Elizabeth C Shallenberger | College of Media

Chang-Dae Ham to serve as vice president of American Academy of Advertising

January 8, 2024

Chang-Dae Ham, associate professor of advertising with an appointment in the Institute of Communications Research, and associate head of graduate studies in the Charles H. Sandage Department of Advertising, was recently elected vice president of the American Academy of Advertising. His term for March 2024 through March 2025 will be effective March 14, 2024, during AAA’s annual conference.

One of his main roles as VP will be to manage AAA’s annual conference in March 2025. Active in AAA since 2009, Ham recently served as chair of AAA’s research committee from 2021-23; he has also been a member of AAA’s diversity and inclusion committee, global and multicultural committee, communication committee, and research committee for many years.

Ham’s research focuses on how consumers cope with diverse persuasion tactics through the lens of the Persuasion Knowledge Model. He has published more than 40 journal articles and book chapters. He has served as an associate editor for the International Journal of Advertising and the Asian Journal of Communication, as a special topic guest editor for the Journal of Interactive Advertising, and as an editorial review board member for multiple publications.

With more than 600 members, AAA is the oldest and the largest academic association dedicated to advertising research in the U.S. The University of Illinois has a history of leaders serving in AAA officer roles. Sela Sar and Michelle Nelson, both professors of advertising, have each served as past presidents of AAA, as have several alumni from the College of Media’s Institute of Communications Research.

Advertising alum Geno Schellenberger makes a difference for unhoused population through Havas Chicago campaign

Geno Schellenberger (BS ’20, advertising), senior communications manager at Havas and graduate student in the strategic brand communication master’s degree program, is making a difference for unhoused individuals in Chicago during the holiday season.

Through his role at Havas, Schellenberger has played a pivotal role in launching “The Donation Display” campaign, an innovative initiative that reimagines Chicago’s holiday window displays as gateways to giving.

At first glance, the display mimics the traditional holiday shopping showcase, but as onlookers draw nearer, the facade gives way to a more profound narrative—revealing the reality that the holiday season may not be as joyful for Chicago’s 68,000+ unhoused residents.

Located at 36 E. Grand in Havas Chicago’s lobby, a block away from the Magnificent Mile, the display includes a QR code that allows passersby to directly support the Night Ministry with a simple scan and donation, ensuring that contributions go straight to aiding disadvantaged families and individuals in the Chicagoland area and sharing the holiday spirit in a meaningful way. The Donation Display will be on exhibit through January 5.

Schellenberger says the campaign is a testament to Havas’s commitment to using advertising for social good.

Illinois Public Media to launch new radio station focused on news and culture authentically reflecting the Black experience

December 13, 2023

Illinois Public Media is proud to announce the launch of Illinois Soul, a new radio station highlighting Black experiences, celebrating Black culture, elevating Black voices, and showcasing Black music.

“Public media is uniquely positioned in today’s media landscape to meet the needs of its community in ways that commercial media might not, and this new service will not only celebrate Black voices, history, and culture, it will connect listeners to the issues that matter most to those across our region.” said Moss Bresnahan, executive director for Illinois Public Media, a not-for-profit public media service of the College of Media at the University of Illinois. “We are so excited to launch Illinois Soul, bringing the best in jazz, R&B, and gospel to our listeners, with a unique focus on the Black community.”

This new audio service will make its on-air debut February 1, 2024, at the start of Black History Month and will be broadcast on WILL-FM 101.1 and available to stream live at illinoissoul.org. Illinois Soul will bring central Illinois and beyond a new 24/7 public media audio service featuring exceptional, Black-hosted NPR news programs—such as Code Switch and It’s Been a Minute—alongside other popular programs from musicians Will Downing to Robert Glasper, mixed with smooth jazz, neo soul, R&B, and throwback jams.

“On a national level, Illinois Soul will be the ground-breaking format for attracting Black adult audiences to public media by featuring high-quality Black NPR news talk shows married with neo-soul, smooth jazz, and R&B music,” said Jill Clements, assistant corporate support director at Illinois Public Media and internal driving force behind Illinois Soul. “We’re also proud to be a part of the local community engagement efforts for better connecting the University of Illinois and Black communities.”

Most importantly, with the launch of Illinois Soul comes a new local community affairs program, airing each week and highlighting issues important to Black adult audiences in central Illinois.

“I’m very excited to help develop a new weekly broadcast and other programs that bring Black communities together to discuss issues and, more importantly, discuss solutions and ways to empower the community,” said Reginald Hardwick, director of news and public affairs at Illinois Public Media. “We didn’t just create the station inside the walls of IPM. We had important input from community advisors, hundreds of community surveys, and dozens of face-to-face events. We’ve done our homework.”

Illinois Public Media’s work in creating Illinois Soul is rooted in the idea of intentionally changing the media landscape with the support and guidance from respected Black community leaders and Black University of Illinois professionals who are advocating for the mission of the station and for its listeners.

“The importance of Black voices and perspectives is more important today than ever. This radio avenue and social media platform are critical life supports to tell the Black communities’ story and builds, empowers, and informs communities of Black values and contributions,” said Tracy Parsons, community advisory member for Illinois Soul and Community Coalition facilitator.

Nielsen research shows Black Americans listen to radio and podcasts longer than other communities. [1-2] Additionally, the Black population is among the fastest growing across the listening area,[3] while Black narratives, images, and culture are not reflected consistently in mainstream media. Over the past two decades, Black-owned media companies have disappeared in central Illinois leaving these communities underserved.

“The contribution of Black People in the media should be affirmed and celebrated in every community. When there is no representation of Black Voice in media, there is a gap in history,” said Shandra Summerville, community advisory member for Illinois Soul and cultural and linguistic competence coordinator at Champaign County Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities.

Illinois Public Media recognizes this media imbalance and sees this as an important opportunity to unapologetically fill the gap by providing a platform that celebrates Black experiences, Black culture, and Black voices.

“After the murder of George Floyd, there was a racial reckoning in America, including the media. It would have been easy to put up a slogan and vow to ‘work on’ more diversity. But here at Illinois Public Media, we’ve put the work into creating an audio service that elevates the voices and culture of central Illinois’ Black community,” continued Hardwick.

According to feedback from more than 350 surveys distributed and filled out locally – along with conversations at nearly 30 public events – a local Black media service will be important for amplifying Black stories, connecting communities, and celebrating Black excellence. Illinois Soul begins broadcasting full time February 1, 2024, on WILL-FM 101.1, and 90.9 HD 2 as well as streaming live at illinoissoul.org. FM 101.1’s current all classical lineup is now available as a 24/7 classical stream at will.illinois.edu.

REFERENCES

[1] Nielsen, “How Black audiences are engaging with audio more than ever”

[2] Inside Radio, “Nielsen’s African American Consumer Study Notes Power Of Audio, Challenges To Advertisers”

[3] Illinois Department of Public Health, “Population by Race for Illinois and its Counties”

View original press release.

Institute of Communications Research to present Distinguished Speaker Series this spring

December 11, 2023

The Institute of Communications Research will present a Distinguished Speaker Series this spring, showcasing some of the most renowned scholars in the fields of communication and media studies.

“This is our chance to engage with and glean insights from the thought leaders in our field,” said Mike Yao, director of the Institute of Communications Research and professor of digital media in the Charles H. Sandage Department of Advertising.

Researchers with a variety of expertise will participate in the enriching series, which offers an opportunity to interact with speakers, a keynote talk, followed by a light reception.

Yao encourages others to attend the series to connect, engage, and be inspired by the guest speakers.

PRESENTERS

“Don’t Go Chasing Waterfalls, or, Navigating the Streams of Communication and Technology”
February 22: Steve Jones (MS ’84, journalism; PhD ’87, ICR), Distinguished Professor of Communication at the University of Illinois Chicago; current editor of New Media & Society and co-editor of Mobile Media & Communication. Jones’s books have earned him critical acclaim and interviews in national and international media. His research has been funded by the National Science Foundation, National Institutes of Health, Centers for Disease Control, and the Tides Foundation.

“Marketers’ Cultivation of Digital Resignation in an AI Media Era”
March 28: Joseph Turow, Robert Lewis Shayon Professor of Media Systems & Industries at the Annenberg School for Communication at the University of Pennsylvania. Turow is an elected Fellow of the International Communication Association and was presented with a Distinguished Scholar Award by the National Communication Association. He has authored 12 books, edited five, and written more than 160 articles on mass media industries. This talk is co-sponsored by the Charles H. Sandage Department of Advertising.

“Media-Induced Self-Transcendence: Evidence and New Directions”
April 4: Mary Beth Oliver, Donald P. Bellisario Professor of Media Studies in the Department of Film/Video & Media Studies at Penn State and Fellow and immediate past president of the International Communication Association. She is former co-editor of Media Psychology and associate editor of the Journal of Communication, Communication Theory, and Journal of Media Psychology. Her recent publications have appeared in numerous communication journals. This talk is co-sponsored by the Department of Communication.

“The Other Side of the Smart Phone: MEMS Sensors and the Tiny Matters of Mediation”
April 10: Lisa Parks, Distinguished Professor of Film and Media Studies and director of the Global Media Technologies and Cultures Lab at University of California, Santa Barbara. Parks is a media scholar with a research focus on satellite technologies and media globalization; critical studies of media infrastructures; media, militarization, and surveillance; and environmental media. She is a 2018 MacArthur “Genius” Fellow. This talk is co-sponsored by the Humanities Research Institute.

“Reflecting Identity, Signaling Attention, Shaping Language: Examining Digital Social Practices”
April 25: Nicole Ellison, Karl E. Weick Collegiate Professor of Information and Professor of Communication and Media at the University of Michigan, and current chief editor of the Journal of Computer-Mediated Communication. Ellison’s research interests include computer-mediated communication, mediated interpersonal interaction, self-presentation, use of social media in organizations, relationship initiation and maintenance in online contexts, virtual communities, social network sites, online dating sites, educational uses of new technologies, and college access and social media. This talk is co-sponsored by the School of Information Sciences.

Chicago advertising trip offers students industry immersion experience

December 5, 2023

Eighty-five advertising students traveled to Chicago on November 30 to visit advertising agencies and tech firms to gain exposure to the contemporary advertising industry. In small groups, students were able to visit one advertising agency (DDB, Energy BBDO, Havas, or Highdive) and one tech firm (Adobe, Amazon, or Google). The trip was open to all advertising undergraduate and graduate students and computer science + advertising students.

The Charles H. Sandage Department of Advertising sponsored the trip as part of its strategic goal to give students an introduction to the advertising industry early on in their degree program, so they can see how and where they may fit in the future. Students had the opportunity to tour the offices, meet with Illinois alumni and other professionals, and learn about each of the roles and professions within the industry. Students also enjoyed bonding with their fellow students and faculty and networking with the professionals.

“Going on the Chicago trip helped me to realize that I want to be an account executive, which is not something I knew before,” said Emma Johnson, a dual-degree junior majoring in advertising and communication. “I loved hearing from so many amazing people and also lots of UIUC alumni.”

“The Chicago immersion trip was a unique experience that I was eager to pursue because it gave me the chance to take steps to begin networking and further involve myself in the field of advertising as a freshman,” said Cooper Anderson. “After attending, I am much more confident that a career in advertising is the correct path for me and it excites me to see the opportunities that are ahead of me.”

Geno Schellenberger (BS ’20), senior communications manager at Havas and graduate student in the strategic brand communication master’s degree program, led students on a tour around their agency.

“The strong alumni connections are part of what’s remarkable about the University of Illinois Sandage Department of Advertising,” he said. “As a proud alum and communications lead at Havas Chicago, we will always welcome future advertising professionals to inspire and solidify their career choices.”

Students also met with alumni such as Pat Burke (BS ’95, advertising), executive creative director at Highdive advertising agency. Burke has created some of the top award-winning Super Bowl ads in 2022 and in 2021.

Thank you to Adobe, Amazon, DDB, Energy BBDO, Google, Havas, and Highdive for hosting Illinois advertising students.

See more photos from the trip.

Roger Ebert’s Film Festival passes on sale now

November 30, 2023

Festival passes for Roger Ebert’s Film Festival, to be held Wednesday, April 17, through Saturday, April 20, 2024, will go on sale Friday, Dec. 1, at 10 a.m. CT. Also known as Ebertfest, the four-day festival—named for the late Pulitzer Prize-winning film critic, University of Illinois journalism alumnus, and Urbana native Roger Ebert—will celebrate its 25^th year with more audience participation and two new festival passes to provide flexible options to attend.

In honor of Ebertfest’s silver anniversary, organizers are inviting audience members to suggest films that are 25 years or older that they would like to see on the program. Entries can be submitted to ebertfest@yahoo.com.

Individual festival passes range from $70 to $200. New this year is a 4-Film Pass for $70; choose between a 4-Film Evening Pass (final screenings on Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday) or a 4-Film Saturday Pass (all films on Saturday).

VIP sponsorship packages start at $1,800 and include VIP admission for two, lunch and dinner with the filmmakers, invitations to all festival special parties and events, and much more. All films are shown at the historic Virginia Theatre, 203 W. Park Ave., in downtown Champaign. Passes can be purchased at the Virginia Theatre website, box office, or charged by phone at 217-356-9063.

“Ebertfest was created for people who love movies as much as Roger loved movies,” Chaz Ebert said. “We want our audience members and special guests to truly feel like they are a part of a family as we reach this important milestone more than 10 years after Roger’s passing.”

The festival celebrates films that encourage the FECK Principles (Forgiveness, Empathy, Compassion, and/or Kindness) and showcases them whether they are independent, international, or studio films, including overlooked formats and genres such as 70mm, documentaries, and musicals. It is hosted by Chaz Ebert and Nate Kohn, the festival director, in collaboration with the College of Media at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Roger’s alma mater.

In 2024, the program will feature a diverse slate of films, including a prominent short film lineup. Watch for announcements of films and filmmaker guests over the next few months. The full festival program will be announced in March.

Roger Ebert’s Film Festival relies on generous gifts from donors and sponsors. Gifts of all sizes are vital to the festival and can be made as an option among the funding choices at the College of Media’s website: media.illinois.edu/giving/give-now. (Click on the orange “Give Online Now” button, and select Roger Ebert’s Film Festival Fund under “Champion Innovation in Media Research & Collaborations.”) For additional sponsorship options, visit the Ebertfest website: ebertfest.com/become-sponsor.

For more information, please contact Molly Cornyn, project coordinator for Roger Ebert’s Film Festival, at mcornyn2@illinois.edu.

Advertising alum Lacey Gilbert named to 2023 Rising Stars of Madison Avenue by ‘Business Insider’

Lacey Gilbert (MS ’11, advertising), vice president and strategy director of Leo Burnett advertising services in Chicago, has been named to Business Insider’s 2023 Rising Stars of Madison Avenue.

Gilbert, who joined Leo Burnett in 2020, has led award-winning campaigns like Beam Suntory’s “Bourbon Time” and Coors Light’s “Clone Machine.” She has also directed the strategy behind campaigns for Campbell’s Chunky Soup, including “Lunchtime is your Halftime” and the current “Champions of Chunky,” which features NFL players and brothers Travis and Jason Kelce. That work helped Chunky Soup double its sales growth, outperforming the wider soup category, and earned Leo Burnett a gold at the ARF David Ogilvy Awards. A passionate educator, Gilbert co-authored a comprehensive crash-course strategy guidebook, known internally as the Strategy Launchpad.

Gilbert is a board member and mentor for the University of Illinois Charles H. Sandage Department of Advertising’s James Webb Young Advisory Board. She is also involved in Leo Burnett’s Pencil Project, an initiative in partnership with Chicago State University to introduce students of color to mentorship and educational opportunities.

Late ‘Laugh-In’ brothers Arte and Coslough Johnson share comedy history with Illinois

November 16, 2023 | Holly Rushakoff

The late comedy legend brothers Arte Johnson (BS ’49, radio journalism) and Coslough Johnson (BS ’52, radio journalism) made sure to invest in the future of media by preserving part of its past.

(Gisela and Arte Johnson by Michael P. Maron Photography.)

Dean Martin, Arte Johnson, Diane Shatz — Arte Johnson dressed as his German soldier *Laugh-In*
character, with Dean Martin and Diane Shatz on
*The Dean Martin Show.* (Wikimedia Commons.)

Both have donated artifacts to the University Library from their most famous collaboration, Rowan and Martin’s Laugh-In, which aired 1968-73 on NBC, in which Arte was an actor and Coslough was a writer. They won Emmy Awards and multiple nominations for their roles on the pioneering comedy sketch show that addressed social and political issues, mixed with one-liners, non-sequitur bits, and jump-cuts at breakneck speed, plus a constant stream of Hollywood cameos.

Laugh-In brought in the biggest guest stars of the day: Johnny Carson, Carol Burnett, Bob Hope, John Wayne, and Sammy Davis, Jr. Regular cast members included Goldie Hawn and Lily Tomlin. It paved the way for Saturday Night Live, which debuted two years after Laugh-In ended. It was still cemented in TV history three decades after it ended, making TV Guide’s list of 50 greatest shows of all time in 2002.

The Johnson family’s latest gift comes from Arte’s widow, Gisela (pictured above); the couple were married for 51 years until his death in 2019. Earlier this year, Gisela provided the University Library with a wealth of archival materials from Laugh-In and other TV episodes and movies that featured Arte, plus scrapbooks, photographs, and letters. (Learn more about their latest contributions.)

Cos Johnson, Dan Rowan, Chris Bearde — Coslough Johnson, Dan Rowan, and Cos’s writing
partner Chris Bearde. (Photo courtesy of Mary Jane
Ferguson Johnson.)

Coslough previously donated 62 Laugh-In scripts to the University Library. The Library’s 1994 Friendscript newsletter noted its cultural significance: “Whether it’s the satirization of the Vietnam War, the fun poked at politicians and government policies, or the songs sung by the entertainers (all the lyrics are in the scripts), each script gives an interesting snapshot of the issues and tastes of the nation at a particularly unsettled period of our history.”

By email, Gisela wrote that Arte “loved his University and his years there, and all the friends he made and stayed friends with, all through his time of being famous—it didn’t matter to him, he always was just ARTE.”

During the ’70s, Arte and Gisela visited campus to cheer on the Illini with Arte’s Sigma Alpha Mu fraternity brother and classmate Larry Stewart (BS ’47, journalism). Stewart was a renowned local sports broadcaster, known as the “Voice of the Illini,” calling games for football and basketball, the creator/host of the call-in talk show Penny for Your Thoughts, and general manager of radio station WDWS.

Stewart’s daughter, Debbie, remembers Arte keeping in touch with her dad, calling him and attending Illinois games together.

“Arte and my dad were great friends till the end of my dad’s life,” Stewart said. “They spoke on the phone frequently and Arte was always sending him postcards. They really enjoyed their friendship.”

Gisela and Arte Johnson with Larry Stewart — Larry Stewart (BS ’47, journalism), center, greets
Gisela and Arte Johnson at Arte’s Class of 1949
reunion in 1974. (Photo courtesy of Debbie Stewart.)

Arte, who grew up in Chicago, had considered himself a bibliophile and said, “the [University] Library was for me at once a place to escape to, a place of enlightenment, a place of encouragement,” in a 1979-80 Friendscript. Arte was also quoted for his love of libraries, saying in a 1987 issue: “The legacy of the printed word is still one of the greatest gifts one generation can pass on to another.”

After Arte died, a New York Times obituary described him as “a one-man ensemble on Laugh-In, playing a range of characters with accents, but he was probably best known for the helmeted German soldier who would peer through bushes before slowly uttering, ‘Very interesting.’” He had also starred in episodes of many classic TV shows such as Lost in Space, Bewitched, and Murder, She Wrote, voiced characters in many cartoons such as Animaniacs, The Smurfs, and DuckTales, and narrated dozens of audiobooks including for humor columnist and author Dave Barry.

At the Rare Book and Manuscript Library, historians of popular culture can explore scripts from Laugh-In’s first four seasons, as well as scripts Coslough donated from other 1970s TV variety series that he wrote for, such as the Sonny and Cher Comedy Hour.

Laugh-In is currently available to watch on streaming platforms including Freevee, Roku, Tubi, and Amazon Prime.

College of Media apparel on sale for limited time

November 9, 2023

Show off your University of Illinois and college pride with branded apparel items featuring the College of Media, Advertising, Journalism, Media & Cinema Studies, and the Institute of Communications Research.

From November 9 through December 4, a College of Media apparel shop will be open with items to purchase including branded sweatshirts, ball caps, T-shirts, beanies, polo shirts, and quarter-zip pullovers.

Orders will be ready to ship or pick up locally by Monday, Dec. 18. Customers can select shipping via USPS Priority Mail or via UPS Ground shipping, or pick up orders from Dixon Graphics at 312 S. Neil in Champaign (open Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-5 p.m.). USPS International Priority Mail is available as well.

To browse the shop, visit https://stores.inksoft.com/ui_media_shop/shop/home.

The shop will close at 11:59 p.m. on Monday, Dec. 4.

2023-2024 Ebert Fellows announced

November 9, 2024 | Vivian La, Communications Intern

Three College of Media undergraduate students were chosen for this year’s Roger Ebert Fellows program, named after the late Pulitzer Prize-winning film critic and University of Illinois journalism alumnus Roger Ebert. The fellows will work closely with Michael Phillips, film critic at the Chicago Tribune, to hone their writing and interview skills, sharpen their critical eye, and host a screening in 2024 with the Roger Ebert Center for Film Studies.

This year’s Ebert Fellows are Hanna Brazas-Mata, Caroline Tadla, and Stephanie Wayda.

“With my help, they can learn to be their own best editors, no matter what kind of writing they end up doing in the future. And I hope I can introduce them to at least one or two terrific films they might not otherwise have discovered,” Phillips said.

The Ebert Fellows will participate in various activities throughout the year, such as developing their podcasting skills by working with the producers of the Filmspotting podcast in the studios of Chicago Public Radio. They’ll also cover Ebertfest for Illinois Public Media. And for the third year in a row, the Ebert Fellows will attend and cover the True/False Film Festival in Columbia, Missouri, writing for RogerEbert.com.

Phillips is excited to work with the students’ strengths, making them “better, sharper, more persuasive versions of the writers and thinkers they are already,” he said.

He’ll be paying attention to each fellow’s particular interests, who might be especially valuable for them to meet, and what to experience first-hand.

Meet the 2023-2024 Ebert Fellows

Hanna Brazas-Mata is a junior in media and cinema studies who is looking forward to exploring different career paths through this fellowship.

“I love working with people, production, and writing, and I know all of those aspects of work will be explored in this fellowship,” she said. “Honestly, I see myself having many jobs in many different areas of the industry and this fellowship will give me a taste of that diversity in experience, and work that makes me so excited about my future.”

Brazas-Mata said being an Ebert Fellow is her biggest academic accomplishment and it’s a privilege to work with Phillips and the other fellows.

Her favorite film is Heathers, which reminds her of watching it on her mom’s VHS player.

“Heathers truly never gets old to me; it’s clever, funny, and is a dark twist on classic teen comedies. It also has some great one-liners and costumes,” Brazas-Mata said.

Caroline Tadla is a junior in media and cinema studies. Her dream is to become a screenwriter since she’s always had a passion for writing.

“It’s so encouraging to see the things you’re passionate about manifest into something serious. I’m very excited to gain exposure in the world of film and critical writing,” Tadla said.

After meeting the other fellows and Phillips, she said she’s happy to work with people with similar goals and interests.

She’s also looking forward to attending the True/False Documentary Film Festival in Columbia, Missouri.

Tadla’s favorite film is The Social Network because, as an aspiring screenwriter, “I love how fast-paced and clever the dialogue is as well as the unique narrative structure.”

Stephanie Wayda is a senior in journalism and said she’s interested in the film and entertainment space and this fellowship will help her see what she wants to specifically do.

“It will open the door to meeting new people and sharpen my skills,” Wayda said. “So I think it’ll be a really great, well-rounded experience.”

Wayda is interested in film production and development and is a part of Illini Film and Video Club.

“I am really honored to be a part of the program and uphold all of the history and meaning with Roger Ebert,” she said.

Wayda’s favorite films are those centered around women like Don’t Worry Darling and Promising Young Woman.