Communication Studies Department
Volume 4
April 2017
THE MEDIUM A quarterly newsletter serving Wilkes University students, faculty, alumni, and friends
Communication Studies Department welcomes students to the 2017 Annual Tom Bigler Journalism Conference
ES
2016
By: Alyssa Mursch
His first book, “Black Flags: The Rise of ISIS,” awarded him his second Pulitzer Prize in 2016 for nonfiction. In addition to featuring Warrick, the conference includes two sessions of speakers and a high school journalism competition. In the speaker sessions, one group will speak specifically about their media-related professions while another will more directly address the conference theme. There is a misconception by some people that journalism is a dying profession. The media professionals
attending this conference are eager to challenge that idea and show potential future journalists that this is an exciting time to be engaged with the journalistic process. Technology has changed the face of journalism, and new journalists get to participate directly in that change. This conference seeks to ignite the passion and excitement in students to send them on their way to being well-rounded, educated journalists who understand and appreciate the important role that the media plays in society.
COMMUNICATION
Greetings! Welcome to the 17th annual Tom Bigler Journalism Conference. The goal of this conference is to inform high school and college students of the day-today responsibilities that comprise mediarelated careers. Speakers from careers in print and online journalism, broadcasting, public relations, and radio production attend the conference to educate students about their careers. The conference is held in honor of former Wilkes University professor and pioneer in local journalism, Tom Bigler. The theme of this year’s conference is The Changing Face of Journalism. This In the early morning hours of Nov. 9, Republican nominee Donald J. Trump was named the 45th President of the United States of America. According to unofficial results from the Luzerne County Bureau of Elections 38.55 percent of voters select topic is especially relevant in modern menominee Hillary Clinton and Tim Kaine while 57.95 percent of the vote went to Trump and Mike Pence. According to CNN, Trump received 290 electoral votes with Clinton receiving 232. With the nation in shock over the Republican nominees vic the media as most polls had Clinton ahead, the Trump win has left some in despair while others are optimistic for the future. “I saw my country die. I watched as we gave into the hate and division,” said Wilkes sophomore secondary education and dia, as journalists are often expectedClinton to campaign be volunteer Ian Valles. “I am thoroughly disgusted with America. We have elected a demagogue, who treats women, racial and ethnic minorities, Muslims, Jews, the LGBTQ Community, with sheer disdain and ambivalence. “The U America that promised equal rights and protections is gone, and I no longer consider myself to be a willing American citizen. I am merely a human being, trapped in the United States.” During her concession speech on Wednesday, Clinton called fo give the president-elect a chance and to continue to support American democracy. “Donald Trump is going to be our president. We owe him an open mind and the chance to lead. Our constitutional democracy enshrines the peaceful transfer of pow versatile in their skills and able to utilize “We don’t just respect that. We cherish it.” Emma Leach, a senior political science major who is currently an intern in Washington, D.C. at the Republican Attorneys General Association explained that as a female conservative, she was not expecti but is hopeful for the future. “I was sitting in a republican war room, less than five minutes from the White House, I saw the crowds of people,” Leach said. “I was surrounded by people who have dedicated their entire careers to GOP campaigns a multiple platforms in their storytelling. disbelief. My office planned for a Hillary victory. I planned for a Hillary victory. I didn’t think I would see a red electoral college for a long time. (The) experience last night was a privilege, seeing the fear, shock and to some pure joy is a memory I “Thursday I get on a plane to Texas to attend a meeting with the Republican Attorneys General whose careers will also change. As a female conservative my life will change from here on out. What happens to my carer is in the hands of President T This year’s keynote speaker is twothousands across the United States protesting the Republican win carrying signs with slogans of “Not My President”, “Nasty Women Fight Back”and yelling chants of “Impeach Donald Trump” at the entrance of the Trump International Hotel ac Today, the future of Trump’s presidency remains unclear to some. Wilkes University professor of political science Thomas Baldino explained that the future of the Republican presidency will rest in his style of governance. “The next four years will time Pulitzer Prize winning author and President-elect Trump depending upon how he decides to govern,” Baldino said. “If he decides to defer to the Republican congressional leadership (Ryan and McConnell), then the laws passed by Congress and signed by Trump will not appeal to T Things like new trade agreements, privatizing social security, means-testing Medicare, and immigration reform that doesn’t keep out all immigrants will hurt working class voters. If Trump decides to push his populist agenda in Congress, the Rep Washington Post journalist, Joby Warrick. will block it.” “Four more years of gridlock are a distinct possibility and four years of gridlock will not please Trump’s voters,” adding, “Of course, many other voters will also be unhappy with four more years of gridlock.”In the early morning ho Republican nominee Donald J. Trump was named the 45th President of the United States of America. According to unofficial results from the Luzerne County Bureau of Elections 38.55 percent of voters selected Democratic nominee Hillary Clinto Joining the Post in 1996, Warrick covered while 57.95 percent of the vote went to Trump and Mike Pence. According to CNN, Trump received 290 electoral votes with Clinton receiving 232. With the nation in shock over the Republican nominees victory, uncharted by the media as most pol ahead, the Trump win has left some in despair while others are optimistic for the future. “I saw my country die. I watched as we gave into the hate and division,” said Wilkes sophomore secondary education and history major and Clinton campaig national security, the environment, and Valles. “Ithe am thoroughly disgusted with America. We have elected a demagogue, who treats women, racial and ethnic minorities, Muslims, Jews, the LGBTQ Community, with sheer disdain and ambivalence. “The United States of America that pro and protections is gone, and I no longer consider myself to be a willing American citizen. I am merely a human being, trapped in the United States.” During her concession speech on Wednesday, Clinton called for her supporters to give the presiden Middle East. He currently covers topics and to continue to support American democracy. “Donald Trump is going to be our president. We owe him an open mind and the chance to lead. Our constitutional democracy enshrines the peaceful transfer of power,” Clinton said. “We don’t just cherish it.” Emma Leach, a senior political science major who is currently an intern in Washington, D.C. at the Republican Attorneys General Association explained that as a female conservative, she was not expecting the Trump win but is hopeful sitting in a republican war room, less than five minutes from the White House, I saw the crowds of people,” Leach said. “I was surrounded by people who have dedicated their entire careers to GOP campaigns and they too were in disbelief. My related to terrorism. He received hiswasfirst a Hillary victory. I planned for a Hillary victory. I didn’t think I would see a red electoral college for a long time. (The) experience last night was a privilege, seeing the fear, shock and to some pure joy is a memory I will never forget. “Thursday I g Texastwo to attend a meeting with the Republican Attorneys General whose careers will also change. As a female conservative my life will change from here on out. What happens to my carer is in the hands of President Trump.” With thousands acros Pulitzer Prize in 1996, sharing it with protesting the Republican win carrying signs with slogans of “Not My President”, “Nasty Women Fight Back”and yelling chants of “Impeach Donald Trump” at the entrance of the Trump International Hotel according to USA Today, the future o Graphic Gabby presidency remains unclear to some. Wilkes University professor of political science Thomas Baldino explained that the future of the Republican presidency will rest in his style by of governance. “The nextGlinski four years will be challenging for Presidentcolleagues, in Public Service. depending upon how he decides to govern,” Baldino said. “If he decides to defer to the Republican congressional leadership (Ryan and McConnell), then the laws passed by Congress and signed by Trump will not appeal to Trump’s voters. Things
SITY
STUDIES DEPARTMENT
The Changing FACE OF BIGLER JOURNALISM CONFERENCE 2017
90.7 WCLH celebrated 45 years of broadcasting in February By: Kimberly Hein
agreements, privatizing social security, means-testing Medicare, and immigration reform that doesn’t keep out all immigrants will hurt working class voters. If Trump decides to push his populist agenda in Congress, the Republican leadership wil more years of gridlock are a distinct possibility and four years of gridlock will not please Trump’s voters,” adding, “Of course, many other voters will also be unhappy with four more years of gridlock.”In the early morning hours of Nov. 9, Republ Donald J. Trump was named the 45th President of the United States of America. According to unofficial results from the Luzerne County Bureau of Elections 38.55 percent of voters selected Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton and Tim Kaine whi the vote went to Trump and Mike Pence. According to CNN, Trump received 290 electoral votes with Clinton receiving 232. With the nation in shock over the Republican nominees victory, uncharted by the media as most polls had Clinton ahead, t left some in despair while others are optimistic for the future. “I saw my country die. I watched as we gave into the hate and division,” said Wilkes sophomore secondary education and history major and Clinton campaign volunteer Ian Valles. “I a disgusted with America. We have elected a demagogue, who treats women, racial and ethnic minorities, Muslims, Jews, the LGBTQ Community, with sheer disdain and ambivalence. “The United States of America that promised equal rights and p and I no longer consider myself to be a willing American citizen. I am merely a human being, trapped in the United States.” During her concession speech on Wednesday, Clinton called for her supporters to give the president-elect a chance and to
The campus radio station, WCLH, turned 45 on Feb. 6. In order to celebrate, the station held a birthday party that alumni and current staff attended. “I’m here today, 35 years later, and it feels like we never left,” Honorable Fred Pierantoni, current Judge with the Luzerne County Court of Common Pleas, said. The executive staff worked diligently to pre-produce a five-hour show that was Page 1
aired on Saturday. The show featured the past four decades that WCLH has been broadcasting along with alumni interviews and archived audio and music. Each staff member was in the show highlighting a different decade. As an Environmental Engineering student, Cody Colarusso said the radio gives him a place to break the constant school work cycle. “As a member of the e-staff, I have grown closer with students that I wouldn’t
have met if it weren’t for radio since they’re not in my major,” Colarusso said. Some alumni who attended the anniversary showed up with the friends they met through WCLH. Tom McGuire, current Director of Sports Information/Athletic Marketing and Promotions at Bloomsburg University said, “My best man DJ’d with me at the station, and if it wasn’t for the radio, I wouldn’t have met him.”
Continued on page 2
Communication Studies Department
WCLH celebration Cont. Continued from page 1 “And I DJ’d that wedding,” Rockin’ Rich (Rich Nordeim) said as he rounded the corner to join the conversation. WCLH has been providing the Wyoming Valley and surrounding areas with student produced programming since 1971. The station offers a variety of music genres including metal, alternative, and hip-hop music, as well as specialty programming and sports coverage. Over the last four decades, WCLH has achieved some great accomplishments. A few years ago, the staff launched a new program, Receso Comunitario. This program is produced entirely in Spanish and can be heard across the globe through online streaming. Like most college radio stations, WCLH is completely studentrun.
Years ago, the station received an award of excellence in broadcast journalism from 1978-1980, as well as in 1985 by the Professional News Media Association of Northeastern Pennsylvania. Aside from that, in 1984, the Professional News Media Association awarded Wilkes with the Kewson Scholastic Journalism Award. WCLH has also been named the Best College Radio Station by entertainment weeklies The Weekender, Diamond City and Electric City. WCLH has been ranked as one of the Top 50 College Radio Stations in the country (bestcolleges.com), as well. The alumni who attended the celebration were happy to see that the awards they got during their time at the station were still hanging with pride in the radio studio. “It’s awesome to see that the award we
Current staff and alumni of WCLH celebrate 45 years of broadcasting with a cake.
April 2017
“I’m here today, 35 years later, and it feels like we never left.” -Honorable Fred Pierantoni got for all of our hard work is still being showcased here,” said McGuire when looking at the awards on the wall. Aside from the awards, they were shocked to see how different the station is today compared to what it looked like when they were here. Some even remember setting up the station right before the Great Flood. Since WCLH will be moving into the new Media Center on Main Street, it was nice that alumni had the opportunity to see the station how they remembered it right before it moves in the fall of 2017. “One the biggest highlights for WCLH has been the ability to keep our equipment and software current to reflect what’s being used at commercial radio stations,” Kristen Rock, station manager said. “From vinyl to cart machines to compact discs and MP3’s, WCLH has been able to provide students with quality handson training while giving listeners great programming.” Rock said that she hopes people tuned in for the broadcast because it’s an amazing opportunity “to hear where we’ve come from, where we are now and where we plan to be in the future.”
Dr. Briceño presents research at ECA convention
The panel, included, in addition to Dr. Briceño, rhetorical scholars from Purdue University, Mount St. Mary’s University and Miami University, and was centered on the theme of Freedom from Prejudice and Discrimination: Muslims in America. “With foreign policy and immigration being amplified by the current Administration, it is important that we study the political discourse surrounding these issues,” said Dr. Briceño. She is also planning to submit her ECA paper for publication.
By: Dr. Jane Elmes-Crahall Dr. Mia Briceño, assistant professor of Communication Studies, recently presented a research paper at the Eastern Communication Association’s annual convention held in Boston, Massachusetts from March 31-April 2. Dr. Briceño’s paper, titled “Hellooo, We’re Persian!: Muslim Identity and Assimilation in Bravo’s Shahs of Sunset,” was part of a panel sponsored by the Voices of Diversity Caucus of ECA. Dr. Mia Briceño Page 2
Communication Studies Department
April 2017
Q & A with 2017 TBJC Keynoter Joby Warrick By: Sarah Bedford Washington Post reporter and twotime Pulitzer Prize winning author, Joby Warrick will serve as the Keynote Speaker at the 17th Annual Tom Bigler Journalism Conference. Warrick joined the Post in 1996 covering issues such as national security, the environment, and the Middle East and currently covers topics related to terrorism. His first book, “Black Flags: The Rise of ISIS” was awarded a 2016 Pulitzer Prize for nonfiction. He received his other Pulitzer prize in 1996, sharing it with two colleagues, in Public Service. Before bringing Warrick to campus, he participated in a phone interview and Q & A. Q: What made you decide to go into journalism? A:“”The short answer-- I was bad at math. That’s really partly true because I had thought about being a doctor originally and then ran into algebra two and decided that wasn’t going to happen. So, that was one reason.The other was that I was involved in our student paper, and we had a very aggressive, very ambitious high school paper at our school which isn’t too far from you in Lancaster, Pa. and we just had tons of fun not just with the writing but holding the administration at the school to account and we thought of ourselves as Watergate crusaders. By the time I was out of high school I decided this was right for me… I enjoyed writing and I enjoyed the investigative aspect of it. I wanted to be a foreign correspondent eventually and so I knew from about 17 that I wanted to be a journalist.” Q:What do you think is/will be the biggest hurdle journalists will face in the digital age of reporting? A:“I think because there are so many voices out there right now, that it’s harder to be relevant and harder to be credible in this atmosphere that is so highly competitive and filled with, frankly, a lot of noise. We have to make ourselves heard and that’s the first challenge. That means being able to compete, being the first with a story, and being creative in how you approach a subject so your work is compelling. But also the credibility is a big thing because there are so many
Photo Courtesy: Joby Warrick sources of information that are not anything close to being close to accurate or fair and balanced or whatever terms you want to use. There is real fake news out there. So, maintaining your credibility is as essential as anything else because the way we’ll continue to survive is by being credible sources of information that people can come to week after week.” Q:In what ways has the field changed since you began your career? A: “The economic model for this industry is in trouble and we all know that and we all talk about it. Its mostly because we used to have advertisers who would pay a lot of money to put their ads in our newspaper pages or on TV and people would buy classified ads or pay for newspaper subscriptions but now people are so used to getting everything for free that they don’t want to pay for anything. And people don’t want to pay for advertisements anymore because they could just put stuff on Craigslist. So the change is our economic model is in trouble but that’s not to say it’s hopeless because we’re finding new ways to deliver our information to readers but it’s different environment completely. But the upside to that is that there are many more
ways to practice journalism so instead of having just one newspaper in your town and a couple of news stations with news shows, there are an infinite number of opportunities to express yourself through blogs, online magazines so the variety in endless which is a good thing right now.” Q:If someone told you when you were in college that you would work at the Washington Post and have two Pulitzer prizes, would you believe them? A: “Well, on the details absolutely not, I don’t think I would have, especially the Pulitzer prize, especially two, I would not believed it. But on the other hand, i think I was convinced even back then that I was going to succeed somehow. I didn’t know what it was going to look like but maybe I would get to work overseas as a correspondent and I got to do that in my later 20s but we just never know where this field is going to take you. But I knew that somehow it was going to happen. And I’ve been lucky and blessed to have a lot of good fortune. But I was relentless. Ever since I was 17, 18 at a student newspaper, I just really felt like I was going to be committed to this to make it happen and it worked out.” Page 3
Communication Studies Department
April 2017
Dr. Christine Mellon of Communication Studies elected President of the Pennsylvania Forensics Association By: Jennifer Flynn
Dr. Christine Mellon has been a faculty of practice member of the Communication Studies Department, the Director of Forensics, and the Speech and Debate coach at Wilkes University for the past nine years. “When they were hiring me it just so happened that they also needed a Speech and Debate coach,” said Dr. Mellon. “Since I had experience being on a speech and debate team during my time at the University of Scranton, it was a perfect fit.” On February 19, Dr. Mellon was elected the president of the Pennsylvania Forensics Association (PFA). The PFA is a state branch of the larger American Forensics Association (AFA). This association hosts tournaments and competitions for all colleges and universities. As schools from each state compete, the results are compiled into the school’s regional and national score. The PFA is a great organization that is geared towards awarding those involved with speech and debate for their hard work and success. Dr. Mellon, although having already received the presidency with the PFA, will fully take on her position for the 2018 tournament year. She will be responsible for attending all meetings from both AFA and PFA, as well as aiding in the organization of state tournaments, which will be held in February 2018. In addition, she will also be involved in the statewide recruitment process of teams attending the tournaments. Dr. Mellon attributes many of the skills she has learned to speech and debate. Some of these skills include critical thinking, being able to look at both sides of an argument, how to speak persuasively, and how to work with others. She claims skills as such can’t truly be taught in a classroom, but instead must be acquired through experiential learning and in a hands-on setting such as a speech and debate team. “Speech and debate has been an influential component of my education and career,” said Mellon. “It is a great
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Pictured from left to right: Rebecca Keller, Jerome Hannon, Olivia Fakhoury tool for anyone interested in the field of communication.” Recently, Wilkes University’s Speech and Debate team participated in a tournament, organized by PFA, at West Chester University in West Chester, Pennsylvania. Eight schools from the state attended, totaling at approximately 70 competing college students in various speaking styles. Jerome Hannon, Olivia Fakhoury, and Rebecca Keller, of Wilkes University, attended the tournament. Keller and Fakhoury finished fourth in the Pennsylvania Championship for Duo Interpretation for a piece entitled, “Napkins,” by Erin Blackwell. Fakhoury’s interest in speech and debate grew from her friends’ involvement at a different university. Once she saw Wilkes had a team, she joined and never looked back. “I could not be happier with the decision to join,” Fakhoury said. “The impacts of speech and debate made me a more intelligent individual in regards to
current events and I have become a more confident individual when it comes to public speaking.” Fakhoury credits much of what she has accomplished on the speech and debate team, along with her personal and professional development to Dr. Mellon. “She really is one of the most amazing professors I have worked with here at Wilkes,” said Fakhoury.
Dr. Christine Mellon
Communication Studies Department
April 2017
Taylor thinks that he has, “captured an important part of history and generations later, people who do not know these athletes will see my footage and learn about who they were.” Taylor became interested in sports cinematography for various reasons. The first reason goes back to when he played football in high school. After the season, someone would always put together a highlight tape together and he always found it very exciting to watch for him. He imagined himself making video like that. Another reason was his father, who was a sports photographer. He also used to watch a 1986 NFL Film called Giants Among Men, which he watched over and over again because he enjoyed it so much. Taylor recently returned to northeastern PA to create an NFL Film at a local area high school. He is featuring a deaf runningback who is the star of the high school’s football team. He shot with him as well as his family. Since the player cannot hear the plays, he looks to the sideline before every play and a female coach sends the play to him in sign language.
The female coach is also a teacher at the school. On his recent visit to Wilkes, Taylor discussed how technology is changing is sports cinematography. “Technology is changing this industry very quickly for the good and for the bad. It is hard to stay updated, to have the expensive cameras and the latest and greatest computers. This is a problem because people are paying less for cable then every before, or people cord-cutting and not paying for cable. The production cost slowly climbs while the funding is being cut off,” Taylor said. The field of sports cinematography is an industry that is having trouble adapting to the advancements in technology. For all of the students who are going to enter this field, Taylor wants them to know that production costs can be expensive. Although production may be expensive, people are finding ways to promote less expensive, self-funded productions through outlets like YouTube, Netflix, Hulu and etc. It is as important to study the changes in technology as it is to constantly upgrade your equipment.
Alumni Update: Will Taylor ‘00 discusses shift of technology in field of sports broadcasting By: Danny Van Brunt Will Taylor, ‘00, is from Riverdale, NJ. He came to Wilkes University because he was interested in both the communication studies program, as well as for the wrestling team. Taylor was particularly interested in television broadcasting. At Wilkes, he joined the “Wilkes Today” television program in the second semester of his first year. In the following years, he created a 30-minute sportscast that broadcast live on the Wilkes channel. He also created a number of documentaries including one of the fire department of Wilkes-Barre and one of the football team’s ECAC championship games, as well as followed a Final Four basketball team and followed a wrestler who was contending for a national title. “My best experience at Wilkes was doing those documentary projects. I enjoyed having all of the equipment handy and having supportive teachers like Carl Brigido and Jane Elmes-Crahall. The extra work I did outside of the classroom really set the bar higher and made me become successful,” Taylor said. After he graduated from Wilkes, Taylor started an internship at the NBA. He was hired as a production assistant and after the internship was hired and worked for them for six years. Later he found an opportunity to work with the NY Giants and that opportunity led him to meeting both ESPN and CBS. He continues to freelance for these companies and has started his own company called Venom Media. He now makes documentaries for NFL Films. Shooting sports features is rewarding to him because he has worked with some of the greatest professional athletes and has shot them playing in some of the biggest games. He shot Super Bowls, NBA Finals, NCAA basketball games and the World Series. He also shot various games with Lebron James, Michael Jordan and shot Tom Brady’s 400th touchdown pass.
Photo Courtesy: Will Taylor Page 5
Communication Studies Department
April 2017
Carl Brigido, behind-the-scenes hero, retires after 35 years of service to Dept. of Communication Studies By: Rachel Leandri When walking along the campus greenway, stumble into the Stark Learning Center and wander down into the lower level. You may find engineering classrooms, the nursing simulation center or, if you journey far enough, the Thomas P. Shelburne Television Center. Upon entering the double doors, students are immersed into 8,000 sq. feet completed with three television production studios, three editing suites, one audio recording suite, one master control center for programs, and cable operations. It’s also likely that one will come across the mastermind who operates it all, Mr. Carl Brigido, affectionately known by most as Carl. Director/Chief Engineer of the Shelburne, Carl began his education at the National Radio Institute in Washington, D.C. in 1996. He received his First Class Radio Telephone License at the Radio Engineering Institute of Sarasota, Florida, followed by becoming a certified electrical technician in Chicago, Illinois. Carl furthered his education starting in New Jersey, then Pennsylvania and all the way to Texas before joining Wilkes in June of 1983. “The television component in terms of courses for the Department was in sad shape when I arrived,” Carl said. “It was located on the second floor of Stark with no studio, control room or editing facility.” Carl worked closely with Dr. Bradford Kinney to enhance the original TV studio. Carl would first inform Kinney what equipment was needed and how much it
“Be patient, kind, and helpful, and never stop searching for ways to improve the learning of television.” - Carl Brigido Page 6
would cost before Kinney would address the administration. In 1989, Carl became advisor to a new program called “Wilkes Today” that produced news broadcasts taped live at noon Mondays through Thursdays. Today, the show is titled “Wilkes Now” and thanks to Carl, has the potential to reach 33,000 homes. Moving from the original studio space to the new facility in the lower level was the biggest transformation of Carl’s career. However, buying and installing the new equipment was his favorite test of all. “It’s exciting to be capable of providing students with greater expertise so they could be successful in the field of television post-graduation,” Carl said. Looking back, Carl’s favorite memories come from his interactions with students. Danny Van Brunt, producer of Wilkes Now, will not only miss Carl’s efforts to maintain and manage the TV studio, but also his personality. “I’ve always enjoyed television, but working with Carl made it a blast,” Van Brunt said. “Within the past three years, Carl has become a mentor to me. He’s always been of assistance whether I needed help with video or a good laugh.” Throughout his final year at Wilkes, Carl has been focusing on the state of the art HD TV Center in the Karambelas
Carl Brigido Media Center, opening this fall. Both Dr. Stine, Chair of the Communication Studies Department, and Carl have collaborated with the architects determined to make the new home of communication studies “the finest facility for teaching.” According to Dr. Stine, working with Carl over the last 18 years has been a true pleasure. “It’s going to be very difficult to find someone who has the breadth of skills that he has, along with the great personality and ability Carl has to work with students,” Stine said. “As we look toward a replacement for Carl, I have to think Carl is not replaceable.” “Because of Dr. Stine, going to work was never something that I dreaded, but rather something I looked forward to,” Carl explained. “We always worked well with each other.” According to Carl, the most rewarding aspect of his career is knowing he played a small part in the success stories of former students who completed the program. After nearly 35 years dedicated to Wilkes, Carl’s advice for the individual that takes his place is simple. “Be patient, kind, and helpful, and never stop searching for ways to improve the learning of television.”
Communication Studies Department
April 2017
Eggs-traordinary! – Zebra Communications raises $2,462.00 for Children’s Miracle Network at spring event By: Annelise Przywara On Saturday, April 1, Zebra Communications hosted An Eggstraordinary Mission to benefit Children’s Miracle Network at Geisinger. The event was spring themed and promoted familyfun through activities such as, Bunny Hop sack races, a You Crack Me Up egg toss, and of course, the main event – an egg hunt. Due to the generosity of several inkind donors, children and families were admitted free of charge and were able to help themselves to pizza, cupcakes, snacks, and beverages upon their arrival. Children of all ages lined up for face painting, courtesy of Wilkes University Art Club, and danced around to some of their favorite songs, thanks to WCLH Radio Station and their volunteer DJs. The Spring Bunny even attended the event, hanging out with the children before storming the walkway together in search of candy-filled eggs. “I loved seeing how excited some of the kids got when the Spring Bunny arrived,” said Meghan Burns, Assistant Co-Manager, Children’s Miracle Network.
“I’m thrilled we were able to put together an event that allowed children to interact and have fun together.” Prior to the event, more than 800 plastic eggs were filled with candy and toys. The morning of the event, Zebra collaborated with student volunteers to hide all the eggs around the Wilkes University walkway, directly outside of the UCOM building. Amongst the 840 eggs were 84 prize eggs, including three golden eggs, two silver eggs, and a variety of eggs decorated with vibrant patterns and zebra stripes. To accompany the 84 prize eggs were 84 individual prizes ranging from two bikes, two scooters, and several baskets full of goodies to a chocolate mountain, bowling and skating passes, t-shirts, and Peeps Oreos. Each prize egg contained a number that would indicate the order in which the children would select prizes. For instance, the three golden eggs held numbers one, two, and three. Consequently, the children who found those eggs would be the first three to select a prize. All prizes were acquired through the generosity of donors and given the substantial amount of rewards; each child
Over 80 prizes were awarded to little egg hunters.
was able to walk away with something. After the egg hunt, the children competed in sack races and egg toss competitions in the UCOM building before heading home for the afternoon Overall, the Eggs-traordinary Mission was a fun and successful event that raised funds for Children’s Miracle Network at Geisinger to aid in their mission to provide equipment, programs, and pediatric services to children at Geisinger’s Janet Weis Children’s Hospital in Danville. Through both in-kind and monetary donations, a total of $4,307.00 was raised. Most recently, Zebra Communications presented Children’s Miracle Network with the final monetary amount of $2,462.00 raised for the organization. “It was an absolute pleasure to work with the Zebra Communications staff, as they really brought their professionalism and creativity to the forefront when planning the event,” said Kristen Kowaleski, Central Region Coordinator, Children’s Miracle Network. “It was extremely successful and shed a positive light of philanthropy and community to both Wilkes University and Children’s Miracle Network at Geisinger.”
The Spring Bunny made an appearance for photos and fun. Page 7
Communication Studies Department
Senior students selected for Department awards By: Zachary Smith Sarah Bedford, Rachel Leandri, and Annelise Przywara, senior Communication Studies majors, were selected as the recipients of three Department awards. These special commendations awarded to them by the Department faculty members are to recognize their academic and leadership success. Bedford received the “Tom Bigler Scholar” award based on her great ethical sense coupled with her academic standing and service to The Beacon. “It is a great honor to be recognized by our faculty with such an awards,” said Bedford. “In my various positions at The Beacon, I was faced with more ethical questions and situations than I ever really thought I would have been at a college newspaper.” Leandri was selected for the “Outstanding Communication Studies Senior” award for her high cumulative GPA, extracurricular activities, and service to the department. “I’m extremely appreciative to have been chosen for this award and it’s very humbling to know that the professors I have learned from and spent the last four years with view me as a strong representative of the Department,” said Leandri when asked about being recognized. Both the “Tom Bigler Scholar” award and the “Outstanding Communication Studies Senior” award will be presented at an awards ceremony on Friday, May 19 prior to graduation on May 20.
Przywara has been selected to receive the “Outstanding Leadership and Service Award for the Communication Studies Department” based on her leadership qualities, department co-curricular and extracurricular involvement, as well as her academic standing. “It is important to me that the recognition came from the professors who I have grown to regard as mentors and friends over the past four years,” said Przywara. “My leadership positions played a pivotal role in my professional development and it is a feeling of personal accomplishment that my dedication to the Department has been commended.” This award will be presented separately at the 2017 Extracurricular Awards Luncheon hosted by Student Affairs on Thursday, April 20. “The competition for these awards was particularly tough this year given this senior class,” said Dr. Mark Stine, Chair Communication Studies Department. “Therefore it’s clear that these award winners were truly outstanding, both in their academic standing and in what they do for the Department.” Dr. Stine also explained that the awards speak to the young women’s dedication and also speaks to how the Department faculty feels about each of the students. “There are so many deserving students in our department so it was hard for us to make the decisions we did,” said Dr. Kalen Churcher, Assistant Professor, Communication Studies. “These women really do represent the best of the best.”
April 2017
Sarah Bedford
Rachel Leandri
Annelise Przywara
Lambda Pi Eta sponsors World Speech Day event By: Meghan Burns On April 19, the Wilkes University Chapter of Lambda Pi Eta sponsored a World Speech Day Event. World Speech Day, founded by Simon Gibson, is a day that celebrates the power and importance of speeches both present day and throughout history. Globally, high schools, colleges, and community centers alike celebrate this important day. This year’s theme is unexpected voices, focusing on the fact that everyone has a voice, not just the wealthy and powerful. Dr. Chris Zarpentine, Assistant Page 8
Professor of Philosophy, commented on the importance of World Speech Day at Wilkes University. “As a teacher, I think that ideas have the ability to change our society in significant ways,” said Zarpentine. “Speeches are one of the primary ways in which ideas can effect change. World Speech Day is important because it serves as a day for us to reflect upon the power of speech to convey ideas and inspire us.” Lambda Pi Eta, the Wilkes University communication honor society, sponsored an event in order to join in the celebration. The event featured a viewing of a section
of the film The People Speak. The film is a look at America’s struggles with war, class, race, and women’s rights and is based on Howard Zinn’s “A People’s History of the United States.” After the viewing, a panel discussion of the importance of speech throughout disciplines took place. The panel discussion revolved around each professor speaking to what speech, however they interpret that, has meant to them and how it has been important in their profession, teaching, and in
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Alumni Update: Rasha Shaker ‘15 takes root in Nashville By: Samantha Earley In order to follow a dream one must take risks, even if it means moving to Music City in order to obtain a career in the music industry. Rasha Shaker, a 2015 graduate in Communication Studies, took a risk and the small town girl landed a life-changing job in Nashville, Tennessee as the Executive Marketing Assistant at Grayscale Entertainment. Rasha is from Mountain Top, PA and was a 2011 graduate of Crestwood High School. Following high school graduation, she attended Luzerne County Community College (LCCC) where she received her Associate’s Degree in Audio/ Visual Communications. During her time at LCCC she was involved with the television show WSFX. When Rasha transferred to Wilkes, she served as the Metal/Program Director at WCLH and Advertising Director at The Beacon. She also worked on numerous account teams as a Board Member of Zebra Communications. “Rasha was great to have it class because she was a free spirit with a
creative voice,” said Jane Elmes-Crahall, advisor of Zebra Communications. “She loved music and would make references that tied in popular culture with theoretical situations.” Some may question what prompted Shaker to leave NEPA and make her way west to a big city. For Shaker, the answer was simple – music! She spoke of music as a healing and coping tool. She also explained that music has a huge impact on every aspect of her life. “I love music and Nashville, being Music City, had the opportunities I wanted so I knew I had to be here,” said Shaker in a recent interview. “I actually used to joke when I was younger that I’d make it in the entertainment industry whether it was behind the camera or microphone or in front of it. I guess behind it is where I ended up!” Shaker was quick to take the first job offer immediately following graduation at a “multi-level marketing” corporation. She disliked it to the point she left within the first two weeks. She then temporarily found herself working in retail and though it wasn’t as bad as the previous position,
Photo Courtesy: Rasha Shaker
“Having a creative eye is a must in the field of marketing and communication.” - Rasha Shaker she still knew it wasn’t the right fit for her. Currently, as the Executive Marketing Assistant at Grayscale Entertainment Shaker is in charge of creating and scheduling content for client’s social media accounts, engaging with followers, and maintaining organization. Fortunately, the transition from radio to agency life was relatively smooth given her previous internship consisted of working in an agency setting. “My current position is very similar to what I did as Metal/Program Director at WCLH,” said Shaker. “Having a creative eye is a must in the field of marketing and communication. Zebra definitely provided me with a solid foundation in consulting clients and understanding their needs, as well as helping me solidify my copy writing skills.” The music industry, particularly the industry in Nashville, can be an especially difficult place to jump-start your career. However, speaking from personal experience, Shaker shared some recommendations for future graduates or anyone seeking a job in a similar field. “All You Need to Know About the Music Business by Donald S. Passman is a great read for someone interested in a career in the music industry,” Shaker suggested. “If you have friends in a band, ask them to do their social media or manage them even if you don’t get paid doing it. Until you get that first position with an official title, working your way up means doing a lot of charity work.” Shaker exemplifies working hard, persevering, and taking risks in order to follow her dreams and achieve her goals even if it means moving to Nashville. Page 9
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their everyday lives. The panel included professors from a variety of disciplines including communications, psychology, philosophy, pharmacy, business, and political science. Dr. Mia Briceño, Assistant Professor of Communication Studies, was in charge of the event. She stated that she hopes the event will inspire people to realize the importance of speech in all aspects of their lives.
Another professor involved was Dr. Jane Elmes-Crahall, Professor of Communication Studies. Coming from a background of rhetorical studies, she believes the primary purpose of the event is to acknowledge that speeches still frame history. She stated, “We need to realize speech is still a powerful mode of expression.” The event was the first that Lambda Pi Eta sponsored this semester. Recently, the Wilkes University chapter of Lambda Pi
April 2017
Eta has been more active. Dr. Briceño, the faculty advisor of Lambda Pi Eta is hoping to makethe honor society more visible throughout the Wilkes community by making this the first of many annual World Speech Day events. “I think a lot of us don’t think of ourselves as speakers, but it takes a lot of different forms,” stated Briceño. “This is a huge component of how our system of governance works and how our everyday lives work.”
Senior Gabby Glinski awarded Keystone Press Award By: Taylor Ryan For many students, obtaining a summer internship leads to gaining professional experience in their field of work. An internship may even lead to a future job with the company. But for senior, Gabby Glinski, a statewide award was received after a successful summer internship. On March 23, 2017 Gabby Glinski was awarded a Keystone Press Award for a story she had authored during the early days of interning at Town and Country, a weekly newspaper located in Pennsburg, PA. As the journalist and photographer intern, Glinski was able to get a glimpse of all aspects of the journalism world. “I wrote stories anywhere from local news to art news, to business news,” said Glinski, as she looked back on her time spent at the Town and Country. Glinski was awarded 2nd place for the News Feature Award, under Division VI presented by the Pennsylvania News Media Association. “I’m really honored to get this award and it was also really surprising. It is definitely portfolio building since this award is on the professional level. I know The Beacon is able to nominate writers for these awards, but only on the collegiate level of this award. I think it is really surprising, especially since I am still a student and most of the awards are given to more seasoned journalists.” The article that Glinski authored was sparked after beavers infested local, township owned creeks. Once the beaver dams began flooding private homes and Page 10
Gabby Glinski property, it became a serious problem. As the problem got worse, the township knew they needed to act quickly. Glinski reported on this new device that was created that ensured the wildlife’s safety and decreased the flooding in the area. Glinski was assigned this news feature as her first story with the Town and Country newspaper. The editor and chief of the paper took Glinski’s piece and submitted it to the Pennsylvania News Media Association. There were two other Keystone Press Awards presented to journalists of the Town and Country; however, of the three awarded, Glinski had the only piece that placed. The other two received honorable mention awards. Dr. Kalen Churcher, a mentor and journalism professor for Glinski, stated, “I was so excited for Gabby when she told me she won a Keystone Press Award. For
a student to earn one as an undergraduate is unbelievable. Knowing Gabby’s excellent work, though, I’m not surprised. She does well in anything she sets her mind to.” According to the Pennsylvania News Media Association, “they reinforce excellence in individuals in the news media profession, by recognizing journalism that consistently provides relevance, integrity and initiative in serving readers, and faithfully fulfills its First Amendment rights/responsibilities.” Further, the Keystone Press Awards stimulate journalists to improve their craft and ultimately improve their community.” As a young aspiring journalist, Gabby Glinski has proven that she is ready to serve the community through her passion for news and photography and this Keystone Press Award only signifies that progress and growth in her career.
Communication Studies Department
April 2017
The Colonels of Communication Studies: Zach Smith By: Rachel Leandri Zachary Smith, communication studies major with a minor in English, was born in the Philadelphia area but has lived in NEPA for all but nine months of his life. Crestwood High School graduate of 2005, Zach is a board member of Zebra Communications as well as a staff writer for The Beacon. Before becoming an essential part to the Communication Studies Department at Wilkes, Zach attended Luzerne County Community College then began working for a cable company. Zach realized that if he didn’t take action, he would be employed at the same cable company, or jobs like it, for the rest of his life. While he strongly disliked the job, Zach felt it gave him the opportunity to continue his education. “It was interesting, to say the least,” Zach shared. “LCCC always felt like ‘13th grade’ to me. However, I’ve always enjoyed writing and journalism has always had an appeal to me.” In 2014, Zach went back to finish his associate’s degree at LCCC with some communication courses under his belt. He then stumbled upon Wilkes shortly after to pursue his bachelor’s degree. According to Zach, the transition from community college to a University had its bumps in the road, but his advisor and associate professor at Wilkes, Dr. Kalen Churcher, was very helpful in the process. “She is responsible for getting me on the right track and has continued to help me meet my goal of graduating in May of 2017,” he said. “Without her help and guidance I would be totally lost!” Dr. Churcher feels mutual in that Zach didn’t waste any time acclimating himself to our program. “He almost immediately became involved in extracurricular activities, and he hasn’t looked back since,” she stated. “It’s great to see how he’s progressed in the program.” Though Zach dove right into his studies and co-curricular activities at Wilkes, he initially felt separated from the rest of his peers because he is 8 to 10 years older than them. Zach doesn’t necessarily see his age as a disadvantage or advantage, but
claims it has certainly given him a unique perspective among his peers. “That feeling persisted for a bit, and still does to a certain extent, but the students around me have been nothing but friendly and welcoming and I’d like to think I’ve made a few friends among them,” Zach explained. “I have been completely taken aback by how awesome my fellow Wilkes students have been.” Zach is extremely proud of the fact that he attends a University, and “is doing it.” He’s aware that many other people his age would love for the chance to go back to school and obtain their degree but can’t for one reason or another. He feels very fortunate to have the circumstances that allowed him to come back, and it shows through his exemplary work.
Zachary Smith Senior communication studies major and news editor of The Beacon, Alyssa Mursch, says that Zach is someone she has been able to depend on week in and week out for stories. “He’s good at what he does and is always eager to help and open to suggestions,” Mursch said. “I’ve seen firsthand how he incorporates his personal experience within his stories, something that I think makes for a strong journalist and powerful writing.” Aside from making the dean’s list his first semester at Wilkes, Zach’s biggest accomplishment he is most proud of is how he has managed to break out his shell.
According to Zach, he used to be terrified of talking to people, what he felt would be one of the biggest roadblocks toward his goal of receiving a future career in journalism. He credits both Dr. Churcher and Dr. Elmes-Crahall for helping him conquer that hurdle and break free from that shell. “There is much we can learn from working with Zach,” said Jane ElmesCrahall, Zebra adviser and professor of communication studies at Wilkes. “As a member of the board of Zebra, Zach is usually the first one to volunteer to write a story or co-manage a new account. He sees professional opportunity in such activities rather than seeing them as additional work, and that speaks to his professional work ethic.” Zach feels the people, students and faculty having such an obvious love and passion for what they do is what reaffirms his decision that he has never once doubted in coming to Wilkes. His advice for underclassmen communication studies majors is simple: keep your head up and never get discouraged. Zach feels asking for help is key in the sense that everyone is here trying to learn to better themselves, so it’s important to be aware of the fact that we’re in this together. Zach’s post-graduation plans consist of seeing more parts of the country, and taking what he has learned from Wilkes to fulfill his dream job of writing for a gaming magazine, or even writing for video games themselves. “Zach brings a unique aspect to our program in that his story is different than most,” Mursch said. “He came back to school after a few years off which is something that I admire greatly.” Graduating this May, Zach will become a member of Sigma Tau Delta, the English Department Honors Society on behalf of his minor.
Best of luck, Zach! Page 11
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Zebra Communications raises $2,015 for Luzerne County Special Olympics Chapter over past year By: Nicholas Ruggerio Zebra Communications recently donated $500 to the Luzerne County Special Olympics and has accumulated a total of $2,015 in fundraising for the year. Zebra Communications carried out a fundraising campaign to benefit the Special Olympics throughout the fall and spring semesters. During the fall semester, Zebra held the ‘Fun and Fabulous Sports Bash,’ which consisted kickball and basketball. The event raised a total of $1,515 for the organization. In addition to the donations, Zebra has updated the Luzerne County’s chapter of Special Olympics Facebook page. Access the page at: https://www.facebook.com/ LuzerneCountySpecialOlympics/ for more information concerning the chapter of Luzerne County.
Pictured from left to right: Athletes Juan Ramos, Tracey Tribendis, Joey Callahan, Megan Boone Valkenburg, Dallas, PA (Coordinator Student Development at Wilkes University and Manager of the Special Olympics of Luzerne County) and Danny Van Brunt, Fanwood, NJ (Board Member of Zebra Communications)
Dates to Remember April 28 Annual Tom Bigler Journalism Conference 9 A.M. - 2 P.M.
May 15 Senior Picnic 3 P.M. - 6 P.M.
May 17 Champagne Brunch 10:30 A.M. - 12:30 P.M. Final Farewell 6 P.M. - 8 P.M. May 19 Academic Awards Ceremony 3 P.M. - 4:30 P.M. President’s Reception 4:30 - 6:30 P.M. Baccalaureate Service 6:45 P.M.
May 20 70th Annual Spring Commencement 3 P.M.
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May 13 Jane’s Retirement Celebration 6 P.M.
May 18 President’s Dinner Dance 6 P.M. - 11 P.M.