School of Mass Comm Graduation--December 2008

The School of Mass Communications’ December Fall 2008 commencement ceremony ushered nearly 80 students into a world of opportunities as the latest VCU alumni stepped up to receive their diplomas.

Featured at the ceremony was guest speaker Dr. Lauren Tucker, director of consumer forensics at The Martin Agency — Richmond’s nationally renowned advertising agency. Dr. Tucker leads a team of consumer intelligence experts who transform data into business ideas and strategies.

A former tenured professor at the University of South Carolina, Dr. Tucker gave spirited tips to the graduates. Among other things, she urged them to “get rid of those toxic people in your life,” which inspired loud murmurs of agreement from the parents in the audience.

Dr. Tucker literally had the graduates – and even some faculty – dancing in the aisles when she ended her address with the popular dance song, “Live Your Life” by I.T. The lyrics, “You’re a shining star,” resonated throughout the Student Commons as the future professionals took the song’s name to heart and marched from the ceremony with diplomas in hand.

School of Mass Communications Graduation: December 13, 2008

The School of Mass Communications will hold its Fall 2008 Commencement Ceremony on Saturday, Dec. 13 at 3 p.m. The ceremony will take place in the VCU Student Commons, located at 907 Floyd Avenue, in the Commonwealth Ballrooms.

As this anticipated date approaches, nearly 80 future alumni have mailed invitations, tailored their gowns and are anxiously waiting to receive their diplomas and move on to the next stage in their lives.

The school is proud to present degrees to this talented class of students. As with every year, faculty and staff look forward to seeing students put their teachings from the past several years to work in Creative Advertising, Strategic Advertising, Broadcast Journalism, Print Journalism and Public Relations.

Guest Speaker: Dr. Lauren Tucker
Featured at the graduation ceremony will be guest speaker Dr. Lauren Tucker, director of consumer forensics at The Martin Agency. Dr. Tucker leads a team of consumer intelligence experts who focus on uncovering data-driven insights that drive business ideas and strategies.

Educated at the Universities of Wisconsin-Madison, Texas-Austin and Virginia, Dr. Tucker has accrued more than twenty years of providing creative and disciplined thought leadership to colleagues and clients, including BF Goodrich Tires, Bacardi Rum, DaimlerChrysler and Kellogg.

A former tenured professor at the University of South Carolina, Dr. Tucker continues to take her passion for marketing and her communication education beyond The Martin Agency’s doors to inspire and encourage today’s professionals, educators and young thought leaders on whom the future depends.

Pictured: Dr. Lauren Tucker, director of consumer forensics at The Martin Agency

VCU student receives one of two PRSA Richmond scholarships

The Richmond Public Relations Foundation announced the two winners of their $1,000 scholarships for juniors or seniors at four-year colleges or universities in central Virginia who plan to pursue a career in public relations.

The scholarships were awarded at the Nov. 19 PRSA Richmond luncheon at the Sheraton Park Hotel.

• The winner of the Bill Dietrick memorial scholarship is Duncan Phillips a senior at the University of Richmond.


• The winner of the David Hurdle memorial scholarship is Lauren Gauthier a senior at Virginia Commonwealth University.

Learn more now.

Alumni Networking Reception

The School of Mass Comm and CRT/tanaka are hosting an alumni networking reception on Tuesday, Nov. 25. (more)

Graduate students in multimedia program produce high-quality journalism

The first class in the VCU School of Mass Communications’ multimedia journalism graduate program is well into its second semester. The group of thirteen students has already taken two courses in online journalism, as well as a research methods and a visual journalism class.

One visual journalism project involved the entire class. The idea for “Richmond is…” came from the students; the goal was to define what the city of Richmond means to its residents. Teams of three-to-four students set out on one day to talk to as many people as possible.


The multimedia graduate students also recently completed a series of online projects on topics ranging from the state fair to retirement planning to homeschooling. Teams of two or three worked together to use all the multimedia tools available to them, including video, audio, text and stills, and they experimented with various forms of interactivity and presentation. Check out the two projects linked below.

What lies beneath?
This exploration of Richmond’s slave history focuses on an old burial ground and other important sites that have been all-but destroyed by time and neglect. It also profiles the local groups trying to preserve this history and the latest initiative to get the city involved.

Go there now!




Homeowning 101
This project explores what a first-time home buyer will go through in the current economic environment, as well as provides useful information for anyone buying a home.

Go there now!

___________________

Read more about the program or contact:

June O. Nicholson
Associate Director for Graduate Studies
Room 1108 Temple Building
(804) 827-0251
jonichol@vcu.edu

Mass Comm annual food drive

The School of Mass Communications and its Student Advisory Board will host an annual holiday food drive November 10 through December 3. This is not the same old food drive that you are familiar with, there’s a twist; the Journalism, Advertising and Public Relations sequences will be competing against each other this year.

Students and faculty will compete to donate the most canned food and nonperishable goods to win class pride! Families across Richmond will benefit from your donation. In recent years, the School of Mass Communications has donated nearly 1000 pounds to the Central Virginia Food Bank.

Food donations can be dropped off in your sequence box located inside the School of Mass Communications office. Items will be tallied regularly and a winner will be announced December 3.

With your help and a little bit of competitive spirit, you will feed hungry families across Richmond this holiday season.

CreateAthon onCampus 2009 is accepting applications from non profits

Are you a nonprofit in need? Is your marketing budget next to nothing?

Apply to the 2nd annual VCU CreateAthon onCampus and you may be selected to receive free marketing materials. VCU student teams mentored by local professionals will create a wide variety of projects at no cost to the nonprofit organizations.

For a second year, VCU’s CreateAthon onCampus is looking for area nonprofits who are in need of marketing and/or promotional materials including but not limited to: logo, letterhead, business cards, brochures, posters, press kits, newsletters, ads.

There may be other needs you have that aren’t listed here. You never know until you ask if we can do it. The worst we can say is no, maybe next year….

Deadline for application: November 21, 2008

Learn more now!

Mass Comm Week 08' Scores Big

Mass Comm Week 08’ blew through VCU like a hurricane from October 6-10, giving students a whirlwind of exposure to the professional level of mass communications. The VCU School of Mass Communications’ week of events ranged from lectures and book signings to compelling speeches by accomplished professionals and alumni.

Tradition was continued as Mark Ethridge, former editor of The Charlotte Observer and author of the book and upcoming film, Grievances, delivered the Turpin Lecture on News Management. The Miami Herald was duly represented by its police courts editor, Sergio Bustos, and its investigative journalist, Ronnie Greene, who have both recently published their first books. The two VCU Alumni returned to their alma mater to share their news room and book authoring experiences.

The cultural trend of online social networking was the topic of the day as Geoff Livingston, CEO of Livingston Communications, lectured on PR and Social Media. Livingston engaged a room of more than 80 students, all of whom received free copies of his award winning book on new media, Now is Gone.

After these and nearly two dozen other speaker events, the week was wrapped up with the Mass Comm Internship Fair, which attracted communications students hooping to follow in the footsteps of the week’s motivating guest speakers. Over 50 “dressed to impress” students mingled with internship providers such as WRIC TV, Radio Disney, the Richmond SPCA, Midlothian Exchange and Sprint.

The School of Mass Communications extends a resounding “thank you” to all those who helped make this week-long event a success!

In the Photo: The National Press Club is celebrating its 100th anniversary with a nationwide conversation that looks at where the news business is going and what news consumers should be demanding. The NPC panel discussion at VCU featured Bob Sullivan, who covers Internet scam and consumer fraud for msnbc.com; Reid Ashe, who supervises Media General's three operating divisions; moderator Gil Klein, a veteran national correspondent for the Media general News Service; Nancy Kent, news director for NBC-12; and Jeff South, associate professor of journalism.

Mass Comm Week finishes with the Brandcenter Friday Forum: Brooklyn Brothers

Technology hasn’t changed our basic human nature, but it has changed the way we consume. Marketing to the new consumer requires a rethink of the way we create communications and use media. Advertising needs to be disposable, ideas need to be the medium, and the consumer needs to be invited into the brand. Come get inspired as Guy Barnett, cofounder and creative director, and Paul Parton, partner, share their perspectives.

The session is Friday, October 10, 11 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. at VCU Brandcenter, 103 S. Jefferson St.

Mass Comm week continues with Maimi Twice

Interested in investigative journalism or crime reporting? How about authoring your first book? Expose yourself to it all in one event. An editor and an investigative journalist, both from the Miami Herald, share their experiences as first time authors. Police and Courts Editor Sergio Bustos discusses his book, Miami’s Criminal Past: Uncovered, while journalist Ronnie Greene tells the story behind Night Fire: Big Oil, Poison Air, and Margie Richard’s Fight to Save her town.

The presentation is 11 a.m.-Noon on Thursday, October 9 in Virginia Rooms C & D.

Ronnie Greene is a journalist with The Miami Herald and teaches journalism at the University of Miami. His first book is Night Fire: Big Oil, Poison Air, and Margie Richard's Fight to Save Her Town. The book tells the story of Richard’s hometown in Louisiana and the effects of a chemical plant owned by Shell that sickened many residents.

Determined to see Shell take responsibility for its actions, Richard and her fellow low-income neighbors fought back. The battle took them from Louisiana to The Hague and beyond. Greene’s book illustrates how determination and grit can move even the most stubborn of corporate giants.

Sergio Bustos is the police and courts editor at the Miami Herald. Bustos' book, Miami's Criminal Past: Uncovered, goes beyond the Hollywood imagery of Miami’s criminal underworld to present the dramatic history of true crime tales.

Beyond Scarface and Miami Vice are Miami’s real-life vigilantes, the family tragedies, the politically motivated homicides and the rampageous cross-country killers. Of course, there’s also the inevitable stories of celebrities behaving badly – as when Jim Morrison allegedly exposed himself during a 1969 Doors concert – along with accounts of celebrity murders, such as the 1997 slaying of fashion designer Gianni Versace. Bustos’ edgy book delves into the dark side of Miami’s glittering streets.

Turpin Lecture in News Management features author Mark Ethridge

The School of Mass Communications is proud to welcome renowned author Mark Ethridge as a guest speaker for Mass Comm Week. Ethridge continues the school’s tradition with a Turpin Lecture in News Management. The lecture will take place on Wednesday, October 8 in Virginia Rooms A and B in the Student Commons at 7 p.m. Immediately following the lecture will be a signing of Ethridge's latest book, Grievances, and a reception in the Scott House.

Since 1990, Ethridge has been the president of Carolina Parenting, Inc. which publishes Charlotte Parent magazine and the parenting magazines in Greensboro/Winston-Salem/High Point and Raleigh/Durham/Chapel Hill.

The third-generation journalist directed The Charlotte Observer’s Pulitzer Prize-winning investigations of the textile industry and the PTL ("Praise The Lord") scandal involving Jim and Tammy Faye Bakker. His work has appeared in newspapers and magazines coast-to-coast. Ethridge studied as a Nieman Fellow at Harvard and was a member of Esquire magazine’s inaugural class of “People Under 40 Who Are Changing America.”

Recent on his list of accomplishments is his captivating novel, Grievances, in which Ethridge takes readers on a journey of the real-life breakneck world of newspaper reporting, from bylines to deadlines, and reluctant publishers to mysterious sources. Tennessee’s largest production company, Transcendent, has joined forces with the author to turn the novel into a feature film.

Bob Deans, White House correspondent for Cox News discusses transformations in elections

As part of VCU’s Mass Communications Week, Bob Deans, White House correspondent for Cox News, will present his lecture on Transformations in Elections on Wednesday, October 8 in the Commons Forum, 2-3:30 pm.

Deans will talk about his experience as a White House correspondent during the transition from the Clinton administration to the Bush White House, as well as his time as White House Correspondence Association President in the early years of the Bush administration.

Deans offers a unique perspective on what effects the 2008 elections and the changing media landscape will have on future coverage of presidents and presidential candidates.

Deans, a 1978 graduate of VCU’s School of Mass Communications, entered the newspaper business at age 10, delivering his hometown paper, the Richmond Times-Dispatch.In 1980 he became an Atlanta-based reporter for Fairchild Publications and the following year moved to New York as a Fairchild editor. In 1983, he returned to the south as a reporter for the Charleston (S.C.) Post and Courier. The following year he joined The Atlanta Journal-Constitution as a business reporter.

Deans was posted in Tokyo as the Cox Newspapers Asia correspondent from 1987-1991. In 1992 he joined the Cox Washington Bureau, where he covered economic and diplomatic affairs before shifting to White House coverage in 1998. He was president of the White House Correspondents' Association 2002-2003.

CreateAthon onCampus is recognized as one of VCU’s 40 Acts of Caring

Virginia Commonwealth University’s 40th anniversary is a chance to celebrate the contributions that VCU faculty, staff and students have made in the community. Of the hundreds of examples of community initiatives, VCU will showcase and celebrate 40 Acts of Caring.

The School of Mass Comm’s CreateAthon onCampus, created and directed by Associate Professor Peyton Rowe, has been recognized as one of those 40 Acts of Caring.

CreateAthon and the other examples of university-community partnerships will be honored at the university's 40th Anniversary Celebration on Friday, October 24, as well as the university’s October 25 Monroe Park Festival.

One of the 40 finalists will be honored with VCU's Currents of Change award.

During CreateAthon on Campus—a 24-hour creative blitz that took place during Spring Break 2008—Mass Comm students worked in teams to produce marketing and advertising services for 12 area nonprofits. During the event, local professionals were on hand to mentor the students, ensuring high quality and effective materials.

Some of the completed work included four identity packages of logos, letterheads, business cards and envelopes; a web site; a brochure; eNewsletter; brand and marketing plans; a digital presentation; and five video spots.

According to Rowe, her students met and exceeded her expectations.

“I’m so proud of the students,” she said. “They all rose to the occasion at all levels: the concepts, the work (and) the presentations. After four years in the making for me, CreateAthon onCampus was everything I had hoped it would be.”

The Virginia Communications Hall of Fame seeks nominees

The Virginia Communications Hall of Fame seeks nominees for induction in 2009. The induction will occur on April 2, 2009 “black tie optional” event at The Jefferson Hotel, Richmond. No more than a total of four individuals will be inducted, one of whom may be inducted posthumously. Living selectees are expected to attend the induction ceremonies.

The Hall of Fame seeks to induct persons who were born in Virginia who have made outstanding long-term contributions in the field of communications, or persons born elsewhere who have become distinctively identified with Virginia and have made outstanding long-term contributions in the field of communications.

Learn more about previous Hall of Fame honorees.

Nominations should include:

• a letter that identifies the nominee and describes, in as much detail as possible, the professional contributions to communication of the nominee and the nominee’s Virginia connection,


• contact information for the nominee (if deceased, one of the nominee’s family members) including address, telephone and fax numbers, and e-mail address


• names and contact information for at least two individuals whom the Hall of Fame Selection Committee can contact for additional information
  

Nominations must be received before November 1, 2008, and should be sent to:
Dr. Judy VanSlyke Turk, Chair, Selection Committee
Virginia Communications Hall of Fame
School of Mass Communications
Virginia Commonwealth University
PO Box 842034
Richmond, VA 23284
FAX 804-828-9175

Associate Professor Jeff South receives distinguished teaching award

On September 16, the 26th Annual Faculty Convocation, acknowledging the quality and excellence of VCU faculty, marked the official kick-off of the 2008-2009 academic year. During the convocation event, President Eugene Trani and Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs, Stephen Gottfredson, recognized four honorees for their outstanding accomplishments in the areas of teaching, scholarship, service and overall excellence.

Among the educators honored was our own School of Mass Communications Associate Professor, Jeffrey South. South received the Distinguished Teaching Award for his accomplishments in the field of journalism and his contributions to VCU’s School of Mass Communications.

An enthusiastic learner as well as teacher, South is known as an “evangelist” for technology and is an active proponent of incorporating it in the classroom. South also makes time to share his insight with fellow teachers and journalists. He has participated in more than 90 panel discussions and workshops covering topics such as performing ethical training sessions, writing for the Web, and using the Blackboard course management system.

Among South’s accomplishments are his many published articles in the American Journalism Review, Online Journalism Review and other publications. In 2007, he took his teaching expertise beyond VCU when he spent six months training journalists in Ukraine under the prestigious Knight International Journalism Fellowship. South calls the opportunity life changing. “It really opened my eyes to what’s happening in Eastern Europe,” he says. “Understanding how the press operates in another country was a wonderful experience for me.”

After returning to VCU, South worked with other mass communications faculty members to revamp the school’s curriculum. The new courses successfully began this fall and, like most of what he’s worked on, the end results prepare students to reach their full potential and excel as professional journalists.

National Press Club and VCU's School of Mass Communications present a panel discussion on the media

The National Press Club, the world’s leading professional organization for journalists, and the School of Mass Communications are teaming up to present a panel discussion on the future of the news media and how to protect its core values.

The October 6 event will begin at 7 p.m. at Harris Hall on the university’s Monroe Park Campus. The event, part of Mass Comm Week 2008, is open to the public and admission is free.

The NPC Centennial Forum on “The First Amendment, Freedom of the Press and the Future of Journalism,” features some of the leading journalists shaping the news business.

• Reid Ashe, executive vice president and chief operating officer for Media General


• Nancy Kent, news director for NBC-12
  
• Bob Sullivan, technology correspondent for msnbc.com


• Jeff South, VCU School of Mass Comm associate professor who specializes in multimedia journalism.

The panel will be moderated by Gil Klein, a veteran national correspondent for the Media General News Service, past NPC president and director of the club’s Centennial Forum Project.

This forum is part of a nationwide conversation the National Press Club is holding during its 100th anniversary to look at where the news business is going and what news consumers should be demanding. This is one of 35 forums the club is hosting this fall.

The event begins with a preview of the club’s centennial documentary, “A Century of Headlines,” which follows the history of American journalism through the lens of one of its leading institutions. Everyone who attends this forum will get a copy of the documentary.

“We’re excited to be hosting this forum and are especially excited that it will give our students the opportunity to hear from these journalists and newsroom executives about the transformation taking place in the news industry,” said Dr. Judy VanSlyke Turk, director of VCU’s School of Mass Communications.

Let Mass Comm Week '08 inspire you!

Continuing its tradition of excellence, the School of Mass Comm brings its students and community a week full of informative and interactive learning sessions focused on the field of Mass Communications. Featuring experts from around the country, check out how Mass Comm Week can inspire you!

Student Advisory Board seeks six new members

The School of Mass Communications Student Advisory Board is seeking six new members for the 2008-2009 academic year.

Established in 2005, the Student Advisory Board meets monthly to assist the school's faculty and administration in identifying important student issues and assists with school activities such as open houses, the internship fair and graduations.

The SAB consists of 12 members – presidents (or designees) of the five MASC student organizations and seven at-large members representing MASC freshmen through seniors. Two at-large members fill the position of chairman and vice-chairman. The openings include five at-large positions and one vice-chairman position.

All students within the School of Mass Communications are urged to apply. Applications are due Friday September 19 by 4 p.m. For more information contact Board Chairman Allyson Hunter at hunterag@vcu.edu.

Fall 2008 Meeting Schedule:

October 6, 4pm
November 3, 4pm
December 1, 4pm

Journalist and writer David Hadju to discuss the surprising tale of comic books in American history

To commemorate Constitution Day, the VCU School of Mass Communications is cosponsoring a talk by David Hadju, journalist and author of The Ten-Cent Plague: The Great Comic Book Scare and How it Changed America.

This free event will take place Thursday, Sept. 18 at 7:30 p.m. in Harris Hall Auditorium. The School of Mass Communications and the VCU Student Chapter of Society of Professional Journalists are cosponsors of the event, along with VCU Student Media, VCU Libraries and the VCU Division of Student Affairs.

Learn more about the book and the author now.

Mass Comm professor honored for promoting diversity in newsrooms

June Nicholson, associate director and associate professor in the Virginia Commonwealth University School of Mass Communications, has received the 2008 Robert P. Knight Multicultural Recruitment Award. The award was given by the Scholastic Division of the Association for Education in Journalism & Mass Communication.

Nicholson, a VCU faculty member since 1984, was honored for her significant contributions over more than two decades to promoting diversity in America's newsrooms through work in scholastic media programs.

"June is passionate about bringing more young people of color into journalism education and the profession of journalism," said Judy VanSlyke Turk, director of the VCU School of Mass Communications. "She has done a remarkable job of pursuing that passion and creating undeniable results."

From 1985 to 2007, Nicholson directed VCU's Virginia Urban Journalism Workshop, an intensive summer workshop founded to provide experience and training for minority high school students interested in journalism. A dozen participants spend two weeks each year at VCU, learning the basics of journalism and producing a 20-page newspaper. The workshop is sponsored by the Richmond Times-Dispatch, the national Dow Jones Newspaper Fund, VCU and the Virginia Press Association. In 2007, the workshop adopted race-neutral admission criteria.

A number of graduates of the Urban Journalism Workshop during Nicholson's tenure advanced to careers in journalism and journalism education. Among them is George Daniels, assistant professor at the University of Alabama and a 1987 participant in the workshop program.
"Her willingness to not give up is exceeded only by her passion for young people that has lasted for decades," Daniels, who nominated Nicholson for the Knight Award, said in his nomination letter. "It is fitting that we pause to recognize and salute her for the time and talent she has brought to ongoing efforts to make our nation's newsrooms more reflective of the diversity in their communities."

Nicholson is co-developer of the Society of Professional Journalists' (SPJ) diversity curriculum that is part of the organization's newsroom training program, and is a former member of the national SPJ committee on diversity among journalists. She is the chair of national SPJ's International Journalism Committee and served as chair of SPJ's national Journalism Education Committee from 2000-07. She is former president of the Virginia Professional chapter of SPJ and a current board member.

The Knight Multicultural Recruitment Award is given by the Scholastic Division of the Association for Education in Journalism & Mass Communication to recognize any media organization or individual who has made significant contributions to promoting diversity through contributions to high school or middle school media programs.

School of Mass Comm recruits for four new professors

Want to have a hand in shaping future mass communications professionals? At VCU's School of Mass Comm, you can impact the future! We enroll 1,200 majors and pre-majors in journalism, advertising and public relations and 200 graduate students in advertising and public relations. VCU has a diverse student body of more than 28,000 undergraduate, graduate and professional students.

Current Job Openings (Beginning Fall Semester 2009):

• Assistant or Associate Professor, Broadcast Journalism
  (Two Positions Available)
  
  
• Assistant or Associate Professor, Advertising
  (Two Positions Available)

VCU is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer. Women, minorities and persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply.

Urban Journalism Workshop Wraps Up

The ink has dried on the 2008 Virginia Urban Journalism Workshop and a dozen outstanding students from across the Commonweath have a publication to prove it – The Urban Reporter.

The UJW is a two-week intensive workshop for high school students who might be interested considering journalism as a course of study in college and as a possible career. The participants produced a 20-page tabloid-sized newspaper which focused on the 2008 Presidential election. Each student wrote an article highlighting some aspect of the election and a profile on one of their peer reporters.

The residential program, held June 15-27, was one of nearly 30 Urban Journalism Workshops across the country sponsored in part by a grant from the by the Dow Jones Newspaper Fund. Other sponsors of the VCU workshop included the Richmond Times-Dispatch, the Virginia Press Association and VCU’s School of Mass Communications. It was the School’s 24th year to host the workshop.

“This was a wonderful opportunity for students to learn about interviewing, reporting, writing and editing by working in an intensive news environment. They interacted with some of Richmond’s top newsmen and women,” said Carol Mawyer, director of the UJW. “For the first time in our workshop’s history, we included a multi-media component. This reflects the industry trend in convergence and received high marks with the students.”

The workshop was held on the campus of Virginia Commonwealth University and included occasional visits to the Richmond Times-Dispatch building as well as a trip to the Newseum in Washington, D.C., an interactive museum of journalism history and current worldwide news. The students also enjoyed visits from various speakers including Tom Silvestri, president and publisher of the Richmond-Times Dispatch and Glenn Proctor , the paper’s vice president and executive editor.

Bonnie Davis, the workshop’s associate director noticed a big change in some of the students during the workshop. “They came in timid and left with a sense of self confidence,” she said. “The program provides them with skills they can take with them in various aspects of their lives for years to come.”

Matthew Bardowell, a rising senior at James River High School in Chesterfield County, recieved a four-year renewable $1,000 scholarship from the Richmond –Times Disptach for his outstanding reporting on immigration issues. Kendra Johnson, a rising senior at Varina High School in Henrico County, was recommended for a $1,000 national Dow Jones Newspaper Fund scholarship for her story on Barack Obama.

UJW participants lived in university dorms and ate in the campus dining center during their stay. Most days began at 7 a.m. and ended at 11 p.m.

After two weeks of hard work and long hours, the students reflect on what they learned.

“I have really enjoyed the Urban Journalism Workshop this year, despite the long nights and the lack of sleep, said Erika Maguire, a senior from Midlothian’s Cosby High School. “However, with our daily schedule, I have really gotten a feel of what it's like to be a reporter.”

Lurah Lowery, a rising senior at John S. Battle High School in Bristol, said, “We have to work hard and work long days but it's worth it because we end up writing great articles. Plus this is good practice and experience for college.”

Maguire said, “Although it is a lot of work, you get the chance to come in contact with so many people, from newspaper writers, to broadcasting anchors, to politicians, and best of all, to fellow students, just like yourself, who want to pursue the same career. These are the people that will ultimately help you get where you'd like to be in the future.”

Arviet Rawlings, a rising senior at L.C. Bird High School in Chesterfield, said, “I would absolutely recommend this program to other students. Whether they are into advertising, live broadcast, or journalism, I think this is definitely a good source for preparation.”

Reuben Jones, a rising senior at Charlottesville High School, said, “I would recommend the workshop because you learn a lot and meet a lot of friends and hear from a lot of journalists. The workshop helps improve your writing skills and helps you become a better journalist.”

Learn More!

Read the coverage from the Richmond Times Dispatch.

View a slideshow of the UJW experience.

Judy VanSlyke Turk receives PRSA Richmond's prestigious Thomas Jefferson Award

On June 12, PRSA Richmond awarded Judy VanSlyke Turk, PhD., APR, Fellow PRSA, with the prestigious Thomas Jefferson Award.

Each year PRSA Richmond recognizes extraordinary achievement by an individual working in the field of public relations. Thomas Jefferson Award winners exemplify the best in the profession. The program is open to public relations practitioners in the Greater Richmond metropolitan area.

“This award recognizes and celebrates a lifetime of achievement,” said Felicia McLemore, APR, PRSA Richmond’s president. “In Judy VanSlyke Turk’s case, she has achieved enough for three lifetimes! We’re so pleased to be able to honor her in this way, and to count her among our chapter membership.”

Judy VanSlyke Turk is Director of the School of Mass Communications at Virginia Commonwealth University.

Prior to joining VCU in March 2002, she was founding dean of the College of Communication and Media Sciences at Zayed University in the United Arab Emirates, a position she held for 2½ years. Previously, she was dean of the College of Journalism and Mass Communications at the University of South Carolina, director of the journalism and mass communications program at Kent State University and a faculty member at the University of Oklahoma, Louisiana State University and Syracuse University.

VanSlyke Turk is president-elect of the Association of Schools of Journalism and Mass Communications and is past president of the Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communications (AEJMC), the largest association of journalism faculty and administrators in the United States. She was chair of the teaching standards committee in 1992

VanSlyke Turk is an elected member of the Arthur W. Page Society, an association of senior executives and educators in corporate communication and public relations.

She is 2008 chair of the Educational Affairs Committee of the Public Relations Society of America and a past chair of its College of Fellows. She also is a member of the Commission on Public Relations Education, a collaborative venture among PRSA and several other academic and professional associations in public relations.

VanSlyke Turk, who worked professionally for The Associated Press and in university and corporate public relations before beginning her academic career, was named Outstanding Public Relations Educator in 1992 by the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA). In 2005 she was awarded the Pathfinder Award by the Institute for Public Relations in recognition of her research and publications in the field of public relations.

She is associate editor of Journalism Studies, an international refereed journal. She also is a member of the editorial advisory board for Journal of Public Relations Research, and Journalism and Mass Communications Quarterly.

VanSlyke Turk is co-author of This is PR: The Realities of Public Relations (Wadsworth Publishing, now in its 9th edition) and co-editor of a collection of international public relations case studies developed as a project of the Public Relations Division of AEJMC and published by the Institute for Public Relations.

She has consulted and lectured on public relations and journalism/mass communications curriculum issues in Eastern Europe, the Newly Independent States, the Baltics, Russia, the Middle East and Asia.

Dr. VanSlyke Turk's friends congratulate her in a video tribute

View the tribute video in which just a few of Dr. VanSlyke Turk's friends congratulate her on this lifetime achievement award.

Tribute Video- Part I

Tribute Video- Part II

School of Mass Comm welcomes Timothy Bajkiewicz

The School of Mass Communications at VCU has added another broadcast journalism faculty member, Associate Professor Dr. Tim Bajkiewicz (or as he prefers, “Dr. B”).

“I'm really excited about coming to VCU. I just have a good feeling about everything--the students, my fellow faculty, the campus,” said Bajkiewicz. “When you start talking to people you can sense the buzz and that's something special. I visited campus in late January, which was a little cold for a guy who's basically lived in Florida for the past 20 years. Everyone was so kind to me and I had a great time. As soon as I got there I knew this is where I wanted to be,” he said.

Bajkiewicz holds a doctorate in journalism and mass communication from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He also has a master’s degree in mass communication and telecommunication from the University of Florida. He received his bachelor’s degree from the University of Florida as well, majoring in anthropology with a minor in mass communication.

“I bring a lot of broadcasting and media experience with me, especially with multimedia journalism,” Bajkiewicz said. “You just have to look around to see all the ways we get information today, like our cell phones or online. Quality information has never been so important, and so we need to train the next generation of media storytellers. VCU's School of Mass Communications has a great national reputation, and I'm looking forward to working with the School's students and faculty to keep that up.”

Bajkiewicz has a great deal of teaching experience, including working as an instructor at the University of South Florida. He has also received a number of awards such as the Outstanding Undergraduate Teaching Award for his work at the University of South Florida. He also placed second in the “Promising Professors” National Teaching Competition the same year.

Bajkiewicz also has a long list of professional broadcast experience. He was a researcher and production assistant for the North Carolina Center for Public Television. He was Online Assistant Coordinator of the General Alumni Association at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He has also been a full-time on-air talent at stations like WRUF AM-FM in Gainesville, Florida, WGLF-FM in Tallahassee and WRQN-FM in Toledo, Ohio.

School of Mass Comm welcomes Soo Yeon Hong

Part of what makes Virginia Commonwealth University and the School of Mass Communications great is its experienced and diverse faculty. The school takes pride in hiring qualified faculty to educate the continuously growing number of students. Dr. Soo Yeon Hong is one of the newest assistant professors to be added to the School’s faculty.

Hong, who joins the School on Aug. 15, said, “I'm very excited to join the faculty at the School of Mass Communications in Virginia Commonwealth University and to teach students at VCU. I've taught students before but this is huge! Many of my friends here in Syracuse told me that Richmond is a very historic city. But with so much energy coming from the students, the professors, VCU, and the city, I felt like I was in a very young city when I was there for an interview last fall.”

Hong received her PhD in May 2008 from the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University. She obtained a master’s degree in television, radio and film in May of 2005 and a master’s in magazine journalism in December of 2000, both from Syracuse. She also has a bachelor’s degree in Spanish language and literature from Hankook University of Foreign Studies in Seoul, Korea.

“I've always followed my heart which led me to explore wonderful professions and education--public relations, graphic design, research, magazine journalism, film, marketing--as well as great parts of the world--Spain, Indonesia, Japan, New York City, Syracuse, and Alabama, “ Hong said.

Hong began her teaching experience as a guest lecturer at Syracuse University. She quickly moved up the ladder to become a lab instructor and then a teaching assistant. After that she became an adjunct professor, teaching Introduction to the Graphic Arts and Visual Communication Theory and Practices.

“At VCU, I want my diverse experience to create useful, relevant lessons that kindle and affirm students' interest, and I want the work we do in the classroom to build students' confidence,” Hong said.

She was rated as one of the best Syracuse professors and classes in The Daily Orange, a student-run newspaper at Syracuse. Hong was also Mentor to a Syracuse University Scholar in 2006-2007. University Scholar is the highest honor given to an undergraduate.

Hong is excited about her new position, stating, “I can't wait to begin my journey in VCU.”

School of Mass Comm hosts Urban Journalism Workshop

The Virginia Urban Journalism Workshop is back for its 2008 encore! Twelve rising or graduating high school seniors have been selected to participate in this year’s program, which will take place June 15-27. The students are from James River, Deep Run, Cosby, Varina, Charlottesville, John S. Battle, Floyd, Windsor, L.C. Bird, George Wythe and J.R. Tucker High School.

This two-week intensive residential workshop is designed for high school students interested in journalism. The Richmond Times-Dispatch and VCU's School of Mass Communications and the Virginia Press Association are partnering to sponsor the event. Additional funding is being provided by the Dow Jones Newspaper Fund. It will take place on the campus of Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond and includes occasional visits to the Times-Dispatch building.

The workshop is offered to participants at no cost.“This is a wonderful opportunity for students to learn about writing, editing, design, graphics and career opportunities in the important field of journalism,” said Carol Mawyer, director of the Workshop and the School’s assistant director for student services and scholastic journalism. The Workshop’s associate director is Associate Professor Bonnie Newman Davis.

Kappa Tau Alpha inducts 32 new members

This spring, 32 students were inducted into the George T. Crutchfield Chapter of Kappa Tau Alpha, a journalism and mass communications honor society.

“This is the Phi Beta Kappa of mass communications students,” Dr. Judy VanSlyke Turk told those assembled, illustrating the honor and importance of membership in Kappa Tau Alpha.

Kappa Tau Alpha is meant to foster a high level of scholarship in journalism and mass communications. Therefore, membership was extended by invitation only to juniors and seniors with overall grade point averages in the top 10 percent of their class in the School of Mass Communications.

Turk, the chapter advisor, led the ceremony held in the Temple building on March 21. She read from the chapter’s charter explaining to all of the new members and guests the history and purpose of the organization.

VCU’s chapter was chartered in 1978 and has initiated new classes each year since. With this year’s number of new inductees, Turk commented the new class was larger than it has been in the recent past.

Kappa Tau Alpha was founded at the University of Missouri in 1910 and is the seventh oldest national honor society. It is a member of the Association of College Honor Societies and is the only member dedicated to journalism/mass communications.

According to the Kappa Tau Alpha web site, the organization’s emblem is the key, which stands for knowledge and communication. In addition, the letters kappa, tau and alpha suggest the words knowledge, truth and accuracy. The Greek letters also represent “The Truth Will Prevail” the underlying purpose of journalism and mass communications.

VCU InSight in action!

It's year six for VCU's student-produced news program, VCU InSight. The show airs four times each month on Richmond PBS affiliate, WCVW, a Community Idea Station.

To see what our team of student anchors, reporters, producers and production personnel accomplished this year, check out this video.



Then check out our blog at vcuinsight.wordpress.com works or watch the show on WCVW, Channel 57 (Richmond Cable Channel 24) on Mondays, Fridays and Sundays.

Cutting-edge curriculum introduced to match changing industry

The School of Mass Communications is transforming its curriculum to better meet the needs of changing media industries. Major updates to the advertising, journalism and public relations sequences are scheduled to affect students beginning in fall 2008.

Curriculum changes are designed to create more tailored majors, allow students to determine their sequences and begin taking specialized MASC courses earlier in their college career. Students will enter VCU as MASC majors in the Foundation instead of being classified as “pre-majors.” After three semesters in the Foundation, students will petition for a Sequence.

The curriculum update includes a number of cutting-edge courses; updated names and descriptions, and changes in MASC collateral courses.

The most significant changes are in the advertising curriculum, which faculty members said they “blew up” and rebuilt from the ground up.

“Our new advertising curriculum focused on the attributes of those who perform successfully in a variety of advertising roles,” said Dr. Judy VanSlyke Turk, the School’s director. “Our old curriculum focused on the skills we taught in our courses – like courses in copywriting and art direction, for instance. Our new curriculum focused on the attributes copywriters and art directors need to be successful – “Perspicuousness” for copywriting, and “Imagination” for art direction.”

The Mass Comm updates are being introduced at the same time as when VCU is evaluating its core and general-education requirements.

Mass Comm adviser Natasha Long says the School’s new curriculum will offer more choices from a wider variety of courses to better meet the needs of students and the changing media industries.

Should students need guidance or assistance in understanding the curriculum changes, they are encouraged to seek advising either with their University College adviser (for freshmen) or the School’s adviser(s) (for sophomores, transfers and students yet to petition).

Get May '08 graduation details here

You've worked hard, and the time has finally come to graduate!

Get the details you need here:

http://www.has.vcu.edu/mac/graduation_details/may2008.html

Mass Comm Director Judy Turk calls Hall of Fame inductees "outstanding communicators in Virginia."

The Virginia Communications Hall of Fame inducted a college professor, a management and lobbying firm founder, two editors and publishers and a public relations firm chairman and chief officer at its 2008 ceremony on April 17.

The selection committee for the Hall of Fame chose Rick Boyko, Peter Easter, John Edwards, J. Malcolm (Jay) Pace, III and Mark Raper to join previous inductees. They make up the 21^st class of the Hall of Fame’s 22 year history and raise the number of honorees to 111.

“We are very excited to honor these individuals who have been outstanding communicators in Virginia,” said Dr. Judy VanSlyke Turk, APR, Fellow PRSA, director of VCU’s School of Mass Communications. “Each of these inductees has excelled and truly deserves a spot in this year’s class.”

The induction ceremony and dinner was held at the Jefferson Hotel in Richmond, Va. This black tie event was hosted by Virginia Commonwealth University’s School of Mass Communications.

The Hall of Fame was established in 1986 to honor men and women who have shown exceptional achievement through the years in newspapers, magazines, radio, television, advertising, public relations, journalism-related organizations or journalism education.

Also honored was the 2008 Virginia Communications Hall of Fame Scholarship winner, Cassie Williams. In recognition of outstanding Virginia communicators, this scholarship was established by the VCU School of Mass Communications faculty in 1992. It is awarded to an outstanding undergraduate student based on merit, need and writing skills.

The Master of Ceremonies was Aaron R. Gilchrist, Jr., Emmy-award-winning morning and news anchor for WWBT NBC-12 Television in Richmond.

View a slide show of the evening's festivities!

Pictured Above: Mark Raper, Peter Easter, Mrs. Jay Pace, John Edwards, Rick Boyko and Dr. Judy Turk.

Advertising Undergrads Count Accomplishments

The School of Mass Communications congratulates its undergraduate creative-advertising students who, after receiving a number of regional Addy awards last month, were recognized again in the higher level of the competition at the Third District Addys.

VCU recent graduates Alyssa Collis and Erin Martin won the Student Best of Show award for their Nutella ads designed as a magazine campaign. The award represents the best work among all student entries.

Student Special Judges Award went to VCU senior Chip Stevens and recent graduate Kyle Asay for their McCanns Oatmeal ads.

The American Advertising Federation District 3 Addy awards recognize student and professional work from Virginia, North Carolina and South Carolina. All entries that receive gold and silver Addy awards on the district level compete for national recognition.

The national award ceremony this year will be in Atlanta, Ga., on Tuesday, June 10.

For more information about the Student Addy Awards, visit AAF Web site.

Related stories: Advertising Students Receive National Recognition.

Through "Skunkworks," VCU undergrads design the future of media

Transforming TV experience by tying Internet and broadcast news, offering free classified ads to newspaper subscribers, and the list goes on.

Creative ideas for media companies to re-engage consumers are shaping up among a group of VCU honor students. They are giving their feedback to a major media company about its business.

The class, creatively called Skunkworks, brings together a diverse group of students to work with professionals from Media General, the conglomerate that owns The Richmond Times-Dispatch among other media. The students come up with new ways for media companies to connect with consumers. The students have developed a number of suggestions, bringing in next-generation views and experiences.

“We let the students explore the problem and solve it for themselves,” said Scott Sherman, assistant professor of strategic advertising, and added that declining numbers of newspaper readers is a threat to the business. “That’s a real problem that big companies are trying to solve.”

Sherman and Jeff South, associate professor of print journalism, lead the class that Sherman referred to as a creativity session. The idea behind it, Sherman explained, was to look at the problems media companies are facing. Students were then encouraged to brainstorm on suggestions for improving the media business, develop their ideas and offer them to Media General.

The innovative class has students of all class levels and a number of different majors and takes them off campus encouraging them to work in professional settings. And students are pleased with the results they have accomplished.

“One thing that’s been cool about the class is to help encourage new ideas,” said creative-advertising senior David Canavan.

To assist and enhance the process, Sherman and South have brought in guest speakers, among them media professional and analysts.

“The guest speakers have been my favorite part of the class,” Canavan said. “To hear industry professionals’ perspective on the way media are changing has been very beneficial.”

Andy Stefanovich, from the Richmond-based innovative company Play, talked to the class about inspiration and generating creativity.

Joe Antle, vice president for sales and strategic marketing at Media General, told students about what is happening in big media companies and how they operate in today’s world.

David Richards, chief executive officer of the Norfolk-based software company Concursive Corp., and Michael Harvey, the company’s executive vice president, discussed interesting and new ways people use media.

One of the ideas that students pitched to Media General is using a TiVo technology to link television to the Internet with something similar to a hyperlink on the TV monitor. It would allow viewers to watch a TV show and use their remote control to link to a Web site on their TV, thus making it more convenient to go from one medium (TV) to another (Web).

Another idea students are developing is for a newspaper Web site that would engage young readers. Sherman said students are not encouraged to redesign a given site, but to design a totally new Web experience tailored specifically to young consumers.

When developing their ideas, the students communicate with professionals from related fields and take into consideration how the idea links to both consumers and experts.

On a daily basis, students have the flexibility to self-direct their work, which for many is a plus that the class offers. John Zhao, creative-advertising senior, said this flexibility is making the class cool and daunting.

“The best aspect of the class is being able to have all the freedom to make decisions,” Zhao said. “We’re following ourselves.”

“There’s no right or wrong answer,” he said. “That’s what’s making it a real interesting class, but also a tough one.”

In the beginning of the semester, students were skeptical, but that changed, Sherman said.

“They didn’t think they’d have an impact,” he said. “Now they all believe in what they’re doing.”

Mass Comm students recognize favorite professors

The Mass Communications Student Advisory Board is accepting nominations for the third annual student-sponsored faculty award to be presented to an outstanding professor at the May'08 graduation ceremony.

The award is a way for students to show their appreciation to professors and recognize their efforts not only as instructors, but also mentors and academic and professional advisers. Students of all majors and class levels are encouraged to nominate their favorite faculty member and share a memory or quote, which illustrates his or her personality. The nomination period ends on April 25, when votes will be counted and one professor will stand out as the students' pick for the 2007-2008 academic year.

Public Relations junior Leah Rullman and freshman Janelle Scott are initiating the process this year.

"I'm excited to take over this opportunity and coordinate such an important student initiative," Rullman said.

The first two recipients of the award were Associate Professor of Broadcast Journalism Deb Wenger in 2006, and Adjunct Professor of Print Journalism Mary Ann Owens in 2007.

An increasing number of students participate each year in the initiative to recognize professors.

"These are people who dedicate themselves to enlightening us, challenging us and preparing us for the world," said Strategic Advertising senior Ian Slinkman, who participated in the process last year and plans to do it again this year. "The student faculty-award program is a great way for students to acknowledge those professors who bring us new perspective and force us to push the envelope of our ability."

Graduating senior in Broadcast Journalism, Brandon Shulleeta said Mass Comm faculty deserve the recognition.

"Some (professors) have gone above and beyond their obligations, to help us become better reporters," he said. "This is just a small way for us to say 'thanks.'"

For more information about the faculty award and submitting your nomination form, contact Leah Rullman.

Download the nomination form now!

“Good design for good causes can change the world,” Peyton Rowe, following the first-of-its-kind CreateAthon onCampus

A week after the first CreateAthon onCampus, during which VCU Mass Comm students spent 24 hours working on advertising and marketing projects for local nonprofits, participants proudly announced the success of the event.

Some of the completed work includes four identity packages of logos, letterheads, business cards and envelopes; a finished Web site that has been launched already; a brochure, eNewsletter, brand and marketing plans, a digital presentation and five video spots.

Organizer of the event and former participant of a number of professional CreateAthon events, Peyton Rowe said her students met and exceeded her expectations.

“I’m so proud of the students,” she said. “They all rose to the occasion at all levels: the concepts, the work (and) the presentations. After four years in the making for me, CreateAthon onCampus was everything I had hoped it would be.”

Participating students came from the School of Mass Communications, the Brandcenter and the School of the Arts. For some students, the event was part of a semester-long class, MASC 491: Topics: Nonprofit Project Development; while other participated as volunteers. A total of 43 students and 18 professional mentors devoted their time and efforts for the event, helping 12 nonprofit organizations.

A number of participants shared enthusiasm and pride, looking back at CreateAthon onCampus. First-year Brandcenter student Jake Dubs, 23, said the lessons he learned were serious and philosophical.

“I learned the true value of collaboration and being courteous to others, as well as the value of working with people you actually like working with,” he recapped. “It's not about who is most talented and creative and hard-working. It's about how well you can work together. The Brandcenter greatly emphasizes this too, but it was a much more condensed, real-life version when doing it with CreateAthon.”

For Creative Advertising senior Carly Reed, 21, the event was tiring but rewarding.

“In such a materialistic industry, it was wonderful to work toward helping organizations that really needed it,” she said. “When you push yourself for something you believe in and for a good cause, it can be really rewarding even if you are super exhausted. And I learned you really can accomplish an immense amount of work in 24 hours.”

The next phase of CreateAthon onCampus is working toward getting these advertising and marketing materials produced at little or not cost to the nonprofits. The class will shepherd any work through production, having yet another opportunity to get professional experience outside the classroom . There is a reception to be held for all involved on April 24^th and any deliverables will be given to the nonprofits.

Rowe is optimistic and already has an eye open about future CreateAthon onCampus events at VCU.

“There is no question that CreateAthon onCampus will become a regular event at VCU,” she said. “The learning opportunity is so great for students and with over 5,000 nonprofit organizations in Richmond, there will not be a shortage of work to be done. “

Following this pilot year, Rowe said she plans to assess the program and then package CreateAthon onCampus to present to other schools.

“CreateAthon onCampus is a unique and rewarding experience for students and an outstanding way to give back to the community,” she said. “I want to make it easier for colleges and universities to offer this type of experience to their students who will then create great work for organizations who need it.”

To learn more about VCU’s CreateAthon onCampus, visit its Web site.

School of Mass Comm/VCU Career Center offer student workshops

The VCU Career Center and the School of Mass Communications will be offering two workshops to help students get the most out of the opportunities that VCU offers.

Workshop: Choosing a Concentration
This workshop targets pre-majors and undecided students.

• Tuesday, March 25
• Wednesday, March 26

Both workshops will be held in Temple 2211 from 2:30 - 3:30 p.m.

Workshop: How to Get the Most Out of Your Internship
This workshop includes advice on finding and signing up for an internship, as well as how to get the most out of the experience.

• Monday, April 14
• Thursday, April 17

Both workshops will be held in Temple 2211 from 2:30 - 3:30 p.m.

School of Mass Comm recruits for three teaching positions

Want to have a hand in shaping future mass communications professionals?

At VCU's School of Mass Comm, you can impact the future! We enroll 1,200 majors and pre-majors in journalism, advertising and public relations and 200 graduate students in advertising and public relations. VCU has a very diverse student body of more than 28,000 undergraduate, graduate and professional students.

Current Job Openings:

• Assistant Professor - Broadcast Journalism
• Assistant Professor - Creative Advertising
• Assistant Professor - Public Relations

Learn more now!

VCU is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer. Women, minorities and persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply.