College of Media News
Candidates for dean of the College of Media announced
The University of Illinois is pleased to announce the final candidates for dean of the College of Media. Four candidates will be hosted on campus between Nov. 30 and Dec. 15, 2009. The candidates’ itineraries will include meetings with several campus and college groups of faculty, staff, and students, as well as delivering a public presentation. We invite you to get acquainted with the candidates with their biographical information linked below. More about the search...
Laurence Alexander
Associate Dean, University of Florida Graduate School and Professor of Journalism and Communications
Campus Visit: Nov. 30 and Dec. 1 | Biographical information
John Pavlik
Chair and Professor, Rutgers University Department of Journalism and Media Studies
Campus Visit: Dec. 7 and 8 | Biographical information
Steve Jones
Professor, University of Illinois at Chicago Department of Communication
Campus Visit: Dec. 9 and 10 | Biographical information
Gary Kebbel
Journalism Program Director, John S. and James L. Knight Foundation
Campus Visit: Dec. 14 and 15 | Biographical information
UI-7 seeking video interns for spring semester
UI-7, the cable TV service of the College of Media at Illinois, is now accepting applications for two video interns for the spring 2010 semester. Video Interns will be responsible for producing videos relating to student life at the U. of I. to air on UI-7. Interns will be expected to work an average of 8-10 hours each week at a rate of $8/hour. Experience shooting on semi-professional cameras and editing with non-linear software is a must. Application deadline is Tuesday, December 1st.
Downloads: Information Sheet | Application
WATCH A VIDEO ABOUT VIDEO INTERNSHIPS:
UI-7 Now Hiring Video Interns from UI-7 on Vimeo.
Journalism professor Brant Houston provides tips on being your own investigative journalist
The Jewish Daily Forward (New York City) -- Brant Houston, Knight Chair Professor in Investigative and Enterprise Reporting, talks about the information that can be obtained from the International Revenue Service’s 990 form in "Be Your Own Investigative Journalist: A Guide To Reading Non-Profit Tax Returns." Asked why the IRS 990 form must be made publicly available, Houston explained, "Taxpayers are helping to support your endeavors — by exempting you from federal taxes — and thus they have a right to know how their money is spent." Read entire article...
Investigative journalist and author Seymour Hersh awarded Illinois Prize for Lifetime Achievement in Journalism
Pulitzer Prize-winning reporter Seymour Hersh, longtime contributor to The New Yorker magazine and the writer who exposed both the Abu Ghraib prison scandal in Iraq and the My Lai massacre in Vietnam, was this year’s recipient of the Illinois Prize for Lifetime Achievement in Journalism. Read more...
New student organization works with UI-7 to put students in charge in front and behind the cameras
Before the College of Media began admitting freshman into its program in 2008, video cameras and television studios were as foreign to some underclassman as seeing snow was to international students from the Australian outback. UI-7 and the College of Media’s student organization, JAMS (Journalism, Advertising, Media Studies), has helped change that. Read more and watch JamSession...
50 years and counting: 2009 Sandage Symposium on advertising education reveres the past, looks to the future
The Department of Advertising commemorated 50 years of quality advertising education while honoring its founder, Charles H. Sandage, at the 2009 Sandage Symposium. The symposium took place September 24-25 at the iHotel and Conference Center in Champaign. Read more and view photos from the event...
New video in the 9 Things to Do in 2009 series highlights Illini football
Attending an Illini football game is something all students have to experience at least once. Between the high-flying cheerleaders, the dancing Illinettes, and the energy from the fans, football games are not to be missed! Oh, and of course, the football team is pretty good, too. Illini football is highlighted in the second video in the "9 Things to Do in 2009" series produced by Kayla Flam '12 MEDIA STUDIES. Whether you're new on campus, or it's your final year, there are some things all students should experience during their time at Illinois. From Illinois athletics to culture houses, Illinois has it all.
Illini Football from UI-7 on Vimeo.
WILL/Illinois Public Media wins PBS award for development
WILL/Illinois Public Media has been awarded the PBS Award for Excellence in Overall Development, the highest honor for station fundraising activities, during the 2009 fiscal year. WILL was initially awarded the Overall Development Award for markets with less under 500,000 television households and then was selected as the overall winner from submissions from all market sizes.
PBS President Paula Kerger, in a letter to WILL General Manager Mark Leonard, said the station was chosen for its innovative work during the past year. “I commend your development team’s passion and commitment,” she said.
WILL’s awards submission noted that the station had its most successful year ever in total annual giving despite one of the most severe economic downturns in memory, and the recent analog shutoff/DTV conversion, which confused and angered some viewers.
Among the steps WILL took to achieve its fundraising success was taking a more community-focused approach, said Illinois Public Media Development Director George Hauenstein. “We began to build new networks and relationships with people and other organizations, get them involved in setting our agenda, and integrate the community engagement principles into our work, station-wide.” That approach is beginning to pay off, he said.
Journalism professor's documentary to be narrated by M*A*S*H* veteran actor David Ogden Stiers
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| Actor David Ogden Stiers |
Jay Rosenstein, associate professor of journalism, has arranged with actor David Ogden Stiers, best known for his starring role as Major Charles Winchester on the hit TV show M*A*S*H, to be the narrator for his latest documentary, "The Lord is Not on Trial Here Today." The documentary tells the story of Vashti McCollum of central Illinois, who filed a historic lawsuit that set the foundation for the separation of church and state in public schools. Stiers is a high-profile narrator for many PBS documentaries, including several American Experience programs such has Ric Burns' multi-part series "New York." Stiers has an additional connection to Rosenstein's documentary, having spent some of his childhood in Urbana, Ill. The narration was recorded in October at Digital One studio in Portland, Ore.
Knight Professor Brant Houston weighs in on a report co-authored by former Washington Post editor on future of journalism
Chicago Tribune (from The Associated Press) -- Many in the journalism business have argued journalists should focus on finding new for-profit models for supporting their craft rather than look for handouts. "It's hard to think of a time when change was not controversial," said Brant Houston, Knight Chair Professor in Investigative and Enterprise Reporting at the College of Media. What could be worse, he argues, is if nothing is done, and journalists continue to lose their jobs.
College of Media alumni gather and reminisce at annual Chicago Alumni Reunion
College of Media alumni, faculty, and friends got together to chat and catch up during the annual Chicago Alumni Reunion at Rock Bottom Brewery on October 15, 2009.
If photos do not load, click here to view them in Flickr.
College of Media students get involved in the community with the 2009 iHelp volunteer program
Trente Blonski '11 ADV, a College of Media Student Ambassador and a Student Alumni Ambassador for the University of Illinois Alumni Association, organized this year's iHelp volunteer project held on October 2 during Homecoming Weekend. The one-day volunteer project sent more than 1,000 University of Illinois students into the community to help with a wide variety of tasks. This day of service not only offers assistance in large numbers, but also provides an outlet for University students looking to continue their volunteer activities while on campus. UI-7 intern Kayla Flam '12 MEDIA STUDIES followed one group on its volunteering efforts:
iHelp Volunteer Effort from UI-7 on Vimeo.
New book from Journalism and Law Professor Amy Gajda on litigation in academia
Amy Gajda, assistant professor of journalism and law, has a new book from Harvard University Press titled "The Trials of Academe: The New Era of Campus Litigation." Gajda shows that litigation is now common on university campuses, fear of litigation is even more common. Her book explores the origins and causes of the litigation trend, its implications for academic freedom, and what lawyers, judges, and academics themselves can do to limit the potential damage. "Professors sue each other for defamation based on assertions in research articles or tenure review letters; students sue professors for breach of contract when an F prevents them from graduating; professors threaten to sue students for unfairly criticizing their teaching," says a Harvard University Press description of the book. Gajda's account introduces the two forces driving the changes: the litigious academic who sees academic prerogative as a matter of legal entitlement and the skeptical judge who is increasingly willing to set aside decades of academic deference to pronounce campus rights and responsibilities. Gajda's book has received several positive reviews, including one from Stanley Fish with The New York Times. More about Gajda's book from Harvard University Press...
Alumna's family dedicates Joan Dommermuth Conference Room in College of Media Student Services Center
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| Left to right: Family members Sam Eickstedt, Jean Dommermuth, and Halle, Karin, and Paul O'Connor were on hand to dedicate the Joan Dommermuth Conference Room in the Student Services Center. |
Family and friends were on hand October 9 to dedicate the Joan Dommermuth Conference Room in The News-Gazette Student Services Center in the College of Media. Joan "Jody" Hasty Dommermuth '50 JOURN was remembered at the reception by several family members, including Karin O'Connor '82 LAS, her husband Paul O'Connor '81 BUS, and her sister Jean Dommermuth '86 LAS/'88MBA.
Dommermuth's campus experience in the post-World War II era was memorable and colorful, especially her adventures as a staffer at The Daily Illini where she served as business manager during her senior year. Her specialization in publication management provided her with an excellent toolkit and the business skills she later used as a copywriter at Sears, Roebuck and Company and the Chicago Tribune.
The gift from the O'Connor family also supports a fund for the College's Web Technology Project, building a foundation for a modern Web site and server technology.
Application deadline approaches for Advertising study abroad course to Rome
Students interested in ethnic food marketing strategies in Italy may have a chance to study abroad next summer in Rome. The Department of Advertising will offer ADV 400 "Advertising Italian Style: Global Studies in Italian Food, Culture, and Strategic Communications" as a two-part course in Spring 2010.
For the first part of the course, students take a three-credit-hour online course from the Urbana campus. The online course will include lectures, video tours, guest lectures, and interactive sessions during which students will enhance their skills in new media and learn to prepare and deliver presentations, collaborate and solve problems using various online platforms.
The second phase of the course will take students to Rome, to study and experience Italian food culture firsthand. In addition to lectures and trips to local street markets, tratorias, enotecas, gelaterias, supermarkets, and media and advertising agencies in Rome. Several field trips are planned to introduce students to how food is grown and prepared in the Italian countryside. Assignments will include working individually and in teams to develop a multimedia presentation on Italian food industries.
The course application deadline is November 9, 2009. Interested students may attend upcoming information sessions, October 12, 2009, 5-6 p.m., or October 20, 2009, 4-5 p.m., both in 213 Gregory Hall. More information...
C-SPAN president and College of Media National Advisory Board member Robert Kennedy visits with students as 2009 Homecoming Illini Comeback
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| Illini Comeback guest Robert Kennedy '78 ENG, co-president and co-chief operating officer at C-SPAN and member of the National Advisory Board for the College of Media, visited with Interim Dean Walt Harrington and students. |
Each year since 1980, the Student Alumni Ambassadors of the University of Illinois Alumni Association invite a group of distinguished alumni back to campus as honored guests during Homecoming Weekend. Illini Comeback guests participate in traditional activities such as the Homecoming parade and pep rally. In addition, they interact with current students and talk about their professional experiences since leaving their alma mater.
This year's Illini Comeback guests included College of Media National Advisory Board member Robert G. Kennedy '78 ENG. Kennedy is co-president and co-chief operating officer at C-SPAN, the Cable Satellite Public Affairs Network created as a public service by America's cable television industry to provide balanced, commercial-free coverage of the U.S. political process. Joining the operation two decades ago in its beginning stages, Kennedy has played a formative role in bringing C-SPAN to full-fledged status, with its programming now spread over three television channels, radio, and a Web site. The network--which offers live proceedings with no editing, commentary or analysis--provides full, uncut coverage of government functions, including Congressional hearings, testimonies, speeches, and political campaigns. C-SPAN also provides its viewers with direct access to public officials through its call-in programs, as well as programming related to nonfiction books and U.S. history. More information about the Illini Comeback program.
Your comments, news items, and Alumni Notes are welcome. Please e-mail us at: media@illinoisalumni.org