Mass Comm alum joins CBS News

Terrell Brown graduated in May 2009 with a B.S. in Mass Communicaton with a focus in broadcast journalism. While at VCU, Brown was the full-time anchor of the breaking news desk, on WWBT-TV, the NBC affiliate in Richmond. (more)

Grad app deadline is June 26

June 26 is the last day to submit a graduation application for August 2009 graduation. Mass Comm students should email either carol Mawyer or Natasha Long for an appointment to complete the application. Students should bring a completed graduation worksheet (for the year they started at VCU), the graduation application and a current copy of their eServices transcript with them to the appointment.

Students who miss this deadline will have their degrees conferred with the December 2009 graduates.

Emmy Awarded to School of Mass Comm Alumni

Alumna and adjunct instructor Lisa Figueroa and alumnus Jordan Rodericks earned an Emmy Award for a documentary they produced for VCU TV/HD, one of the first student-run operations in the country to produce TV programming in a high-definition format. The two received the award at the 51st Emmy Awards held on June 6 in Washington, D.C.

Learn more now.

VCU student takes first place in Hearst multimedia competition

San Francisco – The top 10 winners in college multimedia were announced on May 13 in the 49th annual William Randolph Hearst Foundation's Journalism Awards Program. This was the second annual Multimedia Competition in which 78 entrants from 47 undergraduate journalism programs at colleges and universities across the nation participated.

First Place has been awarded to TRACY KENNEDY, a freshman from Virginia Commonwealth University. She will receive a $2,000 scholarship for her entry “Distracted Delegates” posted on Capital News Service. Virginia Commonwealth University will receive a matching grant, as do the journalism departments of all scholarship winners.

Other scholarship winners are:

TIM HUSSIN, University of Florida, second place, $1,500 scholarship
KRISTA SCHINAGL, Western Kentucky University, third place, $1,000 scholarship
ALI TABATABAI, San Francisco State University, fourth place, $750 scholarship
PHILIP ANDREWS, Western Kentucky University, fifth place, $600 scholarship
ALEX BLACKWELDER, Middle Tennessee State University, sixth place, $500 scholarship
KHARI JOHNSON, San Francisco State University, seventh place, $500 scholarship
McKENNA EWEN, University of Minnesota, eighth place, $500 scholarship
ASHLEY P. LAU, Northwestern University, ninth place, $500 scholarship
MICHAEL CALCAGNO, University of Oregon, tenth place, $500 scholarship

Western Kentucky University was first place in the Multimedia Competition with the highest accumulated student points in this competition. They are followed by: San Francisco State University; University of Florida (tie); Virginia Commonwealth University (tie); Syracuse University; Middle Tennessee State University (tie); Northwestern University (tie); University of Oklahoma; Temple University (tie); University of Minnesota (tie).
The Hearst Journalism Awards Program is conducted under the auspices of accredited schools of the Association of Schools of Journalism and Mass Communication, and fully funded and administered by the William Randolph Hearst Foundation. It consists of six monthly writing, three photojournalism and four broadcast news competitions and one multimedia competition, with championship finals in all divisions except multimedia. The program awards more than $550,000 in scholarships and grants annually.

Judging the multimedia competition this year were: Arthur S. Brisbane, ASB Consulting, East Dennis, MA; Janet Reeves, Former Senior Editor/Photography and Multimedia, The Rocky Mountain News, Denver, CO; Fred Young, Former Senior Vice President of News, Hearst-Argyle Television, New York, NY.

For more information, see the Journalism Awards’ website, http://www.hearstawards.org/.

Whitaker named "Rising Star"

LaTonya Whitaker was presented the 2008 Rising Star Award from the Virginia Chapter of the Society for Marketing Professional Services (SMPSVA) at the association’s annual conference Feb. 17 in Charlottesville, Va. The award is given to a marketing professional with less than five years experience in the A/E/C industry who has a demonstrated commitment to the field and industry, and who has shown an aptitude for leadership through their intense involvement and contributions.

Whitaker has been a marketing coordinator at the Richmond, VA, office of Hankins & Anderson for less than two years. Since joining the firm in April 2007, she has assumed several responsibilities both at the firm and in SMPSVA, including serving as coordinator for RichmondVirginia Commonwealth University. region meetings of the Chapter. As the Public Relations Director for SMPSVA, Whitaker revamped the Chapter materials and program flyers, and initiated the organization’s foray into social media. She is a 2005 graduate of Virginia Commonwealth University.

“Our Chapter is fortunate to benefit from the energy of many of our ‘younger’ members and competition for the Rising Star Award was tough this year,” said SMPSVA immediate past president Cindy Allen of DJG, Inc. “Among them, LaTonya is a definite stand-out. Her firm and our Chapter are lucky to have her talent; and I predict on her current course, she can rise as far as she likes in the AEC industry.”

SMPS Virginia is the definitive resource for marketing and sales of professional architecture, engineering and construction services for the built and natural environment in the Commonwealth. The Chapter currently has more than 100 members from firms from Roanoke to Charlottesville to Virginia Beach. For more information, visit www.smpsva.org.

Advertising Students Collect Ad Awards

Winners Move on to Regional Competition

Every year, VCU’s undergraduate advertising students enter their work into top creative advertising competitions. The students have been garnering increasingly more recognition in recent years, receiving acknowledgment from some of the top student competitions.

This semester alone, students have won a total of 17 Addy Awards, including Best of Show and four Gold and 12 Silver awards. The work originated as a class assignment in Assistant Professor Bridget Camden’s senior-level classes.

Next, the award-winning students will compete against the local winners of the American Advertising Federation District 3 ADDY winners 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 third and final tier.

Previously, VCU’s advertising students have also been recognized by the New York One Show, the annual Richmond Show and in publications such as CMYK magazine, the top trend-setting advertising publication in the country.

VCU PRSSA Chapter hosts April 18 conference

Public relations plays a vital and diverse role in business, government and other professional organizations in today’s world.

The conference is designed to give students and professionals alike an opportunity to network and learn more about the many areas touched by the profession. Practitioners from the Richmond area and beyond will discuss topics featuring media relations, event planning, crisis communications and non-profit public relations--and how all of these are impacted by the new strategies and tactics of today's digital world of social media and networking.

Students majoring in marketing, communications and business will benefit as they learn more about these careers—and become more aware of where their own interests lie.

Plan now to attend. Go to the VCU PRSSA conference web site to find out more and to register.

Be a part of the Society of Professional Journalists' The Working Press

Each year, the Society of Professional Journalists sponsors internships for 12 bright, motivated and hard working SPJ student journalists to staff The Working Press, a daily tabloid newspaper that covers the SPJ National Convention. Student writers, photographers and designers are invited to apply for these select positions.

This year's convention is set for August 27-29 in Indianapolis. Interns will need to arrive in Indianapolis by noon Wednesday, August 26 and the internship ends Sunday, August 30.

To apply, send 2 sets of the following (submissions will not be returned)

• Cover letter


• Résumé (include summer contact information)


• Three clips, layouts or published photos (relevant to your area of expertise). Please send copies of clips on letter or legal-size paper.

Postmark deadline: April 17, 2009

You provide:

• Energy, talent, great ideas and a good attitude


• Your transportation to and from Indianapolis


• Photographers: bring your own gear (digital)

The Society provides:

• Complimentary convention registration


• Complimentary accommodations at convention hotel


• Mentoring by professional journalists


• Networking venues


• A place to showcase your talents in front of many professionals

Mail applications to:
Society of Professional Journalists
Attn: The Working Press
3909 N. Meridian St.
Indianapolis, IN 46208
Or e-mail your application to Heather Porter.

Questions about The Working Press?
Contact Heather Porter, Professional Development Coordinator, @ 317/927-8000 ext. 204 or via e-mail.

Note: As a Working Press intern, the Society retains all rights to the work you produce during the convention as part of your internship.

National Mass Communications Honor Society Welcomes VCU Students

This spring, 39 students from the VCU School of Mass Communication were inducted into the George T. Crutchfield Chapter of Kappa Tau Alpha, a journalism and mass communications honor society. Kappa Tau Alpha fosters high quality scholarship in journalism and mass communications by acknowledging students who excel in these areas.

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. Graduate students of superior achievement also may be selected.

Dr. Judy Turk, the chapter advisor, led the ceremony on March 18.

VCU’s chapter was chartered in 1978 and initiates new inductees each year. Kappa Tau Alpha was founded at the University of Missouri in 1910 and is the seventh oldest national honor society in the country. It is a member of the Association of College Honor Societies and is the only member dedicated to journalism and mass communications.
Congratulations to the following students:

Undergraduate
Adam Aceino
Yvonne Allen
Kimberly Barnes
Maddison Bradley
Melissa Calabro
Erin Catharine
Jelise Chung
Frances M. Correa
Stephanie DuVal
Rachel Erwin
Steven Flick
Sarah E. Griffith
Clarissa Hillen
Bridget Renee Jones
Douglas Kleeman
Catherine MacDonald
Jalyce Mangum
Colleen McMackin
Seth Powers
Lauren Stewart
Xanthe Waters

Graduate
James Adams
Christopher Brent Baldwin
Patrice Baltimore
Binta D. Cisse
Jordan Childs
Amanda M. Christopher
Marmie Edwards
Asriel Eford
Leslie P. Green
Kimberly Hodge
Amanda Hodges
Tiffany F. Murray
Mary Ellin Scarberry
John Vermeire
Anjali C. Wadhwa
Alyssa Walden
Nicole Whealen
Cassie Williams

Additional Awards and Scholarships
Congratulations to the following students who received additional awards and scholarships by upholding superior academic and leadership standing in and out of the classroom:

Black History in the Making Award
Cecily Lewis, Imani Green-Carr, Terrell Brown, Loren Pritchett, Jalyce Mangum, Patrice Baltimore and Asriel Eford.

Scholarships
Misha Adams (Gene B. Creasy Scholarship)
Frances Correa (Crutchfield Journalism Scholarship)
Jalyce Mangum (Lincoln Financial Media and Martin Agency Scholarship)
Julie Wyatt (Joseph F. Mason Scholarship)
Sara Griffith (Robert Beverly Orndorff Scholarship)
Iva Radman (Scott Stevens Scholarship)
Richard Griset (T. Edward and Polly D. Temple Writing Award)
Benjamin Cohen (Virginia Communications Hall of Fame)

CreateAthon onCampus

CreateAthon on Campus reocgnized in Richmond Times Dispatch. Read the story here.

School of Mass Comm will award more than 100 degrees in May 2009

The School of Mass Communications will hold its May 2009 commencement ceremony for BS and MS degree candidates Saturday, May 16 at River Road Church, Baptist. This year, the School will break a record by awarding more than 100 BS degrees. And with the record number of graduates comes a record number of guests.

The new location, although off campus, is larger than the university’s Commonwealth Ballroom, where the School’s December ceremony was held and should accommodate everyone.

“The ballroom’s maximum capacity is about 550. With more than 125 degree candidates and guests, we would easily fill the space, said Carol Mawyer, Assistant Director of Student Services and Scholastic Journalism. “By taking our ceremony off campus we won’t have to limit the number of guests each graduate can bring. Some of our students have spent four, five, six years in school; they shouldn’t have to choose only four guests to witness this important event.

River Road Church, Baptist, located at 8000 River Road, [Richmond, VA 23229], is 6 miles from the Monroe Park campus. (Visitors should allow 15-20 minutes travel time.) The church’s sanctuary seats 900 people.

Parking is limited to 275 vehicles. School officials are encouraging graduates to ride to the ceremony with their guests. All graduation candidates need to arrive at River Road Church, Baptist no later than 1:15 p.m. Doors will open at 1 p.m. for family and friends. The ceremony will begin at 2 p.m. Due to the limited about of parking, carpooling is strongly encouraged.

Students planning to participate in the May 16th ceremony, should sign the Intent to Participate list and indicate the number of guests who will attend. This list is located in the Mass Comm front administrative offices, Temple 2216.

Featured at the graduation ceremony will be guest speaker Donna M. Reed, Vice President of News and Multimedia Strategy, Media General, Publishing Division. Reed leads efforts to improve the quality of Media General’s newspaper journalism and focuses on growing the company’s multimedia initiatives.

School earns accolades from PR agency founder

When the co-founder of Richmond’s eminent public relations agency, The Hodges Partnership, spoke at the School’s public relations capstone course, he discovered one of the many secrets to the School’s success. Read Jon Newman’s review at http://jonnewman.typepad.com/jons_bridge/2009/02/what-vcus-mass-comm-students-taught-me-today.html.

Winter issue of alumni magazine is online

The Winter 2009 issue of Mass Communicator, VCU's alumni magazine, is online. Dowload the issue now!

Five inductees selected for Virginia Communications Hall of Fame

The 2009 class of inductees into the Virginia Communications Hall of Fame includes a decorated print journalist, an influential educator, a dedicated First Amendment lawyer, a service-minded public relations executive and television host and an innovative broadcasting executive.

Professionals with exceptional careers in journalism, public relations, advertising and other media fields are eligible for selection to the Virginia Communications Hall of Fame. Possible inductees must have significant ties to Virginia. The newest class of inductees increases the hall’s membership to 112.

The reception for the induction ceremony starts at 6:30 p.m. with dinner and the ceremony to follow. Tickets are $150 each and can be reserved by calling (804) 827-3761. Proceeds benefit the Hall of Fame permanent exhibit and scholarship fund.

Learn more now, and read about the new inductees.

Attend the Spring 2009 Career Fair & Related Events

Wednesday, Jan. 28
Career Fair Preparation Fashion Show
Noon -1 p.m.
Richmond Salons III & IV on the 2nd floor of the Student Commons


Monday, Feb. 2 and Tuesday, Feb. 3.
Resume Express—15-minute resume reviews; no appointment necessary
11 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Career Center, 1st floor of the Student Commons (across from Chick-fil-A).


Wednesday, Feb.4, 2009
Career Fair
10 a.m. - 3 p.m.
Check-in at the Richmond Salons
University Student Commons, 2nd floor

Book signing on Jan. 29

Mass Comm alumnus and advertising executive, Doug Burford, has just written a book on his life in the industry and will be participating in a book signing at the Barnes & Noble on campus Jan. 29 at 1 p.m.

Burford will be donating a portion of the proceeds from the book to the School of Mass Communications.

Agency Reveals All by Doug Burford takes readers from humble beginnings in Richmond, to Madison Avenue, to the jungles of Africa, all in an effort to encourage young people to go into advertising and show business owners how to produce effective advertising. It’s over 200 pages, comes with a thirty-minute DVD, and is really three books in one:

• It tells readers things they’ll need to know to get a job in advertising.


• It explains how to “Burf” people.


• It describes the looney world readers are about to enter.

Dowload the informational flyer now.