JSchool::News

JSchool students attend NY Times workshop (Scripps Notes)

Tue, 16 Apr 2013 07:00:00 +0200

By Kate Hiller

On the 15th floor of a New York City skyscraper, there is an entire wall dedicated to Pulitzer Prize winners and their stories, conference rooms named after war correspondents killed on the job, and a room simply labeled “ideas.”

On April 12, 2013, approximately 100 collegiate journalists from across the country converged for advice and anecdotes about working as professional journalists.

“You’re hungry – and I really love that about you.”

With these words spoken, Janet Elder, Assistant Managing Editor for the New York Times, began her speech at the 2013 Student Editors’ Workshop at the Times building in Manhattan.

This year marked the 5th annual conference for collegiate newspaper editors whose schools participate in the New York Times Newspaper Readership Program. Sophomores Lindsay Friedman and Jim Ryan flew to New York City last weekend to represent Ohio University.

___

“Find the right environment.”

“Take the time to take a class on shorthand, or develop your own.”

“Learn the language of your beat.”

“Use every sense – that’s what makes the reporting come alive.”

Advice was offered to students from various speakers. Among the most notable were media columnist and culture reporter David Carr and religion beat reporter Laurie Goodstein.

Carr’s 30-minute speech was about social media and branding oneself online.

“You’ve gotta make sure you use Twitter, and that it doesn’t use you,” he said. “It’s a thing, not the thing.”

Carr also stressed the importance of respecting and representing the organization.

“Even though I swear a lot in real life, I don’t swear a lot of Twitter because I work at The New York Times,” he said. “There are not many rules at The New York Times – (but) the fundamental rule is that you compose yourself like you work for The New York Times.”

Goodstein’s speech concentrated on the value of reporting, which she explained by parodying a bible verse (1 Corinthians 13:13):

“And now these three remain: writing, editing, and reporting. But the greatest of these is reporting.”

Reporting, she added, is where the real value is in journalism. It is what leaves a mark on the world.

The staff at The New York Times is the same size as it was 10 years ago, even with the modernization of the newsroom, Elder said.

“It’s soon to be your time,” she said. “It’s soon to be in your hands. Let’s see what you can do.”

Michel Du Cille Speaks at Schuneman Symposium (Scripps Unscripted)

Mon, 04 Mar 2013 19:11:40 +0100

By Chelsea Amato On Tuesday, February 26, Michel Du Cille was one of the six speakers that spoke at the Schuneman Symposium, which was hosted to celebrate the E.W Scripps Schools’ 90th birthday.… Read More →

By Chelsea Amato

Michel du Cille

On Tuesday, February 26, Michel Du Cille was one of the six speakers that spoke at the Schuneman Symposium, which was hosted to celebrate the E.W Scripps Schools’ 90th birthday. Michel du Cille is an associate editor at the The Washington Post. Born in Jamaica, he began his career in photojournalism while in high school working at The Gainesville (Ga.) Times. Du Cille became a member of the Miami Herald’s photography staff in 1981 after internships at the Louisville Courier Journal/Times in 1979 and The Miami Herald in 1980. He received a Bachelor of Arts in journalism from Indiana University School of Journalism and holds a Master of Science degree in journalism from the E.W. Scripps School of Journalism at Ohio University.

As an introduction, Du Cille began the presentation humbly talking about his work and his different projects that won him three Pulitzer Prizes. One of the things that stood out most about his presentation was that he did not want to boast about his work. Instead, he wanted to introduce it to give the audience some insight into his life but did not want to come off like he was bragging. Du Cille shared his first Pulitzer Prize, in spot news photography, with fellow Miami Herald staff photographer Carol Guzy on coverage of the November 1985 eruption of Colombia’s Nevado Del Ruiz volcano, which caused a massive mudslide killing an estimated 25,000 people. In 1988, he was awarded a second Pulitzer, in feature photography, for his photo essay on crack cocaine addicts in a Miami housing project. He went into detail with the audience about how he wanted to portray how it was not just one specific race that was involved in the crack cocaine outbreak in Miami, Florida, but people of all nationalities were having their lives ruined by this drug and the lifestyle they were caught up in. He said he would spend about two to three days at a time taking on location taking the photos, then he would spend the following day or two composing his work, he would do this until he felt his piece was finished. Du Cille won his third Pulitzer Prize in April 2008; where he shared the Pulitzer Prize for Public Service with writers Anne Hull and Dana Priest of The Washington Post. The series exposed mistreatment of wounded veterans in the Army including at Walter Reed Army Medical Center. The work evoked a national outcry, producing reforms by federal officials.

After introducing his powerful and breathtaking work to the audience, he began to talk about how “media is always changing.” One of the most powerful quotes of the presentation from Du Cille was when he told the audience, “Newspapers aren’t dying! They are adapting.” As an employee at The Washington Post, he discussed how the newspapers and media outlets are just experiencing too much change in a short amount of time. As technology becomes more advanced by the day, media outlets are having trouble keeping up with the high demand.

Du Cille reassured the audience, “I don’t think the print newspaper is ever going to completely go away.” He ended the presentation by advising the audience, “We have to go back to basics, that is what its all about.” In addition to going back to basics, Du Cille stressed that we have to tell the truth, check the facts and make sure we are accurate and fair. The presentation was extremely uplifting and rewarding. It was an amazing experience for everyone involved in celebrating the 90th birthday of the E.W. Scripps School of Journalism and the fifth annual Schuneman Symposium.

Keith Jenkins: More Than Just the “Photo Guy” (Scripps Unscripted)

Mon, 04 Mar 2013 19:05:26 +0100

By Kate Schroeder For most of his career, NPR’s Senior Supervising Producer for Multimedia, Keith Jenkins, has always been known as the “photo guy”. His resume is extensive. He is acclaimed for his… Read More →

By Kate Schroeder

Keith Jenkins

For most of his career, NPR’s Senior Supervising Producer for Multimedia, Keith Jenkins, has always been known as the “photo guy”. His resume is extensive. He is acclaimed for his photography and is a Pulitzer Prize winner for his work on a series on the Walter Reed Army Medical Center while working for The Washington Post.

Even with such an influence on the world of photography, if Jenkins were to choose between telling a story with audio or with a photo, he would choose audio.

“[Audio] is where we all come from,” Jenkins said. “Story telling is a part of our DNA.”

Story telling in its most raw form is what Jenkins focused on for 80 minutes during his presentation at the Schuneman Symposium on Photojournalism and New Media on Tuesday, Feb. 26.

Instead of lecturing, Jenkins invited his audience to join him in a “listening party” where he presented multiple pieces of audio and multimedia stories. He showed when pairing audio with a visual image, it opens up the world around the subject of the story instead of just a visual alone. Or as he described, “It’s about developing a visual identity using audio.”

Some may call this pairing of audio with visuals ‘multimedia’ or ‘new media’. To Jenkins, those are two phrases he despises. According to Jenkins, this kind of story telling has always been around as he showed in the pairing of audio clips and visual images taken by Susan Marcellus, a 20^th Century photojournalist.

“This isn’t new. This is journalism,” Jenkins said. “This is an effort to give us the world around the subject.”

If there is one thing that could be taken away from Jenkins presentation, was his emphasis bringing multiple media together to allow the audience to enter the world surrounding the subject.

“Giving a piece of the environment is not good enough anymore,” Jenkins said. “If there is one thing we can bring into the world its context. It is the envelope that surrounds the story.”

14 students to study in Leipzig this summer (Scripps Unscripted)

Mon, 04 Mar 2013 18:20:05 +0100

By Lauren Chemas Every year, Ohio University students get the opportunity to travel to Leipzig, Germany and attend the University of Leipzig through a partnership between the two universities that has lasted 20… Read More →

By Lauren Chemas

Every year, Ohio University students get the opportunity to travel to Leipzig, Germany and attend the University of Leipzig through a partnership between the two universities that has lasted 20 years. 14 students were selected to travel to Germany this summer with the E.W. Scripps School of Journalism.

Amanda Breedlove, a sophomore studying journalism, is excited for the trip saying, “I hope to gain a different perspective of my area of study. I’m excited to work with students at the University of Leipzig that are also studying journalism.”

Last year, Stephanie Gort, a junior strategic communications major, had the opportunity to study in Leipzig and felt like she grew from the experience. She enjoyed the fact that she was able to immerse herself in a brand new culture and recommends this program to everyone.

“The Leipzig trip definitely made me into a more well-rounded journalism student because I was able to experience the journalism world from an international perspective, one I couldn’t have experienced in the classroom,” said Gort.

During their stay in Germany, the students have time to do many things outside of the classroom such as shopping, sightseeing and canoeing in the canals. Kevin Grieves, assistant professor in the journalism school and a director of the Leipzig program, will travel to Germany with the students. He is fluent in German and familiar with the area of Leipzig. Although most students will not be fluent in German, they will be guided by program directors such as Grieves and will pick up terms along the way that will be useful during their time there.

The partnership between the E.W. Scripps School of Journalism and the University of Leipzig creates a wonderful opportunity for Ohio University students to build relationships and connect with German students in order to gain a new perspective on journalism and culture.

A panoramic view of Leipzig, Germany
Photo by Stephanie Gort

Kainaz Amaria and Meghan Louttit share their work, stories (Scripps Unscripted)

Sat, 02 Mar 2013 19:58:43 +0100

By Deena Benkey This year’s Schuneman Symposium theme was “Excellence: Why it (still) matters” and focused on Photojournalism and New Media. Ohio University was fortunate enough to bring six talented individuals to the… Read More →

By Deena Benkey

This year’s Schuneman Symposium theme was “Excellence: Why it (still) matters” and focused on Photojournalism and New Media. Ohio University was fortunate enough to bring six talented individuals to the university to present to students. Two multimedia producers, Kainaz Amaria and Meghan Louttit, presented together as the last event of the day. Their presentation was “ Grasping for Excellence on the Front Line” at the Baker Center Theater. They were later joined by Lustgarten, Jenkins, and du Cille for a round table discussion.

Kainaz Amaria

Kainaz Amaria is a multimedia producer and trainer at NPR. Before joining the staff of NPR, she was a freelance photojournalist in Mumbai, India. Meghan Louttit works at The New York Times as a multimedia producer, as well as the web producer for the investigations desk. The start of the presentation began with Visiting Professor Andy Alexander giving a brief introduction about Amaria and Louttit and noting them as “rising stars in digital media.”

Amaria presented first and thanked Ohio University for having her by saying she was “honored, humbled and it’s dope to be here today.” Amaria studied international relations and political science at Boston University and notes she had “no clue what she wanted to do after graduation.” She found herself, as she describes, “young, broke, and curious” and adventured her way to London with five hundred dollars and a few friends. She stayed in London for two years until she moved back to California and told her parents her aspirations of becoming a photojournalist.

At the start of her career, Amaria worked at a few small local newspapers. She enjoyed her work and called herself a “visual storyteller.” She expressed that she had learned so much about different cultures and communities in that period of time and that she finds people inextricably interesting and amazing. Amaria stated that she loved telling other people’s stories while working with the small newspapers, but knew very little of her own story and culture.

She then began to tell her story to all of us. Amaria had moved from Bombay, India when she was three years old to begin what her family viewed as their “American Dream.” She was born into the Zoroastrian faith, and was known as a “Parse.” Her religion as she described was based on “good thoughts, good words and good deeds.” This move from India to America gave Amaria a heightened awareness of her past and she became interested in her religion and culture.

Amaria wanted set out to document the present form of what her community is today, only accounting for 69,000 people in India and 25,000 people throughout the rest of the world. “India tested my self of purpose, my values, and core,” Amaria stated during her presentation and credited it with making her a better person and stronger journalist. After spending time in India, Amaria joined NPR where she works with the multimedia team. Since joining NPR, she credits the company with helping her to increase her collective visual voice. She finished her presentation by sharing that her job is all about “the story, the journalism, the story telling, the love” and to always “smile harder.”

Meghan Louttit

Meghan Louttit presented after Amaria and was the final presentation in this year’s Schuneman Symposium. She currently works for The New York Times as a multimedia producer and web producer for the investigations desk. Louttit expressed that she is still “in awe of working at The New York Times and of the people around me.”

Previously, Louttit has worked as a community reporter for The Washington Post. She is a graduate of Ohio University’s E.W. Scripps School of Journalism and touched upon how Speakeasy Magazine made its debut during her time here and was the start of many things for her. Louttit expressed that she had always known what she wanted to do with her life since the age of three. She states, “I always wanted to tell stories, be the observer and then tell what I see.”

Much of Louttit’s presentation focused on a skill that she learned and currently uses in the industry: coding. She said that she uses coding as an everyday part of her job and that it is a valuable technique to capture and retain for the future. The audience was also shown a projects that Louttit worked on at The New York Times like “Touch of Evil” and ”Snow Fall.”

Louttit ended her presentation by sharing that her job mostly consisted of custom templates, codes and lots of manual time, things that many journalists should become accustomed to. She finished with the following advice: “Don’t be afraid to try new things, don’t be afraid to ask questions and don’t be afraid to innovate because you think it will kill journalism. Journalism is not going die because we will not stop telling stories.”

ProPublica’s Abrahm Lustgarten discusses fracking at Smitty 13 (Scripps Unscripted)

Sat, 02 Mar 2013 19:15:39 +0100

By Meredith Broadwater At ProPublica, Abrahm Lustgarten writes about hydraulic fracturing, also known as fracking. He has won many awards and has written two books: “China’s Great Train: Beijing’s Drive West and the… Read More →

ProPublica’s Abrahm Lustgarten

By Meredith Broadwater

At ProPublica, Abrahm Lustgarten writes about hydraulic fracturing, also known as fracking. He has won many awards and has written two books: “China’s Great Train: Beijing’s Drive West and the Campaign to Remake Tibet” and “Run to Failure: BP and the Making of the Deepwater Horizon Disaster.” Lustgarten’s documentary, “Frontline,” was Emmy-nominated, exemplifying how significant his work in his industry is.

Lustgarten is passionate about fracking, which is why he talked extensively on the topic at the 2013 Schuneman Symposium on Tuesday, Feb. 26.

“My interests are really in water and in the environment, and so when I came to ProPubilca I set out to blend all of these topics together,” Lustgarten said.

Lustgarten has traveled to many places studying the process of fracking. Most recently, he went to North Dakota to investigate the fracking that is taking place there.

“My hope has always been to inform the debate, to push government to regulatory agencies, to ask the right questions, to contribute to the discussion, to help people make the best decisions that they can about what to do with their land and how to get their energy.”

Abrahm Lustgarten is devoting his time to helping people get clean energy and continues to meet with many people in order to understand why a greater push for clean energy isn’t already happening.

The main argument to be taken away from his presentation is that media outlets are important. “This is where media has an important role to play. History shows us that drilling industries spur by three things that force change: excessive costs, imposition of regulation, and a major catastrophe or an embarrassment.”

Gwen Ifill serves as keynote for Schuneman Symposium (Scripps Unscripted)

Sat, 02 Mar 2013 19:01:33 +0100

Gwen Ifill

On February 25, Gwen Ifill was introduced to a packed Baker Ballroom as “one of the classiest journalists around” by Visiting Professor Andy Alexander. Ifill is the moderator and managing editor of “Washington Week” and senior correspondent for the “PBS NewsHour.” Her credentials and her presentation about why journalism is not dead lived up to this introduction and were a great way to commence the fifth annual Schuneman Symposium.

“I am deeply grateful to get to be a journalist [in America],” said Ifill. “I live in a country where the first amendment provides a cloak, but also a responsibility.”

Ifill shared with the attendees some key points about what this responsibility entails. She stressed that journalists are the “go-betweens.” Their job is to pay attention when the public and politicians are not, to provide information and then to allow people to make their own conclusions. A journalist’s job is to listen, even if the answer to the question is unexpected or not what they agree with on a personal level.

“It’s important to listen, especially if you disagree,” Ifill said. “When the questions get harder to answer and the answers get harder to take, we have to keep asking.”

Despite everything she sees in her work as an esteemed journalist, Ifill says she remains “skeptical not cynical, hopeful not despairing.” She refuted the death of journalism by saying, ”Journalism is alive when we put events in context, when we explain the how and why.”

In addition to her current work with PBS, she has covered six presidential campaigns and moderated two vice presidential debates. Ifill is also the best-selling author of “The Breakthrough: Politics and Race in the Age of Obama” (Doubleday, 2009).

Before coming to PBS in 1999, she was the chief congressional and political correspondent for NBC News, White House correspondent for The New York Times and a local and national political reporter for The Washington Post. Ifill’s work as a journalist has been honored by the Radio and Television News Directors Association, Harvard’s Joan Shorenstein Center, Ebony Magazine and Boston’s Ford Hall Forum. She holds more than 20 honorary doctorates, is a fellow with the American Academy of Sciences and serves on the boards of News Literacy Project and the Committee to Protect Journalists.

Dr. Stewart, director of the E.W. Scripps School of Journalism, also awarded Ifill with the Carr Van Anda award to add to her list of achievements. This award recognizes outstanding work by journalists throughout their careers.

“I imagine I’m doing my small part of saving journalism for the next generation,” said Ifill. “I am very conscious of the image that I set for young journalists.”

Gwen Ifill speaks at the 2013 Schuneman Symposium

Dr. Stewart presents Ifill with the Carr Van Anda award

What is the Scripps Innovation Challenge? (Scripps Unscripted)

Fri, 01 Mar 2013 04:29:43 +0100

Written by E.W. Scripps School of Journalism ImPRessions Associate, Deena Benkley The definition of innovation is much more than what’s listed in the dictionary. Yes, innovation is stated as a new method, idea,… Read More →

Written by E.W. Scripps School of Journalism ImPRessions Associate, Deena Benkley

The definition of innovation is much more than what’s listed in the dictionary. Yes, innovation is stated as a new method, idea, or product. This type of new invention, however, may be collaborated with new technologies and platforms using various tools and applications. It raises the opportunity to think out of the box and win up to ten thousand dollars.

Managed by the Scripps College of Communication, Ohio University is offering their first year of the Scripps Innovation Challenge. This competition prospered from a three million dollar endowment for media innovation from the Scripps Howard Foundation. The Innovation Challenge stimulates students to compete and solve innovative problems in the media industry that have been posted by different companies, organizations, and professionals. Many of these companies are searching for innovative solutions on how to gain expansion with their audience and revenue. All current Ohio University students, regardless of major, can compete for this challenge either individually or in teams. The Scripps Innovation Challenge is calling for intellectual, creative gurus to work, create a high quality solution, and go the extra mile to bring it to life!

This competition incorporates all aspects of social media that can be presented in a new platform. These companies are looking for new ideas that their company can grow from. This may include principles of gaming, geo-based media, interactive design, informational graphic, etc. that the young, professional contenders concoct. Marisa Dockum, Director of the Promotional Team, leading a team of eight, proclaimed, “The challenge is open to all Ohio University students. The challenges are posted by media companies who have not already thought of an innovative solutions. This challenge encourages all majors including engineering, business, finance, art, educations, and more to participate because an outside perspective or an outside mind is needed.”

A fellow teammate of Dockum, Cidnye Weimer, expresses, “Being a part of the Scripps Innovation Challenge has been a challenging yet rewarding experience at the same time. Since this is the first year, it has been somewhat hard to promote and get the word out there just because students haven’t really heard of it or don’t know what it is. Our job as the promotional team was to create and implement a marketing plan and decide how to target the school. Most of our promotions have been putting fliers all over campus as well as speaking in classrooms. Other things we have done have been hosting Q & A sessions, creating a Facebook and Twitter accounts and trying to spread awareness through Baker Slides, Coffee Sleeves and Avalanche Pizza boxes. 90% of the promotion of this event comes from our marketing team so this event really relies heavily on us, otherwise people will not participate and attend.”

There are 20 different challenges for prospects to compete. Better yet, there is no limit to how many challenges you can submit. Students may enter an idea; however, their idea should be as fully developed as possible. Each challenge addresses different deliverables that the participant is asked to solve. Some of the companies participating in the challenge are The Plain Dealer, The Columbus Dispatch, Radio One Inc.,Cleveland, WJW Fox8, Ogden Newspapers, Akron Beacon Journal, Knoxville News Sentinel, North American Broadcasting Company. WJW Fox8’s challenge for the competition is to “Make local news relevant for young TV viewers.” Other companies ask for students to design an app for their marketing strategy, draft a multi-media plan, and to create a downloadable daily podcast. A strong promoter of the challenge professes, “The challenge also has the potential to bring long-term benefits to the students. For example, if a company really likes the solution a student created then that company could hire or pay the student extra to implement it. This isn’t a for sure occurrence, but it is a possibility.”

Additional help for participants can be found by contacting the listed source of the challenge you have chosen. A contact person will be found at the bottom of the page. Further guidance will be available through the student Alden Library website. On the site there are listed links to aid with industry information, data, research, and polls, as well as marketing products and researching consumer outcomes. More assistance can be found by contacting “faculty mentors” who are volunteers of Ohio University’s faculty and staff. You can find all of this information on the Alden Research tab on the Scripps Innovation Challenge website.

Again, inspiring engineers, business majors, and all other individuals from assorted colleges are encourage to compete. Not only is this a unique opportunity to create an idea, broadcast it, and produce it, but academic credit may be awarded by individual school and departments of Ohio University. The pose question can be addressed and confirmed by your academic advisor or school’s director to see if you could use the challenge as possibly an independent study and receive credits.

Weimer provided a student perspective on the competition, “I think the Challenge is an awesome opportunity and even thought about participating myself. There really isn’t too much to lose by registering and participating because it is free of charge and there are over twenty problems that you can try and solve. Even if you don’t win, you are still gaining awesome experience! It’s a great opportunity to learn how to collaborate with others; for example, if you have a journalism major, engineering major and business major all working together to create the best outcome! This program is a good stepping stone into the “real world” and gives students the chance to develop real work and work with real clients. I think this is a positive thing for OU and everyone should definitely participate!”

If this challenge interest you, you still have time to enter the competition. The deadline is March 13th, 2013. Students can register through the Scripps Innovation Challenge website, http://innovationchallenge.scrippscollege.ohio.edu. A requirement of basic information is requested and once you are registered, an account will be made for you where you will start receiving updates and alerts about the competition. Once you choose a challenge(s), be proficient in collecting data and research to produce a detailed plan to be implemented. Requirements consist of an evaluation of the business aspects of the solution, such as how much the project will cost to develop and implement, and the potential revenue prospect. Also needed for presentation will be a one page summary that describes your idea, a viewing presentation, and property statement certifying your rights to the material you submitted. The next step is to upload your developed solution to the site where it will be graded by a panel of media industry judges. The judges will choose ten finalists which will be announced during the Annual Scripps College Communication Week on March 18th. Andrew Alexander, coordinator of the challenge and a visiting professional at Scripps, explains what happens subsequently.

“On April 11, a panel of industry judges will select seven winners at the conclusion of a pitch competition that will be open to the public. The winner will receive $20,000 in prizes; $10,000 for first prize, $5,000 for second prize and five $1,000 honorable mentions. But the winners also will benefit because they will have been engaged in helping the media industry transform it self. That’s what makes the Scripps Innovation Challenge unique. It is designed so that students will be competing to solve actual problems, or “challenges,” presented by media companies.”

In terms of how the outcome of Scripps Innovation Challenge may affect Ohio University is best described by Alexander. “It’s part of a broader movement toward innovation and entrepreneurship at Ohio University. There are two primary goals of the Scripps Innovation Challenge. The first is to get students involved in the process of media innovation. The second is to better connect the university and the media industry. All forms of media – print, broadcast, digital – are changing at an astonishing pace. It’s important that students are deeply engaged with this change, and they can help media companies as they are changing.”

Ohio University’s first year hosting the Scripps Innovation Challenge is a new learning experience with unknown, endless outcomes. This optimistic challenge has gotten OU students, faculty, and the community involved and excited to reveal the winners and award the twenty thousand dollars worth of prizes in the upcoming month. Even more exciting is what will happen when the winner is chosen. Interested students make sure to apply, and if your not applying, you can still participate when the competition is open to the public. To apply and get more information on the Scripps Innovation Challenge visit http://innovationchallenge.scrippscollege.ohio.edu. The deadline is Wednesday, March 13th. Stay tuned and keep innovating!

All-encompassing magazine, Fangle, breaks onto Scripps scene (Scripps Unscripted)

Mon, 25 Feb 2013 00:16:23 +0100

This article was written by Meredith Broadwater, an Account Associate for the E.W. Scripps School of Journalism ImPRessions account. Standing out in college is next to impossible, but not for junior Natalia Radic,… Read More →

This article was written by Meredith Broadwater, an Account Associate for the E.W. Scripps School of Journalism ImPRessions account.

Standing out in college is next to impossible, but not for junior Natalia Radic, who is starting her own student-run magazine called Fangle. Radic wants to branch out from her political specialization in journalism and thought starting Fangle was the perfect way to do that.

“It will be an all-encompassing magazine,” she said while describing what readers should expect. “We really want to take the approach not taken.”

Fangle will have online blog posts, as well as magazine issues that will cover underreported issues, ranging from sports to fashion. Helping readers see stories in a new perspective is the main goal of Fangle. Students can expect to read the first issue towards the end of 2013, due to the fact that the publication is still in the organizational period. The magazine will be free to all Ohio University students and will also be made available to the rest of the Athens community.

Radic also added, “I think it’ll be a nice alternative to what we have, while still showcasing Ohio University’s journalism students in the way that current publications already do.”

The magazine still needs a treasurer and motivated students are always welcome. Email Natalia Radic at nr405710@ohio.edu if interested in helping with Fangle.

Ohio University PRSSA Chapter to host Regional Conference (Scripps Notes)

Thu, 21 Feb 2013 06:00:00 +0100

The Hugh M. Culbertson chapter of the Public Relations Student Society of America is hosting one of the country’s ten regional conferences at Ohio University on March 16. The conference, titled "Beyond the Basics," will have attendees from six states, speakers from some of the nation's top agencies and an Opportunities Fair for students interesting in networking, internships and job opportunities.

This is the first time in more than five years that any PRSSA conference has been held at Ohio University, let alone a regional conference. The team had to submit a conference proposal in the summer of 2012, go through an interview process and send representatives to PRSSA National Conference in San Francisco last fall.

"We are so excited to host this conference," said Allison Jordan, the chapter’s president. "It is a great opportunity for our members, our chapter and our university. So many established professionals will be right here on campus to see all the hard work and talent Scripps has to offer."

The event’s keynote speaker is Ben Lincoln, Writing Director at GolinHarris in Chicago. Current PRSSA National President Lauren Gray will also be in attendance. Additionally, many JSchool alumni will come back to represent their companies and network with students.

Registration is open to all, and is $20 for PRSSA members or $25 for non-members. Those interested can register here. For more information, follow @PRSSARCBeyond, "like" Scripps PRSSA on Facebook and check out the conference’s website.

J-School Ambassador Spotlight: Kayla Hanley (Scripps Unscripted)

Wed, 20 Feb 2013 02:31:51 +0100

This interview was conducted and written by Rachel Miller, an Account Associate for the E.W. Scripps School of Journalism ImPRessions account. Name: Kayla Hanley Year: Sophomore Major: Broadcast Journalism Hometown: Columbus, Ohio What is your favorite memory of Athens, Ohio? This would definitely have to be attending my first homecoming parade. When I saw the … Read more

Kayla Hanley at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London.

This interview was conducted and written by Rachel Miller, an Account Associate for the E.W. Scripps School of Journalism ImPRessions account.

Name: Kayla Hanley

Year: Sophomore

Major: Broadcast Journalism

Hometown: Columbus, Ohio

What is your favorite memory of Athens, Ohio?

This would definitely have to be attending my first homecoming parade. When I saw the alumni band and how huge it was, I was so impressed! It makes me feel great knowing even after leaving OU, everyone is still a part and has a love for the University.

Why did you come to Ohio University? Why did you choose Scripps?

I came to OU because of the recognition it had, especially with Scripps. I knew that many professional journalists came out of Scripps and that going here would allow me to have the best connections for my career once I graduate.

If you could give one piece of advice based off your experience here what would it be?

Never be afraid to try new things. My freshman year I joined about every organization that interested me and from there, I got my foot in the door and found out what I was really passionate about.

Where is the best place you ever traveled to?

London, England this summer to cover the Olympics.

How did you become a J-school ambassador? What made you want to be one?

I became a J-school ambassador because I wanted to be closer connected to the faculty and staff. It has given me an opportunity to communicate with more of my professors in a professional sense as well. The reason I joined was mostly to let visiting students know why they should attend Scripps because of all the great things that I have been given and able to accomplish here.

What’s your favorite part about being an ambassador?

Meeting all of the aspiring journalists who visit Scripps before they graduate high school.

What does your role as J-school ambassador entail?

I am fairly new to being an ambassador so what I have been able to do so far is meet with aspiring students who want to come to Scripps, as well as alumni. I first began at the homecoming brunch where I talked to alums and their families. With the students, I have talked to them about the programs we have here and also shown them around our amazing building. Basically what we are here to do is show all of the opportunities one can have when they attend Scripps and those opportunities will assist them in the areas that they want to exceed in.

QUICK QUESTIONS!

Pepsi or Coke?

Coke.

Last book you read?

The Good Lawyer.

Favorite Quote?

“Love the life you live, and live the life you love.”

Dream job?

Working for CMT and being able to meet all the country stars!

Favorite restaurant on Court Street?

Bagel Street Deli.

Hidden talent?

I am very good at Euchre.

Favorite class you’ve ever taken?

Communication law.

J-School Ambassador Spotlight: Marissa McDaid (Scripps Unscripted)

Fri, 01 Feb 2013 15:10:16 +0100

This interview was conducted and written by Rachel Miller, an Account Associate for the E.W. Scripps School of Journalism ImPRessions account. Name: Marissa McDaid Year: Junior Major: Journalism- Strategic Communications Hometown: Wooster, Ohio What is your favorite memory of Athens, Ohio? This is so difficult! Every year, three of my friends and I go on … Read more

Marissa McDaid

This interview was conducted and written by Rachel Miller, an Account Associate for the E.W. Scripps School of Journalism ImPRessions account.

Name: Marissa McDaid

Year: Junior

Major: Journalism- Strategic Communications

Hometown: Wooster, Ohio

What is your favorite memory of Athens, Ohio?

This is so difficult! Every year, three of my friends and I go on a hayride at the Ridges near Halloween. We started freshman year and have went ever since.

Why did you come to Ohio University? Why did you choose Scripps?

I came to Ohio University because of the journalism school. I wasn’t sure what exactly I wanted to do with my life in high school but I knew I wanted to study journalism. I knew there were only three accredited journalism schools in Ohio and Ohio University always felt right. I applied to two schools and got into both, but this was my only real choice all along.

If you could give one piece of advice based off your experience here what would it be?

Get involved! Definitely don’t feel intimidated to show up to meetings for different groups and organizations. Look for things you might be interested in and test the waters. If you go to a meeting and learn you don’t want to commit to that organization, you don’t have to. I highly recommend joining some sort of student group though. That’s where you’ll meet your best friends.

Where is the best place you ever traveled to?

When I was 16 I got to go to Europe with my French class. We were in Zurich, Switzerland when the UEFA Euro Cup (soccer) was going on. It was really exciting!

How did you become a J-School ambassador?

I applied last spring. Debbie Depeel sent an email that said they were looking for student ambassadors so I sent her my resume.

What’s your favorite part about being an ambassador?

I love being able to tell prospective students how humbling being in Scripps has been (which is cheesy, sorry.) I like to tell stories about the really prominent journalists I’ve had the opportunity to talk to or alums who have visited my classes.

What does your role as a J-School ambassador entail?

I give prospective student tours typically every Friday. We take a tour of the building and then have a Q&A session with either Dr. Sweeney or Dr. Stewart. I’ll also escort groups from Scripps over to the RTV building for tours of the WOUB studios.

QUICK QUESTIONS!

If you could be on any reality show…

Dancing with the Stars- I wish I could dance!

Peeta or Gale?

Peeta! *swoon*

Can’t live without…

Humor!

Dream job?

Working at some sort of creative or branding agency.

One goal you hope to achieve within five years?

Have a job that doesn’t feel like a job.

Favorite professor on campus?

In the Journalism School: Aimee Edmondson. Best law prof. ever.

In general: I like Robert Miklitsch’s English classes.

This spotlight is the first of a series in which the Scripps Unscripted blog hopes to showcase each of the students who works as a E.W. Scripps School of Journalism Ambassador.

Scripps Senior Saturday (Scripps Unscripted)

Thu, 31 Jan 2013 21:19:07 +0100

Written by E.W. Scripps School of Journalism ImPRessions account associate, Kate Schroeder. Finding a job after graduation can be a daunting task for most graduating seniors, especially in today’s current economy. Scripps Senior Saturday, a free event through the E.W. Scripps School of Journalism, hopes to make that job search process a little easier. The … Read more

Written by E.W. Scripps School of Journalism ImPRessions account associate, Kate Schroeder.

Finding a job after graduation can be a daunting task for most graduating seniors, especially in today’s current economy. Scripps Senior Saturday, a free event through the E.W. Scripps School of Journalism, hopes to make that job search process a little easier.

The event is sponsored by the Scripps Society of Alumni & Friends. Seniors will receive resume critiques, advice on their portfolios, cover letters, and job hunting strategies all on Saturday, February 9 from 9:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. in Scripps Hall.

Senior Sienna Tomko, who is graduating with a degree in Strategic Communications, has been excited to attend the event since she heard about it her freshman year.

“Each year there’s hype around the Senior Saturday event. I’m excited to finally be able to participate,” Tomko said. “With graduation around the corner and the job search underway, I’m excited to finally be able to attend the event.”

Another reason seniors are attending Scripps Senior Saturday is for the opportunity to listen to guest speaker and alumna, Allie LaForce. LaForce is the Co-Host of the CBS Sports Network’s late-night show Lead Off. She graduated in 2011 from the Honors Tutorial College, where she studied broadcast journalism.

There will also be a presentation from visiting professor Andy Alexander. After presentations, seniors will be able to choose from three professional panels to connect with. Each panel consists of Scripps alumni working in their field of interest.

However, Scripps Senior Saturday means more to Tomko then getting ahead in the job search process.

“I’ve worked extremely hard these past three and a half years to get where I am today, and although Senior Saturday is a day to help prepare us for graduation, it’s also a celebration of our hard work, commitment and love of OU.”

The Big Switch: Transitioning From Quarters to Semesters (Scripps Unscripted)

Fri, 21 Dec 2012 22:50:34 +0100

If a tree falls and there’s no one around to hear it, does it make a sound? If it’s December at Ohio University and students aren’t around to experience it, does it still take place? In many Bobcats’ minds, Ohio University is a magical academic institution that ceases to exist between the holidays of Thanksgiving and … Read more

If a tree falls and there’s no one around to hear it, does it make a sound? If it’s December at Ohio University and students aren’t around to experience it, does it still take place?

In many Bobcats’ minds, Ohio University is a magical academic institution that ceases to exist between the holidays of Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day. This year changed it all. With their stomachs still full from turkey and mashed potatoes, students made the trek back to Athens to continue on with an additional two weeks, plus finals. For many students and professors alike, the brief fall break was a tease of the six week winter respite that accompanied quarters.

Ohio University, Ohio State University, University of Cincinnati and Wright State University were the last four public universities in the state of Ohio to make the switch from quarters to semesters. Unsure of how they would be able to handle the new change and the addition of five weeks, students prepared for the worst and hoped for the best.

“It’s hard balancing a hectic schedule during a semester. The semester is longer and so is my to-do list,” said Public Relations major, Melaina Lewis.

Magazine Journalism major, Nick Rees, also shares a strong sense of dislike for the new system. “It stretches out classes that I would rather be done with. Also, it takes away the opportunity to experience more classes since now we are limited to just two semesters instead of our three trusty quarters.”

While many students seem to dislike the change, some Scripps faculty members have their own opinions.

“I am a fan of the switch to semesters because the longer term feels more relaxed and gives more time to go in depth into subjects,” said Associate Director and Professor, Ellen Gerl. “In my case, I teach a capstone class that produces Southeast Ohio Magazine, a 48-page publication. With the longer term, students have time to really delve into their feature subjects and create a quality product.”

Associate Professor, Hugh Martin, is also in favor of semesters adding, “Some topics take more time than others, so there is more time to spend with the topics that take longer. There is an adjustment period for everyone, teachers and students, but we’ll work through that together.”

Behind the scenes it was not an easy task for the Scripps faculty to create a new curriculum tailored to semesters. Gerl said that there were too many challenges to explain in a short amount of time. Some of these included maintaining the rigor of the previous curriculum, updating and combining similar classes and addressing industry trends by converging multiple sequences into two tracks.

However, the process of transitioning the curriculum to semesters is not the biggest challenge that the faculty and the school face. In the ever-changing industries of journalism, public relations and advertising, the task of constantly having to modify the Scripps school’s curriculum to meet these needs is the greatest hurdle of all.

“The big challenge is figuring out how to make our curriculum relevant to what is happening to the professions we are helping students learn,” Martin said. “That challenge never goes away because the professions are changing so much and so fast. It’s our job to understand those changes and help students learn the skills they’ll need to be successful when they graduate, but also five or ten years from now.”

Whether you are in favor of the switch or not, there is one upside to semesters that cannot be disputed: December in Athens.

“It’s great to have students around after Thanksgiving helping make the holidays in Athens more festive. Uptown was so empty when students left every year in November,” said Gerl.

Although there is now a collective Bobcat groan after the week long fall break, once one arrives back on campus, the magic of Ohio University and the beautifully decorated Court Street take over, giving the feeling that you wouldn’t wish to spend the holiday season anywhere else.

Scripps’ Schoonover Center of Communication: Center of Excellence (Scripps Unscripted)

Fri, 16 Nov 2012 03:35:52 +0100

Written by: Jillian Buzzi Many alumna, faculty, and students gathered last Thursday on November 8, 2012 to honor Steven L. Schoonover, graduate of Ohio University in 1967, for his generous contribution to the new Scripps College of Communication building. Schoonover, who was accompanied by his family at the event, donated $7.5 million for state of … Read more

Dinner at the Schoonover Center Event.
Photo by Stephanie Gort

Written by: Jillian Buzzi

Many alumna, faculty, and students gathered last Thursday on November 8, 2012 to honor Steven L. Schoonover, graduate of Ohio University in 1967, for his generous contribution to the new Scripps College of Communication building. Schoonover, who was accompanied by his family at the event, donated $7.5 million for state of the art technology that will be in the building. It will be home to all of the schools within the Scripps College of Communication and will be a place where greatness is achieved.

The Schoonover Center of Communication will not only be beneficial to the students who will now be able to work together more easily, but will also help the faculty of the College stay in touch and work together to provide the best education possible. Nerissa Young, a new professor in the Scripps School of Journalism this year, is extremely excited for the move, “I can’t think of anything bad about it.”

Professor Young is also very grateful to be apart of one of the best journalism schools in the country, “Scripps differs from any school I’ve been at because of the flexibility within the program, it’s a new way of doing it and I think it is very beneficial. The students here are go getters and driven and I am thankful for the opportunity to advise them.” This building is showing great potential for student collaboration in the eyes of faculty, like Professor Young.

Although this in an exciting time for the Scripps College of Communication, the move is also a little bittersweet. Dan Farkas, a graduate and now professor in the J-School, is one person who can agree with this feeling. “It’s like when you are a kid and moving to a new house; it’s better equipment and we will be closer to the other schools, but the old building will still feel like home.”

Despite the sentimental value the old Scripps Hall will hold, this new building will keep Ohio University ahead of the game when it comes to the communication field, “Ohio University can be a beacon for the future of communication,” Steve Schoonover said during his speech at the event.

Overall, the students and faculty of all the schools in the Scripps College of Communication are excited for the Schoonover Center for Communication to open. Steve Schoonover has given the communication community at Ohio University a generous gift and it is one that will drive the College to stay one of the best in the nation.

OU’s PRSSA chapter brings home awards (Scripps Notes)

Sat, 27 Oct 2012 07:00:00 +0200

The Ohio University’s Hugh M. Culbertson chapter of the Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA) earned two prestigious national awards at this year’s PRSSA National Conference in San Francisco.

OU’s chapter won “Best Campaign” for its student-run firm, ImPRessions, which is nationally affiliated with PRSSA. The Hugh M. Culbertson chapter also received a Teahan Award for “Best PRSA/PRSSA Relationship,” as a result of its connections with public relations professionals in the Public Relations Society of America during the 2011-2012 year. This is the first time in years that Scripps PRSSA has come home with two awards.

“I am unbelievably proud of the 2011-2012 executive board and very excited for our chapter at Ohio University. Having PRSSA national recognize our chapter on the national level is not only humbling, but a testament to how hard our members work,” said President Allison Jordan.

The 2011-2012 Generation Rx campaign, for Cardinal Health, earned the prestigious award for helping raise awareness for prescription drug abuse on college campuses. With only two awards given to 33 student-run firms nationwide, PRSSA and ImPRessions were proud to walk away with this accomplishment.

Sponsored by Champions for PRSSA, the Dr. F.H. Teahan Chapter Awards Program recognizes the outstanding achievements of PRSSA Chapters in 12 categories each year. Hundreds of chapters apply for the Teahan Awards in hopes to be recognized at the National Conference in the fall. This is the second consecutive year Ohio University’s PRSSA chapter has taken home a Teahan.

Samantha Tischler, Sienna Tomko, Elizabeth Krizner, Marisa Dockum, Nicole Spears, Cidnye Weimer and PRSSA President Allison Jordan flew to California on Homecoming weekend October 12 to attend the “Bridging the Gap” National Conference, hosted by PRSSA National.

There are more than 20,000 members and 300 chapters across the country in PRSSA National. At the conference, there were over 100 chapters in attendance ready to network and attend industry workshops. Upon their return to Athens, the seven representatives were welcomed with quite a homecoming of their own. They are excited for what is in store for the 2012-2013 year and hope this impressive trend continues.

Scripps Homecoming 2012: Once a Bobcat, Always a Bobcat (Scripps Unscripted)

Thu, 18 Oct 2012 03:58:49 +0200

An overwhelming sense of community and bobcat pride filled the air on Saturday, Oct. 13, as Ohio University alumni and current students lined the streets of Athens to watch the Homecoming parade. The fall weather was perfection and the Scripps Amphitheater offered the perfect backdrop for alumni looking to reflect upon their college years. Many … Read more

Alumni mingle with Dr. Stewart and current students at the Scripps Homecoming Reception on Oct. 13.

Many made their way into the Scripps Atrium after the parade to enjoy a spread of food and drinks and to mingle with Dr. Stewart, Director of the E.W. Scripps School of Journalism, Scripps School ambassadors, and fellow alumni of all ages. Several graduates gave video interviews explaining how their Scripps education helped them land jobs and internships as well as advice for current students. The strong Ohio University network was apparent and many alumni gave the advice to be proactive and get involved while in college because this will provide networking opportunities later in a career search.

Homecoming is a great time for networking, but also for simply enjoying the company of graduates who were once in your shoes as a student. Part of the reason that networking with Scripps alumni is so powerful is because they will always have a special place in their heart for Ohio University and the E.W. Scripps School of Journalism. At the Scripps reception with current students and alumni clad in green and white, it was very clear that if you are once a bobcat, you are always a bobcat.

Howe: Bright future for journalism (Scripps Notes)

Thu, 11 Oct 2012 07:00:00 +0200

By Sally Ann Cruikshank

The rumors of journalism’s death have been greatly exaggerated it seems. At least according to journalist and E.W. Scripps School of Journalism graduate Jeff Howe (BSJ ’94).

In this video, Howe talks with Prof. Stewart about coming back to campus, his memories of being a student in the School of Journalism, and his career.

Howe, the author of Crowdsourcing: How the Power of Crowds is Driving the Future of Business, visited “The Future of Journalism” class to share his journey from Bobcat to best-selling author.

After freelancing in New York City, he took a job writing for Wired magazine, despite not necessarily being an expert on technology.

“It’s not a bad thing to have an over-optimistic opinion of one’s ability to learn on the job,” he laughed.

He also noted that it wasn’t always easy to hold on to that optimism. When asked his biggest challenge as a journalist, Howe answered without hesitation, “self-doubt.”

Kaitlyn Marshall, a freshman in Scripps, said she found that admission refreshing and inspiring.

“I was surprised when he said self-doubt,” she said, “because for someone who has accomplished so much writing for the Village Voice, his job at Wired, and coining a widely used phrase, it was nice to hear this experienced and seasoned journalist admit to doubting himself. It made him seem so much more relatable, and I really liked that about him.”

Howe continued working for Wired and other publications, before stumbling on the story that would lead to his book. It began as a piece on MySpace, before it was widely known as a social media website. At the time, musicians used it to circumvent record companies.

“Myspace was a disrupting force in the industry and that was my story,” Howe said.

He realized over the course of writing the story, that the Internet and other new technologies were changing the way media were created.

“Everyone could produce a picture,” he said, and the prices of services such as stock photos dropped. Thus, crowdsourcing was born.

The most important message Howe delivered, however, to a class of journalists just beginning their careers, is that the future of journalist is changing, but it’s still bright.

“What we’ve learned,” Howe said, “is that journalism can’t be crowdsourced.”

He urged students to learn the new model of journalism and demonstrated how it could work using a story he is currently working on, which is being funded by several news outlets and organizations.

His advice for navigating new technology to become a successful journalist resonated with Scripps freshman Branden Labarowski.

“One thing that really stuck with me was his recommendation to start a blog based on one of your particular interests, “Labarowski said. “Jeff was a charismatic guy, and I’m glad to be following him on Twitter. That’s one of my favorite things about JOUR 1010, really — getting to network with the speakers so you can potentially contact them whenever you want and let that knowledge grow beyond the span of those 1-hour, 20-minute lectures.”

For many students, Jeff stood out for that charisma, and his optimism about their futures.

Erin McCarthy summed up that feeling in a tweet shortly after class wrapped: “Just loved @Crowdsourcing Jeff Howe’s lecture @scrippsjschool. Talking about a changing yet optimistic future for journalism rocks.

Meale (MSJ ’08) makes his own way in sports journalism (Scripps Notes)

Thu, 11 Oct 2012 07:00:00 +0200

By Sally Ann Cruikshank

Tony Meale said it was a particularly terrible internship interview when he was a master’s student at Scripps that eventually led to him publishing his first book.

"He told me I’d never have a job as a sports journalist, that I should quit school," Meale said. "Obviously, I didn’t take his advice."

Meale, who recently self-published the book The Chosen Ones: The Team that Beat LeBron, came back to Athens to speak to “The Future of Journalism” class. He talked about how he broke into sports writing, which wasn’t always easy.

"You have to make your own breaks, through hard work and desire," Meale said.

Scripps freshman Branden Labarowski said he appreciated that Meale’s advice went beyond just sports journalism.

Students line up to buy books.

"His point — that it takes daring, tenacity and some degree of longsuffering to go into journalism as a career nowadays — was extremely stirring to hear," he said.

"He also reminded us that journalism is an extremely rewarding career once you make it in, which all in all left me feeling motivated and ready to succeed as someone just now breaking into the world of journalism as a career."

Meale eventually reconnected with the man who told him he’d never succeed as a sport journalist, and it was a post on his Facebook page that inspired his book. Meale eventually quit his job at a weekly paper and spent a year writing and then promoting it.

Meale said people always tell him they’d love to be a sports journalist and when he asks why, they always say, "Because I love sports."

He said that’s not enough to make a career out of it, though. “You have to love the writing first,” Meale said.

Shantel Wolfe, a freshman in Scripps, spoke to Meale after class and said she found his story inspiring.

"He quit his job to take control of his life and pursue his passion," Wolfe said. "In this case his passion is sports journalism. He was an excellent public speaker and doled out some great, applicable advice to future journalists of the world."

Looking toward the future of television (Scripps Notes)

Wed, 10 Oct 2012 07:00:00 +0200

By: Sally Ann Cruikshank

What will broadcast journalism look like in three years, five years, or even ten years? It’s Chip Mahaney’s job to figure that out, and on Scripps Day, he gave “The Future of Journalism” class a glimpse into how he answers that question.

As Senior Director of Local Operations for the E.W. Scripps Company and its Broadcast Division, Mahaney examines the problems and opportunities facing broadcast television.

“Television is still powerful,” Mahaney said. “There are huge opportunities for local TV.”

He walked students through some of those opportunities, asking for audience participation to determine the how local television news could capitalize on strengths and overcome weakness.

Sarah Rachul, a freshman in Scripps, said she appreciated how Mahaney involved students in the presentation.

“He really made me feel like my ideas were important and encouraged me to expand my thoughts concerning broadcast journalism,” Rachul said.

One of the first questions students asked was about social media, which Mahaney called both an opportunity and a threat.

“Social media does provide layers of experience,” he said, urging students to find ways to take advantage of the “second screen” and go beyond passive TV.

Kelsey Miller, a freshman in Scripps, said his presentation helped her realize just how complex the broadcast news industry could be and how important an online presence is.

“The reality of the Internet taking over became more real to me,” Miller said. “If I don’t start selling myself and my business on the Internet now as a college student, it will be that much harder for me to make an impression on employers in the future.”