Media Excellence 5 | College of Media

Advertising alum creates two highest-rated ads for Super Bowl

March 4, 2021 | Marissa Plescia, Communications and Marketing Intern

Patrick Burke doesn’t usually like waking up to a work text at 5 a.m. … unless it’s saying that his commercials got the #1 and #2 spots for the USA Today Super Bowl Ad Meter poll.

“If I’m gonna get woken up to a work text at 5 a.m., that was definitely a good one,” he said with a laugh.

Burke (BS ’95, advertising) is the group creative director for Highdive, an independently-owned agency based in Chicago. After working for larger Chicago agencies like BBDO, DDB, and Ogilvy, he decided to move to Highdive in 2019.

Highdive’s winning ads this year were two commercials for Rocket Mortgage starring Tracy Morgan, humorously demonstrating the difference between being “pretty sure” and “certain” about buying a home. Burke was the writer for both of these ads. (Watch the ads here.)

Because Rocket Mortgage isn’t a full-time client of Highdive, the agency had to pitch their idea against several other agencies. Their idea was ultimately chosen.

“What’s funny is, sort of immediately, we had Tracy Morgan’s voice in our heads when we were writing the script, and there were times in the process where we were asked to explore backups in case Tracy said no, and we could never find any,” Burke said.

This isn’t the first time Burke and Highdive were awarded top spots on the USA Today Ad Meter poll. Last year, they won the #1 spot for a Jeep commercial starring Bill Murray—which was a play on the classic film Groundhog Day—and the #5 spot for another Rocket Mortgage commercial featuring Jason Momoa.

Burke said it was very rewarding to get the #1 and #2 spots for Rocket Mortgage after getting #5 for them last year.

“I was really, really happy for our clients because it meant a lot to them and it’s a lot of PR,” he said. “It makes all their hard work and championing the idea worth it.”

He said he also enjoyed working with Tracy Morgan, although he wasn’t able to meet him in person this year due to the pandemic.

“Tracy Morgan is just super, super sweet,” Burke said. “We always dealt with him online or over Zoom or on the phone, but he is just the nicest, sweetest guy and just super funny.”

Working with Bill Murray last year, however, was an especially exciting experience for Burke because the actor is a major idol for him, he said. He shared one story about when he was finishing up work and showed up to a dinner with Murray 45 minutes late.

“It’s Bill Murray, you know, he’s famous for just giving people a hard time,” Burke said. “As soon as I walk in I know I’m getting roasted for being late to his dinner. It was just like the highlight of my life, getting made fun of by Bill Murray.”

Burke said going to UIUC and the College of Media gave him a well-rounded education that helped him in his career.

He added that the advertising faculty were very helpful, and he’s stayed in touch Steve Hall and Peter Sheldon, both senior lecturers.

“I wouldn’t trade my education for anything,” Burke said. “I think the faculty and staff have great real-world experience. They all have great connections within the industry and they stay connected to the industry.”

Sheldon said Burke was undeniably talented as a student and that he could tell he would be successful.

“He was one of those students that you know from the first month of having them, the best thing to do is to stay out of their way because they’re going to succeed.”

But despite his talent, Sheldon did fail him on his first assignment for turning it in late.

“He recovered nicely,” Sheldon said with a laugh.

He added that College of Media students can learn from Burke that it’s not enough to just be funny, but that it’s important to be smart too. Burke also proves that students don’t need to go to a portfolio school to be a successful creative in advertising.

Sheldon said he didn’t know when first watching that the two ads from last year were Burke’s. This year, he was looking for them.

“It gives me something to dangle in front of 130 students in a lecture,” Sheldon said. “I can tell the story of how Pat Burke used to sit in that chair there and this is what he’s doing now. I thought a year ago having the first and fifth highest rated ads was like the capstone to an incredible year … then this year he comes back with first- and second-highest rated ads of the Super Bowl. It makes me proud.”

Pictured above: Patrick Burke recently joined one of Peter Sheldon’s advertising classes to give feedback to students during a portfolio critique.

New fund honors former College of Media dean and ICR director James W. Carey

January 11, 2021 | Holly Rushakoff

James W. Carey Fund for Faculty Excellence will support outstanding faculty in the Institute of Communications Research

An internationally recognized scholar in communications research, James W. Carey (1934-2006) earned two advanced degrees at the University of Illinois and then dedicated nearly half of his life as an academic leader in the College of Media (then known as the College of Communications). Carey was a student of the media’s role in society, and his commentaries on American civil life are some of the most influential in the field of communication.

To honor their father’s legacy at Illinois and in the field of media, Carey’s four sons endowed the James W. Carey Fund for Faculty Excellence. The fund will benefit College of Media faculty affiliated with the Institute of Communications Research, where Carey earned his doctoral degree, was a research professor, and served as director (1969-1976). The ICR, housed within the College of Media, is the world’s oldest program for interdisciplinary research and doctoral education in communication and media studies. The first James W. Carey Faculty Fellow will be selected for the 2021-2022 academic year and will receive a stipend to support research activities.

“Our father’s education took off at the U of I and so much of his life as a teacher and scholar orbited around Gregory Hall,” said Dan, one of Carey’s sons. “He had remarkable ties to students and faculty in the University. We wanted to honor that depth of relationship and to make it a lasting one for the future.”

Carey (MS ’59, advertising; PhD ’63, ICR) began his career as a professor of journalism, working his way to dean of the College (1979-1992), during which the major in media studies (now media and cinema studies) was established. He received an Honorary Degree of Doctor of Letters from the University of Illinois in 2000 for his contributions as an author, educator, and administrator. After his time at Illinois, Carey spent the remainder of his career at Columbia University’s Graduate School of Journalism from 1992 to 2006, where he helped establish their doctoral program.

“For nearly 100 years, the College of Media has been guided by the principles of innovation, collaboration, and creativity, which Dr. Carey represented so well,” said Dean Tracy Sulkin. “To continue this tradition, it is crucial to attract, retain, and recognize our talented faculty who embrace these philosophies in their scholarship, teaching, and service.”

Carey is known for developing the “ritual view of communication,” a theory that links communication with participation, association, fellowship, and the possession of a common faith, as opposed to the common “transmission view,” in which communication is the dissemination of information. A ritual view of communication is “not the act of imparting information or influence but the creation, representation, and celebration of shared even if illusory beliefs,” Carey wrote in Communication as Culture: Essays on Media and Society.

“I think all education, all scholarship is ultimately an aspect of citizenship,” Carey said in an interview within his book James Carey: A Critical Reader. “We end up making a living with our education, but the end of education is to prepare one for life in society, for public life in the widest sense, for life among our fellow men and women.”

Carey was beloved by his students. In a 2003 issue of Mass Communication Education, the late John J. Pauly (BS ’72, MS ’74, journalism; PhD ’79, ICR) published “Remembering a Mentor: James Carey.”

“A Carey lecture resembles a grand magic show, bursting with fireworks, sleight of hand, dramatic flourishes, and the occasional personal aside. … His writing luxuriates in theoretical, historical, and literary allusion. … But the most important lessons Carey taught me were about being a professor,” wrote Pauly. The lessons were: Be serious about your work; honor the university tradition; look for the human; and leave the door open. “Carey’s students learn that there is always room for one more chair at the table, for one more spoon in the pot.”

In 2006, WILL interviewed his former doctoral students Clifford Christians (research professor emeritus of communications; professor emeritus of media studies and journalism; and former director of ICR) and Steve Jones (distinguished professor of communication at the University of Illinois at Chicago). They remembered Carey as an eloquent communicator who valued plain language, clarity, and honesty, who was an organic member of the community and loved the public university, and who was admired across campus for his wisdom.

Linda Steiner (PhD ’79, ICR), professor of journalism at the University of Maryland, remembered Carey for his important insights and storytelling.

“Carey’s teachings and writings had enormous impacts on me,” Steiner said. “So it’s really an honor for me to engage in this campaign to do something to celebrate his service to the field, to the University, to ICR, and the College of Media.”

To join Carey’s family, former students, colleagues, and friends in our fundraising campaign to grow the endowment, please visit the College of Media giving page, click on the orange “Give Online Now” button, and select the Carey Fund under “Nurture Excellence in Media Faculty.”

Kalis supports students with new award for creativity in advertising

December 2, 2020 | Kimberly Belser, Communications and Marketing Intern

Talented advertising undergraduate students will be recognized for their creative work and provided with a monetary gift to support their creative career path, thanks to the Murray Kalis Award for Creativity in Advertising. The new award was established by College of Media alumnus Murray Kalis (BS ’61).

“Much of advertising education is quantitative based: media, research, tracking,” Kalis said. “Yet, what can truly differentiate ad agencies is qualitative. What I learned in the ad business was creative is the great equalizer in agency pitches. No matter how big our competitors were, if we had the big idea, we won the account.”

Kalis, who spent most of his career as a creative director, endowed this award to emphasize to students the importance of creativity in advertising.

“Overall, as a department head, I feel blessed and very happy that we have alumni who care deeply about our students, and who would really like to recognize the strength in our talent pool,” said Professor Mike Yao, head of the Charles H. Sandage Department of Advertising.

The award process, which begins this December in advertising senior lecturer Peter Sheldon’s ADV 452: Creative Concepts I course, will take place during a virtual portfolio review, where at least one “upper-level creative with an extensive track record” will critique the students’ work.

Three awards will be given: one for the best single ad, one for the best three-ad campaign, and one for the best 10-ad portfolio. Students have the ability to win in multiple categories.

The criteria for the Murray Kalis Award for Creativity in Advertising is smart positioning, outstanding creative concept, and strong execution, in addition to that “wow” factor, Sheldon explained. The winners will be given a gift award to support their efforts in pursuing a creative career path in the advertising industry.

“From the time I started at [the University of Illinois], I was always interested in majors that require creativity,” Kalis said. “In fact, I switched majors every semester, starting with architecture, to industrial design, to fine arts painting, and then to creative writing.”

Because of this, he had little to no concentration of prerequisites to start his junior year. Then, he learned that the School of Journalism only required 60 hours completed, and that the school offered a major in advertising.

“I loved advertising because it called upon everything I knew and had learned. After all, you never know what products you might need to work on,” Kalis said. Two years later he graduated from the journalism school having majored in advertising.

“Even though our curriculum does not have a dedicated track for creativity because its history has always focused on strategy, there are many creative talents in our major,” Yao said. “We will always be looking for a way to discover and support these students who are interested in pursuing a creative path in advertising, and so this timely gift and this award will allow us to discover and cultivate this type of talent.”

Yao said it is important for students to be given a broad view of the industry and to be able to pursue their interests through the advertising curriculum, while feeling supported and recognized.

“This award really reflects our dedication and our view of the importance of this particular dimension of advertising,” he said.

Kalis is creative director of Kalis, Inc.; a partner and creative director emeritus at Riester; a board member of the Los Angeles World Affairs Council; on the board of advisors for Dave’s Hot Chicken; and a member of the Tech Coast Angels, the largest angel investor group in the U.S. Most recently, he joined the Los Angeles-based B2B delivery startup, Ship District, as Chief Marketing Officer.

Gregory Hall basement renovations set for completion

December 2, 2020 | Marissa Plescia, Communications and Marketing Intern

College of Media students and alumni may remember pre-pandemic late nights cramming on big projects in the dimly lit basement of Gregory Hall (not to mention the Doritos and Coca-Cola dinners from the vending machine). But thanks to college and campus funds, the basement will soon have a new makeover with long-awaited renovations to Rooms 13, 29, and 31 completed in time for spring semester.

Rooms 29 and 31 used to be joined as one big classroom, with 31 as a computer lab and 29 as a little nook with tables and chairs. They will now be two separate rooms and 29 will act as a small media production space, said Meghan Burnett, director of information technology and operations. It will have a green screen and camera equipment for students to produce videos and do photo shoots. There will also be post-production equipment for students to edit material.

Room 31, meanwhile, will become an iFlex classroom, meaning it can be easily restructured to fit the needs of the class, Burnett said. The remodeled classroom will fit more than 40 students. Chairs and tables will all have wheels so they can be reconfigured, whether it’s in a lecture format sitting all in one direction or in a pod format for group work. Screens will fill the perimeter of the room and students and faculty can use their smartphones or laptops to share their work on the screens.

“It can accommodate a variety of different teaching styles,” Burnett said.

Room 13, a computer lab, will have new computers and a new large screen in the front of the classroom, Burnett said. It also received a new ceiling, new flooring, new paint, new AV equipment, and better lighting and ventilation. The class will now face to the west—rather than its old position facing the north—which allows for a better arrangement of the desks.

Gregory Hall Room 29 is being transformed into a small media production space.

The overall cost of the project is a little over $1 million, Burnett said, and was paid for with a combination of College of Media funds and campus capital project funds.

The renovation has been in the planning process since the 2018-2019 academic year. Construction began in January 2020 and paused in March due to COVID-related shutdowns, then resumed in June. The rooms will be utilized beginning in spring semester, but will not be used to their full capacity until the pandemic is over and social distancing requirements ease, Burnett said.

Faculty members in the College of Media advised on equipment, room layouts, and furniture. Victor Font, lecturer in media and cinema studies, provided recommendations for what should be included in the production room and will be using it frequently for his classes. He shared that, while he said the space will be too small for filming big action scenes, it will be helpful for still shots, close-ups, interviews, and casting auditions.

He said it will also be important for teaching students how to use green screens and camera equipment.

“The idea is for the students to use [the equipment] without being supervised by the TAs or professors so that they can go there and use the room [as needed],” Font said.

One of the courses he plans on using the production room for is MACS 140: Smartphone Cinema, where he’ll have his students create a moving car scene using the green screen.

Font said these changes are something he thinks students will be excited to use and will provide great opportunities for experiential learning.

“It will make our 80-year-old building look a little more modern,” Font said.

However, while the renovations to the Gregory Hall basement are exciting to many, some student filmmakers may not be pleased, Font added.

“It was a perfect place to film a horror movie. Not anymore,” Font said, with a laugh. “So we’re going to need to find another basement for that.”

Seattle Times editor Iniguez to be alum speaker at virtual ceremony for December grads

December 1, 2020 | Kimberly Belser, Communications and Marketing Intern

According to Alex Iniguez (BS ’11, journalism), assistant metro editor at The Seattle Times, one thing that can’t really be taught in college is “the grind”—a daily devotion to work that helps manage tough days on the job. However, Iniguez said his time as a journalism student prepared him to work hard, regardless of his career path.

“My College of Media degree is worth a lot to me, first and foremost,” he said. “I felt like I thrived in a smaller environment in the College of Media compared to the large U of I umbrella, which was a good fit for me in other ways. And I’d be remiss to not mention [The Daily Illini]. The DI was a huge part of my development, and I still meet people who worked at the DI in the wild, which is always a pleasure.”

Iniguez was selected to be the alumni speaker at a virtual ceremony to honor College of Media December 2020 graduates.

“Alex has broad news coverage experience, having reported on both sports and recent events, including the protests, in Seattle. As a recent alum, and an emerging leader in the media industry, he will have helpful advice to share with our newest graduates,” said Dean Tracy Sulkin.

Previously an assistant sports editor at The Seattle Times, Iniguez was promoted to assistant metro editor, effective November 30. His job shifted focus this summer when he spent four months assisting with coverage of the coronavirus pandemic and racial justice protests before returning to sports.

“My previous stint in metro earlier in the pandemic made me finally accept and truly know my skills are transferable,” he said. “I can work in metro for the same reasons I can work in sports. If you’re a well-rounded and prepared journalist, the possibilities are great.”

He took on the role as editor for The Seattle Times’ news section over the summer at the height of the George Floyd protests, which he said was a fascinating experience. During a couple of shifts, he took feeds from reporters via email, Slack, and WordPress, and published them to the newspaper’s website in real time, “providing a valuable and up-close look at our community.”

“I enjoyed understanding the protests and protesters better, which I largely accomplished by watching hours of [Facebook, Periscope, and Twitch] livestreams from the streets. Seeing that kind of passion, relentlessness, and dedication, and understanding where and why those feelings exist was inspiring and made me understand our world more,” he said.

At The Seattle Times, his coverage has included the Seattle Sounders’ 2019 Major League Soccer Cup title; the establishment of a National Hockey League team in Seattle and the announcement of its name; former Seattle Mariners Major League Baseball player Ichiro Suzuki’s retirement in Japan; Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson’s midnight contract extension; and political donations made by the Seahawks.

Recognized for his talents, Iniguez was accepted into the Poynter Institute’s 2021 Leadership Academy for Diversity in Digital Media. The yearlong program trains journalists of color working in digital media to thrive, fosters honest discourse about the challenges for journalists of color in management roles, and provides the connections, confidence, and skills to confront them.

He said the most rewarding aspect of his career is his ability to work with journalists who have the same level of curiosity as his own.

“We get to take our curiosities, spend time researching them, and, ultimately, provide some information that might help people understand their surroundings more,” he said. “That’s a powerful feeling.”

For aspiring journalists, he has one message: Brace yourself.

“I don’t mean that as a warning,” he said. “But journalism is a wild ride. You never know what you’ll see or hear, and you never know where your work might take you. It’s a thrilling career, if you’re willing to go for a ride.”

Furthermore, he wishes December 2020 graduates well with their future.

“I know this is a really hard time to be coming out of school, but if you turn on your survival mode, you will figure it out,” he said. “You have time to find your place, personally and professionally. Take the time to think intently about where you want to be and what kind of person you want to be. That will guide you on your career path.”

College of Media establishes new minors and adds new courses

November 6, 2020 | Kimberly Belser, Communications and Marketing Intern

The College of Media is pleased to announce a number of new and innovative curricular opportunities, including a new interdisciplinary minor in media, a minor in critical film production within the Department of Media & Cinema Studies, and new courses across all three departments that address emerging trends in the media industry.

MEDIA MINOR

The media minor, established this fall, is available to students outside of the College of Media, and offers a variety of courses from the Charles H. Sandage Department of Advertising, Department of Journalism, and Department of Media & Cinema Studies. Suggested courses for the minor are grouped in themes of diversity, social media, sports, content creation, history, and more.

“We’re so excited to be able to offer a media minor,” said Katie Clark, senior assistant dean for student services. “So many of our courses are of interest to students across campus and this minor gives them an opportunity to take these courses in a meaningful, guided way. We know how beneficial it will be to prepare students for the job market by teaching them media-specific skills, which they can apply to any field of interest.”

For example, Media courses could help an engineering student learn what is needed to patent an invention, understand the target audience, and communicate the idea. A social work student might be interested in the power of film to bring attention to a particular social problem. A biology or chemistry student might want to pursue science communication and also understand social media strategy.

“What we teach here in the College of Media complements well the educational and career goals of many students across campus,” said Dean Tracy Sulkin.

To complete the minor, students must take an introductory course in each of the college’s three departments, and then choose three advanced courses from at least two different departments in the college.

CRITICAL FILM PRODUCTION MINOR

The new critical film production minor is an expansion of the existing media production certificate, which provides students with media-making skills.

“The critical film production minor is not ‘film school’ in the traditional technically-focused sense,” said Derek Long, assistant professor of media and cinema studies. “Making thoughtful media in the 21^st century requires so much more than just knowing how to use the camera on your smartphone.”

While the minor’s curriculum trains students in advanced technical skills for creating moving images and sound, it also emphasizes that students should create media with the same critical eye that they use to read, write, and conduct research.

That’s an important step, Long said, toward building a more inclusive and reflective culture in the media industries, and it requires knowledge of film and media history, theory, and criticism. The critical film production minor’s core courses and electives combine those technical aspects of mediamaking with critical studies.

According to Long, all of the minor’s core courses involve video production and editing projects. MACS 150: Intro to Digital Media Production introduces students to other forms of mediamaking, such as photography, digital image manipulation, web design, and podcast production. In the critical studies electives, students can conduct research using old film magazines and pressbooks from the late Pulitzer Prize-winning film critic and journalism alumnus Roger Ebert. The elective courses offer a variety of assignments, from organizing a film festival to participating in a fantasy box office competition.

“Illinois alum Roger Ebert called cinema an ‘empathy machine,’ and this notion is central to the main goal of the minor: to enable students to be empathetic leaders in the world of cinema and media at the same time that they share their ideas with a digitized world,” Long said.

The minor is a great choice for students interested in careers such as film production and distribution, as well as advertising and public relations. “Students interested in the critical study or production of any kind of art—be it visual, musical, or something else—will also find the minor attractive,” Long added.

The most useful training that the minor will provide students is learning how to work as part of an inclusive team, Long said. Effective media producers know that while technologies become outdated every year, interpersonal skills never stop being useful.

NEW COURSES IN DATA STORYTELLING AND NEW MEDIA

The Department of Journalism has added two new courses where students can gain experience with data science applications and new media technologies.

JOUR 460: Data Storytelling

JOUR 460: Data Storytelling teaches students the power of data, which can help them to tell a better story.

“Data alone can tell them who to interview,” said Margaret Ng, assistant professor of journalism. “Data can be a driving point for them to really find out where the story is so that they can approach their interviewee or sources more appropriately.”

The class focuses on four objectives: how to obtain the data, clean the data, analyze the data, and present the data.

The new course has attracted students from the journalism department and other disciplines within the College of Media, as well as graphic design, statistics, and computer science majors.

In a newsroom, there are more than journalism majors, Ng pointed out, citing frequent collaborations between data scientists, graphic designers, and journalists. While computer scientists may already have substantial software or coding skills, they may not have experience with putting data into real practice and solving newsworthy questions.

Students will also gain experience with how to properly file Freedom of Information Act requests to government agencies and how to make an appeal if they receive a rejection.

Ng hopes all students, no matter what their major is, learn how to gather and communicate data ethically so they can present their findings in a much more engaging way to their audience.

JOUR 199: New Media, Society, & You

When designing JOUR 199: New Media, Society, & You, Christopher Ball, assistant professor of journalism, selected critical topics that are currently being shaped by new media use, as well as articles that discussed the pros and cons of new media technologies.

The goal, Ball said, was to create a course that surveyed the ways that new technology is integrating into our lives, while also seeking a more balanced understanding of their role in modern society.

An essential part of this course is using new media technologies in creative ways, including the creation of a personal blog that they will use to showcase a variety of new media projects. Students will also create timeline infographics, diagram their information diets, analyze social media profile pictures, and create short YouTube videos.

“In our excitement (or apprehension), we often say that these new media technologies are ‘changing our world/lives,’” he said. “However, I hope that students leave my class with the knowledge that these technologies are not changing our lives directly. Instead, it is how we choose to use these technologies, both collectively and individually, that is changing our lives. So, let’s figure out how to use them best.”

Many of the projects in this course will involve using new media in novel ways. For instance, students will learn a new skill while only using YouTube videos and web forums.

“The goal is that students will not just learn about new media; they will use it while reflecting on some of the ways to leverage them in their career or personal life,” he said.

Ball looks forward to hearing his students’ perspectives and thoughts on emerging technologies, since most are already “expert users.”

“I hope that students enjoy the course and that it helps them to see the interactive technologies surrounding them a bit differently,” he said. “I also hope that my class empowers my students to use these technologies to improve their lives and, ultimately, the world around them. There is no better time to learn about new media technologies than right now.”

NEW COMPUTATIONAL ADVERTISING COURSE

In the new ADV 461: Computational Advertising course, students will learn technologies including “web-search, auctions, behavioral targeting, and mechanisms for viral marketing that underpin the display of advertisements on a variety of locations.” One section of the course is designed for advertising majors, taught by Ewa Maslowska, and the other section, for computer science (CS) + advertising majors, emphasizes programming and computer science.

“Computational advertising relies more and more heavily on behavioral data, which often are digital by nature. In this class, we discuss what insights advertisers can gain from the traces left by consumers in the digital space,” said Maslowska, assistant professor of advertising.

Computational advertising represents a paradigm shift driven by technological developments, including the digitization of brand-consumer interactions, the availability of big data, and the development of new artificial intelligence algorithms.

Her section of the course uses case studies to explore how different theories, methods, and evidence can shape advertising strategies and their effects. Students will gain basic analytical skills that can be applied to understanding and solving business problems.

“We explore different ways for abstraction and modeling that can be applied to advertising,” Maslowska said.

Students will design and run an A/B test on a website, compare different tools for personality profiling, and analyze various digital data. These assignments help students to better understand the workings and limitations of the different tools that use consumer data.

“I hope that upon completion of this course, the students will be able to understand the computational advertising ecosystem, analyze and evaluate different advertising strategies, make actionable recommendations, and reflect on the ethical and normative aspects of computational advertising, including the responsibilities of both advertisers and academics,” she said.

The CS + advertising section of the class will be available in Spring 2021 and will focus on Internet privacy and the security of individuals as they navigate the web. Students will analyze an actual firm engaged in computational advertising. Working with massive data sets, they will learn algorithms and how companies use personalization in ads.

—Kimberly Belser, Communications and Marketing Intern

$7.5 million gift to the College of Media establishes the Richard and Leslie Frank Center for Leadership and Innovation in Media

October 12, 2020

The College of Media at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign today announced that its students will benefit from a suite of enhanced professional experiences, thanks to a $7.5 million gift by Rich and Leslie Frank of St. Helena, California. The gift, the largest in the College of Media’s history, will establish the Richard and Leslie Frank Center for Leadership and Innovation in Media.

“The opportunity this gift provides to our students who are pursuing careers in media is phenomenal,” said Illinois Chancellor Robert J. Jones. “The passion Rich has for his alma mater and his vast industry experience have combined perfectly with Leslie’s broadcast news experience to create a center that will become the perfect ecosystem for budding journalists and media professionals at Illinois.”

“Now more than ever there is a critical need for good, solid, objective journalism in this country,” said Rich and Leslie Frank. “We are encouraged our contribution will help create the highest level of learning for the next generation of journalists and that we are able to play a part in elevating the stature of the program at Illinois, making it a top destination for students and faculty.”

Rich Frank, former president of Disney Studios, and Leslie (Miller) Frank, an Emmy award-winning broadcast journalist, both now vintners and hospitality leaders in Napa Valley, wanted to make an investment in the University of Illinois that would have an impact for generations.

The Richard and Leslie Frank Center at Illinois will develop students who are leaders in their professions by offering access to a diverse group of experts and practitioners through residencies and a speaker series, and by supporting outside learning opportunities such as professional immersion experiences, conference participation, and internships.

A portion of the Franks’ gift will be used to create a state-of-the-art broadcast facility within the Richmond Studio, and additionally to create two classrooms in Gregory Hall to accommodate the use of new technologies, and to offer space for media editing and production.

“The Richard and Leslie Frank Center will have a transformational impact on students and will define Illinois’ excellence in media fields from this point forward,” said Tracy Sulkin, dean of the College of Media. “This gift is a game-changer for the College of Media,” she added. “The upgrades to instructional facilities and the programming provided will ensure that we continue to train innovative and ethical professionals who will lead the way in their chosen fields, attract and retain the very best faculty to the Department of Journalism, and enhance our opportunities to engage with the public on pressing issues. We cannot thank the Franks enough for their generosity and commitment to shaping future generations of journalists and media professionals.”

Rich Frank, who received his bachelor’s degree in marketing from the University of Illinois, is no stranger to media. He began his career at the advertising agency BBDO in New York City before moving to Los Angeles to work as a sales Manager at KTLA. He then served as President of Chris-Craft Broadcasting. In 1977 he became President of Paramount Television Group, overseeing the creation and production of such shows as Taxi, Family Ties, and Cheers as well as the creation of the groundbreaking entertainment news show, Entertainment Tonight. In 1985 he became President of Disney Studios. Under his leadership, the studio created iconic sitcoms such as The Golden Girls and Home Improvement, and films including Good Morning Vietnam, Dead Poets Society, and The Lion King. He also oversaw the launch of the Disney Channel. Rich served three terms as President of the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences. In 2007, the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences recognized him with the prestigious Syd Cassyd Founder’s Award. In 2011, Rich received an honorary doctorate from the American Film Institute where he is currently a Vice Chairman on the AFI’s Board of Directors. Rich previously served on the board of the Motion Picture Association of America. His archival interview with the Television Academy provides a fascinating historical perspective of the evolution of modern television.

Born in Hamilton, Ontario, Leslie (Miller) Frank began her career in Canada before crossing the border to work in some of the largest television markets in the United States. She spent more than 25 years covering many major stories including the 9/11 attacks where she reported live from ground zero in New York City, as well as from the scene of the devastating aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, and inside the courtroom at the Michael Jackson trial. Leslie spent the last nine years of her TV news career reporting and anchoring at the number one rated station, KABC in Los Angeles, where she covered politics, crime, weather calamities, as well as interviewing some of the biggest stars in Hollywood on the red carpet. Prior to Los Angeles, Leslie was the main anchor at KCPQ in Seattle, where she took the 10 pm newscast to number one in its time slot and clinched an Emmy for outstanding news anchor.

Today, Rich and Leslie live in the Napa Valley and run one of the most successful family-owned and -operated wineries in the region, Frank Family Vineyards. Established in 1993, the winery is well regarded for its estate-driven still and sparkling wines.

Rich and Leslie return to the Illinois campus frequently, speaking with students and faculty in both the College of Media and the Gies College of Business and advising journalism students on their television news broadcasts and resume videos.

For more information, contact Sue Johnson at the University of Illinois Foundation at (217) 244-7114 or johnso16@uif.uillinois.edu.

College of Media Strategic Plan 2020

View a PDF of the College of Media’s strategic plan to learn about our priorities for 2020-2025.

Tracy Sulkin named College of Media Dean

September 19, 2018

Tracy Sulkin is the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign’s dean designate of the College of Media effective September 16, pending approval by the University of Illinois Board of Trustees in November. Sulkin, a professor of political science in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, formerly served as the College of Media’s interim executive associate dean.

A member of the Illinois faculty since 2002, Sulkin is a Romano Professorial Scholar in LAS and was previously an LAS Centennial Scholar. Legislative Style, the third and most recent of her books on American politics, was published in 2018.

Sulkin brings extensive administrative experience to her new position. In the department of political science, she served as the director of graduate studies and associate head for undergraduate programs. She was elected to the LAS Executive Committee and served on the LAS Curriculum Committee. She also chaired the Undergraduate Education Task Force for the campus strategic planning process.

Andreas C. Cangellaris, the Urbana campus’s vice chancellor for academic affairs and provost, recommended the three-year appointment of Sulkin to Chancellor Robert Jones.

“For the past year, Professor Sulkin has provided significant stability, leadership, and direction for the College of Media in her role as interim executive associate dean,” Cangellaris said. “I am confident she will continue to be a collaborative leader for the College of Media.”

College announces additions to leadership team

May 18, 2018

The College of Media is pleased to announce several additions to the leadership team.

Stephanie Craft will be assuming the position of Head of the Department of Journalism, effective June 16, 2018. Her research focuses on news literacy and journalism ethics.

Mike Yao will become Interim Head of the Charles H. Sandage Department of Advertising, also beginning June 16, 2018. His research research focuses on the social and psychological impacts of interactive digital media.

Michelle Nelson will become the College’s inaugural Associate Dean for Research and Creative Endeavor, effective August 16, 2018. Her research interest lies in advertising literacy and the use of media literacy to promote healthier behaviors among children and adolescents.

“Faculty and students in the College of Media are already producing a great variety of innovative and impactful research and creative endeavor,” Nelson said. “I look forward to helping to support and promote their efforts inside the college and to external audiences in this new position. I’m excited to work with faculty and students so that together we can do more to strengthen our research culture.”

Congratulations to all!

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