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.

Advertising Students Receive National Recognition

Advertising students from the School of Mass Communications swept a number of awards at the American Advertising Federation’s 2007 Western Virginia Addy Awards in Roanoke earlier this month. The VCU students were recognized for their advertising work with four Gold, six Silver and one Judges-pick Addy Awards.

Assistant professor of Advertising Bridget Camden said she is proud of the accomplishments of her students.

“It is great seeing their long hours and hard work start to pay off for them,” she said. “Winning a student advertising award won’t get them a job, but it is great on the resume.”

All gold and silver-awarded entries moved on to the Third District Addy Awards to compete against student work from Virginia, North Carolina and South Carolina in early April. Winning work from the district level goes to the national-level competition soon after that.

The prestigious judges-pick award in the student category went to advertising seniors Chip Stevens and Kyle Asay for their campaign for McCanns Oatmeal.

“There was a lot of good work submitted,” Stevens said. “(Our award) came as a surprise, but I’m very proud that we got it.”

The award-winning work originated as a class assignment in Camden’s senior-level Portfolio Development classes, MASC 450 and MASC 451. Camden encourages her students to enter work in competitions each semester.

Assistant professor Will Sims currently teaches sections of the portfolio classes and in the MATX PhD program.

“These students are demonstrating the kind of leadership that ranks them and VCU School of Mass Communications among the best in the nation,” he said.

Other competitions where VCU advertising students’ work has been recognized before include the annual New York One Show, annual Richmond show and publications in the prestigious CMYK magazine, which serves as a respected trend-setting publication in the industry on an international level.

For student-work samples, visit Camden's Web site.

VCU Brandcenter opens its doors

VCU’s nationally recognized graduate advertising school, the Brandcenter, formerly known as VCU Adcenter, celebrated its grand opening on Thursday, March 6. Classes in the new facility started at the beginning of this semester.

A number of industry-leading professionals and board members, visited the new building to congratulate administration and students and give personal advice to upcoming graduates.

VCU President Eugene P. Trani said the Brandcenter faculty, staff and students deserve the celebration for their achievements and national recognition.

“The grand opening of the Brandcenter is a wonderful occasion to celebrate the success of VCU’s graduate advertising program as one of the best in the country,” he said.

During their introductions, professionals told students to work hard, believe in themselves and show passion for advertising on their path to success.

Nick Law, R/GA's chief creative officer for North America, focused on the three C’s that ensure success.

“Concept - you’ve got to be able to think; Craft - you’ve got to make; and the last one is Context – you’ve got to know where that stuff that you make lives in time and space and how to read people,” Law said.

Lori Erdos, vice president of advertising sales for USA Today told students to be proud of their knowledge and degrees when they interview for jobs.

“Have confidence when you go to an interview that you know what you are talking about. Because you really do,” she said. “Also (important are) passion and follow up. It’s not brain surgery, it’s really about commitment.”

Earl Cox, partner and director of strategic planning at The Martin Agency, encouraged students to stand up and show individuality.

“Always, always, always have an opinion,” said Cox, who also is adjunct professor at the Brandcenter. “The more provocative the opinion, the better. I would encourage you to develop a strong opinion about the future (of the advertising industry).”

Echoing Cox, Mike Hughes, president and chief creative officer at The Martin Agency, stressed the importance of networking.

“You sure have a chance here to get to know some professionals in the business who are awfully good people,” he said.

Enthusiasm and passion, many agreed, play an important part in the advertising business.

“You defining and understanding what it is that you love about it and why you want to do it and be part of it, will be critical to your opportunities for getting your first job,” said Jeff Steinhour, managing partner and director of content management at Crispin Porter + Bogusky, “and demonstrate some enthusiasm and passion.”

For detailed coverage of the grand opening of the Brandcenter, featuring videos and photos, visit http://ihaveanidea.org/live/.

Visit the Brandcenter's website.

Virginia Communications Hall of Fame to honor five new inductees in April

In 2008, the Virginia Communications Hall of Fame continues its tradition of excellence with the induction of five new members: Rick Boyko, director and professor at the VCU Brand Center; Peter Easter, chairman and director of public affairs for Easter Associates, Inc.; John Edwards, editor and publisher of The Smithfield Times; J. Malcolm "Jay" Pace, III, former editor and owner of the Herald-Progress; and Mark Raper, chairman and CEO of CRT/tanaka.

The Hall of Fame, established by VCU's School of Mass Communications in 1986, recognizes individuals who have shown exceptional achievement in the fields of print, broadcast, public relations, advertising and interactive media, including cable and the Internet. Inductees are nominated and selected by their peers.

These communications pros will be inducted during a ceremony on Thursday, April 17 at the Jefferson Hotel in Richmond, Va. (more)

Creating sustainable economic growth in Ghana

Ever heard of the Millennium Challenge Corporation? It's an independent U.S. government agency established to reduce global poverty through sustainable economic growth. School of Mass Comm Professor Bonnie Davis has seen the fruits of this group's labor first-hand in Accra, Ghana.

Read her commentary, which appeared recently in the Richmond Times Dispatch.

Capital News Service: Student Bylines

One of the advantages that VCU’s School of Mass Comm offers student journalists is the chance to work with real news stories, and have their work published in news outlets across the state.

Here are just a few examples of CNS student work in the media now. Check out links to just a few CNS reporter stories.

Four Mass Comm students receive Black History in the Making Awards

As part of Black History Month, the VCU Department of African American Studies sponsored the Black History in the Making Awards on Thursday, February 28. This year’s recipients from the School of Mass Communications are, (left to right): Adam Bush, Chamise Jones, Eric Larkin, Shana Bernabela and Charles Ayodele “Dele” Smith.

School of Mass Comm welcomes Academic Advisor Natasha Long

Before you log in to Banner to register for your fall 2008 classes, make sure you stay on the right academic track and take the classes you need to graduate when you plan to. Seeking out advising is critical to ensuring success.

To help you keep up with class processes and deadlines, in November the School of Mass Communications welcomed Academic Adviser Natasha Long. With duties ranging from advising to handling student paperwork, Long is a great student resource to keep in mind. She can assist with selecting and scheduling classes, discussing school procedures and regulations and declaring and/or changing Mass Comm sequence.

Long earned her B.A. in history with a minor in Spanish from Marshall University in Huntington, West Virginia. She started her advising career in student-athletic advising at VCU in 2002. She received her master’s of education from VCU in 2003. Long also worked with students at Longwood University before returning to VCU to assist Mass Comm pre-majors, majors and minors.

“I am extremely happy to be working for the School of Mass Communications,” Long said. “The faculty and staff are outstanding."

A student athlete herself, Long understands the delicate balance of time management and academics, an issue that many VCU students face.

Long also partners with the University Career Center to provide workshops to address petition issues facing Mass Comm students.

In addition to her extensive knowledge of the Mass Comm programs, Long can direct you to the right people at the university, making problem-solving one step shorter.

Long can be reached by e-mail at longnj@vcu.edu or by phone at (804) 827-3722.