Pulse 2014

Summer 2014

A Publication of the JayMac Alumni Group

Gaylord College of Journalism and Mass Communication

COVER STORY: Gaylord College faculty and on-campus alumni leading the way in campus-wide digital initiative ALSO INSIDE: Alum returns to campus to lead Student Media in new directions

Not only is the Internet transforming the media industries, but it’s creating exciting new opportunities for higher education. As Pulse’s cover story explains, OU’s Digital Initiative is in high gear, providing new options for faculty and students.

We are now in an age where college courses can be packaged and delivered beyond the traditional classroom methods that have undergirded university instruction for hundreds of years.

Students now have more choices about how and where they receive instruction.

The face-to-face campus model will remain the gold standard and the hallmark of instruction at OU, but we will also be reaching out to students in ways that are friendlier to their locations, their budgets and their preferred mode of learning.

For the past four years, I’ve been teaching the pre-departure section of my study abroad course to England and France as a “flipped class” where students can access podcasts of the lectures with videos and photos that they download to the iPads that they receive at the beginning of the course. We still meet once a week as a class before we go abroad, but I no longer lecture in a classroom setting. Students get that material whenever they want wherever they are. We use valuable class time to discuss what students have learned.

Students like the flexibility of the flipped model. They invest more time in the material and come to class more eager to talk. I would never go back to the standard lecture format for this class.

During this coming academic year, Gaylord College will be transforming the way our three core courses are taught. A faculty team led by Dr. Ralph Beliveau has a grant from OU’s Center for Teaching Excellence to reinvent the College’s basic introductory course. In the short term, Professor David Tarpenning is working overtime to put materials from that course in a digital format that students can access through the iPads that all of them will receive the first week of classes.

Photo by Shevaun Williams Cover photo by Toni Klemm.

Adam Croom (2009, advertising) leads a talk at the TEDxOU creative workshop he launched on campus.

See more about Croom and his leadership in OU’s Digital Initiative on page 4. Cover Photo By Brandon Snider.

The University of Oklahoma in compliance with all applicable federal and state laws and regulations does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sexual orientation, genetic information, sex, age, religion, disability, political beliefs, or status as a veteran in any of its policies, practices or procedures. This includes but is not limited to admissions, employment, financial aid and educational services. For questions regarding discrimination, sexual assault, sexual misconduct, or sexual harassment, please contact the Office(s) of Institutional Equity as may be applicable – Norman campus at (405) 325-3546/3549, the Health Sciences Center at (405) 2712110 or the OU-Tulsa Title IX Office at (918) 660-3107.

Please see www.ou.edu/eoo.

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Meanwhile, Dr. Robert Kerr, who teaches our required Law of Mass Communication course, is preparing to put his course on the university’s new Janux platform that employs superb interactive technology. Dr. Kerr’s highly popular lectures will soon be available online for anyone from around the world to sample.

This fall we will investigate how to make our introductory writing course more interactive, more multimedia friendly and more effective.

I’m excited that key members of our faculty have embraced these new opportunities in higher education and are working hard to deliver a higher quality learning experience to those on our campus and beyond. What possibilities!

Joe Foote, Dean

Keep us updated! Let us know where you are and what you have been doing since you left OU. Send your updates to: Alumni Update, gaylordalumni@ou.edu Gaylord College, 395 W. Lindsey St., Room 3000 Norman, OK 73019-4201

Summer 2014

Cover Stories

Digital Initiative The Answer Man – Nick Jungman

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Profiles

A Natural-Born Leader – Bijan Hosseini One to Watch – Lauren Nevitt From Radio Mascot to Oprah Winfrey Network President – Erik Logan Sudden Impact – Owen Kulemeka Excellence in Any Field – Distinguished Alumni Spreading the Word – Dari Nowkhah

College News

Student Becomes the Teacher Branding Expert to Lead Student Agency The Pitches Made Around the World A Tale of Two Cities

8 11 13 24 28 30

5 7 16 18

Creature Feature Future Memories Claiming a Spot at the Top The Realities of War Faculty and Staff Additions

22 26 32 34 36

Alumni and Development News Letter from the Development Director Donors and Alumni Association Members Board of Visitors Oklahoma Newspaper Pioneer Makes Additional Gift Before Death Three Receive Regents’ Award $1 Million Gift to Establish Journalism Chair in Honor of Paul Massad Centennial Celebration Recap

Final Thoughts/Opinion Student Views on the Digital Age

37 38 40 42 44 45 46

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Tell us what you think! Take our JayMac Pulse Alumni Magazine Readership Survey and help us improve your magazine.

What content do you like? What content do you dislike? What would you like to see in your alumni magazine?

The survey can be found at http://tiny.cc/PulseSurvey, or if you prefer a paper-based survey, contact (405) 325-5372 or cperkins@ou.edu and we will send you a copy with a return envelope. Also, watch for a survey invitation in your email.

MANAGING EDITOR

EDITOR/CREATIVE DIRECTOR

Dwight Normile Adjunct professor of journalism

Celia Perkins Director of Communications

PHOTOGRAPHERS

JAYMAC BOARD MEMBERS Daryle Voss President James Tyree Immediate Past President Members at Large David Joplin Bill Moore Linda Lake Young

Celia Perkins Hugh Scott Robert H. Taylor Shevaun Williams

STUDENT WRITERS Meagan Deaton Miranda Fogel Garrett Fox Alyssa Fuller

Paighten Harkins Nicholas Jones Arianna Pickard Sarah Pitts

Hayley Thornton Eva Trammell Kirsten Viohl Steven Zoeller

395 W. Lindsey St., Room 3000 Norman, OK 73019-4201 www.ou.edu/gaylord Changes of address may be made in the alumni directory at www.ou.edu/alumni or by calling the Alumni Records department at (405) 325-1700.

Pulse is the annual magazine published by the JayMac alumni association of the Gaylord College of Journalism and Mass Communication at the University of Oklahoma.

Students in the spring 2014 class of the JMC 3011 Magazine Practicum provided the majority of the stories. OU Printing Services printed 10,000 copies of this issue at no cost to taxpayers of the state of Oklahoma. The Gaylord College distributes Pulse to alumni and friends of the journalism and mass communication program.

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CollegeNews

Digital Initiative

Gaylord College ahead of the curve on campus

BY PAighten Harkins

Technology is like a musical instrument.

At least that’s what Buddy Wiedemann, director of information technology, says.

For him, learning Photoshop or InDesign is like the piano; you learn by doing.

“Your teacher comes along and gives you instruction, what to work on, make assignments,” he said. “But it all comes from your own work.”

Wiedemann, who has a bachelor’s degree in piano performance, can see the correlation well. And for the professions Gaylord College students will go into, he says it’s an apt comparison. Technology is always changing, and future communicators should be able to keep pace. Gaylord College has been an Apple Distinguished program the past three years and was innovating with technology years before the University of Oklahoma began the Digital Initiative. Gaylord College has been ahead of the curve in preparing its students for the professional world.

“You have to be able to learn on your feet and learn how to do whatever you’re doing,” Wiedemann said. “And, as soon as you learn that, learn something else.”

Gaylord College has been using new technologies such as iPads and iBooks for

years, beginning with a push from Dean Joe Foote. When new technology comes out, Foote is the first one to buy it, Wiedemann said. Coming from a broadcast background, Foote said technology is his friend and he’s always looking for ways to embrace it.

In 2004 Foote was preparing podcast videos for his study abroad course to put on iTunes U, but it was before OU was ready to use the service. Those videos instead went onto a custom Pacesetter site, which has tutorials for students to use software like Photoshop and Final Cut Pro, Wiedemann said. (The video podcasts have since been updated and added to iTunes U.) Adam Croom, a 2009 advertising graduate, and director of digital courses at OU’s Center for Teaching Excellence, said Gaylord College has always been innovating and using new technologies ever since he was a student in Gaylord Hall.

Students and faculty at Gaylord College were using new technology well before the rest of the university because of how technology has affected journalism, Croom said.

“The journalism industry felt the impact of new technology before many others,” Croom said. “It’s been imperative

Buddy Wiedemann, director of information technology, checks out new iPad minis to students.

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for journalists to adapt to the new digital landscape.”

The Digital Initiative OU launched its One University Digital Initiative in 2012, and since then has added new platforms and programs that use technology in classroom settings in ways not seen before. One University was a response to the changes in higher education, such as the increased costs of textbooks and changing students’ attitudes toward the classroom, Croom said.

Technology currently plays a large role in the life of university students. On top of the increasing costs of higher education and the relatively inexpensive remedies technology offers, Croom said those in higher education are realizing they can’t remain stagnant.

The university’s big push is for programs like Janux (janux.ou.edu), which is a free online courses delivery system that uses open-source materials and videos to teach students and is available to the public.

However, OU also is interested in “flipping classrooms” to accommodate active learning, Croom said. Instead of a traditional classroom where all the desks face the professor, these flipped classrooms are student and activity centered. There is no central focal point in the room; screens are placed for each table to see. The tables themselves are round, allowing for much more student interaction and collaboration.

The professors weave between the tables to help students work on projects and assignments.

The CORE classroom on the research campus was the first specifically built flipped classroom at OU. Now a few more are on Norman’s main campus in the Physical Sciences Center, Croom said.

Being an Apple Distinguished program doesn’t mean Gaylord College students, faculty or staff get discounts on Apple products, Wiedemann said, but it means that Apple helps the college’s faculty use technology in new ways.

In 2013-2014, Professors Robert Kerr and David Tarpenning created iPad course Continued on page 6

David Tarpenning and Adam Croom collaborate on new course materials and new classroom delivery methods for the JMC 1013 Introduction to Mass Media gateway course Tarpenning is teaching this fall.

The Student Becomes the Teacher It was just a little over five years ago that Adam Croom (2009, advertising) was a promising advertising student sitting in Professor David Tarpenning’s class, eagerly soaking up everything he could. Croom was active in several organizations across campus, including being in the inaugural class of the Gaylord Ambassadors.

However, he really distinguished himself as a creative thinker and difference-maker after joining the staff of OU Economic Development, which includes the Center for the Creation of Economic Wealth.

Croom quickly rose to a position of digital leadership when he brought the wildly successful TEDxOU creative workshops focusing on technology, entertainment and design to campus in 2012.

Croom also was integral in coordinating development of the new interactive learning community, Janux, with local technology company, NextThought. The Janux platform is built to deliver courses to the public, and was developed under the leadership of OU’s interim provost, Kyle Harper.

Now the tables are turned and Croom is the teacher and Tarpenning is the student, soaking up everything he can and working to take his classes digital.

In the 1980s Tarpenning was president and owner of a thriving Oklahoma City advertising agency that focused on the financial services industry. He has been on the Gaylord College faculty for more than 15 years, getting students excited about careers in advertising, and was instrumental in launching the student-run advertising and public relations agency, Lindsey and Asp in 2009. He has just recently stepped aside from his agency advising duties to teach full time again. Debbie Yount will assume his advisory duties (see page 7 for more.)

Instead of relaxing, he has been working long days this summer converting lesson plans and reading materials for three courses over to ibooks and websites: Intro to Mass Communication, Contemporary Advertising Problems and Public Relations Writing.

This fall, the massive JMC 1013 Intro to Mass Communication gateway course, that all students take will be transformed to a state-of-the-art classroom. Through a campus technology grant, each student will receive a brand-new iPad, which will be loaded with a custom ibook Tarpenning is authoring with help from Croom.

Gone will be the days of the spiralbound, smudged and nearly illegible readers

bought from the local copy store. iPads have ushered in the digital era of course readers complete with hyperlinked source materials that can be easily accessed and updated.

Students now will be able to tap on a link and the corresponding webpage or source material will open for them.

The iPads also will be used for a new format of teaching in the classroom. For the large, 300-student JMC 1013 class taught in one of the Dale Hall auditoriums, Tarpenning will be able to leave the stage to walk among the students and project content to the screens at the front of the room. Students also will be able to submit questions on their iPads.

“There are three ways to approach technology in the classroom,” said Tarpenning. “First, you can ban it completely and take up all the smart phones, laptops and iPads at the first of each class period and don’t give them back until class is over. Second, you can ignore it while students are checking Facebook, texting, using Pinterest on their devices or third, you can embrace it and engage the students in using their devices to learn. I chose to use the last because that’s how students learn in today’s classroom.”

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readers for their classes. Both Kerr’s senior-level Mass Communication Law class and Tarpenning’s Advertising Copy and Layout class saving our students money are media-heavy and were prime for the conversion. Tarpenning is bringing more classes online for the 2014-2015 academic year (see page 5).

With the way technology is changing the classroom, Wiedemann Principles of Advertising Media and Culture said he believes that future students will exclusively use tablets or other devices in the classroom.

“In less than five years, students will be coming into classes Intro to Mass Communication and refuse to buy a textbook,” Wiedemann said. “They’re going to think that’s crazy.”

Gaylord College will continue to innovate, Weidemann said, and Pixels vs. Paper Comparison experiment with new technology to CURRENT TEXTBOOK COSTS FOR see how it could be implemented in INTRO TO MASS COMMUNICATION the classroom.

Used New “It doesn’t mean we’re doing it $95 $126 right, but we’re trying,” Wiedemann said.

Digital Molly Evans, a journalism $60 junior, said her first impression of 90% Tuition & Fees $126 Gaylord College was the amount of $1,151.95 10% New Textbook technology available to students, so $25 $50 $75 $100 $125 $150 she was excited when she started to use it in her classes.

“In Gaylord we’re taught to be multimedia focused, so I’m glad that not only my classes give me the opportunity to use multimedia with our print stories … but the fact that we have the technology to make professional-grade content,” she said.

Evans says she’s used almost all the programs on Gaylord College’s computers through work in her online journalism courses, and agrees with Wiedemann when he says you can’t be taught software — you have to learn by practice. the university has been catching up. The students more options for taking in the “It’s important for you to practice on Jeannine Rainbolt College of Education was same information. your own,” Evans said. added to the Apple Distinguished Program How Gaylord College will continue

$1,277.95

The Future of the Classroom Gaylord College is now one of only about a dozen collegiate programs in the country to receive the distinction as an Apple Distinguished Program, an impressive feat for a college located in the middle of a fly-over state.

“People hardly know where we are on the map, yet what’s going on here is pretty amazing,” Wiedemann said.

While Gaylord College was one of the first colleges to embrace emerging technologies like Apple TV or iTunes U, 6

list in fall 2013. The influx of technology, though, scares some people because they think it’s “watering down” higher education.

Foote disagrees. For him, technology is a way to better the student experience.

Today’s students want options. They want to read a PDF from their phone while walking to the library, then sit down at a desk and read the same document on their tablet. Then they may want to watch a video summing up what they’ve read. So for Foote, technology doesn’t water down higher education. It makes it richer. It gives

innovating is still evolving. But its students, faculty and staff will continue to experiment with new technology to see what happens, whether good or bad — and that’s OK. “If you’re not making mistakes, you’re not innovating enough,” Wiedemann said.

Paighten Harkins is a junior journalism major from Durant, Oklahoma. She has seven fish; one is named Scott.

CollegeNews

Branding Expert at Helm Yount to lead the student agency and guide strategic communication curriculum as area head

BY CELIA PERKINS

Debbie (Sherry) Yount (class of 1974, advertising) was chosen to lead the advertising operations for the student-run Lindsey and Asp advertising and public relations agency and to serve as the Strategic Communication Area Head.

Debbie Yount has been selected to serve as the new Strategic Communication Area Head and to lead the advertising operations of Lindsey and Asp, the student-run advertising and public relations agency.

Yount joined the Gaylord College faculty in 2013 after serving on the college’s Board of Visitors for six years. A 1974 OU advertising graduate, she has more than three decades of experience in branding and digital strategy, working in executive leadership positions at some of the world’s largest advertising firms, including Grey Global Group, Publicis Worldwide and McCann Worldgroup.

As area head, Yount will be responsible for setting the direction for curriculum in the advertising and public relations programs.

“I am really looking forward to working with the faculty to revitalize the curriculum and better prepare students for careers at top agencies worldwide,” said Yount.

Yount also will to lead Lindsey and Asp, now in its fifth year, as they move to become a leader in the area of generational marketing intelligence. She will lead the new generation of advertising and public relations professionals in developing expertise in the areas of social media ideation, implementation and monitoring, as well as other strategic and creative services.

“The agency is uniquely positioned to help marketers capture information about the next generation of consumers,” said Yount. “Its students are on the cusp of the Millennial/Plural transition and can provide firsthand insights into the buying and media habits of their peers and their younger siblings.

“The last of the Millennials entered college in 2014, and over the next few years, we will see the first members of the next generation – those age 17 and under, known as the Plurals – enter college,” Yount said.

“This new generation is more diverse than previous generations and does not

necessarily buy into the concept of the ‘American Dream.’ The big questions for brands are: how will this generation approach buying decisions, and how will they use media?

“Insights from generational research can be of value to companies across the board,” Yount continued. “Lindsey and Asp can be a resource for organizations that might not have the extra staff or budget for a large agency to conduct the research. We can meet that need.”

Yount is assuming the agency role previously held by David Tarpenning, who will continue to teach (see page 5). Robert Pritchard, APR, Fellow PRSA, will continue to lead the public relations operation.

She follows Professor Jim Avery as the strategic communication area head. Avery will remain on faculty as the inaugural Paul Massad chair in strategic communication and focus on teaching and professional output and continue working with the University of Gujrat grant (see page 16).

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StudentProfile

A Natural-Born Leader Bijan Hosseini brings culture and passion to Gaylord College

By Kirsten Viohl Charisma is redefined by one of Gaylord College’s own standout students, a force hard to ignore and even harder to forget.

Bijan Hosseini, a junior with a double major in broadcast journalism and international security studies, has made an impact on the college with his unwavering leadership and initiative. Hosseini’s personable smile and infectious attitude are just along for the ride in his quest to leave a legacy here at the University of Oklahoma.

Hosseini began his journalism career his sophomore year as part of the camera crew for Gaylord College’s OU Nightly.

The following two semesters, he moved from behind the camera to in front of it, becoming one of the show’s main anchors.

Hosseini has been fortunate to receive guidance from an experienced mentor.

Mike Boettcher, an Emmy-award winning professor at Gaylord College, played a large role in one of Hosseini’s proudest accomplishments, a job with Oklahoma City’s KFOR-TV. Boettcher helped open the door, but Hosseini’s impressive knack for all things journalism sealed the deal.

“I never expected to hear back, let alone be offered a job,” Hosseini said.

Adjusting to the balance of school and work has been one of the biggest difficulties for Hosseini. He serves as a newswriter for KFOR-TV on Tuesdays, and tackles the assignment desk on weekends. Such a packed schedule forced Hosseini to adapt.

“Weekends were my time to relax and unwind from the week,” he said. “I was not used to giving those up, but it is definitely worth it.”

In tune with typical Hosseini fashion, his first day on the job for KFOR coincided with claims of shots being fired on OU’s campus. Hosseini found himself reporting live via phone during the chaos and confusion, appearing on live television before he had even stepped foot into the station for his first day.

The rarity of landing a job at a news station as only a junior in college is not lost 8

on Hosseini. His humility and appreciation cannot go unnoticed. Dean Joe Foote is among those who recognize the engaging qualities that help Hosseini stand out as a leader.

“It is underneath the surface, but Bijan came to college with an incredible sense of curiosity,” Foote said. “He may be a major in this college, but he has interests far beyond that.”

Foote also commented on Hosseini’s selflessness and ability to care for others around him.

“He has the charm, personality and empathy to make other people believe in him,” Foote said. “He makes it easy for people to be confident in following him, which is one of his most favorable leadership characteristics.”

Ultimately, Hosseini dreams of becoming an international war correspondent. He was drawn to this field through an internship with Kelly Damphousse, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, for whom he did research about terrorism in the United States.

“He was able to really tailor it toward journalism for me, allowing me to dabble in both areas,” Hosseini said.

“I had Bijan spend the semester searching for open source data on the people in our database,” said Damphousse. “He is one of the best students I have ever had, so it was no surprise that he did so well – compiling more open source data than I ever could have collected on my own…I know that he is going to be a superstar in the not-too-distant future.”

Hosseini’s Persian cultural background is what sparked his interest in the world around him. His father moved to the United States in 1979 during the Iranian Revolution, heavily influencing Hosseini’s childhood. Hosseini’s given name is Tyler, but going by his middle name of Bijan is just further testament to the pride Hosseini has for his background.

“Growing up and hearing my dad’s stories about Iran has always piqued my interest,” Hosseini says. “I knew coming here that I wanted to do something on a global scale.”

Hosseini speaks fondly of his study abroad experience in Turkey, which he completed in the summer of 2013. His natural curiosity for global events led him straight into the heart of the Turkish protests that were taking place during his study abroad.

Bijan Hosseini was named Mr. OU in fall 2014.

“We actually had to cut our trip short because the hostel where we were staying was tear gassed,” Hosseini recalled.

He says his natural instinct was to go right into the chaos, his journalistic duty to be in on the action.

“I knew that moment that this was what I am meant to do,” Hosseini said.

He says his family’s support has provided him with incessant motivation and inspiration.

“My parents will support me in anything I do, but obviously they would prefer that I do something where I am not risking my life,” Hosseini said, his relaxed demeanor in contrast with his parents’ woes.

Hosseini’s leadership skills have led him to be named 2014 Mr. OU and to become co-chair for the Gaylord College Ambassadors for the 2014-15 school year, after only being part of the program for his junior year. He is highly regarded by his peers, impacting those around him not only as a leader, but also as a friend. Ross Stracke, a junior broadcasting and electronic media student, is glad to have met someone like Hosseini at Gaylord College.

“I’ve always been told that if you want to be successful, surround yourself with the right people,” Stracke said.

“I can’t think of a better person to be around than Bijan when it comes to this. Watching him pursue his dreams has only inspired me to work harder toward mine.”

Hosseini is leaving his mark on Gaylord College, and while igniting his dreams through his passion for journalism, his heritage and the world.

Such charisma and success can be difficult to obtain, yet Hosseini makes it look effortless.

Kirsten Viohl is a junior journalism major from Dallas who is spending her summer interning in Los Angeles.

A rising star on campus and off, Bijan Hosseini is pursuing a double major in international security studies and broadcast journalism. He has set his sights on a career as an international war correspondent like his mentor, Mike Boettcher.

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Sooner Sports Pad Stats Seen in 9 million homes on Fox Sports Southwest LIVE on Monday nights at 7:30 p.m. (CST) 4 student hosts and 50+ student production crew Heading into third season Winner of the College Sports Media Best Series in 2013, finalist in 2014

StudentProfile

One to Watch: Lauren Nevitt Sooner Sports Pad puts student ahead of the game

By Alyssa Fuller A sea of crimson filled Bourbon Street in New Orleans on a night that no University of Oklahoma student or fan would forget.

The stadium was aglow and the noise electric, Lauren Nevitt stepped onto the field and into the heat of the action. This is where she witnessed her underdog football team shock the nation by crushing Alabama in the 2014 Sugar Bowl.

Following a season of highs and lows for the Sooners, the team had an incredible performance led by quarterback Trevor Knight. After much criticism leading up to the game ,Oklahoma football never looked better than it did on Jan. 2.

Nevitt, along with all the other Sooner fanatics, wanted to scream and cheer for her team but knew she had to stay unbiased and professional while reporting on the sideline.

“The job always comes first,” Nevitt said. “Being on the field and in all the action made me feel like I was actually playing in the game. It was an unbelievable experience but I had to adapt to the environment and be responsible to finish my work. I was on the field for a reason.”

A graduating senior and broadcast journalism major in Gaylord College, Nevitt is a well-known face around campus after hosting Sooner Sports Pad for the past two years.

She knew she wanted to focus on sports shortly after she declared her major, and she chose OU because of its reputable journalism program. After watching and playing sports as a youth in Dallas, she always admired the action of any game.

Nevitt has always been competitive. A total sports nut, she played volleyball and ran track at Bishop Lynch High School.

Nevitt was a Class 5A Texas Association Private and Parochial School state champion in both sports. Her 4x400-meter relay team still holds the record time at Bishop Lynch.

Despite her competitive nature on the court and track, Nevitt admits she was terribly shy when she was younger.

“It’s crazy thinking that I now host a show that reaches over 9 million people on FOX Sports,” she said. “I’ve learned how to be confident and roll with criticism.”

Over the years, Nevitt has developed a passion for reporting, writing and the rush of nerves and excitement before she goes on camera.

“No matter how many times I do a show for Sooner Sports Pad, I always get an amazing adrenaline rush knowing that the show airs all over the nation,” Nevitt said.

“It’s so surreal.”

Nevitt became involved with Sooner Sports Pad as a sophomore and started hosting the show her junior year. Most people don’t even realize how many different people it takes to produce a single episode of Sooner Sports Pad. It’s truly a team effort to accomplish the show, and if a problem comes up, Nevitt and her team have learned to adapt, being live on air.

“Some of the best memories on Sports Pad definitely came from the “games” (on the show). They’re ridiculous,” Nevitt said.

“One time we had an extremely messy PB&J eating contest, and another time I had an egg cracked on my head. It can be very unpredictable.”

Nevitt also relishes the opportunities to meet all of the different athletes and coaches on the show. She loves being able to talk to them on a personal level and really bring an interview to life.

“Lauren has done a remarkable job as host and it’s been a true pleasure watching her grow into that role,” said Dean Joe Foote. “She’s a natural talent anyway and didn’t have that far to go.”

Foote attended the 2013 Dallas recruitment dinner in October where Nevitt gave a speech to around 1,000 people.

After seeing Nevitt repeatedly on Sooner Sports Pad, Foote knew that she could connect with audiences with her sparkling personality.

“Lauren was as good and as engaging and as smooth on that podium as she is on the air,” Foote said. “She has that special quality, and I’m convinced that there are people coming to the University of Oklahoma next year because of the impact Lauren made with that speech.”

Nevitt’s ultimate goal and career would be to report for College GameDay football on ESPN. College football is her favorite sport to cover and she has gained a lot of experience at a school like OU, with such a successful football program.

“Being able to report for College GameDay would be like getting paid to have fun,” she said.

Nevitt’s dream sporting event to cover would be a Super Bowl. She had such an amazing experience at the Sugar Bowl that she said she couldn’t even imagine what a Super Bowl would be like.

“I hope that we can find other Lauren Nevitts out there, because we really struck it rich by having her,” Foote said. “We could be seeing her on the air for a long, long time.”

Lissy Fuller is a senior advertising major from Oklahoma City. She is moving to Dallas after graduation to pursue a career in advertising and communications.

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W

hen Erik Logan Toppenberg graduated from Northwest Classen High School in Oklahoma City, he had neither the grades nor resources to attend his beloved University of Oklahoma.

But he did have an insatiable drive to succeed. At 16 he worked as “Chuck the Duck” for KEBC radio in Oklahoma City, and by 19 he was the station’s youngest manager.

“Erik Logan” continued to manage radio stations in Seattle, San Francisco, Tampa Bay, New York and Washington, D.C., the last as Executive Vice President of Sirius XM Satellite Radio.

In 2008 he was hired by Oprah Winfrey as president of Harpo Studios in Chicago, and in 2011 he became co-president of the Oprah Winfrey Network in Los Angeles.

“I knew he was a guy who has ‘it’,” Winfrey said about the first time she met Logan. “Here is a person who’s going to be able to impact your life in a really big way.

You should not let him go.”

Said Sheri Salata, who shares the co-president title with Logan at OWN: “This guy is something else … he makes such a remarkable first impression … kind of a ball of fire, tons of energy.”

Logan, 43, has two young daughters, Jacksyn and Hudsyn, with wife Erin, and works for arguably the most powerful person in television media. More recently, Logan became a Gaylord College scholarship donor and will officially join the College’s Board of Visitors. in the fall.

Erik Logan, often called Oprah’s Right-Hand Man, is a native of Oklahoma City and supporter of Gaylord College.

Board MemberProfile

From Radio Mascot to Oprah Winfrey Network President Oklahoma City native Erik Logan joins Gaylord College board

By Garrett A. Fox What was the hardest obstacle to overcome on your journey to becoming co-president at the Oprah Winfrey Network?

One of the things through my career I tried to do with every job was push myself into a different area or learn something along the way. Whether or not it was a financial skill set, a marketing skill set, an on-air skill-set, or whatever it would be, it all started back when I was 16 in the [mascot] costume trying to get out of it, actually.

I think to narrow it down, we had some really great successes at Harpo Studios with The Oprah Winfrey Show. And Sheri Salata, who is the co-president with me … we certainly knew the television daytime syndication business. And, I think when Sheri and I became the presidents of OWN, it was a learning curve for us that we had to jump into and learn very very quickly, which was how to translate what we were doing for a daytime audience, one hour a day, to a full seven-day-a-week, 24-hour-aday cable network. Obstacle … I wouldn’t call it that. I would just simply say how were we translating what it was we were doing with The Oprah Winfrey Show and all of the values that that had into a cable network.

What was the hardest part of making the jump from radio to television?

It’s a different medium and I think that how you communicate in television is different fundamentally than it was in radio. At the end of the day, it’s still about the connection to the audience. Radio doesn’t have the ability to take advantage of pictures, and we know pictures are worth a thousand words. In radio, all you have are your words. So, I think translating that was a learning curve for me.

I also think that in radio we coach talent and we program stations. Radio is more of a storytelling, narrative kind of format.

Television is a little bit more “get to the point, tell the story, tell another story, tell another story.” I think the overlay with video and images makes it a different type of storytelling. I think they’re in a lot of ways very similar and I think in a lot of ways they’re very different. I lean a lot on my radio experience in what I do today. It’s where I spent the majority of my professional life. Moving around and learning how to connect a product to many different people in many different cities across the country has served me well [in] trying to think through the different ways to connect with Sheri and our programming team here at the network.

How did Oprah convince you to leave SIRIUS XM Radio to work for her?

It was just a conversation. Going back to what we talked about earlier, always trying to find different ways to challenge myself as an executive and learn and grow … I had never worked in television. You know, certainly to have your first television job be at Harpo Studios and learn TV from Oprah Winfrey, I thought would be a really great idea. I can’t think of really any other place higher than that to start off … at the biggest television show in television. It was a fantastic experience and I learned a lot from her and Sheri and all of our team at Harpo, and it really was a great opportunity for me.

What project would you consider to be your most significant accomplishment in your career to date?

I think we’re kind of in the middle of it. I think what we’ve been able to do over the past couple of years with this network, if you sort of just look at the state of affairs

the network was in when Sheri and I got here, and the work that Oprah has put in and Sheri, myself, and all of the company and all of the employees. We have made the company profitable now for the first time.

We are enjoying record ratings. We are enjoying a lot of success on the network. So I think the turn that the network is making today certainly is, I would think, one of the single most significant things I have been part of in my career.

What is the best part about working at the Oprah Winfrey Network rather than if you had worked for another production company?

I always say to executives that ask me for my opinion … with every career move you make you have to find something about that opportunity that feels like its going to push you or challenge you in a very significant way. To say that I didn’t have anything else to learn in radio probably isn’t true, but I had been in radio literally for about 20 years. I’m not sure that there was much more that was really going to push me in radio, given where the state of the industry was and what was happening.

I had also been in XM, which was a whole new technology revolution of radio. So I had done terrestrial radio, I had done satellite radio. Certainly one would argue you could go and do Internet radio, fine, and there were some interesting opportunities at the time and I could’ve done that if I wanted to. But I would tell you that going into a whole new medium and figuring out how to translate what I had learned for those 20 years has been enormously powerful.

Where I sit today, I look back and [see] all of the opportunities Oprah has given to Sheri and me. We have an opportunity to run a production company called Harpo 13

Studios. We have an opportunity to program amazing content and do amazing deals and amazing things at the Oprah Winfrey Network. We have the opportunity to work with Harpo Films, our scripted film feature division, so we’re learning the film business. We have launched a tour company called Harpo Live, which is the partnership with William Morris that’s taking Oprah on tour. So … I’m learning the tour business, about concerts, and arenas, and all that.

We launched an e-commerce business with our new digital platform. What was interesting about that was that we had a discussion about selling and pricing, and what was really advantageous for me is that I have an experience with pricing, I have an experience with how we sell things to consumers and the questions to ask because I was exposed to it at XM. The more you diversify yourself, you’re never totally sure as you grow as an executive or in your career when those other

skills will come in handy. When I came to Harpo we had no plans of doing anything e-commerce, and now here we are, and I’m leaning on some of my experiences back in the XM days. So I think the answer lies in a lot of different places to answer your question.

How has the Internet changed the television business model with so many live-streaming services starting to develop?

I think that the beautiful thing about the Internet and the distribution models is that it gives consumers a lot of choice, and I think that all it really does is put pressure on us as content creators to up our game.

I’m a very competitive person. I play to win at every turn and I love it when the pressure gets up.

What we’ve been able to do at the network is sort of answer the pressure call, and as competition heats up, whether or

not that’s with cable networks or broadcast networks or streaming or whatever it is, we do know this: content will win in the end.

Content is truly king. If we can develop the programming and make the connection to the audience, people will come and get us.

I think that the Internet is a beautiful power. It’s a wonderful asset. We use that asset a lot at the network with Oprah.com … [with] ways to enhance the experience you see on the screen.

Gaylord College graduates are facing an industry that is changing fast.

What advice would you have for these students as they prepare themselves for the working world?

I think at the end of the day, whether or not you are a content creator [or whatever role you have] … don’t lose sight of the fact that the consumers want the quality content that speaks to them. So I think what I would say to the graduates would be … to

What does a busy network exec do in his free time?

What do you do in your free time?

I have a lot of different interests but I would tell you, selfishly, I love to be in the water in any way, form or fashion. Whether that’s body planing, prosurfing, paddle-surfing, whatever it may be. Being in the water or on the water has, for me, turned into my first love with my discretionary time.

How does surfing help you in your job, if at all?

I could talk about this for days. I would just say this: I think everybody in their life, I would hope, finds things that they can do or things that they do that removes them from a little bit of the dayto-day or the manic or stress or pressure. A lot of people choose to meditate. A lot of people choose yoga. A lot of people choose golf.

For me, surfing is a very spiritual journey to be in the water. I have found that the lessons and the spiritual nature of what the energy of the water is has taught me an enormous amount about myself,

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about how to handle myself in a lot of different situations and has given me a perspective about the enormity of the world and the universe that is beyond me. That is what surfing does.

To me, it is certainly about a board and a paddle and a small wave or a 15-foot wave. I’ve done both.

It’s not really necessarily about that; it’s about the larger energetic connection that I have with the water. For me, that’s what it does. It takes me to a place that I can’t get to in any other way. That’s the best way I could say it.

understand your role and how you want to contribute value in that distribution path.

If you are a great editor, then what is it that you’re editing? Five-minute YouTube clips or a motion picture? Or are you doing original programming for a cable network?

Where do you want to go with that, knowing that at the end of the day all of the whiz-bang technology, all of the editing, everything comes down to the content.

I do believe that it is a golden age of distribution. I think it’s fantastic to be in journalism. I think it’s fantastic to be in the media business today. There’s more opportunity than ever before.

A lot of people talk about the end of all of these other industries, like the cable networks, the print … I actually have a very contrarian view to all of that. What has to be adjusted in all of those industries is the monetization of how you create a business around it, but there’s more content today than ever before. I think that it’s very exciting that Garrett in Norman, Oklahoma, can set up a blog, and if you write quality content and you are a beat writer and you break news, you could be worldwide in a matter of seconds. That wouldn’t happen 20 years ago.

I would say to the graduates … don’t get mired in what is wrong with media.

Focus on the opportunity that you have to contribute to make it go forward.

Why did you decide to fund a scholarship for the Gaylord College?

There were three real good reasons. The first is I love the University of Oklahoma.

I wanted to go there when I was in Oklahoma, but I couldn’t get in because of my grades out of Northwest Classen, and I didn’t have the money.

Number two, as I was working in my career, I sort of looked back, and I think about this a lot — especially now working as close as I do with Oprah Winfrey. The lack of diversity … in the media business as I was growing up was very skewed. It was a very male-oriented business. I still see many corporations and boards that don’t have a balance of women and men, and I think that has to be addressed and fixed.

Number three, which was really the tipping point, a few years ago I was very honored to be inducted into the Oklahoma City Wall of Fame, which is the Hall of Fame for students who graduate from the Oklahoma City Public School System. It came completely out of the blue, and I was just completely floored. Coach Switzer inducted me, and in my acceptance speech, I made a commitment to Oklahoma City that I was going to try to give back to the students in the Oklahoma City

Brieon Sumlin (2013, broadcast journalism) was the first recipient of the Erik Logan Toppenberg scholarship and is now working at OWN.

Public School System. So I bundled that all together and created the endowment that I have at the college to recognize and acknowledge that if you are a female from the Oklahoma City Public School System, and you are trying to pursue a career in broadcasting or journalism at the Gaylord College, which in my opinion is the best in the country, then I’m willing to do what I can to help further that initiative.

Brieon Sumlin was my very first recipient, and Brieon and I still talk, we Tweet, and she’s going to try to come out this summer so we can spend some time

together. I look forward to seeing the young women who go through that.

Garrett Fox is a senior broadcast and electronic media major from Purcell, Oklahoma. After graduation, he plans to venture into commercial advertising and television with hopes of being part of the film world one day. He has two children, Timber and Aspen, both of which are Siberian Huskies. He also has a deep love for Oprah Winfrey.

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(Top) Katerina Tsetsura (third from left) and Katherine Fikes, Nathan Robertson and Katherine Brannen with clients from the city of Erfurt, Germany, marketing department. (Bottom) Audrey Bauer, Bakhtawar Aamire, Caitlyn Kayser, Zain Qadri and Colleen Owen answer questions about their advertising plan at the University of Gujrat.

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GlobalReach

The Pitches Made Around the World

PR and Ad students make global presentations

BY Celia Perkins Last summer, six Gaylord College students had no idea they would soon be traveling half-way around the world to present their class projects to people from cultures dramatically different from Norman, Oklahoma. Their experiences over the next nine months would take them out of their comfort zones and onto the global stage.

Gaining a global perspective on the world is a common theme running through many of the Gaylord College’s programs including special guest speakers, grant programs and study abroad trips. Many of the foundation courses across the different majors stress working with people from different backgrounds and cultures, and how diversity can enrich the experience for everyone.

This past year, Professor Jim Avery and Professor Katerina Tsetsura took that philosophy, and put it into overdrive.

Independently, they each secured international organizations to serve as real clients for their students. Student teams then worked on projects over the course of several months, spanning two semesters in some cases, and culminated the experience by making their final presentations, in person, to clients in Pakistan and Germany.

Avery’s Account Planning class worked to create an advertising plan for the Ceramics Institute of Gujrat in the rural Punjab province of Pakistan.

This incredible opportunity stemmed from a new partnership between the University of Gujrat and the Gaylord College created through a grant with the U.S. State Department. Avery and several other faculty members have traveled to the Pakistani university several times.

The Ceramics Institute project provided an unprecedented opportunity to integrate students from both OU and the Pakistani university into one working team. Avery’s Account Planning class initially had four student teams each of which conducted primary and secondary research and

competed to be the winning team with the honor of presenting their analysis and plan to the clients. Their primary goal was to establish a plan that would present Gujrat Ceramics as a viable choice for American consumers in the functional art marketplace.

The winning team of Caitlyn Kayser, Colleen Owen and Audrey Bauer was chosen in early April and the team began working on their plan. Two Pakistani women students from the partner university would soon join the three women in their research (see article on page 18 for more).

“I am pleased with the affiliation between our universities and between our students that has been made possible through this grant,” said Avery.

Tsetsura also was able to leverage existing relationships built over several years of teaching communication studies to OU and German students through a special summer program at the University of Erfurt, Germany.

As part of the special fall 2013 Presidential Dream Course on Public Relations Research, Tsetsura’s PR students also competed to present their research to clients in the city of Erfurt marketing department.

Katherine Brannen, Dusti Gasparovic, Katherine Fikes and Nathan Robertson were chosen as the final team during the fall semester and continued research and planning into the spring semester.

The students were able to conduct indepth research including gathering hundreds of survey responses and conducting dozens of focus groups and personal interviews.

The ability to access the potential American target audience of both the Ceramics Institute and the city of Erfurt was a huge benefit for the clients.

“The biggest thing I learned is that the client respects numbers,” said Robertson.

“We would not have received nearly the respect we received if we had arrived with insights from 60 Americans as opposed to

600. In the future, I think it’s important to collect impressive data sets.”

Shared hurdles for the groups were the language, geographic and cultural differences. However, the language and geographic hurdles were lessened for the Ceramics Institute group because they had two English-speaking representatives from the client on-site for a month during the planning period, a luxury the Erfurt group did not have.

“When you’re presenting to a client whose first language is not English, it is imperative that everything is spoken clearly, at an understandable speed and effectively,” said Fikes, who went to Germany. “We worked very hard on making sure that the language barrier would not be an issue and I think it made me a better presenter in so many ways.”

Both Avery and Tsetsura were able to move global communication strategy off the pages of textbooks and case studies and make it a tangible, life-altering experience for their students.

“I want to work with more international clients, because the challenge pushes my strategy and critical thinking to the limits,” said Robertson who will spend fall 2014 studying at Fudan University in Shanghai.

“This project and trip taught me more than I ever expected to learn,” said Bauer, an advertising junior who traveled to Pakistan.

“To me, the hands on, real-life experience of working in another country is more valuable and applicable than sitting in a classroom learning terms. The things I learned from this class and was able to apply in real-life situations is something that I will be able to rely on in any of my future jobs.”

Kayser feels the same way after her trip to Pakistan, “This project tested me but pushed me to become a more strategic thinker in all aspects of my career,” she said.

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GlobalReach

A Tale of Two Cities

For Pakistani visitors, America is Norman, Oklahoma

BY Steven Zoeller

In April, Gaylord College dropped students and faculty from Pakistan into the middle of a Hollywood motion picture. At least, this is what they say it felt like. After being exposed to America all their lives via television and movies, their trip allowed them to cross the ocean and experience the real thing for the first time.

The program that brought them here is part of a U.S. State Department exchange program between the University of Gujrat in Pakistan and the Gaylord College. OU hosts Pakistani faculty and students from Gujrat in Norman and in turn sends faculty and students to Pakistan to help them build a first-class media and mass communication program.

The most recent visitors included two students, Zain Qadri and Bakhtawar Aamire, and two faculty members, Saira Zeeshan and Ayesha Bhatti. All four women are under 30.

Qadri and Aamire spent their time studying under advertising professor Jim Avery, who taught them and a group of Gaylord College students about account planning, or the art of using what you know about people to advertise to them.

“They don’t offer strategic planning or account planning at [the University of Gujrat],” Avery said. “So they came here for a month during the time we were working on this project.”

The project Avery refers to is the first collaborative effort between Gaylord College students and their Pakistani counterparts. Qadri and Aamire were paired with three advertising students and tasked with devising a strategy for the Ceramics Institute of Gujrat to market their goods to an American audience. At the end of the semester, the advertising students traveled to Pakistan and rejoined Qadri and Aamire to present the plan to the Gujrat administrators. (Read more about the project on page 17).

Dean Joe Foote spoke with enthusiasm of the program and the part Avery played in it, referring to his work as “path breaking.”

He also emphasized the importance of 18

the program for developing young minds abroad.

“Experiential learning is something we take for granted in this college, which hardly exists in many universities,” Foote said.

“Around the world we don’t see that sort of thing. The Oklahoma Daily, OU Nightly, all that stuff, it’s just part of our DNA here. It’s not necessarily done over there.”

The students used teamwork to complete Avery’s project, as well as a few others. He initially expected Qadri and

Aamire to resist the quantity of work, but was pleasantly surprised by their tenacity in tackling the material.

“They did book reports in the class, they did a project for Keurig coffee machines … they did everything,” Avery said. “For the two key students that were here, English is their third language. And yet they read five books while they were here, in English. What I learned from that is that if people are interested in a subject, they’ll find ways to accomplish what needs to get accomplished.”

The visiting instructors, Zeeshan and Bhatti, were also eager and they immersed themselves in research for much of their visit. They relished the great access to information OU afforded them, picking the brains of professors and visiting the library so much its employees could recognize their faces by the time they had to leave America.

“We can use this information and we can make recommendations when we go back,” said Qadri. “When we have to work

in the professional field, we can use these ideas, whatever we learned from here.”

However, the students’ inexperience with American technology meant they required some practice before they could take full advantage of the university.

“It took me two weeks to understand the system — how to go to the library, how to use your card, how to use your login …” said Zeeshan. “The system in Pakistan is not like this.”

The group did not find everything at OU to be more complicated, though. The matter of traveling from where they stayed to their first class turned out to be much simpler. While living in the residence halls, it took them only five to 10 minutes. Not so in Pakistan.

“My house is approximately one and a half hours away from the university,” said Aamire.

Like most students who attend the University of Gujrat, Qadri and Aamire commute from their homes via bus. To attend their 8:30 a.m. classes, they must hop on the bus at around 6:30. For obvious reasons, living on the OU campus has changed their schedules pretty radically.

Something else took some adjusting: diet. Because the visitors are Muslim, a great deal of mainstream American food was off limits because it isn’t halal, or because it doesn’t meet their religious guidelines for purity. As such, the group had to do some hunting around for a place to eat. On top of this, a lot of American food isn’t spicy enough for their tastes, an issue that was remedied by their discovery of Mexican dishes.

Beyond these minor glitches, the students said they had no problem internalizing the rhythm of American life during their visit. They attributed this to their experiences with the nation’s media and entertainment.

“American culture is the most overexposed culture in the world,” said Bhatti.

“You need to understand that. You can owe that to Hollywood, and to all the television channels.”

Thanks to the long reach of America’s entertainment media, and that English is fairly well known among Pakistanis, the students were not taken off-guard by cultural practices during their visit. But this didn’t make events they attended like an Oklahoma Thunder game, for example, any less exciting.

“It was amazing,” said Bhatti. “It was a great opportunity to be a part of something you’ve been watching on TV since you were a kid.”

Possibly a more important factor in the students’ easy adjustment to the culture was the great lengths to which Gaylord College faculty went to make them feel welcome. The students said when they asked questions, they got answers. The professors were eager to feed their curiosity.

If anything, they were “over-welcomed,” Bhatti said. She speculates this might have had something to do with people being afraid they might be more unfamiliar with American culture than they actually were.

“I think maybe because of that misconception people are more conscious about keeping us feeling more at home,” said Bhatti.

“People have been very friendly to us, and they have been very welcoming. They’ve been very generous.”

Steven Zoeller is a journalism senior from Houston. To his family’s relief, he will graduate this fall. When he’s not writing stories for class, he’s doing it on a freelance basis, covering everything from student drug dealers to strip club dancers. This article is the tamest story he’s written in awhile.

(Top) Ayesha Bhatti, Zain Qadri, Saira Zeeshan and Bakhtawar Aamire visited Norman in April; (Middle) Aamire and Qadri collaborated with Caitlyn Kayser, Audrey Bauer and Colleen Owen on an account plan for the Ceramics Institute; (Bottom) the team presented to this room of administrators at the University of Gujrat in Pakistan.

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StudentMedia

The Answer Man

New Student Media Director Nick Jungman is eager to embrace the digital age

By Sarah Pitts “Whiz-kid,” “Fact-Police” and “Truman” are just a few nicknames describing the new Student Media director from his time spent at the University of Oklahoma as a student. Nick Jungman (pronounced like Youngman), a 1997 alumnus and former OU Daily editor, returns to Norman to take Student Media in a new direction.

Media organizations across the country have been struggling, and college organizations are no exception. With high hopes for student media despite the tough times for the industry, OU needs a new, bright mind to challenge students and staff into an upward curve of success.

Jungman’s first two nicknames are complimentary for anyone in the news industry, but “Truman” has a more interesting story. Jungman played the college tournament of Jeopardy, and the answer that tripped him up was, “He was the last Democratic vice president to become president.” After some contemplation, he rapidly wrote down Truman, which was incorrect, but he was still runner-up in 1992.

Even more impressively, Jungman appeared on Who Wants to Be a Millionaire in 2003. The question he walked away from was, “What soap opera did Walter Cronkite interrupt to announce the assassination of President Kennedy?” Jungman said he didn’t know, so he went out and kept his money. (Answer: As the World Turns.)

“Oh well,” Jungman said. “It’s hard to be unhappy walking away with $125,000.”

As a National Merit Scholar from Alva, Oklahoma, Jungman came to OU ahead of the curve and ready to pursue journalism.

Like most of the journalism students did at the time, he worked at the OU Daily.

“Even though I did not know him at that time, when he came in to interview, I had certainly heard an earful about him, so I had great expectations,” said Dean Joe Foote.

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“And from my point of view, that’s what we were looking for.”

After graduating with a bachelor’s degree in journalism, Jungman found work at the St. Petersburg Times in Florida. After two years he began to feel homesick and was ready to move closer to home and go back to the Midwest.

Jungman’s next stint was as the business wire editor at the Wichita Eagle in Kansas.

During his 13 years at the Eagle, however, he constantly switched positions around the newsroom. Every couple of years when he felt bored, he got to try something new.

The opportunity to explore different aspects in the news organization helped Jungman became well rounded in the newsroom.

During his time in Kansas, Jungman also had a part-time job at Newman University, advising its newspaper. This sparked his interest in working with students, so when he was offered a teaching fellowship at the University of Missouri, he accepted.

“I had a blast doing that and thought it would be cool to make that a full-time job,” Jungman said.

He was a visiting editor for Student Media there for two years before he returned to Kansas to be the managing editor at the Wichita Business Journal for two years. Then he heard about the opportunity at OU for the Student Media director position.

“It seemed like a terrific opportunity to come back to OU,” he said. “I have so many fond memories of being editor of the Daily.”

Susan Sasso (1976, advertising), associate vice president for Student Affairs and associate dean of tudents, and Foote were both searching for a new visionary for Student Media. Sasso says she called some of Jungman’s past employers and was told, “You need to hire him before he changes his mind.”

“I wanted somebody that knew and understood what goes on in a student media operation,” Sasso said. “There are

many parallels between student media and a commercial media operation, but there are some very distinct differences, as well.”

Student Media at OU includes not only the campus newspaper, The Oklahoma Daily, but also the yearbook and Sower Magazine. Other organizations, such as OU Nightly, are a part of Gaylord College, not Student Media.

The two no longer share a building, as they once did in Copeland Hall. OU Student Media still operates in Copeland after the journalism and mass communications school moved into Gaylord Hall in 2004.

A major challenge specific to OU is the “invisible wall” between Gaylord College and Student Media. Before the extreme growth of the college, being a part of The Daily was essential for any serious journalism student who needed experience. Now there are a variety of media opportunities beyond Student Media for Gaylord College students to get hands-on experience.

“I think a lot of journalism students aren’t getting exposed to the Daily and Student Media in the way that they used to be,” Jungman said.

Sasso, Foote and Jungman all have hopes for Gaylord and Copeland to be more integrated and recreate the academic and systematic cooperation the two used to have. For example, some class practicums were involved with work at the Daily. The curriculum has changed so that it is no longer academically required to be involved with OU Student Media.

“We want to think of it as an organization, two organizations, so closely intertwined and so mutually dependent that we each make the other stronger,” Foote said. “So that’s our dream for Student Media, and Nick is a person who can make that happen.”

Across the nation, the biggest challenge student media are facing is the digital revolution. The time students used to spend reading the campus paper has been replaced with constant checks of their smartphones and tablets. Jungman says students are engaged with news online, but there is a challenge to provide them with a compelling app for The OU Daily, or, a design specified for tablets.

Upcoming goals for Student Media also include more door-todoor delivery of The Daily, especially to the residence halls.

“We envision a richer schedule of special sections of the Daily and inserted special publications that we think will increase revenue,” Jungman said.

Jungman has recruited two OU journalism alumni for professional staff positions in Student Media. Seth Prince (2000, journalism) and Heather Brumley Howard (2001, PR), have been hired as the new digital and design adviser, and advertising manager respectively.

Prince comes from The Oregonian in Portland, where he spent 14 years, most recently as sports editor. Howard has been adviser to Norman High School’s prize-winning yearbook.

With these new recruits joining Jungman and OU Daily adviser, Judy Gibbs-Robinson, Student Media will be fully staffed and led by OU journalism graduates.

Despite the nicknames, Jungman has been described as a person of intellect, dedication, vision, responsibility and collective leadership. With a passion for student media and the skills to juggle old and new technology, Jungman is the man to lead OU Student Media back to the prestige it held for so many years.

Sarah Pitts is a sophomore journalism major from Denver.

She is planning to study abroad next fall through the Semester at Sea program.

OU Student Media 150+ students The Oklahoma Daily is a multi-platform news organization including regular feature supplements, Escape and Inside the Huddle.

Photo illustration by Dwight Normile.

8,000 OU Daily circulation Average 34,000 monthly unique visitors and 106,000 monthly page views to oudaily.com Student media also produces the award-winning Sooner yearbook and Sower new student guides.

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StudentProject

Creature Feature

Students bring Paranormal University to life

BY Megan Deaton

Gaylord College students want to scare you. They want to horrify you. They want to turn the sunlit pathways of OU into terrifying nightmares, haunting your dreams. Strange and gruesome is their mission as they tackle the daunting task of depicting Paranormal University.

Students from different majors have collaborated to create scripts, Web episodes, promotional materials and more for a spooky series meant to help them develop and promote a unique brand. Gaylord professors Kyle Bergersen, Mel Odom and Owen Kulemeka collaborated to make the Paranormal University brand into a project that could serve the needs of students in various majors.

Ame Aziere, a graduate student involved in the project, said Paranormal University is meant to give students the ability to create original materials within the realm of a school infested with the supernatural.

“I think the college campus is kind of its own little microcosm,” Aziere said.

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“So I think that’s kind of the appeal of Paranormal University, because you can go and focus on anything you want to that happens on a college campus with that sort of twist of being about the paranormal.”

A Monster is Born Bergersen, a broadcast and electronic media professor, said the whole project began as part of the Journalism Centennial.

The broadcast and electronic media department was given $25,000 to create a production designed to help students hone their skills. To start the production, students competed in the Centennial Scriptwriting Contest with a prize of $500 for the winning entry. JP Brammer won the contest with his zombie mime apocalypsebased story, Bergersen said.

As part of Bergersen’s fall 2013 class, broadcasting and electronic media students endeavored to take Brammer’s script and turn it into a Web series called Devil’s Paint.

However, the script was not yet complete without one scene-setting element. Aziere said she only completed part of the contest process, but Bergersen liked the universe in which her story was set.

“You need something that’s going to be based around a university,” Aziere said.

“How do you make something that’s going to be set in a university not like really tired or overdone? I thought, What if it was a university that specialized in weird stuff like aliens or Big Foot?

Aziere’s broad setting allowed the project to grow into much more than it originally encompassed. Bergersen said he saw the Paranormal University universe as an opportunity to help serve the need of Gaylord’s professional writing students.

“That whole idea of a private university that focused on paranormal activity and was probably funded illicitly … that captured my attention, and it gave us a chance to create a world-building project,” Bergersen said.

The “world-building project” Bergersen referred to also is known as “trans-media.”

The Paranormal University setting allows students to tell a variety of stories over a

Professional Writing master’s student Ame Aziere created the fantasy world where the story lives.

wide range of media, from novellas to Web series. Bergersen said the idea is particularly useful for one particular group of students.

“A lot of the professional writing students write a lot of sci-fi and fantasy fiction,” Bergersen said. “That’s a big interest of theirs, which makes sense because they don’t have a lot of life experience, and so they can

What if it was a university that specialized in weird stuff like aliens or Big Foot? – Ame Aziere just go into a deeper world of make believe.”

With Aziere’s setting married to the winning script, the first project for Paranormal University came to life in a Frankenstein fashion.

A Tangled Web Emerges Aziere said the concept behind the endeavor can be difficult to comprehend because it encompasses so many aspects.

She wrote a novella titled Next Day Delivery for the project, and also helped the communications team get the word out with things like designing a logo under the guidance of public relations professor Kulemeka.

“Amy’s novella serves as a bible to sort of establish the campus, how it operates,

Devil’s Paint Crew. Photo by Todd Greenlee.

so that when other students choose to participate, they kind of have at least a groundwork to begin with,” Bergersen said.

As a public relations undergraduate, Aziere said she never thought she would end up writing a novella.

“To me it was just baffling that I came in as a public relations student and went to writing a novella, which was just so outside of anything I had ever thought I’d do,” Aziere said. “I got to unintentionally knock something off my bucket list.”

Aziere said that is the beauty of Paranormal University. Students can take part in whatever manner they choose.

“If you’re only comfortable doing broadcast stuff, then by all means do broadcast stuff,” she said. “But I think it’s a great way for people to branch out if they want to do stuff they aren’t doing in their classes.”

The Beast is Released With the setting and script established, broadcast and electronic media students in Bergersen’s class went to work on releasing the pieced-together monster of a story into the world. Twelve turned up as the magic number as 12 students worked 12, 12hour days to complete the project during their weekends. Bergersen said the goal was to create six, five-minute episodes with a cliffhanger ending so they could stand alone, but also be melded together to form a 30-minute short film.

Nick DuVarney, a broadcast and electronic media senior, worked on the Devil’s Paint Web series.

“We went through a lot of work to rewrite the script, produce the shows, shoot them and finally get them edited and up online,” DuVarney said. “We also watched the full film at the Warren [movie theater], which solidified the project for us.”

DuVarney said the structure of the project allowed him to perfect new skills.

Students on the film crew were required to switch roles for each week of filming.

“By changing positions, each week we had the opportunity to try something new, learn what we excelled at, and if we didn’t like what we were doing, we got to move on next week,” DuVarney said.

“Ultimately, we learned what we wanted to do going forward into the actual production industry.”

The Web series was posted on a Word Press blog called Paranormal University: Hard Questions, Disturbing Answers at paranormaluniversity.wordpress.com.

The site also contains behind-the-scenes and promotional material produced by marketing students. The Web series won the Oklahoma Broadcast Education Association first prize, and Bergersen said he hopes to enter the students’ work in the DEADcenter Film Festival this summer.

The Creature Flirts With Immortality Though the work for the Devil’s Paint Web series has been completed, Paranormal University is far from over, Aziere said.

“Even after we’re all graduated, freshmen can still come and be like, ‘Man, I really want to write a romance novel about aliens,’ and they can do it,” Aziere said.

Bergersen said the project will continue in short story form through a class with Odom, a professional writing professor.

The hope is to create an annual collection of short stories connected to the Paranormal University brand. Students will self-publish through Amazon and make all the money off their own project.

“Just by using the brand Paranormal University presents, it will help kind of associate them with a brand that will hopefully grow and develop an audience,” Bergersen said.

Bergersen and Aziere both said they hope Paranormal University will live on indefinitely, but it will be up to students to embrace it. The broad nature of the project will allow Gaylord students to explore the weird depths of their imaginations for semesters to come, as long as they give in to their dark sides.

Megan Deaton is a journalism senior from Fort Worth, Texas. She has early-onset “cat lady syndrome.”

23

FacultyProfile

Sudden Impact

Owen Kulemeka draws accolades from his students

BY Miranda Fogel

As 100 years of the University of professors and say to myself, ‘That is how a position in the public relations department Oklahoma’s journalism school has quickly you treat people.’” at Gaylord College. come and gone, Gaylord Hall has been These observations would become the As a native of Dedza, Malawi, home to some of the university’s best and guiding principles that Kulemeka would Kulemeka’s southeastern African most knowledgeable professors. From follow one day with his own students. accent, boisterous laugh and unique world-renowned researchers to Emmy After graduating again with a degree international background all contribute Award-winners, Gaylord College has held its in public relations, Kulemeka ventured to his unmistakable likability among both place as one of the best journalism and mass into various aspects of the public relations students and staff alike. In his short time communications colleges in the nation. industry. He worked as a research analyst as a Gaylord College professor, Kulemeka But beyond the imperious skills possessed at Weber Shandwick and Kearney & has already been hand-selected by his own by our skilled professors is their ultimate Company, and ultimately decided to apply students as the recipient of two teaching desire to pass along the very knowledge his profession to a classroom environment. awards. base that gave them their acclaimed status.

With this aspiration, he set off to get He also was chosen to participate in a Since May 2011, when he first called OU his Ph.D. in communication from the June 2013 Rotary trip to Italy, where he was home. Owen Kulemeka, assistant professor University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. invited to stay with different host families of strategic communication/public relations, “After leaving my first job, there hadn’t over the course of four weeks and immerse has made it his top priority to help his been another job that I liked, and I realized himself in the history and culture of various students make the most of their time at I had to teach,” he said. “Because the firm I Italian cities.

Gaylord College, and of course, to have a worked at for three years was such a positive “He’s a very worldly person,” said Dean little fun along the way. experience, every other place just kind of Joe Foote. “Not only is he a native of When Kulemeka graduated with paled in comparison. It’s like your first love; Malawi, but he’s travelled all over the world an English degree from the University you can date other people, but your first and has experienced so many cultures that, of Maryland, he had no intent of ever love will always be there.” even without trying, he exudes the global becoming the public relations professor So while his first love may not have experience. I can’t help but imagine that it that he is today. Like many other college lasted long, it would eventually guide him must penetrate every area of his teachings, students, Kulemeka was mostly unsure to what could only be the next best thing: even subconsciously.” of what his post-graduation future would Kulemeka credits his ample travel look like. But when opportunities as a large he ventured to the contributor to his unique library to search teaching methods. Just from his through career books, Rotary trip alone, Kulemeka the field of public brought back a refreshed relations piqued his sense of patience that he has interest. His accidental translated to his own ideals in discovery would soon the classroom. open doors to some “You learn how similar we all of his greatest life are,” he said. “We look different, experiences, starting we talk different, but we really with getting accepted all have the same aspirations. to the University of That is what made me a more Maryland’s prestigious patient person.” public relations In the classroom, this sense graduate program. of patience has made Kulemeka “My teachers [in the extremely likeable among grad program] really his students. He also thinks impacted me,” he said. fondly back to his own days “Not just as a student, as a student, remembering Gaylord Ambassadors Kate McPherson and Sydney Stavinoha presented Kulemeka with the but as a person. I the challenges of sitting JayMac Teaching Award in 2013 at the annual JayMac Distinguished Alumni Ceremony. He would watch my through tiring days of classes was also named one of the campus’ Most Inspiring Professors by Sooner athletes in 2014. and knowing that a patient 24

and understanding teacher is the key to a successful student.

“His class is so different than really any other class I’ve had at OU because of the way he actively tries to connect with us,” said senior public relations student Maddie Snow. “He can tell when we are fading and yet always manages to keep us engaged with his lectures throughout the entire class.”

As far as teaching strategic communication is concerned, Kulemeka has a unique outlook on how public relations should be taught. He stresses that there are five essential skills that embody the public relations industry: solid writing skills, research skills, the ability to work well with others, knowing how to organize events and understanding social media. However, unlike many professors, Kulemeka’s goals are to tailor each individual’s public relations skills based on his or her strengths.

“We are all strong in some areas and weak in others,” he said. “The goal is to work on how to perfect and become strong in your area of skill. You have to find a way to balance it all out, to make up in what you lack by perfecting the skills you have.”

Kulemeka’s unique outlook on the public relations field and how it should be taught has undoubtedly earned him his place as one of Gaylord College’s most coveted professors. It is his quality relationships with students that continue to keep the public relations program exciting and enticing.

“I like to imagine myself as a 20-yearold, “he said. “I recall when I was in my sophomore year, it took a lot of people to guide me in the right direction. You can’t forget that. You can’t forget that you were young.”

With integrity, diligence and a refined sense of public relation skills, Kulemeka will undoubtedly make his mark as a beloved part of Gaylord College’s next 100 years.

Miranda Fogel is a senior journalism major and president of the Magazine Interest Group.

She will be moving to New York City during the summer of 2014 to pursue a career in the magazine industry.

Owen Kulemeka inspires his students to do their best while bringing a global perspective to the classroom.

25

StudentAffairs

Future Memories

Students celebrate and launch next 100 years of journalism education at OU

BY Arianna Pickard

The South Oval is silent and empty on a warm, sunny Thursday afternoon, but on the east side of Gaylord Hall, Miley Cyrus’ “Wrecking Ball” is fittingly blasting from giant speakers. Students embody the song as they step onto an inflatable platform and shove a hanging gray boulder at one another. The carnival amusement was one of several activities enjoyed by about 375 Gaylord College students at the “Next 100 celebration” on March 27 in the Gaylord Hall courtyard.

As students lined up on Asp Avenue for free snowcones, others posed in top hats and ridiculously large sunglasses in a photo booth. Students navigated this labyrinth of people to dodge others shooting basketballs at an inflatable basketball goal. Next to the snowcone line, students cheered for their friends as they raced on an inflatable bungee run. Secured in harnesses, two students at

OU Nightly anchor Jess Bruno (senior, journalism) did a live remote for the newscast from the Orbitron.

26

a time sprinted as fast as they could, only to be snapped back and bounced off the inflatable wall.

Students also lined up to take a spin in the Orbitron, a human gyroscope made up of three large hoops inside one another at different angles. One student strapped himself into the contraption and started rotating in all directions, his body flipping upside-down and then tilting to the side until he was hovering parallel to the ground.

The way he defied gravity seemed to imitate the way 21st-century journalism is shifting, heading down new paths that previously never seemed possible.

Gaylord College celebrated 100 years of journalism education at OU last year, and this event was designed to encourage current Gaylord College students to look forward to the future, according to Kate McPherson, chair of the Gaylord Ambassadors, who organized the event.

“This was really to get students excited about the next century, thinking about our history and building on it,” said McPherson, an online journalism senior.

Journalism education looked a lot different over the past 100 years. But this extensive history puts Gaylord College at a unique position to thrive in journalism education today.

Today, the college is held together by “its rich 100-year tradition, high-quality and engaged faculty, dedicated support staff members solely focused on student success, and a committed alumni as evidenced by a vibrant Gaylord College Board of Visitors,” said John Hockett, assistant dean for student affairs and administration at Gaylord College.

While the history of the college is important to current students, Dean Joe Foote said administrators wanted to throw an event that excited current students about the next century of journalism. They wanted to create an event where students could simply have a good time socializing with

each other in a fun, positive setting and expand their pride in the college.

“We hope to build some cohesiveness and cause your mind to think that we’re really a good program here,” Foote said. “If you came to the University of Oklahoma, you’ve hit the jackpot, because the things we’re doing here are exciting, and they’re forward-thinking, and they’re going to prepare you well for the future.”

McPherson said she wanted to throw a party for students that would make them want to stay connected with the college even after they graduate.

“I think it’s really easy to spend our four years here and then be like, ‘OK, peace, I’m done,’” McPherson said. “This is creating fond memories of Gaylord and keeping it really important to having students who are great alumni, who are going to give back to the college, either financially or coming back, sharing their expertise, helping students get interested in their companies.”

Brandon Tomlin, an advertising junior, sat at a picnic table in the courtyard munching some free carnival food and talked about his experience with the generosity of Gaylord College. He said he’s changed his major several times, including two majors with OU’s College of Arts and Sciences. But when he transferred to Gaylord College, he was blown away by the generosity and up-to-date technology accessible to students at the college.

“Gaylord just gives stuff away,” he said, referencing the college’s iPad initiative last year, when students in Mass Communication Law got free iPads to use for the class.

He said he came to the event to enter in the drawing for a free Nikon D3300 camera kit, which was one of several items given away as prizes at the event.

Erin Caine, an accounting sophomore, heard about the event because she’s taking the Intro to Mass Communication class with Gaylord College. She said she was

The Gaylord Next 100 Celebration was a fun day designed to create lasting memories for students. The Gaylord College deans Joe Foote, David Craig and John Hockett even got in the spirit of the day with the Wrecking Ball.

Nearly 400 hundred students joined in the activities which included several inflatable games, free food, snowcones and a photo booth. The day ended with the OU chant surrounding the statue of Edward L. Gaylord in the courtyad.

enjoying the food as well as the inflatables, the weather and the atmosphere. “[The event] encourages people to mingle around with other people,” she said.

Gaylord College Associate Dean David Craig said the celebration helps students create fond memories of the college they can recall after they graduate.

“It’s a fun way to get students, faculty and everybody outside for a while,” Craig said. “When they do stuff together as a

college, it creates a memory they can look back on.”

Often caught up in projects and practicums, Gaylord students sometimes feel as if they are living in Gaylord Hall, Hockett said. This event was a unique opportunity to “let loose a little” in their workspace.

“OU’s president, David L. Boren, has consistently talked about the ‘OU family’ since taking the reins,” Hockett said.

“Families work hard, play hard and celebrate

together. In that vein, Gaylord Next 100 was a ‘family’ event for the Gaylord College.”

Years from now, perhaps Gaylord College students can look back on this event and remember spinning in an Orbitron while they navigate the kaleidoscopic world of journalism and mass communication.

Arianna Pickard, an online journalism junior from Tulsa, Oklahoma, hopes she can find a job after she graduates.

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AlumniNews

Excellence in Any Field What do a major general, an aerospace engineer, a corporate communicator and a sports anchor have in common?

A

s part of the Centennial Celebration, the JayMac Alumni Association recognized three graduates with the 2013 Distinguished Alumni award: Maj. Gen. John Admire, U.S. Marine Corps; Shane Boyd, vice president for corporate communication at Devon Energy; and Donna Shirley, manager of NASA’s Mars

Exploration Program at the Jet Propulsion Lab. A fourth, Dari Nowkhah, ESPN anchor, was recognized with the Young Professional Award.

You can read a brief biography of the 2013 Distinguished Alumni recipients on the next page and about the Young Professional on page 30. Video profiles of the recipients can be found on the Gaylord College YouTube Channel at www.YouTube.com/OUGaylordCollege.

From left: Maj. Gen. John Admire (Ret.), Shane Boyd, and Thomas Landers (dean of the College of Engineering) who accepted the JayMac award on behalf of Donna Shirley, with Dean Joe Foote at the JayMac Distinguished Alumni Ceremony.

JayMac is pleased to announce the 2014 Distinguished Alumni recipients who will be honored Oct. 16 at the JayMac Distiniguished Alumni Ceremony Dean Blevins, Sports Director, News 9, 1978, Journalism Stephanie Frederic, Executive Producer/Owner, FGW Productions, 1982, Radio/TV/Film Ed Livermore Sr., Oklahoma community newspaper pioneer, 1940, Journalism (posthumous) 28

WEB CONTENT Watch video profiles of each of the 2013 honorees by visiting the Gaylord College YouTube Channel at www.youtube.com/GaylordCollegeOU.

John Admire John Admire graduated Phi Beta Kappa with a degree in journalism in 1965 and received master’s degrees in journalism, military history, international relations, and national security/ strategic studies. Admire is a major general in the U.S. Marine Corps (retired), with 33 years of active duty and five combat tours as an infantry marine. He commanded units at every level and served as the senior military social aide to the president in the White House, as the Marine Corps’ legislative liaison to the U.S. Congress on Capitol Hill, and as a member of General Colin Powell’s Joint Staff in the Pentagon. His military decorations include: the Defense Distinguished Service Medal; Legion of Merit with Combat “V”; Bronze Star with Combat “V”; Purple Heart; and various personal and unit awards. Admire is a native Oklahoman, born and reared in Tulsa, and a Tulsa Webster High School graduate.

Watch his video profile at http://tiny.cc/JohnAdmire.

Shane Boyd Shane Boyd graduated with a degree in advertising in 1986. He joined the Devon Energy team in 2012 as the vice president of corporate communications, leading communications, creative services and community relations. Before coming to Devon, Boyd worked for Travelers Companies Inc., the Dow 30 insurance company, where he served as the vice president of communications in the United States and internationally since 2003. Prior to Travelers, Boyd worked as vice president of corporate communications for Fleming Cos. Inc., a Fortune 100 consumer package goods wholesaler and supermarket retailer based in Texas. He also has worked at OGE Energy Corp. and Ackerman McQueen, both in Oklahoma City.

Watch his video profile at http://tiny.cc/ShaneBoyd.

Donna Shirley Donna Shirley holds two bachelor’s degrees from the University of Oklahoma in journalism/ professional writing and aerospace engineering, graduating in 1963 and 1965. She retired in 2004 as director of the Science Fiction Museum and Hall of Fame in Seattle, and is currently president of Managing Creativity where she is a well-known manager, educator, speaker, consultant and trainer on the management of creative teams.

Shirley retired in August 1998 as manager of the Mars Exploration Program after a 32-year career at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California. Prior to becoming manager of the Mars Exploration Program, she managed the team that built Sojourner, the Microrover, which was landed on the surface of Mars by the Pathfinder project in 1997.

Shirley also served as the assistant dean and an instructor of aerospace mechanical engineering at OU’s College of Engineering from 2000 to 2003. She holds a master of science degree in aerospace engineering and has more than 40 years’ experience in engineering of aerospace and civil systems, including 30 years in management. Shirley has garnered numerous technical and management awards, including four honorary doctorates. Shirley was born in Wynnewood, Oklahoma, and now lives in Tulsa.

Watch her video profile at http://tiny.cc/DonnaShirley.

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AlumniProfile

Spreading the Word ESPN’s Dari Nowkhah is passionate about more than sports

BY NICK JONES His voice has a type of roughness, an almost raspy quality that gives his words an addictive flavor. Ingrained in his heart is an undeniable love for all things sportsrelated, even more so for college athletics.

It was only natural he would carry this love with him through the field of journalism until it landed him at the most watched sports network in America. Now, millions of people across the nation tune in to hear this acclaimed sportscaster speak as the lead anchor of ESPNU and soon the new ESPN SEC Network.

When Dari Nowkhah visited the University of Oklahoma campus in April, he did much more than accept the Young Professional Award from the Gaylord College. The OU alumnus called the playby-play for the OU-Texas men’s baseball game that afternoon, and rushed over to Gaylord Hall to accept his award. Then he spent nearly two hours answering questions and offering advice to students. The next morning, Nowkhah was back in Gaylord Hall, speaking to three classes and doing a soundbite for OU Alumni before touring the campus.

Before Nowkhah’s arrival, Dean Joe Foote said he was looking forward to meeting with the sportscaster.

“Anyone who is in the national spotlight, who has achieved success, and who cares as much about the University of Oklahoma as [Nowkhah] does, is going to be on the radar for a young alumni award,” he said.

Nowkhah certainly fulfilled all of the requirements Foote mentioned. His career in sports journalism began shortly after he graduated from OU in 1998 with a degree in broadcast journalism.

“I sent [résumé tapes] to probably 30, 40 places,” Nowkhah said. “I moved back home to Tulsa, was working at a Chili’s … and I just waited for something, I hoped for something.”

30

That something finally came when he received a phone call from a news director in Kalispell, Montana, who wanted to do a phone interview with Nowkhah. The interview was a success, so Nowkhah packed his bags and went northwest.

After a couple of years in Kalispell, he got a job in Lincoln, Nebraska, where he covered the Nebraska Cornhuskers for two years. Then he moved back to Tulsa to work at KOTV for two years until he received the opportunity of a lifetime. After getting an agent, Nowkhah was able to land a job with ESPN on its campus in Bristol, Connecticut. In 2011, after seven years in Bristol, Nowkhah and his wife, Jenn, moved their young family to Charlotte, North Carolina, to work with ESPNU.

Sadly, tragedy struck the Nowkhah family only a few short weeks after their move south.

“At that time, Jenn was about 37 weeks pregnant with Hayden,” Nowkhah said.

“Three weeks later, we were in the hospital with him. Little did we know we would never get him home again.”

On Aug. 12, 2011, Dari and Jenn Nowkhah welcomed their son, Hayden Michael Nowkhah, into the world. Less than a week later, Hayden contracted a virus that attacked his heart. While waiting on

the heart transplant list, the infant suffered a stroke, causing him to be removed from the waiting list.

“Hayden was not going to get the heart he needed to survive,” reads the Nowkhahs’ website, HaydensHope.org. “And with that, we made the decision to let Hayden go. He had suffered so much. We couldn’t let him suffer any more.”

Hayden’s death devastated the Nowkhah family, but rather than allow the tragedy to ruin them, Dari and Jenn decided instead to do something to help other families in such a difficult situation. The couple started Hayden’s Hope to help others awaiting a pediatric organ donation.

“The foundation, Hayden’s Hope, has raised about $85,000 to help families of children awaiting a life-saving organ transplant,” Nowkhah said. “We help cover expenses these financially strapped families face relating to this situation.”

Hayden’s Hope has allowed Hayden Nowkhah’s memory to live on while simultaneously raising awareness for the necessity of pediatric organ donation.

“Our mission is to make sure that his strength is displayed through us,” Nowkhah said. “And that his 39 days on this Earth meant something far greater than most people can mean in 39 years.”

Through their efforts with Hayden’s Hope, Dari and Jenn have been able to generate some good from Hayden’s passing. They still live in Charlotte, with their other three children, and Nowkhah says he is comfortable with where he is in life.

“I would say career-wise, I’m right where I want to be,” Nowkhah said. “I’m doing fine right now, and that’s a pretty good thing to be able to say. I like where I am — I’ve reached a place where I’m comfortable.

I’m not looking for the next jump or the next job … I’ve reached a point where I’m very, very happy.”

Nowkhah said that balancing work and family is his single biggest challenge. In addition to limiting his traveling, he tries to maintain that balance by doing anything he can to help his wife with the children. He also makes sure to have a date night with his wife every week. However, the constant pressure of his career still makes things difficult.

“I’ll tell you what drives me the craziest, is my son’s in second grade, playing third base, hitting fifth in the lineup — loves it — and I miss about half the games, maybe more,” Nowkhah said.That’s what really makes me weak; it drives me crazy. But, you know, this business is not … nine-to-five.”

In addition to hosting ESPNU and doing play-by-play for college baseball and basketball, Nowkhah co-hosts a weekly radio show with Mel Kiper Jr., called “Dari and Mel.” Four years is a substantial time to work with someone, and at his award ceremony at Gaylord Hall, Nowkhah shared an interesting fact with the audience: “Mel (Kiper Jr.) and I have never been in the same room at the same time,” he said.

“I have never shaken his hand. He lives in Baltimore, he does the show from his house.

I live in Charlotte, I do the show from the studio at ESPNU.” Even though they have never been face-to-face, Nowkhah says he and Kiper communicate with one another regularly.

Even still, four years is a long time to work with someone without ever meeting him.

No doubt, many fans have gotten to know and appreciate Nowkhah. His relaxed demeanor and frank manner of speaking forge a connection with his audience that makes him more personable than many journalists. His hard work at OU and his persistence after graduation led him to a fulfilling career. And through his work with Hayden’s Hope, Dari Nowkhah may one day have an even greater impact beyond the world of sports.

Nick Jones is a senior professional writing major from Oklahoma City. He hopes to write a series of adventure novels for young adults.

NOTE: While the magazine was in production, we received word that Nowkhah will be the new host for ESPN’s SEC Network and its weeknight news and information show, SEC Now. He will continue the radio show as well.

Dari Nowkhah, a 1998 broadcast journalism grad, has found his passion and built a career with ESPN. Photo provided by ESPN.

CollegeNews

Claiming a Spot at the Top

Gaylord College works to be recognized as a top program

BY EVA TRAMMELL One afternoon in late June 2012, a handful of alumni were given the task of revitalizing the identity of their alma mater.

A group of faculty and alumni convened with one specific question in mind: How can we better represent Gaylord College to the world?

I was fortunate enough to talk to a few of these visionaries and find out exactly

Rob Boswell

Doug Martin

what it means to re-envision an academic institution.

Pattye Moore (1979, journalism), chairman of the board for Red Robin, was the instigator of the initiative that began during the planning of the centennial celebration. Moore, who at the time was the chair of the Board of Visitors, said she was asked by Dean Joe Foote to head a board meeting regarding the centennial. After a few breakout sessions, the group came to a unanimous conclusion.

“The greatest need wasn’t just for the centennial, but that Gaylord College itself needed to develop a very strong brand position,” Moore said.

The wheels had been set in motion, and with the support of the Board of Visitors, the project began to take off. Moore has been an integral part of the rebranding process with experience at companies like Sonic, Red Robin and QuikTrip. She said they have approached the rebrand like they would for any Fortune 500 company.

“The only thing that might be different is that we have reached out and had more engagement with the different stakeholders 32

than you might in a corporate setting,” Moore said.

The board aimed to position Gaylord College as one of the top programs in the nation, but they needed some help. Enter Doug Martin, a 1989 graduate of the college’s advertising program, and Rob Boswell, a 1980 public relations graduate and current chair of the Board of Visitors.

Pattye Moore

of Gaylord elevating itself into the world of being a college. [Gaylord] deserves some more attention.”

The Richards Group uses a process called SphericalTM branding, which, according to its website, “begins with an exploration of [the] client’s chief assets, liabilities, and market perceptions and future plans. Armed with this information, we embark on a collaborative process designed to develop brands that stand the test of time.”

The rebrand team, with the assistance of students in the Lindsey and Asp agency, began by doing research with students, parents, alumni and the Board of Visitors, and then moved on to looking at how competitor colleges position themselves.

Martin said that he would like to see Gaylord College reach a high level of recognition within the journalism community. To be more specific, Gaylord College’s brand development committee concluded that the overall goal was to “build a recognizable, credible and sustainable brand identity for the college.”

The process has been an unusual collaboration between two normally competing ad agencies, The Richards Group

Martin is a principal in the brand management department at The Richards Group, a Dallas-based advertising agency that works with companies like Home Depot, QuikTrip and Chik-Fil-A. Martin compared Gaylord College’s rebranding to Price BRAND VISION College, which has already Inspiring creative difference makers. gone through something of a makeover in order to give the school a distinct BRAND POSITIONING identity. He said they For people who want to do something that studied the way in which matters, the Gaylord College is the college that Price College handled the process and were looking connects creative minds to meaningful careers. for guidance on how to set our college apart from and Moroch. Boswell, the other partner in the rest of the colleges on campus, yet still this initiative, is the CEO of Moroch, which retain a very detectable connection to the boasts a client list that includes McDonalds, University of Oklahoma.

Coca-Cola and Disney.

“We’ve been very respectful of making I was told that The Richards Group sure our efforts coordinated with the look focused more on the positioning process and feel of OU,” Martin said. “It doesn’t for the project, while Moroch has provided make any sense to try and make [Gaylord] its own entity. It’s still underneath the [OU] creative services for several projects under the overall initiative. umbrella … The rebrand is a celebration

The objective of the task force was to create a solid brand foundation for Gaylord College. Unlike some companies that change their image like an identity thief changes names, Gaylord College’s new look will be more permanent, said Boswell.

“It will be the new branding to last forever,” Boswell said. “How it will evolve will be how we keep it contemporary. This is all about creating a brand identity. It isn’t about just creating a new look.”

Even though the process is far from complete, I was given the opportunity to witness the product of two years of brainstorming, planning and designing Gaylord College’s brand in April 2014.

I sat and watched as Martin presented the new branding for Gaylord College.

He first shared the brand vision and the brand positioning statement. The vision is to “Inspire creative difference makers,” followed by the positioning, “For people who want to do something that matters, the Gaylord College is the college that connects creative minds to meaningful careers.”

These statements were then embodied as the Gaylord College Manifesto, an

emotionally-charged narrative that is the essence of what it is to be a Gaylord College student, brought to animated life onscreen and spoken by an actor who sounded suspiciously like Morgan Freeman.

Behind me, several board members murmured approvingly, and I whole-heartedly The Gaylord College Manifesto video can be viewed agreed. The branding completely captured the at https://www.youtube.com/GaylordCollegeOU. deep pride of being a Gaylord College student Tulsa native Eva Trammell is a junior and what sets us a part from other students professional writing major with a minor in on campus. enterprise studies. She also is in the process of There is still much to finish in getting a degree in visual communications. repackaging the Gaylord College including With her passion for writing and design, she coordination of a new look for publications hopes to become a creative director for an ad and the website, and the infusion of the agency.

Gaylord Manifesto into everything the college does. I have confidence that it is in good hands.

Ethics and Excellence in Journalism Foundation endows legislative reporting legacy of Ralph Sewell

BY KRISTEN LAZALIER Ralph Sewell, assistant managing editor of The Daily Oklahoman and The Oklahoma City Times for more than 39 years, began his journalism career at The Oklahoma Daily while still a student. Known as the patriarch of the Capitol News Bureau in Oklahoma City, Sewell’s “Capitol Spotlight” column was published in 56 state newspapers.

Following his “retirement” from The Daily Oklahoman, Sewell joined the faculty of OU’s J-School. During his tenure, Sewell introduced the Legislative Reporting course and Capitol Reporting program, which he taught and oversaw from 1973 until 1984.

Students were assigned to a small office in the basement of the Capitol, reporting on Oklahoma politics for small newspapers from around the state. Since 1984, OU journalism students have benefitted from Sewell’s indelible legacy of principles, professional excellence and leadership through the Ralph Sewell Scholarship in Political Reporting.

In the summer of 2014, the Ethics and Excellence in Journalism Foundation, led by President and CEO Bob Ross, announced its intent to permanently honor the memory and legacy of Ralph Sewell by

elevating the existing scholarship fund with an endowment contribution of $250,000.

Through this generous gift, Gaylord College students will continue to benefit for generations to come.

“We have long been committed to ensuring that OU and Gaylord College offer its students outstanding instruction in journalism,” said Ross. “We are honored to endow this important scholarship in Ralph Sewell’s name and to help current and future students realize their dreams.”

Along with honoring Sewell through their recent contribution, the Foundation wanted to also recognize the members of their Advisory Committee. In addition to Sewell, a founding member, the following committee members are recognized: • Andy Barth (1982-2014) • Marian Cromley (1982-2014) • Kay Dyer (1982-2014) • John Greiner (1982-2014) • Andy Rieger (1999-2014) • Janet Cromley (2006-2014) • Ed Kelley (2007-2014) • Jan Schaffer (2008-2014) • Vivian Vahlberg (2008-2014)

Gaylord College Dean Joe Foote shared his thoughts about Sewell and the continued support from the Foundation.

“I knew Ralph Sewell as a first-class reporter, but Ralph Sewell since returning to the University of Oklahoma, I have learned from countless alumni what a great professor he was,” said Foote.

Sewell invested heavily in OU journalism students, teaching them to report well, taking them to political conventions, establishing a class at the Capitol and giving them a boost into the profession.

The dividends are being paid throughout the U.S. with the success of his students.

We are very excited that the Edith Kinney Gaylord foundations have chosen to honor one of our star professors with such a fitting endowment.”

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FacultyNews

The Realities of War

War documentary gives American public a frontline view of the war in Afghanistan

By Hayley Thornton “I relive that moment when we were surrounded on the mountainside and we had several wounded and people were dying, and no helicopters could get to us because the gunfire was so heavy. And, the weather was bad and you knew people were going to die, and bullets were hitting all around me and I sat there and I thought, I wonder what it’s going to feel like when a bullet goes through me?”

These are the words of war correspondent and University of Oklahoma visiting professional professor Mike Boettcher, describing a moment on the battlefield that still haunts him. It is now part of a featurelength documentary, The Hornet’s Nest, which was released nationwide on Memorial Day weekend.

Boettcher’s experience covering wars in Iraq and Afghanistan dates back to 1991, during Operation Desert Storm, where he followed and documented the lives of U.S. Marines. Now he is considered one of the most experienced war-time foreign correspondents. This recognition did not come without dedication and sacrifice.

Life and death moments were not uncommon during his project in Afghanistan documenting the war on terror.

The atmosphere was so chaotic and life threatening that it inspired the name of the film, which he helped produce with his son, Carlos.

“It’s called The Hornet’s Nest, because when I was interviewed after the battle that closes out the movie in which six soldiers were killed, I talk about the fact that immediately we were surrounded and in a nine-day fight for our lives,” Boettcher said. “We had landed in the hornet’s nest, the command in control for the Taliban in Northeastern Afghanistan.”

Although war zones were nothing new to Boettcher, this particular trip did have a different element: Carlos.

“I mean, the heart and soul of [The Hornet’s Nest] is it is a father-son movie set 34

in the midst of other fathers, sons, mothers and daughters,” Mike said. “And because I was a foreign correspondent that was constantly on the road for more than 30 years, I was never home when [Carlos] grew up. I was gone 300 days a year some years, at the minimum 250, and it’s a story about reconnection with my son, reigniting that father-son relationship that was lost all of those years. And ironically, it happened on a battlefield.”

Carlos says the decision to join his father was a not a hard one.

“I wanted to go to Afghanistan to report because, quite simply, I felt it was the right thing to do,” he said. “The stories of the soldiers fighting two bloody wars halfway around the world were simply not being told, something I felt was wrong.”

The choice was more difficult for Mike.

“I was going to go do this alone, this project to embed full time over the course of two years with American soldiers and marines in Afghanistan, and my son said that he wanted to join me,” Mike said.

“When he said he wanted to go, I was excited, because I saw the opportunity to reconnect with my son.”

Over the course of his coverage of world conflict, Boettcher has been kidnapped, threatened and put directly in harm’s way, so he knew the danger that his son would be in.

“I tried to kind of protect him, so we started out slowly,” Mike said. “I wasn’t going to put him in the middle of huge fire fights in the beginning. I was always keeping my eye on him to see where he was, to make sure that he was not in a position where he was exposed, and he learned a lot from the soldiers and Marines that he was covering because they looked after him and they showed him how to survive.”

These tactics led Carlos to appreciate the protection of the troops, and he took time to learn all he could from them.

The Hornet’s Nest documentary opened nationwide on Memorial Day weekend. The DVD/BlueRay is available now from Amazon.

“Honestly, the moments that stick with me the most are the small moments, the ones where there wasn’t any gunfire and the personality of the soldiers and Marines shone through,” he said. “Time like playing board games on top of a mountain on the border with Pakistan, finding food to make a stew in the shell of a Taliban drug bazaar.

These are the things I take with me most.”

This experience took Boettcher’s son from an undecided George Washington University student to a man with a new appreciation for journalism.

“This, and he will tell you this, had a transformative effect on him because he saw people that had given their full devotion, as Lincoln said, to this country, were committed to something,” Mike said. “And now he is one of the best producers at ABC News … in New York.”

Carlos said that this “transformative effect” has left him dedicated to people in and out of combat.

“The experience gave me a lifelong commitment to fighting for veterans, and

doing anything I can to help them through any issues they may face,” he said. “The heroism of our veterans cannot be overstated, and they are critically underserved as they come back home.”

The transformation could also be seen in Carlos’ relationship with his dad.

“Working together under such difficult conditions brought my father and I closer together,” he said. “It helped both of us understand each other, and in the crucible of combat we found common ground I don’t think either of us realized was there before.”

This wartime account is not the first for Mike and Carlos. In 2012 they received two Emmy Awards for their half-hour NBC nightline program American Valor: Land of the Brave about the Strong Eagle Battle in Afghanistan. Mike said winning those Emmys with his son is another moment that he will relive for the rest of his life.

“He came up on stage with me, and all the network anchors and presidents and everyone’s in this audience in New York City,” Boettcher said. “I said, ‘You know, my time is really over.

It’s my son’s turn. And that was the proudest moment of my life when I was able to introduce my son and have him accept the Emmy.”

Hayley Thornton is a junior broadcast journalism major from Allen, Texas. She is the assignment radio producer at KGOU and plans movie promotions for Levenson & Hill. She aspires to have her own radio morning show in L.A.

Mike and Carlos Boettcher were embedded with U.S. Army troops for three years. Together they have received two Emmys for their documentary work.

The Hornet’s Nest: A Raw Slice of War

By Dwight Normile To neatly categorize The Hornet’s Nest as a war documentary hardly prepares viewers for what they will experience. Directed

by Christian Tureaud and David Salzberg, the film is a total immersion into the lives of American soldiers in Afghanistan. The intense footage was shot primarily by OU visiting professional professor Mike Boettcher and his son Carlos, who were embedded with American troops as they battled the Taliban in unforgiving terrain.

A separate storyline involves Mike and Carlos. Having missed much of his son’s childhood as a war correspondent, Mike cautiously brings a willing, 22-year-old Carlos to Iraq in 2008, when The Hornet’s Nest project was conceived. From 2009-11 they were in Afghanistan together, helping to document the war.

Early in the film’s action, Carlos finds himself in a tenuous, life-threatening situation. After carefully hiking into a treacherous valley, the U.S. soldiers get ambushed by enemy fire. Carlos gets separated from the troops as he scrambles for cover on an exposed hillside. When his camera stops moving, but continues to film randomly into the air, the effect is chilling. Was he hit? Is he even alive?

Periodic on-camera interviews with Mike, Carlos and the soldiers build an emotional bridge to the viewer. They also reveal the strong loyalties that develop among the troops and with their commanding officers. From urgent scenes of survival to light moments of humor, The Hornet’s Nest taps a wide range of

emotions from its audience. And it does so without showing any gory detail.

The intensity ramps up considerably during the second half of the film. Mike follows the troops into the most dangerous part of the country, a Taliban stronghold, and ends up trapped in a nine-day battle. Six American troops are killed, others wounded. Realizing this is not a war movie, but the real thing, theater viewers are breathless throughout this lengthy, exhausting sequence. Rarely do civilians witness the poise and professionalism of troops — some barely out of high school — who routinely place America’s freedom above their own lives.

Set to a dramatic soundtrack throughout, the film closes with solemn poignancy. Tears flow on both sides of the screen as Command Sergeant Major Chris Fields conducts the eerie Roll Call of Honor. As he proudly shouts the names of each fallen soldier, the following silence reopens the gaping, emotional wounds felt by every survivor. After the ceremony, CSM Fields, a picture of strength up to this point, breaks down and sobs uncontrollably as he kneels before each makeshift memorial. The loss of life leaves deep scars.

For most Americans, the war in Afghanistan is a foreign concept that barely registers in their daily lives. Mike Boettcher, who with Carlos helped produce the film, is hopeful that The Hornet’s Nest can change that perception once and for all.

Dwight Normile is an adjunct professor at Gaylord College, and the managing editor of this issue of Pulse Magazine.

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CollegeNews

Faculty and Staff Changes New Area Heads Appointed Dean Joe Foote has appointed three new area heads to oversee the curricular development of the three major areas of study within Gaylord College: Ralph Beliveau, associate professor, for media arts; Elanie Steyn, associate professor, for journalism; and, Debbie Yount, for strategic communication.

Beliveau has been teaching in the areas of film and media critical studies and broadcasting for nearly 20 years. His research focuses on critical media literacy and learning, media criticism, film/video studies, popular culture, documentary theory production and history, and rhetorical criticism. He has previously served as area head and acting area head for the college. He also co-teaches the annual British Media Study Abroad course with Foote.

Ralph Beliveau

Elanie Steyn

Steyn teaches in journalism, media management and the business of media. Her research interests focus on women in media leadership, international media studies and media management. She has worked with the World Journalism Education Council and on several U.S. State Department grant programs between Gaylord College and Bangladesh and Pakistan.

Two Join Faculty

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Yount has been an advertising and public relations executive with some of the world’s largest agencies including Publicis Worldwide, Grey Global Group and McCann Worldgroup. (Read more about Yount and her plans on page 7).

Sports Producer Hired

Glenn Leshner will hold the Gaylord Family Chair in Journalism. He comes to Gaylord College from the University of Missouri, where he is a professor of strategic communication in the School of Journalism.

Leshner will play a primary role in the Gaylord College graduate program, teaching communication theory and research to our master’s and doctoral students. Leshner will start at OU in January 2015.

Leshner is a media effects researcher with concentration in the area of health public service announcements particularly as relate to tobacco and smoking. Other areas of expertise include cognitive processing of television news, mass communication theory and quantitative research methods.

Suzanne Chandler, broadcasting and electronic media assistant professor, began her broadcast career 30 years ago. With a bachelor of fine art in photography, bachelor of art in art history, and

Debbie Yount

Glenn Leshner

Suzanne Chandler

minor in journalism, Chandler landed a photojournalist position at KMGH-TV. She placed in the National Press Photographer’s top 10 “News Photographer of the Year” competition, and began her production company, A Point of View Productions.

Chandler has freelanced extensively for ABC, NBC, CBS and ESPN. She has worked on programs including 60 Minutes, America’s Most Wanted, and Dateline as well as created commercials for corporate clients. Chandler has been teaching at the Metropolitan State College, Denver, and will start with the fall semester.

Gaylord College has hired a sports producer.

Barry Orr will work closely with SoonerVision and Gaylord College students to produce Sooner Sports Pad and other student Barry Orr productions on both radio and television. The position was funded by a grant from the E. L. and Thelma Gaylord Foundation. Orr will start with the fall semester.

Orr is an experienced television sports producer with several decades of experience in top-tier markets of Miami, Phoenix and Denver.

While at KPNX in Phoenix, he was the executive producer of the no. 1-rated weekly half-hour Sunday night sports show.

While with KMGH in Denver, he traveled and reported extensively on the Denver Broncos and the NHL Playoffs. He also was a producer for the Golf Channel.

DevelopmentNews

Dear Alumni and Friends, As you know, in 2013 we recognized the Centennial of our program by hosting a multitude of celebratory events. This year, Gaylord College kicked off the second century of journalism education excellence at the University of Oklahoma. We enjoyed a special afternoon in March when hundreds of Gaylord College students attended the “Gaylord Next 100” carnival held in their honor in the beautiful Gaylord Hall courtyard.

Another big Sooner celebration is on the horizon. In September of this year, a campus-wide fundraising campaign will be launched in conjunction with the 125th anniversary of OU in 2015. Gaylord College will play a major role in this effort, as you might expect. Given the current trends in public funding for higher education, substantial success in development is essential to advancing the critical mission of the University of Oklahoma.

Kristen Lazalier Director of Development

With each academic year comes change – new students, new faculty and new staff. Change is good, we’re told. It brings with it challenges, excitement, possibilities and often a fair amount of anxiety. I want to share with you the news that I, too, am part of this year’s winds of change. Effective Aug. 11, the next chapter of my professional career began with a move to OU’s Price College of Business, serving as their associate director of development. This change is full of promise and ample opportunities for success. However, it is also bittersweet as I will miss the many great friends I’ve made during my six years here.

As a proud graduate of this program, I have every intention of remaining a loyal supporter of Gaylord College, regardless of which area of campus I call home. You can count on me always to champion the initiatives and programs of the college. Please accept my sincere thanks to each of you for making my time at Gaylord College most rewarding and memorable.

Live on University,

Kristen Lazalier Class of ’87 klazalier@ou.edu

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1913-2013

Empowering Storytellers

Centennial Circle

In the year 1913, the Oklahoma State Board of Education approved the University of Oklahoma’s School of Journalism. First classes in the school were held in the fall semester of 1913, offering two courses to a total of 28 students.

In 1961, the school was officially named the H.H. Herbert School of Journalism and Mass Communication, in honor of Professor Herbert, director of the program from 1917 to 1945. In recognition of the beloved J-School director, memberships are available for a special giving society – the Centennial Circle – which ensures the bridge between our past connects us firmly to our future. The H.H. Herbert Society recognizes a gift of $5,000 and the Centennial Sustainers recognizes a gift of $2,500. Both contributions may be funded annually over five years.

Tax-deductible contributions to the Centennial Circle will benefit faculty resources, technology advancements, student programmatic support and other critical operating needs of the college.

Benefits of membership in the Herbert Society include a copy of the Centennial coffee-table book, recognition on a permanent display housed in Gaylord Hall and on the college’s website. Centennial Sustainers members will be recognized on the permanent display in Gaylord Hall, in publications and on the college’s website.

H. H. Herbert Society Maj. Gen. John Admire, 1964 Alex Adwan, 1950 Jari Askins, 1975 Ann Brewer Basinger, 1961 Kim Koontz Bayliss, 1981 Robert A. Bernstein, 1960 Ben Blackstock, 1951 Rob Boswell, 1980 Paul Brothers, 1987 Gracelyn Brown, 1975 Shane Boyd, 1986 Bob Burke, 1970 Carol Robinson Burr, 1959 John C. Campbell, 1958 Pamela S. Carter, 1973 Philip R. Caudill, 1969 Linda Cavanaugh, 1973 Julia Chew, 1986

Bart Conner, 1984 Don C. Davis, 1965 Gail Privett Davis, 1979 James P. Dolan, 1971 David B. Donchin, 1982 Mary Ellen Hipp Doyle, 1956 Al Eschbach, 1968 Joe S. Foote, 1971 Judi Freyer, 1964 Roger Frizzell, 1982 Marti Pate Gallardo, 1978 Bill Hancock, 1972 Don Harral, 1972 David Haspel, 1971 Jim Helberg, 1983 Robert Hess, 1986 Amb. James R. Jones, 1961 Ed Kelley, 1975

Michael Limon, 1976 Ed Livermore, Sr., 1940 * Melba Livermore, 1940 * Kenneth W. Luce Doug Martin, 1989 Paul D. Massad, 1960 Col. William Massad, 1955 Joe McBride, 1951 John McClymonds, 1971 William Moakley, III, 1987 J.P. Moery, 1987 Pattye L. Moore, 1979 Terye J. Myers, 1981 Steve Neumann, 1979 Steve Pickett, 1983 Howard F. Price, 1971 Karen C. Renfrow, 1981 Paul Renfrow, 1979 Andy Rieger, 1980

Karen S. Rieger, 1978 Gregory Rubenstein, 1972 Connie Burke Ruggles, 1962 Robert Ruggles, 1961 Barbara Winn Sessions, 1968 Harry Sherman, 1976 C. Renzi Stone, 2000 Lee Anne Young Stone, 2002 Suzie McClendon Symcox, 1985 Steve Trollinger, 1973 Karina Van Veen, 1994 Kristin Van Veen, 1994 Kari Ferguson Watkins, 1986 Weldon Watson, 1970 Marilyn S. Weber, 1974 Keith White, 1974 Doug Williams, 1965 Debbie Sherry Yount, 1974 * Deceased

Centennial Sustainers John Boydston, 1983 Karen Waltz Browne, 1977 Aran Coleman, 2011 John Cox, 1986 Mickey Edwards, 1958

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Houda Elyazgi, 2007 Janet L. Evans, 1985 Doug Feaver, 1961 Joi Gordon, 1989 Pauline Hale, 1974

Jim “Tripp” Hall, III, 1986 Jill Quintana Hughes, 1995 Linda Johnson, 1967 Evan Katz, 1986 Kristen A. Lazalier, 1987

Bill Moore, 1979 Lee Reynolds, 1977 Bill Shirk, 1978 Kathy L. Taylor, 1978 Linda Lake Young, 1972

Alumni Association

The Friends and Alumni Association of the Gaylord College of Journalism and Mass Communication, nicknamed JayMac, was organized in 1983 with a mission to promote pride for the college and its faculty, students and alumni and to encourage the pursuit of excellence within the college and among the practitioners in the profession.

Specific objectives:

Cost

• Develop a continuing interest in the college from its graduates and former students • Encourage students through incentive programs such as awards and scholarships • Promote an interest in the college among high school students • Create an awareness of financial needs of the college

Programs Each year JayMac honors three alumni with the Distinguished Alumni award and, a Young Professional every other year.

The organization also partially underwrites the printing of this magazine, Pulse, and email newsletter supplements throughout the year.

Annual dues for JayMac membership are $50 per person. A lifetime membership is available for a one-time gift of $1,000.

JayMac Board Members The JayMac Alumni Association is led by a group of volunteer directors. The directors and officers for 2014-2015 are: Daryle Voss, President Members at Large David Joplin Bill Moore Linda Lake Young James Tyree (Immediate Past President)

JayMac Members (as of July 30, 2014) Ann Adams Peggy Aycock Diana Baldwin Alice Barry Bob Barry, Jr. Fred Beard Lee Benson Shane Boyd Michael Bruce Amanda Byte Jeri Calcote Susy Calonkey John Campbell Linda Carter Derrell (Joe) Claxton

Nancy Coggins David Iverson Jerry Cornelius Terry Jenks Don Davis James Jones James Dolan H. Hilton Kaderli, Jr. Dow Dozier Naomi Kaminsky Bill Edwards Amy King Amy Ewing-Holmstrom Chris Krug Phyllis Glickman Kirstin Krug Mark Green Jeneanne Lawson G. W. Hail, Jr. Kristen Lazalier Alexandra Hawthorn Cheryl Lockhart Kelli Hayward Richard Luttrell Cathey Heddlesten Julie Malicott Robert Hess Paul Massad Kristin Hincke William Massad Col. (Ret.)

John McBreen Joe McBride, Jr. Thomas McCarthy John McClymonds Linda McLain Kathryn McNutt John Martin Meek Carrie Mitchell Pattye Moore Sydney Moran Laura Morse Stephany Nichols Trude Norman Barbara O’Gwynn Bill Phillips

Nicola Pintozzi Jolly Brown Pugh Matt Ratcliff Paul Rose Connie Ruggles Robert Ruggles Barbara Sessions Rosemary Simpson G. Clayton Stoldt J.C. Strow M. Dean Suddath David Tarpenning Ed Taylor Sam Thomas Robby Trammell

James Tyree Fred Vint Kari Watkins Susan White Cherlynn Williams Mary Lou Williams Larry Woodard Debbie Yount Michael Zeaman Joseph Zovak

JayMac Life Members John Admire Terri S. Angier Jari Askins Ben Blackstock James T. Bratton Bob Burke Carol Burr Phil Caudill Fred L. Cook* Jean Duke Charles Engleman* Joe S. Foote

* Deceased

Judith A. Garson Joi Gordon Jim ‘Tripp’ Hall, III Mike Hammer* David K. Haspel Carol J. Hebert C. Joe Holland* James K. Howard John C. Johnson* Eric M. Joiner Jill Kelsey Roy Kelsey, Jr.

E. K. Livermore, Sr.* Gary McCalla* Tom McCurdy, II Jeffrey T. McEvoy Charles McWilliams, II* William A. Moakley Max J. Nichols Howard F. Price Elizabeth N. Ray* John A. Rector, Jr.* Vicki J. Redick Jan D. Rogers

Greg Rubenstein Ralph Sewell* Arlen Southern* Kathy Taylor Preston Trimble Steve Trolinger Larry Wade* Marilyn Weber Linda Lake Young

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Board of Visitors 2014 members

Rob Boswell Chair Moroch Partners Dallas

Kim Bayliss Grayling Washington, D.C.

Shane Boyd Devon Energy Oklahoma City

Bob Burke Bob Burke Law Oklahoma City

Jim Dolan Cherry Tree Companies Minneapolis

Roger Frizzell Carnival Corp.

Miami

Marti Gallardo The Wall Street Journal New York City

Joi Gordon Dress for Success Worldwide New York City

Robert Hess Signal Chicago

Ed Kelley Deseret News Salt Lake City

Kathy Leonard Freeman+Leonard Advertising Dallas

Michael Limón Loyola University Chicago

John McClymonds Macy’s (Retired) Houston

Pattye Moore Red Robin Gourmet Burgers, Inc. Oklahoma City

Steve Pickett KTVT/CBS Dallas

Howard Price Multi-Net Marketing Inc. Colorado Springs

Renzi Stone Saxum Oklahoma City 40

Suzie Symcox First Fidelity Bank Oklahoma City

Kari Watkins OKC National Memorial & Museum Oklahoma City

Weldon Watson Oklahoma House Representative and ONEOK (Retired) Tulsa

Pam Carter Synergy Marketing Associates Tulsa

Linda Cavanaugh KFOR-TV /NBC Oklahoma City

Gail Privett Davis GDA Speakers Dallas

Bill Hancock

David Haspel Haspel Communications Nashville

Jim Helberg Starcom MediaVest Los Angeles

Erik Logan OWN/Oprah Winfrey Network Los Angeles

Ken Luce LDWW Group Dallas

Doug Martin The Richards Group Dallas

Paul Renfrow OGE Energy Corp.

Oklahoma City

Lee Reynolds CT Challenge Monroe, CT

Harry Sherman Sherman Media Chicago

College Football

Playoffs Kansas City/Dallas

Doug Williams Omni Broadcasting Woodward

Debbie Yount The Clover Group and Gaylord College Norman

Emeritus members: Ann Adams Alex Adwan Gracelyn Brown Forrest Cameron Phil Caudill Don Cogman Genevieve Haldeman Joanne Orr Roy Page David Stringer Steve Trolinger

Advisory board adds seven members Gaylord College is proud to have a very distinguished Board of Visitors with both alumni and respected peers serving on the Board. This year we are pleased to add seven new members: Bub Burke, attorney and author; Gail Davis, Gail Davis & Associates; Joi Gordon, Dress for Success Worldwide; David Haspel, Haspel Communications; Jim Helberg, Starcom MediaVest; Erik Logan, OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network; and Lee Reynolds, CT Challenge.

Burke, Haspel and Helberg began their terms with the spring meeting on April 11.

Davis, Logan, Gordon and Reynolds will begin their terms with the fall meeting in October.

Bob Burke Burke has written more historical nonfiction books than anyone else in history.

He was born in Broken Bow, Oklahoma, and now practices law and writes books in Oklahoma City. Burke graduated with a journalism degree in 1970 and a law degree from Oklahoma City University in 1979. In 2004, he received the Governor’s Art Award for Excellence in the Arts in Oklahoma and was named to the Oklahoma Journalism Hall of Fame. In 2006, he was inducted into the Oklahoma Hall of Fame and he was given the Arrell Gibson Lifetime Achievement Award by the Oklahoma Center for the Book.

Gail Davis As founder and president of one of the country’s premiere speaker’s bureaus, Davis makes CEOs, authors, educators, inventors, gurus and inspirational luminaries shine.

She helms her namesake bureau, which began as Gail Davis & Associates, and has created a company known for its focus on the client. In 2011, the Dallas Business Journal honored her as one of Dallas’ Top 25 Women in Business.

“Most Powerful Moms in Non-Profit” by Working Mother magazine.

David Haspel Haspel is the president and CEO of Haspel Communications, Inc., a diversified media communications company engaged in feature film and television development and specialized consulting services. Haspel is a published columnist with the Dallas Morning News, having written several Viewpoints ranging from ethics in sports to corruption in the political process. Haspel, a New Orleans native, earned a bachelor of arts in journalism/advertising in 1971 and an MBA from Southern Methodist University and is an alumnus of the UCLA John E. Anderson Graduate School of Management’s Executive Program.

Jim Helberg In his more than 29 years as a media executive, Helberg has held a front row seat to some of the greatest evolutions in the history of marketing and media. This powerful perspective has driven Helberg to counsel blue chip clients well beyond today’s consumer market by positioning corporate strategies and investments over a longer-term to capitalize on media, content and messaging that drives future campaigns and industries.

Erik Logan Logan is president of OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network, a post he took in July 2011, adding to his existing responsibilities of running Harpo Studios. Together with co-President Sherri Salata, he leads the dayto-day operations for both the network and the award-winning studio. Prior to joining Harpo in 2008, Logan was executive vice president, programming and broadcast operations for Sirius XM Satellite Radio.

Joi Gordon

Lee Reynolds

Joi Gordon is a 1989 Radio/TV/ Film graduate and also received her juris doctorate from the OU College of Law. Gordon is the CEO of Dress for Success Worldwide, a leader in promoting the economic and social development of disadvantaged women. An original offer to donate some suits and provide legal advice led to a position on the organization’s board of directors. That offer of help turned into a leadership role that has earned her recognition as one of the “25 Most Influential Black Women in Business” by Network Journal Magazine and one of the

Reynolds was a public relations major and graduated in 1977. She also holds an accreditation from the Public Relations Society of America. Reynolds serves as an elected member of Monroe, Connecticut’s Board of Education, where she also chairs the Communications Committee. In 1995, Reynolds was named the Volunteer Fund Raiser of the Year by the Association of Fundraising Professionals. She has returned to Haiti multiple times with a medical mission team to provide basic healthcare services to the people of Ile a Vache.

What is the Board of Visitors?

The Board of Visitors (BOV) is an advisory council made up of alumni and peer professionals who provide guidance and a sounding board to the leadership of Gaylord College.

The mission of the Board is to provide advice and counsel to the leadership of the college as it strives to improve the academic and research quality of the college, advance the professional programs within the college and increase the stature of the College in both academic and professional spheres.

Members of the Board are selected from those individuals whose professional careers have brought them recognition for sound judgment, decisive action and integrity. Additionally, members shall have a knowledge of and interest in journalism education in general and a particular interest and concern for the development, advancement and recognition of the University of Oklahoma as an outstanding institution of higher learning.

Members must be available to attend meetings and devote the time necessary to serve the board and the university effectively.

Meetings are typically in April and October.

Board Initiatives/Projects • OU Journalism Centennial • Gaylord College Branding Campaign • Mock Interviews with and Mentors for the Gaylord Ambassadors • Business Journalism curriculum advisory group

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DevelopmentNews

Newspaper Pioneer Makes Additional Gift Before Death

BY LYNETTE LOBBAN, OU FOUNDATION EDITOR’S NOTE: This article was originally published in the OU Foundation’s Priority newsletter in fall 2013. Ed Livermore, Sr. died on April 26, 2014, but we still wanted to share his legacy.

Tall and trim Ed Livermore was every bit the commanding presence at 95 as he was half a century ago when he was hustling ads and barking at newsboys on his way to building a small, but vital, string of community newspapers in Oklahoma, Texas and Arkansas.

“He never wanted to be the most important man in town,” said Ben Blackstock, former executive vice president of the Oklahoma Press Association, “but he was.”

That stature was evident at the OU Journalism Centennial Celebration when dozens of people made their way across the room to greet their former boss and Ed Livermore, Sr. (center) with President David Boren and the Livermore family members at the OU colleague. Livermore and his late wife, Journalism Centennial Luncheon in September 2013.

Melba, at one time owned or held interest in newspapers in Claremore, Sapulpa, taken his first newspaper job at 10 at the on his ’38 Ford before he and Melba were Edmond, Guthrie, Pauls Valley and Hobart Democrat Chief, where he delivered married in August 1941.

Catoosa, as well as Mineral Wells, Texas, papers and swept out the publisher’s office.

During WWII, Melba returned to and Clarksville, Arkansas.

As he grew, so did his responsibilities, Norman while her husband served in the Not long ago, Livermore ran into a working both the “ad side” and in the U.S. Army Counter-Intelligence Corps. former newspaper carrier, now a retired newsroom.

After the war, Livermore resumed his work dentist, who was still “quite cognizant” of “I was fortunate to have people in both at the Anadarko paper, which was owned his tutelage under Livermore in the 1950s. departments take an interest in me,” he said. by OU Regent Joe McBride Sr. and State “We worked the tail off the young Sen. Jim Nance. The two men people in Claremore building up were powerful forces in community “A community without a newspaper is like a circulation,” Livermore said. journalism, with holdings in Even as an OU student, man in the cold without a top coat.”

Hobart, Mangum and Clinton.

Livermore had an entrepreneurial When the Claremore Daily Progress – Ed Livermore, Sr. bent, running a laundry service, became available, they took notice. a business matching renters to “McBride and Nance loaded boarding houses and a coat-check Livermore’s choice to major in me into the car in September 1947, and enterprise operated out of an empty room journalism at OU provided him not only a off we went to Claremore,” said Livermore. in the Oklahoma Memorial Union. When career, but also a life partner. A striking co“They were instrumental in launching my it was discovered he had neither sought nor ed in the J-school caught his eye and later newspaper ownership.” been granted permission to use the room, he his heart. He and Melba Hudson dated at With money he had saved from his was nearly expelled, but went on to graduate OU and after graduation, when she went to Army days and Melba’s investments in in spring 1940. work for the Oklahoma Press Association real estate, the couple came up with the Livermore was hired right out of college and he for the Anadarko Daily News. The down payment. “It was their (McBride by the Anadarko Daily News, but by then he young reporter nearly wore out the tires and Nance) names on the note that made was nearly a seasoned professional. He had 42

Ed Livermore, Sr. (left) and John Schmeltzer, Engleman/Livermore Professor of Community Journalism

the difference. It damn sure wasn’t mine,” recalled Livermore of the $40,000 selling price. McBride and Nance soon sold their share to Ed Burchfield and Wheeler Mayo.

“Burchfield was editor and covered county, court and police,” said Livermore.

“I was business manager and Mayo was in Sallisaw, available for consultation or advice, which we needed a lot of. Melba took care of the front office. We didn’t have large advertisers like Wal-Mart or the other big

chains back then. I had to hustle every ad, and I enjoyed every minute of it.”

The Livermores lived in Claremore for 12 years before moving to Sapulpa, when they purchased the Sapulpa Daily Herald. Other community papers followed. Their largest newspapers ran between 8,000 and 10,000 circulation in towns where the population was not much larger. In the days before television and Internet, the local paper was a small town’s only source of news.

“We marry ’em, and we bury ’em,” said Livermore.

The Livermores had three children: Ed, now of Kerrville, Texas; Sarah (Spencer) of Santa Fe, New Mexico; and Mary (Bush) of Leawood, Kansas. Ed became his partner in the newspaper business, operating the Edmond Evening Sun. Melba Livermore died in January of this year at age 92.

An Endowed Professorship

BY LYNETTE LOBBAN, OU FOUNDATION In the mid-1990s, Oklahoma newspapermen Charles E. Engleman and Ed Livermore established the Engleman-Livermore Professorship in Community Journalism at the University of Oklahoma Foundation. Both men, graduates of OU’s “J-school,” knew the importance of a newspaper to a small town.

“A community newspaper is better at taking the pulse of a community in a very personal way,” said Livermore.

Although Engleman, a former OU Regent and OU Foundation trustee, died in 2003, Livermore continues to support the endowment, most recently with a gift of $250,000, bringing the total to $505,000.

Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist John Schmeltzer is the current Engleman-Livermore Professor in the Gaylord College of Journalism and Mass Communication.

“Without Mr. Livermore’s and Mr. Engleman’s generosity, there would not be a faculty position in community journalism,” said

Schmeltzer. “Mr. Livermore is convinced that in the decline of the newspaper industry, small town newspapers will help save print journalism.”

In his 35-year career at the Chicago Tribune, Schmeltzer held numerous positions from political writer to assistant business editor.

He was instrumental in expanding the readership of the Tribune by developing a suburban version of the newspaper, for which he served as associate metropolitan editor.

In recent years, Schmeltzer has worked to expand readership through social media and online newspaper editions. In addition to winning the 2001 Pulitzer for Explanatory Reporting, Schmeltzer also was a finalist for the UCLA Anderson School of Management Gerald Loeb Award for business journalism, took three awards from the Chicago Headliner Club and was awarded the Distinguished Service award from his alma mater, Northern Illinois University, in 2002.

43

AlumniNews

Three Receive Regents’ Award Of the nine exceptional alumni and friends who received the Regents’ Alumni Awards for their dedication and service to OU this past May, three of them were journalism alumni.

Presented by the OU Board of Regents and OU Alumni Association, the Regents’ Alumni Award honors the important roles of OU alumni and supporters to the life of the university. A committee formed by the Alumni Association selects the award recipients from nominations made by alumni, friends, faculty and staff. Each year’s recipients receive a plaque and their names are engraved on a permanent plaque in Oklahoma Memorial Union.

The three journalism recipients were: • Katie Blum, originally of Norman and now an Emmy Award-winning producer for a major television network • Bart Conner of Norman, who as an Olympic Gold Medal-winning gymnast served as a goodwill ambassador promoting the state of Oklahoma • Linda Johnson of Tucson, Arizona, president of a successful business consulting service

Katie Blum OU Club of New York President Blum earned her bachelor’s degree in journalism (broadcast and electronic media) from OU in May 2007. A native of Norman, Blum currently works as a production associate for Dateline NBC at NBCUniversal. While a student at OU, Blum was a member of the President’s Leadership Class, where she took part in numerous community service projects. A Cox Communications Scholarship awardee, she also was active with Alpha Lambda Delta Honor Society, the Big Event, Health for Friends and Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority, where she served as head of the Slate Committee and New Member Chair.

Professionally, Blum has been honored for her work on numerous occasions.

In 2013, she was awarded the Alfred I. duPont-Columbia Award for “Devastation in Oklahoma” and a Going the Extra Mile internal Award at NBC. In 2012, Blum was nominated for an Emmy for Outstanding Coverage of a Breaking News Story, “Tragedy at Sandy Hook Elementary.” She 44

Bart Conner, Katie Blum and Linda Johnson were named 2014 Regents’ Alumni Award recipients also won a 2009 Emmy for Outstanding Coverage of a Breaking News Story in a News Magazine, “Miracle on the Hudson.” That same year, she earned an NBC Ovation Award for effort “Above and Beyond.”

As president and past secretary of the OU Club of New York, Blum has shared her passion for the university and is playing a vital role in keeping OU’s New York alums involved and informed about the university, including hosting OU athletics watch parties and other events. Additionally, she has been instrumental in raising funds for the club’s scholarship for OU-bound tri-state area high school students.

Bart Conner Conner earned his bachelor of arts degree in public relations from OU in 1984. A native of Chicago, Conner earned 14 NCAA All-America honors, and led the OU Men’s Gymnastics team. He is the only American male gymnast to win gold medals at every level of national and international competition, including the USA National competition, NCAA tournament, PanAmerican Games, World Championships, World Cup Champion and Olympics. He was a member of the USA men’s gymnastics Olympic teams in 1976, 1980 and 1984,

and earned his second individual gold medal with a perfect 10 on parallel bars during the ’84 games in Los Angeles. During the same games, he helped lead the United States to a team gold medal.

Conner is a three-time Hall of Fame champion, having been inducted twice into the U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame as both an individual gymnast and as a member of the 1984 team. He also was inducted into the International Gymnastics Hall of Fame in 1997.

Conner has helped his alma mater in many ways, including as co-chair, with fellow alum Jari Askins, on the OU Journalism Centennial Steering Committee for the 2013 celebration. Along with fellow alum Linda Cavanaugh, Conner co-hosted the “Reflections in the Round” session during the celebration, which allowed alumni to reflect, remember and share their memories of years spent at OU and in the “J-School.” It was one of the most well received activities of the three-day reunion.

In May 2011, Conner delivered the address to graduates at Gaylord College’s Spring Convocation ceremony.

Conner provides annual support for the JayMac alumni association and in 2012 was named a recipient of the association’s JayMac Distinguished Alumni Award. He also is a member of the Board of Visitors

for OU’s College of International Studies.

Conner is a member of the executive board of Special Olympics International, and the board of directors of the Muscular Dystrophy Association. He also serves as chairman of the board of the International Gymnastics Hall of Fame.

Today, Conner and his former coach at OU, Paul Ziert, own several gymnasticsrelated business interests, including the Bart Conner Gymnastics Academy, International Gymnast magazine, and Grips, Etc., a gymnastics supply company. He enjoys high visibility as a TV color commentator and public speaker, and has worked as an analyst and announcer for every major television network. Conner’s production company, Perfect 10 Productions, has produced gymnastics shows for ESPN, Fox Sports Net, Oxygen TV and Universal Sports.

In 1996, Conner married Romanian Olympic champion Nadia Comaneci.

Today, Conner and Comaneci are involved in several national and international charities.

Linda Johnson Johnson, president of Lincor, Inc., Tucson, Arizona, earned her bachelor’s degree in journalism (public relations) in 1967. She received the School of Journalism Benefactor Award in 1992. A history of support to OU began with a lifetime Alumni Association membership. An annual participant of JayMac and President’s Associates, Johnson also is a H.H. Herbert Centennial Society (journalism) and a Kelly West Society (Harold Hamm Diabetes Center) member.

As a four-year recipient of journalism scholarships, Johnson established the “Hold the Johnson Land” scholarship in 1981 in honor of her parents. This fund is one of the college’s most generous student grants.

More recently, a major gift increased the endowment for generations of “J-School” students. Johnson was a fundraiser and a lead donor in the recent Louise Beard Moore naming campaign. The Louise Beard Moore Learning Lab in Gaylord Hall honors Moore, a longtime Oklahoma Daily

advisor and Johnson’s personal mentor.

Diabetes research and patient comfort at the Stephenson Cancer Center are Johnson’s other areas of interest.

As an alumna, Johnson continues the leadership she exercised as an OU student with alumni clubs in Atlanta (vice president and president) and now Southern Arizona as president and founder. Prospective student recruitment at high school college fairs, club scholarship fundraising and annual picnics are key activities. During her professional career, she was elected president of WiNUP (Women’s International Network of Utility Professionals) and was awarded WiNUP International Life Membership.

A former Oklahoma Daily editor and Big Woman on Campus, Johnson also worked on the Sooner yearbook. She was active in Theta Sigma Phi (honor fraternity for women in journalism), Model UN on campus and regionally, Union Activities Board and Council, Gamma Gamma (Greek honorary), and Gamma Phi Beta sorority’s Panhellenic representative.

$1 Million Gift will Establish Journalism Chair in Honor of Longtime OU Staff Member and JMC Alum, Paul Massad Will and Helen Webster of Altadena, California, found the perfect way to surprise longtime University of Oklahoma staff member Paul Massad on his 76th birthday – a $1 million gift to establish an endowed faculty chair in Massad’s honor.

The Paul D. Massad Chair in Strategic Communication in the Gaylord College will continue Massad’s more than half century legacy at OU. “We are so grateful for Will and Helen Webster’s tribute to one of our most loyal and treasured journalism graduates,” said OU President David L. Boren, who announced the gift. “Paul has dedicated his life to OU and is one of our university’s most valued assets.

This endowed chair will continue Paul’s remarkable legacy and his impact on future generations of the OU family.”

Massad said, “What an incredible surprise.

Will and Helen Webster are such special and close friends. The Websters are generous supporters of OU, and I am personally so deeply touched by their gift, which will forever benefit the university and its students.”

Massad, who earned his bachelor’s degree in journalism (public relations) in 1960, is senior associate vice president for University Development and director of Major Gifts at OU. He began his professional career during his

senior year at OU, working in the Extension Division, now OU Outreach.

He went on to recruit students as director of High School and College Relations and kept them connected to their alma mater as the chief executive of OU’s Alumni Association.

In 1990, he was promoted to associate vice president for University Affairs and executive director of Alumni Affairs. In 2000, he moved to University Development, where his longtime relationships with OU alumni have made him one of OU’s most successful fundraisers.

Massad has received many notable honors throughout the years, including the Distinguished Alumni Award from the Gaylord College, OU’s Distinguished Achievement Award, the Interfraternity Council Outstanding Greek Alumni Award and the Lee Allan Smith Oklahoma Legacy Award given by the Oklahoma Heritage Association.

Private gifts to establish endowed faculty chairs like the Paul D. Massad Chair and professorships are key to recruiting, retaining and rewarding outstanding faculty and, in turn, enhancing the academic environment of the university. Because of private support, the number of endowed faculty positions at OU has increased from 100 to 578 over the past 19 years. This number includes endowed chairs and professorships, as well as

Presidential Professorship endowments.

Gaylord College alone has five endowed chairs, including the Massad Chair, and 10 endowed professorships.

“Paul Massad is a living legend in Gaylord College and at the University of Oklahoma,” said Dean Joe Foote. “We are exceptionally proud that an endowed chair will honor one of our most distinguished and respected alumni.

Paul’s life work at OU represents the values and competencies that we want our students to embrace. We are a far better program because of Paul Massad’s nearly 60-year association with us.”

45

AlumniNews

Centennial Celebration Faculty, friends and traditions remembered It was almost a year ago that more than 200 alumni and friends joined Gaylord College students, faculty and staff to celebrate 100 years of excellence in journalism education at the Centennial Celebration. Attendees from across the nation representing all areas of media and strategic communication and spanning multiple generations returned to campus to enjoy two days of special events Sept. 6 and 7.

On the agenda were the JayMac Distinguished Alumni awards, Centennial Luncheon, faculty panel discussion on the Future of Media, and a very special Reflections in the Round session. Bill Hancock, CEO of the College Football Playoffs, spoke about the new playoff system before a tailgate party on Saturday.

46

The Centennial Luncheon was a chance for alumni and friends of the college to celebrate the rich heritage of the journalism program but also provided a chance to showcase what the college has become and the vibrant future ahead.

Special guests at the luncheon included President David L. Boren, Christy Gaylord Everest and her daughter Tricia Everest, and Bill Ross and Bob Ross (Ethics & Excellence in Journalism and Inasmuch Foundations).

Members of the Gaylord College Board of Visitors, current faculty, staff and students also were there, along with emeritus directors and professors David Dary and Frank Heaston.

Oklahoma newspaper pioneer Ed Livermore, Sr., was the oldest alumnus

1

2

4

5

in attendance, having graduated in 1940 (Livermore, Sr. passed away in April).

The highlight of the weekend for most alumni, however, was the Friday afternoon Reflections in the Round session when alumni where given the opportunity to share memories of their time in the j-school.

The Reflections in the Round (see page 48) session was co-hosted by energetic hosts Linda Cavanaugh (1973) and Bart Conner (1984). Stories from alumni included everything from memories of streakers on the South Oval to working on The Daily under Louise B. Moore. Throughout the session it was clear that alumni had strong ties to The Daily and that faculty had lifechanging influence on careers and personal lives.

3

1) Centennial Co-Chairs Jari Askins and Bart Conner with President David L. Boren at the Centennial Luncheon; 2) Janet (Evans) Webb with President Boren at the luncheon; 3) Gwin Faulconer-Lippert talks with her former professor, Frank Heaston; 4) Distinguished Alumnus Shane Boyd meets with John and Julie Campbell at the opening reception; 5) Kristen Lazalier with Don Harral at the reception.

7

6

8

10

11

9

6) The OU Journalism Centennial Luncheon was held in the Sandy Bell Gallery of the Fred Jones, Jr. Museum of Art; 7) Don Davis and Roy Oteo chat at the reception; 8) Katherine Leidy, Jeff Hickman and Terri Angier at the reception; 9) the OU Journalism Centennial History Book authors Andy Rieger, Bob Burke and Bill Moore with President Boren at the Centennial Luncheon; 10) Cherokee Ballard and Charlene Basset enjoy the luncheon; 11) A highlight for young alumni was the Gaylord Ambassador’s reunion; 12) Mary Ellen (Hipp) and Chuck Doyle are ready for the game at the Saturday tailgate party.

12

47

1

The full hour of Reflections in the Round can be watched on the Gaylord College YouTube channel at http://tiny.cc/ReflectionsintheRound.

2

4

6

48

3

5

1) The Reflections in the Round session was held in Studio D and gave alumni an opportunity to laugh, reminisce and share their stories; 2) Bart Conner passes the microphone to Maj. Gen. John Admire, Mike Boettcher and Don Davis; 3) Linda Cavanaugh holds the microphone while James Tyree shares a story; 4) Bart Conner and Howard Price enjoy Bill Hancock’s tale of mischief; 5) Linda Cavanaugh gets a chance to interview former news anchor Cherokee Ballard; 6) Rick Lippert, Linda Cavanaugh and Marti (Pate) Gallardo enjoy one of Gwin Faulcner-Lippert’s stories.

49

2 23 1 1 2 4

CHINA (PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC)

CHINA (REPUBLIC OF TAIWAN)

DENMARK

FRANCE

GERMAN FEDERAL REP (WEST)

HONG KONG

NUMBER

104

15

2

30

6

CANADA

COUNTRY

49 or fewer

50 to 99

100 to 199

200 or more

16

417

44

79

9

11

177

57

4

33

17

NETHERLANDS

MALAYSIA

MEXICO

23

40

77

110

REPUBLIC OF SOUTH KOREA

KUWAIT

JAPAN

ISRAEL

COUNTRY

1992

4386

103

15

6

2

18

68

34

1

3

1

7

1

3

1

NUMBER

12

121

27

23

106

42

Gaylord College – Total Alumni 9,055

ALUMNI CENSUS

2

77

33

7

1 0 1

VIRGIN ISLANDS TRUST TERRITORIES

5 1 1

AE - EUROPE AP - PACIFIC/ASIA AS - American Samoa

VENEZUELA

1

4

3

7

1

1

1

0

AA - SOUTH AMERICA

MILITARY

2 PUERTO RICO

NUMBER

NUMBER GUAM

UNITED KINGDOM

THAILAND

SINGAPORE

PERU

PANAMA

NORWAY

30 13 27 34

5

FEDERATED STATES

4

COUNTRY

140

33

59

132

25

127

4

ClassNotes Advertising Blakeley Caroline Jones, advertising, 2012, is a graduate of Virginia Commonwealth University Brandcenter with a M.S. in business/copywriting. Her portfolio includes an award-winning product extension ad for Tiffany’s & Co. Tim Hoover, advertising, 1997, is the communications director for the Fiscal Policy Institute. Previously, he worked as a reporter and editorial writer at The Denver Post.

Broadcasting and Electronic Media, Radio/TV/Film Mick Cornett, Radio/TV/Film, 1981, is now Oklahoma City’s first four-term mayor.

He swept the election in March with 65.7 percent of the votes.

Caitlin Crawford, BEM, 2013, is now a photographer and production assistant at KMID Big 2 News in West Texas. She has interned with the Dallas Cowboys, KWTV News 9 in Oklahoma City and Power Public Relations in Dallas.

Emily Garman, Radio/TV/Film, 2002, was named to both The Journal Record’s Achievers Under 40 and the OKCBiz 40 Under 40 lists. She is the owner and chief operating officer of Oklahoma Media Group, a full-service website development and application programming company.

Rosemary Elaine Hakimipour, Radio/ TV/Film, 1988, is the Stevenson Mobile Academic Real-time Technology desk assistant at Stevenson High School in Lincolnshire, Illinois. She is part of a team that has equipped over 3,000 students with iPads. She has worked at Stevenson since 1994. Previously, she was a video specialist for the school and taught students how to shoot and edit video.

of Design Programs for Eastman Chemical Co. and is now focusing on writing a column for Plastics News.

Journalism Mike Boettcher, journalism, 1975, is a new member of the Easter Seals International Board of Directors, a group that supports communities in their efforts to help veterans during reintegration.

Shari Cooper, journalism, 1996, is now the community outreach specialist for the City of Thousand Oaks in California. Previously, she was a city planner in Philadelphia and in Oklahoma City. Cooper has also worked as a photojournalist and videographer at different news stations and companies around the country.

M. M. Cox, journalism, 2007, won the 2014 Creative Women of Oklahoma Award for Young Adult Books with her book Accidental Mobster. It is the first book in her trilogy called the Teen Mobster Series. The award is given annually by the Delta Kappa Gamma Society International, a professional organization of women educators based in Austin.

Jenny Dial Creech, journalism, 2005, is an NBA writer at the Houston Chronicle. She has been a sports writer for the paper for nine years.

Jim Dolan, journalism, 1971, joined The Cherry Tree Companies as a Managing Partner on its investment banking team, Cherry Tree & Associates. His focus will be on the media, legal and business services, and BPO sectors, and to make the most of Cherry Tree’s powerful positioning and brand name.

Bryan Scott Dugan, journalism, 2013, is a copy editor for The New York Times at their editing center in Gainesville, Florida.

Sharon Thetford Ervin, journalism, 1963, published her first historical romance novel, Nightingale, in May. This is her 10th published novel.

Jill Simpson, Radio/TV/Film, 1982, is the executive director of the Oklahoma Film and Music Office. Simpson was honored as one of Oklahoma’s Film Icons at the deadCenter Film Festival.

Laura Hampton, journalism, 2011, is the features editor at the St. Augustine Record in Florida. Previously, she was an editor at a publishing company in Jacksonville and wrote feature articles for Jacksonville Magazine.

Gaylon H. White, general broadcasting, 1967, is the author of The Bilko Athletic Club, the Story of the 1956 Los Angeles Angels. He has spent most of his career as a sportswriter for various newspapers and as a speechwriter for top corporate executives.

He retired several years ago as the director

Carolyn G. Hart, journalism, 1958, is now a Grand Master of the Mystery Writers of America. She was honored with the lifetime achievement award in New York City on May 1. It is the highest recognition in the crime-writing world.

50

Alexa Helms, journalism, 2009, is now a weekend anchor at WFLD in Chicago, previously worked as a reporter at WSVN in Miami and KTSM-KDBC in El Paso, Texas.

Dorothy Dell “D.D.” Butler Welsh, minor in journalism, 1957; M.A. in journalism, 1964. After graduation in 1957, Welsh started working on her M.A. in Journalism in summer school and continued taking summer courses, and late afternoon classes in the fall and spring until graduation in June 1964.

This sometimes meant flying in and out of Oklahoma City and driving to Norman several times the last two years before graduation. During the summer sessions, Louise Moore frequently had her writing for The Oklahoma Daily and running the Favorite Professor contest as well as taking courses.

Welsh taught junior high and high school English and journalism at several schools in Oklahoma, California, Texas and Nevada throughout the 1960s.

She frequently also served as adviser for the school newspapers and yearbooks, leading students to win numerous awards throughout the years.

Under her direction at Classen High School in Oklahoma City The Classen Life received many top awards.

C. Joe Holland and Louise Moore also put Welsh to work coordinating the meetings for the Oklahoma Journalism Advisors association fall and spring for two years in conjunction with the Oklahoma Scholastic Press Association meetings. While at OU she wrote her first novel for a novel-writing class in 1961, A Good Man is Hard to Find.

During the 1970s and 1980s, Welsh taught English composition at the college level in San Antonio while also writing professionally for Swimming World magazine and Sports Illustrated.

She also produced pamphlets and edited newsletters for several nonprofit organizations. In 1992, she was a lecturer in journalism at John Brown University and taught magazine editing and production.

Welsh has written several books, including Fact, Fiction and Poetic License and a pre-statehood history of the Butler family in Mayes county, Oklahoma and has a trivia book ready to be published.

Larry Ferguson, journalism, 1960, was inducted into the Oklahoma Journalism Hall of Fame in April. During his career, he has published the Cleveland American, the Hominy Progress and the Pawnee Chief. He also served in the state House of Representatives for 20 years.

Ed Kelley, journalism, 1975, is now a senior contributing editor for the Deseret News in Utah. He was previously the editor of The Washington Times in Washington, D.C., and The Oklahoman in Oklahoma City.

Nanette Light, journalism, 2009, is the editor of the Plano-Murphy-Wylie edition of neighborsgo in the Dallas area.

Previously, she worked as a reporter for neighborsgo in Rockwall-Rowlett and for The Norman Transcript.

Kenzie Meek-Beck, journalism, 2014, is now the social media specialist and online reporter for KOAA in Colorado Springs, Colorado. During her time at OU, she was a reporter for NewsOK.com, OU Nightly, and the New York Times.

Royce Young, journalism, 2008, is the founder and editor of The Daily Thunder.

He has been a leading voice covering the Thunder since the team arrived in 2008, and recently moved the blog to ESPN.com and will continue covering the team. Young spent the past three years covering the NBA for CBSSports.com and had previously written for The New York Times, SLAM Magazine and The Oklahoma Daily.

Public Relations Brenda Bell, PR, 1985, is now the regional vice president of Business Wire. The company is the global leader in press release distribution and regulatory disclosure.

Previously, she was a regional manager.

Rachel Bradley, PR, 2011, is now the nature tourism marketing coordinator for Texas Parks & Wildlife in Austin, Texas.

Stephanie Brickman, PR, 1992, is the communication manager for the Norman Convention and Visitors’ Bureau and served as the interim executive director of the NCVB in 2013 while the organization searched for a permanent director. Prior to joining the NCVB, she worked in the media market for more than 15 years, including time at the Oklahoma Gazette, The Norman

Transcript and OETA. She came on board as NCVB communications manager in September 2011.

ClassNotes

Stephen Ford, PR, 2006, is the director of marketing for integrated computer systems in McKinney, Texas. ICS is a company specializing in software needs for police, fire and EMS. Ford uses his diverse background of crime-reporting journalism and sports marketing to help maximize the marketing efforts for ICS.

Mike Smith, PR, 1983, is now a reporter at The Montana Standard. He previously worked for the Associated Press covering the Indiana Statehouse and was a lead reporter on the international story of Australian ballplayer Christopher Lane, who was shot by teens in Duncan, Oklahoma.

Roger Frizzell, PR, 1982, senior vice president and chief communications officer for Carnival Corp., has been inducted into the Arthur W. Page Society, a professional association for senior public relations and corporate communications executives who seek to enrich and strengthen their profession.

Professional Writing

Kelsie Geister, PR, 2011, is the new marketing director for Grand Savings Bank.

Previously, she worked at Anglin Public Relations in Oklahoma City.

Debra Kerr, PR, 1980, was awarded the Distinguished Teaching Award in Professional Development by Northwestern University School of Continuing Studies for her work with her organization YouthMuse.

The program, based out of Chicago, serves as a youth advocate and jumpstarts youthled, museum-based campaigns for change.

Previously, Kerr served as the executive vice president of the Shedd Aquarium.

Katherine Leidy, ABC, APR, PR, 1989, received an award of excellence from the National Association for Government Communicators for her work on the Oklahoma Department of Human Services Rebranding Project.

Eduardo Prieto, PR, 1992, is the new vice president for access and enrollment management at Winthrop University in South Carolina. He has worked in enrollment management for 21 years at four institutions.

Bill Moore, PW, 1979, is the producer of the seven-part series “Oklahomans and Space” series that aired on OETA this summer. He also produced a 30-minute program called “The Oklahoma Influence,” which retells how Oklahoma influenced different people in NASA. If you missed it, the series will be available in a DVD boxed set.

Molly Levite Griffis, communication, 1960, published her 11th book, Welcome to Wizbang, Ruby Trotter in December.

M.A., M.P.W. and Ph.D. Sarabdeep (Sarab) Kochhar, Strategic Communication, 2009 is the first director of research for the Institute for Public Relations. She coordinates research programs, serves as chief strategist and counselor to the Board of Trustees on research matters, and is the primary IPR spokesperson on research and how practitioners can use it.

In spring 2014, she received her Ph.D. from the Department of Public Relations at the University of Florida.

Mark Nehrenz, 2011, journalism; M.A., journalism, 2013, is the founder of OKC Good, a social media platform that allows Oklahoma City Metro residents to see and post inspiring stories of the work done in their communities by nonprofits and other pro-social people and groups.

Nur Uysal, Ph.D., strategic communication, 2008, is a recipient of the 2012-2013 James E. Grunig and Larissa A. Grunig Outstanding Doctoral Dissertation Award from the Public Relations Division of the International Communication Association for her doctoral dissertation, “A Societal Approach to Investor Relations: Social Shareholder Activism, Corporate Responses, and Organizational Legitimacy.”

Steven L. Warren, M.A., journalism, 1983, is the author of The Second Battle of Cabin Creek: Brilliant Victory, which was named a finalist in the non-fiction category of the Oklahoma Book Awards in April of last year. Warren also wrote and produced a documentary to accompany the book called Last Raid at Cabin Creek.

Brent Weber, MA, broadcasting and electronic media, 2014, released his documentary, Real Live Angles, this year.

It is the story of a camp in North Texas for special needs children and adults. He has recently accepted a position teaching journalism at Auburn University.

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CelebratingLives Glenn Phillip Bradley, Broadcast News, 1952, a decorated war veteran and newspaper sales manager, died June 23.

He was 92. During his time at OU, he was a member of ROTC and the university’s nationally recognized men’s glee club.

After serving in World War II and receiving two Purple Hearts, Bradley worked for The Norman Transcript, The Daily Oklahoman and The University Press.

Howard DeMere, 1949, broadcast journalism, the pioneering St. Louis TV weatherman, died March 12. He was 89. When he started in 1949, he was the only TV weatherman in St. Louis, and in 2011, he was inducted into the St. Louis, Missouri, Media Hall of Fame.

David Frost, journalism, 1958, was covaledictorian and drum major of Hobart High School. At OU, he was editor of The Oklahoma Daily and was honored as a Distinguished Graduate of the Gaylord College. During Army service in Germany, he fell in love with opera and later moved to New York, working for the AP. When his father died, David returned to Hobart to run The Kiowa County Star-Review. In a 40-year career in New York, he edited works

by Larry McMurtry and Barbara Tuchman, among others. He spent nine months in San Clemente, California, editing Richard Nixon’s memoirs. Frost enjoyed opera, reading, genealogy and movies. He built a significant collection of records and books, many signed by the artists. He was an inveterate world traveler who loved Oklahoma and often wore OU clothing, thus meeting fellow Oklahomans. He was devoted to reading The New York Times, clipping it and mailing articles to friends.

Edward Knowles “Ed” Livermore Sr., advertising, 1940, Oklahoma newspaper pioneer, died April 26 in Tulsa. See story on page 42 for more about Livermore.

W. Morgan McCullar, journalism, 1957, a Tulsa salesman, died Nov. 6, 2013. He was 78. During his 65-year career, he worked for Fleming Foods, Kerr Glass and MatheyLeland Manufacturing Co., all Oklahoma companies.

James A. Tidwell, MA, journalism, 1972, chairman of the Journalism Department at Eastern Illinois University, died April 12 after a 19-month battle with pancreatic cancer. He was 65. During his 41-year career in high education, he taught communication law to hundreds of students. He also wrote Media Law in Illinois: A Reporter’s Handbook, among other works on the First Amendment and the press.

Obituaries are taken from online notices and may have been edited to fit this space.

Mathew “Kuyk” Kuykendall Logan, 80, veteran Texas and Oklahoma journalist and public relations executive, died at home on July 11, 2014. Kuyk and his wife, Dianne, lived in The Woodlands, Texas.

Kuyk was born Aug. 19, 1933, in Norman, Oklahoma, the youngest son of Dr. and Mrs. Leonard M. Logan, Jr. After obtaining a degree in journalism from the University of Oklahoma, where he was editor of the student newspaper, Logan took a reporting job at United Press International and later became city editor for The Daily Oklahoman in Oklahoma City. During that time, he was Oklahoma correspondent for Time, Life and Fortune magazines, but his newspaper career began much earlier.

At age 11, he began publishing a neighborhood newspaper, The Petite Press, in his hometown of Norman, which scooped The Norman Transcript on the 1944 invasion of Normandy.

He also had a newspaper route and swept out the local radio station and several print shops, where he learned the craft of letterpress printing.

Throughout his career, Kuyk enjoyed teaching college journalism parttime at the University of Oklahoma, Oklahoma City University, University of Central Oklahoma and the University of Houston/Downtown.

One of his last career assignments was to serve three years as a distinguished professor of journalism at Sam Houston State University in Huntsville, where he was appointed to the Philip G. Warner Endowed Chair in Journalism in 2002.

In high school, he had a weekly radio program on station KNOR in Norman covering local happenings and playing hit music. In college he hosted OU’s Front Page with Kuyk Logan on the same station.

Kuyk served for 11 years in the military and achieved the rank of major in the 45th Infantry Division of the Oklahoma Army National Guard. He headed the information section and was awarded the Oklahoma Meritorious Service Medal for National Guard Service.

Kuyk’s long news career took him to the San Angelo (Texas) Standard-Times, United Press International in Oklahoma City and The Daily Oklahoman and Oklahoma City Times. While city editor of The Daily Oklahoman, the Hobby family brought him to Houston in 1969 as assistant managing editor of The Houston Post. He was named managing editor in 1976, a job he held until the paper was sold in 1983.

Kuyk was a past president of the Associated Press Managing Editors of Texas and United Press International Editors of Texas, and was a Pulitzer Prize juror for three years. He served two terms as chairman of the Texas Medical Center Public Relations Advisory Council. He was a member of Sigma Chi social fraternity, Sigma Delta Chi journalistic society, American Society of Newspaper Editors, Texas Freedom of Information Foundation, American Amateur Press Association, Museum of Printing History Printers Guild, American College of Healthcare Executives and Texas Society for Hospital Public Relations and Marketing.

From there, he became managing editor of news at the Houston CBS affiliate, KHOU-TV, and in 1987 he was recruited by the University of Texas Medical School at Houston to serve as its first assistant dean for community affairs.

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In 1992, he became the vice president of public affairs and marketing for the Hermann School of Medicine and later was named vice president of corporate communications for Memorial Hermann Healthcare System, a post he held until he retired in 2002.

J. Leland Gourley, 94, of Oklahoma City, died on Oct. 19, 2013, of heart failure.

Newspaper publisher, politician and banker, Gourley’s colorful career spanned almost seven decades. Gourley was a civic leader in Oklahoma City and played key roles in everything from the repeal of prohibition to building the Cox Convention Center, the Lake Hefner Parkway and Oklahoma City MAPS Projects.

As a journalist, he exposed the 1956 Wagoner vote scandal, published three state newspapers, and was mentor to some of the most important names in Oklahoma journalism. He co-founded a bank and later a weekly newspaper, OKC Friday, where he went to the office every day until his death. Orphaned at 13 and raised by relatives in Missouri, he returned alone to his native Oklahoma at 18 to attend the University of Oklahoma.

Later as a soldier, he fought in the 3rd Army’s Liberation of Europe. He directed the 20th Corps Artillery Group’s 20,000-round barrage that began the successful Allied assault on the 11th SSPanzer Division and the capture of Trier. On his return from war in 1946, he bought the Henryetta Daily Freelance, becoming the youngest daily newspaper publisher in the state. When he died, he was the oldest.

Sparked by one of Gourley’s editorials, little-known Tulsa prosecutor named J. Howard Edmondson was inaugurated s Oklahoma governor in 1959 with Gourley as chief of staff. During Edmonson’s tenure, much of the legislation was engineered and managed by Gourley. After the Edmondson years, he cofounded and ran State Capitol Bank, which the American Banker listed as one of the “fastest growing small banks in America.”

He also chaired the 1964 bond election to finance the Myriad (now Cox) Center and served on President Kennedy’s Area Redevelopment Administration that provided federal funds for two state resorts on Lake Eufaula. In 1966, he ran for the Democratic gubernatorial nomination on a school improvement platform. He lost the election but not his commitment to education.

In 1974, he founded the OKC Friday newspaper which over the years, become Gourley’s bully pulpit for several causes, most notably economic development and public education. He served as a board member of the Greater Oklahoma City Chamber in 35 of the last 40 years. There, he made the original proposal to group a number of capital projects under one umbrella, that later became the MAPS Projects. Then he served on the steering committee for the winning campaign. During his year as president of the Oklahoma City Rotary Club 29, the club raised and donated $250,000 for Rotary International’s worldwide antipolio program.

Gourley’s newspapers are famous for journalistic excellence. The Henryetta Free-Lance was judged best small daily in the state 13 times in a 25-year span. No newspaper in Oklahoma history has achieved such a record. Except one. Gourley exceeded his own record with the same top honor among large weeklies with OKC Friday. His editorials and columns have generated public demand for legislative reform, economic development, education reform and most recently played a critical role in the passage of MAPS 3.

Among his many awards and honors are the Oklahoma Press Association Milt Phillips Award (highest OPA honor possible), Oklahoma Press Association “Beachy Musselman Award” for distinguished newspaper service, Governor’s Arts Award for Media, Oklahoma City Rotary Club “Lifetime Achievement Award,” Oklahoma Journalism Hall of Fame, Oklahoma City University Servant Leader Award and the University of Oklahoma’s Gaylord College of Journalism ‘’Distinguished Alumni Award.’’

CelebratingLives The following alumni have died since July 1, 2013. Listed here with graduation year.

Margaret Trimble Bannister, 1945 Elaine Barton, 1980 Sue Hand Bell, 1976 James Blue, 1959 Glenn Bradley, 1952 William DeMere, 1949 Kathryn Mattox Duke, 1950 Ronald Dyke, 1957 William Eischeid, 1950 Frances Sands Fisher, 1948 David Frost, 1958 Louis Garner, 1953 Robert Glaves, 1950 Josephine Martin Gustokashin, 1980 Donald Hall, 1957 OJ Harvey, 1950 Letitia Rutledge Holladay, 1976 Frank Kelly, 1960 Kelsey Scoggins Kennedy, 2003 Wayne Lane, 1950 Kathleen Proulx Larson, 1983 Robert Lee, 1953 Frances Lewin, 1953 E.K. Livermore, Sr. 1940 Mathew “Kyuk” Kyukendall Logan, 1955 Sherry Anderson Lombana, 1971 Charles Longuet, 1972 Annmarie Fagan Lovasz, 1993 Carolyn Weckel Lowe, 1953 James Mackin, 1967 Dana Nicholson Malone, 1973 William McCullar, 1957 Jerry McGrew Donald Millirons, 1956 Roma Clift Montgomery, 1925 Ralph Morrison, 1962 Abbott Nelson, 1955 Theodore Parker, 1953 Dennis Pierson, 1974 George Sawyer, 1950 Alan Schreiber, 1951 James Sellars, 1964 May Weaver Seyle, 1975 Beverly Beauchamp Shoffner, 1960 Mary Little Spearing, 1947 John Stevens, 1968 Joseph Stevens, 1942 Lolita Keener Thetford, 1948 Mary Thurber, 1946 James Tidwell, 1972 Michael Utter, 1973 Patte Abbott Wallace, 1950 William Wicker, 1950 H. Ray Wilson, 1971 Robert Wolf, 1958 Steven Wood, 1982 Joyce Mann Wright, 1949

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FinalThoughts

Student Views on the Digital Age EDITOR’S NOTE: The students in the Magazine Practicum were challenged to write an opinion piece on journalism in the digital age, and how they hope to make a difference after they graduate. Following is one complete column and excerpts from those of the other students.

The Cost of Free News

BY MEGAN DEATON

B

y the time I reach campus on a Monday morning, I am updated. I have checked Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr and, sometimes, the front page of The New York Times. Note that the only credible news site in that list came last, and only if I hit every green light and happen to get to class with some time to spare.

My morning routine is just one example of the trend that is changing news consumption from a leisurely, vital activity to a rushed, secondhand check on the to-do list. As a member of a generation that is often blamed for this shift, I feel I should apologize. You see, it wasn’t always this way.

Journalism has always enchanted me. I love being “in the know,” and I use whatever resources I have available to remain updated. Reading the morning paper or the top headlines from a highly esteemed news website used to be enough. Now, the dial on the metronome of life has been turned up, allowing very little time for an activity I used to cherish, and the result is almost heartbreaking.

Picture this: You’re a 21-year-old aspiring journalist and a writer for your university newspaper. You go to a family dinner where your 90-year-old great grandfather asks you what you’re studying in school. You say journalism. He wrinkles his creased face into a scowl. You know why. To him, you’re the downfall of the United States. You’re the liberal media. You’re the broken system.

It’s not our fault.

Think about your morning routine. How much time do you spend reading the news? Or maybe you don’t read it. A 2013 Gallup poll says 55 percent of Americans turn to television for their news on current events. Only 9 percent read a newspaper.

What is the first thing you do when you hear of an important news event? If you’re on the go you’ll look online. The same Gallup poll also says 21 percent of Americans use the Internet as their news source. When you hear of an event, don’t you expect immediate coverage? You want to know the news now, not later. You will not wait for it in a morning newspaper. You’ll look for it in your Twitter feed.

The process of making a daily newspaper contains dozens of steps. After a reporter turns in a story (hopefully having proofread it for errors), an editor also edits the story and sends it on to the Copy Desk. At The Oklahoma Daily, that story is then edited and fact-checked at least two (possibly three) more times before it is designed on a page. Then that page is edited three more times by three different people before it is clocked for the next day’s paper. Seven pairs of eyes have checked the story for errors.

The process of putting something online is simpler. A reporter (or perhaps an inexperienced blogger) can easily write a story, read over it (hopefully, unless his editor is pushing him for quick news and he runs out of time) and upload it effortlessly to a website. One pair of eyes has checked the story for errors.

If you want accurate news, slow down. Go to those trusted news sites. Shell out a few bucks a month to keep accurate journalism alive. It’s too late to slow the pace overall, but paying the cost of a few minutes to ensure the future of accurate, “free” information may just be worth the price.

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As traditional media continues to shrink, more small, independent news providers will emerge from the blogosphere to fill the void.

If my prediction is true, then there’s going to be a lot of competition when I leave campus for good. So it’s only fair to ask how I plan to survive. The answer is simple: by being a good journalist. —Steven Zoeller The main attribute the digital generation is losing is intelligence. The sad thing is, the digital generation doesn’t care. Where do older generations come into play, though?

In my opinion, these generations are still out there, attempting to get the truth and seeking original, well-researched stories that take time and money to produce. These are the kinds of stories that need to be read by the general public, not the stories that a journalist slaps together in an hour.

—Garrett A. Fox At the end of the day, college-age journalists can moan about the dwindling job prospects or they can cheer for it because it’s something new and exciting. It’s something that hasn’t been done before. I tend to agree with the latter. The Web gives journalists opportunities they haven’t had before, ways to touch lives they previously couldn’t, simply because anyone anywhere in the world can access their content and take something away from it.

—Paighten Harkins As a participant of social media, I understand the importance of news being both quick and reliable. As a member of the next generation of journalists, I understand that I need to demand higher standards. I understand that I need to report quickly but accurately … to have high ethical standards and follow the rules of grammar. I need to be innovative as journalism continues to explore new digital mediums. I need to help keep news a reliable and reputable source to counterbalance false information floating around the Internet.

—Sarah Pitts

Pulse Alumni Magazine is unique among alumni magazines in that almost the entire magazine is written by students in our Magazine Practicum course. This closing piece gives the students a chance to speak with their own voice on an important issue. Photo by Dwight Normile.

I feel like the world of journalism is evolving much too quickly. That is why I pursued a degree in professional writing.

I have always viewed writing as a form of recreation, and the hectic pace of journalism seems too stressful for me to consider doing for the rest of my life. If I can manage to make a modest living writing fiction and non-fiction stories, that would be absolutely perfect.

—Nick Jones Humans are hungry for information, and the Internet has opened up a world of instant information. But this comes with a cost. How many times have you heard of a celebrity dying, only to learn it was a hoax? This is just one of many examples that scares me about the future of journalism.

The information in cyberspace, in many instances, is not credible and was published with malicious intent in hopes of more ratings or page hits. But journalism is not about ratings, as much as it feels like it is.

—Hayley Thornton

I believe in the importance of obtaining the news from credible and professional news outlets, not from the obnoxious tweeters who think they are credible because of their number of followers. The need for experienced, unbiased and dedicated journalists is more dire than ever in order to match up against the networking of social media.

—Kirsten Viohl I used to think Twitter only served people with attention deficits. Throughout my college career I’ve seen how journalists can use social media to engage with the public more effectively than by printing words on a page or acting as a talking face on a screen. The Internet isn’t making journalists lazy. It’s just making them reevaluate their objectives.

—Arianna Pickard

It’s almost a competition to see who can report news first, and people forget about the quality of what they are writing, which leads to flawed and careless work. Why should our generation be content with such journalism? Once something is posted on the Internet, it is out there.—Alyssa Fuller Just about every news station now has a Twitter account, and usually many of its reporters are encouraged to create one, too.

But Twitter’s problem is like every other facet of the 24-hour news cycle in that everyone is guilty of reporting quickly rather than accurately.

—Eva Trammell As a journalism student, it is part of my sole responsibility to take what I have learned from Gaylord College into my future profession, and uphold the core values of journalism at any cost.

—Miranda Fogel

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395 W. LINDSEY STREET, ROOM 3000 NORMAN, OK 73019-4201

Nonprofit ORG. US POSTAGE PAID UNIV. OF OKLAHOMA

Get Connected with Gaylord College www.ou.edu/gaylord

October/November Alumni Events Friday

OCTOBER

10

Thursday

OCTOBER

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Gaylord College OU vs. Texas Alumni Reception

5:30-7:30 p.m.

Moroch, 3625 N. Hall, Suite 1100, Dallas Visit with your fellow alumni and meet some of today’s students.

Dean Joe Foote will also provide an update on the exciting activities taking place in Gaylord College!

Respond by Oct. 6 to Kathy Adams at kadams@ou.edu or (405) 325-2723.

JayMac Distinguished Alumni Ceremony

10:30 a.m.

Ethics and Excellence in Journalism Foundation Auditorium, Gaylord Hall Room 1140 The JayMac Alumni Association will recognize three alumni for their distinguished careers in journalism and mass communication. This years’ recipients are: Dean Blevins, sports director at News 9 (1978, journalism), Stephanie Frederic, executive producer/owner, FGW Productions (1982, R/TV/F), and Ed Livermore, Sr., Oklahoma community newspaper pioneer (1940, journalism; posthumous)

Saturday University of Oklahoma Homecoming celebration against Kansas State University

OCTOBER

18

NOVEMBER

Monday

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2 1/2 hours prior to kick-off Enjoy the parade, then relax with friends and refreshments at Gaylord Hall.

Gaylord Prize for Excellence in Journalism and Mass Communication

This will be an evening event in conjunction with the President’s Associates.

Molly Shi Boren Ballroom, Oklahoma Memorial Union Honoring Tom Brokaw, anchor of the NBC Nightly News for 14 years and author of The Greatest Generation.

Brokaw also was anchor for the Today Show, a correspondent for NBC News and a moderator for Meet the Press.