PIPELINE Kennesaw State University School of Communication & Media
KSU Celebrates Twenty-five Years of Communication Studies
p. 10
SOCM Students Making an Impact
p. 14
Issue No. 4, Fall 2015
Making the Transition to the School of Communication & Media
p. 20
Meet The
Team Designers
Art Director/ Katherine Ellsworth Creative Director/ Sara Iwanowski Photographer/ Jerald Goodoien Designers/ Stephanie Jordan Robert King Vanessa Orbe Juliana Sweek
Writers
Pipeline Magazine is written and designed by Kennesaw State University Communication students. The purpose of our magazine is to offer a high-quality, multi-platform publication that informs, educates, and connects readers to communication-related topics in the classroom and beyond. We hope you enjoy reading our recent edition.
Copy Editor/ Imogen Farris Copy Editor/ Thomas Hartwell
Writers/ Bianca Anderson Katelyn Gibson Jessica Gray Toni-Ann Hall Dasha Jackson Amelia Queen Marielena Zajac
Professors Thomas Gray Sarah Johnson
Teaching Assistant Becca Duvall
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Table ofContents New Majors in the SOCM P. 8
Menu of Majors P. 5
SOCM 25th Anniversary P. 10
Consolidation Brings Students Together P. 22 Student Spotlights Inside the Nest P. 14 P.28
Our All-Star Alumni P. 34
The Transformation from Department to School P. 20 Pave the Path to your Future: Internships P. 26
Star Faculty P. 38
Industry Professionals Speak: Colloquium 2015 P. 32 fall 2015 / 3
Welcome TO
Pipeline Magazine
Welcome to the first year of the consolidated Kennesaw State University and the first year under our new designation, School of Communication & Media! We are also celebrating our 25th year as an academic unit. It has been a quartercentury of remarkable change for our programs and our university. From welcoming our first students in 1990 to instituting our first new major in 2015, the Communication program has grown in response to the needs and interests of students. Because of the huge popularity of the public relations program, that program became our first new major this fall; students graduated in December as the first of many with the Public Relations major designation. The Journalism & Emerging Media program will become our next new major in fall 2016. Separate degrees in Media & Entertainment Studies and Organizational Communication will not be far behind. These degrees will help differentiate for employers the specific education you have received. Students seeking post-graduate education are finding a program with a global emphasis through our master’s degree in Integrated Global Communication or a program focused on using new technologies effectively through our online graduate certificate in Digital & Social Media.
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“Whatever your special abilities, I encourage you to look for ways to build a portfolio of your best work while you are still a student.�
You will find articles in this Pipeline issue that examine the significance of becoming a School, reflect on the September Communication Colloquium, and provide updates on students, alumni, programs and faculty that make our School special. At the same time, this student-produced magazine showcases some of our best writing and design talent through print and interactive online formats. Whatever your special abilities, I encourage you to look for ways to build a portfolio of your best work while you are still a student. Be prepared to show others how you have used innovative and creative communication strategies to solve problems and capitalize on opportunities. While we continue to grow as a School, our purpose is unchanged: To prepare students with the communication knowledge, skills and experiences you need to make an instant impact in the world. We want you to be ready for a Communication workplace that is introducing exciting technologies and new communication channels almost daily. Now is your time for preparing for the world of tomorrow!
Dr. Barbara S. Gainey Chair and Professor, School of Communication & Media
Menu of Majors (
Quick Glance: SOCM
Getting Started
The School of Communication & Media offers the following programs that lead to a graduate or undergraduate degree, as well as two minors and a certificate. • B.S. in Public Relations • B.S. in Journalism & Emerging Media • Communication (with a concentration in Organizational Communication and Media Studies) • Minors in Crisis Preparedness and Public Relations • Certificate in Multiplatform News Reporting • M.A. in Integrated Global Communication • Graduate Certificate in Digital and Social Media
COM 2020: Com. Sources and Investigations COM 2129: Public Speaking COM 2033: Visual Communication COM 2135: Writing for Public Communication COM 2230: Intro. to Mass Com OR COM 2205: Intro. to Org. Com.
socm.hss.kennesaw.edu
* To gain acceptance into the School of Communication & Media, students must have a combined GPA of 2.75 or greater and pass a grammar test with score of 70 percent or higher, effective fall 2016.
Minors & Certificates
Graduate Programs
Crisis Preparedness Minor: The next generation of crisis communication management leaders will be taught by capitalizing on the strengths that currently reside throughout our university, through making connections between disciplines. A multi-disciplinary offering of courses will prepare you to better live, work and lead.
M.A. in Integrated Global Communication:
Public Relations Minor: The minor in Public Relations, open to all majors, will include studying Public Relations principles, practices, and case studies; developing an understanding and foundational-level of expertise in internal and external communication processes; and understanding the challenges and opportunities of responding to organizational crises.
The M.A. in Integrated Global Communication at Kennesaw State University is a professional-oriented, 33hour, four semester graduate program that features: • An innovative curriculum that offers a balance of theory and skills important for a professional masters program • A cohort model that builds collaboration and leadership skills • A summer international experience where students will be immersed in foreign cultures, study global organizations or attend classes at a foreign institution
Multiplatform News Reporting Certificate: Increasingly, news reporters across the country are expected to know more than just write a news story. They must now have digital skills in photography, video, and audio. The Certificate in Multiplatform News Reporting will prepare KSU Communication students for the 21st Century newsroom.
Graduate Certificate in Digital & Social Media: Our fully-online program blends communication theory, strategic program management and technique. Courses are designed to meet the needs of recent graduates, communication professionals and current graduate students.
TRENDING NOW
Dr. Justin Pettigrew Assistant Professor of Communication
organizational
Media Studies Dr. Laura Beth Daws Assistant Professor of Communication
Professor Kelsey Harr-Lagin Lecturer of Communication
organizational
Dr. Kami Anderson Associate Professor of Communication
public relations
organizational
School of Communication & Media Welcomes New Faculty and Staff
Dr. Robin Smith Mathis Lecturer of Communication
Amy Redd Assistant to the Chair Susanne Rothery Administrative Assistant
Top SOCM Student Honored During Homecoming ’15 Thomas Hartwell, a journalism student, was recognized recently as an outstanding student in the School of Communication & Media as part of KSU's homecoming festivities. Harwell has a 3.93 GPA and interned for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution this past summer. Pictured from left to right are Thomas Hartwell; Dr. Barbara Gainey, professor and chair, School of Communication & Media; Dr. Robin Dorff, dean, College of Humanities and Social Sciences.
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A special “thank you” to the 2015 National Advisory Board for supporting student scholarships, the Communication Colloquium and other School of Communication & Media initiatives 2015 National Advisory Board Tanjuria Willis, eKlozet, Media Consultant & Blogger Elenora Andrews, Anchor and Reporter Katrina Blauvelt, Home Depot, Senior Director, Communications Kymberlee F. Estis, Liveable Buckhead, Inc., Dir. of Development Juliet Hall, Chick-fil-A, Sr. Manager of Community Affairs Timothy Henschel, NCR Corp., Public Relations Manager Mart Martin, Jackson Spalding, Director of Brand Strategy Garin Narain, Atlanta Hawks, VP of Public Relations Corey Sherman, TotalComp Communication, Managing Partner Natalie Springfield, INfluencePR, President Erin Turner, IMPACT 360, Associate Director Lynn Waymer, Sales, Marketing & Social Responsibility Consultant
Thanks to ZTE for helping to sponsor the 2015 Communication Colloquium.
2015 Colloquium Speakers Share Industry Tips to Organizational Communication Students By: Katie Gibson
D
uring the 2015 Communication Colloquium, terms of a puzzle; every piece leads you closer to success. Organizational Communication students learned Newton works for Cabot Corporation. Her job is about new trends in the industry. Speakers included to train management how to cultivate strong, working Patsy Newton and Paul Terimezian who discussed relationships with employees. She coaches them through their careers and experiences within interviewing processes, performance the field. Terimezian is the founder evaluations, and sharpens management’s and CEO of iFive Alliances. iFive decision-making skills. Newton advised the “Work through the Alliances primary goal is to help audience to be aware of their surroundings technology organizations increase customer to solve and be thoughtful when communicating. She their effectiveness and revenue. said to never let emotions impair judgment; their customer’s Terimezian said the most important wait 24 hours to compose yourself. problems.” thing he has learned through his work Newton and Terimezian encouraged the is to “work through the customer to audience to not be afraid of a shift in the solve their customer’s problems.” He wind. Take chances and know your worth. also told the audience to get rid of the phrase, “don’t The breakout session was full of great career advice and drop the ball,” and said the juggling analogy is all about tips to point students in the right direction within the field failure. Instead, he challenged the audience to think in of Organizational Communication.
fall 2015 / 7
KSU OFFERS NEW Public Relations Major By: Imogen Farris
The School of Communication & Media began offering a new major in Public Relations starting fall 2015. Before this semester, Public Relations was available only as a concentration for students majoring in Communication. Students graduating in December of 2015 had the option to graduate with a Communication major and Public Relations concentration or the new Public Relations major. Roughly 40 students were affected by the decision. The requirements into the Public Relations major remain the same, including a 2.75 adjusted GPA in all lower division Communication classes (effective fall 2016) and the passing of a writing test. New courses will be available for the new degree, including strategies and the chance to try out Public Relations tactics. The new program will “allow students to have a focused approach to public relations,” said Dr. Amber Hutchins, assistant professor of Communication and Public Relations program director for the School of Communication & Media. Dr. Hutchins believes students are in a top-notch market for Public Relations, stating that Atlanta is home to a wide and professional community including Coca-Cola and Home Depot. KSU’s Public Relations department continues to grow in size and students, but still maintains the small cohort-feel. Students in the Public Relations major will gain training, foundation and skills that are tailored to what employers are looking for in new hires. According to the Bureau on Labor Statistics projections, approximately 80,000 job openings for Public Relations majors will be available from 2012 to 2022. In 2014, 139 of the 336 students who graduated from KSU’s Communication program had a Public Relations concentration. Currently, 450 students are Public Relations majors and that number is expected to grow to 550 by 2019. The School of Communication & Media is looking to continue the expansion by adding Journalism & Emerging Media as a major for students in the 2016 fall semester.
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Organization Spotlight 8 / Pipeline
PRSSA
Introducing: Journalism & Emerging Media as a major
By: Thomas Hartwell
Kennesaw State University’s School of Communication & Media will offer Journalism & Emerging Media as a major starting Fall 2016, the school has announced. The change comes shortly after the transition of KSU’s Department of Communication to the School of Communication & Media. Dr. Josh Azriel, associate professor and Journalism & Emerging Media program director, said that the change is meant to fulfill the needs and wants of students whose concentration is in Journalism and to get the attention of the professional media market. “A lot of them believe that they are a Journalism major, and some of them are actually surprised when the diploma says Bachelor of Science in Communication,” said Dr. Azriel. “What we want to do is give the students what they already believe they’re getting.” The changes aren’t enormous, he said, they’re simply aimed at making the organization of the major less confusing and Journalism students more marketable. All lower-level Journalism courses will remain the same, but the major’s upper-division requirements are set to change. Students will no longer be able to choose any upper-level course in the Communication major curriculum—which included Media Studies, Public Relations and Organizational Communication as well as Journalism—but will instead have to choose from courses which complement Journalism. In short, there will be a heavier focus on writing and audio-visual production, said Azriel. Azriel said he hopes the changes will bring attention to the quality of the KSU Journalism program and get communication students excited about journalism. “The major will lift up journalism in a way that we haven’t been able to before,” said Azriel. “My goal is not to have the biggest program; it’s to have a quality program, and I think moving to the major will do that. It’s about providing opportunities to the students.”
For now, said Dr. Azriel, the search is on for a full-time lecturer of digital media courses and an assistant professor of advanced journalism courses. These new hires will have both professional journalism and college teaching experience.
“What we want to do is give the students what they already believe they’re getting.”
KSU students practice their news reporting and video production skills in the School’s Digital Media Production course.
fall 2015 / 9
T
The year is 1990. Operation “Desert Storm” begins in Kuwait, the United States enters a recession that will have repercussions for many years to come, the Berlin Wall is officially torn down and East and West Germany unite, and the first episode of “The Simpsons” airs. This would prove to be a year that would go down in infamy, signifying the moments that would change nations forever. 1990 was also the year that Kennesaw State University founded its Communication Department, and the changes from then to now show how much society and culture has grown in the past 25 years. Kennesaw State University’s School of Communication & Media was officially formed this year, but its beginnings were humble to say the least. According to the Kennesaw State College Catalog from 1990,
1990
Department of Communication welcomes first undergraduate students 10 / Pipeline
BY: MARIELENA ZAJAC Kennesaw State University was known as Kennesaw State College and taught just over 10,000 students, less than one-third of the nearly 33,000 students who attend today. Communication was only a speck in the college’s program, a tiny major in the then Department of Liberal Studies in the School of Arts and Behavioral Sciences, which was housed in the Wilson Humanities building. The 1990 Kennesaw State Catalog’s definition of a communication major reveals the prevalence of communication in society at that time: “Communication studies help to prepare students to meet the challenges of a fast-paced, highly informed society through careful organization of ideas, effective delivery of those ideas and an increased skill in listening and responding accurately to those messages.” This lengthy and somewhat vague
1995
The 500th Communication degree is awarded
Photos courtesy of KSU Archives
explanation signifies how all encompassing this major was to anyone entering any form of communication, and there were only two focuses within the major: Business Communication and Journalism. In order to receive a communication degree at Kennesaw State College, certain courses that may be familiar to current communication students were required. Principles of Human Communication, Introduction to Mass Communication, Communication Theory, and Persuasion Methods and Strategy were all classes that communications students in 1990 took that students take today to earn their degree. However, some core requirements in 1990 may seem like foreign concepts to the more technologically savvy millennial generation. Introduction to Microcomputers
1996
KSU converts schools to colleges, creating College of Humanities & Social Sciences
and Word Processing, Business Computer Applications, and Two Dimensional Design taught students how to incorporate a then emerging technology into communication. This may not seem like such a drastic concept to students in 2015, who now use computers everyday to turn in assignments, but at that time these classes were revolutionary. Looking at the 1990 Kennesaw State Catalog certainly revealed how much the School of Communication has grown. But perhaps the most important change the school has seen in the past 25 years, according to Kennesaw State University Professor Dr. Charles Aust, was the establishment of four concentrations that encompassed different facets of modern communication. “I believe the ample choices we offer our majors is a
2007
Department of Communication establishes National Advisory Board fall 2015 / 11
huge asset and serves the needs of many students,” Dr. Aust said. “I think that’s one of the reasons we attract so many students to the major.” Back in 1990, the only two communication concentrations were Business Communications and Journalism. But widening theses general concentrations into four more focused concentrations – Journalism, Organizational Communications, Media Studies and Public Relations – would further encompass the criteria that need to be met in the communication field. This growth is gaining even more traction with the establishment of the Public Relations major in fall 2015 and buzz about a Journalism major in the next year. The changes in the School of Communication & Media could certainly be in part to the societal and technological advancements made in the past 25 years. Aust notes that these developments have also solidified the importance of communication in modern DR. CHARLES AUST society. “Communication capacities have made some experiences in our society better than ever, such as Internet medicine, educational applications of digital databases, information search capacity, comparison shopping, wonderful entertainment
to enjoy, and scientific knowledge gains,” Dr. Aust says. These technological changes have led to KSU Communication courses dedicated to media knowledge and implementation, such as digital media production, film and video structure and process, advanced digital audio production and digital publication design. And this is only the beginning of the School of Communication’s advancements. “Enhancing education in digital and new technologies will continue to be an emphasis for us as a School,” School Chair Dr. Barbara Gainey shares. “A goal is to keep all academic programs in the School of Communication & Media on the cutting edge of the digital revolution and ensure students have the theoretical grounding and hands-on experiences necessary to be equipped for the ever-changing marketplace.” Kennesaw State University Communication has seen a great deal of growth the past 25 years. From its humble beginnings in 1990 in the Department of Liberal Studies to the massive School of Communication & Media, the program continues to engage in the modern era and acclimate to the changing times in the communication industry. Continued growth will come with more advancement, more opportunities and more wealth of knowledge. The future continues to look bright for Kennesaw State University, and the School of Communication & Media is a shining light for the times to come.
“I believe the ample choices we offer our majors is a huge asset and serves the needs of many students.”
2008
New undergraduate program in Journalism and Citizen Media is launched 12 / Pipeline
2010
More than 1,000 students are declared Communication majors
STUDENTS FROM PAST TO PRESENT
1994
2015
“My college experience at KSU was extraordinary. When I walked onto campus for the first time in Fall of 1990, my plans were to take core classes for two years and then transfer to the University of Georgia. However, after taking a communication class as an elective, I fell in love with the Communication Department and made the choice to finish my college career at KSU. In June 1994, I earned my degree in communication. My education at KSU paved the way for me to have a long career in public relations and marketing. I have been at WellStar Health System collectively for 15 years serving as Public Relations Director and most recently as a part-time marketing strategist allowing me to balance motherhood and career.” Pictured above is
“As a high school student, I always knew I wanted to work in public relations. When I came to KSU and started coursework in the program, my passion for public relations grew in ways I did not know were possible. I truly believe KSU has the best communications professors; from Dr. Howes teaching me public relations principles, Professor Johnson teaching me Adobe InDesign and Dr. Heflin teaching me campaigns, I now feel fully prepared to enter the workforce as a public relations professional. I am so excited we have become the School of Communication & Media, and I could not be more proud to be graduating as one of the first public relations majors at KSU. KSU really is something special!”
McInturff on her graduation day. To her left is her father, Ed Mote, and to her right is her step-mother, Julia Mote.
2011
Master of Arts in Integrated Global Communication welcomes first students
2015 Board of Regents approves new bachelor's degree in Public Relations, and KSU announces the Department of Communication is now a School of Communication & Media
fall 2015 / 13
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Enners signing books in the Social science building at KSU when his book, “The Crave,” was released.
Kevin Enners Journalism, ’16
By: Thomas Hartwell
B
ond was off the grid in some villa with a gorgeous wife in paradise. One day, James [Bond] and wife get kidnapped by a vengeful nemesis who has a world-domination plan going on. That was the day before their son, Kevin, who had a job at the CIA, arrived from the States… Kevin arrives at the villa only to see the place in shambles. Sounds like a potentially successful screen play, doesn’t it? Author and KSU Communication student Kevin Enners penned this concept when he was only 7 years old—as a 2nd-grade creative writing assignment. Although Enners says he has always had the ability to write and the love for writing has always been present in him, he hasn’t always seen it as a viable career option and has experienced plenty of obstacles throughout his life.
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The Writer’s Block
Enners has cerebral palsy, a neurological disorder that limits muscle movement and coordination, and dystonia, a side effect of cerebral palsy, which further inhibits control of motor functions. It is because of his physical limitations, he says, that he experienced a writing gap. “At first, I didn’t have sufficient technology,” he said. “I’d just tell a person what to write—which led me to take a break.” It wasn’t until late high school that Enners and his family discovered a technology that could dramatically expedite his communication—and his writing. Tobii Assistive Technology presented at an abilities expo which Kevin’s mother, Claudette Enners, attended early in her son’s high school career, but eventually that same technology made it to Wheeler High School to present to Kevin’s student body. “They came in to his school with this Tobii—Kevin had
never seen it before—and that afternoon he took a test on it for one of his classes and Cobb County Technology said, ‘We’re getting this for him,’” said Rich Enners, Kevin’s father. “They were just so blown away at how well and how quickly he adapted to it.” The Tobii technology is compatible with Microsoft Word and allows Kevin to type letter by letter by looking at the keys on a computer screen. It’s called “eye-gaze technology,” and Kevin says he doesn’t know what he would do without it. “I don’t think [writing] would be possible if it weren’t for eye-gaze technology… I rediscovered the writer in me,” he said. Once Kevin traversed his technology obstacle, there was no holding back. Since adapting to his Tobii technology, he has published an 88-page, crime-thriller novella, “The Crave”—his intro into the professional writing market— reviewed movies on his own blog, written for the KSU newspaper and picked up an internship with the Center for Sustainable Journalism. “If given an inch, he’s going to take advantage of every inch you give him,” said Rich Enners.
resistance, and say that people should focus on the ability of runners to fully participate rather than advantages or disadvantages. Kevin reminds readers with his writing, even in his posts on Facebook, that his love for running is fueled by the love for running and nothing else: “People mistakenly think this sport is about winning. It’s really about harmony and balance. It’s about teamwork… Why can’t we forget ‘going for gold,’ finishing first, and just enjoy it with our friends?” Rich Enners agrees, but first things first, he says, they have to have a fast enough time to qualify.
Looking Forward
In the meantime, Kevin has plenty to keep him busy. He has begun writing a full-length sequel to his novella, and works 10-12 hours on top of his classes to prepare state-ofthe-art, virtual reality content for the Center for Sustainable Journalism to be presented nationally. He looks forward to the future, when he plans to, “crank out best-sellers and not have to worry about anything else.” Writing has become Kevin Enners’ identity and outlet of expression. He loves to spin tales, create plots, develop characters. He tells stories of “characters running through catacombs” and “passed decayed skulls,” where their, “hearts beat out of their chests. These are the things that reel you into other worlds,” he says. So what would Kevin Enners do if not writing? In his words, simply, “Go nuts.”
“I don’t think writing would be possible if it weren’t for eye-gaze technology...I rediscovered the writer in me.”
Hills and Valleys
Kevin wouldn’t have held back anyway. If he hadn’t chosen to write, he’d still have a competitive spirit, indicated by his other hobbies. He stays active, and some might even consider him a jock. He rows on an indoor rowing machine, and he and his dad bike and compete in marathons regularly. Kevin uses a modified bike with his father in tow for marathons. Kevin pedals and steers, and his father says Kevin gets a better workout than he does. “His heart rate is higher than mine,” said Rich Enners. “He gets up to about 200 [beats per minute].” Rich and Kevin Enners are planning to join hundreds of other bikers in the 37th annual Bike Ride Across Georgia in the summer of 2016. Bike Ride Across Georgia, or BRAG, will be June 4-10 and Kevin and his dad will ride an average of 55 miles per day. Also on the Enners’ to do list is, “qualify for the Boston Marathon.” As if this wasn’t already difficult enough, Kevin has faced some resistance from the Boston Athletic Association because of his modified bicycle. The organization states that the bike could be seen as an unfair advantage, so it may be a couple Boston Marathons before the father-son duo gets to compete. Kevin and his dad are a little frustrated with the
Enners biking at a Thanksgiving Day half marathon with his dad.
fall 2015 / 15
Brooke Doss Journalism, ’16 By: Amelia Queen
“
“F
ind the things you love and you will figure out a way to make it all work together and get it done.” This is Communication major Brooke Doss’ secret to being able to balance her busy life of taking 19 credit hours, working for the Georgia Ballet and competing in pageants. Doss is currently titled “Miss Cobb County” and is using the experiences that she has had along her journey to this title to guide her future endeavors and to help her in her everyday life. She says that she has learned more from doing competitions than she feels she would have had the opportunity to learn any other way. Doss has been competing in showcases since she was 15 years old, which was also when she won the Miss America’s Outstanding Teen local competition and won the title of “Miss Cherokee Rose Outstanding Teen.” Participating in this showcase sparked her interest in competitions and was the gateway to her participation in future showcases. After competing in multiple pageants, Doss’ mother encouraged her to compete where she could incorporate her love of dance. This led her to begin competing in the Miss Georgia pageant. Doss has competed for the title of “Miss Georgia” twice, placing in categories of the competition both times and placing in the top 15 overall her second time competing. Now having won the title of “Miss Cobb County,” Doss is going on to compete in the Miss Georgia showcase, hoping to follow in the footsteps of her roommate from the Miss Georgia competition, Betty Cantrell, who has since gone on to win “Miss America.” “Seeing someone as genuine and hard working as Betty win the title of Miss America, especially because she was previously crowned “Miss Georgia,” has made me even more determined to compete for the title of ‘Miss Georgia’ in June,” Doss said. This dedication has not only driven her to pursue her goal of becoming “Miss Georgia,” but it has also fueled her determination to pursue a career in broadcast journalism. Doss is currently an honors student taking 19 credit hours of classes; these classes include courses for her Communication major and her dance
and international affairs minors. Constantly staying busy and competing in showcases has caused Doss to work hard to maintain deadlines and ensure that every task she starts gets completed. She believes that staying this busy will prepare her for her future career as a foreign correspondent for a news network one day. “I love to travel, but I have never left the country,” Doss said. She also said
Find the things you love and you will figure out a way to make it all work together and get it done.
”
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Doss coaching a young dancer at the Georgia Ballet.
that although she has never traveled outside of the U.S., she realizes the need to stay updated on current events that not only affect the United States, but also events that impact the entire world. She believes that one of the major problems with today’s society is that people have no idea what is going on in the world and have no desire to know either. Doss wants to travel and be on the scene of the most recent news so that she can make it accessible to people and make them interested in the world around them. Having so many goals for the future is what keeps her driven to keep up with all aspects of her life every day. She doesn’t think about all that she does as work, she thinks of it as an opportunity to do what she loves. Doss is excited to see what the future holds for her and knows that she is on the right track to reaching her goals. She summed up her journey by saying, “Focus on what is important to you and if you want something bad enough, you can achieve it.”
“I
Le'Dor Phoenix
f it’s not overwhelming, if it doesn’t push you, if it doesn’t hurt, if it’s not hard, this is not it. You have to be challenged.” Le’Dor Phoenix isn’t nicknamed “Phoenix the Fire Media Studies, ’16 Starter” because she lacks passion. By: Katie Gibson Le’Dor Phoenix is the epitome of a force to be reckoned with and she is setting the bar high for fellow KSU Communication students. Phoenix is a full-time Communication student, wife, mother and on-air talent for Georgia Public Broadcasting. She is pursing a degree in Media Studies, expecting to graduate fall 2016. Although she is already excelling in her career at GPB, she doesn’t stop her pursuit for more opportunities. She was recently nominated to compete for the Georgia Chapter of the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s 2015 Man & Woman of the Year honor. Phoenix and a team were successful in raising $30,000 in 10 weeks for the charity. She said the prestige opportunity while helping others pushed her to her limits. Phoenix said it was “one of the hardest things [she] had ever done in [her] entire life.” The most Media Studies, ’16 important factor in her success story was her ability to manage her time wisely. “You have to get yourself into this game to say time management is the foundation of the campaign, of the movement,” said Phoenix. [Life] will go so fast, you won’t even know where to start, you won’t know when you lost track of everything, where the unraveling happened, because that’s part of the timeline you missed.” She is currently hosting a Thrills and Chills charity ball for Flourish Atlanta. She donates her time to spend at workshops at women’s shelters in Atlanta. “Giving back helps make the world better and yourself better,” said Phoenix. “You need to know where to be. You need to volunteer, and you need to be associated with the people that you want to be.”
“
Giving back helps make the world better and yourself better.
”
Photo courtesy of www.kennesaw.edu/news
fall 2015 / 17
Jerald Goodoien Media Studies,’16
By: Marielena Zajac
“
I don’t know what I want to be when I grow up yet, but I’ll figure it out one of these days.
”
Family photo of Goodoien in 1950 standing in front of his basement house in White, South Dakota.
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SSN 585 SkipJack on sea trials where Goodoien served when he was in the Navy. (Image from the U.S. federal government via public domain)
K
ennesaw State University is no stranger to the non-traditional student. KSU was originally founded as a college that would cater to traditional and non-traditional students alike, and to this day the campus is filled with adult learners who are returning to school to earn their degrees. Some returned to create more options for themselves; some attend because they desire to learn more about a field that has always piqued their interest. For 74-year-old Media Studies student Jerald Goodoien, he wanted to seize an opportunity that had not previously been available to him in the past and desired to be a role model for his grandchildren. “I want to encourage every one of them to get a college degree,” Goodoien shared. “I missed a lot of opportunities at jobs I knew I could do hands-down, but never even had the opportunity to apply for them because I didn’t have a degree. But I knew I could do them because of the successes I’d already had.” And he certainly has the experience to back up his words. Goodoien was born and raised in the Midwest, primarily South Dakota and Minnesota. Growing up just below the poverty line motivated him to work and earn every cent he made, taking up odd jobs as a farm hand, babysitter and paperboy. All the jobs didn’t deter him, but only instilled in him a great work ethic. Once high school was over, Goodoien enlisted in the Navy, where he underwent extensive training as an engineman, first class, in the submarine service, which he served for seven years. During his service, he was deployed on the SSN 585 “Skip Jack,” an attack submarine that was present during the Cuban missile crisis, Cold War and Vietnam War, as well as the SSN 610 G “Thomas A. Edison,” a submarine that carried nuclear missiles on board. It was an interesting time that gave him great experience, but once his enlistment was up, he wanted to be back on the shore. A series of more odd jobs as a construction worker and volunteer fireman followed his time in the Navy, but a corporate position at Exide Industrial providing sale services to railroads would be the start of a career journey that would shape his life forever. His experience on submarines proved as a vital skill selling batteries to railroad companies, and eventually he found himself in managerial roles over different branches throughout the country. Goodoien worked all over America, from Chicago, San Francisco and Atlanta and had the chance to travel to over 29 countries worldwide. And during these travels, he always brought a camera. “My aunt was a missionary to Israel and Cyprus,” Goodoien said. “She had a Lyke Reflex camera and always took slides everywhere she went. When I got ready to go to the military, she said, ‘Jerry, you have to buy a good camera,
and you need to take that camera every place that you go.’” That advice certainly has stuck around. KSU Communication students have probably seen Goodoien walking around the Social Sciences building snapping photos for the Talon, the School of Communication and Media website and for this semester’s issue of Pipeline Magazine. He continues to use his knowledge in technology and photography in any business venture, training or even church services. He declared himself a Communication – Media major to continue to learn more about the workings of a camera and how that can apply in every day life. But what does he intend to do with his degree once he finishes in May 2016? This jack-of-all-trades is still deciding. “I don’t know what I want to be when I grow up yet,” Goodoien chuckles, “but I’ll figure it out one of these days.”
October 2015- Goodoien put his photography skills to good use as the photographer and content manager for this year’s issue of Pipeline magazine.
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what’s in
a name? by: TONI-ANN HALL
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midst the national and local attention surrounding the consolidation of Southern Polytechnic State University and KSU, creating what is now dubbed the “New U,” there have been several innovations that contributed to its successful fruition. Among those changes is the designation of the School of Communication & Media to replace the former Department of Communication. The School will operate under the College of Humanities and Social Sciences. This program currently graduates more students than any other Communication program in the state of Georgia except for the University of Georgia. According to a Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats (SWOT) assessment published by KSU’s School of Communication & Media in October 2014, there has been significant enrollment growth in the Communication program. There was a 57 percent fall increase from 2009 to 2014, with a 58 percent full-time equivalent increase during that same time frame. This analysis of growth was present throughout all levels of student classification (i.e. freshman, sophomore, etc.). Increases in the completion of Communication
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degrees rose from 74 percent from the 2007 to 2012 academic years, moving KSU from the fourth largest communication-degree awarding institution in the state of Georgia, to the second largest institution in 2012. In 2013, this program graduated 289 students, positioning it at number one for having the largest increase (90 students) in five years as well as becoming the largest degree-granting program at KSU. “Since enrollment lags completions by five years on average, continued increases in the number of degrees conferred are likely to occur in the foreseeable future,” the SWOT analysis stated. The Communication program at KSU has evolved throughout approximately half of the university’s lifetime, as it approaches a 25-year-old landmark anniversary, since its creation in 1990. This university is one of the 50 largest public institutions of higher education in the U.S., accommodating more than 33,000 students. The School offers undergraduate majors in Communication and Public Relations, minors in Crisis Preparedness and Public Relations, an undergraduate certificate in Multiplatform News
Reporting, a master’s level program in Integrated Global Communication and a graduate certificate in Digital and Social Media. “The new name will enable this 1,500-major program to support the School’s progression toward national accreditation, enhance opportunities for external fundraising and respond more effectively and efficiently to student needs,” KSU President Daniel Papp said on Aug. 15, 2015, at the university’s official opening address. National accreditation for Communication is pursued through the Accrediting Council for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication (ACEJMC). The only two state universities that hold this accreditation are University of Georgia and Savannah State University. This process requires self-assessments and a review of the School’s programs, as measured against national standards, according to objectives outlined on the ACEJMC website. The nine standards of accrediting are mission, governance and administration; curriculum and instruction; diversity and — inclusiveness; full-time and parttime faculty; scholarship; student services; resources, facilities and equipment; professional and public service; and assessment of learning outcomes. National accreditation reassures the high quality of education being received from institutions to the public, perspective and current parents and students. The benefits of transitioning to a School were discussed among faculty periodically as the department continued to develop, but it wasn’t until 2014 that the task was earnestly sought. Dr. Josh Azriel, associate professor of Communication and director of the Journalism & Emerging Media program, along with Professor and School of Communication & Media Chair Dr. Barbara Gainey, co-authored a proposal that was later approved by
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the dean of the College of Humanities and Social Sciences, the provost and university president. “The renaming will be significant for students,” Dr. Gainey said. “We have some exciting opportunities ahead.” The School’s faculty is anticipating the accruement of external resources, providing more scholarships and internships, acquiring innovative classroom technology and other tools for program development. The emergence of the School spurs the creation of a nationally and internationally significant program that enriches students enrolled in multiple areas of study, and propels economic growth in central and northwest Georgia. A study conducted by the Bureau of Labor Statistics and Employment Projects shows a estimate of 65,000 job openings within the field of communication from 2012-2022. Due to the range of concentrations provided through KSU’s Communication program, students are equipped with the unique skillset needed to fill employment positions post-graduation. Academic success, as evidenced through superior marks and high testing scores, is the baseline goal that the university’s mission was founded upon. The honing of leadership skills through hands-on training, application and engagement with professional associations and equipment is the ultimate desire of this expansion from a department to a school. Communication is an unavoidable aspect of human interaction. KSU’s program incorporates elements of this multifaceted field in order to fulfill the purpose of preparing global professionals with extensive, transferable experience.
We have some exciting opportunities ahead. Dr. Gainey
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CONSOLIDATION:
Looking Forward By: Jessica Gray
Julia Berger (left) and Chloe Donahue (right)
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ohn F. Kennedy once said, “Change is the law of life, and those who look only to the past or present are certain to miss the future.” There has been a lot of looking to the past since the announcement of the Kennesaw State and Southern Polytechnic merger was made in 2013. Two years later, with the consolidation finalized, there is still a lot of energy spent comparing the present to the past. But Julia Berger, a former SPSU student, and Chloe Donahue, a Communication major at KSU, are doing something different. They’re working together and looking forward. Berger’s interest in style and beauty drove her to major in fashion design and product development at SPSU. It also drove her desire to start a blog. With a background in computer design programs, including Photoshop and Illustrator, she felt proficient enough to get the project running. “I wanted to start a blog to share my love for fashion and makeup but within an affordable range,” Berger said. “Later I evolved into wanting to share my tips on things and also helping girls through issues.” In fall 2012, the website, A Touch of Class was born as a beauty and style blog. Berger worked on the blog for a few months before the project fell to the side. “Life sort of got in my way,” Berger said. “Also, I’m really great with the technical aspects, but when it came down to writing it, I just ended up letting it fall to the side.” Donahue’s interest in blogging also started in 2011 with reading blogs. “My big sister in my sorority is a big blogger in Atlanta,”
Donahue said. “She’s sort of made a second career out of it.” But Donahue didn’t feel as confident with her technical skills. “I will admit I’m technically challenged,” Donahue said. “And Julia has the experience that I’m lacking.” Berger and Donahue met through mutual friends in 2012 and formed their own friendship. “We found we had a lot in common,” Berger said. “So the friendship just grew from our many shared interests.” One of those interests was blogging. The idea to collaborate their talents started out as lighthearted conversation. “It started as a joke. Oh yeah, we should blog together, haha. Wouldn’t that be fun,” Donahue said. The lighthearted conversation soon became more as Donahue’s excitement about blogging renewed Berger’s own passion for the project. A partnership was born, and over the next few months the blog was redesigned and expanded. The new brand allowed Donahue to include her interest in food and local music. There have been many lessons learned along the way. The two have had to learn both about working together and creating something unique, which can be challenging. “It’s very different being on the other side,“ Donahue said. “Reading a blog versus writing it and trying to figure out what your audience wants to read about.” But despite any challenges, both spoke highly of the other’s skill set and ability to complement one another. The respect they have for each other is visible in their work. Donahue’s writing skills, attention to detail and brand
awareness are vital to their team. “Her major brings a whole new level of marketing and promoting that I had no knowledge of,” Berger said. “Chloe is great about getting our name out there and thinking about the brand of our blog.” Donahue speaks about Berger’s technical proficiency and design ability which are key ingredients as well. Together the two bring similar interests, creativity and unique perspectives to the project. Now both seniors in their respective majors, both hope after graduation to continue to work together and see their project flourish in the coming years. When SPSU and KSU announced a merger in early 2013, the decision was met with a cloud of uncertainty and a high level of skepticism. How would two schools, with very different backgrounds come together and complement one another? Fast forward to 2015, with the consolidation complete, the answers may still be coming together, but there are at least two students proving here that differences can be the recipe for a successful partnership.
Check out their blog at: www.touchofclassjcb.wordpress.com
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Educational excursions By: Toni-Ann Hall
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he decision to pursue Communication studies at universities in the U.S. often leads to an unparalleled exposure of the Western world’s heterogeneous cultural sphere. An ability to explore various types of communication skills and procedures from the perspective of other nations is often nonexistent or limited. The graduate program in the School of Communication & Media at Kennesaw State University provides enrolled students with the opportunity to have first-hand experiences in the social interconnectedness of global ideologies. KSU offers a Master of Arts in Integrated Global Communication (MAIGC) and an online Digital and Social Media certificate through its graduate program in Communication. The MAIGC program was the first of its kind to emerge in the Southeast. Students participating in this 33-hour, four-semester graduate program gain access to one of the most effervescent media scopes in the nation through its metro-Atlanta location. The Summer Engagement
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Abroad Module is fundamental to the success of the program, aimed at preparing world-class professionals. Disseminating information that crosses spatial and cultural boundaries requires a recognition of cultural differences as a predecessor to the competitive positioning of global resources. “This module is all about understanding how people work and learning how to communicate with them,” professor of Communication and director of graduate studies in KSU’s School of Communication & Media Charles Mayo said. An international experience through a study tour, internship, practicum, directed study or study abroad must be completed in order to fulfill the master’s degree requirements. The opportunity to spend one summer abroad allows students to immerse themselves in foreign cultures and gain insight on the day-to-day operations of global organizations. The countries visited since the program’s launch are Ethiopia, Ghana, Morocco, South Africa, China, Cambodia, Japan, South Korea, Belgium, England, France, Germany, Ireland, The Netherlands, United Arab Emirates and Argentina. Students describe their global experiences via blog posts, which are readily available on the
website for the master’s program. Paired with the requirement and added advantage of touring companies in different countries, the graduate Communication program also has a distinctive focus on foundational research and the inclusion of exit surveys. Students are asked to provide their input and recommendations for the program. The existence of this tool led to the elimination of the MAIGC colloquium, as well as a change to the capstone from a six-hour course to a three-hour course. There was once a requirement to bring clients in, but due to issues with intrusion and requests for proprietary information, the program’s objectives were revisited. The capstone now features a professional projector which clients propose or the presentation of an individual research thesis project. The practice of cultural flexibility, an inclination to successfully conduct day-to-day activities in a variety of social environments, is well sought after in the field of communication. Although it can be an innate characteristic discovered without global experiences, an opportunity to break the myth of the dominancy of Western standards through face-to-face interactions with individuals abroad legitimizes vital skill.
The daily exchanges that occur within subsets of various cultures is constantly evolving. Global communication infers an understanding of the values and structures of organizational stakeholders in foreign environments. A perspective rooted in the expansion of communication and the application of procedures abroad and at home requires sensitivity, respect and an appreciation for diverse groups of people. To learn more about Kennesaw State University’s graduate program in Integrated Glocal communication, visit their website at www.kennesaw.edu/maigc.
going global
By: Marielena Zajac
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t the Kennesaw State Communication’s Colloquium panel “How Global Connections Are Changing Communication,” prominent communicators from across Atlanta sat down with students to discuss global trends and their
impact on companies worldwide. The speakers included Leonard Teel of the Center for International Media Education, Jorge Fernandez of the Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce, Kent Landers of Coca-Cola and Russ Williams of Witt O’Brien’s. Moderated by Cohn and Wolfe Managing Director Stephen Brown, the panel provided insights on how to stay current on global intelligence, what technology is used to communicate within differing nations, and the skills and traits necessary to become a global communicator. The Economist, the New York Times and the Financial Times are all go-to newspapers for obtaining information about the statuses of nations around the world, the panelists shared. According to these tenured communicators, another important way to learn more about the world is to network through social media and follow prominent world leaders and thought-developers online. Other factors of Communication that the panelists stressed to the audience are that technology is different throughout the nations and is vital for a Communication professional to make note of certain cultures and traditions. Those who live in Japan tend to interact more face to face rather than through technological methods, and it
is important to note that the United States has a 24/7 mentality that most nations do not have. This signifies that our constant perceived need for social media and email may not be as prevalent everywhere else in the world. In order to be a successful global communicator, traits such as willingness to learn and adaptation are always vital; however, developing a global mentality requires much more than a readiness to learn. According to the panelists, it requires zeal and respect. “Don’t underestimate the networking of people who are passionate for international,” Fernandez advised. “Be a globally fluent person and be attuned to people’s cultures. If you find the opportunity [to conduct business overseas] take it; there is a lot to explore.” The “How Global Connections Are Changing in Communication” panel provided future communicators further insight on global movements and events that are imperative to know in order to be successful in the field. As with any business venture, Global Communication demands a keen knowledge of outside cultures and an even deeper understanding of the personality traits necessary to maintain lasting relationships.
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INTERNSHIPS
Q&A
With Coordinator of Internships, Professor Gray By: Imogen Farris
Q. Where can students find information about current internship opportunities? A. They are like dandelions. They pop up everywhere. They can be found through networking, professional organizations, checking websites of companies and organizations of interest and https://ksucominternships.wordpress. com/ managed by the School of Communication & Media and Owl Link which is managed by the KSU Career Center. Q. What steps can students take to prepare for an internship? A. Make the best grades they possibly can, be active in clubs and organizations within their major, and give serious thought to what it is they could see themselves doing once they graduate. I encourage students to research companies and organizations that fit their interests. Students shouldn’t necessarily limit themselves to local opportunities. Consider national and international opportunities as well. Communication and technology have served to make the world a smaller place. Q. How often is the blog updated with new internships? A. It all depends when the new opportunities are made available to us. We try to post the new listings just as soon as we receive the information that will allow students to make an informed decision.
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Did you know?
Q. How many internships should students consider doing before graduation? A. If possible I would like to see students do at least two internships. Outside factors may not allow them to do so but I believe that doing two internships would be a real boost to their careers. Q. When should students start the internship application process? A. They should start thinking about the process no later than the day they decide on their major. They should have goals and objectives about what it is they would like to do with their major upon graduation. Internships should be viewed as a major step to help them achieve those levels. Q. What is your number one tip to students about internships? A. Internships aren’t necessarily an academic requirement but students should make it one. In many instances it may be easier to obtain an internship opportunity than a job with a leading company or organization. Get a foot in the door and make a positive difference so they will remember you when a hiring opportunity does develop. Q. How can students reach you with questions about internships? A. The best way is to email me at tgray17@kennesaw.edu. I will be glad to answer their questions and meet with them if they would like.
Interns most likely to receive a full-time position offer are those who have worked for a single employer on multiple occasions. Most Highly Regarded Skills for Interns: Verbal Communication Skills
Organizational and planning skills
Ability to work as a team
In 2015, there were 128 Communication students participating in internships. That is the most in a single year between 2010 and 2015.
Problem Solving Skills
Lights, Camera, Action
New Trends in the Atlanta Entertainment Industry B y :
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ntertainment Communication is a growing industry Jenkins has previously worked with Marvel Studios and in Georgia. At the 2015 Communication Colloquium, helped write for Wolverine: The End, The Incredible Hulk guest panelists Paul Jenkins, Elizabeth Keener and and Peter Parker: Spiderman. Jenkins has also worked in Scott Tigchelaar spoke about their pasts and future the video game industry and helped develop the God of goals working in the entertainment industry. Keener, War series. “I’ve always thought that video games are a a KSU alumna, is a television personality currently form of art,” Jenkins said. working in Georgia. “Living in Georgia gives me a The entertainment industry is continuously growing well-rounded life,” Keener said. in the state of Georgia and more “Your opportunities are endless, opportunities are opening up for especially here in Georgia.” students getting ready to graduate A strong tax incentive for the “ it’s a great time to be from college. However, graduating state of Georgia began in 2008 and getting a degree isn’t always in the industry in that gives production companies enough. “You get some experience, you up to 30 percent of their network,” Tigchelaar said. “You find Georgia. There are Georgia production expenses in out where you can get more experience, currently more jobs you network some more.” transferable tax credits. All three panelists agreed that the tax Communication students are at than qualified people an KSU incentive in Georgia is the key advantage being located in Georgia to the state’s success in creating to fill them ” and having access to the Joel A. Katz a new entertainment market. Music and Entertainment Business Tigchelaar, president of Raleigh Program. The program is filled with Studios, believes it’s a “great professionals in the entertainment field time to be in the industry in Georgia. There are currently to give students first-hand knowledge and experience in the more jobs than qualified people to fill them.” The new business, which will give students valuable knowledge for Captain America and Spiderman films are pursuing a career in Entertainment Communication. just a couple currently being filmed in Georgia. The panelists suggest that individuals wanting to find work in the entertainment industry should consider looking behind the scenes. There are plenty of jobs available in hair styling, makeup, lighting, editing and sound. “Take whatever job you can,” Tigchelaar said. “Everyone starts from somewhere.” Jenkins is a writer, composer, creator, designer and works with digital and interactive technologies. He hopes Georgia will become the new home of cross over media, including comic books and video games.
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Inside the By: Amelia Queen
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fter completing the inaugural football season at Kennesaw State University, the Owls return to the nest to plan and prepare for next season. Although the Owls were not undefeated during the first season, they logged several victories and so did the athletics communications department. After the announcement was made in February of 2013 to bring football to KSU, many preparations needed to be made to ensure that the first season would run smoothly. Once the challenge of staffing the program and finding a conference to play in were completed, the task of developing a marketing plan and introducing the head coach, Brian Bohannon, to the public began. Bohannon attended various speaking engagements and press conferences that were attended by university and Department of Athletics staff and coaches, supporters of KSU athletics and members of the media. The attention created by the announcement of football coming to the university and the introduction of a new head coach somewhat changed how and how much the media covers KSU Athletics. “With football, there is much more interest, and the media contacts us wanting to do stories on the program,” said Al Barba, the director of athletics communications at Kennesaw State University. During the first season and the time leading up to it, Barba said that the program received tremendous coverage both on a national and local level. The team received consistent coverage from the Marietta Daily Journal and the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, as well as from TV stations coming out to do features, attend press conferences and cover games. Having a press box built and ready for the games helped the program accommodate Atlanta channel press, home and visiting radio and TV. The Owls’ Big South Conference contest at Liberty was aired on TV by CW69. The attention that KSU Athletics gained due to the institution of its football program caused the expectations for the department to greatly rise. On a daily basis during football season, the KSU Athletics Communications Department became busier and busier due to the increase in media requests, writing bios and press releases for all of the new hires and recruits as well as attending meetings. Since the creation of the KSU Football Program was a historical milestone for the university, the football program staff had every step in the building process of the program documented by an outside video producer. This documentary was later aired on CW69 after KSU’s first game against East Tennessee State. Maintaining a strong media and public presence throughout the season was important to the athletics communications department in order to keep the fans and members of the media updated and involved with the football program. Barba
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A look into the inner workings of football communications
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reached out to the media before each game to find out who would be attending the game and whether they would need sideline access or a seat in the press box. On a weekly basis, the department put together game notes which included statistics, opponent history, information on the team and players, radio and TV information and conference information. A press conference was held each Wednesday by Bohannon at the stadium that was attended by members of the media to update them with the most current information about the team. Other responsibilities of the department included fielding media inquiries, attending practice, creating flip cards, game programs and team rosters, as well as working with the visiting team’s athletics communications department to see what they would need for the game. It was also the responsibility of the department to prepare the press box at the stadium for game day at the end of the week. The future of athletic communications at KSU appears to be bright as the university continues to develop and expand the number of sports programs that it has. With five full-time employees covering the 18 intercollegiate sport programs that the university has to offer, the visibility of the athletics communications department has already risen sharply in the past two years. The addition of the football program has only added to the successful reputation that the baseball program created two years ago as they went on to play in the NCAA Super Regionals. The success of the athletics program will continue to grow as the Owls and individual student athletes experience success. With the rising exposure of KSU Athletics to the media, the roles and responsibilities of the KSU Department of Athletics Communications will become even more important to the overall success of the program. Fielding more media inquiries, maintaining the athletics website and finding and utilizing different media platforms will all be important aspects of KSU athletics communications in the years to come.
Photos courtesy of Kyle Hess and KSU’s Athletics Communications Department.
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Sports Reporting students participate in a press conference after an Atlanta Hawks basketball game.
sports reporting: Students Gain First-Hand Experience in the Field By: Amelia Queen Trembling as one tries to form a coherent question to ask representatives from the Atlanta Hawks, students taking Sports Journalism at Kennesaw State University learn to get past their fear of interviewing while gaining real world experience. Dr. Carolyn Carlson and Jay Clemons, a professional sports journalist, teach students the skills they will need to become effective journalists.
sports covered this semester: // Atlanta Hawks Basketball // Kennesaw State University Football // Georgia Tech Football
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This course, currently known as COM 4300 or their phones then they have made themselves even more “Topics in Journalism”, will be known as Jour 4412 in valuable to a future employer. the fall of 2016 with the creation of the new Journalism At the beginning of class each week, students have the major. Students in this class were given the opportunity assignments they have turned in placed on the board for to add valuable writing and recording samples to their the entire class to see. This allows students to see what portfolios of communication work. In fall 2015 this class their classmates have done well and what they should had the opportunity to cover a Georgia Tech Football work on in future stories. game, a Kennesaw State Football game and an Atlanta “Students who are interested in taking this course Hawks game. While on assignment at the Atlanta Hawks aren’t required to have a background knowledge in game, students participated in a press conference where sports, in fact most of the students in this class have had they were given press passes and treated like professional no knowledge of sports until now,” said Clemons. journalists. Clemons has worked in the field of sports journalism “These students are for 25 years and has worked learning skills that many for Fox Sports South, Sports people don’t have the Illustrated and now does opportunity to learn until freelance work. He said that they are thrown out into the students have a great textbook field their first day on the to help them learn enough job,” said Clemons. “So while about the sport they are These students are learning they may be nervous and covering to help them write skills that many people shaking doing interviews at sports stories. don’t have the opportunity the beginning of this course, “This course is more once they finish the semester about preparing students for to learn until they are they will have the skills they anything they may want to thrown out into the field need to conduct any kind do in the field of journalism,” their first day on the job. of interview in sports. After according to Clemons. taking this class, there is “Students have been truly nothing these students won’t humbled by taking this class,” Jay Clemons be able to accomplish.” said Dr. Carlson. “We have Skills that students of tried to make students realize Sports Journalism have that it is important to learn learned this semester are how to cover all aspects of not limited to interviewing journalism. Sometimes—well skills; they have also covered assignments in video, radio more times than not—you don’t get to cover the stories and writing. One assignment students were challenged that you want to, but you still have to write it well.” to complete was one in which they recorded a 2-3 Dr. Carlson has had 20 years of experience working minute interview on their cellphones. They record for the Associated Press and knows from experience that themselves with a tripod. Interviews must be recorded writers have to be flexible with their writing skills. at a sports location and then edited using applications on the students’ phones. Dr. Carlson said that this is an important skill for students to learn, especially in Access digital content by downloading the Blipper App on your a growing age of smartphones and instant news. Dr. smart phone or device. “Scan and Blipp” to unlock virtual content Carlson also said that if students are able to record on this page. interviews themselves and edit the recordings all from
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Moving Forward New Trends, New Technologies and New Opportunities 2015 Communication Colloquium
By: Thomas Hartwell
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hough many seats remained empty only two minutes before the event on Sept. 24, Kennesaw State University’s social sciences auditorium rumbled with low chatter. The third annual Communication Colloquium was soon to be underway. Tech assistants scrambled around the stage checking mics, and photographers donning cameras of varying shape and size weaved through a maze of chairs on the auditorium floor to capture the buzzing atmosphere for various publications. Only a minute later, students, faculty and staff began pouring in, filling all available seats and adding to the buzz and the anticipation of what was to come. Dr. Barbara Gainey, chair of the School of Communication & Media, began her welcome with a proud announcement of the school’s transition from a department on the same year of its 25th anniversary, prompting cheers and whistles from the audience. “We have an incredible array of professionals from metro-Atlanta as speakers tonight,” opened Gainey. “We have individuals and business partners who founded what are now global enterprise public relations agencies, leading executives from nationally-recognized media organizations, talented representatives of our exciting and growing entertainment industry, former students who will share their experiences and successes in the marketplace and leaders in organizations that offer training and global connections to organizations in Atlanta and beyond.” The Colloquium’s keynote panel included speakers from large Atlanta companies, CNN, Coca-Cola and Cox Media
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Group, and discussions ranged from topics of marketing, social media and online content strategies to newsgathering via the use of drones and the ethical stipulations this could bring – a topic which panelist David Vigilante, head of legal at CNN, was particularly passionate about. The majority of panelists’ discussions, though, hinged on the rapidly changing technological media market. “I think it was Arthur Clarke, who wrote in ‘2001: A Space Odyssey,’ a great quote about technology. He said, ‘Technology at its best is akin to magic,’” said Greg Agvent, director of news operations at CNN. “Technology shouldn’t be technology for technology’s sake, and it shouldn’t add to the intricacy of your ethics. That’s what makes so many of the apps that are out there and so much of the miniaturization and so much of the advancements that we’ve seen in technology that much more useful … it’s easy. ” During audience questions, panelists Tom Daly, CocaCola mobile marketing strategist, and Jason Munson, digital delivery team leader for Cox Media Group, highlighted the finer points of marketing and data analytics in the digital age. Among the strategies was an idea which seemed to intrigue the audience into further probing — the development of “personas.” “A subset of [Cox Media’s personas] are based on our existing customers and readers, and to get those defined, we look at all the analytics that we have,” said Munson. “Passed that, we also look for personas to be developed for our aspirational audiences … so my goal is really focused
The 2015 Colloquium included speakers from leading organizations in Atlanta, including (from left to right) David Vigilante, CNN; J.K.Murphy, Marietta Daily Journal; Jason Munson, Cox Media Group; and Greg Agvent, CNN/U.S.
on transferring our traditional paper readers onto digital and then drawing in new digital customers.” Munson further explained that the development of these personas for “aspirational audiences” included ideas like writing content for a 42-year-old single mother with an 8-year-old child. Content might include what kinds of activities are offered around Atlanta for that mother and child. This specificity, he said, can capture a market segment that may have otherwise gone unnoticed. The atmosphere had become even more electric after hearing the keynote panelists’ insight on topics dear to the audience and faculty, staff and other panelists took notice. “[Journalism] is changing every day – it’s changing rapidly. As soon as you think you have one thing knocked, people are onto the next venue,” said J.K. Murphy, managing editor of the Marietta Daily Journal and panelist for the Colloquium’s “Historical Milestones” breakout session. “I thought the panelists made a good point of explaining that—how rapidly things are changing.” In addition to “Historical Milestones,” the Colloquium offered breakout sessions for attendees interested in music business and
entertainment, accomplishments of alumni who have excelled in their fields and growing trends in the Communication industry. Sessions established strictly for networking opportunities were also provided to students. KSU Senior Communication Lecturer Tricia Grindel praised the Colloquium coordinators both for inviting who she called “heavyhitters” in the industry and for providing students with excellent networking opportunities as well as shared her excitement with the atmosphere. “We really think that this will help to raise [KSU’s] profile – nationally and internationally at some level — we’ve had a great turnout,” said Grindel. “Everybody seems to be having a good time, the surveys are usually really good, we have some fabulous speakers – there’s just a lot of energy and you love to see that when it’s students.” Access digital content by downloading the Blipper App on your smart phone or device. “Scan and Blipp” to unlock virtual content on this page.
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Living The Dream:
Life After Graduation
w By: Bianca Anderson
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recent survey conducted by the National Union of Students (NUS) found that 43 percent of college graduates had found full-time jobs in their desired career fields. Daniela Duron, a Kennesaw State alumna, is among this percentage and a prime example that hard work and diligence pay off. Life as an undergrad Duron graduated from Kennesaw State in December of 2013 from what is now the School of Communication & Media. While at Kennesaw, she was in pursuit of a Bachelor of Science degree in Communication, concentrating in Journalism and Citizen Media. Inspired by her love for writing, Duron took many steps to prepare for her future. She was on staff for the Kennesaw State newspaper “The Sentinel,” and was on a team of five student reporters who were named finalists in a national online journalism competition for a feature story about “Moms on Meth”. During her senior year at KSU, Duron only took a couple of classes so she could focus on interning. Knowing that she wanted to work in sports, she successfully landed her first internship with the Atlanta Falcons.
Real-world experience While working with the Atlanta Falcons, she got the opportunity to interview two players a day on average and wrote stories for the Atlanta Falcons official website. “I wanted to put a foot in the door,” said Duron, and she did just that. Following her internship with the Falcons, Duron saw an opening
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Don’t be afraid of doing however many internships that you have to and keeping your foot in the door. Have a set goal and work for it.
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with the Kansas City Royals for a social media internship position. Since she loved sports, and more specifically baseball, this was a dream come true for the young journalist. She received the position and moved to Missouri to begin working with the Royals in March 2014. The Royals made it to the World Series that season, and Duron was there to capture every moment.
After the season with the Royals came to an end, Duron moved back to Georgia to work with the Atlanta Braves as a digital media trainee where she carried out all the responsibilities of a full time employee. Although she was working for the Braves, she still kept up with the Royals. When hearing that her former boss with the Royals was going to take a leave of absence, she immediately accepted the offer to fill in on her behalf. Duron is now back in Kansas City, Missouri and ready for another monumental ride with the Royals, and what a ride it has been as the Royals won the World Series this year.
believes that a key factor in getting to where you want to be is timing and knowing the right people. “Don’t be afraid of doing however many internships you have to and keeping your foot in the door,” encouraged Duron. “Have a set goal and work for it.” Duron did a total of three internships before landing her job with the Royals, and it was all worth it. If she can do it then any future graduate from the School of Communication & Media can too. With confidence, diligence and preparation, our future communication professionals will be well on their way to success!
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A key factor in getting where you want to be is timing and knowing the right people.
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Advice to current students Nothing worth having comes easy. Duron understood this, and because of her preparation and consistency, she was able to land her dream job shortly after graduation. She was once a student at Kennesaw and understands what the transition is like from undergrad to the real world. Duron Duron receiving an award from the Braves organization for her work.
Duron received an American League Championship ring when the Royals made it to the World Series.
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Fail Forward u By: Jessica Gray
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aiting in a tiny coffee shop to meet entrepreneur Ashli Davis for the first time, no one can be sure what to expect. On paper, she’s a powerhouse, a force to be reckoned with. Possessing a Bachelor of Science in Communication from Kennesaw State University and a Master’s from Mercer University, Davis’ accomplishments span over 15 years. She’s worked with big names including the Prosecuting Attorney’s Council of Georgia and The Coca-Cola Company. Over the years, she’s specialized in internal communications, leadership programs and strategic planning. Now, running a consulting company of her own, her client list includes Dean Foods, The CocaCola Company and InterContinental Hotels Group, proving Davis has an established track record in her field. In person, Davis is just as captivating as her resumé. Petite and casually polished, she has a firm hand shake, but a huge smile that could make anyone feel at ease. Anyone can instantly see she’s charismatic and eloquent. When she sits down for the interview, her energy is professional, yet she’s approachable, an impressive equivalence.
Despite her impressive education and resume, Davis is incredibly humble and down to earth when discussing her professional accomplishments. During the interview, she described herself as boring and uninteresting. It is then that you discover that outside of her resume, her real passion comes from working with young professionals, helping them become comfortable in their own strengths. Davis, who began mentoring at KSU in 2007, has served as a keynote speaker, and discussion panelist many times over the years. This year, she was also asked to speak at the third annual Communication Colloquium. When asked how she got started mentoring KSU students, she laughs, but after a pause, admits it was a brief stint selling Mary Kay cosmetics during college. It was during that time in sales, she learned how vital it was to support the people around her. It was most often confidence holding someone back. Davis assessed that to make an impact, sometime you have to be willing to take risks. “It’s not easy to make those decisions that are really going to change your career,” Davis said.
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After graduation, when Dr. Barbara Gainey invited her back to be on a keynote panel, the value of building people up made an easy cross over into mentoring. Davis’ ability to connect with the students she’s mentored may stem from her own modest academic beginnings. She admits coming out of high school she didn’t want to go to college at all. “Actually I didn’t plan to go to college. I didn’t think I was smart enough. I didn’t think I’d pass,” she said. While that might come as a surprise to some, Davis’ decision was not an uncommon one. The Department of Education’s most current statistics, found that 34 percent of high school graduates don’t go right to college. It wasn’t until a few years later that Davis convinced herself that college might be the right track for her. Davis worked full time during college, taking most of her classes at night, which she said put her on what she called the ‘seven-year track’ to finishing. As a non-traditional student, she wasn’t as involved in campus life. “You know, I wasn’t part of the sororities or the traditional college experience. So there were times I felt pretty isolated,” she said. Even if it took her little longer, she pushed herself through and landed her first job as a Communication manager four months before she graduated from KSU. She acknowledged that a lot
of non-traditional students might go through those same feelings of isolation or frustration. Yet, hindsight is 20/20, Davis said. If she could go back, she wouldn’t change a thing. She learned so much from the struggles and she has zero regrets. “I think people need to do what they need to do for their life. I needed to pay for college,” she said about her college experience. “I really didn’t have any other options but to work and go to classes at night. But those sacrifices were important for me, and I wouldn’t change it.” Pushing through is a theme for Davis, both personally and professionally. She has a wealth of knowledge on the subject. The best piece of advice she’s ever been given actually didn’t come from academia or professional colleagues. Instead, the advice came from much closer to home, her mom. Davis said her favorite advice gave her real perspective on failure. In life, everyone will face failures, but it’s in the failures, that we can find ourselves. We are the makers of our own destiny. “Failure is really important because if you’re not failing, then you’re not doing anything worthy enough to talk about,” Davis said. “My mom’s motto was, ‘honey if you’ve failed, you’ve done 10 things right to get to that failure.’” So I say, “Fail Forward.”
(bottom right) after x Davis speaking at the third annual Comunication Colloquium. From left to right are David Kirkland, Billy Berger, Michelle Babcock, Mart Martin and Kecia Jones.
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An Educator's Legacy: Dr. Kristen Heflin Honored for her Dedication to Students
By: Dasha Jackson
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n the age of technology, tests are online, lectures are via video chat and homework is submitted in just one click. Times have changed, and it’s becoming scarcer to develop personal relationships with professors. Despite all the technological advances in education, some professors still strive to personally impact the lives of their students and help them succeed. Kennesaw State University made it a point to preserve this tradition and give professors the recognition they deserve with the Faculty Career Adviser Award. Dr. Kristen Heflin, a Public Relations professor, continues to restore the legacy of what makes an educator great time and time again. In previous years, Heflin, along with other professors, were recognized for their caring teaching style, but only via letters. “This year was the first that the award was created,” said Heflin. “I was so shocked when I won.” At the College of Humanities and Social Sciences meeting on Aug. 14, Heflin recalls
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2016 Faculty and Staff Highlights Karen Marks, an assistant director at career services, giving a wonderful speech about the influences of a particular professor who was most helpful assisting communication students with career advice. Marks noted that this educator received 63 mentions from students the previous semester and how motivationoriented this professor had been over the years. Up until the time Dr. Heflin was announced and called to the stage, she was oblivious Marks was referring to her. “I had no idea who she was talking about,” said Heflin. “All I knew was that the person she was giving the speech about sounded great.” The award was given to one professor from every college at the university, and Heflin, representing the College of Humanities and Social Sciences, received the second highest number of mentions of any faculty member. A well-deserved glass trophy now sits in her office as remembrance of that proud moment when she received the first Faculty Career Adviser Award in KSU history. Influential professors are hard to come by, so when one goes above and beyond their duties as an educator, they deserve recognition. KSU may be growing at a fast rate, but still remains true to preserving the beauty of promoting real relationships between educators and students, even in the age of technology.
The faculty and staff of the School of Communication & Media are doing more than just lecturing courses at KSU. In addition to instructing future communication professionals, some of the educators are also working on exciting projects and research in the field of communication. The School of Communication & Media is fortunate to have teachers who are truly passionate about their field of study and who bring diversity to the program. The following are some of the faculty of the School of Communication & Media and their recent accomplishments:
Dr. Kami J. Anderson Recently published a book titled “Language, Identity, and Choice: Raising Bilingual Children in a Global Society.” It discusses how foreign language acquisition influences an individual’s understanding of identity within the African-American family.
Dr. Chuck Aust
Recently presented a paper at the annual conference of the Religious Communication Association titled “How religious rhetoric of a self-help support group manifests themes of positive psychology.”
Drs. Amber Hutchins & Jake McNeill Collaboratively wrote an article about wearable tech & bioethics that appeared in the Phi Kappa Phi Forum.
Dr. Pauline Howes Presented a paper at the PRSA 2015 International Conference in Atlanta that was co-authored by Dr. Lynne Sallot from the University of Georgia titled “Does Media Coverage Matter? Perspectives of Public Relations Practitioners and Business Professional on the value of News Coverage.” This paper was chosen for the session, “The Best of PRSA’s Public Relations Journal 2014-2015” from the 2014 publication, and was among the ‘Top Five Articles’ published in the Journal.
Dr. May Gao & Ngozi Maduoma Presented at the 6th World Forum on China Studies Nov. 20-21 in Shanghai, China. The paper was titled “Comparing Chinese Companies in the U.S. and Nigeria: Opportunities, Challenges, and Communication Strategies.”
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School of Communication & Media Kennesaw State University 402 Bartow Avenue NW, #5104 Kennesaw, GA 30144-5591
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