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