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.