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The Journalist. The Wavelength. T h e R e l ay. News and information for EIU students in the Department of Journalism
May 2016 Vol. 2, No. 2
WEIU News Watch covers Illinois state budget impasse
WEIU News Watch and The Daily Eastern News, both run by students at EIU, have given extensive coverage to the Illinois state budget crisis, its effects on Eastern Illinois University and the entire state.
By Debby Hernandez With the Illinois state budget impasse, Eastern journalism organizations such as WEIU and The Daily Eastern News have had their share of experiences in covering the subject. It has been a semester of more political talk than usual. Kelly Runyon, WEIU news director and broadcast professor said, while last fall the station covered layoffs and how it would affect the university, it seems as if the stories related to the state impasse became weekly this spring. The stories have continued because of the effect it has had on a wide range of people. “We have had numerous reporters cover the budget story. It’s almost like a beat that’s been developed,” Runyon said. Jesse Guinn, WEIU staff member and communication studies major, said he has covered multiple angles to the budget story. “It seems like there’s no end to the angles you can take on covering this,” Guinn said. “It is something or someone that is being affected and everyone is being affected by (the budget).” Continued on page 3
Student’s photos featured in Tribune,CNN
By Alex Seidler Media outlets such as the Chicago Tribune, Effingham Daily News, Champaign News Gazette, CNN Money and more have featured numerous photos from Daily Eastern News photographer and online editor Jason Howell. Howell said more media outlets started coming to him for photos around the time of the rallies and Fund EIU. “During the period of crazy budget news climate with all these rallies and my photos getting published in the news, other outlets have come to me asking for photos,” Howell said. Howell said the Effingham Daily News was one of the first publications to contact for photos, which he has worked for in the past. “I just thought it was really cool that my work got noticed, however they noticed it, whether they went to The Daily Eastern News website or saw it on social media,” Howell said. Shortly afterward Howell heard from more publications asking him for his photos. “The Chronicle of Higher Education” asked Howell to submit photos of the state senator who represented Champaign at the Fund EIU rally. Continued on page 8
FundEIU rally photo by Jason Howell
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SCJ hosts ‘Women in Newsrooms’ panel
Four Eastern alumnae who are editors of area newspapers speak at a panel on women leaders in the newsroom hosted by the Society for Collegiate Journalists. The speakers included, from left, Susan Duncan of the Terre Haute Tribune-Star, Penny Weaver of the JGTC, Nora Maberry-Daniels of the St. Joseph Leader, and Kayleigh Rahn of the Tuscola Journal. Photo by Brian Poulter.
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News Watch covers budget impasse Continued from page 1 Runyon said the focus has been to tell people’s stories. “Maybe somebody is not so vocal to pick up the phone and call their state representative, but they might be a little more vocal to join us in our newscast and talk about how they are one of several people at Eastern recently laid-off, “ she said. “That puts a face to the problem.” Some campus areas covered by WEIU staff on the subject include testing services, building service workers being relocated, and grounds keeping maintenance with fewer crew members. WEIU staff have also focused on covering surrounding communities. Topics include school districts considering eliminating extracurricular activities, rallies, and community members depending on state funding. Guinn covered a hiring freeze in the food court, in which the manager had to increase employees’ work days since he could not hire new people. “One of the things (the manager) was saying is ‘that can’t be saving the university money because now we are paying overtime,’” Guinn said. Off campus, Guinn covered a dental service in Paris, Illinois, that might no longer be able to provide patients with their service since it depends on state funding. Runyon said another story WEIU staff covered included a community that needed to upgrade its water treatment facility and had hoped to get assistance from the state to do so. Lacey Clifton, WEIU staff member and geography major, said she has spoken with Eastern faculty, and to Fund EIU members on campus. She also reported on layoffs at Lake Land College and the MAP Grant. Clifton said Lake Land had dropped in enrollment because of lack of MAP Grant funding. “They did it differently than EIU since EIU are honoring it and waiting for the state to pay back. Lake Land just couldn’t honor it, so their students didn’t come back,” she said. Runyon said journalists must report the news; and while the state budget impasse is negative news, there are positive stories that can come out of the budget situation. “It can change spending habits, not only within the state of Illinois, but it can also change spending habits within various departments (and) offices,” Runyon said. “It changes people to rethink.” While they did not physically go cover other campuses because of time constraints, WEIU staff did report stories coming from Chicago State, Southern Illinois University Carbondale, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, and the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. “We want people to understand this is not an Eastern situation. This is a higher education situation, and there are other schools like Eastern that are having some of the same problems,” Runyon said.
From left, junior Brian Hartman, senior Jesse Guinn, senior Lacey Clifton and senior Nick Ruffolo take their shift at the News Watch anchor desk.
Guinn and Clifton said most people are willing to talk about the budget impasse since they want to get the word out. “They’re the ones being affected, and so by getting their voice heard, hopefully people in Springfield will see that and realize that it’s not just numbers; its actual people,” Clifton said. Clifton said when interviewing people on the budget, she tries to stress to them that it is their chance to tell other what they are going through. ”It’s definitely been rewarding to see people who, when we’re done with the interview and they take the mic off, they’re trying to keep positive about it,” she said. Guinn said, “I just love being part of something that is so important to the community, that’s what
our job is focused around: us getting the word out to the community and being a part of it.” The nature of the budget story has led WEIU staff to contact Eastern campus leaders more frequently than usual. However, Runyon said leaders only know so much information. Runyon said president Glassman has been responsive via email, but it is hard to get him on camera because of schedule conflicts. “Any time a reporter (at WEIU) emails him he is always back that day with a response, and if he doesn’t have an answer to our question he will encourage us to contact someone else,” she said. She added that President Glassman believes the Eastern community will get back on its feet. “The last time he came into
Glassman drops by DEN newsroom The Daily Eastern News faced similar stories this academic year, but Editor-in-Chief Stephanie Markham said they often took a “campus approach.” Their constant coverage also kept them in constant contact with President David Glassman. In fact, Glassman made more than one appearance to the newsroom to “hang out” with The Daily Eastern News staff. The staff showed
WEIU, he talked about how this was just a small bump in the road,” she said. “There are so many things in life that experience a small bump in the road, but there is pavement after that bump in the road.” Guinn said he has spoken to mayor Brandon Combs about the impact the Eastern community has on Charleston. “The staff was his big concern… If the university is laying off these people (they) cannot spend the money they normally have. It has a direct effect on the city’s economy,” Guinn said. Runyon said the station has kept contact with Paul McCann, the interim vice president for business affairs and treasurer. “He is always very kind and Continued on page 8
Photo by Chynna Miller
him around the newsroom and press room and talked about interests outside of the budget and university. Markham said these visits were not a secret meeting to discuss the political culture on campus, but rather to meet one another as people. “It’s appreciated but weird because it is our job to watch over administration,” she said. “It’s a work relationship, but he’s still the president.”
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EIU journalism seniors reflect on where they have been, where they might be going My name is Shirmeen Ahmad and I am a journalism and political science major from Romeoville, Illinois. I am also an international studies concentration. I came into EIU as a freshman because I was ready to get out and explore the world, little did I realize that world for me would be the fairly small town of Charleston. I got involved at Eastern as soon as I came in because I wanted to see what potential I had. I was a part of Pemberton Hall Council, I have written for the Daily Eastern News and been on staff for the Warbler for the past two years. I have also been the secretary for the Society for Collegiate Journalists. I was a resident assistant in Pemberton my sophomore year. Most of my involvement has been in student
government. I started off as just a student senator and then I became the Academic Affairs chair. The next year I was the vice president for Academic Affairs, which had me involved with a lot of committees on campus. And then last year has been a whirlwind since I was Student Body President. Its been super cool getting to represent my student body and be the face of the university. I don’t have set plans after graduation. I’ve gotten to experience so much here at Eastern and I can’t wait to see where it will lead me. So I plan on just having a bunch of adventures. I’m going to miss the people in the journalism department because each one of them has led me to the success I have been able to achieve.
Hi! My name is Rose Sacco. I am from Plainfield, Illinois. I came to Eastern as a transfer student in the fall of 2013. My major is journalism with a concentration in new and emerging media. I have worked at the Daily Eastern News as a copy editor, Verge designer and reporter. I am 24. My plan is to apply to every job that requires a bachelors degree in journalism in the Chicago area. I will miss the support of the journalism department and them giving me an extra push everyday to do great things. I’m Kate Quill and I’m from Crystal Lake, Illinois. I came to EIU as an incoming freshman and I’m a communication studies student, mass communication focus, broadcast news concentration with a journalism minor. I am a member of Alpha Gamma Delta where I served as Public Relations Coordinator and Chapter President. I also work at Hit Mix Radio as an onair personality and news announcer. I have also frequently worked as a staff reporter for The DEN and Warbler. I am also a member of Society for Collegiate Journalists. I’m 21 years old. I
am pursuing a career in the mass communication field. Hopefully as an on-air personality at a radio station. Or else I would like to work in the promotions, sales, marketing or PR department for a media outlet or sports team. I will especially miss Sally Renaud (never learned how to correctly spell her name). She is the most caring, inspiring woman I know and I couldn’t have made it through college without her kind words of advice. I will also miss all the great people I have met while working for student media.
My name is Stephanie Markham, and I am from the south side of Chicago. I have been at Eastern since my freshman year. I am graduating this year with a major in journalism and a minor in creative writing. I held several editor positions at The Daily Eastern News, including being editor-in-chief my senior year. I was also an active member of Pride and was the secretary/treasurer my junior year. I am 22 years old and plan to find a job as a reporter for a newspaper after graduation. Something I’ll miss in the journalism department is the environment where I could learn and grow from my mistakes.
My name is Dominic Baima and I am from Collinsville, Illinois and came to Eastern as a freshman. I am a marketing major and journalism minor. I served as the Editor-in-Chief of the 2015-2016 Warbler Yearbook, the VP of communications for the American Marketing Association, Executive Board member of the Council on University Planning and Budget, and member of the Apportionment Board.
I am 21 years old. I have accepted a position with the national office of the Boy Scouts of America where I will be the E-commerce manager and assistant store manager at their New Mexico location. I will miss the journalism department because I feel like it is a family who watch out for each other.
I’m Elizabeth Dowell, I’m 24, and I am from Mulberry Grove, Illinois. I came to Eastern as a transfer student. I am majoring in journalism and have a concentration in photojournalism. I have held the positions as a reporter, copy editor, and a photographer for the DEN. I plan on getting a job at a small town newspaper and hopefully as a reporter for community news. I like to do entertainment stories or human interest stories and enjoy in-
terviewing people for those types of stories. I guess I will miss the opportunity of coming into the newsroom and knowing I have a job and feeling wanted by the people I am around. It’s really great to have a group of people I do for a team and I will miss being on this team. So I guess I can say is that I will miss my group of friends here in the newsroom and I will miss being apart of such an awesome team.
My name is Debby Hernandez and I am from Chicago, Illinois. I came into Eastern Illinois University as a transfer student and I am 24. I am a journalism major with a minor in public relations. I have worked with the DEN as a staff reporter and administration editor. I have also held the position as the associate director in The Agency. I plan to attend graduate school. Following obtaining my master’s degree, I would like to work for a print publication as a political correspondent, and perhaps become a teacher some day. I will definitely miss some of the journalism faculty who have been supportive throughout my college career and whom I learned a lot from. I will also miss working closely with my colleagues from the Agency. I’m Tony Komada, a 22-yearold Charleston native. I don’t plan on living in Charleston forever though. The city doesn’t have enough opportunity and the winters are far too cold! I came to Eastern as a freshman with a journalism major and a concentration in new and emerging media. I worked for The Warbler from fall 2014 to spring 2015 and I also worked for The Daily Eastern News from summer 2015 to fall 2015. I have also worked at the EIU Bookstore as a computer tech-
nician my entire career at Eastern. After college I plan to continue my career on YouTube and look for any opportunities to review products for large brands. I will also run my own computer repair business alongside my journalist career (Komada Computer Repair). One thing I will miss about the journalism department at Eastern is how the professors and faculty made me strive to get over any fears I had to create content I only dreamed of publishing.
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Congratulations, Class of 2016 Jehad Abbed Shirmeen Ahmad Dominic Baima Marcus Curtis
Elizabeth Dowell Debby Hernandez Jason Howell Tony Komada
Kristen Lewis Stephanie Markham Luis Martinez Blake Nash
Nate Page Nick Ruffolo Danielle Tadlock Rose Sacco
Ahmad, Komada inducted into Kappa Tau Alpha journalism honorary
Dominic Baima, senior journalism minor and Editor for the Warbler, assembles trophies for the IHSA state journalism competition. Baima has worked with the tournament for four years. Photo by Brian Poulter.
Journalism department hosts 11th year of IHSA state finals By Debby Hernandez More than 300 top high school students came to Eastern for this year’s Illinois High School Association journalism state final competition April 29.. The IHSA promotes sportsmanship in interscholastic competition. The competitions provide students who participate with an educational experience in different areas such as journalism. There were 17 competing categories, and seven sectionals. Competing categories vary from photo, broadcast, writing, editing, and yearbook. Winners will be awarded towards the end of the event. Cathy Wall, an adviser from Harrisburg High School received
the James Tidwell Award, which is awarded to the top high school journalism educator. This year, high school students were provided with tours of the journalism student organizations. There was also a photo booth for students who wished to take with them a memory of their visit. Members of the Society for Collegiate Journalists chapter and other journalism students volunteered to help at the contest. Sally Renaud, professor and chairwoman of the journalism department, said hosting IHSA would not be possible without the support of the university, faculty and students.
Senior journalism majors Shirmeen Ahmad (left) and Tony Komada celebrate with cake after being inducted into Kappa Tau Alpha April 25.
New leadership in student publications
2015-2016 Warbler Yearbook editor Dominc Baima congratulates upcoming 2016-2017 editor Megan Ivey. Photo by Sally Renaud.
The Daily Eastern News fall 2016 and spring 2017 Editor in Chief Kayln Hayslett and summer Editor-in-Chief Jason Howell accept their new positions after an April Student Publications board meeting.
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‘The Greatest Show on Campus’ The fourth annual Talent Show hosted by The Agency brought talent from all over Eastern’s campus to Pemberton Hall in support of The Salvation Army April 21 Photos by Debby Hernandez
Lt. T.J. Simmons, the commander for the Mattoon Salvation Army, Shirmeen Ahmad, student body president and senior journalism speaks to the crowd before the talents perform. major, reacts to a talent act. Ahmad was a judge for the event.
Eastern Euphonics, an a capella group, won “The Greatest Show On Campus” and the $100 first prize.
Sam Petraka performs her lighting act, known as spinning poi.
Admissions counselor Omar Akil Solomon stops his opening remarks as host to “pose for a picture.” He later asked the crowd to take a selfie.
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New journalism 0ffice administrator talks about Eastern, new jobs, experiences By Debby Hernandez With the state budget impasse, Eastern began to make changes. For employees like Wanda Kay Robinson, this meant they would find out if they will keep their job, lose it, or be relocated into a different position. At the beginning of the spring semester, Robinson attended her job as the office administrator for the office of faculty development in Booth Library, where she had worked for almost eight years. It wasn’t long before Robinson found out what her future at the university would be. A little over a month after the semester had begun, Robinson learned that her position will be dissolved. On March 11, she was told she would be relocated to the journalism department, where she now works as the new office administrator. “I just waited because I didn’t know where I was going to go until the Friday before spring break,” she said. “ On that Friday afternoon, when I was getting ready to go home for the day, that’s when the human resource officer called me to let me know that I will be reporting on Monday to the journalism department.” Robinson has been an Eastern employee since 1997. She began by working at the department of student teaching and clinical experiences for nine years. She then worked at the campus scheduling office before starting her job at the office of faculty development. Robinson’s journey at Eastern began when she moved to Charleston with her husband from Richlands, Virginia. Her husband, who was a pastor, had been invited to provide service to a local Christian church in Charleston. With her husband being busy at the church, she decided to get a job at Eastern and pursued to continue her education. Robinson had married right after high school, and had a daughter seven years later. Her daughter is also an Eastern alumna. “Back in those days and in that community, you graduate high school, get married, and settle down,” she said. Robinson obtained her bachelor’s degree through the BOT program and her master’s degree from the school of technology at Eastern. “I love the opportunity that EIU has given me to pursue my education and my dreams. I can’t think of anywhere I would rather be than here,” she said. Upon beginning her job at Eastern, Robinson began to build relationships with students. Her husband resigned from the church after ten years as a pastor since he also worked at Eastern’s communication studies department. “Once I came to work here, my student workers that I had in the different offices…they would get close to me,” she said. “It was quite a large number of students who were coming to us
Wanda Kay Robinson, the new office administrator for the journalism department, started her new position on March 14. Robinson previously worked on Eastern’s campus in faculty development.
for advice.” Robinson said her husband and her felt a calling to start a ministry on campus. She became the adviser for the Apostolic Christians in Today’s Society, a recognized campus organization. Becoming an organization required a minimum of ten signatures. “We had so many students at that point that wanted us to have some type of organization here on campus so we had that easily,” Robinson said. ACTS hosts Sunday services in Buzzard Hall and bible studies on Wednesdays in the Martin Luther King Jr. University Union. “We try to encourage them to be the best they can be and to strive for excellence in every area of their life,” she said. “When they do, they will find the peace and the duty their searching for.” Robinson is an adviser and became a member of the Elogeme Adolphi Christian Sorority. She also co-founded and serves in the board of directors for Christ Ministries, Inc., a non-profit organization. “My community is EIU,” she said. “I love the atmosphere that we have at campus; the friend-
ships that you build across campus. It’s a wonderful feeling to be a part of that.” Elogeme Adolphi Christian Sorority aims to reach out to the community. One of the most recent activities was their kingdom service project, and placing sticky notes in the girls’ bathroom with encouraging words. “We took $50 out of our account and went to the local gas station,” she said. “We picked five people randomly and… went up to them and asked if we could give them $10 to help them on their gas for spring break.” In terms of the budget impasse, Robinson believes the university will get through. “I know we are going through hard times now, but we are going to come through it…and we are going to be stronger than ever, “she said. Robinson said her transition into the journalism department was wonderful because of the welcoming environment, and hopes to retain that with her presence. “I have never worked in an academic office before at EIU. It has always been on the other side of things,” she said. “I hope to be able to learn all the things I need to learn. But I also want to be a blessing to the faculty in our department.”
Goodbye, Beth Students say goodbye to department 0ffice manager Due to the budget impasse, Eastern Illinois University was forced to cut its staff by 266. Beth Kastl, the office manager for the journalism department, left the department in March. Kastl is currently working in the Ninth Street Hall Testing Center through the spring semester. Kastl began working in the journalism department in 2006. Members of student publications say goodbye to Beth Kastl on her last day in the journalism department March 11. The students gave Kastl a poster filled with thankful messages. Photo by Bryan Murley.
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Howell’s photos featured in Chicago Tribune, CNN continued from page 1 Howell said the process for submitting photos is usually straightforward. “Basically just the photo editor emails me and they already know what photo they want or section they want and they specifically ask for those,” he said. Howell said he made sure the opportunities did not “go to his head” and continued to photograph the best work he could. “I didn’t shoot it any differently because I take my work seriously,” Howell said. Howell said he wants to
Howell’s photos of the FUND EIU Rally such as above were featured in multiple publications, including CNN Money and the Chicago Tribune. Photo by Jason Howell.
Jason Howell is the current Online Editor for the Daily Eastern News and will be editor-in-chief for summer 2016
work in Chicago after graduation and his highest aspiration is to become a photographer for the White House. “I definitely want to get out of Illinois, I’m pretty sure everyone my age wants to do that,” Howell said. Howell said he doesn’t know why he gravitated to photogra-
phy, but he remembers being fascinated by the camera and taking photos since he was young. “I like to think that it’s in the family,” Howell said. “I have an uncle who was the chief photographer for the Seattle World’s Fair, and my dad whenever he went on business trips would take photos.”
Howell said he is a visual person and taking pictures captures a story faster than an article. “With the interconnectedness of our society nowadays I feel like it takes longer to write up something that represents an event whereas a picture can be sent quicker,” Howell said.
News Watch covers Illinois state budget impasse continued from page 3 gracious with his time to talk to us about this situation and is the goto person about budget-business matters,” she said. Clifton and Guinn both said the toughest part of their reporting on the subject was keeping their opinions to themselves to avoid bias. “As a newsmaker, we are not really supposed to have an opinion on the story,” Clifton said. Guinn said, “It is a learning process… to remain unbiased because everyone does have an opinion on something.”
Guinn said although he is an out-of-state student and gets no funding from Illinois, he feels a bit let down since he chose Eastern for the program. Guinn no longer receives a scholarship from WEIU because of cuts, and was forced to pick up a second job. “I still wouldn’t change it because I know this is preparing me to go out in the world. But it’s been a real inconvenience,” he said. Clifton has watched family and coworkers be effected by the state budget impasse but is positive the
community will pull through. Clifton said she grew up in Oakland, Illinois, and likes to tell stories close to her hometown. “I love the area and I love telling stories about east-central Illinois that maybe wouldn’t normally get heard,” she said. Guinn said he hopes to become a broadcast meteorologist, while Clifton hopes to continue reporting on east-central Illinois area. Runyon said she would like to see the legislature and governor come to an agreement, and that the
uncertainty of the state budget is disheartening. She added that it hurts to see how a budget affects so many people in the daily stories that are told; but she hopes the situation becomes a lesson for everyone on compromise, and in valuing people and jobs. “In reality, so many things rely on state funding, and so the stories will continue,” Runyon said.
EIU journalism professor to teach at Colorado State Liz Viall will finish her last semester at Eastern Illinois University in May and will move to Pueblo, Colorado, to teach at Colorado State University-Pueblo where she will be an assistant professor in the Department of Mass Communication and Center for New Media. Viall taught Publication Design, Advanced Reporting and History of American Journalism this year. She has taught public relations courses in the past, and was the adviser for the student public relations firm, The Agency. She also advised Fresh and stood in as an adviser for The Warbler for one semester. She has been at EIU since 2004. The Agency gathered for the last time in spring 2016 on April 25. Front, from left, Megan Ivey, Liz Viall, Ashley Jordan; back, Rachelle Krausen, Alex Seidler, Marcus Curtis, Kendra Cwikla and Lexi Stickel. Photo by Sally Renaud