College of Media News
New student organization works with UI-7 to put students in charge both 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 Australia. Along with the television courses taught for freshmen and sophomores, UI-7 and the College of Media’s student organization, JAMS (Journalism, Advertising, Media Studies Students), 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...
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 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 outward, or 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 last Thursday and Friday 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, Oct. 19) -- 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. Read entire article.
College of Medi 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 their 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, and perhaps even more commonly feared. 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," as described by Harvard University Press. Gajda's account introduces the new duo 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 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 honored Dommermuth with the named conference room and 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, Italy
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 will 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, Italy, 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 multi-media 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 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 Comebacks 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.
Roger Ebert's Film Festival passes go on sale November 1
Passes for the 12th Annual Roger Ebert's Film Festival will go on sale November 1. The festival, or “Ebertfest," will be held April 21-25, 2010, at the Virginia Theater in Champaign, Ill., and at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. More information...
Journalism Professor Jay Rosenstein speaks on his documentary "In Whose Honor?"
Associate Professor of Journalism Jay Rosenstein was the featured speaker at the September 30 event, "Deconstructing the Mascot," sponsored by el Movimiento Estudiantil Chicana/o de Aztlan. Rosenstein spoke to an audience of more than 100 students, faculty, staff, and community members after a screening of his documentary "In Whose Honor?" Since releasing the documentary in 1997, Rosenstein has been a frequent national speaker and a recognized expert on the subject of Native American mascots in sports.
College of Media brings students to campus for Illinois State High School Press Association conference
Illinois State High School Press Association from UI-7 on Vimeo.
In September, the College of Media at Illinois hosted the 2009 Illinois State High School Press Association. More than 400 high school students from dozens of Illinois schools attended, learning about everything from yearbooks to blogging. College of Media faculty, staff, and students all worked together to moderate panels, run workshops, assist students, and help the day run smoothly. The event is held each year on the U of I campus. More information...
Journalism students win awards at Illinois Broadcasters Association's student conference
The College of Media's Department of Journalism was well represented at the 2009 Illinois Broadcasters Association's student conference (IBA-U). Broadcast journalism students won awards in five categories, including:
- Alison Trouy '11 JOURN - First Place Silver Dome Award for Best Radio Newscast and Second Place for Best Radio News Story
- CeCe Marizu '10 JOURN - Second Place for Best Radio Sports Story
- UI-7 News - Third Place for Best Television Newscast
- Christine Kim '09 JOURN - Third Place for Best Television Photography
In addition, journalism graduate student Hala Nimeh appeared on a panel discussing IBA's Multicultural Internship Program. Hala participated in the program this past summer.
In addition to the awards ceremonies, student participants also took part in sessions and workshops, such as "Today's TV News Producer," "If I Knew Then What I Know Now," and "Creative Services." Panelists consisted of professional reporters and faculty to advise and share their experiences in the broadcast industry. Students were encouraged to bring resume tapes for critique sessions in TV News, Radio, and TV News Photography.
The message of IBA-U is very clear for students: reporters, writers, producers and photographers should be working toward being experts in all aspects of media. Moderator Allen May of Northern Illinois University, said "The last thing you want to be is a 'dime a dozen' reporter. The all around reporter is high in demand and the 'one-man band' in television news is on the rise."
May also advised students to build professional profiles, resumes and tapes because they are essential to the efforts of self-marketing. However, the key advice given was to get experience while a student. Internships coupled with course work are excellent ways to build resumes.
Participants were reminded of the three B's of broadcasting: Be Motivated. Be Equipped. Be Original.
A career fair concluded the conference where broadcast agency representatives spoke to students about career opportunities and internships.
University names interim president
The University of Illinois Board of Trustees appointed Stanley O. Ikenberry interim president effective Jan. 1, 2010. Ikenberry was the 14th president of the U of I from 1979 to 1995. One of the University's longest-serving presidents, he brings deep knowledge of higher education and relationships with faculty and staff from all three campuses, as well as wisdom and energy to the position. Dr. Ikenberry is currently U of I Regent Professor and President Emeritus and holds an appointment in the University-wide Institute of Government and Public Affairs. Stan will act as interim president-designate during the fall semester and work with me and other senior administrators to ensure an orderly transition. He then will serve as interim president until a permanent president is named. The Board's stated objective is to have a new president in office by the start of the 2010-11 academic year. B. Joseph White tendered his resignation as president September 23, 2009, effective December 31.
WILL celebrates 10th anniversary of Campbell Hall with alumni, donors, and friends
Alumni Bob and Alice Campbell (pictured at right) joined Jack and Marjorie Richmond and other Friends of WILL and the University of Illinois gathered at Campbell Hall Thursday, October 1, to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the building. WILL put its best foot forward for guests, who visited the TV studio to watch a Steve Drake-produced video about WILL's accomplishments in Campbell Hall, getting a weather studio orientation from Ed Kieser and Mike Sola, and watching U of I broadcast students prepare for a newscast in Richmond Studio. Thanks to everyone who worked hard to make the anniversary event a success!
ICR Alumni Lecture Series presents Jonathan Sterne '99 PhD COMM to talk about infrastructure and media culture
The Institute of Communications Research continues its Alumni Lecture Series on October 12, with a collaboration with several units on campus, bringing Jonathan Sterne '99 PhD COMM, who will present "The MP3 as Standard Object: Infrastructure, Software and the Politics of Media Culture." The lecture will take place on Oct 12 at 12:30pm at the Coordinated Science Laboratory, Room B02 (Auditorium). It will be followed by a group discussion at 1:45pm in CSL 301.
Sterne teaches in the Department of Art History and Communication Studies and the History and Philosophy of Science Program at McGill University. He is author of "The Audible Past: Cultural Origins of Sound Reproduction" (Duke, 2003), and numerous articles on media, technologies, and the politics of culture.
The talk is jointly presented by "InfoStructure: Intersections Between Social and Technological Systems," a collaboration among doctoral students from the Institute of Communications Research, the Graduate School of Library and Information Science, and Human and Community Development, sponsored by faculty members Christian Sandvig (ICR, Communications, Coordinated Science Laboratory) and Karrie Karahalios (Computer Science). Infostructure is an endeavor to examine and discuss the hidden complexities of information technology systems that can often be obscured by disciplinary boundaries. Invited speakers will address recent developments in information technology in order to create a broadly accessible debate whereby systems are viewed as simultaneously technological and social.
The InfoStructure speaker series is sponsored by the Graduate College; Coordinated Science Laboratory; Institute for Computing in Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences; Information in Society Program, Graduate School of Library and Information Science; Institute of Communications Research; Department of Communication; and Human-Computer Interaction Colloquium Series.
Illini Media inducts five College of Media graduates into Hall of Fame
Illini Media, independent student media at University of Illinois, inducted six alumni into its Illini Media Hall of Fame in October. The Hall of Fame honors former Illini Media employees who have launched distinguished careers in the newspaper, broadcast and publishing industries after gaining valuable experience working as student reporters, editors, air personalities and more at Illini Media. The inductees this year include five College of Media graduates:
- Charla Krupp '75 JOURN, best selling author of "How Not to Look Old: Fast and Effortless Ways to Look Ten Years Younger, Ten Pounds Lighter, Ten Times Better"
- G. Robert Hillman '72 JOURN, senior editor of Politico and Politico.com
- Joseph Urschel '74 JOURN, executive director and senior vice president of the Newseum
- Alan D. Mutter '70/'74 MS JOURN, adjunct faculty member of the Graduate School of Journalism at the University of California at Berkeley and “Reflections of a Newsosaur" blogger
- Richard Sublette '57 JOURN/'62 MS RADIO-TELEVISION, former general manager of Illini Media, former publisher of UCLA's The Daily Bruin and former general manager of Florida State University's student media
- Art Anderson '56/'58 MS ENGR, former engineer and consultant for Delco Electronics and owner of Computer Systems and Software
All the inductees, nominated and selected by fellow alumni, are former employees of The Daily Illini newspaper and WPGU-FM 107.1, two units of Illini Media. Illini Media is a not-for-profit company that also publishes Buzz weekly, Illio yearbook and Technograph engineering magazine. To mark the Hall of Fame inductions, Illini Media is celebrating with a number of activities October 3 and 4 on the University of Illinois campus. The events culminate with a Hall of Fame induction brunch at which five 2009 inductees will be present. Read more...
UIAA Alumni Career Center now offers free Webinars, Tele-Workshops, and Career Support
The University of Illinois Alumni Association Board of Directors has eliminated fees for Alumni Career Center professional development webinars and tele-programs for all University of Illinois alumni, regardless of UIAA membership status. The October through December programs introduce this enhanced access.
New topics in this 2009 wrap-up group of programs include:
- Find Targeted Job Leads Using Job Boards and Other Online Sites, on October 7
- At (or Near) the Top of the Pyramid: Finding A New Leadership Role, on October 29
- Using Job Clubs in Your Job Search, on November 11, and more.
Descriptions and registration details for all programs coming up through the end of the year.
The Board of Directors' approval includes additional opportunities for all alumni to utilize the Alumni Career Center's comprehensive scope of services, without cost.
Alumni can:
- Register for the Hire UI Alumni job board and resume posting database, the UIAA's primary tool to link with professional opportunities at all levels of experience, and to connect alumni with employers seeking University of Illinois graduates
- Use the Virtual Career Center, their 24/7/365 self-paced, comprehensive career planning, job search and career management resource with content and exercises to help alumni develop and execute solid career plans.
Find details of all UIAA Alumni Career Center services, programs, and advising (advising is available for nominal fees) at www.uiaa.org/careers. Contact UIAA with any questions, or to discuss how they can help with career and job search planning: call the Alumni Career Center at 312.575-7830, or send an email to careers@uillinois.edu.
Media and Cinema Studies Professor Kent Ono takes on colonialism and media in his new book
What is the effect of Star Trek on our perceptions of race and post-colonialism in America? This is just one of the cultural "flash points" Professor Kent Ono of the Department of Media and Cinema Studies in the College of Media examines in his latest book, "Contemporary Media Culture and the Remnants of a Colonial Past" (Peter Lang, 2009). Read more...
Journalism student Shannon Smith's interest in journalism developed as a teen working with Chicago's True Star Foundation
Shannon Smith '12 JOURN got her first experience with journalism while still a high school student, thanks to the True Star Foundation in Chicago. She worked on the teen-focused True Star Magazine, and now, as an alumna of the program, says, "I had never thought about journalism until I started working with True Star. Working with them made me realize this is what I want to do."
Through True Star's after-school and summer programs, high school students are partnered with industry experts and mentored in the fields of journalism, graphic design, photography, event planning, sales and marketing to produce the magazine. Read more about Shannon's experience...
UI-7 cable channel gives journalism student a chance to produce her own show, "Elbow Grease"
Karis Morrall, a senior in Broadcast Journalism, is making waves as a student intern for UI-7, the College's cable television service. As one of UI-7's two paid interns, Morrall is expanding her own camera experience, while writing, editing, and producing her own programs for the channel. Read more about Karis and watch "Elbow Grease"...
AdWeek 2009 introduces students to stars in field of Advertising
Illinois Advertising Week 2009 kicked off with a talk by Bob Lachky '75/'77 MS ADV, former Chief Creative Officer with Anheuser-Busch. The man responsible for "Wassup?," the Budweiser frogs, and some of the most successful Super Bowl advertisements of all time, gave students tips on advancing their careers and getting the most out of their education. AdWeek continues with a celebration marking the 50th anniversary of the Department of Advertising, September 22. More about AdWeek...
Your comments, news items, and Alumni Notes are welcome. Please e-mail us at: media@illinoisalumni.org