SOJ eNews

SOJ faculty, students participate in WVU events honoring veterans

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 14:16:00 EST

WVU P.I. Reed School of Journalism students and faculty will participate in upcoming events honoring West Virginia veterans.

PR students collect veterans’ histories

Eight public relations students will participate in the “Take a Veteran to School” program in schools throughout northern West Virginia, to recognize veterans for their service and capture the stories of area veterans.

The West Virginia Cable Telecommunications Association (WVCTA), led by local cable operators Suddenlink Communications, Comcast and Time Warner Cable, brings the History™ channel’s “Take a Veteran to School Day” program to high schools throughout West Virginia. U.S. Senator Jay Rockefeller, a member of the Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, helped launch the program last fall at Robert C. Byrd High School in Clarksburg, W.Va.

The student team will assist in executing the events and lead efforts to interview the participating veterans about their wartime experiences for official submission to the Library of Congress American Folklife Center Veterans History Project. In addition, the students will assist in capturing and documenting each event through still photography and video. The team’s goal is to collect 24-28 veteran stories for submission to the national project in 2009.

Death penalty discussion to highlight launch of WVU journalism professor's new book

Tue, 03 Nov 2009 16:23:00 EST

It takes a special breed of attorney to devote a career to defending those facing the death penalty, and WVU journalism professor John Temple was intrigued by those who spend their life dealing with death.

The result is Temple’s second book, “The Last Lawyer: The Fight to Save Death Row Inmates,” published this week by University Press of Mississippi.

“The Last Lawyer” is the true story of a law firm’s fight to save a death row inmate and how an idealistic attorney, Ken Rose, and his diverse band of investigators and lawyers fight to overturn their client’s death sentence. The book chronicles Rose’s decade-long defense of Bo Jones, a North Carolina farmhand convicted of a 1987 murder.

“There are other books about death penalty cases, but I wanted to focus on the legal minds and personalities who devote their lives to this work,” Temple said. “The characters and stories I came across were even more compelling and inspiring than I’d imagined.”

In recognition of the book’s debut, the WVU College of Law and the Perley Isaac Reed School of Journalism will co-host a panel discussion, The Last Lawyer: A Conversation About Justice, Journalism, and the Death Penalty, Nov. 12 at 5:30 p.m. in the WVU Law Center’s Marlyn E. Lugar Courtroom. The panel will be moderated by WVU College of Law Dean Joyce E. McConnell and will focus on the case covered in the book, issues surrounding the morality and constitutionality of the death penalty and the journalistic process. Panelists include Temple; the book’s central figure, death penalty attorney Ken Rose; West Virginia appellate lawyer, Lonnie Simmons; and sentencing mitigation expert Jay T. McCamic.

The event, which will include a Q&A session, is open to the public. A book signing and light refreshments will follow.

Temple is an associate professor and associate dean at the School of Journalism. He spent five years as a behind-the-scenes reporter for “The Last Lawyer,” following the case and the setbacks and triumphs Rose’s team faced as they gradually unearthed evidence to help save their client’s life.

Rose is one of the few U.S. attorneys who has almost exclusively represented death row inmates his entire career. While working the case featured in “The Last Lawyer,” Rose also built the North Carolina-based nonprofit law firm, The Center for Death Penalty Litigation, which is dedicated to representing capital defendants and assisting attorneys representing persons charged or convicted in capital cases.

Simmons, a 1982 WVU College of Law alumnus, is widely recognized as one of the first lawyers in the country to use DNA testing to free an innocent person from prison. Simmons has successfully prosecuted a substantial number of appeals before the West Virginia Supreme Court, including appeals of wrongful death verdicts, employment discrimination claims, personal injury actions and criminal convictions.

McCamic is president of McCamic, Sacco, Pizzuti & McCoid, PLLC, based in Wheeling, W.Va., and is a 1984 graduate of the WVU College of Law. He was the Federal Criminal Justice Act Resource Counsel for the Northern District of West Virginia until the appointment of a Federal Public Defender in the Northern District. Since 1996, he has been the Criminal Justice Act District Representative for the Northern District of West Virginia. He has been involved in Federal Death Penalty litigation in both West Virginia and Pennsylvania, has been designated as “learned counsel” in death penalty matters and has tried federal death penalty cases to verdict in both jurisdictions.

McConnell, the William J. Maier Jr. Dean and Thomas R. Goodwin Professor of Law at the WVU College of Law, said Temple’s book provides a window into the “tragically flawed” death penalty system.

“In ‘The Last Lawyer,’ John Temple chronicles a real lawyer’s struggle to free a wrongfully convicted man whom most would have ignored,” said McConnell. “By taking us along on this journey, Temple creates a legal thriller that reads like fiction, but is real. As Ken Rose struggles to defend Bo Jones against the odds, we experience the highs and the lows of death penalty defense.”

Additional details and the link to the webcast are available at http://law.wvu.edu/lastlawyer and http://journalism.wvu.edu.

Fulbright Scholar and Iraq native embarks on a new journey in life at the SOJ

Tue, 13 Oct 2009 15:28:00 EST

Fulbright Scholar and Iraq native Yassin Ismaeel is working toward a Master of Science in Journalism degree at the SOJ, something he says he could never have imagined in Saddam Hussein’s Iraq. Now Ismaeel calls Morgantown home. Read the complete story at WVU Today.

WVU School of Journalism alumni and donors to be honored at special ceremony

Tue, 06 Oct 2009 14:43:00 EST

The WVU P.I. Reed School of Journalism and the School of Journalism Alumni Association will host its inaugural Alumni and Donor Recognition Ceremony on Friday, Oct. 9, at 6 p.m. in Martin Hall.

The Alumni Association will present its annual awards to the best and brightest graduates and friends of the School of Journalism. Awards include “The P.I. Reed Achievement Award,” which is the highest honor the Association bestows upon a graduate of the School in recognition of his or her outstanding career achievements; “The Friend of the School Award,” which recognizes individuals for their exemplary support and commitment to the School; “The Martin Hall Cornerstone Award,” which honors School of Journalism graduates and Alumni Association volunteers; and “The P.I. Reed Young Alumni Award,” which is given to alumni who have graduated in the last 10 years and have achieved a high level of success in their profession.

The School of Journalism Alumni Association award recipients for 2009 include:

P.I. Reed Achievement Award – Hoppy Kercheval
The radio “dean” of West Virginia broadcasters, Harvey “Hoppy” Kercheval (MSJ, 2005; BSJ, 1977) joined West Virginia Radio Corp. in 1976. Through the years, Kercheval’s assignments have included news, sports and talk. A native of Jefferson County, Kercheval began as a news anchor/reporter at WAJR in Morgantown while attending WVU. After graduating with honors from the School of Journalism, Kercheval took over as news director at WAJR and helped start the state broadcast network, Metronews. Kercheval was named vice president of operations in 1991. In 1993, he created Metronews Talkline, which has become a signature program of the network. In addition, Kercheval has been a key member of the Mountaineers Sports Network. He has been honored with many awards, including the West Virginia Broadcasters Association “Broadcaster of the Year” award in 2002.

P.I. Reed Achievement Award – John Veasey
John Veasey (BSJ, 1959) has been with Fairmont newspapers since 1958 when he joined The Times West Virginian staff as sports editor. He was named managing editor of the Fairmont Times in 1970 and editor of the Times West Virginian in 1976 when the two newspapers merged. Veasey was born in Florida but moved to Morgantown during his sophomore year in high school. He is a graduate of the School of Journalism and is a past president of the West Virginia Sports Writers Association and the United Press International Editor’s Bureau. He has written a daily column for the Times West Virginian since the mid-1980s. In August 2006, he was the recipient of the Adam R. Kelly Premier Journalist Award, presented by the West Virginia Press Association. In October 2009, Veasey was inducted into the Fairmont State University Athletic Hall of Fame.

The Friend of the School Award – William Nutting
William Nutting serves on the board of directors for Ogden Newspapers Inc., is the West Virginia representative for the Southern Newspaper Publishers Association and serves as a member of the Pennsylvania Newspapers Association. The Nutting family and the Nutting Foundation have been strong supporters of the School of Journalism. In 2000, they established the Ogden Newspapers Visiting Professorship in Journalism. They are also supporters of the Ogden Newspapers Seminar Series and the Ogden Newspapers Multimedia Classroom (205 Martin Hall). William Nutting also serves as a member of the School’s Visiting Committee and on the WVU Board of Governors. He earned his bachelor’s degree from Harvard University and his law degree from University of California-Los Angeles in 1986.

The Martin Hall Cornerstone Award – Stephanie Beddow
Stephanie Beddow (MSJ, 1993; BSJ, 1990) has served on the School of Journalism Alumni Association Board since 2001. She has served as secretary, vice president and, most recently, as president (2006-present) of the Association. Beddow also served as president and as a board member of the North Central Chapter of the School’s Alumni Association from 2001-04 and 2002-04, respectively. In addition to her service to the Association, Beddow most recently was the director of donor relations for the WVU Foundation. Before that, Beddow worked as a territory sales manager for Bertek Pharmaceuticals and as a public relations specialist for the Mary Babb Randolph Cancer Center.

The P.I. Reed Young Alumni Award – Justin Weaver
Fairview, W.Va., native Justin Weaver (BSJ, 2007) has forged a successful career at ABC since graduating from WVU. Weaver started at the network as an intern for “Good Morning America” during his senior year. After graduation, Weaver was hired as a desk assistant but was promoted to the booking department in just a few short months. Since then, Weaver has been a segment producer for “Good Morning America” in New York City, Washington, D.C., and now Chicago. While in school, Weaver placed fourth in the television category of the Hearst Journalism Awards Program. He was also among a team of students who placed in the top three of the national Society of Professional Journalists’ “Mark of Excellence” competition for the “Starting Over” Katrina project website.

School of Journalism Dean Maryanne Reed will also formally announce the establishment of the School’s new giving societies and dedicate the new wall of honor, installed last spring to acknowledge and honor the generosity of the School’s top supporters.

In addition, recipients of the 2009 “Golden Quill Teaching Awards,” Dr. George Esper and Jan Boyles, also will be recognized. In spring 2009, The School instituted its own student-selected instructor awards for outstanding teaching. Esper and Boyles are the first recipients of the awards.

Alumni and friends of the School of Journalism are encouraged to attend the ceremony. Questions should be directed to Kimberly Brown, Director of Communications, at 304-293-3505 ext. 5403 or Kimberly.Brown@mail.wvu.edu .

-WVU-
cv/10/06/09
CONTACT: Kimberly Brown, School of Journalism
304-293-3505 ext. 5403

More at WVU Today.

WVU professor brings PR expertise to McDowell County community

Tue, 06 Oct 2009 14:21:00 EST

Just because an organization or individual has a good story to tell doesn’t mean they know how to tell it or who to tell it to. That can be especially true of nonprofits.

That’s where Dr. Rita Colistra at the Perley Isaac Reed School of Journalism come in.

“Often times, these nonprofits are all that people have to turn to when they’re in need—especially in smaller, more isolated areas,” says Colistra, an assistant professor in the School of Journalism. “Therefore, educating these organizations about how to effectively reach their key publics, whether through the media or other means, is essential in helping them generate awareness and getting their messages across in order to help their fellow community members.”

That’s one of the reasons Colistra recently led a public relations workshop hosted by Travel Beautiful Appalachia Inc. in McDowell County, W.Va., covering such topics as how to promote organizations, reaching key publics and how to effectively work with the media.

Executive Director of TBAI Sharon Walden coordinated the free workshop, which took place at the historic Ashland Company Store, based on surveys collected from the local community that indicated an interest in public relations training.

“One of Travel Beautiful Appalachia’s missions is to bring expertise to the people,” said Walden.

Colistra provided a booklet for participants that contained information about public relations resources. The tool book included templates and examples for several formats of public relations in the media. The topics included new releases, broadcast writing tips, PSA guidelines, media advisories and a letter-to-the-editor format.

“We had not seen some of the proper formats before, so the book and templates will help us better promote our organizations,” Walden said.

Workshop attendees also engaged in a group exercise designed to develop story pitches to the media. Nonprofit employees from SAFE (Stop Abusive Family Environments), SHED (Safe Housing Economic Development), TBAI, AmeriCorps Vista and private citizens received positive critiques and tips from Colistra about how to create newsworthy pitches for their organizations and business ventures.

Mary-Ann Caskey-Drake attended the workshop to learn PR tactics on how to market and promote her book of poetry, “Timeless Reflections.”

“Finding the right target of readers is one of my problems,” said Drake, “but everything in the workshop was very useful.”

A native West Virginian, Colistra feels interactive workshops are an effective way to reach out to local communities across the state.

Colistra has provided her expertise and services to other state departments and organizations through similar workshops since beginning her career at WVU, including the WV Division of Forestry and nonprofit Flex-e-Grant recipients.

Colistra earned both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the P.I. Reed School of Journalism before heading to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill to complete her doctoral studies as a Roy H. Park Fellow.

Founded in 2005, TBAI’s mission is to focus on the unemployed and underemployed in the McDowell, Wyoming and Mercer county areas and to work with local businesses and entrepreneurs. The Public Relations and Marketing Workshop was funded by the WV HUB, the Benedum Foundation and the WV Development Office. For more information about TBAI, visit www.tbaiwv.org.

More at WVU Today.

IMC student receives marketing awards

Mon, 21 Sep 2009 10:34:00 EST

When marketing professional Chris Nicely was researching graduate schools, he wanted a program to teach him the “science of marketing” so he could be more effective at his job. After looking at several programs nationwide, he chose the master’s degree program in Integrated Marketing Communications at West Virginia University’s P.I. Reed School of Journalism.

Now a year-and-a-half into the online program, Nicely has already garnered top honors for two advertisements in his integrated marketing campaign, “A Different Place.”

Nicely is vice president of marketing at Holland Home in Grand Rapids, Mich., a company that provides the full continuum of care for seniors, including housing, home care and hospice services to those 65 and older. He recently submitted several marketing examples from the campaign to the National Mature Media Awards and won a Silver Award and a Merit Award for his television and radio spots.

Nicely credits the IMC program with helping him understand the overall process of creating an integrated marketing strategy for the campaign.

“The senior services industry in Grand Rapids is highly competitive,” he said. “I knew that we must communicate our strongest messages in an integrated approach for maximum impact on our target market.”

Nicely said he began by identifying the marketing characteristics that were important to his audience. He decided the most cost-effective tactics to reach his market were television, radio, direct mail and sales literature. Then he set to work creating the campaign, starting with the direct mailer and sales literature. He built the TV and radio scripts on this foundation.

“All four tactics communicated the marketing messages in a consistent way,” said Nicely. “This assured me of two things: each tactic would communicate the same strategic message, and there would be a cumulative effect from medium to medium.”

Although he still has a year to go before he graduates with his master’s degree, Nicely points to his awards as evidence that he is already applying what he has learned in his IMC coursework.

“The courses in the IMC program focus on the specific areas of marketing communications that are absolute necessities for today’s professionals. In particular, my coursework on audience insight, managing brand equity, creative strategy and conducting media analysis was very helpful,” said Nicely.

IMC Program Director Chad Mezera says that Nicely’s experience is illustrative of the program’s “learn it today, use it tomorrow” philosophy.

“The IMC program was designed to be not only flexible but also practical,” said Mezera.

“Students often tell us they are able to immediately apply what they learn to their careers. That’s the beauty of this program. Students don’t have to wait until they complete the degree to put their knowledge to work.”

Nicely said he is looking forward to his next year as a student in the IMC program.

“The Advanced Creative Strategies course will help me better mesh my artistic ability with my organization’s profit goals, while the capstone course, which focuses on campaigns, will be a nice, final tie-up of the entire IMC program.”

After graduation, Nicely plans to continue his work in the senior services industry, positioning Holland home to expand and compete regionally and nationally.

CONTACT: Angela Lindley
School of Journalism, IMC program
304-293-3505 ext. 5432

International award-winning journalist named WVU Shott Chair of Journalism

Thu, 03 Sep 2009 16:01:00 EST

Students taking Shott Chair of Journalism Lois Raimondo’s photojournalism course this fall are about to learn that visual journalism goes beyond the lens.

“It’s going to be a photography course, but not just about pictures,” said Raimondo. “It will be about perception and self-awareness. We will improve communication, and deepen understanding, if we develop, and act from, a greater critical knowledge of our own peculiar limitations.”

Before joining the West Virginia University Perley Isaac Reed School of Journalism faculty, Raimondo most recently worked as a staff photographer at The Washington Post. Prior to her 10 years at the Post, she worked as a freelance photographer and writer and spent four years as chief photographer for The Associated Press bureau in Hanoi, Vietnam. Raimondo’s work has appeared in such publications as National Geographic, The New York Times, Smithsonian Magazine, Newsweek and Time.

Raimondo’s journalism, both pictures and words, has received national and international recognition. In 2005, Raimondo was awarded the Alicia Patterson Journalism Fellowship to report on the rise of Islamic Fundamentalism in Pakistan. She spent the year working in Baluchistan and Waziristan.

Raimondo was also awarded the Edward Weintal Prize for Diplomatic Reporting in 2002 for her front-line reporting from the war in Afghanistan. The award committee cited both her photographic and written reports from the field.

As a print reporter, Raimondo worked on an investigative series for New York Newsday about corruption in a public housing project that was named a Pulitzer Prize finalist in 1989. Her photographic work has also received White House News Photographers Association awards, National Press Photographers Association awards and the Casey Medal for Service.

At the WVU School of Journalism, Raimondo will teach photojournalism courses, work on special projects and help build the School’s international programs.

“Our students are fortunate to have a journalist of Raimondo’s caliber teaching and sharing her experiences,” said Maryanne Reed, Dean of the School of Journalism. “She’s passionate about telling stories through words and pictures and brings to the program a unique global perspective.”

Raimondo, a native of Rocky Point, N.Y., began her journalism career in 1982 as a sound technician, producer and interpreter for CBS News in Beijing, China. She holds two master’s degrees, one in news-editorial from the University of Missouri-Columbia and one in comparative literature (Chinese and Japanese) from Indiana University.

The Shott Chair of Journalism was established in 1984 by the Hugh I. Shott Jr. Foundation in honor of the Shott family’s more than 100-year history of leadership in West Virginia’s news media. The chair is a faculty position in journalism – print, broadcast or new media – designed to enhance the quality of journalism education in the state.

Backing from the Ford Foundation enhances SOJ project

Tue, 14 Jul 2009 11:33:00 EST

The world-renowned Ford Foundation is lending its support to the West Virginia University Perley Isaac Reed School of Journalism’s award-winning multimedia web project, West Virginia Uncovered: Multimedia Journalism from the Mountains.

The Ford Foundation recently awarded the School of Journalism a $100,000 grant to help rural newspapers adapt to the demands and opportunities of the digital age.

Associate Dean and Professor John Temple and a small group of students launched the West Virginia Uncovered project in fall 2008. Students and faculty have traveled throughout the state working with newspaper staff to create multimedia content for their Web sites.

During the spring 2009 semester, team members also conducted training sessions for newspaper reporters and staff members on producing and delivering their own multimedia content.

To date, participating newspapers include the Hampshire Review, the Parsons Advocate, the Nicholas Chronicle and the Charleston Daily Mail. Temple plans to expand the project in fall 2009 to help newspapers recruit citizen journalists and create interactive features for their websites.

Funds from the Ford Foundation grant will be used to support web development, project staff, travel and research during the upcoming year and to lay the groundwork for expanding the project beyond West Virginia.

“This grant will take our project to a new level,” Temple said. “We’re already doing great work with newspapers, but this will help us measure the impact of what we’re doing and begin to recruit other universities and colleges to do similar projects. In addition, we’ll hire a web developer to work with community newspapers to help improve their Web sites.”

In addition to the Ford Foundation grant, the project received a two-year, $85,000 grant from the McCormick Foundation and a $10,700 WVU Grant for Public Service in 2008.

In 2009, the West Virginia Uncovered project was also awarded an $85,000 grant from the Claude Worthington Benedum Foundation.

The Ford Foundation was chartered in 1936 by Edsel Ford. Founded to advance human welfare, it is a resource for innovative people and institutions around the world. The Ford Foundation receives some 40,000 proposals a year, however, it only awards 2,000 grants.

The project Web site is available at http://WVuncovered.wvu.edu/.

Photo Captions:
—Photo 1: WVU journalism student Andy Smith learns the basics of recording video for the West Virginia Uncovered project.
—Photo 2: Kendal Montgomery photographs the newlyweds, James Snodgress and Kasha James, during their camouflage-themed wedding in Summersville, W.Va., as part of the West Virginia Uncovered project.
—Photo 3: West Virginia Uncovered project participants are (front, left to right) Jessica Rhodes, Steve Butera, and Andy Smith; (second row, left to right) Tricia Fulks, Megan Bowers, Leann Arthur, Elaine McMillion; (third row) Andrew Barnes, Kendal Montgomery, Erin Wooddell and Erin Murray; (back row) Bill Kuykendall and John Temple.

Official press release available on WVU Today.

Professor Beeson receives national diversity award

Thu, 02 Jul 2009 10:42:00 EST

Joel Beeson, associate professor in West Virginia University’s Perley Isaac Reed School of Journalism, has received a first-place, national award for “Best Practices in Teaching of Diversity” by the Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication (AEJMC).

He will receive the award and present his winning entry, “Civic Engagement, New Media and Journalism: A Template for the Organic Incorporation of Diversity into a New Journalism Curriculum,” at the organization’s annual meeting in Boston, Mass., in August.

Beeson’s work in diversity-conscious service learning has been honored in recent years by the Congressional Black Caucus Veterans’ Brain Trust, Society for Professional Journalists and Broadcast Educators Association, among others.

Beeson challenges students to imagine how stories can be told with different voices, perspectives and media while empowering them to practice new journalism with more dimension and cultural awareness.

Official press release at http://wvutoday.wvu.edu/news/page/7865/.

WVU School of Journalism Dean elected to national executive committee

Tue, 16 Jun 2009 13:19:00 EST

West Virginia University P.I. Reed School of Journalism Dean Maryanne Reed was recently elected to the Association of Schools of Journalism and Mass Communication (ASJMC) Executive Committee. She is one of only eleven nationally elected members.

The ASJMC Executive Committee is the governing body for the association of journalism and mass communication administrators. The association provides a network for deans, directors and chairs, as well as special programming and publications, on accreditation, curriculum revision, strategic planning and development. Some 200 journalism and mass communication schools belong to the association nationwide and 10 schools belong internationally.

Reed will begin her work on the ASJMC Executive Committee this fall. Her three-year term begins October 1, 2009, and ends September 20, 2012.

Reed joined the School’s faculty in 1993. Before being named Dean in 2004, she chaired
the broadcast news program and taught courses in broadcast news writing, television reporting and producing, documentary production and journalism history.

Reed has produced television documentaries and news features for public and commercial television. Her award-winning documentary “Righteous Remnant: Jewish Survival in Appalachia,” originally aired on West Virginia Public Television and was distributed nationally by PBS. Her feature on children and mountaintop mining aired on “Nick News” on the Nickelodeon Cable Channel.

Reed also directed students in the production of an Emmy award-winning documentary profiling five cancer patients, “Cancer Stories: Lessons in Love, Loss and Hope.” The documentary aired on West Virginia Public Television in December 2003 and has been distributed nationally by the National Education Television Association.

WVU journalism student gets major kudos from ABC News

Wed, 10 Jun 2009 11:49:00 EST

West Virginia University broadcast news senior Kasey Hott is poised to be a star in the world of broadcast news. ABC News On Campus recently selected Hott as their “Roving Reporter of the Year.”

Hott will be recognized for her achievements at ABC News later this year. The network plans to fly her to New York City for a two-day visit with news management and recruiters and a behind-the-scenes tour of their news operations. Hott hopes the visit will serve as a springboard for her career.

“I’m not sure where this will lead to,” said Hott. “I know that most people who want to be reporters start out small, and I’m definitely willing to do that . . . to even have this opportunity to meet these people when I’m this young is really neat.”

During the spring semester, the High View (Hampshire County) native served as a reporter and anchor for “WVU News,” a regular newscast produced by WVU Perley Isaac Reed School of Journalism students.

ABC News On Campus has run two of Hott’s “WVU News” stories – “Recession-Proof City,” focusing on the strong economic climate in Morgantown, and “Virginia Tech’s Legacy of Safety,” on the second anniversary of the campus mass murder.

“Both reports were thorough and powerful,” ABC News On Campus executives stated in a letter to Hott. “[Hott] responded promptly to edit suggestions and delivered a professional-quality finished product.”

ABC News established ABC News On Campus in 2008 to allow young journalists to work with broadcast news professionals and to showcase work from college journalism students across the country. The program allows students to report on stories in their areas and produce a wide array of content for ABC News digital and broadcast platforms.

Gina Martino Dahlia, teaching assistant professor and broadcast news program chair, said ABC News got it right when they selected Hott as their “Roving Reporter of the Year.”

“Kasey Hott is one of our many shining stars in the broadcast news program,” said Dahlia. “I am very proud that ABC News On Campus has bestowed this honor on Kasey. I can not think of any student more deserving of this award.”

Hott’s award is the latest for the School of Journalism’s broadcast news program and “WVU News.” As part of the broadcast news program capstone course, students report and produce stories for the statewide newscast. They also serve as on-air anchors and work as the technical crew during newscast tapings at WVU’s professional television studio.

“WVU News” airs on West Virginia Public Television and on Time Warner Cable in North Central West Virginia. It is available online at http://www.youtube.com/westvirginiau and at http://iTunes.wvu.edu/.

WVU graduate's passion for multimedia takes her to Capitol Hill

Tue, 19 May 2009 11:08:00 EST

Ashley “Elaine” McMillion is a self-starting, always-learning, multimedia machine.

The Charleston native, who is graduating with a bachelor’s degree in journalism this week, broadened her academic career at West Virginia University not only by utilizing study abroad programs, but also by exploiting her passion to learn more about multimedia.

This summer, the WVU Foundation Outstanding Senior and recipient of WVU’s most prestigious honor the Order of Augusta, will put her skills to the test during a documentary internship with Washington Post Newsweek Interactive.

A leader at heart, McMillion and a fellow student co-founded the student organization All Things Magazine: Ed on Campus in the fall of 2007. Interested in more than just print journalism, McMillion wanted to introduce other students to multimedia with the magazine club. She is currently the vice president of the organization.

When asked how she helped started a student-run organization, McMillion said she doesn’t recognize impossibility.

“It’s easy to just use the bare minimum. Plenty of students on campus just do what they have to just to get by,” she said. “In the end, it’s how bad you want something. Teachers are willing to help but it’s your ideas that really spark it.”

McMillion’s aspiration to do more contributed to her decision to study abroad. In the spring of 2008, she began her journey at Aalborg University in Denmark. During McMillion’s six-month stay, she visited seven additional countries and captured each with her digital camera.

“I think traveling can teach you so much more than the classroom,” McMillion said. “It’s an adaptation process. Everything seems so strange but some things you accept and bring back with you and other things you find just don’t fit in your life.”

Even though she was 4,000 miles away, McMillion continued to think of ways to enhance her education at WVU. McMillion and fellow student, Tricia Fulks, wanted to plan a project that helps rural newspapers incorporate multimedia.

“We had an idea about a senior multimedia project and I wanted to stay ahead while I was away,” McMillion said. “Tricia and I spoke with John Temple and we worked together to lay the foundation for West Virginia Uncovered.”

While abroad, McMillion kept in touch with Temple, interim associate dean and assistant professor of the Perley Isaac Reed School of Journalism, to create the project. With the help of other faculty, students and grants from the WVU Faculty Senate and the McCormick Foundation, several WVU journalism students have been able to travel to newsrooms across the state to assist in teaching multimedia.

McMillion’s “go for it” attitude helped her gain attention from national organizations.

In the fall of 2009, she became one of 10 student journalists in the country to receive a $10,000 Scripps Howard Foundation scholarship.

As a result, McMillion is able to travel to Washington, D.C. this summer to complete a documentary internship with washingtonpost.com. The unpaid internship may have not been possible without the scholarship.

“The scholarship had a big involvement with landing the Washington Post internship,” she said. “I had no awards previously and the scholarship will pay for my living accommodations for the 11 weeks that I’m there.”

McMillion has worked as a contributing writer and photographer for Lawyers and Leisure Magazine, a staff member of the WVU campus radio station, U92 and writer and reporter for the Charleston Daily Mail. She currently does freelance work for the Dominion Post.

To conclude her undergraduate career, McMillion will graduate summa cum laude.

'Today' show anchor to inspire young journalists at WVU May Commencement

Fri, 01 May 2009 13:24:00 EST

West Virginia University P.I. Reed School of Journalism graduation candidates will receive a first-class farewell from award-winning NBC journalist Hoda Kotb, who is coming home to West Virginia.

She will be the keynote speaker for the school’s Commencement ceremony at 10 a.m. Sunday, May 17, at the WVU Creative Arts Center.

Kotb co-hosts the fourth hour of “Today” with Kathie Lee Gifford, is a correspondent for “Dateline NBC” and hosts NBC’s weekly syndicated series “Your Total Health.”

Though she was born in Norman, Okla., Kotb grew up in Morgantown before her family moved to Alexandria, Va. Despite moving away, she says West Virginia still holds a place in her heart.

“Returning to WVU is like coming home,” Kotb said. “My dad was a professor of engineering. We never missed a home football game. I know the WVU fight song by heart. My childhood closet was covered with ‘Wild Wonderful West Virginia’ bumper stickers. The day we packed up and moved from 1416 Dogwood Ave., I sat on the front stoop and cried.”

Because of this, Kotb says she learned a life lesson early on – that change is painful but necessary for growth. She says she hopes that graduates understand that they must have roots and wings to succeed in a challenging economy and competitive market.

“Never take the safe route,” she said. “No. 1: It’s boring. No. 2: You don’t want a life full of ‘what ifs.’ So here’s what you have to do: stand on the edge of cliff, close your eyes and jump. You will fly.”

“We’re thrilled to have a journalist of Kotb’s stature give the send-off to our students,” said Maryanne Reed, dean of the School of Journalism. “Kotb has risen through the ranks to become one of the most admired and recognized television correspondents in America.”

In her nine years at NBC, Kotb has covered a wide variety of domestic and international stories. Most recently, she covered the aftermath and one-year anniversary of Hurricane Katrina. The story was very personal to Kotb who lived in New Orleans for six years.

In addition, she has reported on the war in Iraq, the conflict between the Israelis and Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza and the war on terror in Afghanistan. Kotb conducted an exclusive interview with Aung San Suu Kyi, an internationally recognized leader of Burma, marking the first time in 11 years that Suu Kyi was interviewed by an American television network.

Kotb traveled to Southeast Asia to cover the devastating effects of the 2004 tsunami and to war-torn Burma, led secretly by rebel soldiers, to report the complete story on 12-year-old twin warriors who were said to have magical powers. Kotb also co-anchored an MSNBC special on race, “Shades of Hope?Shadows of Hate,” which was reported from Birmingham, Ala., at the former site of a Klan bombing.

Kotb has received numerous awards, including the 2008 Alfred I. duPont-Columbia University Award and the prestigious Peabody in 2006 for her “Dateline NBC” report “The Education of Ms. Groves.” The four-time Emmy nominee also won the 2004 Headliner Award, 2003 Gracie Award and the 2002 Edward R. Murrow Award.

Previously, Kotb worked at WWL-TV, the CBS affiliate in New Orleans, where she served as an anchor and reporter for the 10 p.m. news broadcast (1992-98). She was a weekend anchor and reporter for WINK-TV in Fort Myers, Fla. (1989-91).

Prior to that, Kotb was a morning anchor and general assignment reporter for WQAD-TV, the ABC affiliate in Moline, Ill., and an anchor for WXVT-TV, the CBS affiliate in Greenville, Miss. (1986-89). Kotb began her broadcast career with CBS News as a news assistant in Cairo, Egypt (1986).

Kotb graduated from Virginia Tech with a Bachelor of Arts degree in broadcast journalism. She resides in New York City.

The School of Journalism’s May Commencement ceremony is reserved for graduation candidates and their families. The public may view a live webcast of Kotb’s address at http://webcast.wvu.edu.

WVU student awarded Rotary scholarship for study abroad

Fri, 17 Apr 2009 13:32:00 EST

West Virginia University senior Anna Phillips, of Parkersburg, has been awarded the 2009-10 Cultural Ambassadorial Scholarship by Rotary International District 7530. The award is for three months of intensive language study in another country.

The public relations and Spanish major plans to study French at the Institute of Language and Communication in Agdal, Rabat Morocco.

Valued at a maximum of $12,000, the award covers round-trip transportation and language training. The scholarship is designed to promote and strengthen international understanding and goodwill.

While abroad, Cultural Ambassadorial Scholars have a unique opportunity for cultural immersion; they live with Rotarians and their families in their host city.

“Rotary International’s ambassadorial scholarship program is giving me one of the best and most exciting experiences I could ask for – time in another culture to serve and learn,” Phillips said. “I’m so excited to represent R.I. and West Virginia in such an exotic location. I’ve always traveled, but an immersion experience will be totally different for me.”

Students may study abroad in any country where Rotary is present and the proposed language of study is spoken. Applications are considered for candidates interested in studying Arabic, English, French, German, Hebrew, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Mandarin Chinese, Polish, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish, Swahili and Swedish. Scholars are expected to have completed at least one year of study in their proposed language before traveling abroad.

“Anna’s past experiences abroad, community involvement and her outgoing personality made her the ideal candidate for a cultural scholarship to further her education,” Rotary District Gov.-elect Jody Light said.

Phillips is president and founder of Students Going Global at WVU, an organization dedicated to exploring and highlighting international issues and encouraging participation in service-learning opportunities locally and globally. Phillips also works as an intern for Amizade Global Service-Learning Consortium at WVU.

About 800 Ambassadorial Scholarships are awarded worldwide each year by the Rotary Foundation. Founded in 1947, today it is the world’s largest privately funded international scholarships program. The program has sponsored more than 39,000 Rotary Scholars since its inception.

Students who are either from, or studying in, the 29 West Virginia counties which comprise District 7530 are eligible to apply for scholarships within this Rotary International district. For more information, visit http://www.rotary7530.org/.

WVU journalism students win top honors, advance to national competition

Tue, 14 Apr 2009 13:36:00 EST

West Virginia University P.I. Reed School of Journalism students continue to prove they are among the best and brightest in the region, winning three first-place honors in the Society of Professional Journalists 2008 Region 4 Mark of Excellence Awards. WVU students also took several second- and third-place awards in the college journalism competition.

Tricia Fulks, of Clarksburg, received first place in the In-Depth Reporting category for her story “eMBA-gate” that ran in The Daily Athenaeum, WVU’s daily student newspaper.

Stephen Butera, of Middletown, N.J., won first place in the Television Feature category for his piece “Hero Car,” which was produced as part of the school’s partnership with KDKA-TV in Pittsburgh.

In addition, the staff of “WVU News,” the school’s student-produced newscast that airs on West Virginia Public Television, took top honors as Best Television Newscast.

First-place winners will advance to the national round of judging, which is ongoing, and national winners will be announced in May.

In addition to these top honors, WVU journalism students earned several second- and third-place awards.

Second-place honors went to:

Tony Dobies, of Youngwood, Pa., in the Sports Column Writing category for his sports columns in The Daily Athenaeum
Chris Gunnoe, of South Charleston, in the Television Sports Reporting category for “Voice of the Mountaineers” produced for “WVU News”
Janet Irwin, of Bethel Park, Pa., in the Television Feature category for “Holocaust Remembrance” produced for “WVU News”
Anthony Rizzo, of Fairmont, in the Television General News Reporting category for “School Bond Fails” produced for “WVU News”
Nikki Rotunda, of Fairmont, in the General News Photography category for her work titled “Toxic truth?” in The Daily Athenaeum

Third-place honors went to:

Brandon Brown, of Gerrardstown, in the Television Sports Reporting category for “Pride of WV” produced for “WVU News”
Dobies in the Feature Writing category for “Title IX series” in The Daily Athenaeum

“We are really proud of our students for the excellence they demonstrate in their work,” said Maryanne Reed, dean of the School of Journalism. “They continue to shine and excel each year in this regional competition, and we wish them luck as they go on to the national competition.”

The SPJ Mark of Excellence Awards honor the best in student journalism. This year, collegiate journalists submitted more than 3,600 entries in 39 categories for print, radio, television and online collegiate journalism. The Region 4 honors were announced April 4 at SPJ’s Regional Spring Conference in Columbus, Ohio. Region 4 includes West Virginia, Western Pennsylvania, Ohio and Michigan.

Benedum grant helps extend WVU journalism project

Mon, 06 Apr 2009 13:40:00 EST

Benedum grant helps extend WVU journalism project

West Virginia University journalism students have more resources to help small rural newspapers connect with their readers.

The Claude Worthington Benedum Foundation awarded the WVU P.I. Reed School of Journalism an $85,000 grant for “West Virginia Uncovered: Multimedia Journalism from the Mountains,” a project designed to help small regional newspapers adapt to the demands and opportunities of the digital age.

Interim Associate Dean John Temple and a small group of dedicated students launched the project in fall 2008. Along with Visiting Shott Chair of Journalism Bill Kuykendall, Temple and his students have been traveling throughout the state, working with newspaper staff to produce multimedia stories for their Web sites.

The students also are training staff members how to gather audio, video and text to produce and deliver their own content for the Web. All the student-produced stories are available on the project Web site at http://WVuncovered.wvu.edu/.

Currently, five newspapers are participating in the project. The money from the Benedum grant will allow Temple and his students to expand their efforts to include 10 newspapers in 20 different communities.

The funding also will help to strengthen the training program. Besides teaching newspaper staff how to produce multimedia content on a limited budget and with limited personnel, students and faculty will help them engage more effectively with their communities through blogging, citizen journalism and social networking. Students also will work to help the newspapers develop an economic model to make their publications viable.

Temple says the project is designed to help these newspapers survive in a time of declining readership and advertising revenue.

“If a community newspaper dies, those citizens lose their only vehicle for learning about the local issues that affect them,” Temple said. “We want to prevent that.”

In addition to the Benedum grant, the project received a two-year $85,000 grant from the McCormick Foundation and a $10,700 WVU Grant for Public Service in 2008. See http://wvutoday.wvu.edu/news/page/7140/ for details.

The Claude Worthington Benedum Foundation is an independent foundation established in 1944 by Michael and Sarah Benedum, natives of Bridgeport and Blacksville respectively. They named the Foundation in memory of their only child, Claude Worthington Benedum, who died in 1918 at age 20. Grants are made in the areas of education, economic development, civic engagement, community development and health and human services.

WVU journalism students aid state lawmakers

Tue, 24 Mar 2009 13:46:00 EST

Two West Virginia University P.I. Reed School of Journalism seniors are sharing the news of the state Legislature with West Virginia residents this semester.

Missy Myers of Charleston and Justin Hough, a native of Fayetteville, are following and writing about the 2009 legislative session as part of the Office of Reference and Information Journalism Internship Program at the state Capitol.

The Legislature’s Student Internship Selection Committee recruits four students each session from the WVU P.I. Reed School of Journalism and Marshall University School of Journalism and Mass Communication, the state’s only two accredited journalism schools.

Myers and Hough – selected out of eight applicants to work for the Legislature’s Office of Reference and Information – are expected to write columns for lawmakers, prepare news releases, cover floor sessions for both the House and Senate and blog for the Legislature’s official Web site (http://www.legis.state.wv.us).

In return, they receive a $5,200 stipend for living expenses and three credit hours toward their degree upon completion of the program.

“This internship is a unique opportunity,” Hough said. “Not only are we honing the skills necessary to our particular fields, but doing so in an environment unlike any other.”

Hough and Myers, both public relations majors, landed their internships through a competitive process. They were required to file an application, write an essay on their qualifications and interest in the program and interview with the selection committee. In addition, they provided copies of academic transcripts, letters of reference and writing samples.

Myers says the effort was worth it.

“I get to see how the legislative process works from the inside,” she said. “Each day I learn new things about [public relations] and government, and it allows me the opportunity to develop professional skills as well.”

Legislative leaders established the West Virginia Legislative Resource and Information Center in 1989. It is an independent office that assists all 134 members of the state Legislature with their communications needs, including news releases, educational brochures, the Wrap Up newsletter, among others. Staff members also maintain the official legislative Web site.

Both Myers and Hough plan to stay in Charleston for the entire session, which started Jan. 7 and runs through April 29.

Drew Ross, a 2000 graduate of the School of Journalism and now deputy director of the Legislature’s Office of Reference and Information, says the interns are “fine examples” of the students at WVU and the School of Journalism.

“These two have so far proven themselves to be more than capable in all the tasks they have been assigned, and I am confident they will prove themselves more than worthy of this opportunity during the 2009 regular session of the 79th West Virginia Legislature,” Ross said.

Sports writer and NPR commentator Frank Deford visits WVU

Mon, 23 Mar 2009 13:58:00 EST

NPR sports commentator Frank Deford will talk to West Virginia University journalism students and the public about sports writing Tuesday.

Every Wednesday morning Deford brings timely and entertaining sports commentaries to NPR’s broad audience. He’s a senior contributing writer at Sports Illustrated and is a regular correspondent on the HBO show RealSports With Bryant Gumbel.

Deford’s been named sportswriter of the year six times by his peers and was named to the Hall of Fame of the National Association of Sportscasters and Sportswriters. So you might be surprised to learn that sports writing is not what Frank Deford set out to do.

“I just wanted to become a writer, and when I left college, I left Princeton in 1962, a long time ago, I wanted to go to New York,” Deford said. “The best job offer I had was from Sports Illustrated, and the reason I was so attracted to it was not because Sports Illustrated was about sports, but because it was such a well written magazine. That’s not to say that I didn’t like sports. It’s not say I hadn’t written about sports, but the reason I went to Sports Illustrated is because I thought that was a great place to be a writer. I never imagined in a million years that I would stay there forever and stay in sports for the rest of my life, never thought about that.”

Deford says the job has provided fun over the years too. In fact, one of his favorite stories involved a basketball player from Morgantown.

“Many, many years ago I was there with “Hot Rod” Hunley, who of course was the great all-American before Jerry West. I was doing a story on Hot Rod when he was a shoe salesman. He’s now and has been for many, many years the voice of the Utah Jazz. At that time he was an area salesman for converse shoes and I was doing a story on him. Hot Rod was a very funny guy,” Deford said.

Deford says he has to guard against having too much fun or else the reporting suffers.

Reflecting back on his career, Deford says his biggest accomplishment doesn’t have much to do with writing.

Deford says his greatest accomplishment is about his daughter, Alex. She died from cystic fibrosis in 1980 when she was just eight years old.

“I got very much involved with the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, and eventually I served as chairman for 16 years. I would have to say when the curtain is drawn on my life, that’s the most important thing that I did in my life,” Deford said. “I did write a book about Alex and that brought a tremendous amount of attention to cystic fibrosis because it was then turned into a movie. The writing came in concert with the other work. But I would have to say that’s the most important and the most significant thing that Frank Deford ever did. You can’t lose a child and not be so horribly, terribly touched. I don’t know that it changes you, but it so affects you.”

Deford’s writing is described as versatile, from the book he wrote about his daughter to those he’s authored about sports plus his many articles for Sports Illustrated.

He says he’s fortunate to have the opportunity to write for NPR’s Morning Edition. Deford says even though the subject is sports, he keeps the broad base of this audience in mind as he crafts his weekly commentaries.

“If I just talked to that audience like we were all part of the family, we were all jocks together, an awful lot of people listening to me wouldn’t like what I was saying, wouldn’t understand what I was saying, so I’m very lucky that I can bring other elements into my commentary that I couldn’t do if I was on sports radio. I’m very grateful to NPR for that,” Deford said. “It’s sort of funny that some of the people who seem to enjoy me the best don’t really know that much about sports. It’s kind of ironic. In a way it’s kind of a backhanded compliment, ‘I don’t really know what you’re talking about, but I enjoy you.’”

If you enjoy Frank Deford, you can hear him in person Tuesday night at 7:30 at Eiesland Hall on WVU’s downtown campus.

The public event is part of this year’s Journalism Week sponsored by WVU’s P.I. Reed School of Journalism. Speakers throughout the week are all tied to the theme of the evolution of sports journalism and communications.

WVU journalism school examines evolution of sports journalism, communications (UPDATED)

Mon, 09 Mar 2009 14:06:00 EST

Journalism Week 2009 lineup announced

From the sidelines to online, sports journalism has evolved from traditional media coverage to new forms of storytelling in the age of interactive and digital communications.

This month at West Virginia University, Journalism Week 2009 will examine how journalists and professional communicators are embracing new media and new technologies in their coverage of the multibillion-dollar sports industry.

The Perley Isaac Reed School of Journalism will play host to “From the Sidelines to Online: The Evolution of Sports Journalism and Communications” March 23-26. This year’s events will feature public and classroom presentations by award-winning print, broadcast, Web and photo journalists, as well as top sports strategic communicators.

This year’s speakers:

Amy Sancetta, Associated Press sports photographer and Pulitzer Prize winner, March 23, 7:30 p.m., 117 Oglebay Hall

Sancetta is currently the national enterprise photographer for The Associated Press and has worked for the AP for 25 years.

She has covered most major sporting events, including the Super Bowl, the World Series, the Masters, the Kentucky Derby and World Cup Soccer. This past summer, she covered the 2008 Summer Olympic Games in Beijing – her 10th time covering the Olympics.

Sancetta has won multiple awards, including the 1992 Pulitzer Prize in feature photography along with some of her AP colleagues. She also has been named the AP Sports Photographer of the Year.

Tony Caridi, “Voice of the Mountaineers” and host of “Statewide Sportsline,” March 24, 8:30 a.m., G21 Ming Hsieh Hall

Caridi is in his 13th season as radio play-by-play announcer for Mountaineer football and basketball on MSN and in his 24th year overall with the network.

Along with his play-by-play duties, Caridi serves as a co-host and feature contributor for the popular television shows “Mountaineer Magazine” and “Mountaineer Jammin’.”

In addition to MSN, Caridi has done play-by-play for ESPN, PIA Radio, the BIG EAST, Prime, Atlantic 10, Creative Sports and Mutual broadcasts.

He currently is the sports director of the MetroNews Radio Network and is host of a nightly statewide sports talk show, “Statewide Sportsline.”

Caridi has been named the West Virginia Sportscaster of the Year on three occasions.

Frank Deford, sports journalist and commentator for National Public Radio, Sports Illustrated and HBO’s “RealSports,” March 24, 7:30 p.m., G24 Eiesland Hall

Deford is one of the most recognized names in sports journalism and one of the most versatile American writers.

He is a commentator on National Public Radio’s “Morning Edition” and is a regular correspondent on HBO’s “RealSports with Bryant Gumbel.” He is also senior contributing writer at Sports Illustrated.

In addition, he has written 15 books, including his latest, “The Entitled,” a novel about celebrity, sex and baseball. Two of his other books, “Everybody’s All-American” and “Alex: The Life of a Child,” have been made into movies.

Deford has been elected to the Hall of Fame of the National Association of Sportscasters and Sportswriters and is a six-time recipient of the U.S. Sportswriter of the Year Award.

He has won both an Emmy and a George Foster Peabody Award for his broadcast work and was the subject of an ESPN television biography, “You Write Better Than You Play.”

His talk is sponsored by the Ogden Newspapers Seminar Series.

A.J. Daulerio, editor of Deadspin.com, March 25, 10 a.m., 205 Martin Hall

Daulerio is the editor of Deadspin.com, the world’s most popular independent sports blog.

Owned by Gawker Media, the sports Web site claims to deliver sports “without access, favor or discretion.” Started in 2005, Deadspin.com generates close to 17 million page views per month.

Prior to joining Deadspin full-time, Daulerio was a staff writer for Philadelphia magazine. He also has written for Maxim, Salon.com, Vice magazine, The Huffington Post and The New York Times.

Lindsay Czarniak, sports anchor for NBC4 in Washington, D.C., March 25, 7:30 p.m., 205 Martin Hall

Czarniak is an anchor and reporter for NBC News4 Sports in Washington, D.C. She also is co-host of “Gameplan,” News4’s Redskins show that airs during football season. She also works as a pit reporter for TNT’s Summer Six-Pack of races for the Sprint Cup racing series.

Last August, Czarniak covered the 2008 Summer Olympic Games in Beijing as an NBC sports desk reporter and host of the daily show, “Gymnastics on Oxygen,” which aired on the Oxygen Network.

Prior to joining NBC News4 in 2005, Czarniak was a sports anchor and reporter for Miami’s NBC affiliate. During that time, she also was a pit reporter covering the ACRA racing series for the SPEED Channel and NASCAR’s Busch series for NBC.

Marty Rotberg, sports marketing consultant, March 26, 2:30 p.m., 205 Martin Hall

Rotberg is a sports marketing consultant who has worked for more than 30 years in the lifestyle marketing arena.

Most recently, Rotberg was a vice president at Velocity Sports and Entertainment, a sponsorship, lifestyle and event marketing agency. He was responsible for overseeing key properties and sponsorship sales for a range of clients, including Breeders’ Cup World Thoroughbred Championships, Cirque du Soleil and Madison Square Garden.

Prior to Velocity, Rotberg worked for the Public Broadcasting Service and major corporations in the areas of strategic promotions and sponsorship sales. He also worked for the North American Soccer League and managed events for World Championship Tennis.

He currently teaches a sports marketing class in the WVU School of Journalism’s Integrated Marketing Communications master’s degree program.

Dave Lockett, communications coordinator for the Pittsburgh Steelers, March 26, 7:30 p.m., G21 Ming Hsieh Hall

Lockett is the communications coordinator for the Pittsburgh Steelers, responsible for overseeing all areas of the club’s public relations and community relations activities.

Prior to joining the Steelers, Lockett was manager of corporate communications at the National Football League, where he oversaw all public relations activities and developed strategic ideas for the NFL’s “Play Football” programs.

Before joining the NFL, Lockett was a senior account executive for a New Jersey-based sports marketing and public relations firm and an account executive for Ketchum Public Relations. His clients have included Reebok International Ltd., Atlanta Committee for the Olympic Games, Budget Rent a Car and American Express.

Details for Journalism Week 2009 are available at http://journalism.wvu.edu/jweek09/.

Sport communication minor created at WVU to fill niche

Mon, 09 Mar 2009 13:56:00 EST

School of Journalism, College of Physical Activity and Sport Sciences partner to offer minorStudents who love sports now have a new opportunity to get in on the action. Beginning this summer, the West Virginia University P.I. Reed School of Journalism and the College of Physical Activity and Sport Sciences are launching a minor in sport communication.

The minor – available to students outside the School of Journalism – prepares students to understand the business of sports and to work with athletes, the media, corporate sponsors and the public to effectively communicate their client’s message. Students will gain practical skills as professional communicators in the multibillion-dollar sports industry.

Job areas associated with sport communication include sports information, media sales, sponsorships and endorsements, and community relations.

“We know that students are passionate about sports and are eager to break into the industry,” said Maryanne Reed, dean of WVU’s School of Journalism. “This minor is an opportunity for students to match their passion to a profession that offers a wide range of career choices.”

Dana Brooks, dean of the College of Physical Activity and Sport Sciences, says the minor is a unique partnership between two academic programs with different strengths.

“The School of Journalism offers hands-on, practical skills in media writing, public relations and strategic communications, while the College of Physical Activity and Sport Sciences provides a solid understanding of the issues affecting professional and college sports today,” Brooks said.

The minor requires 18 hours – nine from the College of Physical Activity and Sport Sciences and nine from the School of Journalism. This blended minor includes both campus and online courses, and most courses are offered in the summer terms.

For more information, visit http://journalism.wvu.edu/online or http://www.wvu.edu/~physed/.

WVU journalism students selected for GolinHarris internships

Tue, 17 Feb 2009 14:55:00 EST

Washington, D.C., public affairs firm GolinHarris has selected two West Virginia University P.I. Reed School of Journalism students to join its team as part of its ongoing Mountaineer in D.C. internship program.

Katelyn Culver of Point Pleasant and Nicole Fernandes of Charleston are each receiving a $2,500 stipend and a weekly salary to work at GolinHarris during the 2009 spring and summer sessions, respectively.

GolinHarris, one of the world’s leading public relations and government affairs firms, began the program in 2004 to provide School of Journalism students hands-on experience in public relations and marketing.

Effective this semester, GolinHarris made a new five-year commitment to continue the program and increased the number of positions from two to three. The fall 2009 intern has not been selected.

“We’re thrilled that GolinHarris has renewed its commitment to this outstanding internship program,” said Maryanne Reed, dean of the School of Journalism. “The internship provides our students the opportunity to gain real-world, professional experience and build their professional portfolios at a top international PR firm.”

Culver, the daughter of Rick and Ute Culver, is a senior public relations student minoring in business administration. She worked as a public relations intern at the Mon General Hospital Foundation in spring 2008 and was a student leader and mentor for the school’s Adventure WV summer 2008 program.

Fernandes, the daughter of Ronald and Rose-Marie Fernandes, is a May 2008 graduate and a graduate assistant for the school’s Integrated Marketing Communications master’s degree program. As an undergraduate student, she was involved in the WVU Honors College and named to the Dean’s and President’s lists multiple times. She also worked as a marketing and communications intern for the Clay Center in Charleston in summer 2007.

Bailey worked with colleague Michael Fulton, executive vice president, and the school to establish the internship program. Bailey is a native of Princeton and Fulton, originally from Parkersburg, is a 1979 School of Journalism graduate.

Including Fulton, seven of the 55 full-time staff at the GolinHarris D.C. office are WVU alumni, two of whom are former Mountaineer in D.C. interns.

Established in 1956, GolinHarris is a leading public relations agency offering a distinctive combination of global resources and world-class expertise with tailored approaches and personal, focused attention in the Americas, Asia Pacific, Europe and the Middle East. Clients include Alpharma, Dow Chemical Co., McDonald’s Corp., Nintendo of America Inc., Orange, TetraPak, Texas Instruments and Toyota Motor Sales USA Inc.

GolinHarris’ work for Nintendo was selected as PR Campaign of the Year at the 2008 PRWeek Awards. In 2007, GolinHarris was selected Agency of the Year by The Holmes Report, Large PR Agency of the Year in the PRWeek Awards and PRWeek Magazine’s Editors’ Choice. The agency is headquartered in Chicago and is a subsidiary of the Interpublic Group (NYSE: IPG).

WVU broadcast news students, faculty honored for excellence

Tue, 17 Feb 2009 14:46:00 EST

Accolades include prestigious Hearst, MarCom awards

West Virginia University P.I. Reed School of Journalism’s broadcast news program has earned four national and international awards for student and faculty work.

Former broadcast news student Steve Butera of Bridgeport won ninth place in the television feature category of the annual Hearst Journalism Awards Program.

Butera, a 2008 journalism graduate and current master’s degree student, received a $500 cash prize and a matching grant for the School of Journalism. The selected package included two stories featuring a family’s approach to memorializing a fallen Marine and behind-the-scenes coverage of an ABC “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition” episode featuring a Fairmont family. Both stories ran on “WVU News” and are available on WVU iTunesU at http://itunes.wvu.edu/.

The WVU School of Journalism also came in 10th place overall in the Intercollegiate Broadcast News Competition of the Hearst Journalism Awards Program.

“The Hearst competition is the premier competition for college journalism,” said School of Journalism Dean Maryanne Reed. “For the second year in a row, we’ve cracked the top 10 in the competition, which is a real testament to the quality of our students and our instruction.”

The student-produced newscast, “WVU News,” also captured a top award from MarCom, an international competition that recognizes outstanding creative achievement by marketing and communication professionals.

The “Virginia Tech Special” segment of “WVU News” was honored with a gold award in the television program category. Former broadcast news students Barclay (Fuellgraf) Bishop of Allison Park, Pa.; Sean Tinnelly of Morgantown; and Justin Van Slyke of Chadds Ford, Pa., traveled to the Virginia Tech campus following the April 16, 2007, shootings to cover the tragedy for “WVU News.”

Tinnelly (Bachelor of Science in journalism, 2007) is now a reporter/anchor for WDEL in Wilmington, Del.; Bishop (Bachelor of Science in journalism, 2007) is a television reporter for WJBF News in Augusta, Ga.; and Van Slyke (Bachelor of Science in journalism, 2007) is a technical writer for ProLogic in Uniontown, Pa.

Gina Martino Dahlia, a teaching assistant professor in the broadcast news program, also won a gold award from MarCom for her documentary, “Monongah Heroine.” The film focuses on the widows and children left behind from the Dec. 6, 1907, Monongah mine disaster. The documentary, which debuted on PBS in December 2007, depicts the historical events of the disaster that claimed at least 362 lives and its aftereffects on the community.

Award-winning photojournalist named WVU Visiting Shott Chair of Journalism

Thu, 12 Feb 2009 14:56:00 EST

An award-winning photojournalist and professor has returned to his alma mater to join the West Virginia University faculty as the Visiting Shott Chair of Journalism.

Bill Kuykendall, a 1966 alumnus, brings a wealth of photojournalism and multimedia experience to the Perley Isaac Reed School of Journalism for the spring semester. He was chair of the renowned photojournalism sequence at the University of Missouri School of Journalism, where he directed the annual Pictures of the Year contest, co-directed the Missouri Photo Workshop and taught photojournalism and newspaper management courses.

After leaving the University of Missouri, Kuykendall served as Libra Professor of Interdisciplinary Studies and director of new media at the University of Maine from 2000-04. He is currently on sabbatical from the University of Maine, where he serves as senior lecturer in new media and cooperating professor of communication and journalism.

While at WVU, Kuykendall is helping the School of Journalism enhance its visual journalism program, develop collaborative partnerships with professional media outlets and build community and civic journalism projects.

“Whether I’m working with people who are seeking to be professional media makers or folks who are already playing around with media and need to learn how to do that in a responsible way, I have the opportunity to do both now in this current job assignment,” Kuykendall said.

As the Shott Chair, Kuykendall is teaching courses in photojournalism and working with Assistant Professor and Interim Associate Dean John Temple on the “West Virginia Uncovered” multimedia project.

The project, which is funded by grants from the McCormick Foundation and WVU Faculty Senate, is a student-centered effort aimed at helping small, rural newspapers throughout the state and region create multimedia content for Web sites.

Kuykendall’s role in the project is to lead workshops to train newspaper reporters and staff how to produce and edit visual stories for the Internet and enhance their Web presence.

“In just a short time, Bill has demonstrated tremendous energy and enthusiasm for our programs and projects,” said Maryanne Reed, dean of the School of Journalism. “He is already bringing new ideas to our visual journalism program and helping us build bridges to the professional community.”

Kuykendall, a native of Romney, began his journalism career as a photographer at WVU’s student newspaper, The Daily Athenaeum, and later served as photo director of The Seattle Times, a freelance photographer, consultant, magazine editor and print and multimedia designer. He is a recipient of the Newspaper Picture Editor of the Year and Robin F. Garland Teacher of the Year awards from the National Press Photographers Association and the Gold Quill Award from the International Association of Business Communicators.

He holds a Master of Arts degree in mass communications from the University of Minnesota and a Bachelor of Science degree in zoology from WVU.

Widmeyer family, PR firm establish endowed professorship, scholarship at WVU

Fri, 30 Jan 2009 15:01:00 EST

The West Virginia University P.I. Reed School of Journalism announced the establishment of one of the country’s first endowed professorships in public relations, as well as an endowed scholarship.

WVU alumnus Scott D. Widmeyer and his parents, Douglas and Ruth Ann Widmeyer, who supported the professorship and scholarship, will be honored during a ceremony at 4 p.m. Friday, Feb. 6, in Martin Hall on WVU’s Downtown Campus.

The Widmeyer Professorship in Public Relations was established in August by Scott Widmeyer, his parents and Widmeyer Communications.

In 2004, he and the firm established the Widmeyer Communications Professorship in Public Relations, an enhanced professorship that was funded for three years. A recent gift from his family and Widmeyer Communications ensures the professorship will continue for years to come.

Scott Widmeyer, chairman and chief executive officer of Widmeyer Communications, said he hopes this gift will help the school achieve national prominence for its strategic communications programs.

“The School of Journalism at WVU is the training ground for tomorrow’s communicators,” he said. “On behalf of Widmeyer Communications and my great parents, we are so pleased to support the P.I. Reed School of Journalism and its students and faculty through the endowed professorship and the scholarship program.”

Diana Martinelli, the first Widmeyer Professor, is an award-winning teacher and recognized scholar. The associate professor earned her doctorate at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the WVU School of Journalism.

“This position further distinguishes the School of Journalism as a national leader by supporting both public relations research and innovative teaching,” Martinelli said. “It’s an honor to hold the professorship that bears the Widmeyer name.”

Douglas and Ruth Ann Widmeyer contributed to both the professorship and the newly established Douglas and Ruth Ann Widmeyer Endowed Journalism Scholarship for undergraduate students.

School of Journalism Dean Maryanne Reed said these gifts will enhance the educational experience for students now and well into the future.

“We are so fortunate to have friends like Scott and his wonderful parents,” Reed said. “Scott’s loyalty to WVU and his continued history of giving back to his alma mater make him an exemplary role model. Scott has achieved great success in his work and done good deeds in his life.”

Widmeyer has a 30-year record of providing strategic thinking to scores of decision-makers, including presidents, governors, CEOs and union leaders. From working as a newspaper reporter in the 1970s to running major media operations for national campaigns, he knows how to garner press coverage for his clients.

Widmeyer’s track record of success around reforming education, health care, campaign finances, technology, trade and other public policy matters illustrate his impact as a change agent on cutting-edge issues. Clients turn regularly to him for advice on economic development matters, marketing strategies, coalition building and crisis management.

He founded his own firm in 1988 after holding major communications positions with five national leaders – former President Jimmy Carter, former Vice President Walter Mondale, U.S. Sen. Jay Rockefeller, former Rep. Geraldine Ferraro and the late president of the American Federation of Teachers, Albert Shanker.

Widmeyer was named a 2008 David Rockefeller Fellow through a program sponsored by the Partnership for New York City, which annually brings together leading executives to learn the workings of the public and private sector in America’s largest city. He also has served on the boards of the March of Dimes, the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation and the Victory Fund.

In addition to the endowed professorship, Widmeyer has established two scholarship funds to benefit black and first-generation West Virginians who are seeking degrees in journalism.

He received his bachelor’s degree from the WVU School of Journalism and was editor and managing editor of the campus daily newspaper, The Daily Athenaeum. In 2005, he was honored with the Distinguished West Virginian award by then-Gov. Bob Wise.

Widmeyer currently serves as chair of the School of Journalism’s advisory committee.

He will be inducted into the WVU Academy of Distinguished Alumni at 7 p.m. Friday, Feb. 6, in the Ruby Grand Hall of the new Erickson Alumni Center.

Douglas and Ruth Ann Widmeyer are natives of the Eastern Panhandle. For some 40 years, they owned and operated Widmeyer’s Cleaners until selling it in the early 1990s. Both are graduates of Martinsburg High School.

Douglas Widmeyer attended Shepherd University. He is a member of the board of directors for the WVU Hospitals-East, and he served as chairman of the Berkeley County Democratic Party for nearly 10 years.

Both are active in St. John’s Lutheran Church and Meals on Wheels.

The endowments were established through the WVU Foundation, a private, nonprofit corporation that generates and provides support for WVU.

WVU's Academy of Distinguished Alumni to induct three Feb. 6

Thu, 29 Jan 2009 14:58:00 EST

Honorees include Bayer CEO, AMA president, communications exec

The West Virginia University Alumni Association will induct an internationally respected business leader, the president of America’s largest physicians organization and a public relations executive into the WVU Academy of Distinguished Alumni at 7 p.m. Friday, Feb. 6, in the Ruby Grand Hall of the new Erickson Alumni Center.

The 2009 class includes Greg Babe, president and chief executive officer of Bayer Corp. and Bayer MaterialScience LLC; Dr. Nancy Nielsen, president of the American Medical Association and senior associate dean of the State University of New York at Buffalo School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences; and Scott Widmeyer, chairman and CEO of Widmeyer Communications.

“The accomplishments of this group are very impressive,” said Stephen L. Douglas, president and CEO of the WVU Alumni Association. “This is a wonderful testament to what our graduates can achieve with the experiences and education provided by WVU. They are very deserving of this honor, and we are thrilled to recognize them with induction into the academy.”

Scott Widmeyer

Widmeyer, a native of Martinsburg, fondly recalls his days as a reporter and editor for The Daily Athenaeum, WVU’s student newspaper. He said the skills and lessons he picked up during his time at the University helped him launch a successful career in communications.

From working as a newspaper reporter in the 1970s to running major media operations for national campaigns, Widmeyer is highly respected in the communications field. His track record of successes in education, health care, politics, campaign finance, technology, trade and other public policy matters illustrate his impact as a “change agent” in things that matter most to America.

In 1988, Widmeyer founded Widmeyer Communications, which provides strategic counsel on the top issues of the 21st century. The firm, with offices in Washington, D.C., and New York, has a client base that includes Nestle, Pfizer, the College Board, Pearson Education, Coca-Cola, the Association of American Publishers and the U.S. Climate Action Partnership, among others.

During his 30-year career, Widmeyer has advised scores of decision-makers, from presidents to governors to CEOS to union leaders – including former President Jimmy Carter, former Vice President Walter Mondale and former Congresswoman Geraldine Ferraro.

In addition to his professional accomplishments, Widmeyer is involved in a number of civic and philanthropic causes. In 2007, he was named a David Rockefeller Fellow, a highly coveted one-year program of the New York City Partnership. He also was the longest-serving board chair of the Gay and Lesbian Victory Fund, and he was on the board of the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation.

His current board memberships include the New York City Leadership Academy, the Education Writers Association (advisory board), Bizbash and Council for Unity. He is active in the Council of Public Relations Firms, Public Relations Organisation International, Friends of the High Line, the National Press Club, the Appalachian Community Fund, St. Gregory’s Church and PENCIL.

Widmeyer, a 1974 graduate of WVU’s P.I. Reed School of Journalism, remains dedicated to his alma mater. He established two scholarship funds to benefit both black and first-generation West Virginians seeking degrees in journalism. To date, more than 30 students have benefited from these scholarships, and in 2007, the Widmeyer family and Widmeyer Communications endowed a professorship in public relations, the first of its kind in the nation.

He has been a visiting professor at WVU’s School of Journalism and a guest lecturer at Brown University, the University of Maryland and Johns Hopkins University. Continuing his commitment to WVU, Widmeyer chairs the School of Journalism advisory committee. In 2003, he received WVU’s most prestigious award in journalism, The Perley Isaac Reed Achievement Award.

In 2005, then-Gov. Bob Wise honored Widmeyer with the Distinguished West Virginian Award, recognizing his outstanding achievements and meritorious service to his home state of West Virginia.

Academy induction ceremony

This is the 22nd annual academy inductions. The event is open to the public. Tickets for the event can be purchased for $60 per person (price includes pre-event reception/three-course dinner). For more information, contact the WVU Alumni Association at 304-293-4731 .

Three WVU alumni part of new WTOV9 anchor teams

Fri, 16 Jan 2009 15:04:00 EST

Three West Virginia University alumni will report the news as part of the new early-evening anchor teams for WTOV9, the NBC affiliate in Steubenville, Ohio.

WVU graduate Allison Latos will join longtime news anchor and fellow Mountaineer Eric Minor and chief meteorologist Kevin Carter on the anchor desk for “NEWS9 Live at Five.”

Meanwhile, WVU graduate Jackie Cain will join Minor and Carter to co-anchor “NEWS9 at Six.”

Latos, a Wheeling native, received her bachelor’s degree in journalism from the WVU P.I. Reed School of Journalism in 2006. She has anchored “NEWS9 Sunrise” since 2006.

Her duties were expanded in 2007 when she began co-anchoring “NEWS9 Midday.” In her new role, she will continue to anchor the noon newscast.

Latos said she looks forward to not only delivering the news to the Ohio Valley each day, but also continuing to work in the field, gathering and reporting stories.

“I am very excited to continue working with a news team I respect in a place I call home,” Latos said. “I grew up watching NEWS9 and am truly honored to take on this new position. Working with the wonderful team at WTOV9 has taught me a great deal. I feel very blessed and look forward to the new challenges and experiences ahead.”

Cain earned her bachelor’s degree in journalism from WVU in 2007. She has been with the station since 2006 and has served in a variety of anchor positions. She currently co-anchors “NEWS9 Tonight” at 11 p.m. with Minor – who graduated from WVU with a bachelor’s degree in journalism in 1995.

Cain will continue to anchor the late-evening newscast and serve as a general assignment reporter and investigative reporter in her new expanded role.

“I am very excited to have the opportunity to expand my role on the anchor desk at WTOV9 and continue to work with Eric, Kevin and the entire team on ‘NEWS9 at Six,’” said Cain, who routinely uncovers stories and reports live from the scenes of breaking news.

“Everyone at WTOV9 works extremely hard to bring home the news that matters most to our viewers, and continuing that tradition will be my top priority,” she added.

Maryanne Reed, dean of the School of Journalism, said having three alumni on the WTOV9 anchor team reflects WVU’s outstanding faculty and excellent track record in preparing students for careers in 21st-century mass communications.

“Allison, Jackie and Eric were excellent students in the School of Journalism and have gone on to make us proud with their accomplishments in the industry,” Reed said. “Their success demonstrates the quality curriculum we provide our students and the high level of teaching in our broadcast news program.”

WTOV-TV is owned by Cox Media Group, which operates 15 television stations in 11 markets, radio stations and newspapers. It is part of Cox Enterprises Inc., one of the nation’s leading media companies and providers of automotive services.

WVU Sports Writer Brings Unique Perspective to Blogging

Wed, 14 Jan 2009 15:04:00 EST

Kerri Kosten has been interested in sports her whole life, but when she was 15, West Virginia University’s play-by-play announcer Tony Caridi, invited her to join him on his Statewide Sports Line radio show. He told her then he thought she should be a sportscaster. That comment changed her outlook on life.

She writes headlines for WAJR-AM in Morgantown and she writes “glogs” or game logs, with play-by-play sports information on the internet.

“People who don’t get to hear it can see it,” Keri Kosten said, “so it makes me the eyes of the game on the internet.”

From covering WVU men’s basketball, to the post game news conference, she does it all, but here is the catch: Kerri Kosten is blind.

“There’s going to be challenges but you have to fight through them,” she said.

Not only has she fought through the challenges, she has embraced them. She has turned her blindness into her own blog cleverly titled ”’The Way I See It’... The Perspective from a Blind WVU Sports Fan.”

Kosten uses a program called JAWS or Job Access With Speech, that reads her the screen. Then she writes her story.

“When I hit ‘update live,’ it goes on the site,” she explained.

Watching her work, it is clear Kosten loves every bit of what she is doing.

“Because it has to do with sports and also that I’m informing readers,” she added. “After I post anything the readers are informed of that and that makes me feel proud.”

After our interview, the WVU sophomore headed to class. Her major is Broadcast News. After that class she will be back to work at her WAJR internship, covering Wednesday night’s Capital Classic between WVU and Marshall. To read Kerri’s blog click on the link below.

WVU journalism professor's research about 1968 mine disaster featured on NPRA

Fri, 21 Nov 2008 15:50:00 EST

West Virginia University journalism professor’s research about the 1968 Farmington mine disaster was featured Nov. 19 on a National Public Radio’s “All Things Considered” segment.

P.I. Reed School of Journalism assistant professor Bonnie Stewart has been researching the disaster for more than a year. What she uncovered 40 years after the tragedy sheds new light on why 78 men died in the mine that fateful day.

Stewart found a memo that was written by a federal investigator several months after the explosion that points to one possible explanation as to why the men were not evacuated before the mine exploded: A safety alarm on a ventilation fan had been deliberately disabled.

That memo, which had been filed away, suggests that had the alarm been functioning, it would have signaled when a ventilation fan went down before the explosion, giving the 78 men time to evacuate.

After finding the memo, Stewart contacted Scott Finn, interim news director of West Virginia Public Broadcasting, and the two began producing the story for the NPR broadcast and Web site. Their collaboration can be accessed at http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=97115205.

“This is a very important story because it explains why 78 men died,” Stewart said. “For their families, it means a lot.”

Finn said the story is important to history and mine safety.

“It’s funny how history repeats itself,” he said. “The legacy of Farmington is a whole series of mining and safety laws that have made coal mining a lot safer than it was.

“You have to always be vigilant,” he added. “We in the media and mine safety community have to work together with the regulators to make sure they’re doing what they’re supposed to do.”

Stewart hopes the story will give family members who lost loved ones in the disaster some peace of mind. Finn said the story has at least answered some questions for the families.

Ninety-nine men were inside the mine when the early morning explosion occurred Nov. 20, 1968. Eight miners narrowly survived the blast by crawling to a first aid station where they located gas masks and breathing devices, enabling them to crawl to the bottom of an air shaft to eventually be rescued. In all, 21 miners escaped with their lives that day.

Pulitzer Prize-winning columnist to discuss 'Obama phenomenon'

Tue, 28 Oct 2008 10:00:00 EST

WVU School of Journalism hosting Leonard Pitts Jr. day after election

Pulitzer Prize-winning columnist Leonard Pitts Jr. will visit West Virginia University the day after the presidential election to discuss the public’s reaction to Sen. Barack Obama’s candidacy and how it reflects Americans’ attitudes about race in the 21st century.

The lecture, “Decision 2008: Race, Politics and the Drama of Obama,” will be at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 5, in 202 Brooks Hall. The presentation is part of the WVU P.I. Reed School of Journalism’s Ogden Newspapers Seminar Series.

Pitts, who won the 2004 Pulitzer for commentary, is a nationally syndicated columnist whose works are read by millions each week. Perhaps his most famous column was written following the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.

That column, “We’ll Go Forward From This Moment,” issued an angry and defiant open letter to the terrorists and was circulated around the world via the Internet. It generated upwards of 30,000 e-mails and has since been set to music, reprinted in poster form, read on television by Regis Philbin and quoted by former U.S. Rep. Richard Gephardt as part of the Democratic Party’s weekly radio address.

Pitts has been writing professionally since 1976 when as an 18-year-old college student, he began doing freelance reviews and profiles for SOUL, a national black entertainment tabloid. Two years later, he became its editor. Since then, his work has appeared in such publications as Musician, Spin, TV Guide, Reader’s Digest and Parenting.

In addition, Pitts wrote, produced and syndicated “Who We Are,” an award-winning 1988 radio documentary on the history of black America, and he has written and produced numerous other radio programs on subjects as diverse as Madonna and Martin Luther King Jr. Pitts was also a writer for the popular radio program “Casey’s Top 40” with Casey Kasem.

Pitts joined The Miami Herald in 1991 as its pop music critic. Since 1994, he has penned a syndicated column of commentary on pop culture, social issues and family life. His book, “Becoming Dad: Black Men and the Journey to Fatherhood,” was released in May 1999 and was reissued in paperback in June 2006.

Pitts has received numerous awards for his commentary. In addition to his 2004 Pulitzer Prize, he was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize in 1992.

In 1997, Pitts took first place for commentary in division four (newspapers with a circulation of more than 300,000) in the American Association of Sunday and Feature Editors’ Ninth Annual Writing Awards competition.

The Society of Professional Journalists, the National Association of Black Journalists and the Simon Wiesenthal Center, among others, have honored him.

He is also a five-time recipient of the National Headliners Award. In 2001, he received the American Society of Newspaper Editors’ prestigious ASNE Award for Commentary Writing and was named Feature of the Year Columnist by Editor and Publisher magazine.

In 2002, the National Society of Newspaper Columnists awarded Pitts its inaugural Columnist of the Year award. Also in 2002, GLAAD Media awarded Pitts the Outstanding Newspaper Columnist award.

In 2003 and 2004, he taught journalism at Hampton (Va.) University as a visiting professor. In 2005-06, he was a journalism professor at Ohio University in Athens, Ohio, and at Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, Va.

WVU student PR group 'Knocks for the Needy' this month

Tue, 21 Oct 2008 09:56:00 EST

Canned goods drive benefits several food pantries in region

Have your canned goods ready when West Virginia University students come knocking this month.

Students in the WVU chapter of the Public Relations Student Society of America have been hitting doors on campus as part of the “Knock for the Needy” canned food drive, a project they undertake annually with the Mountaineer Boys and Girls Club.

Items will be distributed to food pantries across the region. It’s a big project for the chapter that counts community service as one of its main missions.

Last year’s drive netted 1,400 cans, and the PRSSA hopes to surpass that this year.

“We’re going for 2,000,” said Nicole Riggleman, a PRSSA member who helps organize events for the Boys and Girls Club. “We’re expanding our events this year. We want the whole University community involved.”

Other student organizations are pitching in, too.

“We want to collect at least 300 cans,” said fellow PRSSA member Claire Barth, president of Alpha Xi Delta.

The sorority is well on its way to making its goal.

“I know we will because this is a campus that cares,” Barth said.

The PRSSA contribution will be added to what Boys and Girls Club members bring in while trick-or-treating during Halloween.

Julia Burton created “Knock for the Needy” in 2003 during her reign as Miss West Virginia. For more information, contact Riggleman at nicole.riggleman@mail.wvu.edu or Michelle Goodliff, PRSSA president, at wvuprssa@yahoo.com.

ESPN selects WVU journalism student as game-day reporter

Fri, 10 Oct 2008 09:57:00 EST

Journalism school, sports network establish partnership

A West Virginia University broadcast student is headed for the pros.

Chris Gunnoe, a senior at the P.I. Reed School of Journalism, will work as an on-air reporter for ESPN during coverage of this weekend’s Homecoming game between the WVU Mountaineers and Syracuse University Orange.

The Charleston native will be the first student reporter in a newly established partnership between WVU’s School of Journalism and ESPN’s college programming, ESPN-U.

In addition to serving as an on-field reporter during the game, Gunnoe will contribute stories about WVU and the 2008 Homecoming events.

“It was a pleasant surprise,” Gunnoe said. “I did not expect to do this in my senior year. Working for ESPN is something so many people want to do, but not a lot of people get an opportunity like this.”

Gunnoe will be covering stories ranging from the Personal Rapid Transit system to linebacker Reed Williams’ injuries that have taken him out for the season.

“I’ll also be working on a piece about the basketball team’s ‘Mountaineer Madness’ preview event and other stories about Homecoming in general,” he said.

Gunnoe is scheduled to appear on ESPN-U’s coverage of the WVU-Syracuse game on ESPN-U’s satellite channel and WVFX-TV (FOX 46) Saturday, Oct. 11, starting at noon.

Gina Martino-Dahlia, chair of the broadcast news program, said this partnership is another example of why WVU ranks among the best journalism programs in the nation.

“This is just another great opportunity for our students to show their work on a national level,” Dahlia said.

The school’s broadcast news program also partners with KDKA-TV in Pittsburgh, as well as MSNBC, the Open Student Television Network and CBS Sports’ U-Wire online network.

WVU journalism student wins Scripps Howard scholarship

Tue, 30 Sep 2008 08:01:00 EST

McMillion named one of Top Ten Student Journalists

A West Virginia University P.I. Reed School of Journalism student has been named one of the Scripps Howard Foundation’s Top Ten Student Journalists for 2008 and will receive a $10,000 scholarship.

Elaine McMillion, a news-editorial senior from Charleston, was chosen from hundreds of students nationwide for the award.

“I’m honored to be chosen as one of the top 10 journalists in the country,” said McMillion, who was nominated by the School of Journalism. “It’s amazing that they would choose me. It just goes to show that you can accomplish your goals and dreams with hard work and determination if you just put your mind to it.”

A panel of newspaper, broadcast and television network professionals selected the scholarship winners based on their academic achievement, portfolio of work, demonstrated interest in journalism and an essay about their long-term career goals.

Judges praised students for their journalistic expertise and ability to work with excellence in a variety of multimedia platforms.

“As the media industry reinvents itself, it is encouraging to see communications students like our winners in the pipeline,” said Mike Philipps, foundation president and chief executive officer. “It is with great pleasure that we reward them for their accomplishments and encourage them to be the next generation of leaders.”

McMillion is the second WVU student to receive this honor since the scholarship’s beginning in 1999.

She has worked as a staff writer/Capitol city reporter for the Charleston Daily Mail; a contributing writer/intern for Lawyer’s and Leisure Magazine; a staff writer for The Daily Athenaeum; a news staff member of WVU’s campus radio station, U92; and a freelance reporter for The Dominion Post.

McMillion is the co-founder and vice president of the student organization, All Things Magazine: Ed on Campus. She also helped found the School of Journalism’s new class/project this fall, which will provide multimedia training sessions at five weekly state newspapers (see related story at http://wvutoday.wvu.edu/news/page/7140/).

In addition, she spent last spring at Aalborg University in Denmark as part of WVU’s study abroad program.

Dedicated to excellence in journalism, the Scripps Howard Foundation (http://www.scripps.com/foundation) is a leader in industry efforts in journalism education, scholarships, internships, literacy, minority recruitment/development and First Amendment causes. It is the philanthropic arm of The E.W. Scripps Co., a 130-year-old media enterprise with interests in broadcast television stations, newspaper publishing, and licensing and syndication.

WVU student completes Society of Professional Journalists national internship

Mon, 29 Sep 2008 10:00:00 EST

A West Virginia University junior was awarded the opportunity to write articles for a newspaper published by the Society of Professional Journalists.

Jon Offredo of Newtown, Pa., earned one of 12 national internships as a reporter for The Working Press, a tabloid that was published three times at the SPJ national convention earlier this month in Atlanta.

He is a news editorial major in WVU’s P.I. Reed School of Journalism.

Journalism professor Bonnie Stewart encouraged Offredo to apply for the internship.

“Being selected to cover the national SPJ convention is an honor that few students attain,” Stewart said. “Jon was a great asset to The Working Press.”

To apply for the internship, Offredo submitted clips, a resume and a cover letter.

“I figured why not, and one morning in June I found out I was accepted,” he said. “I actually had never heard about the position before. I owe my involvement and the awesome experience I got to Bonnie Stewart.”

Each year, SPJ sponsors internships for 12 students, including reporters, graphic designers and photographers. Joe Skeel, associate executive director, said this year’s students were selected from 60 applicants nationwide.

“We treat The Working Press like any full-blown newspaper,” Skeel said. “The main focus is to cover convention news. In choosing reporters, we look at experience and strong writing ability.”

The newspaper, printed at a local paper in Georgia, was distributed by hand at the convention. All of the photos, layout and stories were done by students.

Offredo said the experience offered him “a good chance to explore a new city, meet new people and cover some really interesting sessions.”

While covering the convention, Offredo wrote about Brett Blackledge, the 2007 Pulitzer Prize winner for investigative journalism, as well as L. Lin Wood, the attorney who prosecuted defamation claims on behalf of JonBenet Ramsey’s parents and the late Richard Jewell. He also wrote a column about the homeless situation in Atlanta and several other stories.

Offredo said the internship also gave him the opportunity to meet a lot of well-respected journalists.

“All of my professional editors and mentors were incredible,” he said.

Currently the associate city editor at WVU’s student newspaper, The Daily Athenaeum, Offredo has also interned at The Dominion Post and was an editor of the School of Journalism alumni magazine, SOJ Insider.

Offredo is the son of Ron Offredo and Maria D’Errico.

For more information about SPJ and The Working Press, visit http://spj.org/wp.asp.

WVU School of Journalism receives grant to assist rural newspapers

Mon, 29 Sep 2008 04:54:00 EST

The West Virginia University P.I. Reed School of Journalism has received a two-year, $85,000 grant from the McCormick Foundation to provide multimedia training to small, rural newspapers throughout the region.

The grant will provide funding for a journalism outreach project led by interim Associate Dean John Temple.

In 30 of West Virginia’s 55 counties, nondaily newspapers are the sole local source of news, Temple explained. Most of these papers’ editorial staffs lack the time and expertise to develop their Web and multimedia skills or to upgrade their Web sites into sophisticated news portals, he said.

“This is an idea the newspapers really like,” Temple added. “I think there is a real need, and it will also be great for our students, too. Receiving the funding from the McCormick Foundation will take this project to a new level.”

As part of a new, upper-level class, students and journalism faculty will provide multimedia training sessions at five weekly newspapers, covering Web site development, interactive journalism and multimedia production. The project is called “West Virginia Uncovered: Multimedia Journalism from the Mountains.”

“We will demonstrate inexpensive and easy-to-learn equipment and software suitable for online multimedia,” Temple said. “Between sessions, the papers can reinforce this training by undertaking their own projects, and the learning will go both ways as students are exposed to the practice of community journalism.”

The students also will produce multimedia feature packages for the newspapers, including profiles of citizens who represent trends or issues that affect the people of the county. A newspaper staffer will work alongside each student team to produce these packages.

Multimedia projects will include photo essays; Final Cut and Soundslides projects that involve text, audio, still photography and video; interactive infographic presentations; and written stories with internal and external hyperlinks.

In addition to appearing in the weekly papers, these packages will also run on the School of Journalism’s Web site – http://journalism.wvu.edu/ – and in the Charleston Daily Mail.

Six students are participating in the fall pilot class: Tricia Fulks, a news editorial senior from Clarksburg; Elaine McMillion, a news editorial senior from Pinch; Steve Butera, a broadcast news graduate student from Bridgeport; Jessica Rhodes, a graduate student specializing in multimedia reporting from Morgantown; Kendal Montgomery, a news editorial senior specializing in photography from Williamstown; and Megan Bowers, a broadcast news senior from Bridgeport.

Participating newspapers include The Parsons Advocate in Tucker County and The Pocahontas (County) Times. Other newspapers will be added throughout the academic year.

The Institute for Rural Journalism and Community Issues at the University of Kentucky will also participate in the second year of the project, providing advice and helping to recruit papers to participate. Temple plans to expand the project next year to include papers from other Appalachian areas.

In addition to the McCormick grant, the University has awarded the School of Journalism an approximately $10,700 WVU Grant for Public Service.

Temple is the author of two narrative journalism books: “Deadhouse: Life in a Coroner’s Office,” published in 2005, and the forthcoming “The Last Lawyer: A Death-Row Attorney’s Toughest Case.”

National Press Club, WVU School of Journalism partner for election panel

Wed, 03 Sep 2008 10:01:00 EST

Discussion to focus on impact of new media on political process

In this historic presidential election, more people are turning to new media – blogs, YouTube, social networking sites – to learn about the candidates, discuss issues and participate in the campaigns. The question is, what effect is the digital world really having on the nation’s political process?

A panel of nationally known media professionals will discuss the impact of digital media on the 2008 presidential election in an interactive, public forum, “The Bloggers, the Campaign and the Future of Journalism,” Monday, Sept. 15.

The event, sponsored by the West Virginia University P.I. Reed School of Journalism and the National Press Club, will begin at 7 p.m. at the club’s Holeman Lounge in Washington, D.C. It will be broadcast live via satellite to WVU’s National Research Center for Coal and Energy building (Room 101 A&B), where students and others can take part in a two-way discussion.

Panelists include:

Ana Marie Cox, founder of the influential political blog Wonkette and Washington editor of Time.com;
Ross Douthat, senior editor at The Atlantic Monthly and blogger for TheAtlantic.com;
Tom Rosenstiel, former media critic for the Los Angeles Times and director of the Project for Excellence in Journalism;
Michael Tomasky, editor of GuardianAmerica.com; and
Gil Klein (moderator), veteran national correspondent and director of the National Press Club’s Centennial Project, a celebration of the club’s 100th anniversary.

“We will be discussing a crucial news innovation in this presidential campaign at the same time we are pioneering a new tool to expand the reach of the National Press Club’s educational mission,” said Sylvia Smith, club president.

The forum is part of a nationwide education program launched by the club in its centennial year to bring together leading journalists to talk about the First Amendment, freedom of the press and the future of journalism. This year, the club is aiming to organize forums in cities and universities in every state to discuss where journalism is heading and what that means to the quality of the profession. The event with WVU is the club’s first two-way communication panel.

Maryanne Reed, dean of the School of Journalism, said working with the club on the digital democracy panel “is a wonderful opportunity for our students to learn about the impact of new media on the presidential election while participating in a two-way dialogue with national journalists and bloggers in Washington.”

The School of Journalism will be hosting participants at the NRCCE building. The event is free and open to the public. Those attending are asked to arrive and be seated by 6:50 p.m. Steve Urbanski, assistant professor and director of graduate studies at the School of Journalism, will host the WVU site. An informal reception will follow the event.

WVU alumni in the D.C. area who are interested in attending the panel discussion should call 202-662-7501 to reserve seating at the National Press Club location.

More on the Net: http://journalism.wvu.edu/

WVU journalism students selected for GolinHarris internships

Fri, 02 May 2008 10:04:00 EST

Two West Virginia University P.I. Reed School of Journalism students have been selected for the prestigious GolinHarris Mountaineer in D.C. Internship program.

Cara Lynn Slider of Middlebourne and Bonnie Jean Thomas of Bridgeport will each receive a $2,500 stipend and a weekly salary to work at GolinHarris, one of the world’s leading public relations firms, during the 2008 summer and fall sessions, respectively.

GolinHarris’ unique internship program, which began in summer 2004, provides two PR students the opportunity to work in Washington, D.C., and receive valuable public relations and marketing experience.

“The Mountaineer in D.C. program provides our top students with the opportunity to gain professional skills, make important connections and build their resumes with real-world experiences,” said Maryanne Reed, dean of the School of Journalism. “We are grateful for the opportunity to partner with GolinHarris, one of the top public relations firms in the nation.”

Slider, the daughter of Frank and Barb Slider, graduated cum laude from WVU in 2006 with a bachelor’s degree in public relations. She is currently pursuing her master’s degree in journalism with a concentration in public relations and marketing. Slider works as a graduate assistant to Elizabeth Quilliam, Harrison/Omnicom Professor of Advertising. Previously, she interned with AmeriCorps and the United Way.

Thomas, a public relations senior, is the daughter of George and Catherine Thomas. She is a member of the WVU Honors College, Kiwanis and the National Society of Collegiate Scholars. She has participated in the Boys and Girls Club and Campus Crusade for Christ. Thomas has also been an intern at Make-A-Wish of Northern West Virginia for two and a half years, and she participated in Walt Disney World’s College Internship Program in spring 2007.

“Nurturing the communicators of tomorrow is an important mission of GolinHarris, and we are blessed to have a strong partnership with West Virginia University,” said Lane Bailey, regional managing director of the GolinHarris Washington, D.C., office and global director of public affairs. “We currently have six WVU graduates working in our office, including one of our former Mountaineer in D.C. interns, plus we just extended an offer to a second WVU intern who is graduating this May.”

Bailey, a Princeton native, and Michael Fulton, a 1979 journalism graduate and GolinHarris’ executive vice president, worked with the School of Journalism to develop and fund the internship.

GolinHarris is a public relations agency offering a distinctive combination of global resources and personalized service in the Americas, Asia Pacific, Europe and the Middle East. Clients include Dow Chemical Co., McDonald’s Corp., Nintendo of America Inc., Orange, Texas Instruments and Toyota Motor Sales USA Inc.

GolinHarris celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2006. It was selected as 2007 Agency of the Year by The Holmes Report, 2007 Large PR Agency of the Year by the PRWeek Awards and PRWeek Magazine’s 2007 Editors’ Choice. The agency is headquartered in Chicago and is part of the Interpublic Group of Companies.

For more information, visit www.golinharris.com.

Soon-to-be WVU grad scores job with MLB.com

Thu, 01 May 2008 10:05:00 EST

Journalism student gets to go to work at PNC Park

Todd Krise will soon be donning a mortarboard, but for now, a Pittsburgh Pirates baseball cap is his hat of choice.

That’s because the West Virginia University student isn’t just cheering on one of his favorite sports teams; he’s actually covering it for MLB.com – MLB, as in Major League Baseball.

It’s a good gig, he admits, for a senior in college.

Krise, a news-editorial major in WVU’s Perley Isaac Reed School of Journalism, was one of only 30 up-and-coming reporters lucky enough to land summer jobs with MLB.com. He competed against some 300-400 applicants nationwide.

“It was a long shot, I thought,” Krise said. “I applied for the last three years.”

After two strikeouts, Krise hit the ball out of the park this year, becoming an associate reporter.

He doesn’t officially begin his job until May 20, but he’s been getting his feet wet, splitting his time between Morgantown and Pittsburgh to cover a few games. He recently went to the Bucs’ spring training camp, taking in every pitch, strike and home run from the ballpark press box. He attended batting and pitching meetings in the morning, hung out in the clubhouse and even got to meet general manager Neal Huntington.

Though he gets to watch games, he said it isn’t all fun and games. As an associate reporter for MLB.com, he will put in about 40-55 hours a week this summer, covering home games and writing features on off days. Krise is responsible for producing five stories for each home game he covers by himself.

“We write a pregame notebook, a game story that goes online right after the game end and another story for the next day – probably talking about the pitchers and starters for the next game,” he said.

You can’t ask for better experience, said Krise, adding that he hopes to interview Pirates owner Bob Nutting.

He will also get to try his hand at multimedia, filing pregame video reports for MLB.com.

A press box beats an office cubicle any day, Krise said, especially when it’s at one of the best ballparks in the country.

“It’s gonna be fun,” he said. “I get to tell people I go to PNC Park every day for work.”

A die-hard Pirates fan, Krise had already been planning a trip to spring training camp with his dad when he got the job offer.

“My dad’s a sports nut,” he said, “and he turned his son into a sports nut.”

Krise was born in Johnstown, Pa., about an hour-and-a-half drive from the Steel City, and he’s always been a huge fan of Pittsburgh teams.

“I grew up loving the Pirates,” he said. “We always drove from Johnstown to Pittsburgh for games. I remember sitting on top of Three Rivers (Stadium) watching Barry Bonds. It’s just that little-kid feeling you get from watching a Major League Baseball game.”

If anyone has any doubt about the WVU student’s loyalty to the Bucs, just ask him about his baseball card collection.

“I collected over 350 cards of him (Bonds) when I was younger,” he said, “and there’s a picture of me when I was 8 months old, I think, in a Pirates uniform.”

His passion for sports has followed him throughout his life. It even factored into his decision to attend WVU.

“Obviously, WVU’s got one of the top-rated J schools in the country,” Krise said. “It has a lot of possibilities – and I wanted to cover big football and basketball programs. WVU was the obvious choice.”

Krise said the skills he’s picked up at WVU’s School of Journalism and the support of faculty mentors like Jan Boyles helped prepare him for the MLB.com job. Also, stints with the Reading Eagle; WVU’s Sports Communications department; and The Daily Athenaeum, WVU’s campus newspaper – along with freelance work for westvirginia.rivals.com, a sports news Web site – provided valuable, hands-on experience.

“I’ve covered so many big sporting events for the DA,” said Krise, who started out as a junior staffer his freshman year. “But the Fiesta Bowl has to be at the top of the list – the press conference with (Bill) Stewart and Patrick White?going into the locker room?watching them celebrate.”

As an intern for the University’s Sports Communications department this semester, Krise wrote features for gameday programs and did “behind the scenes stuff.”

Covering the Mountaineers was great practice for his new job, said Krise, who’s had his share of intimidating moments. His first MLB assignment was to write about four minor league players who were cut from the team.

“It’s intimidating; I’m certainly the youngest in the press box,” he said. “But so far, they’ve been nothing but nice to me.”

Krise said his experience interviewing WVU coaches also helped.

“You’ve got to make sure you know your stuff – make sure your questions are well prepared,” he said.

“Jenifer (Langosch, a full-time beat reporter with MLB.com) has helped me out a lot with clubhouse etiquette, making sure I know when to approach a player and when to speak to him.”

After Krise finishes with MLB.com, he hopes to turn his love of sports into a permanent thing, writing for a newspaper or magazine. His dream career is to be the “back page” columnist of Sports Illustrated, a position once held by his favorite sports writer Rick Reilly.

To check out Krise’s MLB.com reports, go to http://pittsburgh.pirates.mlb.com.

The WVU Perley Isaac Reed School of Journalism is a student-centered journalism school that has been graduating mass communications specialists since 1939. While rooted in tradition, the school also offers an innovative curriculum and real-world experiences that prepare students for careers in 21st century mass communications. Students learn by doing, using state-of-the-art equipment and cutting-edge media technology. For more information, visit http://journalism.wvu.edu/.

WVU journalism students 'pitch' their way to advertising award

Wed, 30 Apr 2008 10:52:00 EST

Fifteen West Virginia University P.I. Reed School of Journalism students recently won the Overall Best Presentation Team Award in a regional advertising competition.

The students traveled to Lexington, Ky., to participate in the American Advertising Federation competition against 11 other colleges and universities. The contest offers students a chance to compose a professional campaign for a real-world company.

A corporate sponsor outlines the history of its product and current advertising situation. Students then research the product and its competition, identify potential problem areas and devise an integrated communications campaign for the client. Finally, student teams “pitch” their campaigns to a panel of judges.

This year’s sponsor was AOL, a global leader in Web-based businesses. The campaign objective was to increase trial usage and awareness of AIM’s social network among 18- to 24-year-olds, primarily through viral and nontraditional advertising, with a $25 million budget.

WVU advertising professor Cathy Mezera served as the team’s faculty sponsor.

“I’m extremely proud of the team’s ideas and efforts,” she said. “They proposed a new, branded AOL portal called exclAIM, a promotional concert tour and street teams working across major U.S. campuses. They chose ADvocates as their agency name.”

WVU team members included Jessie Blackwell of Wheeling; Brian Cash of Matawan, N.J.; Coley Chacos of Riva, Md.; Chris Coscarelli of New Kensington, Pa.; Tabatha Duffy of Clarksburg; Lindsey Helfer of Glen Dale; Bryce Post of Eldersburg, Md.; Justin Raiten of Freehold Township, N.J.; Mallory Rhodes of Seaford, Del.; Keri Sams of Parkersburg; Danielle Schultz of Potomac Falls, Va.; Crista Short of Woodbridge, Va.; Kelsey Weigand of Pittsburgh; Ashlee Welch of Weirton; and Morgan Yates of Belle.

Presenters at the conference were Coscarelli, Helfer, Sams, Schultz and Yates. Helfer won the award for the Overall Best Presenter.

The competition is divided into 15 districts, each made up of one to five states. WVU is in District 5, which includes schools from Ohio, Kentucky and West Virginia.

Other colleges competing included Western Kentucky University, Ohio University, Cleveland State University, Youngstown State University, Murray State University, Marietta College, John Carroll University, Xavier University, University of Kentucky, Mount Vernon Nazarene University and Marshall University.

WVU's top seniors awarded WVU Foundation Order of Augusta

Thu, 24 Apr 2008 10:56:00 EST

Eight West Virginia University students will be awarded the Order of Augusta, the University’s most prestigious student honor, for their outstanding academic performance, campus leadership and public service.

WVU President Mike Garrison will present the students with the Order of Augusta commemorative medallion during the University’s Commencement Honors Convocation at 7 p.m. Friday, May 16, at the Coliseum.

The 2008 recipients are Joshua Austin of Grafton, Matthew Delligatti of Fairmont, Angela Dial of Morgantown, Seth Gainer of Elkins, Gwyndaf Garbutt of Morgantown, Jason Likens of Terra Alta, Kerri Phillips of Weirton and Chad Wilcox of Wheeling.

“These students represent a proud tradition of excellence in education at WVU,” Garrison said. “They have achieved extraordinary academic success and will undoubtedly become leaders in their respective fields.”

The WVU Foundation, the private nonprofit corporation that generates and provides support for WVU, established the award in 1995. The Order of Augusta was named for its historical significance in the state. Augusta was among the original names considered by the Legislature when the state seceded from Virginia in 1863. The District of Augusta was the original name for the northern region of West Virginia, including Monongalia County.

“We congratulate these exceptional students,” said Foundation President R. Wayne King. “The Order of Augusta is the most prestigious honor a WVU senior can attain. These students have consistently demonstrated the University’s highest ideals through their hard work and contributions to the campus community.”

Recipients of the Order of Augusta are chosen from 50 WVU Foundation Outstanding Seniors – also to be recognized May 16 – for their achievements.

Brief bios of Order of Augusta recipients follow:

For Joshua Austin of Grafton, a future in journalism – preferably in Moscow – is on the horizon. He currently has a 3.93 GPA and will graduate with a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science and a Bachelor of Science degree in journalism.

Austin feels his time spent at WVU has prepared him to traverse the world and expose human rights injustices.

“I have concluded that WVU teaches more than just material from textbooks and writing on a chalkboard,” he said. “Life lessons and values are the heart of this university. Charity, humbleness and objectivity, among other positive character traits, are what define a true Mountaineer.”

His greatest learning experience came through assisting Sophia Peterson, visiting professor of political science, with teaching an international human rights course. The experience inspired his interest in earning a doctorate, teaching and becoming a journalist.

Recently, Austin earned a Rotary International Ambassadorial Scholarship, which will permit him to teach the class and study for one year at the University of Glasgow. The award is valued at over $23,000 and will help fund his work toward a master’s degree in international politics.

Other awards include the PROMISE, Ronald E. McNair, Harry C. Hamm Family and Loyalty Permanent Endowment Fund scholarships. He also received the Robert E. DiClerico Scholarship in Democratic Institutions and Public Leadership and has been a member of the National Dean’s List, as well as the WVU President’s and Dean’s lists.

Austin is a contributing reporter for The Dominion Post and WVU Alumni Magazine. In his spare time, he has volunteered at the Ronald McDonald House, served on the community advisory board for The Dominion Post and helped organize a triathlon to raise money for the Save Darfur Coalition.

He is the son of Sandra Johnston.

To say that Matthew Delligatti has an interest in politics is putting it lightly. The senior from Fairmont will graduate in May with a degree in political science and a 3.92 GPA.

“Since the time that Matt was my student, I have watched him grow into a leader on campus and in his home community,” Garrison wrote in his recommendation letter. “On campus, Matt continues to be one of those students who can always be counted upon. Matt has distinguished himself on campus as someone who is both a thoughtful leader and a friend to all he encounters.”

Delligatti was named a Harry S. Truman Scholar in 2007, in part because of his vast experience in public service. The process of applying for the scholarship helped him focus on his future plans, which include a career as a public defender or state’s attorney.

“My principle reason for wanting to assist the community is that I want to provide all the citizens of West Virginia the same opportunities with which I have been blessed,” he said. “I want to make our political and judicial system truly fair for all of our citizenry.”

Delligatti is a PROMISE Scholar and member of the Mountain Honorary, and he has been named to the WVU President’s and Dean’s lists. He interned for Delegate Mike Caputo through the Frasure-Singleton Student Legislative Program.

His love for politics led him to become a member of the Fairmont City Council and Fairmont Planning and Zoning Commission. In addition, he is a member of the Executive Board of Directors Fairmont Senior High School Foundation, Fairmont State University Community Service Advisory Board and Young Democrats.

His community service includes Big Brothers/Big Sisters of America, the Growing Up Fun handicap playground project and the Knights of Columbus and Marion County Meals on Wheels program. He has also been an instructor for American Legion Mountaineer Boys State.

At WVU, he has served as parliamentarian of the Italian-American Organization, and he’s been a member of the WVU Sociology and Criminology Club.

His parents are John and Karen Delligatti.

Angela Dial of Morgantown plans to attend graduate school in Europe after graduating with a Bachelor of Science degree in textiles, apparel and merchandising and 3.85 GPA.

“I am driven and willing to do the necessary work to accomplish any task set before me,” she said. “I will work with my best commitment and passion to make WVU proud of me as one of its alumni.”

Dial entered WVU with a PROMISE Scholarship, and during her college years, she earned many other honors including the Sloan Presidential; WVU Mountaineer; Ruth Weibel Memorial; and Agriculture, Forestry and Family Resources Alumni scholarships. She has also been on the President’s and Dean’s lists and is a three-time award recipient from the state-level design competition for Fashion Illustrators.

Active in the Fashion Business Association, she has served as president, vice president and treasurer, and she helped coordinate several service-learning activities.

Dial is the first WVU student to gain portfolio space on a fashion resource Web site hosted by WGSN, an international news and research service within the fashion, design and style industries. She will also be the first WVU student to attend graduate school at the Domus Academy in Milan, Italy – a prestigious school for postgraduate educational programs in fashion design.

Her design work was chosen by the Division of Design and Merchandising to be featured in a display at the WVU Visitors Resource Center, along with the division’s program advising book and Web site.

As a student ambassador for the Rotary Youth Exchange Program, Dial traveled to Brazil following her high school graduation. Her interest in learning about international cultures continued at WVU, where she joined the Brazilian Association, learned to salsa with the Latin American Association and chatted with Italians in her Italian language classes.

She is the daughter of David and Jackie Dial.

A career in government service awaits Seth Gainer of Elkins after he graduates with bachelor’s degrees in history and international studies and a 4.0 GPA.

Gainer has already started to build his experience in government. He is currently a research assistant for a member of the British House of Commons as a result of the WVU Parliamentary Scholarship awarded through the Eberly College of Arts and Sciences. Gainer has also been named to the Model Organization of American States activity, which simulates international affairs and foreign policy situations, and he has studied abroad at the University of Tartu in the Republic of Estonia, taking classes on the European Union and Russian foreign policy.

“Big Ben is the single most impressive monument I have ever seen,” Gainer said. “I can see the clock tower from my window across the street, and it never fails to remind me of where I am and how I got here. It’s an hourly reminder of how lucky I am because I am here working in Parliament.”

“What I find so striking about Seth is that he has taken on each of these challenges carefully and ultimately gone on to thrive in these experiences,” said Joe Hagan, chair of the Department of Political Science. “He does not simply participate; rather, he immerses himself in the work of these activities and gets the maximum out of them.”

Gainer has been awarded the John Maxwell Historical Research Prize; Joseph and Theresa Cody, Wunschel Memorial and PROMISE scholarships; and Eberly College Award for Excellence. He was also named to the National Society of Collegiate Scholars, Eberly College Dean’s List of Outstanding Scholars and WVU President’s List.

An avid musician, Gainer has played guitar for the Elkins High School and Davis and Elkins College jazz bands. While in Morgantown, he performed at local venues and contributed an original song for an album to support liver disease research.

He is the son of Phil and Tammy Gainer.

Gwyndaf Garbutt of Morgantown will graduate with a Bachelor of Arts degree in history and 3.96 GPA. His plans include earning a doctorate in the history of science and teaching at the university level.

“I look forward to researching and teaching for a living and the opportunity to pass on my love of history to the next generation of students,” he said. “As with all academics, my driving purpose is to help advance our general knowledge of history and significantly contribute to the overall understanding of the history of science.”

To gain a different perspective on history, Garbutt also studied medieval history in Wales as part of an undergraduate academic enrichment program through the Eberly College of Arts and Sciences. He feels the experience provided him a different perspective on history.

“History in Britain is an ever-present thing; the entire country is so steeped in a sense of continuous history and age that you can almost feel it in the air,” he said. “History there is treated as a fluid thing, something that flows unbroken across thousands of years, connecting the ancient to the modern.”

Garbutt is a recipient of the PROMISE and WVU Mountaineer scholarships. The Eberly College of Arts and Sciences also awarded him three certificates of achievement for academic excellence, and he was named to the Helvetia sophomore honorary, WVU President’s List, Eberly College Dean’s List of Outstanding Scholars and Alpha Lambda Delta National Academic Honor Society for freshmen.

Community service has been a key part of Garbutt’s college experience. As the Alpha Phi Omega memorial bell-ringing coordinator, he organized memorial services for WVU students who passed away and provided comfort to families.

His parents are Keith and Christine Garbutt.

Jason Likens of Terra Alta will graduate with a 3.86 GPA and Bachelor of Science degree in biology. He plans to attend the WVU School of Medicine in the fall.

“My undergraduate experiences have significantly impacted who I am today and the career path I have chosen,” he said. “My experiences, both inside and outside the classroom, have fostered my strong determination and enthusiasm for pursuing a career in medicine.”

Likens received the Ronald E. McNair, PROMISE, Mountaineer and Dr. Isaiah A. Wiles scholarships. He has been a part of the WVU Honors College and earned spots on the WVU President’s and Dean’s lists. In addition, he received the Eberly College of Arts and Sciences Certificate of Achievement six times.

He credits the McNair Scholars program with preparing him for his postbaccalaureate studies.

“I’ve been afforded the opportunity to visit numerous colleges and universities, attend conferences, participate in a six-week summer research internship, undertake my own research project and partake in numerous other opportunities,” he said. “In general, being a McNair Scholar has allowed me to further develop, both personally and scholastically, while allowing me to continue my insatiable pursuit of knowledge through research.”

Likens has participated in many research projects. He co-authored the article, “Limb Regeneration and Molting Processes Under Chronic Methoprene Exposure in the Mud Fiddler Crab, Uca Pugnax,” and presented a research poster at Undergraduate Research Day at the state Capitol.

Other activities include the Beta Beta Beta biology and Alpha Epsilon Delta premedical honoraries and National Society of Collegiate Scholars.

Likens, a first-generation college student, has also been involved as a committee chair for Planning for College Success, an organization that visits high schools to educate students about the college application process. The goal is to motivate students, who might not otherwise think about attending college, to consider continuing their education, and he feels his personal background has a positive impact on the students he speaks with.

He is the son of Clifford and Cindy Likens.

Kerri Phillips of Weirton said she always knew she wanted to attend WVU and pursue a degree in engineering. In December, the dream came true when she graduated with bachelor’s degrees in mechanical and aerospace engineering.

But her WVU days are not over yet; Phillips was accepted into the doctoral program in aerospace engineering and began her graduate studies in January.

“I’m excited about this next chapter of my education,” she said. “The WVU community has had an everlasting impact on my life, and I look forward to my next four years as a Mountaineer.”

In her junior year, Phillips was selected to be part of the WVU Microgravity Team, which allowed her to go to NASA to fly an experiment aboard the DC-9 “Weightless Wonder” aircraft. She also received the prestigious Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship, the nation’s premier award for math and science. Recently, she was named to USA Today’s All-USA College Academic Team.

In addition, Phillips has received the NASA Space Grant Scholarship and NASA Undergraduate Research Fellowship.

She spent two summers working for the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center where she helped develop an autonomous underwater vehicle project for future applications to explore Jupiter’s Galilean moon, Europa.

“Without the education I received during the first two years of college and the opportunities provided by the NASA West Virginia Space Grant Consortium, I would not achieved my lifetime dream at 20 to work for NASA,” she said. “The research experiences also improved my understanding of the material I was learning in classes, enabling me to apply my knowledge to my internships at NASA and Boeing.”

Among her other awards are the Sallie Lowther Norris Showalter Excellence in Mathematics, Gay R. Larsen Educational Trust, PROMISE and WVU Presidential scholarships. She is a member of the WVU Honors College and Phi Kappa Phi, Tau Beta Pi and Sigma Gamma Tau honor societies.

Phillips has also been involved in community service programs, raising funds for an animal rescue shelter and encouraging middle and high school students to pursue higher education.

She is the daughter of Jon and Darla Phillips.

Chad Wilcox, a senior from Wheeling, will be graduating with a 4.0 GPA, Bachelor of Science degree in biology and Bachelor of Arts degree in history. He intends to become a physician.

“All of my courses have shown me something,” he said. “Biology and its associated pure sciences have taught me the how, history has taught me the when, and philosophy has taught me the why. In college, I have learned so much, but my most important lesson has been that I must never cease learning.”

Wilcox came to WVU as a PROMISE and Presidential Scholar. He has been involved in the WVU Honors College, student newspaper, several honor societies and student organizations. He is the president of the WVU chapter of the Beta Beta Beta biology honor society, and he has studied abroad at Richmond, The American University of London, Rome Campus.

Wilcox has been awarded Eberly College of Arts and Sciences and Student Government Association Memorial Leadership scholarships, along with the President’s Volunteer Service Award, and he was a Mr. Mountaineer finalist.

Besides his campus activities, he has volunteered at the Ronald McDonald House, Ruby Memorial Hospital and a local elementary school.

“From helping families get situated in the Ronald McDonald House to keeping patients in the emergency department company, I have felt the satisfaction of the opportunities to be involved and give back to the community of West Virginia University, which has become my home,” he said.

His parents are Craig and Debbie Wilcox.

WVU journalism students named winners in 'Buzz' Storey reporting contest

Thu, 17 Apr 2008 10:10:00 EST

Three West Virginia University P.I. Reed School of Journalism students were recently named winners of the first Walter J. “Buzz” Storey Awards for Public Affairs Reporting contest.

Kellen Henry, a senior from Princeton, received a $500 award; Tricia Fulks, a junior from Clarksburg, and Jon Offredo, a sophomore from Newtown, Pa., both received $250 awards.

Each student submitted several published entries, ranging from coverage of a murder trial to stories about campus events and area crime.

“Kellen, Jon and Tricia have produced stories about issues and events important to the public,” said Bonnie Stewart, assistant professor of journalism. “I commend them for working long, stressful hours to find the sources and public documents necessary to transmit thorough, truthful reports to their readers.”

This is the first year of the contest, established by friends of Storey, a reporter and editor who worked at the Uniontown (Pa.) Herald-Standard for 47 years.

Storey is remembered in Fayette County, Pa., and surrounding areas as a dedicated journalist and civic leader. He began his journalism career in 1940 when he joined the news staff of the Daily News Standard, now the Herald-Standard.

Reportedly turning down multiple job offers with The Associated Press, Storey preferred to work for his hometown newspaper. He retired in 1987 but continued to write a Sunday column for the paper until 2001, three years before his death.

Noted as a local historian, he wrote two books and other histories of Uniontown and Fayette County and received numerous rewards for his service to the community and veterans organizations.

The awards were officially presented to the students during the School of Journalism’s spring awards banquet last week.

WVU celebrating Journalism Week with debate, Festival of Ideas panel discussion on digital media

Tue, 25 Mar 2008 10:16:00 EST

March 31-April 4

The 2008 presidential election is historic in more ways than one. More people than ever are turning to new media – blogs, YouTube, social networking sites – to learn about the candidates, engage in dialogue and directly participate in the campaigns.

The West Virginia University Perley Isaac Reed School of Journalism will examine the impact of new media on this year’s election and the political process during “Journalism Week 2008: New Media. New Democracy,” March 31-April 4.

The School of Journalism sought input from its student organizations to help plan and design activities, which include student competitions with a $250 grand prize each, guest lectures and two public events.

“Student Voices” will be a campus debate hosted by the Public Relations Student Society of America, with moderators from WVU’s chapter of Society of Professional Journalists and panelists from the Young Democrats and College Republicans. The debate – set for 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 1, in 202 Brooks Hall – is open to all WVU students and the general public.

The debate will present a series of questions around such issues as the war in Iraq, gas prices, health care and more. Panelists will provide answers based on the position their respective candidates have taken on these issues, and members of the audience will have the chance to ask additional questions following the debate.

The school will host another public event in conjunction with WVU’s Festival of Ideas. “Digital Media and the 2008 Presidential Election” will feature a panel of national reporters, bloggers and new media producers discussing the impact of digital media on the 2008 presidential election. The free event will be at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, April 3, in the Mountainlair ballrooms.

The panelists are as follows:

Ana Marie Cox is the Washington editor of Time.com, where she coordinates political coverage and hosts the Web site’s political blog, “Swampland.” She is also founding editor of the blog, “Wonkette.”
Philip de Vellis is senior associate and vice president of new media at Murphy Putnam Media and the creator of the “Vote Different” ad, which blended Apple’s “1984” spot with footage from Sen. Hillary Clinton’s campaign Web site.
Ross Douthat is a senior editor at The Atlantic Monthly and a blogger for TheAtlantic.com. He is the co-author, with Reihan Salam, of “Grand New Party: How Republicans Can Win the Working Class and Save the American Dream,” to be published this June.
Terence Samuel is deputy editor of TheRoot.com, an online magazine aimed at black readers published by The Washington Post, and former director of news programming at AOL Black Voices.
Abbi Tatton is an Internet reporter for CNN, covering blogs, Web video and other new media for “The Situation Room.” She has also covered the emergence of blogs and Web video as a force in national political campaigns.
Michael Tomasky (moderator): Tomasky is the editor of GuardianAmerica.com, the U.S.-based Web site of The Guardian newspaper of England, which covers American politics and culture, as well as international news.
Matthew Yglesias is an associate editor of The Atlantic Monthly. He writes a blog for TheAtlantic.com and is a regular on BloggingHeads.tv. He was a staff writer at The American Prospect and an associate editor at TPM Media.

A complete schedule of Journalism Week 2008 events and full-length panelist biographies are available online at http://JWeek08.journalism.wvu.edu.

The Festival of Ideas is supported in part by the David C. Hardesty Jr. Festival of Ideas Endowment, which brings preeminent thinkers and scholars to campus. For other festival speakers, go to http://www.events.wvu.edu/foi/.

Two WVU students win Society of Professional Journalists awards

Tue, 18 Mar 2008 10:11:00 EST

Two West Virginia University P.I. Reed School of Journalism students have won 2007 Region 4 Mark of Excellence Awards from the Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ) for their published works.

Kendal Montgomery, a junior from Williamstown, received two first-place awards, one for general news photography for “Anti-war demonstrators visit capital” and another for feature photography for “Beyond our backyard.” She will advance to the national round of the SPJ competition.

Jon Offredo, a sophomore from Newton, Pa., won third place for feature writing for his entry, “Oh baby, we love our Chucks.” He wrote the article during his summer 2007 internship at The Dominion Post. The story recounts the history and cultural relevance of Chuck Taylor Converse shoes.

The awards honor the best in student journalism. This year, collegiate journalists submitted more than 3,400 entries in 39 categories for print, radio, television and online collegiate journalism.

The WVU students received the awards during SPJ’s Region 4 spring conference last week in Pittsburgh. Region 4 includes West Virginia, Western Pennsylvania, Ohio and Michigan.

“The SPJ competition is an important one for student journalists both at the regional and national level,” said Bonnie E. Stewart, assistant professor and SPJ student adviser. “It’s a great honor, and we at the School of Journalism are proud of Jon and Kendal and their work.”

The conference, featuring “Digital Democracy,” explored how the digital revolution – blogs, online video, Web sites and social media – is changing traditional news media coverage and citizens’ access to the political process.

Former USA Today reporter Toni Locy, WVU Shott Chair of Journalism, was a featured speaker at the conference. Her speech, “Subpoenaed for Her Sources: A Journalist’s Story,” outlined issues of developing sources and the dangers facing reporters.

WVU School of Journalism to host magazine writing panel discussion

Tue, 11 Mar 2008 10:19:00 EST

Interested in a career in the magazine publishing industry?

A student group at the West Virginia University P.I. Reed School of Journalism is hosting a panel discussion about magazine writing at 6 p.m. Sunday (March 16) in Room 205, Martin Hall.

Industry professionals will speak about what jobs are available and what it’s like to work at local and regional magazines.

The student group, All Things Magazine: Ed on Campus, which formed last fall for students interested in magazine writing, organized the discussion. The public is invited to attend.

Panelists include Dana Coester, moderator and WVU assistant vice president for branding and creative direction; Doug Heuck, publisher of Pittsburgh Quarterly; Bryan Stealey, managing editor of Racer X Illustrated and Road Racer X; Richard Kelly, a freelance magazine photographer in Pittsburgh; and Michael Yablonski, editor and publisher of Pittsburgh Professional Magazine.

Before the panel discussion, students can take part in a resume critique session at 5 p.m. in Room 201, Martin Hall.

For more information, contact professor John Temple at john.temple@mail.wvu.edu or 304-293-3505 ext. 5418.

Former USA Today design editor, WVU alum to share experiences with students

Wed, 27 Feb 2008 10:22:00 EST

J. Ford Huffman, a legend in newspaper design and one of the architects of USA Today, will visit classes at West Virginia University March 3-4 as part of the P.I. Reed School of Journalism’s Journalist in Residence program.

Huffman, USA Today’s former deputy managing editor in the design department and a WVU alumnus, will share his experiences with students in magazine production, visual journalism and publication classes at the School of Journalism and the College of Creative Arts.

As deputy managing editor of USA Today, he recommended the design and art direction of the newspaper’s front page, working with artists, content and layout editors, reporters and photographers to conceive and develop art and presentation.

He designed the front page of the top-selling Sept. 12, 2001, issue (3.6 million copies) that Society for News Design magazine called “an unprecedented national statement.” He also directed the presentation of the entire millennium issue (Dec. 31, 1999) that sold 3.3 million copies.

Last year, Huffman was on the team that developed the initial concept for USA Today’s active lifestyle monthly magazine, due out later this year. He also has helped facilitate the merger of the newspaper’s print and online visual departments.

Huffman is one of nine expert contributors to Jennifer George-Palilonis’ textbook, A Practical Guide to Graphics Reporting. He has led discussions at workshops for the Society of News Design in Nova Scotia, Costa Rica and Poland and for the Freedom Forum in Hungary.

In addition, he has taught at the Defense Information School at Ft. Meade, Md., the American Press Institute and Poynter Institute and at universities from Miami to South Dakota. He regularly teaches in USA Today’s continuing education program.

Huffman has been invited to Gannett newsrooms more than 50 times to lead discussions about writing and design. His reviews appear in the books section of USA Today. In early 1981, he was in the group that developed the first prototypes of USA Today. At the paper’s start in 1982, he was a content editor of the life section.

Huffman began his career at the Wheeling News-Register and started with Gannett News Service in 1977. He was managing editor of the afternoon Rochester Times-Union from 1984-86 and managing editor of the morning Democrat and Chronicle in 1986.

He became the first managing editor for features, graphics and photography at Gannett News Service, where he later directed the newsroom effort to distribute the Gannett Graphics Network via the Internet.

Huffman was part of the group that designed, edited and published USA Today books at Gannett News Service until he returned to USA Today in late 1999. He is a 10-year member of the American Society of Newspaper Editors program committee.

Huffman recently joined The Washington Post to assist in transforming graphics and visual display throughout the A section.

Outside the newsroom, he has designed sets for Oglebay Institute’s Towngate Theater in Wheeling.

In addition, he is a former two-term president of the 200-member D.C. Front Runners, and he has finished 22 marathons. The U.S. Marine Corps selected his illustration as the branding image for its 2004 marathon.

WVU student wins Rotary scholarship, will spend year in Scotland

Mon, 25 Feb 2008 10:12:00 EST

A West Virginia University student will spend a year in Scotland, working on a graduate degree and sharing his knowledge of human rights after winning a Rotary International Foundation scholarship.

Joshua Austin, a senior political science and journalism major from Grafton, has been awarded the 2008-09 Rotary International District 7530 Ambassadorial Scholarship.

Valued at up to $23,000, the scholarship provides funding for tuition and fees, room and board, transportation and educational supplies for one year of study abroad. Austin plans to use the opportunity to work on his master’s degree in international politics at the University of Glascow beginning in September.

“This means more to me that any other scholarship or honor that I’ve received,” he said. “I now have the opportunity to attend one of the best universities in the world, which has a world-renowned program focusing on Russia and Eastern Europe politics, a specialized part of my graduate work.”

The Rotary scholarship is intended to increase international goodwill and understanding among countries. During his time abroad, Austin will work as an ambassador for Rotary, participating in service projects and speaking to Rotary clubs, schools and other civic organizations. When he returns to the U.S., he will share his experiences with local Rotary clubs.

“We’re very proud of Josh for receiving the prestigious Rotary scholarship,” said Maryanne Reed, dean of the Perley Isaac Reed School of Journalism. “Josh is an excellent student with a very bright future, and I’m sure he will make the most of this opportunity, which will give him a global perspective.”

As part of his ambassadorial efforts, Austin plans to teach a class to educate Rotarians in Scotland about human rights issues and international affairs. He helped establish a similar class in WVU’s Department of Political Science.

“It will be a basic introduction to human rights matters,” Austin said. “The course focuses on the most pressing issues in the world today including genocide, child soldiers and famine. What I hope people will take from the class is that each individual has certain rights as a human that are inalienable and must be protected.”

Robert DiClerico, Eberly Professor of Political Science at WVU, said Austin has taken advantage of learning opportunities available to him both in and outside the classroom “be it travel abroad opportunities to several countries and writing for respected newspapers and magazines within our state – to helping to teach a class on human rights and reading every serious book and magazine he can get hold of. His intellectual development over the course of these past four years has been all that one would hope for in a student.”

Austin hopes to become a foreign correspondent for a newspaper or magazine – preferably in Moscow. He has already gained valuable experience in journalism and advocacy efforts. He is a founding member of Students Unite for Human Rights, a WVU student organization focused on preserving and advocating for international human rights.

He is also a contributing reporter for The Dominion Post, Wonderful West Virginia magazine and TheScoop08.com, a nonpartisan, student-run political Web site covering the 2008 presidential campaign.

Austin’s honors include the Ronald E. McNair Scholarship (2005-08); Eberly College of Arts and Sciences Scholarship (2006-07, 2007-08); Robert E. DiClerico Scholarship in Democratic Institutions and Public Leadership (2007-08); Harry C. Hamm Family Scholarship and Loyalty Permanent Endowment Fund Scholarship (2005-08).

WVU School of Journalism professor earns BEA award, governor's recognition

Fri, 22 Feb 2008 10:20:00 EST

West Virginia University P.I. Reed School of Journalism professor Gina Martino Dahlia has earned a national Broadcast Education Association (BEA) Festival of Media Arts Award and special recognition from the governor for her documentary about the 1907 Monongah Mine disaster.

The 30-minute documentary, “The Monongah Heroine,” originally aired statewide in December on West Virginia Public Television.

Dahlia, acting chairman of the School of Journalism broadcast news sequence, won Best in Category for the Faculty Documentary Competition for Short Film. She will receive her award at the BEA 52nd Annual Convention April 16-19 in Las Vegas, Nev. A portion of her documentary will be aired during the BEA awards ceremony.

Dahlia also received the Distinguished Mountaineer award in recognition for her excellence in contribution to her students, state and community from Gov. Joe Manchin for the documentary. She was keynote speaker, and her documentary was shown at the Feb. 6 Women’s Day at the Legislature presentation at the State Capitol Complex in Charleston. The event was sponsored by the West Virginia Women’s Commission.

“Gina’s experience as a reporter, writer and news anchor have served her well as a respected professor,” Manchin said. “With her recent appointment to the Women’s Commission and production of ‘Monongah Heroine,’ she continues to instill Mountaineer pride in everything she does for West Virginia.”

Dahlia also will be the guest speaker, and her documentary will be featured at the monthly Business and Professional Women’s organization meeting at 6 p.m. March 20 in Morgantown and at a meeting for the Diversity Council for Dominion Transmission of Clarksburg in July.

Jenny Springer of Dominion Transmission, who attended the Women’s Day at the Legislature presentation, wrote in an e-mail to Dahlia, “I (was) inspired by your speech and documentary?Your documentary was the highlight of our day.”

Another attendee, Alexis L. McMillen, executive director of Rock Forge Neighborhood House, wrote, “I wanted to?let you know how much I enjoyed your film yesterday when I attended Women’s Day at the Legislature?It is wonderful that you told the story of the women of Monongah.”

Dahlia produced, filmed and narrated the historical documentary focusing on the struggles and triumphs of the widows and children left behind by the disaster, still considered the worst mine disaster in U.S. history with hundreds losing their lives.

Her film depicts the historical events of the mine disaster and its effects on the community of mostly immigrant workers who came to West Virginia with the lure of available mining jobs and the promise of inexpensive housing. When the Monongah disaster occurred, almost half of the town’s breadwinners were killed, most of them Italian immigrants.

Over a four-year period, Dahlia went through hundreds of photos and conducted many interviews, collecting 25 hours of footage for the film.
Among those interviewed for the film are a well-known mining expert, a photojournalist, an author and local mining historian, Italian immigrants, a genealogist and poet, a vice president of Calabria, Italy, and a son whose mother was one of the widows of the Monongah Mine disaster.

The BEA festival provides a national refereed exhibition of faculty creative activities and is a national showcase for students’ work.

USA Today editor to speak at WVU

Fri, 15 Feb 2008 10:24:00 EST

Bob Dubill, the legendary editor who helped build USA Today into a national newspaper that revolutionized journalism, will speak to West Virginia University journalism students next week on new media and the challenges it faces today. All sessions are in Martin Hall and open to the public.

Dubill will address a media law class from 2:30-3:45 p.m. Wednesday (Feb. 20) in Room 205. At 6 p.m., in the same room, he will talk to a History of American Journalism class about how USA Today evolved and changed the way news, photos and graphics are used, developing a model for scores of other newspapers.

On Thursday (Feb. 21), he will speak to public affairs and media writing classes from 10-11:15 a.m.

Dubill has been a frequent lecturer at WVU and is a member of the School of Journalism’s visiting committee. He served as executive editor of USA Today from 1995 until his retirement in 2002. During his tenure, circulation at the nation’s largest daily newspaper grew to more than 2.2 million copies per day.

Dubill began his journalism career with The Associated Press, working his way from statehouse correspondent to bureau chief of the AP’s New Jersey operation. He later joined the Gannett News Service in Washington as executive editor. Under his direction, the Gannett News Service won two dozen national awards including the Pulitzer Prize for Public Service.

Dubill was assigned to USA Today in 1982 as a loaner from the Gannett News Service. He worked his way up the ranks, from national editor to managing editor of news and finally executive editor.

WVU School of Journalism holds reporting contest in honor of former Pennsylvania editor

Tue, 12 Feb 2008 10:37:00 EST

Students at the West Virginia University P.I. Reed School of Journalism can win awards for their published stories thanks to a new reporting competition named after a beloved Southwestern Pennsylvania newspaperman.

The public affairs writing awards are named in honor of Walter J. “Buzz” Storey, a reporter and editor who worked at the Uniontown Herald-Standard for 47 years. The competition was established by an anonymous donor.

Storey is remembered in Fayette County and surrounding areas as a dedicated journalist and civic leader. He began his journalism career in 1940 when he joined the news staff of The Daily News Standard, now the Herald-Standard.

A noted local historian, he wrote two books and other histories of Uniontown and Fayette County and received numerous rewards for his service to the community and veterans organizations. The Storey Square plaza in downtown Uniontown was named after him.

Entries for the Walter J. “Buzz” Storey Awards for Public Affairs Reporting will be accepted until March 1. One $500 award and two $250 awards will be announced during the School of Journalism Spring Awards Banquet April 11.

Omnicom advertising professionals to speak to WVU journalism classes

Mon, 11 Feb 2008 10:38:00 EST

The West Virginia University P.I. Reed School of Journalism will feature three speakers from high-profile advertising and research companies this month to give students an opportunity to learn first-hand about branding communications and advertising research.

“These professionals bring a wealth of real-world experience and knowledge to our students,” said Harrison/Omnicom Professor of Advertising Elizabeth Quilliam. “Their insights will add a new dimension to the classroom and provide students with the latest thinking about new communications models.”

Two New York City advertising professionals from Hall & Partners, a research company of Omnicom’s Diversified Agency Services (DAS), will speak to students Tuesday, Feb. 12.

Terry Willie, group chief executive, and Greg Nyilasy, senior account executive, will talk about the research and planning cycles of advertising and communications development to two advanced advertising classes at 1 and 4 p.m. in 205 Martin Hall.

Hall & Partners provides a variety of research services to help businesses explain and understand their brand advertising issues, including strategies, creative development and brand and ad tracking.

On Thursday, Feb. 28, Emma Gilding, president of in:site, a New York City cultural anthropology think tank for Omnicom, will speak to a class about the use of ethnography in advertising research. Ethnography is a branch of anthropology that studies human cultures and behavior. The talk will take place at 1 p.m. in 205 Martin Hall.

Gilding’s sociologists and anthropologists shadow customers, recording and observing their behavior often bringing in a documentary filmmaker. They look for common patterns and reactions to explain model behavior. The agency then creates advertising and marketing communications based on those findings.

Harrison/Omnicom advertising professorship

The School of Journalism Harrison/Omnicom advertising professorship was established by Tom Harrison, a 1972 graduate of WVU. He serves as chairman and chief executive officer of DAS, a division of Omnicom.

Harrison joined Omnicom in 1992, when the firm he co-founded, Harrison & Star Business Group, was acquired by the group. He served as chairman of the Harrison & Star Group and Diversified Healthcare Communications, a group of eight healthcare agencies within Omnicom, until his appointment as president of DAS in 1997.

Harrison was named chairman and chief executive of DAS in 1998. In 2006, he was inducted into the WVU Academy of Distinguished Alumni.

WVU journalism student's photography featured in local art show

Tue, 05 Feb 2008 10:39:00 EST

A West Virginia University P.I. Reed School of Journalism student’s photography from a study-abroad trip last summer to Southeast Asia is currently being featured at Zenclay Galleries in Morgantown.

Junior Kendal Montgomery went to Vietnam to document the country’s culture, society and life.

In addition to a stunning collection of photojournalism, what she brought back from the trip was an eye-opening education of the conditions that exist and how difficult life can be in other countries.

After hearing that an artist was needed for the month of January at Zenclay Galleries, Montgomery took her portfolio from Southeast Asia to the gallery.

“I never had a show before,” she said. “It was so exciting. People say to me, ‘Wow, your first show at the age of 20. That’s amazing.’ The response has been great.”

Montgomery went to Southeast Asia through a linkage agreement between WVU and An Giang University in southern Vietnam. While there, she took more than 1,000 pictures on the trip. However, the gallery presentation had to be narrowed to 20 photographs.

“This was my dream – to travel, take pictures and showcase aspects of the world that aren’t always shown,” she said. “I’m just happy to have the opportunity to be a part of the gallery exhibit.”

Her photography will be on display at Zenclay Galleries, 2862 University Ave., through Feb. 29.

3 WVU School of Journalism students win Hearst awards

Tue, 05 Feb 2008 10:15:00 EST

Three West Virginia University P.I. Reed School of Journalism broadcast news students recently won national awards from the prestigious Hearst Journalism Awards Program, sponsored by the William Randolph Hearst Foundation.

Among college participants, the WVU School of Journalism placed third overall in the Intercollegiate Broadcast News Competition with the highest accumulated student points from the radio and television competitions.

Justin Weaver of Fairview, a May graduate, won fourth place in the semifinal Television Broadcast News Feature Competition out of 65 students from 38 journalism schools across the country. His parents are Valerie and Michael Weaver.

As part of the award, he received a $750 grant with a matching grant awarded to the WVU School of Journalism and a William Randolph Hearst Certificate of Merit. Typically, the top five winners go on to the final competition in San Francisco. However, because Weaver has already graduated, he is not eligible for the final competition.

Steve Butera, a senior from Bridgeport, won 11th place in the Television I Competition also out of 65 students from 38 journalism schools. His parents are Robin and Steve Butera.

Megan Bowers, a junior from Morgantown, tied for 20th place in the Radio I Competition out of 43 students from 26 journalism schools. Her parents are Ronald and Connie Bowers.

Both Butera and Bowers received certificates of merit. All of the Hearst broadcast news finalists are listed at http://www.hearstfdn.org/hearst_journalism/.

“It’s a tremendous honor to have so many students place in this competition,” said Maryanne Reed, dean of the School of Journalism. “It demonstrates that WVU students can – and do – compete on a national level with the best and the brightest students in the country.”

The 2007-08 broadcast news competitions were held in 108 member colleges and universities of the Association of Schools of Journalism and Mass Communication with accredited undergraduate journalism programs.

The Hearst Journalism Awards Program was founded in 1960 to provide support, encouragement and assistance to journalism education at the college and university level. The program awards scholarships to students for outstanding performance in college-level journalism, with matching grants to the students’ schools.

The broadcast news competition was added in 1988 to the Hearst Foundation’s Journalism Awards Program that included writing, photojournalism and multimedia, and now offers awards totaling up to $500,000 in scholarships, matching grants and stipends.

Participation in the program is open to undergraduate journalism majors. Students must be actively involved in campus media and must have published articles or photographs – or produced newscasts or multimedia pieces – that can be submitted in writing, photojournalism, broadcast news and/or multimedia competitions.

WVU Integrated Marketing Communications online program offers connections

Tue, 18 Dec 2007 10:42:00 EST

Move over Match.com and eHarmony. There’s a West Virginia University online graduate degree program that helps singles find love—well, not officially.

But for two graduate students enrolled in the Perley Isaac Reed School of Journalism’s Integrated Marketing Communications (IMC) program, that’s just what happened.

The IMC program is the first integrated marketing communications master’s degree program in the world available exclusively online. It is designed to meet the needs of busy working professionals, affording its students the opportunity to continue working while receiving a master’s degree in the marketing field. Finding love was just an added bonus for program graduates Phil Satterfield and Stephanie Camp.

Satterfield and Camp, both of Charleston, enrolled in the IMC program in the spring semester of 2005. During their first course, the two chatted frequently through the IMC’s discussion board, but those conversations were pretty much limited to class topics.

“In the program, you’re given one or two questions a week that you have to answer,” Camp explained. “We had to respond to at least three other students. I always thought Phil had good insight, so I often found myself responding to his posts.

“Once you were logged into the class, you could see who was online and who wasn’t,” she said. “You could even instant message someone if you wanted. When you’re online with people day in and day out, it’s a unique bond. It’s always nice to have the opportunity to actually meet them in person.”

That opportunity came when Camp and Satterfield participated in WVU’s annual IMC Information Weekend and Student Reunion in June 2005, where they both attended a roundtable discussion.

After that, they talked on the phone for about a week and e-mailed through the IMC network, and Satterfield asked Camp out to dinner.

“Suddenly, it was clear that the connection we made from talking online was developing into something more,” Camp said. “We had so much in common that we began dating.”

At the time, Camp, a Pittsburgh native, lived in Morgantown and worked for Sprint. Satterfield, a native of Fairmont, was working for Gov. Joe Manchin. The two had been dating since April and were driving back and forth from Morgantown to Charleston on weekends to see each other despite busy work and school schedules.

“After about eight months of driving back and forth from Morgantown to Charleston, a position opened at Sprint in Charleston, so I took it,” Camp said.
A year later, the couple became engaged.

Both graduated in May 2006. Camp now works for medical device company CooperSurgical, and Satterfield is employed by the Arnold Agency, a public relations firm in Charleston.

While the couple’s story may be unusual, developing both personal and professional friendships is common among students enrolled in the IMC program. Despite the geographic distance among classmates, many students find the online format allows for more social networking connections than a traditional classroom.

“The IMC program was a collaborative learning environment that I found to be even more interactive than a traditional classroom,” said graduate Erin Whitescarver of Colorado Springs, Colo. “I was constantly inspired by both the professors’ and my fellow students’ real-world experiences.”

IMC student Cara Stanco of Mclean, Va., added, “I think you get to know more people than you would in a traditional classroom setting because you’re reading all of their thoughts and opinions on a wide range of topics that a traditional setting does not allow the time for.”

A common misconception about online courses is that students miss out on the socialization aspect of college. For Camp and Satterfield especially, that online experience led to a permanent connection.

“In a way, we really did meet online,” Camp said. “We made a lot of good friends through the program, too. I knew a lot of good things would come out of getting my IMC degree, but never in my wildest dreams did I expect to find a husband.”

The happy couple plans to marry in October.

The IMC program was originally launched as a certificate program in 2001 and became a full master’s degree program in 2003. It started with 17 students and has grown today to 200-plus students from 32 states and numerous countries beyond the U.S. borders. There are more than 30 faculty members from across the country.

For more information on the program, visit http://www.imc.wvu.edu/.

WVU journalism alumnus, sponsor accepted into NYC fellowship program

Tue, 18 Dec 2007 10:41:00 EST

Scott Widmeyer, alumnus and sponsor of the West Virginia University P.I. Reed School of Journalism (SOJ) Widmeyer Communications Professor of Public Relations, will collaborate with New York City’s top leaders on major issues facing the city as a new member of the prestigious David Rockefeller Fellows Program.

Widmeyer, a 1975 graduate of the SOJ and visiting committee member, will have the opportunity to participate in a series of working sessions on strengthening corporate citizenship. Previous sessions have included Mayor Michael Bloomberg, News Corp. Chairman Rupert Murdoch and Time Warner Chairman Richard Parsons.

“I am delighted to have this opportunity to delve into the city’s most important issues and to roll up my sleeves alongside such distinguished individuals,” said Widmeyer, a member of the fellowship’s class of 2007-08. “As someone with a background in issue-driven communications and public affairs, I am especially looking forward to talking about how, as corporate leaders, we can better reach and engage New York citizens on issues that really matter, such as education, the environment, health care and human rights.”

“We’re so proud of Scott for this achievement,” SOJ Dean Maryanne Reed said. “This honor validates his commitment to using his professional expertise to improve the lives of others.”

The fellows program was established in 1989 and is sponsored by the Partnership for New York City. Nearly 190 top executives have completed the program. Executives participate in working sessions with New York’s top corporate, nonprofit and government leaders to discuss city issues and explore opportunities to work in partnership with public and nonprofit organizations to support the city.

“Scott will be a terrific addition to this year’s class of fellows,” said U.S. Sen. Jay Rockefeller, whose uncle, David Rockefeller, is the namesake of the program. “I know that Scott will bring the same thoughtful insight to the program as he did when he was my press secretary years ago.”

Widmeyer, who is originally from Martinsburg, has provided strategic counsel to numerous decisionmakers including presidents, governors, chief executive officers and union leaders for more than 25 years. His work has earned Widmeyer Communications the reputation as a change agent for the public policy issues that matter most to America.

Widmeyer Communications is an independent full-service firm with offices in Washington and New York. It offers public affairs, media relations, corporate communications, research, crisis and risk communications and advertising and design services to corporate, nonprofit and government clients.

WVU journalism professor's Monongah Mine disaster documentary to air on WVPBS

Wed, 28 Nov 2007 11:34:00 EST

A West Virginia University P.I. Reed School of Journalism (SOJ) professor’s documentary about the 1907 Monongah Mine disaster will air on West Virginia Public Television at 10:30 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 6 – the 100-year anniversary of the catastrophe.

The SOJ will hold a special preview of the 30-minute documentary, “The Monongah Heroine,” at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 5 in 205 Martin Hall. The premiere will be open to the public.

Professor Gina Martino Dahlia, acting chairman of the school’s broadcast news program, produced, filmed and narrated the historical documentary.

The film focuses on the struggles and triumphs of the widows and children left behind from the disaster, still dubbed the worst mine disaster in U.S. history with 361 men and children losing their lives.

“My grandpa, Sam Martino, was a coal miner for nearly 25 years,” said Dahlia, explaining her interest in the project. “He narrowly escaped the Farmington Mine disaster of 1968. My grandfather wanted to work a double shift that day on Nov. 19, 1968, but his ride was going home, and so he had to, as well. That twist of fate saved his life.”

Farmington’s Consol No. 9 Mine, ironically just a few miles down the road from Monongah, exploded on Nov. 20, killing 78 men. The next day, television crews flooded Dahlia’s tiny neighborhood, relaying follow-up explosions and suspenseful rescue attempts to the nation’s living rooms. Because of her grandfather’s experience, Dahlia felt a close connection to the 1907 Monongah Mine disaster. She was particularly interested in learning how the 250 widows and 1,000 children left behind survived.

“After the 1968 mine explosion, I saw how hard my grandmother struggled to keep everything together, even though she knew my grandfather still had to go underground to make a living,” said Dahlia. “The town of Monongah is in Marion County, and being a Marion County native, I also felt a sense of community to tell the story in my own neighborhood.”

Dahlia’s film depicts the historical events of the mine disaster and its effects on the community of mostly immigrant workers who came to West Virginia, lured by available mining jobs and the promise of inexpensive housing. When the Monongah disaster occurred, almost half of the town’s breadwinners were killed, most of them Italian immigrants.

Over a four-year period, Dahlia went through hundreds of photos and conducted countless interviews, collecting 25 hours of footage for the film. “It was a very long and tedious process,” Dahlia said. “I discovered along my journey that it’s the people who breathe life into a story that’s 100 years in the making, and I made some wonderful friendships along the way.”

Among those interviewed for the film are a well-known mining expert, a photojournalist, an author and local mining historian, Italian immigrants, a genealogist and poet, a vice president of Calabria, Italy, and a son whose mother was one of the widows of the Monongah Mine disaster. Dahlia said after talking to all of the sources involved, her story began to take shape.

Last year, a committee of Marion County officials and residents erected a marble statue depicting “The Monongah Heroine” near the Town Hall in Monongah.

“With the completion of that statue, my story had a beginning, middle and end,” said Dahlia. “There have been quite a few films done on the men who lost their lives in the mining disaster, but none about the women of that time, how they survived. I hope this film pays homage to their spirit and their strength. They were the true heroes of the disaster.”

WVU journalism grad student publishes postcard history book

Thu, 15 Nov 2007 10:46:00 EST

A West Virginia University P.I. Reed School of Journalism graduate student has written a postcard history book on her hometown, Greensburg, Pa.

Rachel E. Smith wrote the book, simply titled “Greensburg,” during her first year in the master’s of journalism program to preserve the history of the city, which is about 30 miles east of Pittsburgh.

The idea for the book originated when she was interning at the Connellsville Daily Courier the summer between her junior and senior years. Ironically, Smith was already a collector of vintage postcards, or deltiologist, when she wrote a story about a woman in Uniontown, Pa., who had written a postcard book of that town.

Sometime later, an editor at the book’s publishing company, Arcadia Publishing of Mount Pleasant, S.C., was looking for someone to write a postcard book about Greensburg and contacted Smith.

The 128-page book gives a history of Greensburg over the past 150 years told through postcards and captions. Postcards were the primary means of communication in the early 20th century. The book shows many hotels of the area, almost all of which have been torn down, and includes rare images of many other buildings that no longer exist.

“It was an interesting learning experience. There are a lot of buildings with nice architecture that aren’t there anymore,” Smith said. “It’s a shame they didn’t preserve them. People who grew up there seem to really like the book. My grandmother’s friends really enjoyed it.”

Some of the postcards in the book were borrowed from local collector Arthur Humphrey; others were acquired from flea markets, yard sales and Web sites.

“I get them all over the place,” she said. “The postcards can cost anywhere from $10 to $15 for a really good one. The most I ever spent was $50. It was of an Altoona amusement park. I got it off of eBay; I really wanted that one.”

Smith, a member of the Westmoreland County Historical Society, dedicates her book “to all of those who have made Greensburg the town it is – past, present and future.”

The book, which costs $19.99, is available at Greensburg and Pittsburgh-area bookstores, online through Amazon and Barnes and Noble, by calling Arcadia at 888-313-2665 or visiting www.arcadiapublishing.com.

Smith, who plans to graduate in May, is finishing her second postcard book on Latrobe, Pa., and the Ligonier Valley. It will be available in the spring.

The WVU school of journalism master’s program has granted more than 200 degrees since its inception in 1962. For more information, log onto

Wed, 03 Oct 2007 13:02:00 EST

A West Virginia University journalism professor was honored recently by the Congressional Black Caucus Veterans’ Braintrust in Washington, D.C., for his work on a documentary about African-American veterans.

Assistant Professor Joel Beeson of the Perley Isaac Reed School of Journalism (SOJ) is producing a documentary film titled, “Fighting on Two Fronts: Untold Stories of African American Vets from WWII,” which will air on PBS this fall and be previewed during WVU President Mike Garrison’s inaugural celebration.

The documentary reveals the stories of five “Greatest Generation” veterans who were forced to fight two battles—against racism at home and against an enemy on foreign lands.

The film grew out of Beeson’s work as director of West Virginia Veterans History Project, a collaboration between the SOJ and the Library of Congress to collect the oral histories of West Virginia’s veterans. The SOJ became involved with the project in 2001 when state Sen. Robert C. Byrd approached former WVU President David C. Hardesty Jr. and asked the university to take a leadership role in the project. Hardesty then turned to the SOJ to conduct interviews and collect oral histories.

Beeson was honored at the group’s 19th Annual Veterans’ Braintrust Awards Reception Friday, Sept. 28. Braintrust Co-chairs Corrine Brown, D-Fla., and Sanford D. Bishop Jr., D-Ga., who also serve on the Veterans Affairs Committee, presented the award to Beeson.

Gen. Colin Powell established the Braintrust Award in 1990 to recognize people and organizations that have provided exemplary national and community service on behalf of African American veterans.

“It completely came out of the blue,” said Beeson. “I felt very blessed and honored to be there. What was wonderful about it is that you’re working on this project for four years, and you’re sort of isolated. When you’re recognized with others doing the same work, it inspires you to keep going.”

Beeson attended the Braintrust issue session, themed “In the Name of Justice: Military Justice or Injustice in the 19tth, 20th and 21st Century,” with other media scholars, legal scholars, historians, political scientists, religious leaders, elected officials, and military veterans and veterans’ organizations.

The Braintrust serves as an advisory group to members of Congress on issues related to African Americans and veterans affairs. Recipients of the award are nominated by members of the group’s committee and by past winners of the award. Ron Armstead, who is the executive director of the Veterans Braintrust, nominated Beeson’s project for the award.

The Veterans’ Braintrust is one of the most powerful political and educational groups advocating on behalf of African American veterans and those serving in the armed services. The group, composed of representatives of many African American community-based groups, serves as an institutional think-tank and advisory group for the Congressional Black Caucus and for other members of Congress on critical issues of education, health care, mental health, aging, research, employment and training,

homelessness and affordable housing, small business development and veterans’ businesses and services.

“We’ve interviewed more than 40 [African American] veterans for the project, have more than 50 oral histories, plus 500 photos,” said Beeson. “The documentary is an hour long, so we had to narrow it down to five people to be in the film. It was a difficult task because all the stories are so powerful. It’s important to capture them before the stories aren’t here anymore.”

Beeson was awarded a media grant from the West Virginia Humanities Council to produce the documentary about West Virginia’s African American veterans.

His specialty areas are visual journalism, multimedia and documentary fieldwork. His photography has appeared in USA Today, Southern Living magazine, the Los Angeles Times, The Philadelphia Inquirer, the San Francisco Chronicle, the Phoenix Gazette, The Times of London and the Dallas Morning News, to name a few.

He received his master’s and bachelor’s degrees from the University of Missouri-Columbia and is currently pursuing a doctorate degree in Ethnic and Media Studies at the Union Institute and University to document, preserve and promote their local cultural resources.

Journalism student reporters to become part of 'MSNBC on Campus' segment

Wed, 03 Oct 2007 13:01:00 EST

A West Virginia University Perley Isaac Reed School of Journalism student will report live today (Oct. 3) for a new, fall segment of MSNBC News called “MSNBC on Campus.”

The MSNBC on Campus segments feature college reporters across the country reporting big, local news stories and breaking news, as well as student reactions to national news stories affecting their area.

WVU broadcast news senior Chad Beighley of Vandergrift will be one of the first students selected to go live at 4:20 p.m. on MSNBC from WVU’s news set at WVU Television Productions.

“This is so huge,” an excited Beighley said this morning before the taping. “It’s such an honor to be able to do this. This is the first time anybody from school has gotten this opportunity. It’s humbling to say the least.”

Beighley will be reporting on WVU’s new campus safety initiatives, including a text-alert system that will allow University officials to notify students and employees of an emergency quickly via text messaging. The segment will include shots of the WVU campus.

Professor Gina Martino Dahlia, acting chairman of WVU’s broadcast news sequence, said only the top journalism schools across the country were chosen through an application selection process to participate, adding that WVU was invited to be a part of the show following their student coverage of the Virginia Tech tragedy last spring.

Several WVU broadcast news students went to Blacksburg, Va., and appeared in live shots for MSNBC following the shootings.

“Their producers contacted us and said our kids did a great job for them,” Dahlia said. “They said ‘We want them to be a part of this new college report.’”

“It’s an honor to be a part of a national news organization,” said School of Journalism dean Maryanne Reed. “We are very fortunate that our students get to showcase their work on a national level. To get such high-level exposure for them can lead to a lot of opportunities.”

WVU News is a biweekly student-run newscast that airs statewide on PBS every other Sunday at 1 p.m., as part of Campus Connection.

WVU School of Journalism to host panel on Duquesne shootings

Mon, 24 Sep 2007 13:06:00 EST

In the early morning hours of Sunday, Sept. 17, 2006, the usually quiet, safe atmosphere of Duquesne University, a Catholic university in Pittsburgh, was shattered by the shootings of five members of the school’s men’s basketball team following an argument that began during a dance at the student union. One of the victims was shot in the head and was not expected to live through the night. The Duquesne Duke, the university’s 4,000-circulation weekly newspaper, worked throughout the night to publish a special edition for the following morning.

On Monday, Oct. 1, the WVU Perley Isaac Reed School of Journalism will host a panel discussion recounting the reporting, editing and crisis management of this event. The discussion, to begin at 7 p.m. in the Mountainlair’s Monongahela Room, will include Emily Leone, editor of the Duke; Brian Tierney, managing editor; Kelly Horein, features editor; and Lauren Daley, a former reporter at the paper.

The panel also will address issues of ethics, invasion of privacy and the delicate balance required when covering a campus tragedy. A question-and-answer session will follow the discussion.

Dr. Steve Urbanski, assistant professor and director of graduate studies at the WVU School of Journalism, will moderate the panel. He was adviser of the Duke at the time of the shootings.

This event is free and open to all students and the general public.

WVU Journalism School kicks off second IMCY Award Competition

Mon, 24 Sep 2007 13:04:00 EST

West Virginia University’ s P.I. Reed School of Journalism is kicking off its second annual IMCY AwardsTM Competition with a grand prize this year of $3,000.

Underwritten by School of Journalism alumni Jim Blair and his wife Marsha and developed by School of Journalism faculty, the competition provides journalism students with the opportunity to design an Integrated Marketing Communications (IMC) campaign for a real-world client.

The competition is open only to current, full-time, undergraduate students with a declared major in the School of Journalism. Eligible students can compete individually or in small teams of up to four members for the grand prize. All finalist teams will be awarded $500.

Competition participants will design their campaigns for Navway Records, winner of WVU College of Business and Economics’ 2007 Entrepreneurship Center Business Plan Competition. Navway Records is a record label that focuses on discovering, developing and promoting musical artists. The label specializes in variety of services including music production, web-site and e-commerce development, tour and event planning and consulting. Navway also sells both digital and physical copies of albums and merchandise.

“This is a unique opportunity for SOJ students, regardless of sequence, to collaborate together. Their knowledge and skills will combine to create an actual campaign for a real business,” said Sheila Wexler, visiting assistant professor in advertising.

Competitors are required to determine integrated marketing communications objectives and strategy for Navway Records. Required campaign components include advertising media plans, public relation plans and creative elements, such as graphic images, promotional materials, trade show devices, CD cover, posters and flyers.

First-round entries will be reviewed in late November and semi-finalists announced in December. Semi-finalists will then submit their full campaigns in mid-February 2008. Up to five finalists will be announced in February and will move on to the final round in March 2008. The IMCY AwardTM winner will be announced in early March, and awards will be made at that time.

Renowned journalist Peter Arnett to speak at WVU Journalism School Oct. 3

Mon, 24 Sep 2007 13:03:00 EST

Millions of viewers tuned in around the world to watch Peter Arnett’s dramatic accounts of the intense bombing campaign that marked the start of the first Gulf War against Iraq in 1991.

His live television coverage from Baghdad is credited with making CNN a household name and establishing it as a major news network that everyone turned to for breaking news. It also won him an Emmy, television’s highest honor, to add to his Pulitzer Prize for his Vietnam War coverage while with The Associated Press.

Arnett, a regular lecturer at West Virginia University’s School of Journalism, is returning on Wednesday, Oct. 3, to present a public lecture.

His presentation, “The Boys of Saigon: Covering an Earlier Unpopular War,” will begin at 6:15 p.m. in Room 205 in Martin Hall and is open to the public. Arnett was one of “The Boys of Saigon,” along with his close friend, David Halberstam, who changed the way war is reported by challenging the government and holding it responsible for its actions. As part of his presentation, Arnett will give a multimedia talk on Halberstam, who was killed in an auto accident last April.

Arnett has spent a lifetime covering wars and international crises for major American news organizations, most recently 2003’s Gulf War II and the long bloody aftermath. He recently joined Shantou University’s Cheung Kong School of Journalism as a professor and took a group of students to Vietnam this past summer.

Arnett covered the Vietnam War for 13 years for the AP, from the buildup of U.S. military advisers in the early 1960s to the fall of Saigon in 1975. He wrote more than 3,000 news stories for the AP, mainly eyewitness accounts of major battles between American and North Vietnamese forces.

The writer-historian Halberstam described Arnett as “the best reporter of the whole Vietnam war” in his book, ” The Best and the Brightest.” Halberstam wrote, “He is the journalist most respected and beloved by his peers. No one saw more combat and no one would put himself more on the line.”

Arnett, who was born in New Zealand, joined the fledgling CNN in 1981 after a 20-year career with the AP. He changed media, he says, because he felt television news was taking over from traditional print coverage as the primary means of news delivery. Arnett and his CNN TV crews covered wars and civil disturbances in scores of countries in Latin America, the Middle East, Central Asia and Africa.

As the fear of terrorism grew in the 1990s, Arnett kept returning to Afghanistan. He was the first western TV journalist to interview Osama Bin Laden, in 1997. He left CNN in 2000.

Arnett’s autobiography, “Live From the Battlefield,” published by Simon & Schuster in 1994, received much critical praise and was named a “Book of the Year” by The New York Times.

Arnett is also highlighted in the recently published book, “Feet to the Fire, the Media After 9/11,” edited by Kristina Borgesson and published by Prometheus Books. The book features a 40-page interview with Arnett.

WVU School of Journalism distinguished alum to speak to classes today

Thu, 20 Sep 2007 13:07:00 EST

A West Virginia University Perley Isaac Reed School of Journalism (SOJ) 2001 Distinguished Alumni Award winner will speak to two classes about advertising Thursday, Sept. 20.

Ray Gillette, president of the independent advertising agency Downtown Partners Chicago, will present a lecture titled “So, You Want to be in Advertising” to an SOJ advertising copywriting class and an advertising and society class.

A 1971 SOJ graduate, Gillette began his advertising career as an account manager at McDonald & Little Advertising in Atlanta, Ga., after serving two years in the U.S. Army.

He joined DDB Chicago in 1978 and infused a results-oriented vision to all DDB Chicago teams. He worked on DDB’s largest accounts, ranging from Busch Beer and State Farm to Discover Card and Qwest Communications.

In addition, Gillette was a visionary in integrated marketing, bringing its benefits to DDB clients long before it became standard industry practice. He was appointed President of DDB Chicago, DDB Worldwide’s largest office, in 2000.

In 2004, to take advantage of Gillette’s entrepreneurial spirit and love of building new business, Gillette was named president of Downtown Partners, an independent agency owned by Omnicom.

Gillette serves on the Board of StreetWise – a newspaper for the homeless – and the SOJ’s Visiting Committee. He is a member of the Sierra Club, Defenders of Wildlife and a life member of Trout Unlimited.

Pulitzer Prize-winning research editor to speak at WVU J-School Tuesday

Mon, 17 Sep 2007 13:09:00 EST

A Pulitzer Prize-winning database research editor will speak to two journalism classes Tuesday, Sept. 18, at the West Virginia University Perley Isaac Reed School of Journalism (SOJ).

Margot Williams, now a database research editor at The New York Times specializing in computer-assisted reporting, won the 2001 Pulitzer Prize for national affairs for her contributions to team coverage of the 9/11 aftermath and terrorism while at the Washington Post.

She also won the 1999 Pulitzer Public Service Award at the Post for an investigative team project on deadly force shooting of civilians by Washington, D.C., police. From 1995 to 2000, Williams wrote a column about the Internet for the Post’s business technology section.

Since coming to The Times in 2004, she has contributed reporting and research to local, national, political and foreign stories and investigative projects.

Williams will give a presentation at the SOJ to a public affairs reporting class and a media writing class about how public records can be used for investigative journalism to locate and background people, companies and agencies and for authoritative fact-checking.

She is a graduate of the City College of New York and received a master’s degree in library and information science from Pratt Institute in Brooklyn. She is the co-author of two books: “Great Scouts! CyberGuides for Subject Searching on the Web” (1999) and “Cuba from Columbus to Castro” (1981).

Williams is a member of Investigative Reporters and Editors (IRE) and the Special Libraries Association (SLA) News Division.

She is a frequent speaker and trainer for her own newsroom colleagues and the IRE, SLA, Poynter Institute, Knight Program at Ohio State University, National Institute for Computer-Assisted Reporting, American Press Institute, Freedom Forum and numerous other conferences and seminars.

WVU School of Journalism donates books to Vietnam universities

Tue, 11 Sep 2007 13:11:00 EST

West Virginia University’s Perley Isaac Reed School of Journalism (SOJ) recently donated books from its Reading Room to help Vietnam universities lacking resources.

The SOJ’s former Reading Room, located on the third floor of Martin Hall, was recently renovated into a suite of offices for faculty in the school’s popular Integrated Marketing Communications (IMC) master’s program.

Because of space constraints, the majority of the books from the former Reading Room could not be kept. That’s when the school’s Ogden Newspapers Visiting Professor George Esper came up with the idea to help educators in Vietnam.

Esper, who covered the Vietnam War for The Associated Press for 10 years, was the last AP bureau chief there before the fall of Saigon in 1975. In May 2005, he returned to Vietnam and saw the financial difficulties many of the universities were having.

“After seeing all of these books being boxed up here at the SOJ, a light bulb came on,” said Esper. “Many of these universities in Vietnam are bare boned. They need all the help they can get. A lot of these books were out-of-date for our purposes, but I couldn’t see throwing them away. I knew that many of the universities in Vietnam are struggling and could really use them.”

But logistically, moving approximately 400 books across the ocean could present a problem. To start the ball rolling, Esper contacted his friend, Nguyen The Cuong, the press attaché at the Vietnam Embassy in Washington, D.C.

“I e-mailed Cuong, and he was delighted,” said Esper.

Fellow SOJ Assistant Professor Sheila Wexler personally delivered the books to Washington, D.C. Her delivery included 18 boxes with 20 to 30 books in each box.

The books ranged from topics covering mass communications, print journalism, broadcasting, public relations, direct marketing and advertising.

“They were thrilled to get these books,” said Esper. “Their budgets are very thin, and the students are generally not wealthy. They really thirst for knowledge. It just seemed like an ideal solution.”

WVU J-School students receive valuable lessons from Southeast Asia study abroad

Thu, 23 Aug 2007 13:17:00 EST

Two West Virginia University Perley Isaac Reed School of Journalism (SOJ) students participated in a study-abroad program this summer in Southeast Asia that has changed their lives forever.

Robert Rizzuto (Jamestown, N.Y.), who graduated in May, and Kendal Montgomery (Williamstown, W.Va.), a news-editorial junior, went to Vietnam, Cambodia and Thailand in hopes of putting together a multimedia documentary about the country’s culture, society and life, specifically, the growing problem of human trafficking in Cambodia and Thailand. But what they came back with may be even more valuable personally.

“We saw some extremely poor people with no real chance of pulling themselves out of the poverty,” said Rizzuto. “Once you see poverty like that, it gives you a different perspective on life. To see someone born with nothing, live with nothing and then die with nothing, it gave me the realization that every day is a gift here in America.”

Montgomery echoed Rizzuto’s statements, adding, “There was a lot of human trafficking with very young girls [in Cambodia]. Traveling through the villages and seeing all of those children with no opportunities was so sad because that’s where it starts. It was an experience that changed my life.”

The two went to Southeast Asia through a linkage agreement between WVU and An Giang University in southern Vietnam. Montgomery and Rizzuto accompanied WVU associate professor Neal Newfield, who teaches in WVU’s Division of Social Work; Susan Newfield, Neal’s wife and associate professor of nursing at WVU; and Jim Keim, director of the Southeast Asia Children’s Project (SACP), a nonprofit organization dedicated to the prevention of child trafficking.

Last year, the School of Journalism’s Diversity in Media Association (DIMA) student group produced public service announcements for SACP aimed at gaining awareness about human trafficking around the Cambodia-Vietnam border area. Rizzuto was president of DIMA from 2006 to 2007.

The SOJ gave Rizzuto a grant to pay expenses and loaned Montgomery photographic equipment for this summer’s trip.

Neal Newfield said the trip was multi-functional for them – to teach a social work and public health course for Vietnamese and WVU students at An Giang University and to interview people for documentaries about sex trafficking in Cambodia and Thailand for the SACP.

“We went to Cambodia and Bangkok interviewing people on sex trafficking,” said Neal Newfield. “I think Jim Keim’s intent, and my hope as well, is that the documentaries produced are used for multiple purposes. We might use some longer, more academic documentaries at the universities, and there might be others used for more popular outlets to help get discussions going on the issue.”

It was that experience – working with Keim and Newfield – that prompted the two students to go on the six-week trip.

The group visited a brothel in Siem Reap, Cambodia, as part of their fact-finding effort. One side of the night club had a family karaoke bar and behind a door on the other side, 20 to 30 young women sat behind a glass enclosure, called a fish bowl, with numbers pinned to their shirts.

“Men would come in and order a number,” said Montgomery. “Some guy would yell out the number with a microphone, and the girls would come out and leave with the buyer.”

“We paid to talk to a couple of girls at the fish bowl. They looked extremely young, but they all said they were 18. They’re trained to do that.”

Most of the women working in the fish bowl are debt bonded. It is not uncommon for daughters to pay off personal or family debt by serving as a sex worker. In more impoverished areas, young people become sex workers just to provide income for their families, and still others are abducted and forced into prostitution.

Rizzuto and Montgomery say the trip gave them an eye-opening education on how difficult life in other countries can be. Rizzuto recorded many of his experiences on the University’s popular Blogging from Abroad Web site, which can be accessed on the SOJ site at http://journalism.wvu.edu.

“I plan on producing a couple of pieces on different aspects of the trip,” said Rizzuto. “I will focus on the experience as an American in Asia, speaking on issues from a journalistic sense, and on the human-trafficking issue.

Montgomery took more than 1,000 pictures on the trip. “This was my dream – to travel, take pictures and show aspects of the world that aren’t always seen,” she said. A full-page spread in the Aug. 17 The Daily Athenaeum featured some of Montgomery’s photos.

The two students agree it was a personally enriching trip.

“I learned how lucky we happen to be here in the good, old USA,” said Rizzuto. “There are opportunities that exist in the United States that are not present in many rural areas of Southeast Asia. If worst comes to worst, we can get a fast-food job for some cash. We like to complain about how difficult it is here, but we’re lucky to have the luxury of complaining.”

Montgomery added, “I don’t refer to myself as poor anymore. Sometimes I may be broke, but I’m not poor.”

WVU journalism professor tells importance of hands-on training in Quill magazine

Thu, 23 Aug 2007 13:12:00 EST

West Virginia University Perley Isaac Reed School of Journalism assistant professor Bonnie Stewart discusses the importance of real-life reporting experience for students in the latest issue of Quill magazine, one of the premier journals for professional journalists. The article highlights the SOJ’s Hurricane Katrina project and others from around the country.

The piece shows how projects like the School’s “Starting Over: Loss and Renewal in Katrina’s Aftermath” project get students out of the classroom so they can tell the stories of real people. She also reviews the SOJ’s Monroe County Radio Project and other hands-on journalism programs in Pennsylvania, Minnesota and Alabama that emphasize the importance of young journalists learning through field experience.

Stewart’s article, “Preparing Students for the Newsroom,” can be accessed at http://www.spj.org/quill_issue.asp?ref=1212.

“Journalism educators need programs successful at getting students into real field experience,” Stewart said. “Most students want to conduct interviews by e-mail or cell phone and not meet the people to do real-world sourcing the way they should. If we are not giving students these kinds of real-world, immersion experiences, we are failing them.”

The Katrina project began shortly after Hurricane Katrina battered the Gulf Coast in 2005. Some 300 New Orleans evacuees were temporarily housed at Camp Dawson, a military training base in rural Preston County, W.Va.

Over an eight-day period, WVU journalism students recorded, videotaped, photographed and wrote about the evacuees. To showcase their work in a multimedia format, the SOJ launched an award-winning Web site, which can be accessed at http://katrinaproject.journalism.wvu.edu.

The innovative Web site has won several awards, including a Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ) “Mark of Excellence” first-place award for student online reporting and a Broadcast Education Association “Best of Festival” award for faculty production of interactive multimedia.

“Having a place to publish students’ work is very important,” Stewart said. “Once they have invested themselves into the real world, they need to see the results.”

The Monroe County Radio Project takes students to Monroe County, a rural community in the southern part of West Virginia. There, WVU journalism students show high school students and local volunteers how to create news programming for WHFI-FM, a radio station licensed to the Monroe County School Board.

The students help to produce 15-minute daily newscasts, monthly public affairs programming and a Web site with news and streaming video. More information on that project can be found at http://journalism.wvu.edu/SpecialProjects/monroe.htm.

Three new faculty members to join WVU School of Journalism

Mon, 20 Aug 2007 13:19:00 EST

Three new faculty members will join the West Virginia University P.I. Reed School of Journalism (SOJ) this fall, filling the Shott Chair of Journalism, the newly established Harrison/Omnicom Professorship in Advertising and the role of director of Graduate Studies.

Former reporter Toni Locy brings a wealth of national reporting experience to the School as the latest Shott Chair of Journalism. As a 1981SOJ alumna, Locy returns to her alma mater to give back to the school that sent her on the road to success 26 years ago.

Locy has worked for the nation’s biggest and best news organizations, covering beats ranging from the U.S. Supreme Court and the Mafia to state and city government. Beginning her career at the former Pittsburgh Press, Locy later reported for the Philadelphia Daily News, Boston Globe, Washington Post, U.S. News & World Report, USA Today and The Associated Press.

“I am looking forward to sharing my experiences with WVU students with the hope that they will learn to love reporting the news as much as I do,” said Locy.

Locy’s specialty was covering federal courts and law enforcement. Editors at the Boston Globe nominated her for a Pulitzer Prize for a four-part series she reported and wrote on the Boston Police Department’s inability to solve serious crimes. She was one of three reporters at the Washington Post who wrote the first published story about the investigation of President Clinton’s relationship with former White House intern Monica Lewinsky. Locy also was a member of a national investigative team at U.S. News & World Report.

At USA Today, she covered the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attack and its aftermath, including the Bush administration’s policies regarding terrorism suspects held at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba and elsewhere. As an AP reporter, Locy covered the U.S. Supreme Court and national legal issues.

She left the AP in 2006 to attend the University of Pittsburgh’s School of Law, where she was awarded a master’s degree in the studies of constitutional and criminal law in May 2007.

Elizabeth Taylor Quilliam brings her advertising and marketing expertise to the school as the Harrison/Omnicom Professor of Advertising. Quilliam comes from Michigan State University, where she is completing her doctorate degree in mass media from in the department of advertising, public relations and retailing.

At Michigan State, Quilliam was awarded a University Distinguished Fellowship, a Dissertation Completion Fellowship and a Food, Nutrition and Chronic Disease Research Award. The University Distinguished Fellowship is offered by the MSU Graduate School to recognize academic achievement, research goals, demonstrated leadership potential and contribution to a diverse educational community.

Quilliam has been involved in several research projects including programs funded by the National Science Foundation, the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, the American Academy of Advertising and Microsoft. Her research focuses on marketing and social responsibility.

She brings to the classroom more than 20 years of professional experience in strategic communications, primarily in the financial services sector. She has held executive positions and directed award-winning campaigns at national firms, including Equifax Card Services and the New York Cash Exchange ATM and debit card network. As a consultant, her work experience ranges from copywriting to directing promotional campaigns to developing complete marketing programs for start-up technology companies. She received her bachelor’s degree from Oberlin College in Oberlin, Ohio, and her MBA from Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio.

“Being offered the Harrison/Omnicom Professorship is a tremendous honor and the fulfillment of a long-time dream,” said Quilliam. “With the support of the SOJ and Tom Harrison, I will have the opportunity to work in an exciting, innovative educational environment. I look forward to teaching and learning with the students and faculty here.”

Steve Urbanski, also an alumnus of the School of Journalism (1978), will be the new director of graduate studies. An award-winning newspaper design editor and experienced journalism teacher, Urbanski holds his doctorate in rhetoric from Duquesne University. In addition to running the School of Journalism’s on-campus graduate program, Urbanski will teach design and journalism courses.

“I’m excited and honored to have the opportunity to contribute to the journalism school’s continued rise toward excellence,” said Urbanski. “The faculty and staff at the J-School are among the most professional and helpful people I’ve ever worked with.”

A page design editor at the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette since 1993, he has designed feature, sports, news and business pages, as well as special sections for the 240,000-circulation daily. Urbanski has received many regional and national awards for his design work, including most recently, the 2006 Society of Newspaper Design Award of Excellence for Individual Design Portfolio.

Before coming to Pittsburgh, Urbanski worked at several other newspapers, including the Mountain-Statesman in Grafton, W.Va., The Sun Tattler in Hollywood, Fla., the Dallas Times Herald and the Herald Standard in Uniontown, Pa.

He also taught as an adjunct professor for 10 years at Duquesne University and served as advisor to the Duquesne Duke student newspaper since 1999. Under his leadership, the student newspaper won more than 50 regional, state and national awards for design, photography and writing. He also has taught undergraduate and graduate journalism courses at Point Park University in Pittsburgh.

Urbanski is co-author of the article, “What Jayson Blair and Janet Cooke say about the press and the erosion of public trust,” published in 2006 by Journalism Studies. His dissertation topic focused on the development of a free press in the African nation of Benin.

WVU School of Journalism interns 'suited' for success

Wed, 01 Aug 2007 13:24:00 EST

Two West Virginia University School of Journalism students, interning this summer at GolinHarris – one of the nation’s top public relations firms – helped the company become the top contributor in a recent Washington, D.C., business clothing drive for adults re-entering the workforce.

SOJ graduate student Briana Warner of Scott Depot, W.Va, and public relations major Jenna Froess of Erie, Pa., helped to organize GolinHarris’ efforts in the 4th Annual Capitol PurSuit Drive. Both were responsible for communicating with the media and the general public about the drive.

“We spoke with local businesses and vendors in Arlington, Va. to encourage them to not only donate gift certificates for raffle prizes, but also to encourage them and their customers to participate in the event and donate old business attire,” Froess said.

On June 27, Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi and other members of Congress spoke out about the importance of helping people make great first impressions at the clothing drive, which is sponsored by The American League of Lobbyists, Men’s Warehouse, Working Wardrobes and The Hill newspapers.

The drive, designed to benefit local and nationwide non-profit organizations, collected more than 6,600 articles of business clothing, with GolinHarris being the largest contributing body.

“It was amazing to see the thousands of suits and dress pants that were lined up wall to wall,” Warner said. “Just knowing that they were going to people who really needed them was great.”

For the second year in a row, GolinHarris was named the “Best Suited” firm in Washington, D.C., area. GolinHarris collected 506 articles of business attire and more than 200 business accessories, including ties, shoes and belts, surpassing last year’s collection by over 200 items.

Public radio to air veterans' stories produced by WVU Journalism School

Mon, 02 Jul 2007 13:26:00 EST

Hear Charles Brown’s story Tuesday on ‘Aging with Grace and Dignity’

Charles Brown’s first bombing mission in World War II would also be his last. He was shot down over Tokyo in the waning days of the fighting and languished behind bars not as a prisoner of war – but as a terrorist, which is how Japanese authorities viewed him.

Brown lived to tell about it, and the 82-year-old retired attorney from Kingwood told his story to the West Virginia Veterans History Project – which was launched in 2003 by West Virginia University’s P.I. Reed School of Journalism.

You can hear a little of that story by dialing up West Virginia Public Radio on Tuesday (July 3) at 3 p.m. and 9 p.m. An interview segment with Brown will air at those times on the network’s popular “Aging with Grace and Dignity” program. (Visit http://www.wvpubrad.org/aboutus/radiocoverage.asp to find the frequency of the station nearest you).

For the past four years, WVU journalism professor Joel Beeson and his students have compiled stories from the Mountain State’s more than 200,000 veterans who marched off to war in the 20th century.

There are stories of the survivor’s spirit, like Brown’s, and stories of triumph and tenacity among the state’s black veterans – who also fought the enemies of animosity and prejudice leveled by the people who wore the same uniform as they.

Pat Sergent, a producer with West Virginia Public Broadcasting who has worked with Beeson and others on the project, said the experience has been both moving and life-affirming for him – especially Brown’s story.

“Charlie’s story is amazing,” Sergent said. “No one here at home knew if he was alive or dead. He’s even got the program to his own memorial service. He wasn’t treated very well in captivity, yet later in life, he’s made regular trips back to Japan with the Rotary Club. It’s like he’s a goodwill ambassador there now. I think the guys who lived it realize just how futile war is. He’s pretty inspiring.”

Other stories will air this on summer on West Virginia Public Broadcasting radio and television leading up to September’s PBS airing of “The War,” by famed documentary filmmaker Ken Burns.

Visit http://veteranshistory.wvu.edu/ for more on the project.

WVU's 2007 class of Foundation Scholars announced by Gov. Manchin

Wed, 16 May 2007 13:29:00 EST

A select group of West Virginia’s brightest high-school students has been awarded West Virginia University’s most prestigious academic honor – the Foundation Scholarship. The award recognizes the students’ academic achievements and leadership potential and provides a full scholarship to attend the University for four years.

The five scholars were introduced by Gov. Joe Manchin, WVU President David C. Hardesty, Jr. and Chairman of the Board and Interim President and Chief Executive Officer of the WVU Foundation David Hamstead during a Wednesday (May 16) ceremony at the State Capitol.

The Foundation Scholarship, valued in excess of $55,000, provides tuition and fees, room and board, personal expenses and books for four years. As a part of the scholarship the students will receive a $3,500 stipend for academic enhancement, which is commonly used for academic internships, international travel and other advanced learning opportunities.

The members of WVU’s 2007 class of Foundation Scholars are: Jason Bailey of Ripley, Jackson County; Lea Bridi of Beckley, Raleigh County; Kristine (Ann) Bybee-Finley of Hurricane, Putnam County; Louie Olive of Williamson, Mingo County; Marissa Statler of Core, Monongalia County.

“WVU’s Foundation Scholars demonstrate incredible academic ability, tireless commitment to community service and proven leadership ability,” Hardesty said. “We are proud to welcome them into the WVU learning community, which challenges them, opens their minds to new ideas and helps them fulfill their dreams.”

Manchin applauded the five scholars for their achievements and promise with the University.

“As the governor of West Virginia and a proud WVU alumnus, I am pleased to call these students Mountaineers,” Manchin said. “This new class of Foundation Scholars will, no doubt, continue the University’s legacy of turning out graduates who have attained national and international prominence in their fields.”

He further challenged them to utilize the resources provided to them as a result of the Foundation Scholarship.

“I wish these young men and women well during their undergraduate years at one of the nation’s top national land-grant universities. Take advantage of all that WVU offers from studying abroad to conducting research with some of the leading faculty members anywhere. And I hope to see you again in four years ready to take on the world.”

Hamstead added, “The WVU Foundation is proud to be a participant in this distinctive scholarship program, which helps to keep the brightest students in their home state. Raising funds for scholarships is a principle part of the Foundation’s mission. We believe that our donors’ investment in students is, indeed, an investment in the future of our state and nation.”

WVU scholarship programs distribute more than $5 million dollars and benefit more than 3,500 students each year. The Foundation Scholarship is the premiere award of those programs. Since it’s creation in 1987, the Foundation Scholarship has been awarded to 105 of the state’s most academically talented students.

Foundation Scholars are chosen from among the pool of 20 students that receive the Neil S. Bucklew Scholarship. After receiving recognition for winning the Bucklew Scholarship, the students participate in intensive interview sessions, from which five are awarded the Foundation Scholarship. The students must posses a minimum 3.8 grade- point average and achieve a composite score of 30 on the ACT or 1,340 on the SAT college entrance exams.

Profiles on WVU’s 2007 class of Foundation Scholars follow:

Jason Bailey, of Ripley, a senior at Ripley High School, will soon fulfill his dream to study in Europe and develop his interests in international affairs, business and economics as a result of earning a Foundation Scholarship.

Bailey said he decided to attend WVU – primarily because of its outstanding academic reputation and the opportunity to participate in the Study Abroad program.

While at the University, he plans to major in international studies with the ultimate goal of working in Italy or Spain in international diplomacy or as an ambassador. He plans to use his academic stipend to live abroad and further his studies and experience in the field.

He attributes his interest in the field to serving as a student ambassador in the People to People program – an international program that focuses on educational experiences for students and professionals.

“I have prepared for this major through my rigorous academic schedule in high school, including courses in United States government, politics and Spanish, extensive travel as a student ambassador throughout Europe and Australia, and exploring my broad sense of interest in international affairs,” he said.

His hard work during high school has resulted in numerous recognitions, including a position on the National Honor Roll, Advanced Placement (AP) Rising Scholar and serving as president of the Ripley High School National Honor Society. He has also earned his school’s Carlos Hidalgo Award for Outstanding Math Student.

Bailey is also a member of his school’s Varsity Academic Team, which recently came in second place in the AAA state tournaments and will travel to Texas to represent W.Va. in the nationals in June

Bailey is excited about the many opportunities to participate in clubs, student organizations and athletics at WVU. He has played tennis for six years and has been the captain of his high school tennis team for the past two years. He hopes to get involved in intramural tennis at WVU.

In addition, Bailey – an accomplished trumpet player – has been the featured soloist in his high school band and has been accepted into “The Pride of West Virginia,” WVU’s marching band. He has already performed with the WVU Honors Band, All-Area Band and his school’s marching, concert and jazz bands.

In addition to trumpet, Bailey sings in the Concert and Chamber choirs and has performed in the All-State Chamber Choir, All-State Chorus and the West Virginia American Choral Director’s Association All-State Middle School/Junior High Honor Choir.

As president of his church youth group, he coordinates the annual Adopt-A-Family dinner that matches church families with families in need to provide necessities and “wish list” items.

“I gain a sense of accomplishment through the numerous smiles and tears I witness from the families,” Bailey said of the project. “Not only does this (program) help my community of Ripley, but also many of the families have children with whom I attend school.”

He has also volunteered with Big Brother/Big Sister, Relay for Life, the Jackson County Charity Challenge and his high school’s campus cleanup,

When just hanging out with friends, you might find Bailey jamming to the “Guitar Hero” video game, screening the latest James Bond movie or racing the Grand Prix go-karts at the local fun center.

His parents are Chuck Bailey and Barbara LeGue, and he is the second student from Ripley High School to earn the Foundation Scholarship.

Lea Bridi of Beckley will graduate first in her class from Woodrow Wilson High School. She plans to enter WVU’s Perley Isaac Reed School of Journalism and major in the news editorial sequence. She looks forward to completing an internship and someday writing for a major newspaper or magazine.

“The possibility of receiving an internship at a major publication as a WVU student seems very real,” Bridi said. “And the experience of actually participating in the production of such a publication, even as an intern, would be an invaluable way to launch myself into the world of prominent journalism.”

Bridi has gained experience serving as the editor-in-chief for her high school newspaper and also hopes to write for The Daily Athenaeum – WVU’s award-winning student newspaper.

Her academic efforts have paid off with several awards. She has been named to Who’s Who Among American High School Students for four years, is a member of her high school National Honor Society and received the “Top-Of-The-Nest Award” for finishing in the top tier of her class. She was also named Junior Class Marshall and garnered several academic subject awards in language, math and science.

In July of 2005, Bridi participated in flood relief efforts in the Mullens area, and considers those actions her most important community service activity. She and other volunteers worked on the Mullens Opportunity Center – a converted elementary school used to house community programs. They picked up debris and cleaned the site. The team also helped repair several homes in the flood-damaged region.

“The importance of this activity for the residents of Mullens did not lie in the completion of the tasks themselves – this work barely made a dent in the flood devastation,” Bridi said. “The true impact of our visit came from showing that we believed that a difference concerning their plight could be made, and that it was worth our time and theirs to attempt to improve the state of their community.”

Bridi is also active in her church, helping in the nursery and assisting with children’s church.

Not limited to academics, she is also active in several sports including tennis, swimming and track. She also lettered for four years in tennis and cross-country and served as captain of the cross-country team. Most recently, she won her age division in the Tri-State Triathlon.

When asked to describe herself, Bridi said she was “hard-working, unique and determined.”

She explained, “I’m hard working because I compete in varsity sports, and I do well in school. I’m unique because I really don’t follow trends, and I’m determined because I believe you don’t have to be really talented to do well in life – just work hard and be who you want to be. If you decide you want to do something, you can do it if you’re willing to put enough time into it.”

Bridi said earning the Foundation Scholarship rewards her hard work and provides “a nice ending for high school and a great beginning for college.”

Her parents are John and Diane Bridi, and she is the first student from Woodrow Wilson High School to earn the Foundation Scholarship.

Kristine (Ann) Bybee-Finley, of Hurricane, a senior at Hurricane High School, hopes to one day work for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to develop effective cures for diseases caused by poverty or war in third world countries. She will pursue that dream by majoring in biochemistry at WVU and focusing on research opportunities as they pertain to human anatomy.

“My main interest lies in creating more effective ways to treat disease set on by poverty such as malaria, smallpox or polio with their cures prevented by conflict,” she said. “These illnesses have been wiped out in all but third-world countries. They should have been eradicated, but the supplies have not been sustainable or the situations that surround them have been too dire.”

Bybee-Finley said becoming a Foundation Scholar and attending WVU is a “tremendous and prestigious honor” for her and her family.

“I am looking forward to coming in contact with esteemed professors and upperclassmen that will lend their advice,” she said.

Participating in research internships and being involved in active lab facilities are among the most important reasons she chose WVU, Bybee-Finley explained.

Her dedicated studies have paid off with recognition in National Honor Society, Mu Alpha Theta mathematics honor society and as an AP Rising Scholar. She attended the Governor’s Honors Academy and was awarded a full scholarship to attend a Science Technology Engineering Mathematics camp.

Bybee-Finley was also a top 5 finalist in the AAA Geography Challenge and received her school’s Academic Achievement Award with a 4.0 grade-point average over four years.

She spent six weeks in Australia as a Lion’s Club exchange student and has been active in 4-H for 10 years. She enjoys spending time volunteering at nearby Camp Virgil Tate, especially during a summer camp for children with special needs.

“I will never forget the year I took a boy with an attachment disorder under my wing. The whole week we swam, ate and sat at the campfire together,” she said. “On the last day, I received a note from the boy’s mother – who had adopted three other children with special needs – thanking me for helping him out the entire week. I could only be modest imagining the struggles she must go through everyday.”

Her numerous extracurricular activities include being active with the Saint Francis Medical Explorers, Future Scientists, Engineers of America and the Young Democrats of America.

She also played softball in the Hurricane Softball League, was a member of the Ultimate Frisbee Club and participated in the YMCA racquetball league.

In her spare time you might find her reading a science fiction or Jane Austen book, but you won’t catch her watching much television.

Bybee-Finley describes herself as “compassionate, clever and the most ambitious person she knows.”

She expressed admiration for her friend, Claire, and her spirit and determination. Bybee-Finley indicated that while others talk about participating in activities, Claire is all action, faces the world with an optimistic view and tries to improve it.

Her parents are Howard Finley and Kristine Bybee-Finley, and she is the first student from Hurricane High School to earn the Foundation Scholarship.

Louie Olive, of Williamson, a senior at Williamson High School, plans to attend WVU to pursue a degree in biology and attend medical school. He wishes to one day become a psychiatrist or neurologist because of his interest in the human brain.

His ultimate goal is to work towards the elimination of Alzheimer’s disease. After losing his grandmother to the disease, he decided he would like to perform undergraduate medical research in the hopes of finding treatments for degenerative mental diseases.

“Although it is too late for my grandmother, it is not too late for the rest of my family or the rest of the world who could potentially have this disease or others like it,” he said. “I believe this is one of the worst diseases in the world and that more research needs to be done into treatments and possible elimination of it.”

He has decided on a track at WVU that involves both his undergraduate and graduate studies, indicating he likes the ability to go straight into medical school on the same campus as his undergraduate studies. In addition, he enjoys the atmosphere and friendly people in Morgantown.

During high school, Olive participated in Math Field Day, the Governor’s Honors Academy, Student Council, Mountaineer Boy’s State, the Southern West Virginia Coal Fair and Johns Hopkins Center for Talented Youth.

He also expanded his education by taking several advanced placement courses in micro and macro-economics, literature, government and language composition.

Olive has volunteered with the Read Aloud program at Riverside Elementary, and feels it is among his most important community service activities. The program involves high school students traveling to local elementary schools to read books to younger children and engage them in activities to promote good reading habits. Olive feels that, much like younger children look up to star athletes, they can also admire older students in the program and develop and appreciation of reading that will benefit them during their lives.

“When I see the fire light up in a second-grader’s eyes as I read a book I grew up loving, I know that I have instilled a love of reading in him that will benefit his academic career for as long as he continues to learn,” he said. “As I have also been on the listening end of Read Aloud when I was in grade school, I know how exciting it is for the children.”

Olive has also volunteered with Special Olympics, Kiwanis and the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life.

He also plays on his school’s golf team and is the captain of the tennis team. He likes the fact that he can blend academic achievements with sports success.

He has been an active member of 4-H and Boy Scouts of America, earning the rank of Eagle Scout.

Olive said earning the Foundation Scholarship means a great deal to him.

“This justifies all the years of studying and not going out with friends as much as I could have,” he said. “It means a lot – especially to my dad.”

His parents are Sam and Janice Olive. He is the second student from Williamson High School to earn the Foundation Scholarship.

Marissa Statler, of Core, a senior at Clay-Battelle High School, will study broadcast news at WVU and plans to attend law school. Once she earns her degrees, she would like to use her diverse background to be a consultant for television news channels – providing background information and conversation on current issues.

As a Foundation Scholar she is looking forward to taking advantage of opportunities to study abroad while at the University.

“The money provided by the study abroad/educational enhancement stipend would allow me to further my horizons and seize a lifelong dream of experiencing the world by spending a summer continuing my education overseas,” she said. “It is very pertinent to the fields of broadcasting and journalism, my intended majors, to obtain a complete grasp on international connections and relations,” she added. “By studying abroad, I would have the opportunity to forge those associations and further my understanding of global politics and international diplomacy.”

Statler was active in high school participating as treasurer and president of Student Council, captain of the varsity cheerleading team, and captain of the hurdle team for varsity track. She also served as vice president of the French Club and founded a school Pep Club.

She also dances with the Performing Arts Academy on the competition dance team and was named Miss Clay District Fair in 2006.

While attending WVU, she hopes to get involved in the Student Government Association, community-service organizations and the Mountaineer Maniacs because of her love for athletics.

Her numerous honors include: National Honor Society, a Young Writers award, Who’s Who Among American High School students, Who’s Who Among High School Students Athletes Edition, U.S. Achievement Academy and the National Honor Roll. She has also participated in the Governor’s Honors Academy, Math Field Day and Rhododendron Girls State.

She was touched by an experience she had while volunteering with the Make-A-Wish-Foundation to grant the wish – a trip to Disney World – of Megan, a young cancer patient. The entire student body at Clay-Battelle High pulled together to raise funds through bake sales, hat days and other activities. Though they were able to help support Megan’s dream trip to Disneyworld, Statler was saddened to learn of Megan’s eventual passing. She feels the experience was an inspiration.

“Megan was a young girl that lived only a short amount of time, but she created memories that will continue to light the world for generations to come,” she said. “Her life showed me the power that one person can have to make a difference in the world. I hope that I can continue to use that power to have a positive influence on all the people in my life.”

Statler would define herself as outgoing because she enjoys being involved, determined, because she gives 100 percent and expects the best, and loquacious, because she has never met a stranger.

She said earning the Foundation Scholarship is important to her for two reasons: easing the financial burden of college from her parents?and giving something back to them for all that they have done for her.

Her parents are Joseph and Louie Statler, and she is the third student from Clay-Battelle High to earn the Foundation Scholarship.

WVU J-School receives multiple SPJ regional awards

Fri, 27 Apr 2007 13:34:00 EST

West Virginia University P.I. Reed School of Journalism students received five first place awards in the Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ) Region 4 Mark of Excellence Award competition

The School of Journalism’s bi-weekly newscast, “WVU News,” was named the top television newscast in the region, while broadcast news students swept the Television Sports Reporting category, taking all three places in the competition.

The School’s student-produced multimedia website, “Starting Over: Loss and Renewal in Katrina’s Aftermath” took first, second and third places in both the College Online In-Depth Reporting and the College Online News Reporting categories, as well as first and second places in College Online Feature Reporting.

“Our students at the School of Journalism work exceptionally hard to produce top-quality news for their readers and viewers,” said Bonnie Stewart, assistant professor and faculty supervisor for the WVU Chapter of SPJ. “Having their work recognized at the regional level, with some moving on to the national competition, shows how competitive our students are when they enter the job market.”

This year’s competition included more than 3,300 collegiate entries in 39 categories across SPJ’s 12 regions. WVU competes in Region 4, along with schools in Michigan, Ohio and Western Pennsylvania.

The regional winners were awarded certificates April 14 during the Spring Conference held at the Detroit Marriott, Renaissance Center. First place regional winners advance to the national round of judging, which is currently taking place. National winners will be announced in mid May.

Complete List of WVU Winners:

Television Newscast

First Place: P.I. Reed School of Journalism, West Virginia University, “WVU News”

Television General News Reporting *

Third Place: Jackie Cain, West Virginia University, “Miners Cut/Sago”

Television Feature

Third Place: Megan Gillespie, West Virginia University, “Twins’ Disease”

Television Sports Reporting

First Place: Sean Merinar, West Virginia University, “Mickey Furtari Profile”

Second Place: Amanda McCall, West Virginia University, “Pittsnogle Baby”

Third Place: Paul Williams, West Virginia University, “Sports Memories”

Online News Reporting

First Place: Lindsey Anne Fleming, West Virginia University, “From Storm to Surgery”

Second Place: Robert Rizzuto and Sarah Wesson, West Virginia University, “Running on Faith”

Third Place: Jesse Wright, West Virginia University, “Staying for Missy”

Online Feature Reporting

First Place: Justin Weaver, Bobby Rizzuto, Sarah Wesson and Mike Costello, West Virginia University, “Together Again”

Second Place: Justin Weaver and Ivy Guiler, West Virginia University, “Endless Stories”

Online In-Depth Reporting *

First Place: WVU School of Journalism, West Virginia University, “A look inside the race debate”
Second Place: Holly Hildreth, West Virginia University, “The Last to Leave”
Third Place: WVU School of Journalism, West Virginia University, “Journalists Speak/Privacy in the Media”

GolinHarris interns selected for fall and summer

Mon, 23 Apr 2007 13:52:00 EST

Two WVU P.I. Reed School of Journalism students have been selected for the prestigious GolinHarris Mountaineer in DC Internship program for the 2007 summer and fall sessions.

Briana Warner of Scott Depot, W.Va., and Elizabeth Brandt of Hollidaysburg, Pa., will each receive a $2,500 stipend and a weekly salary to work at GolinHarris, one of the world’s leading public relations firms, during the summer and fall semesters, respectively.

GolinHarris’unique internship program provides two public relations students the opportunity to work in Washington, D.C., and receive valuable public relations and marketing experience. The program began in summer 2004.

“The Mountaineer in DC program continues to be one of the School of Journalism’s premier internships,” said Maryanne Reed, Dean of the School of Journalism. “It gives students the opportunity to learn professional skills in one of the top public relations firms in the nation.”

Warner graduated summa cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts degree in English: Media Studies from High Point University (N.C.) in May 2006. She is currently pursuing a Master of Science degree in journalism with a concentration in public relations at the Perley Isaac Reed School of Journalism.

Brandt is a public relations junior with a business minor. She is a member of the National Society of Collegiate Scholars and the Phi Kappa Phi honor society. Brandt is a student employee at WVU Sports Information and News.

“Having top students from WVU working alongside our account teams provides new thinking, energy and enthusiasm for our veteran communicators and public affairs professions,” said Lane Bailey, Regional Managing Director of GolinHarris. “Our interns continue to amaze us and prove that the future of public relations is in great hands.”

Bailey, a Princeton, W.Va., native, and Michael Fulton, a 1979 SOJ graduate and GolinHarris’ executive vice president, worked with the School of Journalism to develop and fund the internship.

GolinHarris is a leading public relations agency offering a distinctive combination of global resources and personalized service in the Americas, Asia Pacific, Europe and the Middle East. Clients include Bristol-Myers Squibb Company, Dow Chemical Company, McDonald’s Corporation, Nintendo of America Inc., Orange, Texas Instruments and Toyota Motor Sales USA, Inc. GolinHarris celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2006, and is proud to have been selected as 2007 Large PR Agency of the Year in the PRWeek Awards, PRWeek Magazine’s 2007 Editors’ Choice and Large Agency of the Year by The Holmes Report. The agency is headquartered in Chicago and is part of the Interpublic Group of Companies (NYSE: IPG). For more information, visit www.golinharris.com or to join GolinHarris’ discussion on the future of public relations, visit www.NextFiftyYears.com.

WVU Journalism students cover Virginia Tech tragedy

Thu, 19 Apr 2007 13:54:00 EST

Three West Virginia University P.I. Reed School of Journalism students are in Blacksburg, Va., this week reporting on the deadly shootings that occurred Monday (April 16) on the campus of Virginia Tech.

Broadcast news seniors Barclay Fuellgraf of Allison Park, Pa., Sean Tinnelly of Morgantown and Justin Van Slyke of Chadds Ford, Pa., drove to the campus to cover the tragedy from a college student’s perspective.

“They approached me Monday morning about going to the Virginia Tech campus,” said broadcast news instructor Gina Martino Dahlia. “They wanted to tell the stories both as college students and as reporters.”

The team, believed to be the only out-of-state news crew on site made up entirely of students, is interviewing students, faculty and community members and attending press conferences and media events.

Since their arrival on the Virginia campus, the students have been providing daily, live, continuous radio broadcasts throughout West Virginia. Fuellgraf has also been featured on Fox News to share her viewpoint as both a college student and a news reporter.

Additional reports will be aired on the School of Journalism’s student-produced news show, “WVU News” and provided to KDKA-TV News (Pittsburgh) through an ongoing partnership.

“The Virginia Tech incident is a terrible tragedy,” said Maryanne Reed, dean of the School of Journalism. “Our hearts go out to the students, parents and the entire community. Our journalism students wanted to document this unfolding story from the students’ perspective and to share those stories with others. Our students have demonstrated their professionalism and their compassion covering what could be the news story of a lifetime.”

Fuellgraf, Tinnelly and VanSlyke plan to stay in Blacksburg through the end of the week.

WVU J-School names winners in $5,000 advertising competition

Tue, 17 Apr 2007 13:58:00 EST

West Virginia University’s P.I. Reed School of Journalism has announced its first-ever IMCY AwardTM Competition winners.

CYK Advertising with students Lauren Colsmann of Morgantown, Morgan Yates of Belle, W.Va., and Michael Kalany of Morgantown was named winner of the $5,000 grand prize.

Finalists in the competition included FAR Advertising with students Bryan Frye of Martinsburg, Jessica Asztalos of West Seneca, N.Y., and Karen Ruffing of Cumberland, Md.

Monday (April 16) in Martin Hall, both teams presented their advertising objectives and strategy for K. Lianna, winner of WVU College of Business and Economics’ 2004 Entrepreneurship Center Business Plan Competition. A panel of judges deliberated for nearly 45 minutes before presenting an oversized check and crystal awards with the IMCY Award logo engraved to the winners.

“We are proud of all the students who participated in this event,” said Maryanne Reed, dean of the School of Journalism. “The finalists demonstrated great professionalism and poise and their potential for success in the professional world.”

K. Lianna is an independent company that designs, manufactures and sells unique handbags that utilize replications of vintage magazines, newspapers and trinkets and feature top-quality leather and hardware. Katherine Harrell, owner of K. Liana, participated in the judging and plans to implement the winning campaign in the following months.

Underwritten by School of Journalism alumni Jim Blair and his wife Marsha and developed by School of Journalism faculty, the IMCY AwardTM Competition provides journalism students with the opportunity to design an Integrated Marketing Communications (IMC) campaign for a real-world client.

WVU Journalism School news magazine wins international award

Mon, 16 Apr 2007 13:57:00 EST

The West Virginia University School of Journalism’s annual alumni news magazine was recently honored by the Columbia Scholastic Press Association’s Gold Circle Awards for 2007.

The 2006 edition of the School’s news magazine received first-place honors in the full-page photo layout category of the annual competition. The layout, “Portraits of Recovery,” features images from the School’s interactive, multimedia website “Starting Over: Loss and Renewal in Katrina’s Aftermath,” which chronicles the stories of Hurricane Katrina survivors evacuated to Camp Dawson (Preston County, W.Va.) in 2005.

The students identified as recipients of the award include 2006 news-editorial graduate Michael Costello (Elkview, W.Va.) and 2006 advertising graduates Neel Goel (Newark, Del.) and Ray Weible (Oak Hill, W.Va.).

“This recognition speaks to the power of teamwork,” said Dana Coester, WVU’s assistant vice president for branding and creative direction and supervisor of the yearly magazine. “I was so proud of the professionalism this visual team demonstrated in creating an elegant and thoughtful design that reflected the sensitivity of the subject matter.”

Since 1925, the Columbia Scholastic Press Association (CSPA) has sponsored annual contests to identify best practices in student writing, editing and publishing.

With 75 categories of entry, the Gold Circle Awards honor the best student reporters, editors, designers, photographers, artists, poets, fiction writers and more. Entries are judged by experienced journalists and educators familiar with student journalism produced in schools and colleges.

“This is a tremendous honor for the School of Journalism and the students,” said Dean Maryanne Reed. “The Gold Circle Awards is the premier competition for student publications from the top journalism programs in the country.”

CPSA is international student press association owned by Columbia University and operated as a program affiliated with its Graduate School of Journalism. The Association offers three major services: annual competitions and awards for members, national and regional conventions and summer workshops, and small-press publishing assistance.

WVU Journalism School to host top advertising executive

Mon, 16 Apr 2007 13:55:00 EST

John Adams, chairman and CEO of The Martin Agency, will visit West Virginia University’s Perley Isaac Reed School of Journalism Wednesday, April 25, through the Advertising Educational Foundation’s “Inside Advertising Speakers Program.”

“We’re thrilled to have someone of Mr. Adams’ stature come to the School of Journalism to share his strategies for developing some of the most popular advertising campaigns in the country today,” said Dean Maryanne Reed.

The Martin Agency represents such brands as UPS, Hanes, Discover Financial, Wal-Mart, BFGoodrich and GEICO.

Adams’ presentation, “Cavemen, Black & White Pictures and Other Glimpses of the Future,” will be at 1:30 p.m. in 205 Martin Hall and is open to the public.

Dr. Sang Lee, assistant professor and advertising sequence chair at the School of Journalism said Adams’ visit is a great opportunity for SOJ students to learn about advertising from “one of the best and hottest creative agencies today.”

Adams has spent over 30 years – his entire advertising career – at The Martin Agency, where has seen it grow from a regional shop to one of national prominence.

Under Adams’ leadership, The Martin Agency became the first advertising agency to be named “Agency of the Year” five times by Adweek magazine, the industry standard. In early 2007, Advertising Age ranked The Martin Agency as one of the Top 10 Agencies in America, placing it at #5.

In 1997, Adams became one of a handful of advertising people to be inducted into the Virginia Communications Hall of Fame. Additionally, he and his partner, Mike Hughes, were named in 2000 as the Outstanding Industrialists of the Year.

WVU School of Journalism hosts high school journalism competition

Tue, 20 Mar 2007 14:05:00 EST

The West Virginia University P.I. Reed School of Journalism hosted its annual High School Journalism Competition March 15-16, bringing more than 140 high school students from across the state and Pennsylvania to Morgantown to compete in live competitions.

Co-sponsored by the West Virginia Press Association, the annual event is designed to provide high school students the opportunity to put their journalistic skills to the test. Students competed in broadcast, writing, photojournalism, and print design events. This year’s competition also included a new advertising competition. Winners included:

Critical Review Writing—Divisions I & II

1st Place: Parker Lawrence, Bridgeport High School (Bridgeport, W.Va.)
2nd Place: Marc Basham, Shady Spring High School (Shady Spring, W.Va.)
3rd Place: Alex Kerns, Parkersburg High School (Parkersburg, W.Va.)

Feature Writing—Division I

1st Place: Alex Kerns, Parkersburg High School (Parkersburg, W.Va.)
2nd Place: Marie Barrett, Richwood High School (Richwood, W.Va.)
3rd Place: Emily Bard, Richwood High School (Richwood, W.Va.)

Feature Writing—Division II

1st Place: Emily Barksdale, Saint Mary’s High School (Saint Mary, W.Va.)
2nd Place: Whitney Simmons, Braxton County High School (Sutton, W.Va.)
3rd Place: Scott Kinard, Bridgeport High School (Bridgeport, W.Va.)

Advertising Competition—Divisions I & II

1st Place Award Only: J. J. Nicholas, Morgantown High School (Morgantown, W.Va.)

Broadcast News Competition—Divisions I & II

1st Place: Michael Gruber, Bridgeport High School (Bridgeport, W.Va.)
2nd Place: Emily Stewart, Greater Latrobe Senior High School (Latrobe, Pa.)
3rd Place: Zachary Kapp, Bridgeport High School (Bridgeport, W.Va.)

Editorial Writing—Divisions I & II

1st Place: Jeffrey Heck, Webster County High School (Upper Glade, W.Va.)
2nd Place: Angela Wiley, Morgantown High School (Morgantown, W.Va.)
3rd Place: Marie Barnett, Richwood High School (Richwood, W.Va.)

Feature Layout & Design—Divisions I & II

1st Place: Alissa Murphy, Bridgeport High School (Bridgeport, W.Va.)
2nd Place: Jessica Watts, Wayne High School (Kenova, W.Va.)
3rd Place: Tiera Floyd, Braxton County High School (Sutton, W.Va.)

Newspaper Layout & Design—Divisions I & II

1st Place: Shea Anderson, Wayne High School (Kenova, W.Va.)
2nd Place: Elizabeth Pamfilis, Parkersburg High School (Parkersburg, W.Va.)
3rd Place: Niki Shreves, Saint Mary’s High School (Saint Mary, W.Va.)

News Writing Competition—Divisions I & II

1st Place: Scott Kinard, Bridgeport High School (Bridgeport, W.Va.)
2nd Place: Michaela Cook, Parkersburg Catholic High School (Parkersburg, W.Va.)
3rd Place: Emily Barksdale, Saint Mary’s High School (Saint Mary, W.Va.)

Sports Writing Competition—Divisions I & II

1st Place: Erin Riordan, Parkersburg Catholic High School (Parkersburg, W.Va.)
2nd Place: Gwynne Johnson, Richwood High School (Richwood, W.Va.)
3rd Place: Ryan Skidmore, Braxton County High School (Sutton, W.Va.)

Photojournalism Competition—Divisions I & II

1st Place: Kendall McCaugherty, Bridgeport High School (Bridgeport, W.Va.)
2nd Place: Dani Fleegle, Saint Mary’s High School (Saint Mary, W.Va.)
3rd Place: Christian Arbogast, Webster County High School (Upper Glade, W.Va.)

WVU journalism school launches new PR minor

Tue, 20 Mar 2007 14:01:00 EST

The West Virginia University Perley Isaac Reed School of Journalism launches its new public relations minor program with classes starting in summer 2007.

Open to all WVU students outside the School of Journalism, the PR minor consists of five courses, all of which are offered online during the summer terms. This flexibility allows students to complete the minor in just two summers without having to come to campus.

In addition, the two lower-division courses can also be taken on campus during the fall and spring semesters.

“There’s been a lot of demand for these kinds of flexible programs for years,” said Ralph Hanson, assistant dean of curriculum and extended learning at the School of Journalism. “After we saw the success of our advertising minor, we decided we had the resources to offer the PR minor, too.”

Designed to enhance any degree program, the PR minor provides students a knowledge base in mass communications and the principles of public relations. The minor also allows students to apply skills in PR writing media relations and public speaking. Upper-level courses focus on strategic campaign planning and integrated marketing communications.

“The PR minor offers students in a wide variety of fields expertise that can make them more marketable when entering the job force,” Hanson said.

Course requirements for the PR minor are listed on the School of Journalism Web site at http://journalism.wvu.edu/. To obtain permission to register for these courses, interested students should e-mail sojexlearning@mail.wvu.edu.

Daily Athenaeum student column picked up by BBC World Service

Mon, 19 Mar 2007 14:03:00 EST

West Virginia University Perley Isaac Reed School of Journalism sophomore David Ryan’s editorial in The Daily Athenaeum received mention on BBC’s “World Update” Monday (March 19).

Ryan, from Duck, W.Va., wrote the editorial, “Four years of war has been more than enough,” in response to the fourth anniversary of the Iraq war, but never expected it to get international attention.

“I have tremendous respect for the BBC and the organization that it is, and it was surreal to hear my words on it,” he said.

Ryan, who has been working at the student newspaper as a columnist since October 2006, said he decided to write the column because he hadn’t heard too many young voices writing about the fourth anniversary of the Iraq war.

Although it is an opinion piece, he says that his editorial doesn’t take sides. Instead, he says he expresses his frustration with both Democratic and Republican leaders and their inability to come to any plausible solutions.

“Now it’s become more than this talking point, it’s become a war, and neither side is doing anything constructive about it,” he said. “They are arguing back and forth, and they aren’t meeting on any common ground.”

After graduation, Ryan hopes to pursue a career with the BBC World Service. Having lived in both England and Australia, he says he feels that European media are more focused on the news than American news.

“The news channels here seem to lack a world news perspective,” he said. “Over there, it seems to be more news than filler and vague entertainment.”

Read the column online at http://www.da.wvu.edu.

Pulitzer Prize winner, Yahoo! News reporter highlight Journalism Week at WVU

Wed, 28 Feb 2007 14:08:00 EST

West Virginia University’s Perley Isaac Reed School of Journalism will welcome a 2006 Pulitzer Prize-winning writer, a Yahoo! News journalist, and Associated Press and independent multimedia journalists for Journalism Week 2007 March 5-9.

“Beyond Convergence: The New Media Landscape” will explore the trends and innovations in journalism and new media and the future of mass communications.

“Journalism is no longer just print and broadcast news. News is being reported and produced across media platforms using multimedia technologies,” said Dean Maryanne Reed. “We want our students, our faculty and the University community to learn from and be inspired by what professionals are doing to reach an increasingly diverse and sophisticated media audience.”

Throughout the week, guest speakers will provide small-group workshops with journalism students and faculty and multimedia presentations open to the public.

Ted Anthony

For most of a century, storytelling in daily journalism operated within a narrow bandwidth. Sure, there were exceptions – dramatic print stories that grabbed the soul, features that revealed the world in unique ways, cameras that brought forth unforgettable images. But in the end, we always had text, photos, text and photos.

No more. In today’s Wild West of Internet-era storytelling, the options are far broader and the opportunities almost endless. Associated Press journalist and editor Ted Anthony, a former national and foreign correspondent who now leads asap – AP’s innovative new multimedia service – talks about his career path (and his stop in West Virginia) and explains why the new-media landscape of the early 21st century is to be embraced, not feared. In the process, he reveals how good journalism can migrate to the Internet without being either dull or shallow.

Anthony’s presentation, “Around the World and Into the Future: Trying to Figure Out a Journalism Career in a Changing Industry,” is set for 7:30 p.m. Monday, March 5, in Room 205 Martin Hall. The event is open, but there is limited seating.

Kevin Sites

Kevin Sites is re-defining journalism for the digital age. As Yahoo!’s first news correspondent, he is spending a year covering every major global conflict for “Kevin Sites in the Hot Zone” on Yahoo! News. One man. One year. A world of conflict.

In his presentation, “SoJo and the Power of Perspective,” Sites will share his experiences as a solo and multimedia journalist and his work for Yahoo! News on “In the Hot Zone.” Sites will explore the current and future trends of multimedia and web-based journalism, how he and other journalists are pushing the boundaries of traditional journalism, and the advantages and challenges faced in doing so.

Sites’ multimedia presentation is at 7:30 pm Tuesday, March 6, in Room 21 White Hall. This presentation is open to the public.

Brian Storm

Storytelling opportunities continue to evolve as a result of technological innovations and an expanding media universe. How can long-form, in-depth visual storytellers satisfy both their journalistic and financial needs in this environment?

Brian Storm, former Multimedia Director for MSNBC.com and now president of MediaStorm – a multimedia production service for publishing, broadcast and corporate clients – will explore how some of the top photojournalists have redefined their storytelling capabilities to include audio reporting and an eye towards publication in multiple media. Their work is capturing acclaim around the world in a time when reader’s attention spans are running short.

Storm’s “Multimedia Storytelling” presentation will be at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, March 7, in Room 205 Martin Hall. The event is open, but there is limited seating.

Jim Sheeler

Since the first Colorado casualty of the War in Iraq, Jim Sheeler has specialized in covering the impact of the war at home for the Rocky Mountain News.

For nearly a year, Sheeler and photographer Todd Heisler followed a Colorado Marine major as he took on the most difficult duty of his career: casualty notification. As the Marine and his comrades kept constant watch over the caskets of the men they never knew, they did their best to comfort the families of the fallen, while choking back tears of their own. The special report resulted in a multimedia report, “Final Salute.”

Sheeler won the 2006 Pulitzer Prize for Feature Writing for his work on “Final Salute”. Through a multimedia presentation, combined with readings from the award- winning package, Sheeler will describe the story behind the story.

His presentation, sponsored by the Ogden Newspapers Seminar Series, will be at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, March 8, in Room G24 Eiesland Hall. This presentation is open to the public.

WVU J-School reporter wins national award

Fri, 23 Feb 2007 14:04:00 EST

West Virginia University P.I. Reed School of Journalism senior Sean Merinar recently won a first place award in the Broadcast Education Association’s annual “Festival of Media Arts” competition.

Merinar, a senior in the broadcast news sequence from Sand Hill, W.Va., placed first in the Broadcast News Sports Reporting Category of the BEA Festival for his profile piece on longtime West Virginia sports writer Mickey Furfari.

The BEA Festival of Media Arts competition is one of the top academic, juried competitions in the country for university faculty and students. The news division continues to attract a large number of entries (242) in the competition.

Merinar will graduate in May with a bachelor’s of science degree in journalism.

WVU School of Journalism to host talk by Yahoo sports columnist Feb. 28

Tue, 20 Feb 2007 14:10:00 EST

Dan Wetzel, national columnist for Yahoo Sports, will speak to West Virginia University journalism students and the public about his experiences as a sports writer at 4 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 28, in 205 Martin Hall on the Downtown Campus.

Wetzel has covered almost every major sporting event, including two Olympics. In addition, he has co-authored four books, including the national bestseller, “Glory Road,” which was turned into a movie by Disney.

Wetzel has been awarded numerous accolades for his writing, both as a columnist and an author. In 2006, he was named “The Best Sports Writer in America” by Salon.com. He has also been cited numerous times by the anthology, “The Best American Sports Writing.”

During his talk at WVU, Wetzel will share his journey as a journalist and book author. He also will discuss what it takes to break into sports journalism.

Wetzel’s visit is being sponsored by the WVU student chapter of Society of Professional Journalists. For more information, contact faculty advisor Bonnie Stewart, 304-293-3505.

WVU PRSSA Joins With Three Organizations To Promote Family Caregiving... it's not all up to you!

Thu, 15 Feb 2007 14:11:00 EST

Bateman Team Develops Campaign for Caregiving Education

West Virginia University’s Public Relations Student Society of America’s Bateman Team is producing a campaign for Family Caregiving?it’s not all up to you!—a public education program for family caregivers.

With over 50 million Americans providing care to older adults, this program will encourage these people to view their role as family caregivers and seek help. Most of these caregivers slack in the other roles they must fulfill throughout the day. By seeking assistance, their life will be more balanced and have less stress.

The mission of Family Caregiving?it’s not all up to you! is “to raise awareness among our nation’s 50 million family caregivers, now and in the future, of their need to self-identify with their role, to get help, to feel better and do better.”

The program has three messages they would like American caregivers to understand. The first is “Caring for a loved one? The biggest health risk might be you.” This message is to show caregivers that in order to do everything to the best of their ability they also must be healthy. The second message is “Trying your hardest and doing your best are two different things.” This message means caring for your loved one to the best of your ability means you can not be tired, stressed, and sick. The third message is “Can you be there for an older parent?without actually being there?” This message is directed toward caregivers who can not always be by their loved one’s side. Through these three messages, the program hopes to reach as many family caregivers as possible.

The National Family Caregivers Association and the National Alliance for Caregiving began Family Caregiving?it’s not all up to you! in 2004. The educational program is sponsored by Eisai Inc., a pharmaceutical company, as a corporate social responsibility program.

WVU J-School Katrina project faculty receive BEA awards

Thu, 15 Feb 2007 14:08:00 EST

A multimedia Web site developed by West Virginia University’s P.I. Reed School of Journalism documenting the stories of those displaced by Hurricane Katrina continues to receive national recognition.

Three SOJ faculty members were awarded a combined “Best of Festival Award” in the Broadcast Education Association’s (BEA) annual Festival of Media Arts competition. They were recognized for their roles in the production of the interactive Web site, “Starting Over: Loss and Renewal in Katrina’s Aftermath,” and its “Dialogues on Race and Poverty” segment.

While portions of the site were reviewed individually in the main competition, judges decided that the “Best of Festival Award” for Faculty Interactive Multimedia should be shared by the three faculty members who co-directed the project: assistant professors Joel Beeson, Dana Coester and Bonnie Stewart.

In addition, Beeson received first-place honors and Stewart an “Award of Excellence” in the Educational sub-category for their individual contributions to the site.

“The Katrina Project represents not only a creative, team-driven, online multi-media presentation, it showcases the in-depth reporting of our students,” said Stewart. “Using writing, audio, videography and photography, the students immersed themselves in the lives of the victims, uncovering details that could have been lost in the storm.”

“Starting Over” (available at http://katrinaproject.journalism.wvu.edu/) follows the stories of Hurricane Katrina survivors who were temporarily relocated to Camp Dawson in Preston County, W.Va. Through photo essays, written stories, multimedia pieces and documentary footage, the site explores the tragic impact of the storm and how those affected are rebuilding their lives.

The BEA Festival of Media Arts competition is the one of the top academic, juried competitions in the country for university faculty and students. The “Best of Festival” is the highest honor awarded within each major category of the competition.

“We are so proud of our faculty and students for this accomplishment,” said Maryanne Reed, dean of the School of Journalism. “This was a labor of love for everyone involved, but it’s a wonderful affirmation to receive this national recognition. The faculty award is also a testament to the quality of the students’ work and their engagement in this meaningful project.”

In 2006, the student-produced site placed as a top-three finalist in the online in-depth reporting category of the Society of Professional Journalists’ national “Mark of Excellence Awards” competition. This followed their first-place honor at the regional level.

The three School of Journalism faculty members will be recognized at BEA’s annual convention in Las Vegas in April 2007.

WVU J-School announces $5,000 competition for advertising students

Tue, 13 Feb 2007 14:13:00 EST

West Virginia University’s P.I. Reed School of Journalism has kicked off its IMCY Award Competition, with a grand prize of $5,000.

“We have known for years that WVU graduates are among the most capable in the world academically,” Jim Blair said. “We are happy to participate in this competitive forum where our best students can fully demonstrate their creativity in a ‘real-life’ environment and get a taste of the thrill of competition that powers the advertising profession.”

This initial pilot program of the competition is open only to current students in the undergraduate advertising program, who can compete individually or in small teams of up to four members for the grand prize.

Competition participants will design their campaigns for K. Liana, winner of WVU College of Business and Economics’ 2004 Entrepreneurship Center Business Plan Competition. K. Liana is an independent company that designs, manufactures and sells unique handbags that utilize replications of vintage magazines, newspapers and trinkets and feature top-quality leather and hardware.

“This is a unique opportunity for our advertising students to put their knowledge and skills to work in a big way, especially since the campaigns they create will be for a live business,” said Sheila Wexler, visiting assistant professor in advertising.

Competitors are required to determine advertising objectives and strategy for K. Liana, including media plans and creative elements of advertising copy and design. Incorporating K. Liana’s logo and overall marketing image, campaigns will include the design of banners, direct mail postcards, catalogue CD cover, magazine ads, Web pages and HTML-based e-mails.

“We’re very excited that our students have this opportunity to develop work for a real-world client,” said Maryanne Reed, Dean of the School of Journalism. “It is this kind of experience that helps build resumes and portfolios and launch careers into a very competitive market. We hope to continue this competition for many years to come and expand it to allow all SOJ students to compete.”

Entries will be judged in late March, and first-round finalists will present their campaigns in mid-April. The IMCY Award winner will be announced in late April and awards will be made at that time.

Katherine Harrell, owner of K. Liana, will participate in the judging and implement the winning campaign in the following months.

WVU J-School to host talk by news correspondent Peter Arnett

Mon, 27 Nov 2006 10:43:00 EST

Pulitzer Prize- and Emmy-winning correspondent Peter Arnett, who has spent a lifetime covering wars and international crises for major American news organizations, will offer his view on the role of the journalist in war and peace when he speaks at West Virginia University at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 29, in Room 205 Martin Hall. The event is open to the public.

As the controversy over the war in Iraq grows, the theme of Arnett’s presentation is “Needed: A Much More Responsive Media”—one that puts the interests of the American public, in peace and war, ahead of partisanship and timidity in the face of political spin masters.

Arnett most recently covered the second Gulf War in 2003. He is best known for his live television coverage from Baghdad during the first Gulf War in 1991. His coverage was credited with making CNN a household name. Millions of viewers tuned in around the world to watch his dramatic accounts of the intense bombing campaign—and his interview with President Saddam Hussein.

Arnett won a television Emmy for his Baghdad coverage to add to his Pulitzer Prize for Vietnam War coverage while with The Associated Press. He covered that war for 13 years for the AP, from the buildup of U.S. military advisers in the early 1960s to the fall of Saigon in 1975.

Arnett wrote more than 3,000 news stories for the AP, mainly eyewitness accounts of major battles between American and North Vietnamese forces. The writer-historian David Halberstam described Arnett as “the best reporter of the whole Vietnam war.” Halberstam wrote, “He is the journalist most respected and beloved by his peers. No one saw more combat and no one would put himself more on the line.”

As the fear of terrorism grew in the 1990s, Arnett kept returning to Afghanistan. He was the first western TV journalist to interview the arch-terrorist, Osama Bin Laden, in 1997.

Arnett’s autobiography, “Live From the Battlefield,” published by Simon & Schuster in 1994, received much critical praise and was named a “Book of the Year” by The New York Times.

Arnett lectures on media issues and international affairs in the United States and abroad and frequently serves as a commentator on television and radio on those subjects. He left CNN in 2000.

Arnett, who lives just outside of Washington, has spent much of his time in Baghdad, writing articles, lecturing and researching a book about the fall of the Baath regime. An excerpt from the upcoming book, about Saddam Hussein’s son, Uday, was featured in the April 2005 issue of Playboy Magazine.

He will begin teaching journalism in China in February.

WVU to host talk tonight on political cartooning in an election year

Mon, 06 Nov 2006 10:45:00 EST

Mike Luckovich, 2006 Pulitzer Prize-winning editorial cartoonist for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, will speak at West Virginia University Thursday, Nov. 9, as part of the P.I. Reed School of Journalism’s Ogden Newspapers Seminar Series.

The visual presentation on political cartooning will be held at 7:30 p.m. in G24 Eiesland Hall on WVU’s Downtown Campus. The event is free and open to the public.

Luckovich’s talk, “Politics in Pictures: Editorial Cartooning in an Election Year,” will draw on his more than 20 years of experience satirizing politicians, celebrities and other newsmakers. Through personal stories and award-winning cartoons, he will offer his perspective on the headline stories during an election year.

A native of Seattle, Luckovich graduated in 1982 from the University of Washington with a degree in political science and landed his first editorial cartooning job with The Greenville News in South Carolina. By 1984, he had moved to the New Orleans Times-Picayune, where he placed as a Pulitzer Prize finalist in 1986.

Luckovich joined the Journal-Constitution in 1989. The following year he was awarded the Overseas Press Club’s “Best Cartoons on Foreign Affairs for 1989.” In 1992, he was named the National Headliner Award winner for editorial cartoonists.

The following year, Luckovich was again named the Overseas Press Club Award winner and in 1994 won the Robert F. Kennedy Journalism Award for cartoons that reflected positively on the disadvantaged. By 1995, he earned his first Pulitzer Prize in editorial cartooning.

This year, 20o6, has been Luckovich’s most prestigious year, having earned his second Pulitzer Prize and the Reuben Award for Outstanding Cartoonist of the Year from the National Cartoonist’s Society. He also won his second National Headliner Award, as well as the Thomas Nast and Sigma Delta Chi awards.

Available online through the Atlanta Constitution-Journal’s website, Luckovich’s work is syndicated nationally through Creators Syndicate in 150 newspapers and reprinted regularly in Time, Newsweek and The New York Times. Considered the most reprinted cartoonist nationally, Luckovich also appears frequently on CNN and has published two books of cartoons.

NYT environment reporter to speak at WVU on media coverage of global warming

Tue, 17 Oct 2006 11:03:00 EST

Andrew Revkin, prize-winning author and New York Times environment reporter, will speak at West Virginia University tonight (Oct. 25) as part of the P.I. Reed School of Journalism’s Harry Bell Lecture Series.

The lecture on media coverage of climate change will be held at 7:30 p.m. in 101 Clark Hall on WVU’s downtown campus. It’s free and open to the public.

Revkin’s talk, “The Daily Planet: Covering Climate Change from the North Pole to the White House,” will draw on his nearly 20 years covering climate science and politics.

Global warming is a breaking story on a century-long time scale, Revkin says, and thus is a bad fit for conventional media, which have tended to alternate between ignoring it and hyping it.

During his talk, Revkin will describe the challenges journalists face covering global environmental problems and his own experiences reporting on climate change.

One of America’s most honored science writers, Revkin has covered subjects ranging from Hurricane Katrina and the Asian tsunami to the assault on the Amazon, from the troubled relationship of science and politics to climate change at the North Pole. He has been reporting on the environment for The New York Times since 1995, a job that has taken him to the Arctic three times in three years.

In addition to his reporting for The Times, Revkin has published books for both adolescent and adult readers. His first book, “The North Pole Was Here: Puzzles and Perils at the Top of the World,” tells the story of the once and future Arctic. “The Burning Season” chronicles the life of Chico Mendes, the slain leader of the movement to save the Amazon rain forest. Both books will be available for purchase and signing after the lecture.

Revkin has served as senior editor of Discover, staff writer for the Los Angeles Times and a senior writer at Science Digest.

He earned his biology degree from Brown University and a master’s degree in journalism at Columbia’s Graduate School of Journalism.

WVU journalism grad student lands job with Associated Press

Fri, 22 Sep 2006 10:49:00 EST

A graduate student at West Virginia University’s P.I. Reed School of Journalism is getting the opportunity to work as a photojournalist for the West Virginia Charleston Bureau of the Associated Press.

Lingbing Hang, an international student from Shanghai, China, began her role as a freelance photographer for the AP in August and already has covered events such as the opening of the Sago Mine Memorial and the anniversary of Hurricane Katrina.

Hang said the AP became interested in her work last year when AP bureau reporter Vicki Smith asked Hang to shoot a photo for one of her stories. At the time, Hang was not allowed to be paid for her work since she is an international student and is already employed as a graduate assistant by the School of Journalism.

This year however, Hang is completing her curricular practical training required of international students. Upon her December graduation, Hang will begin her optional practical training and will remain in the country for one year, gaining additional photojournalism experience.

Throughout the years, Hang has taken hundreds of photographs and witnessed many important events, but some of the projects that are closest to her heart are the ones that she has done at WVU.

“With the multimedia website ‘Starting Over: Loss and Renewal in Katrina’s Aftermath,’ I was able to get hands-on experience covering stories of Hurricane Katrina evacuees in West Virginia. As a coordinator, photographer and multimedia stories editor, this program married my passions of journalism and love for people of this country,” Hang said.

Hang is especially passionate about her contributions to the School of Journalism’s documentary book, “Cancer Stories: Lessons in Love, Loss and Hope,” published in 2004. She said she was able to relate to the individuals featured in the book, since she lost a younger brother to bone cancer four years ago.

Eventually, Hang hopes to work full time for a news organization where she can use her photojournalism and multimedia reporting skills.

WVU journalism professor's blog makes USA Today

Thu, 14 Sep 2006 10:53:00 EST

A WVU journalism professor’s commentary about Facebook was recently cited in USA Today’s weblog, “On Deadline.”

In his Sept. 8 post, “Living in a Media World,” WVU School of Journalism Associate Professor Ralph Hanson responded to Facebook’s decision to implement new privacy controls in their Mini-Feed and News Feed features. The same day, USA Today’s “On Deadline” post, “Facebook does an about-face,” highlighted Hanson’s reaction to the news.

“National attention for my blog in USA Today has several positive consequences. Not only will it help to generate readership from a wider audience but it also will increase the visibility of the topics covered,” Dr. Hanson said.

Hanson’s “Living in a Media World” covers a wide range of mass communication and mass media issues. It can be found at: http://ralphehanson.com/blog/archive_06_09.html#090806_facebook

Since 2004, Hanson has been posting entries analyzing news about the media and the digital environment.

Hanson specializes in news-editorial and the sociology of mass communication. He is a former newspaper reporter with bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Iowa State University, where he majored in anthropology and journalism. He earned his doctorate in sociology from Arizona State University. Before coming to WVU, Hanson was an assistant professor of journalism at Northern Arizona University.

At WVU Hanson teaches such courses as Introduction to Mass Communication, Ethics, and Editorial Page Writing and Orientation. He is also chair of the School of Journalism’s Web-based extended learning program.

Hanson recently published the textbook, “Living in a Media World,” for McGraw-Hill. It is an introduction to mass communication text that examines mass media and mass communication from a liberal studies perspective.

WVU School of Journalism hosts Hurricane Katrina anniversary event

Tue, 22 Aug 2006 10:54:00 EST

West Virginia University Perley Isaac Reed School of Journalism will host an event Tuesday, Aug. 29, commemorating the one-year anniversary of Hurricane Katrina and presenting the school’s updated multimedia Web site that chronicles the stories of Katrina evacuees in West Virginia.

The afternoon event, beginning at 4:30 p.m. in 205 Martin Hall, will highlight the anniversary launch of new content on the student-produced Web site, “Starting Over: Loss and Renewal in Katrina’s Aftermath.”

A team of students and faculty members will provide an overview of the site and present multimedia pieces developed over the past year.

In September 2005, journalism students began documenting stories of Katrina evacuees who were temporarily relocated to Camp Dawson in Preston County, W.Va. In December, students followed some of the evacuees to New Orleans as they returned to their homes for the first time after the storm. Their reporting over the past year resulted in the interactive, multimedia Web site “Starting Over.”

New content added to the site includes updated survivors’ stories, an interactive discussion forum, and personal narratives of evacuees, volunteers, students and faculty. Through photo essays, written stories, multimedia pieces and documentary footage, “Starting Over” shares these stories of survival and hope. Visit the site at http://katrinaproject.journalism.wvu.edu.

“Starting Over” has received national recognition since its inception. The site was named as a top-three finalist in the online in-depth reporting category in the Society of Professional Journalists’ national “Mark of Excellence Awards” 2006 competition.

Students who worked on the award-winning Web site include Justin Weaver, Fairview; Ivy Guiler, Keyser; Lingbing Hang; Michael Costello, Elkview; Casey Cunningham, St. Marys; Drew Epperley, Beckley; Lindsey Fleming, Parkersburg; Barbara Griffin, Morgantown; Amber Miller, Johnstown, Pa.; Tia Morris, Chester; William Jarrett, Morgantown; Robert Rizzuto, Jamestown, N.Y.; Jenny Parsons, Pursglove; Jennifer Simckowitz, Port Jefferson, N.Y.; Sarah Wesson, Augusta; Jeff Wright, Morgantown; and Colleen Wright, Rush N.Y.

For more information about the “Katrina Project,” contact the School of Journalism’s external relations coordinator, Kimberly Brown, at kimberly.brown@mail.wvu.edu or 304-293-3505 ext. 5403.

WVU student photographer's work to appear in New York Times Magazine

Mon, 24 Jul 2006 10:56:00 EST

Billy Wolfe’s subjects typically include student life, campus speakers and Morgantown events, so when a newspaper comes calling for images of students, it’s not that unusual – unless, of course, it’s The New York Times.

One or more of the West Virginia University student’s photos of campus fashion will appear in an education life feature in the Sunday, July 30, issue. Look for the picture of the student sporting gaucho pants outside of the Mountainlair in The New York Times Magazine section.

Times editors sent a media query seeking ideas about campus trends to higher learning institutions in May, and WVU answered the call. Students suggested everything from gauchos and flip-flops to iPods and the latest gaming equipment.

Wolfe – a news-editorial major from Bruceton Mills – was recruited by WVU News and Information Services, the public relations unit of the University, to take photos to accompany the story.

The New York Times requested a student photo journalist for the project, said Public Relations Manager Janey Cink, who was familiar with Wolfe’s work for The Daily Athenaeum, the student newspaper on campus.

“They wanted one of our best,” she added.

“Honestly, I just really want to work for a daily newspaper of a medium size,” said the 22-year-old Wolfe. “Shooting for The New York Times was really above and beyond what I’d expected out of college so I feel really grateful that I got to do that. I was paid, but I would have absolutely done it for free.” To get the best unposed shots, Wolfe spent several days sitting in front of the Mountainlair and at Woodburn Circle, catching students between classes. He also took photos at popular college hangouts on High Street.

Wolfe said a class taught by Joel William Beeson, assistant professor in the Perley Isaac Reed School of Journalism, helped prepare him. For a “cool hunting” assignment, students had to find the most happening trends and then feature them in a studio shoot.

Wolfe describes his photography style as “very journalistic.” He would like to

land a job as a photographer for a daily newspaper in a city about the size of Pittsburgh.

As a step toward his career goals, he joined the DA as a photographer two years ago and was recently promoted to summer photo editor. He has freelanced for the Charleston Daily Mail and also contributed photos to the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, Charleston Gazette, Times West Virginian and the Clarksburg Exponent-Telegram through a journalism bureau class.

Wolfe first became interested in photography as a high school sophomore, taking photos for the University High School yearbook. He said he thrives under the pressure of daily deadlines and has wanted to work at a newspaper since he was a kid.

Some of his favorite shoots have included President Bush’s visit to WVU last July and a freelance job with the Interstitial Cystitis Association, where he got to photograph

Sen. Barbara Boxer, D-Calif., and Sen. Rick Santorum, R-Pa.

“The ICA had patients come along to talk to their representatives, and so I got to actually go to these senators’ and house members’ offices and meet them and photograph them,” he said. “That was really cool.”

WVU J-School Katrina project a finalist in national competition

Wed, 12 Jul 2006 11:00:00 EST

A multimedia website put together by a team of West Virginia University P.I. Reed School of Journalism students placed in the top three of a national student journalism competition.

“Starting Over: Loss and Renewal in Katrina’s Aftermath,” a website that documents the stories of Hurricane Katrina evacuees, was named one of three finalists in the online in-depth reporting category in the Society of Professional Journalists’ (SPJ) national “Mark of Excellence Awards” competition.

“Starting Over” follows the stories of hurricane survivors who were temporarily relocated to Camp Dawson in Preston County, W.Va. Through photo essays, written stories, multimedia pieces and documentary footage, the site explores how those displaced by Katrina are coping with the tragic impact of the storm and rebuilding their lives.

Students also traveled to New Orleans last December to document the return of several evacuees to their damaged homes. Efforts are under way to update the site with new content in time for a formal re-launch of the project on the first anniversary of Hurricane Katrina. To follow these stories, visit http://katrinaproject.journalism.wvu.edu/.

Students who worked on the award-winning website include Justin Weaver, Fairview; Ivy Guiler, Keyser; Lingbing Hang; Michael Costello, Elkview; Casey Cunningham, St. Marys; Drew Epperley, Beckley; Lindsey Fleming, Parkersburg; Barbara Griffin, Morgantown; Amber Miller, Johnstown, Pa.; Tia Morris, Chester; William Jarrett, Morgantown; Robert Rizzuto, Jamestown, N.Y.; Jenny Parsons, Pursglove; Jennifer Simckowitz, Port Jefferson, N.Y.; Sarah Wesson, Augusta; Jeff Wright, Morgantown; and Colleen Wright, Rush N.Y.

The national award was preceded by a first place honor at the SPJ’s Region 4 competition, which drew entries from West Virginia, Ohio, Michigan and parts of Pennsylvania. Journalism School students also won three additional first place awards at the regional competition for best radio feature, best online feature reporting and best feature writing.

National winners and finalists will be recognized during the 2006 SPJ Convention & National Journalism Conference in Chicago, August 24 –27.

Reed receives radio grant

Tue, 04 Jul 2006 11:02:00 EST

The WVU P.I. Reed School of Journalism will receive up to $17,000 in New Voices funding to create a news operation at a rural Monroe County radio station.

The Monroe County Radio Project will create regular news programming at WHFI-FM, a radio station licensed to the Monroe County School Board. Journalism students and faculty will train student and adult volunteer reporters to report and produce local news stories for a 15-minute daily newscast, monthly public affairs programming and a Web site with news and streaming audio.
“This project is a wonderful service-learning opportunity for our students,” said School of Journalism Dean Maryanne Reed, who wrote the winning grant proposal. “In the age of media consolidation, small communities are often overlooked by corporate radio. With the New Voices funding, our students will help Monroe County residents tell their own story.”

The proposal, one of 10 selected from 185 applicants, will be funded by J-Lab: The Institute for Interactive Journalism, sponsored by the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation.

“New Voices has found another batch of winners: scrappy, innovative, diverse citizen journalists who are inventing new ways to generate information and ideas for their communities,” said New Voices Advisory Board member Peter Levine, director of CIRCLE at the University of Maryland. “The techniques and models they are creating will help to renew American democracy.”

The WVU School of Journalism will receive $12,000 in the first year to start up the project. The school will then be eligible for $5,000 in follow-up grants next year if it successfully launches its project and supplies matching funding.

J-Lab helps news organizations and citizens use new media technologies to create fresh ways for people to participate in public life. It also administers the Knight-Batten Awards for Innovations in Journalism and the J-Learning.org Web site.

J-School Alumni Living in Pittsburgh

Sat, 03 Jun 2006 12:56:00 EST

Tired of being surrounded by Pitt fans? Looking for some fellow Mountaineers?

Check out the Greater Pittsburgh chapter of the WVU Alumni Association!

Join us for happy hour socials, game watching parties, Pirates & Pens games, and so much more!

If you’re interested in networking with other WVU alum, log onto www.wvu-eers.org for more information. Membership is free for new graduates.

USA TODAY correspondent shares life lessons

Sat, 03 Jun 2006 11:07:00 EST

A White House correspondent for USA TODAY said May graduates should remember three key lessons he learned long ago: politicians are people too, always be fair and be civil and respectful.
“I hope you take them with you as you head into your careers,” Richard Benedetto told the students and their families. “Your futures are bright. West Virginia University has prepared you well.”

Benedetto has reported on government and politics on the local, state and national levels for the past 35 years. His memoir of his long reporting career, “Politicians Are People, Too,” was published in April 2006 by University Press of America. He combined family stories and stories from years as a White House correspondent to drive home his three major lessons for the day, which are also reflected in his book.

“I have written many words over the long course of my 35 years as a report. Maybe millions,” he said. “But the most important words I remember are not those I have written, but words spoken to me by my parents and grandparents, teachers and college professors and some very wise editors I worked for early in my career.”

Benedetto said students should remember that journalists should “not all be Pollyannas and look at the world through rose-colored glasses,” but provide balance and a fuller picture and stop being cynical.

Benedetto also said that journalists should always be fair and remember that their reputation is everything.

And the most important lesson Benedetto learned was from his grandfather, an Italian immigrant with little formal education. His grandfather taught him to respect politicians and others.

“Civility at all times… As a reporter, you can disagree, without begin rude. You can be critical, without being discourteous. You can be tough, without being boorish. You can point out wrongdoing, without being snide or nasty and without seeming to revel in the fate that might befall a politician in trouble.”

A native of Utica, N.Y., Benedetto began his journalism career with the Buffalo, (N.Y.) Evening News, and held government reporting positions with the Utica (N.Y.) Daily Press and Observer-Dispatch. He also worked in the Albany, N.Y., bureau of Gannett News Service, covering state government/politics during the Gov. Hugh Carey administration.

He is a founding member of USA TODAY, joining the newspaper in Washington, D.C., in 1982, prior to its debut. He wrote the paper’s first front-page cover story on its initial day of publication. USA TODAY is now the nation’s largest-selling newspaper.

In addition to reporting on the White House and national politics, he writes a weekly political column for the Gannett News Service which serves the Gannett Co. Inc.’s 91 daily newspapers. The column also appears on the USATODAY.com website.

He has covered the administrations of Ronald Reagan, George H.W. Bush, Bill Clinton and now George W. Bush. He also has covered every presidential campaign since 1984.

Benedetto received his bachelor’s from Utica College of Syracuse University and holds an master’s in Journalism from Syracuse University’s Newhouse School of Public Communication. Syracuse University awarded him an honorary doctorate in 1992.

Benedetto has lectured at colleges and universities across the country and has received numerous journalism awards. He was honored in 1998 with the National Italian-American Foundation Media Award for his projection of a positive image for Italian-Americans.

Benedetto Speech

Thank you all very much. Dean Reed, thank you. Members of the Perley Isaac Reed School of Journalism faculty and administration, distinguished guests, parents, friends, family, and most important – the Class of 2006 – thank you for the warm welcome to this great university. I am honored to be here. And I am thankful that after listening to thousands of political speeches over my long career, it is now my turn to speak.
But I almost didn’t make it. I spent last night at Bent Willie’s and it was tough getting up this afternoon.

I want to thank the mothers and fathers of the graduates for the sacrifices you have made and the love you have shown to your children. I want to thank the faculty for your hard work and dedication. And I want to congratulate the Class of 2006 for getting the job done.

Now, I would like to borrow a few words from a commencement speech President Bush made last week at Oklahoma State University. I won’t try to do the Texas accent – too tough for a kid from Upstate New York. But he said, and I quote:

“Some of you are graduating with honors that involved much sacrifice and achievement. Others perhaps spent a little less time in the library and more time at Bent Willie’s. For all of you, I bring a message of great hope: There is life after English Comp. Someday, you’ll appreciate what you’ve learned here, you’ll make your teachers proud. I know the professors who taught me English – (now remember this is Bush speaking) – marvel at my way of words.”

The president went on to say in his Oklahoma State speech, “The last few months before graduation are busy ones. Amid all the excitement, there’s one thing that probably eluded a few of you: You haven’t had time to find a job. I speak for your parents when I say: Now is the time to start looking. Some good news for you: The job market for college graduates is the best it’s been in years. This economy of ours is strong and so you’ll have more jobs to choose from than previous classes, and your starting salaries will be higher. And the opportunities beyond are only limited by the size of your dreams.”

Now we will go back to my words. The president is right. Despite pockets of high unemployment and sky-high gas prices, the economy is basically sound. It is especially so for college graduates like yourselves with the skills to fill the jobs this early part of the 21st Century offers.

I have written many words over the long course of my 35 years as a reporter. Maybe millions . But the most important words I remember are not those I have written, but words spoken to me by my parents and grandparents, teachers and college professors and some very wise editors I worked for early in my career. Those editors I learned under did not have a political agenda to advance. They didn’t want to scare readers and viewers into thinking the world was about to end. And they did not want to tear down people in power. Their goal was to report the news fully and fairly and help make me the best and most honest reporter I could be. Sadly editors like that are a shrinking breed, and reporters coming up in the business are all the poorer for it.

But there is hope. It lies in you. If some of you get to be managers as you go out into the world of mass media, remember that you are role models and mentors to those in your charge. Reporters, ad writers, producers and publicists, I don’t care how skilled they are, are only as good as the managers who are willing and able to make them.

Now comes my time for shameless promotion. I have written a book – “Politicians Are People, Too” – which has just been released. It is a memoir of my 35-year reporting career, spanning the spectrum of covering political figures from mayors and town council members to governors, presidents and heads of state throughout the world. But to me, the most important part of the book is not the anecdotes I recount about meeting with and reporting on Ronald Reagan, Bill and Hillary Clinton, the two Bushes and some celebrities such as Paul Newman and Frank Sinatra, but the lessons I learned along the way – lesions I want to pass along to aspiring journalists, broadcasters and media magnates like yourselves.

The first lesson is the book’s title – Politicians are people too.

If you are going to be a reporter of government and politics, you had better like politicians as a class. If you don’t, you will never be able to report on them fairly. Besides, what a dreary job it would be if you had to go out every day and meet and record the actions of people you don’t like. Certainly, there are bad politicians out there who deserved to be exposed. There are some bad journalists out there, too. Indeed, part of your job as a journalist is to act as a watchdog on government and point out when things go wrong. But another part of your job as a journalist is to present the public with information – fairly and fully – so readers and viewers can get a broad picture of what is happening – not just the one that you want to give them. That means, it is just as important to report on politicians who do things right as it is to expose politicians who do things wrong. Otherwise, the public gets an unclear picture of its government – i.e. they think it is totally incompetent or corrupt, and that all politicians are bums. If you have that view – let me tell you from the perspective of reporting on politics and politicians for 35 years – it is wrong. That inaccurate views stems from too many negative stories about government and few positive ones. That is a problem in our business today. We don’t report much good news on government and politics. There’s an old adage that says, bad news sells. I don’t buy it. I think there is a hunger out there among the public for some good news, too. I know because of the response I get from readers when I write something positive. I am not saying we should all be Pollyannas and look at the world though rose-colored glasses, I am saying that we need a little more balance to provide the fuller picture. And we need to stop being cynical about politics.

The second lesson is fairness.

Politicians don’t expect you to write only favorable stories about them. They would like it, but they don’t expect it. They have been around the block a few times and they know that taking their lumps in the media is part of the game, a big part of the game. What makes politicians angry, and causes them to slam the door in your face when you come to call, is a feeling that you have not treated them or reported about them fairly. As aspiring journalists, you should know that your reputation is everything. Don’t pull punches, but treat politicians fairly. Get their side of the story. Put the story into context. And when you are reporting the words of critics that are unusually harsh, always make sure those criticisms are on the record with names attached to them. It is not the journalist’s job to allow anonymous sources to take shots without standing behind them.

Don’t get me wrong. Anonymous sources are important. At their best, they are used to help bring to light things public officials might be hiding and the public needs to know. But at the same time, reporters should never lose sight of the fact that the reason why we perform that watchdog function is not to tear governments down and undermine public confidence in them. It is to point out wrongdoing so that that it can be corrected and governments can work better. The goal is better government, not another notch in the gunslinging reporter’s belt.

Also under the heading of fairness, comes an important lesson I learned from an editor I encountered early in my career. He said to me, “Remember one thing: Every name you type into your story has a real, live person attached to it.” It was a simple, but startling concept. Of course the names are attached to real people. But in our eagerness to get the story into print, we see those names as just words, and fail to consider how the persons and their families will react to what we say about them, especially if we are connecting them to wrongdoing, or holding them up for ridicule for mistakes. My editor was not saying I should go easy on them. He was saying that if I was going to be reporting something negative about a person, I had better be sure it needs saying, that it is correct and that the person has been offered a chance to defend himself or herself. That’s all. Be fair. It won’t ruin the story. It will be the truth.

A third and final lesson is civility and respect.

My grandfather, an Italian immigrant with little formal education, but a man as wise and as smart as any I have known, taught me to have respect for politicians. He came to this country at age 13, and a few years later joined the U.S. Army and fought and earned the Purple Heart in France during World War I. One Saturday afternoon back in 1952, when I was 10 years old, I was returning home from the matinee at the neighborhood movie house. I stopped at my grandfather’s flower shop to excitedly report on the cowboy movies I saw. But before I got to offering a summary of the films, I had a burning question to ask. I was puzzled by the scattered booing that broke out in the movie audience when the newsreel flashed the image of President Harry Truman on the screen. At 10 years old, I knew nothing about politics. I knew that Truman was the president and that the presidency was a very important office, and that’s about all. So I asked my grandfather why people booed President Truman. He stiffened, as if I had slapped him in the face, pulled himself to his full height and turned to me. He jerked his right arm straight out and menacingly pointed his index finger toward my nose.

“You didn’t boo, did you?” he asked in a loud angry voice

Shocked and a little frightened, I took one step back and timidly answered, “N-n-n-no.”
“Good!” he replied, still thrusting that finger toward me. “You Don’t Boo The President of the United States!” He said it slowly, emphasizing each word with a downward stroke of his arm, as if he was driving a large nail into a hard piece of wood.

At the time, I took him literally. You don’t boo the president of the United States. It’s against the rules. Period. And I didn’t. But over time, I realized that what he was really saying was that as a citizen you should have respect for the office of the presidency, or any other high elective office, even if you don’t like the job the occupant is doing. More than 50 years ago, he was instructing me that there is a certain level of dignity and restraint you should use when being critical. Civility at all times. Anything less, he was telling me, was demeaning to our system. He was right. As a reporter, you can disagree without being rude. You can be critical, without being discourteous. You can be tough, without being boorish. You can point out wrongdoing, without being snide or nasty and without seeming to revel in the fate that might befall a politician in trouble

I wish my grandfather had lived to see me cover the White House and the office of president of the United States. I have criticized those presidents I have covered, but I never booed them – openly or in print.

So there you have my three lessons – politicians are people too – fairness – civility and respect. I hope you take them with you as you head into your careers. Your futures are bright. West Virginia University has prepared you well. Congratulations on your great achievement and may the blessings of God go with you.

GolinHarris interns selected for summer and fall

Sat, 03 Jun 2006 11:03:00 EST

Two WVU P.I. Reed School of Journalism students have been selected for the prestigious GolinHarris Mountaineer in DC Internship program for the summer and fall.

Stephanie Bostaph from Erie, Pa., and Alison Zemanski of Toledo, Ohio, will receive a $2,500 stipend and a weekly salary to work at GolinHarris, one of the world’s leading public relations firms, during the summer and fall semesters, respectively.

GolinHarris unique internship program provides two public relations students the opportunity to work in Washington, D.C., and receive valuable public relations and marketing experience before graduating from college. The program began in summer 2004.

“The GolinHarris Mountaineer in DC Internship program is our premiere privately-sponsored public relations internship,” said SOJ Dean Maryanne Reed. “Students gain valuable hands-on experience working for a top public relations firm in major metropolitan area, which will give them an edge in highly competitive field.”

Bostaph is a public relations major and is an active member of the Public Relations Student Society of America, serving as the WVU chapter’s historian and helping with fund raising activities. Bostaph is in the university honors program and serves as a resident assistant at Bennett Tower, where she oversees 50 freshmen and plans educational activities.

Zemanski graduated from the School of Journalism in December with an undergraduate degree in public relations. She is currently enrolled in the school’s totally online Integrated Marketing Communications master’s degree program. She was a university volleyball player for four years and a member of the National Society of Collegiate Scholars and National Exemplary Scholars in Service.

“The relationship we enjoy with WVU’s School of Journalism brings us considerable talent and enthusiasm,” said Lane Bailey, regional managing director of GolinHarris’ Washington , D.C. office and global director of public affairs for the company. “Our partnership with WVU is an important investment in our company and in the future of our profession.”

Bailey, a Princeton, W.Va., native, as well as Mike Fulton, a 1979 SOJ graduate and GolinHarris’ executive vice president, worked with the school to develop and fund the internship.

GolinHarris is a leading public relations agency, offering a distinctive combination of global resources and world-class expertise in the Americas, Asia Pacific, Europe and the Middle East. Clients include Bristol-Myers Squibb Co., McDonald’s Corp., Nintendo of America Inc., Texas Instruments and Toyota Motor Sales USA, Inc.

This year, GolinHarris celebrates 50 years of commitment to its clients, its values and its employees. The agency is headquartered in Chicago and is part of the Interpublic Group of Companies.

WV High School Journalism Competition winners announced

Thu, 06 Apr 2006 13:09:00 EST

The WVU P.I. Reed School of Journalism hosted its annual West Virginia High School Journalism Competition April 6 and 7, bringing more than 100 high school students from across the state to Morgantown to compete in live competitions.

Students competed in broadcast, writing, design and photojournalism competitions. The event is co-sponsored by the West Virginia Press Association. Winners in the competitions were announced at the April 7 awards luncheon and are listed below.

Broadcast News
Divisions I & II
First Place: Chad Gruber, Bridgeport
Second Place: Nick Sellas, Bridgeport
Third Place: Emily Mullin, Greater Latrobe

Critical Review
Division I
First Place: Tegan Lucchetti, Greater Latrobe
Second Place: Emily Mullin, Greater Latrobe
Third Place: Nicholas Rader, Richwood

Division II
First Place: Jessica McClure, St. Marys
Second Place: Parker Lawrence, Bridgeport
Third Place: Marc Basham, Shady

Editorial Writing
Division I
First Place: Cecily Wu, Morgantown
Second Place: Angela Wiley, Morgantown
Third Place: Katherine Schmidt, Morgantown

Division II *
First Place: Brian Warman, Shady
Second Place: Matt Hough, Shady
Third Place: Colin Thorn, Braxton

Feature Writing
Division I
First Place: Liz Pamfilis, Parkersburg
Second Place: Cecily Wu, Morgantown
Third Place: Eric Thomas, Richwood

Division II
First Place: Emily Barksdale, St. Marys
Second Place: Matt Hough, Shady
Third Place: Blair Ellison, Shady

News Writing
Division I
First Place: Susan Lace, Greater Latrobe
Second Place: Emily Stewart, Greater Latrobe
Third Place: Alix Kunkle, Greater Labtrobe

Division II
First Place: Mary Plymale, Braxton
Second Place: Emily Barksdale, St. Marys
Third Place: Amber Dubberke, Bridgeport

Photojournalism
Division I & II
First Place: Kendall McCaughtery, Bridgeport
Second Place: Kayla Jett, Robert C. Byrd
Third Place: Erin Graziani, Morgantown

Sports Writing
Division I
First Place: Geoff Reinhardt, Parkersburg
Second Place: Jared Ramsey, Morgantown
Third Place: Michael Berrebi, Morgantown

Division II
First Place: Amanda Fischer, Bridgeport
Second Place: Jeremy Sheppard, Bridgeport
Third Place: Maria Given, Braxton

Layout/Design
Division I & II
First Place: Kayla Queen, Wayne
Second Place: Zachary Roberts, Wayne
Third Place: Zeb Nottingham, Braxton

Newspaper Layout/Design
Division I
First Place: Liz Pamfilis, Parkersburg
Second Place: Jon Fields, Parkersburg
Third Place: Geoff Reinhardt, Parkersburg

Division II*
First Place: Elyse Pierson, Braxton
Second Place: Maria Given, Braxton
Third Place: Rachel Cochenour, Wayne

SPJ selling alumni T-shirts for good cause

Mon, 03 Apr 2006 13:00:00 EST

The WVU Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists are selling T-shirts to support an educational trip to Washington, D.C., in April and to support the club’s other activities.

Shirts come in small, medium, large and x-large and are $10. They are 100 percent cotton and feature the schools name on the left lapel. Shipping costs an extra $4.25.

To order, please contact Assistant Professor Bonnie Stewart at bonnie.stewart@mail.wvu.edu or call her at 304-293-3505 , ext. 5417.

Students hired to work for ABC covering Sago Mine disaster

Fri, 03 Mar 2006 13:05:00 EST

Two WVU P.I. Reed School of Journalism students were hired as freelance producers for Good Morning America and ABC and asked to coordinate coverage of the Sago Mine disaster for two days this week.

ABC News hired undergraduate broadcast student Justin Weaver and graduate student Ivy Smith Guiler to find and interview mine disaster victims’ family members and to provide the network information on the condition of the sole surviving miner, who was treated at West Virginia University’s Ruby Memorial Hospital.

Assistant Professor Bonnie Stewart accompanied Weaver to Upshur County and served as a faculty mentor. Stewart worked as an investigative reporter before coming to WVU this fall to teach public affairs reporting and other upper-level writing courses.

Stewart has been nationally and regionally recognized for her reporting. In 2001, she and a colleague earned a George Polk Award for metropolitan reporting and the National Society of Professional Journalists Award.

Weaver said the experience was invaluable. He helped coordinate interviews for the network and provided information to the New York City base concerning events and after effects of the mining disaster.

“The terrible mine tragedy that occurred in Tallmansville hit very close to home for me because my father is a coal miner and events such as this are always in the back of my mind. When I received a call from Good Morning America asking me to provide ground assistance, I was more than eager to participate, not only because I study journalism but I wanted to help tell the stories of this disaster correctly and respectfully.”

Weaver worked one-on-one with producers from Good Morning America and other ABC family members such as 20/20 and World News Tonight.

“I was able to test my knowledge and skills in this professional arena, ” he said. “I walked away from this event with fresh insight of the internal workings of a national network and this knowledge will assist me with my future endeavors in journalism.”

Guiler covered a press conference at Ruby Memorial Hospital for ABC, coordinated a camera crew and worked directly with producers from New York.

“It showed me another side of broadcasting that I had never experienced and probably wouldn’t have gotten to experience this soon in my career,” Guiler said. “I also learned how to operate on 20 minutes of sleep in two days.”

J-School students retrace steps of Hurricane Katrina victims in New Orleans

Wed, 01 Mar 2006 13:06:00 EST

Three students and a faculty member retraced the harrowing evacuation of Hurricane Katrina victims now living in Morgantown during their recent trip to New Orleans.

Undergraduate student Justin Weaver, graduate students Ivy Smith Guiler and Lingbing Hang and Assistant Professor Bonnie Stewart traveled to New Orleans from Dec. 9- Dec. 17 to cover the return of one couple to see what was left of their flooded home.

New Orleans couple Greg and Glenda Avery, who settled in Morgantown after Hurricane Katrina, asked friends to stuff their most precious belongings into a pile in front of their home so looters would think it was just junk, said Stewart.

“We interviewed people living in houses full of mold because they didn’t know where to get help,” Stewart said.

West Virginia University Perley Isaac Reed School of Journalism students and faculty launched an interactive, multimedia website devoted to documenting the stories of Hurricane Katrina evacuees, like the Avery’s, who sought refuge at Preston County’s Camp Dawson and are now living in West Virginia in early December.

The project marks a first for the school and puts its students on the cutting-edge of web development, multimedia and convergence journalism. The site is located at http://katrinaproject.journalism.wvu.edu/.

The web site, “Starting Over: Loss and Renewal in Katrina’s Aftermath,” includes photo essays, written stories, multimedia pieces and documentary footage. The pieces explore how the victims of the late August hurricane are coping with tragedy and beginning new lives more than a thousand miles from home.

The Avery’s and the students’ trip to New Orleans will be documented on the site in the coming weeks.

C-SPAN covers Sago Mine Disaster panel

Mon, 13 Feb 2006 13:07:00 EST

Reporters from CNN, CBS, USA Today, the New York Daily News and the Charleston Gazette examined media coverage of the Sago Mine Disaster that killed 12 miners and resulted in one of the most controversial media accounts of the 21st century.

“Searching for a Miracle: Media Coverage of the Sago Mine Disaster” was held at 7:30 p.m. Monday, Feb. 13 in the Mountainlair Ballroom on WVU’s downtown campus. The event was open to the public.

The event, coordinated by the WVU Perley Isaac Reed School of Journalism and sponsored by the university’s prestigious Festival of Ideas, covered the challenges faced by journalists covering the story, the lessons they learned and the role that 24-hour news coverage may have played in one of the biggest media faux paus of the century.

Panelists includes CNN’s Randi Kaye; CBS’ Sharyn Alfonsi and Mike Solmsen; USA Today’s Mark Memmott; the Charleston Gazette’s Scott Finn; and the New York Daily News’ Derek Rose. Kelly McBride, the Poynter Institute’s ethics faculty member, will moderate the panel, which was covered in its entirety by C-SPAN cable network and will be rebroadcast.

“The Sago Mine Disaster was a tragedy that hit close to home for us at West Virginia University because of our close proximity to the disaster. As journalism educators, it also provided us with a unique opportunity to teach our students about the challenges of covering crises in a 24-hour news cycle,” said Interim Dean Maryanne Reed. “We were proud to host this debate and felt it was our responsibility to help lead this national discussion.”

On Jan. 2, 2006, an explosion in the Sago Mine in Tallmansville, W.Va., trapped 13 miners and began a two-day rescue mission to find and save them. Newspapers, radio and television reported just before midnight on Jan. 3 that 12 of the 13 miners had survived. National news broadcasters documented the families’ euphoria. Newspaper headlines throughout the country sang out in large black letter on their front pages the next morning that all 12 miners had survived.

In the end, only one miner, 27-year-old Randal McCloy Jr., lived, and the Sago explosion became the worst mining disaster in the U.S. since a 2001 explosion in Alabama killed 13 and the worst in West Virginia since the 1968 Farmington Mine disaster in Marion County took 78 lives.

But for three hours, family members, the media and the country believed there had been another “miracle” in the minds, much like the July 2002 rescue of nine miners from the flooded Quecreek Mine in Somerset County, Pa.

When the news of the miners’ deaths came at 3 a.m., family members were shocked and angered, and a nation questioned why they were told the miners were alive. Some newspapers and radio and television stations apologized, while others said they reported what they were told.

WVU J-Week features award-winning correspondent, journalism experts

Mon, 06 Feb 2006 13:08:00 EST

The West Virginia University P.I. Reed School of Journalism’s annual celebration of the best and brightest in modern media featured national award-winning Newsweek correspondent Michael Isikoff as its keynote speaker during Journalism Week 2006, March 20-24.

Isikoff’s speech, sponsored by the Ogden Newspapers Seminar Series, focused on “The Perils and Pitfalls of Confidential Sources: An Investigative Reporter’s Perspective.” The March 20 presentation was held in WVU’s Eiesland Hall.

“We’re very grateful to the Nutting family for supporting this lecture series.” said School of Journalism Dean Maryanne Reed . “Thanks to their support, we’re able to bring to WVU Michael Isikoff, of the top investigative journalists in the world.”

Isikoff joined Newsweek as an investigative correspondent in June 1994. He has written extensively on the U.S. government’s war on terrorism, the Abu Ghraib scandal, campaign-finance and congressional ethics abuses, presidential politics and other national issues, including the Monica Lewinsky scandal.

Isikoff is also the co-author of the weekly online Web column “Terror Watch,” which won the 2005 award from the Society of Professional Journalists for best investigative reporting online. The column repeatedly breaks major stories and sheds light on important trends, making “Terror Watch” a must read for senior U.S. intelligence officials, congressional staffers and other media organizations.

“Michael Isikoff is an inspiration for young journalists coming of age in the post-911 world.” Reed said. “His reporting on national security, the military and terrorism is keeping the nation informed about the most important issues of our time.”

The Gruine Robinson Lectureship for Journalism allowed the School to also host during Journalism Week 2006 News Director Mark Casey; Downtown Partners Chicago President Ray Gillette; Creative Director/Art Director Steve Montgomery; Congressional Quarterly Deputy Editor for Social Policy Maureen Conners; Photographer Linda Troeller; and Eugene Cottilli, with the Bureau of Industry and Security’s Office of Congressional and Public Affairs.

Mark Casey spoke to television reporting classes and visited with students on March 20.

For the past four years, Casey’s Phoenix newsroom has been on the leading edge of Gannett Broadcasting’s multimedia efforts, first in convergence initiatives with co-owned newspaper The Arizona Republic and most recently in product development for their joint website azcentral.com. Additionally, he’s supervised several citizen journalism projects covering youth violence, education and immigration.

Casey was named news director at KPNX-TV in May of 1999. Prior to joining Gannett, he was vice president of news for FOX-owned WBRC-TV in Birmingham, Ala. He has worked in broadcast news for over 30 years in a variety of positions on-air and behind the camera. Casey’s newsrooms have won numerous awards, excelling in breaking news and continuing coverage categories. He’s led news teams that were named Best News Operation in both North Carolina and Ohio by the Associated Press and won regional Edward R. Murrow awards. As executive producer at WSOC-TV in Charlotte, Casey was part of a team that won a national AP and a National Headliner award for its coverage of Hurricane Hugo.

Ray Gillette spoke to an advertising copy editing class and visited with students on March 22.

Following two years in the Army, Gillette began his advertising career as an account manager at McDonald & Little Advertising in Atlanta, Ga. He joined DDB Chicago in 1978 and infused a results-oriented vision to all DDB Chicago teams. He worked on DDB’s largest accounts ranging from Busch Beer and State Farm to Discover Card and Qwest Communications. In addition, Gillette was a visionary in integrated marketing, bringing its benefits to DDB clients long before it became standard industry practice. He was appointed President of DDB Chicago, DDB Worldwide’s largest office, in 2000.

In 2004, to take advantage of Gillette’s entrepreneurial spirit and love of building new business, Gillette was named President of Downtown Partners, an independent agency owned by Omnicom.

Steve Montgomery addressed an advertising copy editing class and chatted with students on March 22.

Montgomery has won every major advertising award, including Clios, On Show pencils, D&AD pencils, Cannes Lions and Athenas. The bulk of his career was sent at the creatively renowned agency Scali McCabe Sloves in New York .

His creative mentors at the agency are both inducted into the Advertising Hall of Fame. His work on Volvo has won every creative award in the industry. He has worked on numerous other national accounts and has owned his own ad agency. He currently teaches ad design at Syracuse University . Montgomery is still an active art director and is uncompromising in his commitment to doing great work. He is a 1971 WVU graduate.

Maureen Conners was the guest speaker on March 23 for public affairs reporting and editorial/critical writing classes.

Conners has been deputy editor of social policy for Congressional Quarterly in Washington since June 2004. She went to CQ from the Baltimore Sun, where she served for eight years in various positions, including assistant bureau chief for the Howard County bureau and copy editor on the metro, national and foreign desks. Before that, she was a copy editor at the Orlando Sentinel for six years.

Conners also worked as a copy editor and freelance writer at the Charleston Gazette, and as a reporter and photographer and at the Evening/Weekend Journal in Martinsburg. She is a 1982 graduate of WVU and has a degree in broadcast journalism. She also worked during most of her college tenure as a writer and photographer at The Daily Athenaeum.

Linda Troeller was on campus March 24 meeting with photography and advertising students.

Troeller received her bachelor’s in journalism from WVU and a master’s in communications and MFA in photography from Syracuse University .

Canadian filmmaker Jeff McKay is shooting “Linda Troeller: A Portrait,” due out in 2007, focusing on her new book project on the Chelsea Hotel, along with interviews with her curators and publishers.

Troeller won Pictures of the Year, 1st Place Pictorial for “Jacuzzi, Calistoga Hot Springs, California,” later published in her book “Healing Waters, Aperture.” She was awarded Woman of the Year for her photo-collage exhibition on stigma, TB-AIDS DIARY.

She is a member of editorial photo agencies Zuma, Los Angelas and Grazia Neri, Italy . This year Agence Vu, France, will publish never before seen “Healing Waters”photographs on its Web site as part of its 20th Anniversary.

Eugene Cottilli spoke to a public relations case studies class and visited with students on March 23.

Cottilli serves as a media and congressional liaison with the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security. He also serves as spokesperson for the Bureau, which advances U.S. national security, foreign policy and economic objectives by ensuring an effective export control and treaty compliance system and promoting continued U.S. strategic technology leadership.

Prior to his service at the Commerce Department, he was press secretary to U. S. Senator Howard M. Metzenbaum of Ohio . He was the sports editor and a news anchor at the West Virginia Radio Network (Mountainet) and the sports director at WCLG Radio in Morgantown before his work on Capitol Hill. He is a WVU P.I. Reed School of Journalism graduate.

Pulitzer-prize winning journalist shared expertise, experience with students, public

Sun, 15 Jan 2006 13:10:00 EST

Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and nationally acclaimed author, Rick Bragg, spoke to WVU P.I. Reed School of Journalism students and the public at 7:30 p.m. Jan. 31 in Room 459 of the WVU Business & Economics Building.

Bragg served as the 2006 Clark Family Emery “Pete” Sasser Lecturer in Journalism. The series honors former WVU P.I. Reed School of Journalism Dean Emery L. “Pete” Sasser, who served the school from 1989 to 1994.

Bragg’s speech was entitled “Writing Memoir: Narrative Nonfiction in the Foothills of Appalachia.”

Bragg is known best in West Virginia for writing “I Am a Soldier Too: The Jessica Lynch Story.” Private First Class Jessica Lynch’s capture and rescue in 2003 during the war in Iraq captured the attention and captivated the emotions of millions of Americans.

Bragg is also the author of the critically acclaimed and best-selling “All Over but the Shoutin’” and a Pulitzer Prize-winning former national correspondent for the New York Times. He says he learned to tell stories by listening to the masters – the people of the foothills of the Appalachians.

Bragg was born in Alabama, grew up there, and worked at several newspapers before joining the New York Times in 1994. He covered the murder and unrest in Haiti while a metro reporter there, then wrote about the Oklahoma City bombing, the Jonesboro killings, the Susan Smith trial and more as a national correspondent based in Atlanta. He later became Miami Bureau Chief for the Times just in time for Elian Gonzalez’s arrival and the international battle for the little boy.

He has twice won the prestigious American Society of Newspaper Editors’ Distinguished Writing Award, and more than 50 writing awards in his 20-year career. In 1992, he was awarded a Nieman Fellowship at Harvard University.

He has taught writing in colleges and in newsrooms, currently teaching at the University of Alabama.

“We were honored to have a journalist of Rick Bragg’s stature come speak to students in the School of Journalism. Rick is a world-class writer and storyteller with an ear for dialogue and an eye for detail,” said Interim Dean Maryanne Reed. “Like Pete Sasser, he has traveled far but never lost touch with his southern roots.”

The lectureship honors former SOJ Dean Sasser, who died June 25, 1995. The Tom Clark Family established the Emery L. “Pete” Sasser Lectureship in Journalism in his memory.

Students and scholarships were especially important to Sasser, and during his tenure, he significantly increased student scholarship funds. Sasser was described by former WVU School of Journalism Dean Guy H. Stewart as an outgoing, sociable person who had “a very fine standing with his fellow journalism professionals, not only in the state but nationally.”