and Margaret Love Journalism Scholarship • Karissa Blackburn • Evan Bonnstetter • Antonia Cekeda • Hayley Clover • Caitlin Kaser • Jake Newman

established to assist students with the costs

GolinHarris Mountaineer in DC • Blair Dowler • Trey Hollern • Rachel Taylor Irene Caplan Moksay Scholarship • Lucas Vigilanco Linda E. Yost Scholarship • Chelsi Baker

2011-2012 Student Enhancement Awards The SOJ Student Enhancement Fund was of unpaid internships and international experiences. Through the generosity of our donors, deserving students gain valuable professional experience through high-level internships and study-abroad opportunities.

• Mallory Bracken, China • Chloe Detrick, London • Alexa Hadfield, Philadelphia • Katie Patton, China • Hayley Peluchette, New York • Joseph Rinaldi, Boston • Katlin Stinespring, London • Barbara Yanero, China

Linda Jeanne Leckie Schulte Scholarship • Jacqueline Riggleman • Katlin Stinespring

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FACULTY BRIEFS & ADDITIONS n Joel Beeson In January 2012, Associate Professor Joel Beeson received WVU’s Martin Luther King Jr. Achievement Award, given out annually by the WVU Center for Black Culture and Research to recognize an individual embodying the legacy of Dr. King by furthering civil rights, humanitarianism and equality. Beeson was honored for his lifetime of work in Mexico and Alabama, documenting blues culture and community activism, and in West Virginia, capturing stories of the state’s veterans, disabled artists, and Hurricane Katrina evacuees. Also this year, Beeson was awarded two LINK grants through the WV Campus Compact and WVU’s Center for Civic Engagement and a WVU Senate Research Grant, totaling more than $35,000, to continue his work with the Kimball African American War Memorial project in McDowell County, W.Va. The Senate grant is a cross-disciplinary grant with the Benjamin M. Statler College of Engineering and Mineral Resources’ computer science program to develop an interactive touch table for the project’s exhibit, as well as tablet and mobile applications. The exhibit, titled “Soldiers of the Coalfields,” was named the Top Creative Project for 2011 by the Visual Communication Division at the national Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication (AEJMC) conference in St. Louis, Mo., in August 2011. In March, Beeson successfully defended his dissertation entitled “Until Lions Have Their Own Historians: Critical Race Theory and Oral History in a Documentary Film Project.” n Bob Britten In summer 2011, Assistant Professor Dr. Bob Britten was named a visiting professor in the pilot year of the Scripps Howard (with AEJMC) Visiting Professor in Social Media externship. Britten was one of three professors selected from 64 applicants from around the nation to spend two weeks at The Oregonian newspaper in Portland, Ore. Britten gave multiple research and professional presentations at several 2011 conferences: “Using Location-Based Services to Add Some Mobile to Your Journalism Course” and “The Effects of Normalizing Forces on the Development of an Online Radicalized Public Sphere” at AEJMC in St. Louis, Mo., in August; “Sustaining the Convergence Course in the Age of the Smartphone and iPad: Teaching Tips for Social Media, Interactive Media and Mobile Media” at the Convergence Conference in Columbia, S.C., in October; and “Barack the Barbarian Meets Time Lincoln: Comics and the Iconic President” at the Visual Communication Conference in Taos Ski Valley, N.M., in June. n Rita Colistra Assistant Professor Dr. Rita Colistra presented her research, “Are Advertisers Potential (and Effective) Influencers on News Content? An Examination of TV Reporters’ Perceptions of Possible Extramedia

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Pressures on Media Content and Coverage Decisions,” to the Radio Television News Journalism Division (now the Electronic News Division) at the national AEJMC conference in St. Louis in August 2011. In addition, her 98-page manuscript, “Shaping and Cutting the Media Agenda: Reporter Perceptions of the Agenda- and Frame-Building and Agenda-Cutting Influences in the TV Industry,” was published in summer 2012 in Journalism & Communication Monographs, one of the top-tiered academic journals in the field. In spring 2012, Colistra was awarded a $5,000 LINK grant through the WV Campus Compact and WVU’s Center for Civic Engagement (CCE) to provide service learning opportunities for her public relations campaigns course, in which students researched, planned and implemented a Buy Local Campaign for Fairmont, W.Va. She also was awarded an additional $1,000 LINK grant for the class to help create an awareness campaign for the WVU CCE. Colistra also earned a WVU Senate Research Grant in the amount of $9,770 to support her continued work on “Does Media Financial Interest Drive News and Editorial Coverage? A Longitudinal Examination of Coverage and Editorial Framing of the FCC’s 2002, 2006 and 2010 Review of Media Ownership Rules.” n Gina Dahlia During the April 2012 Broadcast Education Association’s (BEA) national conference in Las Vegas, Nev., Teaching Assistant Professor Gina Martino Dahlia served on two panels and presented research relating to her work with “WVU News”: “Integrating College Newscasts with Companion Websites and Social Media Components” and “Curriculum Swapshop on Solo Journalism: Teaching Strategies.” Dahlia also served as a paper competition reviewer for the BEA Interactive Media and Emerging Technology Division in November 2011. n April Johnston Teaching Assistant Professor April Johnston had several stories accepted by literary magazines this past year. “Grocery List” appeared in the Fall/Winter 2011 issue of the Foundling Review, and “The Baby Is a Bomb” appeared in the Fall 2011 issue of the Oklahoma Review. In addition, her story, “Ira,” was a finalist in the 2011 Newport Review Flash Fiction Contest, and two other pieces of flash fiction were published in recent issues of 50 to 1 and Blink Ink. Her story, “How the Parking Authority Ruined My Saturday Night,” (previously published by Fast Forward Press) was performed at the Su Teatro @ Denver Civic Theatre in January 2012. n Diana Martinelli In fall 2011, Dr. Diana Martinelli, associate professor and Widmeyer Professor in Public Relations, was appointed to the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) Commission on Public Relations Education.

In 2012, she authored the book chapter, “Strategic Communication Planning,” in Taylor & Francis Group’s The Practice of Government Public Relations and co-authored another chapter, “Teaching the Fundamentals of Public Relations,” in the PRSA textbook, Learning to Teach. n Mary Kay McFarland Lecturer and “West Virginia Uncovered” project coordinator Mary Kay McFarland coordinated five workshops in video and photo production and digital strategies for state media outlets, high school educators and community members. In March, the digital strategies workshop was co-sponsored by the West Virginia Press Association and the Poynter Institute.

In September 2011, McFarland served as a student newsroom mentor at the Online News Association annual conference in Boston, Mass., and in April 2012, she was part of a panel, “West Virginia Uncovered – Interactive Learning, Teaching and Storytelling,” at the annual BEA conference in Las Vegas, Nev. n Lois Raimondo Shott Chair of Journalism Lois Raimondo was one of eight people, drawn from photographers and editors across America, invited to serve as faculty at the Missouri Photo Workshop held this year in Macon, Mo. This was her 18th year on the workshop’s faculty. In January 2012, Raimondo attended the National Geographic Magazine Seminar, joining fellow photographers, editors and journalists from around the world at the magazine’s headquarters in Washington, D.C. n Maryanne Reed Dean and Associate Professor Maryanne Reed served on a panel at the Al Neuharth Free Spirit and Journalism Conference at the Newseum’s Knight Conference Center in Washington, D.C., in July 2011. The conference consisted of 51 top high school students from each state and Washington, D.C. Reed also was selected to participate in the American Council on Education National Leadership Forum in Washington, D.C., in December 2011. Female higher education administrators from around the United States participated in sessions focused on developing and enhancing leadership skills, such as crisis management, media relations and strategic planning. n Steve Urbanski Director of Graduate Studies and Assistant Professor Dr. Steve Urbanski presented a paper entitled “Walter Lippmann’s Ethical Challenge to the Individual” at the AEJMC convention in St. Louis, Mo., in August 2011. Another paper, “The Identity Game: Michel Foucault’s Discourse-Media Identity as an Effective Tool for Achieving a Narrative-Based Ethics,” was published in December 2011 by the peer-reviewed Open Ethics Journal, Volume 3.

FACULTY BRIEFS & ADDITIONS Faculty & Staff Additions n Hongmin Ahn

n Jim Ebel

n Tom Stewart

Dr. Hongmin Ahn joined the School of Journalism in fall 2011 as an assistant professor in the advertising program. She received her Ph.D. and master’s degree in advertising from the University of Texas at Austin.

While there, she was awarded the Tracy-Locke/Morris Hite Endowed Presidential Award. She received her bachelor’s degree in mass communication from Chung-Ang University in Seoul, Korea. Ahn’s primary area of research focuses on brand management, advertising appeals and cross-cultural media psychology. Her research articles have been published in the Journal of Brand Management, Journal of Financial Services Marketing and International Journal of e-Business Management.

She also has presented her research at numerous conferences, including AEJMC, International Communication Association and American Academy of Advertising. Before pursuing her graduate degrees, Ahn worked at advertising agencies, planning and conducting campaigns for international and local companies in Korea, including Roche, SK Telecom and Hyundai Motors.

Jim Ebel joined the School of Journalism in fall 2011 as the Harrison/Omnicom Visiting Professor in Integrated Marketing Communications and teaches undergraduate and graduate courses in advertising, healthcare marketing and entrepreneurship. Ebel also advises the MartinHall Agency, a student-led integrated marketing agency.

Ebel served most recently as chief marketing officer for The University of Mississippi and also as an executivein-residence at the College of Business at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, teaching capstone and undergraduate courses in entrepreneurship. Ebel has had successful careers as an entrepreneur and as a corporate marketer for such companies as Kimberly-Clark and Bristol-Myers Squibb. He is a nationally recognized expert on brand positioning through his consultancy CenterBrain® Partners, having developed positioning and strategy for clients including Kimberly-Clark, Abbot Labs, YUM Brands and nearly 70 other Fortune 500 companies.

He earned his M.B.A. from Indiana University and his bachelor’s in accounting from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga.

Tom Stewart joined the School of Journalism in fall 2011 as a teaching assistant professor in the journalism program. He teaches public affairs reporting and the new combined law and ethics course. After receiving his bachelor’s degree in journalism from Pennsylvania State University in 1975, Stewart worked part-time at the Tribune-Review in Greensburg, Pa. He moved on to become a general-assignment reporter and two years later was promoted to Sunday features editor. Stewart later served as news editor, Sunday editor and then editor of the newspaper.

Stewart retired from the newspaper in 2005 to begin a second career in education. He earned his master’s degree in journalism at WVU in 2006 and is currently enrolled in the English Composition doctoral program at Indiana University of Pennsylvania. Stewart’s dissertation focuses on the late Donald M. Murray, a former journalist who went on to become a noted writing teacher and theorist.

n Emily Corio

n Elizabeth Oppe

Emily Hughes Corio joined the School of Journalism as a teaching assistant professor in the journalism program in fall 2011 and teaches courses in broadcast and multimedia reporting. Before joining the School’s faculty, Corio served as assistant news director for West Virginia Public Broadcasting. In 2008, she was awarded a Knight Center for Environmental Journalism Fellowship and traveled to Alaska to study the impacts of climate change. Her radio reporting and stories have aired on National Public Radio’s “All Things Considered” and “Morning Edition,” WNYC’s and Public Radio International’s “The Takeaway,” and the CBC. Corio began her career at Allegheny Mountain Radio, a community radio station in Pocahontas County, W.Va., as the news and public affairs director. Corio earned her bachelor’s degree in 2001 from the Broadcasting and Cinema Department at the University of North Carolina in Greensboro and her master’s in journalism from WVU in 2009.

Dr. Elizabeth Oppe joined the School of Journalism’s faculty in fall 2011 as a teaching assistant professor in the public relations program. Prior to coming to WVU, Oppe held faculty positions at Florida State College at Jacksonville, Glenville State College, University of Charleston, West Virginia State University and West Virginia Wesleyan. She has taught courses in business, public relations and communications, as well as graduate courses in change and innovation. Oppe also worked as a sideline reporter for CBS College Sports.

She earned her Ph.D. in instructional and organizational communication from Ohio University, with her research focused on service learning. Oppe is continuing this focus on community service by engaging her students in projects with the WVU Center for Civic Engagement. Oppe received her bachelor’s degree from Glenville State College and her master’s degree in business administration from WVU.

n Oliver Street III Oliver Street III joined the School of Journalism in November 2011 as the Assistant Dean for Student Services. In this role, Street leads an administrative team responsible for student recruitment, retention and undergraduate advising. Before joining the School, Street served as the director of the Honors College at Stony Brook University. During his tenure, the Honors College rose to national prominence as one of the most selective colleges in the country.

Street also instituted curricular reforms that imbued both academic rigor and innovation into honors coursework.

Prior to Stony Brook, he served in multiple capacities at Georgetown and Yale universities, in the offices of Undergraduate Admissions and the Undergraduate Dean of the McDonough School of Business. Street earned his bachelor’s degree in international affairs from Georgetown University and his master’s degree in liberal studies from Stony Brook University.

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Class Notes 1940s Maj. John W. Boggess (BSJ, 1948) celebrated his 88th birthday on Sept. 11, 2011, in Winter Park, Fla. Boggess is a veteran of World War II and the Korean War. He served as a news editor to The United States Information Agency in Washington, D.C., until his retirement in 1975.

1970s

Jennifer Starsick (BSJ, 1983) is a classified inside sales manager at Charleston Newspapers in Charleston, W.Va.

Joel Danoy (BSJ, 2009) is an editor and reporter for Tracy Press, a family-owned newspaper in Tracy, Calif.

Jon Swerens (BSJ, 1988) is the director of communications for the Greater Fort Wayne, Ind., Chamber of Commerce.

Karen Snyder Duke (BSJ, 2009) is an editorial assistant at Parents Magazine in New York, N.Y.

1990s

Joseph Cerenzia (BSJ, 1977) is selfemployed with Alpha/Omega Communications in Canonsburg, Pa.

Stacy Moffa Deel (BSJ, 1998) was promoted to director of account operations at The Arnold Agency in Charleston, W.Va.

Darrell Cochran (BSJ, 1976) received the United States Department of State’s Meritorious Honor Award for his assistance to the U.S. Embassy in Cairo in maintaining the embassy website during the political unrest in January and February 2011.

Brandt James (BSJ, 1991) is a contributing writer for Sports Illustrated (SI.com) and ESPNW.com, a female-targeted sports website.

Paul Marks (BSJ, 1975) left the aviation beat at The Hartford Courant in Hartford, Conn., after 30 years in the newspaper journalism industry and is enjoying a new career in corporate communications as a speechwriter.

David Shaw (BSJ, 1979) is a sportswriter and columnist at The Salisbury Post in Salisbury, N.C.

1980s Ann Reynolds Carden (BSJ, 1980) is an associate professor of communication at SUNY Fredonia in Fredonia, N.Y. Joseph Kacik (BSJ, 1989) is a sports layout and copy editor at the Virginian-Pilot based in Norfolk, Va. Marianne McMullen (BSJ, 1982) was appointed by the Obama Administration to direct public affairs for the secondlargest division of the United States Department of Health and Human Services in Washington, D.C.

Marianne McMullen

Paul Espinosa, Jr. (BSJ, 2011) is a news reporter and anchor for WHAG-TV25 in Hagerstown, Md.

2000s

Stacy Moffa Deel

Brandt James

Megan Baker (BSJ, 2008) graduated from the WVU College of Law in May 2011. She successfully took the bar examination in July and was admitted to the State Bar of West Virginia in October 2011. She and James Kolodziej (BSJ, 2008) will be married in Morgantown on October 21, 2012.

Samantha Bialek (BSJ, 2009) is a graphics coordinator at WebbMason in Baltimore, Md. Kristen Bost (BSJ, 2002) is a teacher in the Fox Chapel Area School District in Pittsburgh, Pa. Elizabeth Brandt (BSJ, 2008) is a press officer at the U.S. Department of State in Washington, D.C.

Tracey Gould (IMC, 2010) is the director of marketing at Baskervill Architecture, Inc., and publicity director and communications chair for the Society of American Military Engineers (SAME) in Central Virginia.

Gould was recognized by SAME as the 2011 Individual Member for Outstanding Leadership.

Benjamin Hancock (BSJ, 2011) is a graduate student at Columbia University in New York, N.Y. M. Jeanine Herron (BSJ, 2002) is a registered PCA at Janney Montgomery Scott in Pittsburgh, Pa.

Benjamin Hancock

Stephanie Horst (BSJ, 2004) is a news and social media specialist at Neumann University.

Dan Bullock (BSJ, 2005) is an account executive at Quinn & Co. in New York, N.Y.

Jonah Jabbour (BSJ, 2003) is the senior remote videographer for the Christian Broadcasting Network in Virginia Beach, Va.

Heath Combs (BSJ, 2003) serves as a staff reporter for Furniture Today in Greensboro, N.C.

Ricky Jones (BSJ, 2004) is the lead generation manager at Dominion Enterprises in Norfolk, Va.

Amy Shuler-Goodwin (BSJ, 1994) was named the director of communications for West Virginia Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin in February 2012. Shuler most recently worked with The Goodwin Group, an executive search firm, and in the communications department under former Gov. Bob Wise. During her 17-year career, Goodwin has served as an anchor and reporter for WCHS-TV in Charleston, W.Va., and WTRF-TV in Wheeling, W.Va., as well as state director of communications for presidential candidate John Kerry in the 2004 election.

R ESOURCES

Paul Espinosa, Jr.

Nicole Fernandes (MSJ, 2010; BSJ, 2008) is a program coordinator at the American Society of Clinical Oncology in Alexandria, Va.

SOJ ALUMNA APPOINTED NEW DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS FOR GOV. TOMBLIN

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Laura Fahnerr (BSJ, 2011) is a marketing assistant at The Waterfont Place Hotel in Morgantown, W.Va.

Laura Layva (BSJ, 2003) is an advertising account executive at The Dominion Post in Morgantown, W.Va. Heidi Martella (MSJ-IMC, 2009) is the communication director at the Washington Conference of Seventh-Day Adventists in Federal Way, Wash.

Majorie Miller (BSJ, 2008) is a staff writer for the Centre County Gazette in State College, Pa.

Class Notes Bailee Morris (BSJ, 2010) is working as a project administrator at the NASA IV&V Facility in Fairmont, W.Va. Chase Ofori-Atta (MSJ-IMC, 2012) is the lead docketing consultant at COA Consulting, LLC in Manassas, Va.

ROSSI HONORED FOR COVERAGE OF YOUTH SPORTS

Armand Patella (BSJ, 2011) is an account manager at GoldRun in New York, N.Y. Noelle Pina (MSJ-IMC, 2008) is an employer specialist at the New Bedford Area Chamber of Commerce in New Bedford, Mass. Pina was married in October 2010 and holds a teaching position at Bristol Community College.

Armand Patella

In September 2011, sports enterprise writer for Pittsburgh’s Tribune Review Rob Rossi (BSJ, 2000) was honored by the John Curley Center for Sports Journalism at Pennsylvania State University as the winner of the Award for Excellence in Coverage of Youth Sports for his coverage of concussions among high school athletes. Rossi’s examination, “Brain Waves,” took an in-depth look at high school athletes who suffered from concussions and implemented prevention plans to protect these young athletes.

The publication prompted the Pennsylvania state legislature to take action against the issue. Just months after Rossi’s article was published, Gov. Tom Corbett signed a bill requiring any young athlete who suffered from a concussion to obtain doctor’s approval before returning to the team and engaging in any strenuous physical activity.

Heather Richardson

Elizabeth Reinhardt (MSJ-IMC, 2011) is marketing director for Gold, Khourey and Turak, L.C., law firm in Moundsville, W.Va. Heather Richardson (BSJ, 2004) is a senior consultant for Ann Green Communications in Charleston, W.Va. Marli Riggs (BSJ, 2009) is an associate editor at Employee Benefit Adviser magazine in Arlington, Va.

Marli Riggs

Kristin Snyder (MS-IMC, 2011) is senior marketing manager for North America Outdoor Products at Techtronic Industries Co. Ltd. in Anderson, S.C. In November 2011, Snyder completed the Ironman Florida triathlon.

Kim Vitale (BSJ, 2005) is an associate media director at CBS Films in Los Angeles, Calif.

Laura Watson (BSJ, 2007) is an associate producer at CBS in New York, N.Y. Stephanie Stroud

Matthew Umstead (MSJ, 2000) is a bureau reporter at The Herald-Mail in Hagerstown, Md.

Bethany Williams (BSJ, 2010) is a media planner and buyer at TBC, Inc. in Baltimore, Md. Ranae Winemiller (BSJ, 2005) is the director of marketing at In Step Dance and Fitness in Clarksburg, W.Va.

Christopher Siekman

Christopher Siekman (MS-IMC, 2011) is a commanding officer in the U.S. Marine Corps.

Melanie (Lofton) Smith (BSJ, 2003) is the main anchor at WHSV-TV in Harrisonburg, Va. She welcomed her second child in June 2011.

Stephanie Stroud (MS-IMC, 2011; BSJ, 2005) is a sales coordinator for SAE International in Pittsburgh, Pa. Stroud graduated from the School’s Integrated Marketing Communications master’s degree program in December 2011.

HUFFMAN CO-EDITS ANTHOLOGY PUBLISHED BY THE MARINE CORPS UNIVERSITY PRESS

Melanie Smith

Kristin Snyder

Former USA Today deputy managing director J. Ford Huffman (BSJ, 1972) co-edited an anthology based on the impact of the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” (DADT) repeal with Dr. Tammy S. Schultz, director of national security and joint warfare department.

The anthology, The End of Don’t Ask Don’t Tell, is comprised of 27 personal essays and scholarly studies and depicts personal hardships, suffering and honesty surrounding DADT from both straight and gay active-duty service members and veterans. It was published in 2012 by the Marine Corps University Press. Reviews of the book appeared in the Military Times, USA Today and the San Francisco Chronicle. Huffman served as the deputy managing editor of design for USA Today, recommending the art and design aspects of Page One until 2007, when he left to pursue his own works as an editor, designer and artist at J. Ford Huffman & Associates.

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Class Notes Share your updates and contact information with the School of Journalism. Visit the website and click the “Stay Connected” icon to complete the online form.

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Transitions

In memory of…

The School of Journalism wishes to acknowledge our alumni who have passed away during the year.

BARBARA CROOKSHANKS (BSJ, 1950) was an honored editor and historian admired for her devotion to the city of Fredericksburg, Va. Following graduation from WVU, Crookshanks began her career in Morgantown, W.Va., as an editor at the West Virginia Farm News. Shortly after, she transferred to The Charleston Gazette. Crookshanks later served as an assistant under the makeup editor of The Ladies Home Journal in Philadelphia, Pa. In 1956, she relocated to Fredericksburg where she wrote for several publications, including The Fredericksburg Times magazine. Crookshanks passed away at age 82 in Mary Washington Hospital on Sept. 3, 2011.

DON BONAZZO (BSJ, 1969) BARBARA D. FRESON (BSJR, 1964) GLORIA D. HOPKINS (BSJ, 1972) ROBERT K. KISSLER (BSJ, 1970) RUTH L. MARLOW (BSJR, 1974) DONALD P. MURDOCK (BSJ, 1959) ROBERT N. PROVENCE (BSJR, 1942) EDWIN N. PRUGH (BSJR, 1992) RAYMOND N. SEHON (BSJ, 1950) JOHN F. SKINNER (BSJ, 1951) TRISTAN V. WILLIAMS (BSJR, 1947)

CAROLYN MCCUNE (MSJ, 1974) was most noted for her devotion to education. McCune taught English, journalism and yearbook at Parkersburg High School for more than 30 years. She also spent two years teaching at Hamilton Junior High. In addition to her teaching responsibilities, McCune managed Parkersburg High School’s newspaper, The Journal. Under McCune’s direction, The Journal and the yearbook, The Parhischan, received numerous national awards. McCune passed away on Sept. 6, 2011. She was 65 years old.

LORAY ROBINSON (BSJ, 1981) was a renowned midday radio personality in Morgantown and Clarksburg, W.Va., for more than 30 years. She began her career in broadcast as a news intern with WAJR. Robinson, known to radio listeners as “Midday Loray,” was hired by WVAQ when the station first went on the air in 1981. She later worked at WWLW, Magic 106.5, in Clarksburg.

Robinson passed away in her home on Feb. 7, 2012, at age 53.

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R ESOURCES

WVU IMC PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITY

AFTER YOU HAVE YOUR DEGREE Continue your professional development with the WVU Integrated Marketing Communications (IMC) Program To meet the needs of professionals in today’s dynamic communications industry, the WVU IMC graduate program will offer a 15-week online professional development series in Social Media and Marketing this fall. The courses are open to IMC and School of Journalism graduates and faculty, as well as industry professionals.

SOCIAL MEDIA SERIES COURSES • Emerging Trends in Digital Marketing Communications (Aug. 20 – Sept. 24) • The Importance of Web Analytics and Search Engine Marketing (Sept. 24 – Oct. 29) • Social Media Tools and Techniques (Oct. 29 – Dec. 3) *Courses can be taken together or separately.

PRICE

Take all three for $1,250 or $500 per course.

MORE INFORMATION OR TO REGISTER

imc.wvu.edu/curriculum/professional-development

Perley Isaac Reed SCHOOL OF JOURNALISM West Virginia University PO Box 6010 Morgantown, WV 26506-6010 (304) 293-3505 journalism.wvu.edu PIREED@mail.wvu.edu

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