Messenger 2014

Emily Juhnke . Jordan Loomis . Ben Mack . Sophie O’Niell . Kelsey Parkes . Carly Willis

Mass Media

Messenger 2014

Letter from the chair Department chair shares thoughts on academic school year

By Kathy Menzie

Another great year has flown by. It seems each school year goes by faster than the last.

The faculty has been busy this year. Frank Chorba continues to work on his hometown website and an amazing timeline that covers history, interesting people, sports and a myriad of fascinating facts.

Maria Stover worked on her book — “Women in Politics and Media: Perspectives from Nations in Transition” by Maria Raicheva-Stover and Elza Ibroscheva. In fact, it’s on Amazon already. She was also promoted to full professor this year, so be sure to congratulate her.

Charles has a WTE Exploring America trip to Los Angeles he’s planning for the summer. He’ll be on sabbatical next spring, working on a new film with a Native American perspective.

Regina Cassell has been teaching two new classes that allow student media students to get both credit and experience and to hone some leadership skills. Her class produces this magazine each year, which is a challenge, but a rewarding one for the students in the class.

JaeYoon Park has a sweet sabbatical this summer — to work on a film with a colleague in Canada.

We’re also excited about her new class this fall, Minorities and the Media — a course we haven’t had taught for nearly 10 years.

And I’ve been busy serving on university committees and helping faculty members in two departments find the resources they need to do their jobs.

The mass media department added a new person this spring — April Evans has become our new senior

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administrative assistant. She came to us from Career Services, so she was already familiar with Washburn.

We are thrilled to have her; she’s already been an asset to the department.

We’ve had two new adjuncts this year, teaching wonderful new classes for us — Tim Hrenchir, who is a reporter for the Topeka Capital-Journal, taught Murder, Mayhem and Media, and Kimberly Bowker, who Photo by Mike Goehring taught Strategic Kathy Menzie leads the mass media department while Social Media. cotinuing to serve as interim chair of the communications We are so lucky department. Menzie is in her 16th year at WU. to live in an area that gives us access to such great lab with Adobe Premiere. resources for adjunct faculty. And This fall we added a new minor in of course, we’re very happy to wel- digital film and video. Students can take come back our long-time adjuncts, all the classes we offer in film and video Mike Merriam, Eugene Williams and combine those with another major to and Jim Allan. We also love having expand their opportunities. our graduates earn master’s degrees The mass media department continand then return “home” to adjunct ues to provide innovative courses and for us — Sarah (VanDalsem) projects in courses to help students gain Towle, who taught Creative Media valuable experience and skills. We love Writing and Beth Davis, who will welcoming new majors and minors, and teach for us next fall. we especially enjoy keeping up with The department continues to graduates and hearing the wonderful try to expand our equipment and changes and opportunities you have computer resources. We’re adding encountered since your graduation. So new cameras and new video editing keep in touch! software. We’re equipping the Mac

Table of contents University

4-5

Washburn kicks off its 150 Forward Campaign What is an Ichabod?

Departmental

6-9

Media soirĂŠe entertains Students enjoy Paris experience

Faculty

10-13

KTWU show recieves award Students earn high honors

16-18

19-21

Alumna returns to work at WU Alumni Class Notes

2013-14 mass media graduates

Emily Juhnke

Jordan Loomis Ben Mack Sophie O’Neill Kelsey Parkes Carly Willis

Regina Cassell

Cover Design: Kelsey Parkes

Q&A with media professionals Project gets students involved Pulled from the headlines

Graduates

Editor-in-Chief:

Faculty Adviser:

Current Students 14-15

Alumni

Students in Creative Media Practicum produce the annual Messenger.

Magazine Staff:

Bringing in a new face Unique experience Professionals in the classroom Adjunct profesors

Industry

2014 Messenger Staff

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Magazine Contributors: Lauren Doherty Brad Hernandez Mike Goehring Shannon Kennedy Kathy Menzie Maria Stover

Updates: The mass media department and alumni woud love to know what you have been up to since graduation.

We want to know everything from jobs and marriages to babies and accomplishments.

Share with us your industry knowledge and experience, too.

Special thanks to Washburn Foundation and Country Legends 106.9.

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University News

Washburn kicks off its 150 Forward Campaign

By Jordan Loomis

In February, Washburn University began its fundraising campaign, 150 Forward. Marking the 150th anniversary of the university in the upcoming year, the campaign’s overall goal is to lead Washburn to becoming a top five Midwest master’s level university by 2015.

The campaign raises money for scholarships, faculty and programs for the new welcome center.

Washburn has been building toward this project for the past four years after the board backed the campaign in 2010. Washburn is constantly growing and has a variety of ongoing needs to be met. After years of designing courses for small class sizes and one-on-one interactions between professors and students, Washburn is ready to expand and offer more to potential students.

The university, with the assistance of gracious donors, will raise $100 million by 2016 to split between four designated areas where Washburn is ready to expand. $35 million will go toward the benefits of students, $35 million will go toward the university faculty and the expansion of programs, $20 million will be granted to spaces around the university (a new welcome center, a new law building,

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possible new dormitories, etc.) and $10 million will be set aside for annual giving.

On Feb. 5, Jerry Farley, president of the university, and JuliAnn Mazachek, president of the Washburn University Foundation, presented their ideas at the halftime show of the Washburn versus Emporia State basketball game. Their brief presentation and remarks also included a musical introduction from Farley alongside student and artist, Brail Watson.

“This was just the beginning of the 150 Forward campaign kickoff,” Watson said.

The renovation of spaces on campus began with the redesign of Morgan Hall, where the new welcome center will be built. Morgan Hall consists of classrooms and widely separated academic offices, such as Financial Aid, the Business Office and Career Services. The new welcome center will be designed to place all academic offices conveniently in the same location and will include a variety of study areas for students.

Kathy Menzie, mass media department chair, commented on the bright future that the campaign would bring the university as well as the

community of Topeka.

“The promotions and events help keep Washburn in the news and in people’s minds, which is a wonderful way to show we are a progressive, exciting university where students will find a home and a great education,” Menzie said.

So far, the campaign has raised approximately $60 million, and the numbers are still rising.

Photo by Shannon Kennedy When it comes to raising money for the university, President Farley is willing to go the distance.

University News

What is an Ichabod?

(Purificatus non Consumptus) - Brail

By Ben Mack

If you’re an Ichabod at heart, any shot that Emporia State takes at you will leave a sour taste in your mouth, just as it did to senior music major Phillip Watson.

In a music video that Emporia State produced in the spring semester, it took a jab at Washburn asking, “What is an Ichabod anyway?” Of course, no Ichabod is going to sit back and let Emporia State get the upper hand, so Watson produced “Purificatus Non Consumptus,” which means, “not purified, not consumed,” otherwise known as the Ichabod Song.

“I was tagged in a Facebook post where I saw that [Emporia State’s] video and was asked if I was going to make a response. I decided to look into some of Washburn’s history that I had heard about.

I found that the rumor I had heard was indeed true, and that Washburn had opened its doors to not only blacks, but women as well in the 1850s (98 years before the Brown v. Board decision). I was blown away by this knowledge, and decided to share it the best way I knew how,” Watson said.

The university was founded by the Congregational Church in 1865. The school enrolled women and men, including African-Americans, in its first class.

Watson wrote, arranged, recorded and engineered the Ichabod Song. Some of his colleagues from the

music department helped him by singing some of the backgrounds that were already pre-recorded on the tracks. Those students are basses Jacob Stone and Quinton Church, baritones Brendan Boyle and Caleb Marcus, tenor Zachary Cope and soprano Rachel Cross. Mass media student Bradley Hernandez was in charge of shooting the video for the Washburn Foundation, who funded the production.

Besides the retaliation to Emporia State, Watson wanted people to understand some of the history that makes this school great.

“I wanted people to see that this isn’t just a college from my hometown, but this is a place that was pivotal in Kansas becoming a free state. Washburn was a factor in the civil rights movement before anyone was even paying much attention to it; before it was the popular choice here. I wanted people to have pride in that,” Watson said.

The Ichabod Song, or rap, has been creating quite the wave of attention, already racking up nearly 4,500 YouTube views as of mid-April, as well as generating some money for Watson and the company that he is the vice president for, New Midwest Entertainment. You can purchase the song for $.99 at www.newmidwestent.com.

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Departmental News

Photo by Mike Goehring Shalyn Murphy, 2009, shares her advice with students at the banquet. Murphy works as a media professional for Visit Topeka and shared many valulable tips for interviewing.

Media Soirée entertains

Visit Topeka, Inc.’s Shalyn Murphy offers advice to Washburn students

By Jordan Loomis

For many, the end of the academic school year is a busy time whilst wrapping up schoolwork and managing a day-to-day job.

On Thursday, April 17, the mass media department hosted its annual banquet to honor and acknowledge students and staff from the department.

This year, the Public Relations 2 class, who is responsible for all details of the event, from promotion to decorations, chose the theme “Swingin’ Media Soirée” and invited those who attended to dress similar to those from the 1940s and enjoy music from the Topeka High Jazz Band.

As tradition holds, the banquet showcases a keynote speaker every year. This year, the department was honored by guest speaker Shalyn Murphy, a Washburn alumna, and the communications and marketing director at Visit Topeka, Inc. Murphy spo e of her first e periences searching for a job in the mass media field and the appropriate responses to keeping a job while learning and growing as a new graduate.

Murphy stressed the importance of being readily prepared for that first interview straight out of college and

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how that practice would prepare new graduates for future work in the media field.

As Murphy recounted some personal mishaps at the beginning of her career, she emphasized how the future hard work and determination of the department s graduates would further benefit work in the outside community.

The banquet then continued with Kathy Menzie, the chair of the mass media department and instructor JaeYoon Park handing out the department scholarships.

Zoe Brown, a senior double-majoring in mass media and psychology, received her third department scholarship since her sophomore year at the university.

“I love the mass media department and its faculty. My presence and applause, I feel, is a way to give them appreciation for what they’re doing for us,” said Brown Then, Regina Cassell, director of student media, and Park, recognized the students who received their diplomas in May. Carly Willis, a senior, described being inducted.

“It was really a great honor being recognized alongside some of the greatest women to ever come through

“I love the mass

media department and its faculty.

”

Zoe Brown Washburn,” Willis said.

Department faculty Cassell, Maria Stover, Charles Cranston, Menzie and Park then distributed awards to the outstanding students in their specific areas.

Those attending the banquet, while entertained by hosts Elizabeth Burgett and Luke Svoboda, were also provided with the opportunity to win prizes gathered by the members of the Public Relations 2 class. One such of these prizes was senior Anjelica Willis, who described the entire banquet as a fun benefit to students.

“Being presented with the opportunity to receive a scholarship from the mass media department is a fundamental opportunity that helps students with their tuition and helps to provide them with driven goals to return to the following year. It helps students pave the way for further success throughout their academic college career,” Willis said.

Departmental News

Scholarship Recipients Zoe Brown Elizabeth Burgett Jena Dean Emily Juhnke

Zoe Brown

Elizabeth Burgett

Emily Juhnke*

Jordan Loomis

Kara Protasio*

Lynh Tran

Jordan Loomis Olivia Marshall Monica McDougal Ryan Ogle Kara Protasio Lynh Tran

*Both Emily Juhnke and Kara Protasio also received a dean’s scholarship for the College of Arts and Sciences.

Outstanding Award Recipients Creative Advertising Kelsey Parkes Contemporary Journalism Jennifer Lauber Film and Video Mike Goehring Public Relations Emily Juhnke

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Departmental News

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Students enjoy Paris experience Students travel to Paris to learn about international media systems

By Sophie O’Neill

Ten students from the mass media department traveled to Paris in March to learn about the differences in media practices and culture between America and France. The students participated in the annual International Media Seminar, where universities from all over America meet to attend sessions that gain insight into how various international media organizations operate in comparison with American media.

Lee Huebner, professor of media and public affairs at George Washington University, organizes the International Media Seminar with the assistance of his wife, Berna. Huebner was publisher of the International Herald Tribune from 1979 to 1993, and interim president of American University in Paris from 1995 to 1996.

“The idea is to let students get a sense of the communications media world from a different point of view, which can sometimes be surprisingly different from our own base. It helps us appreciate our own media systems, and we can also learn things that can help us improve our own communication practices,” Huebner said.

The students met with a range of media talents, such as famous novelist and scriptwriter for the film “ he Shining,” Diane Johnson. According to mass media student Jessica Herrera, they also met with a former assistant editor from The International New York Times.

“I got to hear from a lot of people who are working directly with media, and they had some great advice. We were very lucky to have heard from so many in uential and involved people,”

Photos courtesy of Maria Stover From left to right, back row: Libby Twietmeyer, Vanessa Nunez, Abby Koester, Jessica Herrera, and Brittany Rhoades; front row: Johanna Greer, Lynh Tran, Elizabeth Burgett, Samantha Stanley and Danielle Brown.

Herrera said. said.

The students also saw a number of After spending a week observing tourist attractions during their time in French culture, the mass media students Paris, including the Louvre, the Eiffel and teachers became aware of some of Tower, Notre Dame Church, The Palace of I got to hear from a lot of Versailles and the Art De Triomphe. people who are working directly “It was amazing with media, and they had some to see these famous attractions with your great advice. We were very own eyes. We all got lucky to have heard from so to see these amazing places and meet so many many influential and involved interesting people. It people. was a once in a lifetime Jessica Herrera experience,” Herrera

“

”

Departmental News

the many cultural differences between their two countries.

“Media and culture in France is different. French people like to argue about anything, and they like to talk about politics. uring our first day in the city, we saw politicians campaigning in the local market,” professor Maria Stover said.

The students also noted the cultural adjustments they made during their trip.

“As Americans, it was difficult, sometimes, to remember to be respectful of the culture and stay somewhat more ‘toned down’ in regards to one’s character. It was a very humbling experience to be in another country other than your own, and I now have much more respect for immigrants who choose to live in a foreign country,” Herrera said.

Washburn has been one of numerous universities taking part in the seminar.

“As part of a study abroad program that was approved by the iHouse, Washburn is one of several participating universities, including Missouri Southern State University, Northwestern University, George Washington University and Trinity College — who have been taking part in this weeklong seminar since 1996,” Stover said.

Students can also take International Media Systems — a class through the mass media department — to complement the experience and count toward college credit.

Top: Love Locks attached to the a bridge over the Seine River.

Above: Students enjoying a lecture at the Marshall Center.

Below: Eiffel Tower

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Faculty News

Bringing in a new face Mass media department hires new administrative assistant

By Carly Willis

April Evans is the mass media department’s new senior administrative assistant.

Q: Where did you go to school?

A: I graduated from the University of Kansas with a degree in secondary education – language arts.

Q: Where have you worked in the past?

A: I previously worked for Washburn University Career Services for four years.

Q: Why did you want to apply to work in the mass media department?

A: I really like working for Washburn, and the mass media

department has a great reputation on the campus for providing a positive, progressive environment for both students and staff. It’s a great group of people to be around!

Q: What are you looking forward to about the job?

A: I like providing support and encouragement to mass media students and staff so they can achieve what they set out to accomplish. I should take care of details to make their lives easier.

Q: What challenges do you think you might face?

A: Climbing the stairs several times a day to our office on the top floor of Henderson!

Q: Additional fun facts?

A: I’m married to an architect, and we live on nine acres just outside of Stull with our two chickens.

My hobbies include vegetable gardening and canning produce, and my specialties include hot pepper chutneys and relishes.

Unique experience

By Ben Mack

By Lauren Doherty

The end of 2013 was a special time for the Cranston family because one member was given the opportunity to serve in the White House.

Lauren Seaton, daughter of Washburn’s video professor Charles Cranston, was invited to Washington D.C. to help with decorating the White House for Christmas.

“Just being inside the White House is an overwhelming feeling. Every wall, room and hallway is full of history of this great nation. To be standing in the East Room next to George Washington’s portrait while I hot glued ornaments together was such a crazy feeling,” Seaton said.

In order to serve on the decorating team, each person filled out an application for HGTV’s “White House Christmas 2013,” then waited several months before being selected. Seaton applied in June and found out in October that she had been picked.

“Working in the White House was the biggest honor I could ever imagine.

It was truly unbelievable,” Seaton said.

Seaton worked on the East Room along with other areas. Each decorator was assigned a room before they were

set to work.

While working, Seaton and the other volunteers were in for a surprise when the president showed up. He shook hands with each decorator and said they were doing a good job. It was Seaton’s most memorable moment.

“All of us were standing there in shock, covered in glitter. We told him what an honor it was for us to be there and just gave a laugh about how we were all glittery. I’m pretty sure not one of us knew what to say when we finally went to lunch. It was silent until finally someone said, ‘Did that really just happen?’” Seaton said.

On Dec. 16, First Lady Michelle Obama went live on camera at the White House, with the Christmas decorations in the background. Michelle Obama was kind to thank the decorators for their hard work.

While Seaton was having a good time, her family was proud of her.

“It was fun to see her do something she enjoys,” said Cranston.

Living with her husband in Seattle, Seaton continues to decorate for fun and plans to apply to decorate the White House again in the future.

Photos courtesy of Lauren Seaton A professionally decorated Christmas tree stands tall at the White House. Lauren Seaton, daughter of professor Charles Cranston, helped decorate this tree after being chosen by HGTV’s “White House Christmas.”

A group of mass media students participating in Washburn Transformational Experience (WTE) are taking a weeklong venture to Los Angeles to study t iconic oll oo film studios and locations.

Students will investigate historical sound stages r classic films r made and will be able to explore where early television programs were created.

Among many highlights of the trip, some of the main attractions for the students and Cranston will be seeing the Sony Pictures Studios (MGM), Paramount Studios and Warner Brothers Studios, where the group was pro i a fi - our guided tour. “Students who are exposed to a broad background of the industry and its beginnings should develop a stronger level of historical empathy toward their chosen mp asis in film an i o at Washburn University.”

At the end of the trip, students are expected to give a presentation on how the tour impacted their lives and improved their perceptions of Hollywood and the motion picture industry in order to recieve college credit.

Faculty News

Professor’s daughter decorates White House

Film students go to Hollywood for summer WTE

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Faculty News

Professionals in the classroom

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Department offers and MM393 courses

By Kelsey Parkes

Students in Murder, Mayhem and Media experienced a semester full of valuable knowledge from a reporter with decades of reporting experience.

While other special topics provided full time faculty an opportunity to present different material. im renchir taught his first class at Washburn, Murder, Mayhem and Media, which brought his vast experience covering crimes or trails to the classroom. Hrenchir has interviewed numerous law enforcement professionals.

His goal was to provide students with insight on what police officers do, how the criminal justice system works and how media covers crime with an emphasis on social media and current events. Almost every class period included a guest speaker — either a journalist who has covered crime or someone with experience in police, correctional or judicial public relations.

“My favorite moment was when I held a news conference as District Attorney Tim Hrenchir and class members asked me questions for a news story they’d been assigned to write on deadline. Listening to the tape recording afterward, I found that class members had asked me 80 different questions.

Now that’s participation!” Hrenchir said.

Another first-time ad uct, imberly Bowker, taught Strategic Social Media.

Bowker, a freelance writer, focused on how to use social media in a strategic, productive way.

The subjects she covered included social media ethics, theory, professional versus personal use, storytelling on social media and how social media is

used in different industries. She also covered topics such as transparency, authenticity, listening and engaging in terms of the online platforms.

In addition, she incorporated multiple guest speakers — in person and over Skype — to give students a perspective on real-life e periences in a social media profession.

Photo by Emily Juhnke Students enjoyed the Skype Bowker’s students skype with Kelli Matthews, managing director of Verve Northwest. Her course — Strategic Social sessions because Media — featured various media professionals via Skype. it allowed them to hear from professionals Associate Comunication Professor across the country.

Leslie Reynard, focused on presenting Mass Media Lecturer JaeYoon Park case studies of organizational, corporate offerd Women, Gender and Television, and individual crises and analyzed for a second time. the communication responses to such This course informs students about the situations. Reynard also put emphasis representation of women, gender and on how professionals prepare for and sexuality in mainstream television, respond to crises, as well as how they and how it has changed since the 1950s. Students also studied theoretical develop their communication plans.

Strategic Management concepts and approaches to analyzing Communication, also taught by images of women and gender issues on Reynard, taught students how to television. succeed and use communication in the ach student finished the semester business world. with a research project, requiring them The main purpose of this course to select one television program and was to learn that communication apply a theory to the analysis of the topics are pertinent for successful selected program. business, management and corporate tudents can also fill those elective communication as well as implementing hours by taking courses that are communication plans for organizational crosslisted with othe departments. audiences.

Crisis Communication, taught by

Adjunct professors

Two new faces join the mass media department

The mass media department had two fresh faces join its team this past semester. imberly Bowker and Tim Hrenchir both joined as adjunct professors, teaching the classes Strategic Social Media and Murder, Mayhem and Media, respectively.

Hrenchir, a Washburn Photo by Carly Willis Photo courtesy of Kimberly Bowker alumnus, is Adjunct professors Tim Hrechir and Kimberly Bowker join currently the local the Mass Media staff for the spring 2014 semester. government writer for the Topeka Capital- ournal. classroom for the outside world to see, His teaching journey began when he using the hashtag #MM393J — the served as a guest speaker for one of course name. Bowker also brought in Regina Cassell’s classes. Once proposed outside experts to talk to her class. the idea, he began formulating an ideal “Since social media has many class about police reporting. potential uses dependent on different The class featured a pertinent guest industries, we had a variety of guest speaker almost every week, including speakers presenting the class and USD 501 Police Chief Ron Brown and chatting with us over Skype,” Bowker former FBI Agent Mark Bouton. Being said. a first-time teacher, renchir had his In her course, Bowker stressed the share of adjustments to make. Every importance of being responsible and class period, the class burned through deliberate on social media to students. all the material brought forward because “I started class with the intention they found the subject intriguing and to lead from the heart and be myself, new. Reporting on crime is a sustainable encouraging students to also be their branch in the field of ournalism. [respectful] selves. This is important in “Media outlets want to make money, life and also re ects the importance of and crime sells,” Hrenchir said. being authentic, respectful, honest and Bowker makes up the other half of transparent on social media,” Bowker the new ad uncts. he moved to ansas said. from her home state of Oregon, where Hrenchir and Bowker have both she wrote for a newspaper in Bend, Ore. enjoyed the start of their teaching She taught Strategic Social Media, a journey here at Washburn, and they brand new course where students were look forward to seeing where it takes invited to tweet the happenings of their them.

Frank Chorba Chorba recently celebrated his 20th year with the international scholarly journal dedicated to radio studies, the first of its ind.

He is currently teaching Intro to Mass Media, Sports and Media, Media Literacy and Entrepreneurial Media.

Faculty News

By Carly Willis

Staff News

Kathy Menzie Menzie’s Public Relations II class put together a great mass media banquet this year and is planned a PR campaign for the Jayhawk Theater. She has been at Washburn years and is in her fifth year as chair.

Maria Stover Last year marked a decade at Washburn for Stover who wrote a book titled “Women in Politics and Media: Perspectives from Nations in Transition.” It will be ready for distribution in September of this year. It has 16 chapters and covers atin America, sub- aharan Africa, the Middle East and North Africa, Central and Eastern Europe, Asia, Russia and the former Soviet Republics. She worked with contributors from all over the world and said that was one of the most rewarding experiences.

Jae Yoon Park Park is doing a summer sabbatical in Vancouver and Toronto, Canada this summer. She will be researching issues of diversity and multiculturalism in relation to mass media. She also plans to make a short documentary about Asian diasporic cinema in North America.

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Current Students

KTWU show receives award

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Hinton chases ghosts for “PlainSpirits” production during KTWU internship

By Carly Willis

Wanda Hinton, executive assistant at KTWU, was lucky enough to be an intern employee at KTWU at the time that they were up to something spooky.

Promotion/Marketing Director Kevin Goodman and Program Director Val VanDerSluis noted a lack of ghost story programming in KTWU’s October schedule. hey sei ed on the deficit as an opportunity and began bouncing story ideas off Beth Cooper, author of the book titled “Ghosts of Kansas.”

They made the stories come to life by researching several seemingly haunted Kansas locations and decided to film productions there. hey presented their endeavors to viewers with a series called “PlainSpirits.” Hinton wrote up the introductions to the pieces and set up the taping schedules for production weekend.

One of their first tapings for the “PlainSpirits” series was recorded at the Sigma Nu fraternity house at The University of Kansas. The house was the former home of Kansas Gov. Walter R. Stubbs. Stubbs had a staunch reputation that entailed no alcohol or tobacco consumption. During his term, it was rumored that he was having an affair with a maid at the mansion — an accusation sure to tarnish his gleaming reputation. One day Stubbs came home from a trip to

Photo courtesy of Wanda Hinton From left to right: Eugene Williams, Kevin Goodman, Wanda Hinton, Jared Gregg and Val VanDerSluis present their awards for the “PlainSpirits” series.

ope a to find his mistress hanged and his wife in a comatose state. It remains unclear whether it was murder or suicide, but the fraternity men often note an aroma of women’s perfume, while a few over the years have reported seeing a woman’s ghost.

“It’s [“PlainSpirits”] showing the historical aspect of what happened, why they were there and the personal relationship that everyday people have with these ghosts. It’s educational and entertaining at the same time,” Hinton said.

Other tapings took place at the Sallie House of Atchison, the High Noon Saloon of Leavenworth and the Holton House of Holton,

as well as several other sites.

Another filmed location — The Eldridge Hotel in Lawrence — was targeted in the 1860s by William Quantrill’s raids. It is rumored that the ghost of Col. Shalor Eldridge is seen in the halls on occasion.

“The staff thinks he’s there to make sure everyone is doing a good job and all the guests are happy,” Hinton said.

Hinton considers herself lucky to stumble upon the opportunity and to serve as production assistant. Film editing is not her favorite aspect of journalism, but she was able to get some quality hands-on experience throughout the course of production.

After the show was pieced together and finali ed into a 30-minute segment, KTWU premiered it on Facebook. In doing so, they received the Platinum Digital Award, a prestigious trophy honoring digital videos and websites. In addition, the efforts of Goodman, VanDerSluis, Hinton and many others were honored in a submission for an Emmy nomination. KTWU hopes to begin filming for a second production in late summer or early fall. “PlainSpirits” is available on YouTube.

Students earn high honors

By Sophie O’Neill

NoNoSo Four of the 16 Washburn women inducted in NoNoSo this spring were mass media majors.

NoNoSo is an alumnae women’s honor society at Washburn University that recognizes exceptional Washburn women based on their intelligence, creativity, personality, scholarship, leadership, moral integrity and accomplishment.

The women inducted include Elizabeth, Burgett, Farai Harreld, Emily Juhnke and Carly Willis.

Phi Kappa Phi Phi Kappa Phi is the nation’s oldest interdisciplinary honor society and only invites seniors with GPAs in the top 10 percent and juniors with GPAs in the top 7.5 percent of their classes. Each year, approximately 30,000 members are initiated.

Since its founding, Phi Kappa Phi has initiated more than 1 million members into its ranks; all of these members have received emblems and certificates of membership.

On behalf of the executive committee, which include Phi Kappa Phi Washburn President Paul Byrne, Rachel Goossen, Mary Sheldon, Kevin Charlwood, Sarah Cook, Sam

Leung, Rosemary Walker and Miguel Gonzalez-Abellas, seven exceptional scholars from the mass media department were inducted into the prestigious honor society in the 2013-14 academic year.

The inductees include mass media students Elizabeth Burgett, Jeri Fowler, Jennifer Funk, Emily Juhnke, Monica McDougal, Kara Protasio and Carly Willis.

Current Students

Mass media majors are inducted into top Washburn honor societies

Who’s Who? The students included on the Who’s Who list are Elizabeth Burgett, Lillian Moss, Ivan Moya and Carly Willis.

,BOTBT $PMMFHJBUF .FEJB "XBSET Congrats to our award winners:

Individual Awards:

Honorable Mentions

Kaw Yearbook : Silver Medalist Editor: Mallory Luney

First Places

Colton Goeffert, Review Writing

Andrew Escandon, Advertising Design

Ezgi Gulec, Audio

Second Places

Chelsea Howe, Illustrations

Chelsea Howe, Special Projects

Richard Kelly, Sports News Writing

Shannon Kennedy, Audio

Abby Mies, Sports Photography

Third Places

Patricia Peterson, Audio Visual Reporting

Linnzi Fusco, Front Page Design

Kara Protasio, Headline Writing

Chelsea Howe, Illustrations

Kara Protasio, News Reporting

Washburn Review: Bronze Medalist Editor: Kara Protasio Bod Magazine: Bronze Medalist Editor: Fatima Oubaid WU Infinity Graduation Magazine: Bronze Medalist Editor: Mallory Luney Mass Media Messenger: Bronze Medalist Editors: Jessie Salmans and Kiara Williams

Luke Warnken, Sports News Writing

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Industry News

Q&A with media professionals Jim Allan and Lynda Zook of Country Legends provide internship advice

By Emily Juhnke

Jim Allan has been the general manager of Country Legends 106.9 in Topeka since 2002. He is also an adjunct professor at Washburn University and has taught courses such as Creative Strategies in Advertising, Promotions Writing and Public Relations. Lynda Zook is the new media manager at Country Legends. She graduated from Washburn University with a bachelor’s degree in mass media in May 2013.

Four students interned at Country Legends during the spring 2014 semester.

Q: What is your role with the interns?

Jim: “A lot of the interns know me from class, and I’ll say if you’re interested in an internship, you know where to get in touch with me. I really put them under Lynda’s control, and I also introduce them to our promotions department and our program department.”

Q: What departments do the student interns work in?

Q: What would you recommend students take advantage of during internships?

Jim: “They [interns] are all a little too shy. I think they don’t want to bother people, but it never hurts to stick out your hand and say, ‘Hey, what do you do here?’

Lynda: “When I interned here, I just starting going around and asking ‘what do you need help with?’ People were very willing to offer up opportunities and I was exposed to all aspects of the station that way.”

Jim: “The only way you can really get involved is by going around and asking, ‘What can I do?’ We hired her [Lynda] because she was doing more than her internship and we needed her.”

Q: What do you think is the value of internships for students?

Lynda: “It’s a great introduction to practical situations that you’re going to run into regardless of where you end up. Not to take an advantage of an internship is a crime.”

Jim: “The value of an internship is priceless. I don’t know if you can put a denomination with it. It’s worth every credit hour that you get out of it.”

Q: As general manager, how did you do to get to where you are today?

Jim: “One, I asked for it. Back in 1999, I left the station [Country Legends] and went to work for Lewis Toyota as a finance manager. hat was a lot of hours and a lot of money, but radio was in me. In 2002, a sales rep that I brought into the business, who is still here today, ene Owen, wal ed bac into my office at Lewis Toyota and said, ‘Do you want to be my boss again?’ I called the owner [of Country Legends] and said ‘You don’t need to look anymore. I’m ready to come back and run your station.’”

“A couple of interviews later, they gave me that opportunity. That’s how it happened. You don’t do it without learning and falling down a lot.”

Jim: “They’re all working a little bit for Lynda [in new media], all working a little bit for promotions and all working a little bit for sales.”

Q: What kind of qualities stick out to you in student interns?

Lynda: “I think the caliber of people we have come from Washburn is very good. I’ve been very impressed.”

Jim: “The skills that sticks out are the ones that are willing to take on a new challenge. They believe in themselves enough and are confident enough to go for it. They’re also able to stay humble and learn. I look for follow-up. I look for attention to detail.”

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Photo by Emily Juhnke From left to right: Jim Allan, general manager, Brianna Paulson, promotions director and Lynda Zook, new media director

Project gets students involved

By Kelsey Parkes

Another course offered through the mass media department required for graduation is Advanced Media Lab taught by Charles Cranston.

During this yearlong capstone course, students are instructed to decide on a significant media pro ect that they can work on for a client within the local community. Students spent much of their time working independently, with mandatory project updates throughout the semester.

The goal of this course is to give students the opportunity to work in a media creation environment and to develop a media project that has a purpose. After two semesters, each student is required to give a formal presentation of his/her project. The spring semester was filled with exciting projects, from building websites to designing print materials and publishing books to creating podcasts.

One student — Lynh Tran — came up with an idea that was targeted to the entire student population, which she calls Helping Hands. The goal of her project is to make people aware of volunteering, and for students to feel that volunteering is more than just helping out at soup kitchens. Her pro ect is specifically to get more students involved in volunteering in the community by helping with tutor services for kids after school or helping out at Red Cross by seeing if military families have had all of their needs met.

“I chose this project because I am a part of this program, which is called the Bonner Leader Program. I want others to see that we are trying to help out the community and would like others to join,” Tran said.

Industry News

Media Lab projects enable students to explore their passions and talents

Photo courtesy of Lynh Tran Advanced Media Lab student, Lynh Tran, poses in front of the kiosk in Mabee Library where students can sign up for volunteer projects. Tran’s class project focuses on getting students involved in community volunteer work.

The Bonner Leader Program is a national service scholarship program that is supported by the Bonner Foundation in Princeton, N.J. This program gives students scholarship opportunities in return for their willingness to help out in the community. They not only give scholarships, but recognize students for their service by offering the honor of Bonner Leader upon graduation and after three years with

the program. Scholarships are yearly and can be renewed for up to four years, and students walk away with new connections and friendships with other members of Washburn’s Bonner Leader Program. ran is in her first semester of Advanced Media Lab, and will continue with this project in the fall 2014 semester.

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Industry News

Pulled from the headlines What events have caught the attention of mass media majors?

By Staff

Q: When you think about all things media in the past 12 months, what events stand out in your mind?

A: “The event that stands out to me is Jimmy Fallon taking over the Tonight Show. Love him!” – Jennifer Lauber A: “While taking several mass media classes, we’ve learned what to do and what not to do. I recall a big ‘no-no’ that the New York Times did. I’m sure it was nobody’s fault, just the algorithm with ads that they use. It was featured in Ad Age. NYT’s had an article about the Malaysian airplane being in the ocean.

The title of the article was ‘Malaysia Says Jet Went Down in Ocean.’ The unfortunate ad above the article on NYT’s website was for the iPad. The ad in question was a picture of scuba divers using an iPad underwater. A perfect example of wrong place wrong time in advertising.” – Luke Svoboda A: “The moment in media that stands out to me most in the past year was the surprise release of Beyoncé’s self-titled album in December of 2013. The album was the fifth Beyonc album in a row to top the Billboard 200 charts, and it sold over , copies in its first three days on iTunes. The reaction online to the album’s release was insane. I can’t think of many artists who could release an album without promoting it at all and be as successful as Beyoncé was with this album.” – Monica McDougal A: “The emergence of Vine and Instagram for mobile storytelling has created a shift in the way social media can be used.” – Elizabeth Twietmeyer

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A: “When looking back through my Twitter, several moments stood out. The tie-break shoot out of the USA vs Russia men’s hockey during the Olympics, the ring failing to light up during the opening Olympic ceremony, the birth of royal baby George and the controversy behind Robin Thicke’s music video for Blurred Lines were just a few.”

– Sarah Brummett

Alumna returns to work at WU

By Emily Juhnke

Sarah (Van Dalsem) Towle had such a positive experience as a student Washburn University that she decided to come back to the university and work full time. Towle graduated from Washburn in August 2007 with a bachelor’s degree in mass media. She is currently working as the communications strategist for the Washburn University Foundation.

Towle began attending Washburn in 2003. The individual attention students receive from faculty, the opportunity she was offered to participate in both the forensics and debate teams and her desire to participate in student media are part of what originally drew her to Washburn.

“When they [student media] told me they could work around my debate schedule, I was sold,” she said.

According to Towle, some of her most memorable experiences from Washburn are outside of the classroom tasks she worked on with mass media faculty.

“It was through one-on-one interactions with faculty members that I got in on those projects,” she said.

One such project occurred during summer 2006, when Towle helped Associate Professor Maria Stover code websites for rural community newspapers. It was around that time that it became very common for rural newspapers to have an online presence. Websites, such as CJOnline, were very different from more

Alumni News

Towle’s love for WU brings her back to work at the Washburn Foundation

A fellow staff writer at KU Medical Center had his master’s degree from the University of Kansas, but didn’t know how to use those programs. Students at larger universities often have to buy the programs themselves or take an extra class in order to learn them.

“Knowing all of those elements will set you far ahead. Even if you only know a little bit, you are far ahead of your peers,” she said.

Towle came to the Washburn University Foundation after obtaining her master’s degree in journalism from the University of Nebraska in May 2011. Her positive Washburn experience was a major factor in her decision to return to the university Photo courtesy of Sarah Towle as an employee.

Sarah Towle,communications strategist “I love Washburn, and Washburn for the Washburn University Foundation gave me so much confidence and ability to go out and do what I do,” well-known newspaper sites. she said.

According to Stover, Towle was As the communications strategist, wonderful to work with.

Towle helps with each project and “She was a very good student. communication piece that is sent out Very mature beyond her age. She to donors and other key publics. She has very infectious laughter. She’s works on many different aspects of one of those people that just has a media communication through those big smile and is very, very inviting. projects, such as design, web, social I will always remember Sarah this media and writing. Her previous way,” she said. projects include the Ichabod NoAfter graduating, Towle interned tables publication and a yearlong at Lawrence Journal-World before project to revamp the Foundation’s being hired on as a staff writer at KU website. The Foundation is currently Medical Center. The InDesign and getting ready to send out a new pubPhotoshop knowledge she gained lication as part of the 150 Forward while at Washburn gave her an adCampaign. vantage in the workplace.

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Alumni Class Notes Alumni

Tom Allen, 2003, travels the state of Kansas to purchase right-of-way for KDOT and the Kansas state highway system. He has also returned to work for the Livestrong Foundation as the leader for Topeka.

Paige Anderson, 2010, is a social media specialist in the small business marketing division at Deluxe Corporation.

Amanda Artzer, 2007, is an insurance underwriter for Farmers Insurance in Olathe, Kan.

Molly Howey, 2008, is the director

Karli Davis, 2006, is the director of

Richard Kelly, 2013, is a human

Kanwal Baluch, 2010, is working

communications at UMKC School of Law.

in Doha, Qatar, at a publishing house as a market research executive.

Andrew Dunlap, 2009, is an

Valerie Baker, 2007, is working as an interactive communications specialist in the sales and marketing department for St. Francis Health in Topeka. She currently lives in Lawrence, is expecting twin boys this summer and is busy planning her upcoming wedding.

Amanda Bayless, 2012, is an administrative assistant in the communications department for Kansas National Education Association. She also has a side business creating children’s appliqued shirts.

Mikki Burcher, 2010, is the research and digital communications coordinator with GO Topeka. She is currently pursuing her master’s degree in liberal studies at Washburn.

Ashley Charest, 1999, is an account executive for Centria Management and Consulting Inc.

Michel Phillipp Cole, 1985, is the vice president of corporate communications and public affairs at Westar Energy.

Shanley Cox, 2011, is the associate copywriter at Glynn Davis in Kansas City.

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Beth Davis, 2005, is the public relations manager for AdFarm in Kansas City. She has been working there since October 2012. Her work has earned her numerous awards, including the National Association of AgriMarketing’s Best of NAMA Winner in the “Website: original news content directed toward targeted public” category and the Agricultural Relations Council’s Golden ARC Award in the “Digital and Social Media: innovative use of social media” category.

account manager at a digital marketing agency in Philadelphia called Delphic Digital.

Lauren Edelman, 2011, is the associate director of the Leadership Institute at Washburn. Previously, she worked in the first year e perience program at ansas State University. She earned a master’s of arts in educational administration with an emphasis in student affairs in May of 2013 from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

She married Washburn grad Kyle Edelman in May 2012.

Sarah Farlee, 2008, is the marketing director at High Plains Journal in Dodge City.

Ben Fitch, 2011, has been hired as a copy editor for the Topeka Capital-Journal.

Kristen Grimmer, 2010, is a teaching assistant at the University of Kansas. She presented a paper at the Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication conference in fall 2013.

Breanna Holmes, 2011, is the marketing director at a State Farm Insurance Agency.

of business development for GO Topeka, the economic development organization for Topeka and Shawnee County.

Kelly Hurla, 2013, is a reporter for the Osage County Herald-Chronicle.

Corey Jones, 2009, moved to Tulsa, Okla., in May after accepting a general reporting position at Tulsa World. resources assistant at ey taffing and a freelance reporter for the Topeka CapitalJournal.

Melissa Kershner, 2012, currently works for Visit Topeka Inc. as the marketing assistant.

Jordan (Shefte) Kinderknecht, 2011, is an anchor/ reporter for KAKE-TV in Wichita.

Curtis Kitchen, 2002, is the director of publications and trade show for the National Auctioneers Association, and he is also a Kansas State and Big 12 Sports contributor at bringonthecats.com.

Blake Kresge, 2009, is a video producer at Advisors Excel.

Misty Kruger, 2007, is a public information officer for the hawnee County Health Agency and was recently named a Physical Activity Champion for Shawnee County by the Governor’s Council on fitness. he is pursuing her MBA from Friends University. She lives in Silver Lake with husband, Tom, and two kids, Kayleigh and Thomas. She serves on the board of directors for the Shawnee County Suicide Prevention Coalition and serves as the state communications officer for ansas Optimists.

Jamie Hornbaker, 2004, opened

Josh Lehman, 2011, is an accounts

her own State Farm Agency in Topeka in 2013.

payable supervisor for Shawnee County Parks and Recreation.

Neil Payne, 1998, was part of the

Danielle Smith, 2008, is a copy

lead for AdTaxi Networks in Denver, Colo.

Her team deals with social media platforms for clients all over the U.S., as well as in Ireland, Canada, Israel and Australia.

tella Artois commercial filming team, which was accepted in the 2013 HollyShorts Film Festival in August. It screened at the famous Mann’s Chinese Theatre. Payne is currently prepping a short film, “ ocial Problems of Modern American Youth 101,” which is scheduled to be completed later this year.

editor at Allen Press, Inc.

Jennie Loucks, 2011, has been working as a communications specialist at Northeastern State University, Tahlequah, Okla., since December 2013.

Cody Lohse, 2012, was accepted

Travis Perry, 2009, has been working

Melissa Sowers, 2012, is the community director for March of Dimes in the ope a office.

Adam Stephenson, 2012, is a video journalist at Kansas First News.

Regina Stephenson, 2011, is

into the School of Journalism at the University of Missouri, where he will pursue a master’s in photography in fall 2014.

for the Kansas Watchdog since August 2012. Perry conducts investigative reporting on state and local governments in Kansas.

Perry and his wife, Amanda, welcomed their first child in May.

Kerrice Mapes, 2005, is the

Daphne Phillips, 2012, is an

marketing director for ActionCOACH Results, the world’s leading business coaching organization. She works for Coach Earl Kemper, a two-time world coach of the year and Coach Andrea Engstrom.

She is also the owner and publisher of seveneightfive maga ine.

admissions counselor for the University of Saint Mary in Leavenworth.

reporter with the Bonner Springs Chieftain at The World Company.

Michel’ Phillipp Cole,

Beth Warrington, 2004, is the

1985, is the vice president of corporate communications and public affairs at Westar Energy.

communication services director at the Kansas Bar Association.

Angie Marquart, 2009, left

Paige Ross, 2010, owns Ross Digital

her job as the campaigns coordinator at CivicPlus in Manhattan, to pursue an account manager career at Advisors Excel in Topeka.

Expressions and is the graphic designer for Topeka Young Life. Ross and her husband are expecting their second son in June.

director for Fox 25 in Oklahoma City, and he also works as a freelance video editor.

Chris Marshall, 2009, is a copy editor for Advisors Excel.

Chelsea McDonald, 2013, is a social media coordinator at a digital ad agency in Overland Park called DEG. She is also a volunteer for Make-A-Wish as a wish granter and a participant in the Social Media Club of KC events.

Alicia Mowder, 2008, joined the Sonic team as the new brand manager in 2013.

Ashley Nadeau, 2011, is the marketing director for InterHab, a statewide association of developmental disability service providers, located in Topeka.

Josh Rouse, 2012, is a copy editor at the Topeka Capital-Journal.

Andy Ryan, 2006, is currently an editor at 41 Action News-KSHB-TV.

Ashley Sanders, 2013, is a social media and marketing specialist for Century Business Technologies, Inc.

Ashley Shepard, 2011, is an assistant account executive at Brothers & Company in Wichita.

Alumni

Jill Lira, 2011, is the social operations

an online editor at CJOnline.com.

Carrie Sunday, 2009, is the quality systems coordinator at Innovia Films.

Melissa Treolo, 2008, is a staff

Rob Welcher, 2011, is the technical Rachel Whitten, 2010, is the director of communications at Kansas House of Representatives.

James Wilper, 2005, is a lecturer in comparative literature at the University of London. Purdue University Press is set to publish his dissertation on German to English translation later this year.

Krystal Wiltz, 2008, earned her master’s in business administration from Baker University. She currently works as the transportation supervisor for Home Depot.

Ryan Sinovic, 2008, is an account supervisor at Groundswell Public Strategies in Kansas City, Mo. He married Claire Evans in April.

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Graduates

2013-2014 mass media Jordan Carr

Caitie Coley

Lauren Doherty

Douglass Knighten

Jennifer Lauber

Ben Mack

Kelsey Parkes

Jessie Salmans

Luke Svoboda

December 2013 Kelly Hurla Douglass Knighten Morgan McGrath Amanda Narverud Jessie Salmans Arissa Utemark Kiara Williams

Spring 2014 Jordan Carr Lauren Doherty Wanda Hinton Thomas Ian Hoffman Ashley Lehman Qiujie Li Jake Livgren Leslie Lyda Ben Mack Bradley Pechanec Patricia Peterson Matthew Quick Luke Svoboda Cindy Williams Anjelica Willis

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department graduates Michelle Hodges

Kathryn McDonald

Amanda Narverud

Kiara Williams

Anjelica Willis

Kelly Hurla

Sophie O’Neill

Summer 2014 Caitie Coley Andrew Escandon Ezgi Gulec Jessica Herrera Michelle Hodges Taylor Inman Jennifer Lauber Kathryn McDonald Lillian Moss Sophie O’Neill Kelsey Parkes Stanley Travis Elizabeth Twietmeyer

Graduates

Ezgi Gulec

Congrats graduates!

Don’t forget to stay in touch with the mass media department!

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