|
Note From The Director
|
I don’t have to tell you how crazy the last several months have been for all of us! Instead, let me take a few moments to tell you what we in the SJMC are doing in response. As you may know the University has committed to offering an in-residence experience for undergraduates.
We are currently organizing a fall undergraduate schedule that will consist of a variety of in-person, blended, and hybrid courses. The word of the day is “flexibility.” Every class will have online components. Some classes will have in-person elements. We may pivot at any moment to a completely online experience for everyone.
For us, an important question has to do with technology. Many of our courses require students to have access to audio equipment, cameras, tripods, software and the like, as well as up-to-date computers and strong wi-fi connections. In light of these concerns, we have made a commitment to have one “media kit” that includes the basic tools for every student who is taking our technology-infused courses. We are also purchasing a set of laptops for checkout, and we are participating in campus discussions about making wi-fi available to students who live off campus.
Outside of the classroom, we are striving to give students as immersive an experience as possible. We know it won’t replace the face-to-face experience with which they are familiar, but we can offer a wide variety of virtual opportunities for the next academic year that will keep students connected to the School. Opportunities like these:
- In the fall, we will offer a 2-3 day free boot camp taught by an industry expert on search engine optimization/social media tracking.
- In the spring, we will offer a similar boot camp on Excel, and pay for all participants to take the Microsoft Excel certification test.
- We are also organizing a series of professional development opportunities, including:
- webinars on seeking PR positions in Chicago; sports journalism; working in NYC; and many others!
- Gateway experiences in both fall and spring semesters that take students through, portfolio development; resume building; social media presence, and, interviewing and negotiating skills.
- Our Professional-in-Residence will be offered remotely. As usual, it will bring 5-6 professionals to the School over the academic year to engage with students around issues associated with the communication professions.
Let me say a big “thank you” to all of the JMC alumni who have stepped up to help current students. Through their efforts, students have learned of internship and job opportunities, and, received important mentorship. To keep this energy going, the School is organizing a formal mentorship process, complete with a database of potential mentors and a set of small training modules for mentors and students alike. If you have an interest in serving as a mentor, please contact the School’s internship coordinator, Paul Jensen (paul-w-jensen@uiowa.edu).
At the same time as we are planning the fall semester, we are reviewing everything we do in the School through the lens of racial/social justice. You can find our statement on these issues below.
Our efforts include a discussion of curriculum and pedagogy, internal policies and processes, resource distribution, extra-curricular activities, and, outreach and engagement. These conversations are ongoing, so we are not ready to announce anything just yet. It is clear, though, that we need to make changes—some of them dramatic. I have been pleased to see that the faculty and staff are committed to doing this work. Stay tuned for more on the actions we devise in coming newsletters.
It has been quite a year. But rest assured the SJMC faculty and staff are working hard to provide the best experience we can to students when they arrive back in the fall. Thanks to all of you who have offered your support. We can’t be successful without you!
|
|
|
|
Our Statement
Times of crisis are difficult, anguishing, and maddening. They are also clarifying. Crises present the people involved with an opportunity to affirm who they are and where they stand. Recent events in Minneapolis and elsewhere reveal a crisis for racial justice that stretches back to the founding of the country.
As faculty of the School of Journalism and Mass Communication (SJMC), we affirm our commitment to the ideal of racial justice, to doing our part to “narrow the gap,” as former President Barack Obama put it, “between the promise of our ideals and the reality of [our] time.” We will confront our failures in the SJMC, and strive to create a more diverse, equitable, and inclusive environment within the School.
Our hearts go out to the people directly affected by the recent violence, and especially to the families of the men and women who have been senselessly killed. We stand in solidarity with the communities whose lives are ravaged by racist violence.
This time of crisis also throws into sharp relief the need for journalism and an informed citizenry. In the midst of the American civil war, perhaps America’s greatest national crisis, President Abraham Lincoln famously affirmed his belief in the American people. “If given the truth,” he said, “they can be depended upon to meet any national crisis. The great point is to bring them the real facts.”
But who is to bring the American people the “real facts” about our current crisis, if not journalists? Read our full statement.
|
|
|
On Assignment
FOX 17 Evening Anchor Annie Szatkowski (pictured) (B.A. 2012), said you couldn't tell under her mask, but she was smiling because restaurants were finally OPEN for dine-in service in Michigan (50% capacity).
Alyssa Bergamini (B.A. 2014), hosts her own show and is a sports reporter for the Chicago White Sox.
Grace Pateras (B.A. 2018), works as a Digital Producer for USA Today Network, developing audiences for local communities across the country.
Casey Levigne (B.A. 2015) is an Associate Producer for August Jackson, a brand engagement agency that specializes in events and campaign launches.
Cole Johnson (B.A. 2017) is a reporter for KCEN, an NBC station out of Waco, TX.
Rishabh Jain (B.A. 2014) is a video journalist for the Associated Press South Asia Desk. He's covered general elections in India and key world issues.
Nicole Meighan (B.A. 2013), is in L.A. working as a Senior Research Manager for Basis; a market research consultancy.
We love receiving videos and pictures of what you all are doing! Check out our Instagram channel to watch videos we receive from alumni.
|
|
|
|
Information Sharing
Cori Zarek (pictured) (B.A. 2001), has built an impressive resume centered on sharing information. From practicing law and working under the Obama administration to supporting the U.S. Digital Service, Zarek has led initiatives behind the scenes that prepared the federal government's online presence for our current epidemic situation. Read Cori's story.
Isaiah Scales (B.A. 2004), now in Post Production at Walt Disney TV stated, "An Epiphany hit me this morning...maybe 2020 was for us all to start seeing things for what they are and get some 20/20 vision in our lives."
Fantastic story published by IowaWatch writer Shen Lu (B.A. 2014), titled "Death of a Quantum Man. Read her historical article.
Roxanna Scott (B.A. 1996), was named managing editor for sports at USA TODAY. Read her story.
|
|
|
Hot Off The Press
We know it was an especially challenging end of the academic experience for our 2020 alumni, and we are so proud of their accomplishments!
Congratulations to our Spring 2020 Ph.D. and M.A. graduates: Subin Paul, Ph.D., John Carpenter, Ph.D., Xianwei Wu, Ph.D., and Abby Rinaldi, M.A.
Congratulations to the 25 Spring 2020 graduates from our Master of Arts in Strategic Communication (MASC) online program!
Congratulations to all 109 Journalism & Mass Communication Spring 2020 Bachelor degree graduates. Watch their online commencements: morning event or afternoon event.
|
|
|
|
Unexpected Lessons
Seniors in Charles Munro’s Advanced Production/Design course worked in teams during the spring semester. They were tasked to find and tell a news story in a short-form, professional-level documentary. Then everything stopped: no interviews, access to production gear or cameras. To overcome this, teams had to find a way to tell their stories in whatever media that was available. They learned about adaptation to real challenges! Check out their projects.
|
|
|
Student Newscasts
Angela Looney’s Spring 2020 Multimedia News Production class created news packages that would have normally aired on Iowa City’s Daily Iowan Television (DITV). However, due to COVID-19, the class has found interesting ways to produce news stories from home. Watch their news.
|
|
|
|
Virtual Learning
In April, students (some pictured) ranging from sophomores to seniors hosted a virtual Q&A panel to discuss their experiences working in the field during internships, student jobs and/or fellowships for other students. It was attended by both faculty and students. Learn more or watch the recorded session.
In May, Director David Ryfe hosted a Virtual Town Hall for students and/or their parents. He discussed JMC's plans for summer and fall semesters and encouraged attendees to ask questions and even offer suggestions to the school during this uncertain period of time.
In May, our Professional Advisory Board provided a virtual panel call discussing how to look for careers during the pandemic for our graduating seniors. Approximately 20 students attended live, and the recording is available online for anyone who couldn't attend. Panelists with differing career experiences brought unique insight to the group, as well as virtual job interviewing methods. Learn more or watch the recorded session.
A handful of students wrote about their personal experience with the transition to online courses during the COVID-19 pandemic. Read about their experiences.
|
|
|
AEJMC Acceptances and Awards
Congratulations to Melissa Tully - 2020 Senior Scholars Award recipient
Professor Tully (pictured), was one of two recipients this year, which will provide funding for her continued research on “Misinformation and News Literacy in Kenya.”
This is an outstanding achievement, and we look forward to hearing more details on her project.
Tully also co-authored three other articles that were accepted to AEJMC, one of which won another award.
SJMC Graduate students Mehrnaz Khanjani, Ryan Stoldt, Frankline Matanji, Ge Zhu, Michael Davis each had papers accepted, two of which also won awards.
Professor David Dowling had two papers accepted, and Professor Rachel Young and Volha Kananovich (a 2019 SJMC Ph.D. graduate) each had one accepted.
Each acceptance will be presented virtually at the AEJMC 2020 Conference. Read all the details about these acceptances and awards on our website news.
|
|
|
|
Recent Publications
Venise Berry released a new book titled "Racialism and the Media: Black Jesus, Black Twitter and the First Black American President" in 2020 (pictured).
Meenakshi Gigi Durham published new research online, titled: "Subaltern voices and postcolonial schizophrenia: The political tensions of M.I.A.’s Kala."
David Dowling's article, co-authored by Kyle J. Miller (a SJMC 2017 Ph.D. graduate), titled “Immersive audio storytelling: Podcasting and serial documentary in the digital publishing industry” won the Best Article of 2019 in the Journal of Radio and Audio Media.
Wellman, M., Tully, M., Stoldt, R., & Ekdale, B. (2020). Ethics of authenticity: Influencers and the production of sponsored content. Journal of Media Ethics, 35(2), 68-82.
Vraga, E., Tully, M., Maksl, A., Craft, S., & Ashley, S. (2020). Theorizing News Literacy Behaviors. Communication Theory, ISSN 1050-3293.
|
|
|
Research
Brian Ekdale was selected to be a Fellow-in-Residence at the UI Obermann Center for Advanced Studies for Spring 2020 and a Scholar-in-Residence at the UI Public Policy Center for Summer 2020. He also received a UI International Programs Summer Research Fellowship to conduct research in Kenya in Summer 2020, but had to delay the award because of COVID-19 travel restrictions.
Ekdale, B. (2020). Reppin’ the nation, reppin’ themselves: Nation branding and self-branding in the Kenyan music video industry. Journal of African Media Studies, 12(1), 75-88.
Funding Awarded: The Iowa Policy and Opinion Lab (IPOL) is a collaborative research group led by Profs Kajsa Dalrymple in Journalism and Mass Communication and Fred Boehmke in Political Science. Members of IPOL will collaborate to study policy making and public opinion in Iowa. Find out more.
|
|
|
|
