WVU Media College Magazine 2018 by WVU Reed College of Media

ADMINISTRATION E. Gordon Gee President West Virginia University Joyce McConnell Provost

CONTENTS FEATURES

Maryanne Reed Dean

Diana Martinelli Associate Dean

25 Years On Air Our EmmyAward winning “WVU News” starts now...

Tricia Petty Assistant Dean for Student and Enrollment Services Steve Urbanski Director of Graduate Studies

DAVID SMITH

Chad Mezera Assistant Dean of Online Programs

EDITORIAL STAFF Erica Lindsay Executive Editor

Dana Coester Creative Director Media Innovation Center Kathy Deweese Director, UR−University Content

PHOTOGRAPHY Tyler Channell Rebecca Kiger David Smith

Alumna Elaine McMillion Sheldon receives an Oscar nomination

DESIGN Little Fish Design Company ADDRESS WVU Reed College of Media P.O. Box 6010 Morgantown, WV 26506-6010 CHANGE OF ADDRESS WVU Foundation P.O. Box 1650 Morgantown, WV 26507-1650

From West Virginia to the Red Carpet

REBECCA KIGER

Allyson Kennedy Editor

DEPARTMENTS

02 Message from the Dean 03 Year in Review

08 For the Social Good CreateAthon@WVU 11 Leading Innovation Hidden Voices, Buried History

Fax: 304-293-4001 Email: info@wvuf.org

14 Student Profiles Dan Dipiazzo and Joel Norman

reedcollegeofmedia.wvu.edu/ stay_connected

34 Faculty News 36 Donors and Scholars Leaving a Legacy

SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS Let us know what you want to read and hear about in the annual magazine and other College communications at reedcollegeofmedia.wvu.edu/ survey

41 Class Notes Q&A with Cori McCulloch (BSJ, 2014)

DAVID SMITH

44 The Last Word with Jane Schachtel (BSJ, 1988)

A MESSAGE

From the Dean “What will you do with your one wild and precious life?” Quoting from the poet Mary Oliver, I ask our graduating seniors this question at May commencement, challenging them to live a life of purpose.

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DAVID SMITH

On the Cover This year marks the 25th Anniversary of “WVU News,” the College of Media’s student-produced newscast. Experience a day on the set and see how the production has evolved on page 16.

In his State of the Campus address this spring, President Gordon Gee called for WVU to become a 21st century land-grant institution with a unique sense of purpose to lead our state to greater prosperity and well-being. In the College of Media, we too are fueled by a sense of purpose. We are committed to using our media communication skills and expertise to strengthen and empower local communities. We have always been a school that combines the passion to create and communicate with a strong sense of purpose and mission. But now more than ever, our faculty, students, alumni and staff are driven to use their talents to benefit society and make a positive impact. That drive has also resulted in excellent work that wins awards and launches careers. Our 2018 alumni magazine offers examples that demonstrate how passion plus purpose can equal excellence. In her Academy Award-nominated documentary “Heroin(e),” West Virginia filmmaker Elaine McMillion Sheldon (BSJ, 2009) shines the spotlight on the opioid

epidemic from the perspective of three women fighting it on their own terms. In our annual college Create-a-thon, our advertising and public relations students produce portfolio-worthy work by helping community nonprofits advance their mission to serve the citizens of the state. Visual Journalism Professor Joel Beeson is now sharing the untold stories of African American WWI veterans for a global audience via Google Cultural Institute and Google Expedition. And for 25 years, our broadcast journalism students have produced “WVU News,” a national Emmy-award winning newscast that tells important stories that impact the community. Our passion and sense of purpose is part of our DNA. It is authentic to who we are, what we do and what we strive to be. It is also what makes us strong in the face of challenges and opportunities. As always, we thank you — our dedicated and successful alumni — for supporting our efforts to help students find success in their careers and make a difference in the world.

Maryanne Reed, Dean

YEAR IN REVIEW

Year In Review JOURNALISM ON THE FRONTLINES: COVERING THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION

In partnership with the WVU Festival of Ideas and funded by the Ogden Newspaper Seminar Series, the College of Media hosted a panel discussion in September featuring White House correspondents who described firsthand what it’s been like to cover the new Presidential administration. The panel included Mark Landler, The New York Times; Tara McKelvey, BBC; Katherine Skiba, the Chicago Tribune; and Sarah Westwood, the Washington Examiner, and was moderated by alumnus Hoppy Kercheval (BSJ, 1977; MSJ, 2005).

“I’m here to tell you that your obligation and your passion and what you do for the future is enshrined in our constitution. You are here to find the truth and to speak truth to power and to ask questions on behalf of the American public.” KATHERINE SKIBA, Washington correspondent for the Chicago Tribune

NEW MEDIA LITERACY COURSE TACKLES FAKE NEWS RE EDCOLLEG EOFME DI A.W VU. EDU

We heard a lot about “fake news” during and after the 2016 presidential election. Teaching Associate Professor Bob Britten developed a new Media Literacy course that teaches students how to critically analyze news and information across media platforms. Students learn how to distinguish real news from fabricated information, how to identify reporters’ biases and how to recognize the various ways race, class, gender and sexual orientation are represented in the media.

YEAR IN REVIEW ALUMNI AND DONOR RECOGNITION CEREMONY

The College of Media recognized its outstanding alumni and supporters at an October reception held at the Media Innovation Center. Awardees included Joe W. Gollehon (BSJ, 1973), Lifetime Achievement Award; Karen Snyder Duke (BS, 2009), Young Alumna Award; Louise Crumrine Seals (BS, 1966), Friend of the College Award; and Chuck Harman (BSJ, 1981, MSJ, 1984), Commitment to Service Award.

WVU AND GW PARTNER FOR ATLANTIC COAST PIPELINE REPORTING PROJECT

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In a unique effort to burst long-standing “media bubbles,” students and faculty from the WVU Reed College of Media and the George Washington University School of Media and Public Affairs have teamed up for an in-depth reporting project to assess the Atlantic Coast Pipeline’s impact in West Virginia. The project, which culminated with a fourweek intensive collaboration, was funded by Scott Widmeyer (BSJ, 1975), founding managing partner and chief strategy officer of Finn Partners in Washington, D.C. The WVU-GW team took a deep dive into the West Virginia natural gas industry from several perspectives including those of policy makers, environmental advocates and people who live in communities near the pipeline. insidethepipeline.org

PATH TO THE PULITZER: JOURNALISM AND THE INFORMED CITIZEN

The West Virginia Humanities Council and WVU Reed College of Media co-hosted a panel in April featuring two award-winning journalists: 2017 Pulitzer winner Eric Eyre of the Charleston Gazette-Mail and Eric Newhouse of Charleston who received a 2000 Pulitzer while with the Great Falls (Montana) Tribune. Eyre and Newhouse discussed the role journalism plays in fostering an informed citizenry and talked about their Pulitzer-winning works and the importance of pursuing complex stories. The program was a part of the “Democracy and the Informed Citizen” initiative administered by the Federation of State Humanities Councils.

HACK THE GENDER GAP: A WOMEN’S HACKATHON ON DIVERSIFYING AI

In November, the College of Media and MediaShift co-hosted “Hack the Gender Gap: A Women’s Hackathon on Diversifying Artificial Intelligence.” The event brought together women from across the University and the country to envision an inclusive AI market responsive to the needs of a diverse society. During the three-day event, high school and college-aged women teamed up to develop their own media-related startup ideas to use AI to bridge a diversity gap. The students were mentored by industry professionals from companies like Troll-Busters.com, Altimeter and Frenzy. The winning team’s concept, “Context,” creates a personalized reading experience through AI for individuals with learning disabilities.

“I learned so much and left West Virginia feeling very empowered to be a woman, a journalist and a contributing member to society. I’m passionate about creating through words and I could apply those same skills here, just in a different way.” VALERIE ROYZMAN, a freshman journalism student at Kent State University

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YEAR IN REVIEW NEW GRANT SUPPORTS BRANDJRNY PROGRAM

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College of Media students will work with local communities to tell and “sell” their stories thanks to a grant from the American Electric Power Foundation. The $250,000 grant supports WVU’s Community Branding Initiative, BrandJRNY. Students enrolled in specialized upper-level strategic communications courses will develop integrated communications campaigns for selected West Virginia communities within AEP’s Appalachian Power service area. Students will hone skills in campaign research, strategy, community engagement, budgeting, innovative storytelling and creating promotional materials, while they discover and decide how best to brand each community.

“This grant allows us to take students out of the classroom and into rural communities where they can make a real difference in the lives of West Virginians. I love this state, and I’ve seen how our work can lead to long-term positive changes from increasing community pride to promoting tourism and economic development.” RITA COLISTRA, Associate Professor and BrandJRNY Director

STUDENTS STUDY ABROAD IN CHINA AND SOUTH KOREA

Associate Professor Sammy Lee and Senior Lecturer David Smith lead College of Media students through Hong Kong, mainland China and Seoul, South Korea, each summer as part of a study abroad course designed to help students hone their marketing communications skills in a global context. The College partners with Guangdong University of Foreign Studies in Guangzhou, China, to allow students to collaborate with their Chinese cohort inside and outside of the classroom. They complete high-profile internships, visit international agencies in each city and experience three extremely different and diverse cultures.

COMMENCEMENT 2018

This year’s Reed College of Media May Commencement ceremony featured keynote speaker Nzinga Shaw, the senior vice president of community and the chief diversity and inclusion officer for the Atlanta Hawks Basketball Club and Philips Arena. Shaw addressed more than 270 College of Media graduates earning bachelor’s degrees in Journalism, Strategic Communications and Multidisciplinary Studies, and master’s degrees in Integrated Marketing Communications (IMC) and Journalism. Additionally, the College graduated the first group of master degree students in Data Marketing Communications, the nation’s first degree program focused on the impact of data on marketing communications. Prior to the ceremony, the College of Media recognized top graduates including more than 50 bachelor degree candidates receiving Latin Honors (grade point average of 3.4 and higher). Amy Pratt (BSJ, 2018), Nicholas Eckman (BSJ, 2018; MSJ, 2018) and Shannon Cunningham (BSJ, 2018; MSJ, 2018) were named the top overall scholars for earning the highest grade point average of the May 2018 class.

“Two of the most important days of your life were the day that you were born, and the day you find out why. You must do the thing you thought you could not do.” NZINGA SHAW, senior vice president of community and chief diversity and inclusion officer for the Atlanta Hawks Basketball Club and Philips Arena

$150,000 GRANT EXPANDS COMMUNITY-BASED REPORTING AIMED AT BRIDGING AMERICA’S DIVIDES

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The Democracy Fund awarded the College of Media $150,000 to combine and advance three of its successful programs: the Innovator-in-Residence program, the digital publication “100 Days in Appalachia,” and the social justice reporting collaboration between the College of Media and Morgan State University in Baltimore, Maryland. The Democracy Fund is a bipartisan foundation created to help strengthen our democracy and improve our political system. The goal of the grant is to help the College continue to share the stories of Appalachian communities and to help bridge America’s political and cultural divides.

FOR THE SOCIAL GOOD

CreateAthon@WVU WRITTEN BY ERICA LINDSAY, PHOTOGRAPHED BY DAVID SMITH

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Twenty-four hours. Forty-four students. Six professional mentors. Three West Virginia nonprofits. Twelve cases of energy drinks. Thirteen corporate sponsors. One fearless leader.

Ready, Set, Go! The Libera team gathers to make a game plan for the next 24 hours of CreateAthon@WVU.

Thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s what it takes to execute CreateAthon at the West Virginia University Reed College of Media. CreateAthon@WVU is a 24-hour creative blitz where groups of students work with professional mentors to produce pro bono marketing and communications campaigns for participating nonprofit organizations. But, CreateAthon is even bigger than WVU. Teresa Coles and Cathy Monetti of Riggs Partners in Columbia, South Carolina, came up with the CreateAthon concept in 1998 as a way for their agency to give back to the community. Since then, CreateAthon has transformed into an international movement with huge social impacts. No longer just for agencies, CreateAthon has grown to include universities, corporations and creative groups of all kinds. Assistant Professor Geah Pressgrove (the aforementioned fearless leader) introduced CreateAthon to WVU in 2016, and with her guidance, WVU became a national CreateAthon partner. Pressgrove followed the national model to recruit, support and connect area professionals with WVU students to serve West Virginia nonprofits through this creative marathon. The 2018 edition of CreateAthon@WVU started at 3 p.m. on April 20 and culminated with student presentations that wrapped up just after 3 p.m. on April 21. Anyone wandering through the WVU Media

“

Once the students have survived and thrived at a CreateAthon, they know they can accomplish anything with enough hard work and persistence.

No Devices Allowed The first 90 minutes are for introductions and brainstorming, meaning no computers.

FRIENDS OF THE CHEAT is a nonprofit watershed group working to restore a river damaged by a legacy of irresponsible land use practices; to preserve the health and integrity of the watershed against future degradation; to promote the watershed as a haven for beauty and recreation; and to educate the community about the economic, cultural and aesthetic value of clean water. cheat.org

GEAH PRESSGROVE, assistant professor

Those teams consisted of student volunteers ranging from freshmen to seniors and hailing from disciplines across campus including the College of Creative Arts, the Davis College of Agriculture, Natural Resources and Design and the Statler College of Engineering and Mineral Resources. Justin Clem, who graduated in May with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in graphic design, helped create a brand guide and website design for Libera during CreateAthon. “One of my favorite things was the sense of being part of something bigger than yourself. I built relationships with my teammates. We learned about each other’s struggles, strengths, triumphs and we shared knowledge,” Clem said. “We all came away understanding what it’s like to work within a team of people with different skill sets.” During CreateAthon, the teams used their research as a launchpad to design, produce and plan out a variety of marketing communications. The work included a rebranding strategy, promotional videos, website design, social media content and a myriad of print collateral materials – all within 24 hours that culminated with presentations to the clients.

WVU EXTENSION SERVICE aims to improve the lives of citizens across the state and country through 4-H youth development; family and health programs; community, workforce and economic development initiatives; agriculture and natural resource education; and programs at WVU Jackson’s Mill. extension.wvu.edu

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Innovation Center around midnight that Friday would have found students walking the halls in slippers, toothbrushes in hand, refreshed and ready for the late-late-night leg of the tour. “There are a ton of advantages to this 24-hour format,” Pressgrove said. “Once the students have survived and thrived at a CreateAthon, they know they can accomplish anything with enough hard work and persistence. For example, a lot of our students are anxious about presenting. Once they’ve presented their work after staying awake for 24 hours, no other presentation should seem difficult.” This year’s CreateAthon was part of Pressgrove’s strategic communications capstone course in which students prepare campaigns for real-world clients. Students in the course were divided into teams to work for three nonprofits: Friends of Cheat, Libera and WVU Extension Services. They spent the spring semester doing client research, identifying target audiences and creating measurable objectives to meet the needs of each organization. The capstone teams then prepared creative briefs to share with their larger teams at the start of CreateAthon.

LIBERA was founded in October 2014 to provide a wholistic approach for women and teens in West Virginia to address their barriers to finding freedom: emotionally, relationally, intellectually, spiritually, financially and physically. They provide vital connections through groups, mentoring, resources, workshops and volunteer opportunities. liberawv.com

FOR THE SOCIAL GOOD

From Strangers to Sidekicks Professional mentor Tara Curtis takes a selfie with her WVU Extension Services team.

FACTS ABOUT NATIONAL CREATEATHON: Served more than

1,300

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nonprofits

More than

$24 MILLION in pro bono marketing projects

“As a younger nonprofit, it was huge for Libera to get so much marketing material for free. It will allow us to have a much greater platform around the state of West Virginia,” said Karen Haring, founder and executive director of Libera. “The students did more than I could have dreamt of.” The CreateAthon@WVU teams of students were guided by area marketing and communications professionals including Tara Curtis, director of communications and marketing for WVU Extension Service, who has volunteered for CreateAthon all three years at WVU. This year, Curtis had the unique position of mentoring a team creating materials for her own organization. “I was able to be a go-to resource for them during those critical 24 hours. While a lot of leg work was done beforehand, when you start pulling everything together you run into

Goal of $100 million by

2020

roadblocks. The biggest challenge was not doing the work for them. Part of this process is about making mistakes, solving problems and working as a team. It was hard, at times, not to step in and tell them what to do.” For Pressgrove’s capstone students, this project extended well beyond the 24-hour creative marathon, and the investment was about much more than a course grade or resume builder. They established relationships with the nonprofit organization leaders and developed compassion for their causes. “I was shooting 360-degree video, standing in a bright, orange creek polluted by acid mine drainage. That’s when I realized the importance of Friends of the Cheat,” said Bree McCullough, a senior in Pressgrove’s capstone course and creative lead for the Friends of the Cheat team. “After that, I was

100+

advertising agencies, professional organizations, corporate marketing departments and universities throughout North America participate in CreateAthon annually.

determined to help educate the public on Friends of the Cheat’s work. They make it possible for the community to enjoy outdoor activities and hobbies on the river.” Each year, after the 24-hour stint, Pressgrove reflects on the event as her head hits the pillow. Will she tackle this creative marathon again next year? Was it all worth it? She weighs the pros and cons, the excitement and the exhaustion, the input and output. And after some internal deliberation, it becomes clear that CreateAthon has to continue. “One of the most rewarding parts is seeing my capstone seniors mentor and work alongside freshman who are just finding their way in the field,” Pressgrove said. “Seeing how much these students’ skills and confidence grows in 24 hours will never get old.”

LEADING INNOVATION

Hidden Voices Buried History WRITTEN BY ALLY KENNEDY

College of Media professor brings forgotten stories to a worldwide audience through new technology THE CHICAGO TRIBUNE

Tension are High A confrontation takes place between a black WWI veteran and a white militiaman during the Chicago Race Riot of 1919.

REEDCOLLEGEOFMEDIA.WVU.EDU

Imagine yourself standing on a street corner in the South Side of present day Chicago. There doesn’t seem to be anything extraordinary about this spot— there are buildings, cars driving by. Then suddenly, your surroundings change. You’re in the middle of the 1919 “Red Summer,” a place where post-World War I social and racial tensions are high. You’re witnessing a confrontation outside of an old lunch room and cigar shop. You’re looking at an old photo of a black WWI veteran and a white militiaman. You’re looking at the Chicago Race Riot of 1919, by the end of which 38 would be dead, more than 500 injured and 1,000 black families left homeless. Forgotten stories like this one are being made available to students nation-wide through immersive storytelling technology thanks to the work of Joel Beeson, an associate professor at the WVU Reed College of Media. Through an official partnership between the College’s Media Innovation Center and the Google Cultural Institute, Beeson is an invited beta partner, storyteller and producer. Beeson’s current project, “WWI Through the Eyes of the Chicago Defender,” is bringing history to life through virtual reality. The VR project takes viewers on a tour of WWI-era United States as seen through the eyes of the nation’s most influential black weekly newspaper at that time.

LEADING INNOVATION

Going on a Journey This pano from Beeson’s Google Expedition features the 1919 Chicago Race Riot. Students around the world will be transported to historic events such as this.

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The project has been commissioned for Google Expeditions, an app that enables teachers to take students on immersive, virtual journeys around the world without having to leave their classrooms. On Beeson’s Expedition, students will follow stories encompassing broad themes from that era including the Great Migration, the struggle for civil rights and the individual story of the 370th Infantry Regiment, formerly the “Old 8th” Illinois National Guard unit, the only entirely black combat unit during World War I commanded by black officers. “For this project, we’re using new technology that really wasn’t intended for what we are doing,” explained Beeson. “This technology was designed for gaming and entertainment, and we’re adapting it to engage communities that have been historically marginalized from authorship of stories.”

Taking a Stand Chicago women’s rights activist and newspaperwoman Ida B. Wells-Barnett wrote a letter to President Woodrow Wilson protesting the treatment of black troops in the U.S. Army.

By inserting a smartphone into a Google Cardboard headset and wearing it over their eyes, students will “travel” to the modern-day locations of important events from the past reported by the Chicago Defender. Historical artifacts like photos, newspaper articles and video footage will pop up on the screen. “I am always excited when we are able to use new technology such as mixed

reality, augmented reality or virtual reality to bring history and missing stories to light for new audiences,” said Dana Coester, associate professor and creative director of the College’s Media Innovation Center. “Joel’s Google Expedition is an example of bringing history to life in situ with deep context that spans time and place. And, in a way that excites and engages young viewers with a history that is at risk of being forgotten.” NATIONAL ARCHIVES DOCUMENT NO. 7455575 While the technology itself is ground-breaking, Beeson says that what’s really innovative is how he is using it to give new audiences a better understanding of and appreciation for their historical past. “Innovation comes out of problem-solving and being open to how you can tell stories to create new knowledge,” said Beeson. “For example, it might be easiest to document a story by writing it, but with VR and augmented reality, we can engage more people with the story by letting them experience it [almost] firsthand.”

On Site Professor Beeson and Col. Eugene Scott shoot a pano for the Google Expedition outside the Old 8th Illinois National Guard Armory in Bronzeville.

“

It might be easiest to document a story by writing it, but with VR and Augmented Reality, we can engage more people with the story by letting them experience it [almost] first-hand. JOEL BEESON, associate professor

Memorial that evolved into a community project supported by the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation. This work led to a collaboration with the United States World War I Centennial Commission and eventually the partnership with Google. The Google Cultural Institute is a nonprofit initiative created in 2011 to partner with select cultural organizations around the world to showcase a range of curated cultural objects, from artworks to artifacts to photographs. “WWI Through the Eyes of the Chicago Defender” is scheduled to launch this fall, with several community engagement events in Chicago Public Schools. The project will coincide with this year’s WWI Centennial Commemoration that culminates on Veteran’s Day, November 11, which was originally named “Armistice Day” for the day WWI ended in Europe in 1918. Teachers will be able to download the Google Expeditions app for Android or iOS and lead the class using a tablet, while students view it with a smartphone and headphones with Google Cardboard or any virtual reality headset. See more of Beeson’s project at: forgottenlegacywwi.org or artsandculture.google.com/exhibit/ IwKy-LnPzeKWKw

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Central to the project is the involvement of Beverly and retired Army Col. Eugene Scott, who had a twenty-eight year military career that included two tours of duty in Vietnam and time as a post commander for two major U.S. Army installations. Beverly was a former reporter and columnist for the Defender while her husband, Eugene, was the last publisher of the daily newspaper. They are both writing and editing the content for the project and narrating the experience. “Collaborating with the Scotts has been an incredible experience. Colonel Scott has keen insights into the experience of black veterans,” explained Beeson. “Beverly

brings an emotional, intimate perspective to this history that a white researcher like me just cannot bring to the work.” In addition to telling the national story of the WWI-era through the eyes of the Chicago Defender, the partnership with Google has allowed Beeson to also bring stories to a worldwide audience that are closer to home. Beeson’s virtual exhibit “Soldiers of the Coalfields: The Hidden Stories of Black Appalachians in WWI” was one of 100 stories highlighted by the Google Cultural Institute in celebration of Black History Month. The project was featured on the Google Arts & Culture website alongside institutions like the National African American Museum of History and Culture, the National Archives, The Smithsonian and The King Center. The online gallery chronicles the stories of African Americans who migrated to McDowell County, West Virginia, in the early 1900s to work in the coal mines and then went on to serve in the U.S. military. The town of Kimball is home to one of the nation’s earliest World War I memorials honoring black soldiers. While “Soldiers of the Coalfields” was also commissioned by Google, Beeson’s research on the subject began nearly 10 years ago. He led a class project to create a photo exhibit for the Kimball War

STUDENT PROFILES

Students Prove Work and Play Can Mix

WRITTEN BY ALLY KENNEDY

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For most people, a trip to an amusement park is an annual summer tradition. For Dan Dipiazzo, a College of Media Data Marketing Communications (DMC) graduate student, it’s just a day on the job.

“It’s hard to imagine a business more fun than theme parks, so I’m very lucky to work in this industry,” said Dipiazzo. “It’s really rewarding to know that the day someone spends with us will probably be one of the most memorable days of their life.” As the vice president of marketing for SeaWorld, Discovery Cove and Aquatica, Dipiazzo is responsible for all marketing and sales functions for the flagship theme park. In the highly competitive and amusement park-saturated Orlando market, Dipiazzo is responsible for determining ways to set SeaWorld apart. With a main goal of driving attendance to the parks, he oversees advertising, public relations, digital marketing, direct marketing and promotions. “There are really no two days alike in this job. While sometimes that can be difficult, it’s also what makes it fun and exciting. The most gratifying part of my career is helping to launch new business opportunities,” said Dipiazzo, who was part of the communications team that unveiled and helped launch the new Discovery Cove theme park. Dipiazzo has been working in the theme park industry for nearly 20 years – first, as a public relations consultant at AnhauserBusch’s theme park division, then as a marketing vice president for Busch Gardens and Water Country USA. Previously, he was the senior vice president and partner in the consumer practice at FleishmanHillard. Dipiazzo began his career as a reporter and then editor at a daily newspaper in his hometown of St. Louis, Missouri. Even with his career already established, Dipiazzo yearned to expand his professional knowledge, which led him to enroll in the College’s online DMC program. “The media and consumer landscape is constantly changing, and it requires a marketer to stay plugged in and always able to come up with new solutions,” said Dipiazzo. “That’s actually one of the reasons I was most interested in pursuing the Data Marketing Communications degree—because it’s critical to understand data and unlock the power it can provide marketing communications professionals.” Dipiazzo recently completed the Brand Data Collection and Visualization course—something he does on a daily basis as part

of his career. He came into the course believing he was already pretty well-versed on the topic. “I have actually learned so many things I didn’t know that I can put into practice right now,” he said. Other DMC courses include audience segmentation, message customizations, social media optimization and campaign metrics and assessment. Balancing work, school and life can be a challenge, but for Dipiazzo, prioritizing is key. He credits the WVU DMC program with keeping him engaged and motivated by providing practical knowledge he can immediately put to use in his career. “The DMC master’s program isn’t just theoretical; this is the real world of marketing communications today,” said Dipiazzo. “And, we don’t have to wait until our degrees are completed to start reaping the benefits.” The Data Marketing Communications graduate program is the first master’s degree in the country that specifically focuses on how to use data to drive and shape marketing communications. DMC students complete the program in a cohort, beginning their first semester with an introductory course and taking courses in sequence that build to the creation of a comprehensive marketing communications campaign for a real-world client of their choice.

“I’ve been a sports fan my entire life, and I think I’ve always wanted to do some type of sports journalism,” explained Norman. “I watched a lot of games with my dad as a kid, and I realized over time that this could be a career path for me.”

“

I’ve been a sports fan my entire life...I realized over time that this could be a career path for me. JOEL NORMAN {BSJ, 2018)

Norman chose WVU because of its strong journalism program and extracurricular opportunities that would enhance his resume. While at WVU, Norman was a sports reporter and baseball producer for U92, the campus radio station, a beat writer covering sports for the Daily DAVID SMITH Athenaeum, and he covered sports for “WVU News,” the College’s TV newscast. He also worked with Eric Minor, the director of careers and opportunities, to secure internships with the Pittsburgh Riverhounds, a professional soccer team, and the Butler BlueSox collegiate summer baseball team, in addition to the Penguins. “From the first time I met Joel, it was clear that he was more than just a sports fan,” Minor said. “He is absolutely serious about the role storytellers and communicators In 2006, Joel Norman discovered his childhood hero when he play in connecting fans with a sporting experience and puts his full went to a Pittsburgh Penguins hockey game to see rookie Sidney effort into bringing the game to the fans.” Crosby play. Just over a decade later, the College of Media Norman says the College of Media helped him turn his passion Journalism senior found himself in the Penguins locker room as for sports into a career path. a radio intern, capturing post-game sound bites from Crosby, by “Through my coursework and by working at U92 and the now the undisputed star of the Penguins’ franchise. DA, I felt that I was able to get ample opportunities to develop During the past school year, Norman spent his weekends as communications intern for the Pittsburgh Penguins Radio Network. and shape my reporting, producing and on-air voice,” explained Norman. “Because of these opportunities that WVU gave me, I For a life-long hockey fan like Norman, working for the Penguins was able to get an on-air job immediately after graduation. I am was a dream come true. beyond grateful for those who helped me along the way.” “I was thrilled about this opportunity because I’ve always As for his dream of becoming a full-time sports broadcaster, wanted to be a play-by-play sports broadcaster,” said Norman. “I Norman is well on his way. After graduating in May, he moved to grew up listening to Mike Lange and Phil Bourque call Penguins Wenatchee, Washington, to start his first job as a radio playgames on the radio and couldn’t wait to help out the broadcasts by-play broadcaster and director of communications for the in any way possible.” Wenatchee Applesox Baseball Club. While he wasn’t in a position to call the play-by-play as an “If I had to sum Joel up in a single word, it would be ‘respect.’ intern, Norman played a vital role in helping produce the pre-game He was respectful in his one-on-one interactions with his and post-game radio shows. His responsibilities included setting classmates and professors, and he was always respectful of his up equipment for the shows, running social media accounts, audiences,” Minor said. “Baseball fans in Washington state are writing scripts and capturing press conference audio clips from lucky to have him.” coaches and players to run on the air.

Journalism grad Joel Norman gives the play-by-play.

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YEARS

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WRI TTEN BY ERI C A L INDSAY | PHOTOGRA PHED BY DAVID SMITH

Our Emmy-Award winning “WVU News” starts now. By mid-semester of its 25th year, “WVU News” is a welloiled machine. It’s April 18, 2018, and the crew is taping a special edition 30-minute show. “The March for Our Lives is happening in cities all over the nation. I’m Noelle Forde, and I’ll give you an inside look at this gun control movement. Our Emmy-Award winning ‘WVU News’ starts now.” “Take open!” Director Lindsey Tingler shouts from the production room. “Camera two-shot!” The studio and control room are two different worlds.

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MEGAN BAKER KOLODZIEJ ’08 Attorney, Conflicts Counsel, You can hear a pin The day starts at 8 a.m. Crowell & Moring LLP, drop in the studio, where for the anchors, who made Washington DC two news anchors and a some last-minute hair and news reporter sit behind a makeup adjustments in the high-rise desk with stage dressing room. Everyone My time with “WVU News,” and the Journalism school lights illuminating them. else arrives by 8:30 a.m., in general, surrounded me with strong and successful They are perfection – and taping starts at 9 a.m. women. These women not only project intelligence and perfect demeanor, perfect Once the cameras start confidence, but they show that careers in broadcast expressions, perfectly rolling, the crew runs journalism can vary. Their confidence paired with their professional. They wear through the entire show belief in each of their students was contagious, and I am tiny earpieces and tiny lapel without stopping. To proud to stand on their shoulders as I grow in my career. microphones that you can closely mimic a live show, only see if you know to look there won’t be any postfor them. Off stage, in the production editing. The dark, three camera operators with headsets focus on the students will do as many run-throughs as it takes to get it anchors from behind large Panasonic high-definition studio as close to perfect as possible. cameras, waiting for their cues. Executive producer and senior journalism student Macy Across the hall in the control room, it’s a different story. Senge holds a 34-page script that she’s been writing and The student technical crew readies the show for its first editing all week. The “WVU News” taping is the culmination run-through, shuffling scripts, checking audio levels and of late nights working through content with Dahlia. And, directing the camera operators as they line up their shots. they’ll start the process all over again next week. The booming voice of their instructor cuts through the chaos. “Noelle, move to your right! Move your entire chair right!” Gina Martino Dahlia, journalism program chair and “WVU News” executive producer, shouts to the anchor This past year was Dahlia’s 14th year teaching Journalism through her studio headset, while watching her on the 487, Advanced Video Reporting and Producing. The control room TV monitor. “And somebody help her fix course syllabus details everything from the week by week her necklace!” schedule to the required use of social media, including 15

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Week by Week

Behind the Scenes L-R: Katie Forcade, the government and economic development reporter, takes her turn behind the camera this week. Professor Dahlia directs students from the control room. Executive Producer Macy Senge has spent the last week perfecting the script for today’s taping. She watches closely to make sure everything goes as planned.

and Professor Dahlia to thank for it.

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tips on “How to ‘Tweet’ Professional Content and Not Get Fired from Your First Job.” “This course is a lot of work for the students and for me. each position,” Dahlia said. “It’s important to You have to be really organized,” Dahlia said. “But it pays have this outside perspective from professionals who are off – our students get jobs before they even graduate.” living television news every day and know what the industry At the beginning of each semester, students in is demanding.” the “WVU News” class are in full preparation mode. In week three, students gather at the “WVU News” They spend the first week of class getting to know one studio for the big announcement. As the popular news and another and the video equipment they’ll use as TV sports anchor positions are named, there are smiles and reporters assigned to cover specific “beats.” Throughout sighs of relief. But there are also some tears. the semester, students will report on both campus and “This is a big moment. ‘WVU News’ is a very well community topics, such as education, crime and courts, regarded program and regional and national newscast local government, health and medicine, and sports. producers actively recruit from here. Making anchor pretty By week two, the much guarantees you a students will have job after graduation,” petitioned for their said Dahlia. preferred beats and, While anchors are the if interested, readied most coveted role, each SARAH KAPIS ’05 themselves for anchor and student will experience what Senior TV News Producer sports auditions. On the it’s like to be both in front KDKA-TV evening of auditions, the of and behind the camera. Pittsburgh, PA feeling in the air is tense After two weeks of as each of them prepares training and workshops to read a script on camera. I was hired immediately after I graduated because I to ensure everyone “We record each already had the skills necessary to step into a newsroom knows how to operate audition. Alumni who are and start contributing. Now, 13 years later, I’m an Emmy cameras and other studio working in the field help and Golden Quill award winner working in one of the equipment, the bi-weekly me decide who is right for top newsrooms in the country and I have “WVU News” news routine begins.

Anchors Away Executive Producer Macy Senge and Professor Dahlia go over the script and prep the anchors before they go live. Once taping begins, the crew pushes on without stopping. They’ll do multiple full-episode tapings to get as close to perfect as possible.

MONDAY A news meeting is held during the scheduled class time where students pitch three beat reporting ideas and decide which stories to pursue.

SUMMER 2018

TUESDAY – WEDNESDAY Students schedule interviews and go on-location to shoot video “standups” to put together packages that include sound bites and teasers.

STEVE BUTERA ’08 Anchor/Reporter WLEX-TV Lexington, KY

“WVU News” was like working for a TV station, and Professor Dahlia was the news director. How you told that story was not going to be shown to the class; no, this was shown STATEWIDE! A big deal!

THURSDAY Students have individual writing and video conferences at the Media Innovation Center with Dahlia, while Senge observes, honing her producing skills. Package scripts and videos are critiqued and edited. Dahlia and Senge spend a good part of that night watching all the final packages and selecting the best to air in the newscast. FRIDAY – SUNDAY Senge writes the show script.

MONDAY Reporters who made show come to the television edit lab to make corrections to their packages. Senge and Dahlia review and edit the show script, which is done by 2 p.m. and ready for the cast to pick-up. TUESDAY Anchors rehearse the script at the Media Innovation Center.

WEDNESDAY On-Air “For the second newscast, Professor Dahlia and I were up until 5 a.m. critiquing and editing scripts,” Senge recalls. “By the end, writing the script came easier, and I got it done much faster than previous ones. Rehearsals didn’t take as long. Anchors made fewer mistakes. The control room made their jobs look easy. We finally got it down.”

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ESPNU Teaching Assistant Ryan Decker helps focus the camera.

Year by Year

Before Dahlia was teaching and producing “WVU News,” she was a student in the same course, then taught by Maryanne Reed. If that name sounds familiar, it’s because Reed is now dean of the College of Media. But, Reed was also the brainchild behind “WVU News,” starting

NOTEWORTHY

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“WVU News” Awards

the newscast in 1993 when she joined the College as an assistant professor. “It was professional from the very beginning,” Reed said. “From the get-go, we focused on covering the most important news impacting our community. And we never missed a deadline.”

TELEVISION ACADEMY FOUNDATION 38TH COLLEGE TELEVISION AWARDS The College Television Awards is a nationwide competition recognizing excellence in student work. 2017 National Emmy Finalist for Best College Newscast “WVU News - Heroin and Opioids: When Addiction Hits Home,” Producer Megan Saporito.

WVU News was also a National Emmy Finalist in 2015 and won first place for Best College Newscast in America.

2018 BEA FESTIVAL OF MEDIA ARTS The 2018 BEA Festival of Media Arts is an international refereed exhibition of faculty creative activities and a national showcase for student work. This year, BEA received a record 1,541 submissions to the competition. National Finalist for BEA Best College Newscast “WVU News - 100 Days in Trump Country,” Producer Ashley Rodgers National Finalist for BEA Best College News Anchor CJ Harvey, Main News Anchor for “WVU News” National Finalist for BEA Best College Sports Anchor Hannah Goetz, Main Sports Anchor for “WVU News”

Making deadline can campus. The studio ANDREW be tricky when you’re equipment was archaic and SCRITCHFIELD ’98 using VHS cameras and always breaking down. Staff Photographer old editing equipment. “I think our class was NBC News Washington, D.C. But Reed had spent special, and we did a lot the previous six years with a little. The old set reporting, anchoring in Martin Hall may have Learning to interact with people from all walks of life has and producing news for been old and antiquated, proven to be so valuable in my professional life. Being network affiliates, so her but the experience was encouraged to go out and tell stories in and around the expectations were high. still special and felt ‘big’ state (and beyond!) really forced me out of my comfort zone “She had this energy in our world,” said Jason and taught me the importance of getting to know people and excitement for the Neal (BSJ, 1999), now before you can accurately tell their story in a news piece. news business that was technical operations contagious,” said Christa manager at NBC Universal. Currey (BSJ, 1994), one of “It’s been wonderful to Reed’s first “WVU News” see the cutting edge leaps students and current the College has made over director of marketing and the last 10 years. The new JACKIE CAIN ’06 communications for the graduates are so equipped Anchor/Producer WVU School of Pharmacy. for the ever-changing WTAE-TV “There weren’t many media landscape, and they hands-on opportunities owe it to the previous in the classroom for classes and leadership that Every single person in our class worked so hard to get television journalism helped light the spark.” our show on the air. If your story didn’t make show, you students at the time. You In 2002, Reed still had an important role to play. The people who work had to get an internship negotiated with University behind the scenes are so essential to the show’s success. at WBOY or WDTV in Relations to move Clarksburg if you wanted “WVU News” into its to learn about working in modern studio space at television. I feel like that One Waterfront Place in changed in the fall of ’93.” Morgantown. Not only was the equipment cutting-edge, In 1993, the “WVU News” studio was located on the but the WVU video production team was on-hand to second floor of Martin Hall, the oldest building on WVU’s support any technical difficulties.

SOCIETY OF PROFESSIONAL JOURNALISTS The Society of Professional Journalists recognizes the best collegiate journalism in Region 4 with 2017 Mark of Excellence Awards winners.

Two “WVU News” reporters competed in the National SPJ Competition in May. First-place winners will compete at the national level among other regional MOE winners from the 12 SPJ regions. National winners are recognized at the Excellence in Journalism conference in Baltimore. TV Feature Reporting “Water Walk” by Courtney Kramer TV Sports Reporting “Country Roads” by Elizabeth Haines

“WVU News” reporters snagged six awards at the Society of Professional Journalists Mark of Excellence 2018 Regional Finals.

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SPJ’s Region 4 Mark of Excellence Awards comprises Michigan, Ohio, West Virginia and Western Pennsylvania. MOE Awards entries are judged by professionals with at least three years of journalism experience. Judges were directed to choose entries they felt were among the best in student journalism.

TV Newscast “WVU News - 100 Days in Trump Country,” Producer Ashley Rodgers TV In-Depth Reporting “Know your Rights” by Leanne Shinkle TV Feature Reporting “Water Walk” by Courtney Kramer TV Feature Reporting “Black lung in the Mountain State” by CJ Harvey TV General News Reporting “Texting and Driving Laws” by Leanne Shinkle TV Sports Reporting “Country Roads” by Elizabeth Haines

“Dahlia puts everything she has into keeping ‘WVU News’ among the top college newscasts in the country and it shows.” BRETT ANDERSON ’17

MEGAN SAPORITO ’16 News Producer, WJAC-TV

Missouri. “She knows when she has talent, and she expects everyone to be on their A-game. And if someone isn’t, she’ll say something. That’s just part of the industry.”

“ That’s a wrap!”

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The most important thing “WVU News” taught me is to be true to my voice and my ethics. It takes a lot of integrity to be a journalist, and “WVU News” gave me a chance to understand what that means not only in the industry, but to myself as well.

“The difference between our old and new space was night and day,” said Reed. “The quality of the students’ reporting was always high but the professional studio gave it a more polished look.” When Reed was named dean of the College of Media in 2004, she taught and produced her final episode of “WVU News” and turned the reins over to Dahlia, who had been a journalism faculty member in the College since 2001. Dahlia had a lot to offer, including her professional experience as a local TV anchor and reporter. But more importantly, she demonstrated the grit and gusto it would take to continue to run and grow the impactful student-run newscast. “Dahlia puts everything she has into keeping ‘WVU News’ among the top college newscasts in the country and it shows,” said Brett Anderson (BSJ, 2017), newscast director at CBS affiliate KRCG-TV in Jefferson City,

Within hours of the Wednesday taping of “WVU News,” the show is uploaded to WVU’s iTunesU and YouTube channels. The show also airs statewide on West Virginia Public Television, on Time Warner Cable in North Central West Virginia and on Network West Virginia via Suddenlink Cable. There are also several other outlets that pick up students’ stories and share them with local, statewide and national audiences. These include ESPNU, a division of ESPN; the web-based news outlet “We Heart West Virginia;” the City of Morgantown and Nexstar Media Group in West Virginia. In its 25-year history, “WVU News” has received recognition on a regional, national and international level. In the past five years alone, the program has won more than 75 awards including a national Emmy Award for Best College Newscast in the Country and first place for Best Television Newscast at the Broadcast Education Association’s Festival of Media Arts. And, according to Dahlia, there’s no sign of slowing down. “My glass isn’t just half full, it’s refillable. I’m just getting started,” Dahlia said. “And as I always tell my students, ‘Believe it, achieve it. Also, always wear comfortable shoes as a reporter. You’ll thank me later.’”

SOUNDBITE

What is your favorite memory from “WVU News?”

I was in the very first broadcast class taught in fall 1993 by Maryanne Reed. She was fresh from a television station in Rochester, New York, and she had this energy and excitement for the news business that was contagious. There weren’t many hands-on opportunities in the classroom for television journalism students. The campus radio station U-92 was an excellent training ground for aspiring radio broadcasters, but you had to get an internship at WBOY or WDTV in Clarksburg if you wanted to learn about working in TV. I feel like that changed in the fall of ’93. “WVU News” as we know it today had yet to be established. We had no set, VHS cameras and old editing equipment. But Maryanne expected professional, quality stories from us. My favorite memory is of an investigative story that I did about the lack of accessibility downtown for students with disabilities. I teamed up with classmate Scott Briscoe to shoot the story. We invited a student who was wheelchair bound to come along and demonstrate how difficult it was at the time for people with physical disabilities to get around in downtown Morgantown. It was that story that forced me to break out of my shell and ask the important questions—no matter how difficult. I loved doing that story because I felt like we were making a difference. CHRISTA CURREY ’94 Director of Marketing and Communications, WVU School of Pharmacy

GRETCHEN PALEK ’98 Co-President, Leftfield Pictures New York City

My favorite memory is covering Bridge Day with classmate Gretchen Palek. We put together a feature for the newscast and, more importantly, experienced what life was like as news reporters. That solidified for me what I already knew: that I needed to be out in the field telling stories from where they happen. ANDREW SCRITCHFIELD ’98 Staff Photographer NBC News in Washington, D.C.

Unscripted!

Dahlia always, always told us that she would never tell us to do something she wouldn’t do. I ended up working on a healthcare story with her. Rightfully so, she always wanted different angles for different shots to vary it up a bit. I’m standing behind my camera recording a sound bite during a speech, and I feel a tap on my left shoulder. I turn around, and I just hear Dahlia say, “follow me.” Next thing I know, we are crawling across the floor in front of the stage to get a different angle for our next soundbite. Keep in mind that this room is filled with hundreds of people. So, when she says she would never make you do anything she wouldn’t do, she’s not kidding. BRETT ANDERSON ’17 Newscast Director KRCG-TV

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One of my favorite “WVU News” memories was covering Bridge Day at the New River Gorge. Andrew Scritchfield, fellow “WVU News” alum, and I traveled to Fayetteville and had an incredible time covering the event. This was a different type of piece for me. It was not on a set, or the steps of a courthouse, or a pressroom. We were run and gun, and creating content in the field. We climbed up and down hills, ran through mud, slipped on rocks (okay, maybe just me) and did our best to create a visually compelling, yet interesting story. Though I had serious blisters for days, I had caught the bug and fell in love with adventure storytelling.

KERRIN SHELDON

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From West Virginia

To the Red Carpet W RITTEN BY ALLY KENNEDY

In 2016, CNN called Huntington, West Virginia, “America’s drug death capital.” Since then, West Virginia has become the face of the opioid epidemic. With an overdose death rate 10 times the national average, the narrative being shared about the Mountain State has been bleak. But, one year after the CNN headline, a West Virginia filmmaker chose to tell a different kind of story about the opioid crisis — one of resilience and hope. Elaine McMillion Sheldon (BSJ, 2009) directed and co-produced the Academy fiercely dedicated to fighting the opioid crisis in their home community.

REEDCOLLEGEOFMEDIA.WVU.EDU

Award-nominated documentary “Heroin(e),” a film focused on three women

Growing up in Appalachia, storytelling has always been deeply rooted in Sheldon’s personal history. As a child, she remembers listening to Logan County ghost

stories and her grandfather’s stories of working as a coal miner. “Storytelling is a way to be a part of other people’s

lives,” Sheldon said. “I’m interested in other people and why they do what they do. I think we need storytellers because it’s nice to see society reflected back.”

Sheldon’s love of storytelling led her to major in print

journalism. But while at WVU, she also learned how to

shoot photographs and video, and she helped launch “West

Virginia Uncovered,” a multi-media storytelling and training project for West Virginia’s smaller newspapers. After

college, Sheldon added to her skills by studying filmmaking at Emerson University.

Her award-winning film career began with the interactive

documentary “Hollow” (hollowdocumentary.com), which

examined the future of rural America through the experiences and struggles of people living in McDowell County. The

film received a 2014 Emmy nomination and a 2013 Peabody Award, one of the highest honors in broadcast journalism.

Heroin(e)

Sirens blare in the background as Jan Rader drives to the scene of another overdose. In route, she explains that the fire department responds to as many as seven overdoses a day—a drastic change

from the occasional call they received 20 years ago when she started this job. Rader stops her car and runs up the steps to the apartment of a man in distress. She knocks and yells, “fire department!” —not

expecting a response — before throwing her weight against a door to get inside the bathroom where a man has collapsed. She helps drag

REBECCA KIGER

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him into the bedroom and administers naloxone.

Kerrin and Elaine Sheldon are on the set of “Recovery Boys,” their debut feature-length documentary.

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As a first responder and

the first female fire chief in

West Virginia, Rader is on the front lines fighting the opioid epidemic every day.

Sheldon and her husband,

Kerrin, were on the scene when Rader saved that man’s life.

PHOTO PROVIDED BY ELAINE MCMILLION SHELDON

They had been in Huntington

for a reporting trip on another story when they met three

women who changed the course of their project. The women

included Rader, Judge Patricia

Keller, who presides over Cabell County Drug Court, and Necia Freeman, who founded Brown

Bag and Backpacks Ministry that delivers food and Bible passages to prostitutes who are addicted. Through these women,

Jan Rader, Patricia Keller, Necia Freeman, Elaine Sheldon and Kerrin Sheldon attend the Meet the Press Film Festival with the American Film Institute.

Sheldon saw a story that could

offer a stark contrast to the national coverage that has

characterized the opioid crisis as a lost cause. Instead of

sure what she had. Her original footage sat on a hard

and Freeman were doing something to help solve it.

Reporting (CIR) was funding films made by women about

letting this epidemic define their community, Rader, Keller

“It’s traumatic to see people potentially at their lowest moment, and you wish you could do more. Hopefully telling their story and being a witness to these things can help wake the country up.” “Huntington has gotten the short end of the stick in

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a lot of media representation being called the overdose

Even after she started shooting, Sheldon wasn’t quite

capital of the country,” said Sheldon. “We were impressed and surprised by the level of resilience that these three

women and the other people working towards this issue in Huntington represent.”

drive until Sheldon heard that The Center for Investigative women. So, she pitched the concept for “Heroin(e).”

After learning that CIR agreed to fund her project,

Sheldon and her husband returned to Huntington to shoot

more footage over the following year. Netflix came on board during the editing stage and the film became a Netflix “Original Short Documentary.”

Sheldon’s goal for “Heroin(e)” was to help decrease the

stigma surrounding the epidemic and increase empathy for those who are addicted. With Netflix’s involvement, the

film was made available to a worldwide audience, giving it

the exposure that might help reach that goal. In fact, there

has been a community screening in almost every state in the U.S. where residents are contending with the opioid crisis. “We’re just hoping as many people watch the film as

possible and increase education around what addiction is

and how we can truly be helping people,” said Sheldon. “We hope the film can do what any good film does, which is get people talking.”

As a documentarian, Sheldon believes it is her job to

show people what they need to see and not necessarily what they want to see, but that can be a strain on the filmmaker.

Awards and Honors

Praise for “Heroin(e)”

2018

“The past few years have seen a proliferation of narratives that reveal the extent of the opioid crisis, few hold the power of ‘Heroin(e)’”

USA Fellow Cinema Eye Awards Nomination: Outstanding Achievement in Nonfiction Filmmaking

Vanity Fair

“It was emotionally hard to come to terms with why

we were doing what we’re doing — making sure it helps people and we’re not just documenting it for the sake of

2016 ADC Young Gun

“Putting human faces on the crisis”

Communicator Award of Excellence from The Academy of Interactive and Visual Arts for “She Does” Podcast

New York Times

Chicken & Egg’s Breakthrough Filmmaker Award

Forbes

2015 AIR New Voices Scholars

“An optimistic counter-narrative”

“A ride-along through a part of the country that has long been stigmatized and caricatured” Los Angeles Times

“‘Heroin(e)’ shows what’s missing in addressing the opioid epidemic”

Emmy Nominee in New Approaches for Documentary

Variety

Filmmaker Magazine’s: 25 New Faces of Independent Film

and being a witness to these things can help wake the country up.”

The film quickly garnered national media attention

after its release. Sheldon has made appearances on several

radio and television programs including “The Daily Show” with Trevor Noah, “Meet the Press,” and NPR.

The documentary premiered at the 2017 Telluride

films like “Lady Bird” and “The Shape of Water.” But

a highlight for Sheldon was when “Heroin(e)” had the honor of being the only film screened at the Obama

Foundation Summit, where she and the three women from the film met the former president and first lady.

“The reaction to ‘Heroin(e)’ has been overwhelmingly

“Refreshingly hopeful” Mother Jones

people seeing the film and reaching out to us and even thanking us. It’s pretty amazing.”

The Academy

In January 2018, “Heroin(e)” was nominated for an Academy Award in the Documentary Short Subject,

which began a new and exciting chapter in Sheldon’s

life as a director. Sheldon, Kerrin and the three heroines featured in the documentary — Rader, Keller and

Freeman — made the 2,000-mile journey from West

“Grim yet inspirational look at efforts to confront the epidemic of drug addiction” The Washington Post

Virginia to the red carpet in Hollywood, California. Sheldon never dreamed of receiving an Oscar

nomination this early in her career. But before she

knew it, she was stepping out of her limo at the Dolby

Theatre for the 90th Academy Awards in a custom-made gown — donated by designer Joanna Johnson who saw

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Fellow at Future of Storytelling

wish you could do more. Hopefully telling their story

positive,” Sheldon said. “I did not anticipate this many

3rd Prize for the World Press Photo Interactive Documentary Award

Peabody Award

see people potentially at their lowest moment, and you

Film Festival as part of the main program alongside

2014

2013

documenting it,” explained Sheldon. “It’s traumatic to

“We plan to stay the course and continue to tell stories from our own backyard that move us.” “Heroin(e)” and wanted to support the

filmmaker — while 26.5 million U.S. viewers watched from home.

While “Heroin(e)” didn’t win the Academy

Award, Sheldon says she is most rewarded by the impact of the documentary in helping to

change perceptions about the people affected by opioid addiction.

“We hope that the international attention that

can come from an Academy-Award nomination

will only bring more resources and solutions to

the ongoing crisis across America,” Sheldon said. What does a filmmaker do after being

nominated for one of the most prestigious film awards in the country? According to Sheldon, exactly what she did before.

“We plan to stay the course and continue to

tell stories from our own backyard that move us,” she said. “We’re humbled, honored and excited for the next steps.”

Sheldon’s next project is the documentary,

“Recovery Boys,” set in Aurora, West Virginia,

Elaine and Kerrin Sheldon attend the 90th Academy Awards.

at Jacob’s Ladder Rehab Farm program. The feature-length film follows four men as they go through the recovery process and try to reinvent their lives after years of

addiction. It premiered at the 2018 Hot Docs Canadian

International Documentary Festival in Toronto, Canada,

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in May and is now available on Netflix.

Available now on Netflix

GETTY IMAGES

FACULTY NEWS

Faculty News and Awards HELLO

Welcome new faculty members

THANK YOU

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JENNIFER HARKER has joined the College of Media as an assistant professor in the Advertising and Public Relations program. Harker earned her Ph.D. from the School of Media and Journalism at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where she was a Roy H. Park Doctoral Research Fellow and taught courses in public relations writing. Prior to pursuing her Ph.D., Harker was the senior director of marketing and communication at Cal Farley’s, one of the nation’s largest privately-funded child and family service organizations, located in Amarillo, Texas. She is a frequent presenter and has an expertise in sport crisis communication.

JASPER FESSMANN is a new visiting assistant professor in the Advertising and Public Relations program. Fessmann is a frequent presenter and guest lecturer and has conducted numerous workshops and seminars on public interest communications, crisis management and public relations. He recently earned his Ph.D. in mass communication from the University of Florida. His research program focuses on developing the foundation of the emerging field of public interest communications - using strategic communications to advance social causes. Previously, he was the owner and CEO of Fessmann Concept, a public relations and management consulting company in Berlin, Germany.

JAY GILMORE has joined the College as a visiting assistant professor for the new Sports and Adventure Media major. Gilmore brings extensive experience as a producer and reporter for media outlets including American Sports Network and Sinclair Broadcast Group WZTV Fox 17, and as a sports director for Meredith Broadcasting WGCL TV and Scripps Broadcasting WPTV. Previously, he was an adjunct instructor at Middle Tennessee State University and Nashville State Community College. Gilmore received his master’s degree in journalism from the University of Alabama.

Teaching Assistant Professor TOM STEWART retired after 18 years with the College. Stewart began teaching parttime in 2005 and became a full-time faculty member in 2011. He has taught courses in news reporting, media ethics and law, news writing and copy editing. He has led important revisions to the Journalism curriculum and has served as coordinator of multiple sections of the introductory media writing class. Stewart is a member of the Society of Professional Journalists and has been an advisor for the College of Media’s SPJ chapter. Prior to joining the College, Stewart worked at the Tribune-Review in Greensburg, Pennsylvania, where he spent three decades rising through the ranks from a part-time reporter and copy editor to editor of the newspaper. Even in retirement, Stewart plans to continue teaching courses in news writing and media law and advising the College on adapting curriculum in those areas.

NICE WORK

Promotions

WVU REED COLLEGE OF MEDIA AMONG THE BEST IN MEDIASHIFT RANKINGS

The College of Media has topped two different “best of” lists for innovation. MediaShift, the premier destination for insight and analysis at the intersection of media and technology, recognized Dean Maryanne Reed in “EducationShift20: Honoring Innovative Journalism Educators.” Additionally, faculty members Dana Coester and Gina Martino Dahlia were listed in “MediaShift20: Recognizing Digital Media’s Top Innovators” for their work on “100 Days in Appalachia,” which was also recognized in the “Top 6 Journalism Collaborations of 2017.”

Joel Beeson and Dana Coester were recognized with the College of Media’s Faculty Research Award and Emily Corio received the Outstanding Teaching Award for the 2017-18 academic year. Beeson and Coester demonstrated exemplary performance in scholarly research and creative activity by pushing the boundaries of “new” media. Corio was recognized for her excellent classroom teaching and for leading the creation of a new sports and adventure media major.

Bob Britten has been promoted to teaching associate professor. Britten joined the College in 2008 and recently developed a new course on media literacy designed to teach students to critically analyze news and media reports, enabling them to better gauge the credibility of information. Prior to coming to WVU, Britten worked as a reporter, designer, art director, graphics editor and editorial director. Britten has worked for newspapers of various sizes (the Greenville Record-Argus, the Meadville Tribune, the Columbia Missourian, the Seattle Times), as well as publications such as Vox, Allegheny magazine, Farm Journal, and its subsidiary, Beef Today. His areas of interest include visual communication, rhetoric and culture and the role these play in building and maintaining social memory. Britten has taught courses in magazine design, information graphics, interactive design, and qualitative research methods.

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CORIO, BEESON AND COESTER RECEIVE FACULTY AWARDS

Alison Bass was recently promoted to associate professor. She teaches investigative reporting and writing, multimedia journalism, and health and science journalism. Bass is an award-winning journalist and the critically acclaimed author of “Getting Screwed: Sex Workers and the Law.” Prior to joining the College in 2012, Bass taught journalism at Mount Holyoke College, Brandeis University and Boston University. Bass was a long-time medical and science writer for The Boston Globe, and her work has also appeared in the Huffington Post, Buzzfeed and on Public Radio International’s website. She holds a master of liberal arts degree from Harvard University Extension School.

DONORS AND SCHOLARS

Leaving A Legacy WRITTEN BY ERICA LINDSAY

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The term “leaving a legacy” may sound like a cliché, but that’s exactly what Paul Atkins has done. For many alumni, Professor Atkins needs no introduction.

“Tough” and “fair” are adjectives used to describe his teaching style, along with an emphasis on accuracy. He was legendary for marking up the previous day’s Daily Athenaeum with red pen and displaying it in the DA newsroom on the second floor of Martin Hall. For former students Joe Gollehon (BSJ, 1973) and James Hunkler (BSJ, 1950), memories of professors like Atkins inspired them to leave their own legacies. Atkins, Gollehon and Hunkler have each made generous planned gifts to the WVU Reed College of Media. And while each of them has a different story, their motives for giving are perfectly aligned. They want future students to have the same meaningful experiences they had at the College of Media. Atkins came to West Virginia University with a wave of other World War II veterans who were taking advantage of the new G.I. Bill. He graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Journalism in 1949 and was called back to his alma mater four years later by Dean Perley Isaac Reed to be the faculty advisor at the DA. Now, at 94-years-old, Atkins can still recall the exact date of the special edition Daily Athenaeum that he is most proud of – November 23, 1963, the day after John F. Kennedy’s assassination. Kennedy was killed on a Friday, which set into motion a series of changes on campus, from postponed classes to a cancelled football game. Before email, cell phones and the internet, information was distributed through the newspaper, but the DA didn’t run on Saturdays. “We were sort of up the creek without a paddle, wondering what we could do to inform the campus,” Atkins said. “I had to capture students who were scattered everywhere from beer joints to sleeping in their rooms, but we got a staff of seven or eight people and arranged for a single-page press run at 11 p.m. I was very proud of those students and that we got the paper out Saturday morning.” Along with the DA advisor role, he taught courses in reporting and copyediting. Throughout his 33 years teaching, he moved up through the ranks with promotions to assistant professor, associate professor and finally professor. But in those early days, he was just happy to be back at the college newspaper that he was so fond of as a student.

The Flying A Paul Atkins spent 33 years teaching journalism at WVU and advising students at the Daily Athenaeum. His students fondly remember him for his dedication, red pen and speed as he ran up and down the steps of Martin Hall.

“I was proud every day that we put out a paper. When you work and produce something daily, you develop a camaraderie, a family. So, I really remember those Athenaeum students from the 50s and 60s,” Atkins said. “Those students have a lot of impact on me. I’ve watched several of them become managing editors, sports editors or top reporters.” And they remember him. Hunkler kept in touch with Atkins and received Christmas cards from him every year. For more than 40 years, Hunkler served in a wide range of public and community relations positions at the Battelle Memorial Institute in Columbus, Ohio. He was also active in many community and professional groups, including the Society of Professional Journalists, which honored him with the Distinguished Service Award in 1977. In the 1990s, he decided to make a planned gift to the College of Media, sharing that he owed his career to WVU. When Hunkler died on April 26, 2017, at the age of 88, the College received $575,000 from his estate. These unrestricted funds will be used to enhance academic programming and provide opportunities for students. “It’s a real gift to have an unrestricted donation of this magnitude, particularly during these tough economic times,” said Maryanne Reed, dean of the WVU Reed College of Media. “We are eternally grateful to Mr. Hunkler and all alumni and friends who consider the future of the college in their estate planning.”

“

I was proud every day that we put out a paper. I really remember those Athenaeum students from the 50s and 60s. Those students have a lot of impact on me. I’ve watched several of them become managing editors, sports editors or top reporters. PAUL ATKINS

Finding a home at WVU Joe Gollehon, who received the College’s P.I. Reed Achievement Award in 2017, hopes his estate gift enables future students to create some of their best memories at WVU, just like he did in the 1970s.

boasts nearly 1,200 members, with more than 800 living members.

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Another student of Atkins, Gollehon recently decided to make “That was an amazing experience. Going to that conference a significant planned gift to the College. really impressed in me the importance of networking,” said “Paul is a very special person, and I’m honored to be Gollehon. “I think it’s activities out of the classroom like that that mentioned alongside him,” Gollehon said. “He taught me a lot help students become more well-rounded and see a bigger picture about writing and a good part of my career was writing, so I’m of what their careers can be.” thankful for what he was able to instill in me.” Gollehon hopes his gift allows future generations of students Gollehon recently retired after more than 40 years in public to find their way in public relations. In particular, he hopes he relations, internal and external communications, government can provide travel funds for PRSSA chapters to provide students affairs and crisis communications. He most recently served as the with the networking opportunities that were so vital to his senior vice president and director of governmental affairs at TSG career success. Consulting in Charleston, West Virginia. He was elected to the “It’s so important for students to understand that there’s a Public Relations Society of America’s College of Fellows in 2011, great big world out there beyond Morgantown and WVU. The but his relationship with PRSA began long before that. networking and friends they make will last throughout their entire “When I came to the WVU School of careers,” Gollehon said. Journalism, I found a home there. College As for the “Flying A,” as many former was a special time in my life,” Gollehon said. students fondly refer to Atkins for his speed Donors who include a gift “My best memories are centered around my running Martin Hall’s steps, the estate gift provision in a will or revocable involvement with PRSSA (the student arm that he and his wife, Mildred, promised to trust; create a life-income gift; of PRSA). We had a great group of students the College of Media back in 1992 is being designate an after-death gift and worked as an agency to do real jobs realized this year. Mildred died in 2005 and of a retirement account; make for clients around Morgantown.” Atkins recently moved into an assisted checking, savings or stock One of those jobs was a living facility. After selling the house he and accounts “payable upon death;” commissioned project by Boeing, a his wife built in the 1960s, he’s happy to donate life insurance or make a major contractor on the Personal Rapid know that the proceeds will benefit the gift of real estate with a retained Transit (PRT) project in 1971. The WVU College that was such a big part of his life. life interest benefiting WVU and PRSSA chapter helped plan and promote “I started giving $1,000 every semester its entities are inducted into the the dedication of the PRT. Boeing to the school for scholarships, and I felt WVU Irvin Stewart Society. The later allowed the students to use a that part of the proceeds from selling the Society, created in 1992 by the Plexiglas map-view model of the PRT to house would enable the school to give WVU Foundation, was named showcase the project at the PRSA Annual scholarships for a long time,” Atkins said. after the University’s thirteenth Conference in Detroit, Michigan. The “I hope that will come true. Nothing lasts president, Dr. Irvin Stewart. students rented a booth and featured the forever, but I hope the Atkins scholarship Currently, the Irvin Stewart Society PRT, Morgantown and the WVU campus. will last for many years.”

DONORS AND SCHOLARS

DONOR HONOR ROLL

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The College of Media would like to thank our donors who have given to the 2017-2018 annual fund. The annual giving list represents cash and pledge payments received through May 30, 2018.

$250,000 OR MORE American Electric Power Foundation Joe W. Gollehon The Estate of James Hunkler The Nutting Foundation $100,000 - $249,999 Paul A. Atkins Democracy Fund Martha G. Smith $25,000 - $99,999 Samme L. Gee James and Barbara Gilkerson Ralph and Janet Izard Janet Shaffron John and Cindy Walls Scott D. Widmeyer $10,000 - $24,999 Brian C. Farrington Robert and Luanne Kittle Scripps-Howard Foundation $5,000 - $9,999 Raymond and Susan Gillette Janette and Michael Heitz Constance and Timothy Kelly Jennifer A. Manton Jane M. McNeer Gilbert and Susan Meyer, Jr. Stanley J. Reed and Joyce Branda The Estate of Gruine Robinson $1,000 - $4,999 Col. Thomas J. Boyd Barbara S. Casey H. Nelson and Mary Beth Crichton Gerald and Judith Davis Vincent and Barbara Dobilas Karen Duke Elizabeth and Jim Dziedzic Beedeah and Noel Hassen Stephen N. Hunsicker IBM Corporation Suzanne and Paul Johnson Paige L. Lavender John League and April Dowler

Dr. Diana and Dr. David Martinelli Lauren J. Messinger Chad and Catherine Mezera Robert and Katherine Miller Alexis and Jim Pugh Maryanne Reed and William Yahner Nancy and Joseph Rickards Sean and Candice Robertson James J. Roop Archie Sader and Alfreda Dempkowski Jane Schachtel and Brett Martin Johanna and James Stewart James and Charlene Stulz M. Anne Swanson Jacelyn and Steve Swenson $500 - $999 Air Products and Chemicals, Inc. Ms. Bonnie J. Bolden David S. and Abbey Castleman David and Debra Clarke David F. Cline Cyndi and Eric Greenglass Ronald and Peggy Guziak Stephen and Elizabeth King Robin and William Mease NiSource Northwestern Mutual Life Novartis Corporation Charity Dr. Ivan and Margaret Pinnell Dr. Sandra H. Englebright Utt Stephanie Taylor and Richard Weibley Giles Davidson and Daniel Waldmann $100 - $499 John A. Agate Alexion Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Shawn and Sharon Anderson Gerald and Michele Ash Terry and Cynthia Baker Balderson Law Office, PLLC Elizabeth and Nicholas Barth Beth A. Dobis Beers David R. Bennett Shirley J. Bishop Blaine Turner Advertising, Inc. Jacqueline F. Bonar Hannah E. Booth Joyce A. Bower Steven and Jacqueline Breeden Robert and Tara Byers Diane and James Centeno Robert and Lisa Cline Darrell and Madaline Cochran Shannon Cooke Dr. Larry and Rachel Craycraft Ryan A. Crowley

Tara E. Curtis Ron and Jayne Cutright Meredith L. Delaney Pamela Bonar Dillon Karen L. Dolecki Thomas and Lori Dowling Benjamin C. Dunlap, Jr. Jessica and Elliott Edwards Eric and Scarlett Feathers Maurice and Elfi Fliess Terri L. Frederique Sherilyn and Mark Frey Ann Garcelon and Gene Carte Amy J. Goodwin Ann S. and Larry Green Dr. Leigh F. Gregg, Ph.D. Charles and Melanie Gregory Health Bread Company, Inc. Jeffrey W. Hertrick Terri C. Hornsby J. Ford Huffman Johnson and Johnson Family of Companies William and Virginia Kavage Lynn P. Kessler-Hiltajczuk Dawn Warfield and Thomas Knight Dr. Brenda J. Logue Stephen T. Marynowski Victor and Theresa L. Mason Vincent and Kassy McGourty John and Joan McPherson Morgan L. McPherson David and Dawn Milne Harry and Rhonda Mitchell Joseph and April Mock Susan and John Morgan Marcelyn Nauman Jason and Michelle Neal William and Cindy Nevin Valerie G. Nieman Eric and Kristy Nutter Chase Ofori-Atta Anna-Maria and Ramon Palmer George and Kim Panos Phyllis and Duane Petty Tricia and Dr. Jeffrey Petty William and Ella Poland, Jr. Geah N. Pressgrove Meredith Raine Glenn and Grace Richards Robert M. Rine Dr. David Rodgers and Robin Roberts Jane Duffy and George Russell Stephen and Dana Saffel Heather P. Savela

Robert A. Scatterday Charles and Mary Scott Preston and Shi Anne Shimer John and Brenda Skinner Linda and John Spencer Prof. Thomas J. Stewart Stone Law Office Timothy and Susan Tewalt Karen M. Thomas William and Mona Tiernan Michael and Sarah Tomasky Timothy and Lori Truman Verizon West Virginia, Inc. Virginia Wereszynski WVU Alumni Association School of Journalism Valerie and Robert Wilkinson Glenn and Dawn Witherspoon, Jr. Karen and Burton Wohl Pamela and Karl Yagle

GIVING SOCIETIES

In recognition of the growing importance of private giving, the College of Media honors its friends and supporters through a tiered system of giving levels and inducts new members each fall. Below is a list of new donors or donors who have moved into new giving societies during the past year.

The WVU Reed College of Media awards nearly 50 scholarships to our students. Through the generosity of our donors, more than $160,000 is awarded in various scholarship amounts to approximately 100 students each academic year. This is a list of scholarships that were awarded in 2017-2018.

BROWN COMMUNICATIONS, LLC SCHOOL OF JOURNALISM SCHOLARSHIP Chelsea Harper Denali Hedrick Jewell Lease CARY JOURNALISM SCHOLARSHIP Hannah Belt Lauren Harvey Elizabeth Keim Anne Parker CATHARINE PATTON CLARK PRESIDENTIAL SCHOLARSHIP Erin Gore Kristen Hudgins Emily Koehler Julia Mellett Matthew Minard COLONEL THOMAS J. BOYD SCHOOL OF JOURNALISM SCHOLARSHIP Patrick Kotnick Nicholas Lastovka Adam Payne CUMMINGS SCHOLARSHIP Megan Olebracht DAVID MATTHEW HASSEN JOURNALISM SCHOLARSHIP Jillian Clemente DON S. MARSH SCHOLARSHIP Clairice Hemme DOUGLAS & RUTH ANN WIDMEYER ENDOWED JOURNALISM SCHOLARSHIP Melanie Smith DR. ELIZABETH A. ATWATER SCHOOL OF JOURNALISM SCHOLARSHIP Ali Barrett Denali Hedrick EDITH WATSON SASSER SCHOLARSHIP Alana Longnecker Cassandra McPhail FRANK AND REBEKAH AHRENS SCHOOL OF JOURNALISM SCHOLARSHIP Holly Fry

FRANK M. KEARNS MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP Shayla Klein GEORGE GIANODIS JOURNALISM SCHOLARSHIP Kayla Asbury Rachel Claypool Caitlyn Coyne Lily Hicks Kaitlyn Lopez Jennifer Skinner GILBERT & MARGARET LOVE JOURNALISM SCHOLARSHIP Cassandra McPhail Emily Zekonis GRUINE ROBINSON REED COLLEGE OF MEDIA SCHOLARSHIP Mary Alvarez Abigail Briggs Haleigh Fields Bryanna McCullough Anna Saab HILDA G. AND JAMES E. MCNEER JOURNALISM SCHOLARSHIP Ashley Busnuk IRENE CAPLAN MOKSAY SCHOLARSHIP Hannah Belt JAMES & BARBARA GILKERSON JOURNALISM SCHOLARSHIP Mary Alvarez Mia Edmundson Megan Hardy Bryanna McCullough LINDA E. YOST SCHOLARSHIP Allison Fladd Megan Olebracht LINDA JEANNE LECKIE SCHULTE SCHOLARSHIP Lauren Harvey MADELYN JEANNE RUPINSKY SCHOOL OF JOURNALISM SCHOLARSHIP Amber Neice MARK S. & FRANCES S. GROVE ENDOWED SCHOLARSHIP Hayleigh Moore MARTHA E. SHOTT ENDOWED SCHOLARSHIP Hollie Greene Darren Hartwell Lily Hicks Caroline Nichols Jacob Shockley Olivia VanHorn MERIDETH ROBB MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP Blaithe Tarley MICKEY AND BETTY FURFARI SCHOLARSHIP FUND Benjamin Murray

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DEANâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S GIVING CIRCLE $1,000,000 + Ogden Newspapers and the Nutting Family The Hugh I. Shott, Jr. Foundation MARTIN HALL SOCIETY $250,000 - $999,999 American Electric Power Joe W. Gollehon James R. Hunkler Martha G. Smith FRIENDS OF MARTIN HALL $100,000 - $249,999 Democracy Fund P.I. REED CIRCLE OF FRIENDS $25,000 - $99,999 Jennifer Janet Shaffron P.I. REED SOCIETY $10,000 - $24,999 Brian C. Farrington Suzanne and Paul Johnson Gilbert and Susan Meyer, Jr. Scripps Howard Foundation

SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS

DONORS AND SCHOLARS OGDEN NEWSPAPERS & NUTTING FAMILY JOURNALISM SCHOLARSHIP Graeson Baker Nicole Baron Georgia Beatty Ryan Decker Jessica Foreman Hayleigh Moore Heather Naples Erin Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Leary

ROBERT & LUANNE KITTLE SCHOOL OF JOURNALISM SCHOLARSHIP Maria Lorditch ROBERTSON URBAN MINORITY SCHOLARSHIP Jade Dawkins Maxwell Shavers

PAUL A. ATKINS SCHOLARSHIP Holly Fry Ky Kalinowski Avery Lyons Patrick Orsagos Adam Payne Jacob Shockley Jessica Siela

SCHOOL OF JOURNALISM SCHOLARSHIP Hannah Belt Alesandro Bernardi Kayla Gagnon Kristen Hudgins Maya Huggins Jordyn Johnson Mark Schoenster Camrynn Tanner Maura Therber Katie Unger Gillian Wanosky Haley Williams Lauren Wittschen

PAUL & MILDRED ATKINS REED COLLEGE OF MEDIA SCHOLARSHIP Jeffrey Boggess

SCOTT D. WIDMEYER AFRICAN-AMERICAN SCHOLARSHIP Brittany Brown

PEGGY PRESTON TIERNEY SCHOLARSHIP Marissa Bailey Abigail Bromley Macey Burns Shannon Cunningham Sarah Feamster Johnna Herbig Jonathan Kraus Daniel Lively Jeffrey McCullough William McNemar Janine Posey Cassondra Smith Kayla Starcher Taylor Steele Anthony Tate Alexan Watt

SCOTT D. WIDMEYER FIRST GENERATION SCHOLARSHIP Darren Hartwell

ORSON AND SPOKES FOUNDATION JOURNALISM ENDOWMENT Amy Pratt

PERLEY ISAAC REED SCHOLARSHIP Karlee Gibson RALPH AND JANET IZARD SCHOOL OF JOURNALISM SCHOLARSHIP Allison Fladd RAYMOND & SUSAN GILLETTE JOURNALISM MINORITY SCHOLARSHIP Brittany Brown Courtney Freeman

THOMAS PICARSIC SCHOLARSHIP IN JOURNALISM Karlee Gibson TIMOTHY J. TEWALT JOURNALISM SCHOLARSHIP Aiko Roth Blaithe Tarley VARGO-OTTO STUDENT SCHOLARSHIP Brittany Osteen W.E. CHILTON III JOURNALISM SCHOLARSHIP Lily Hicks Colin Spangler Kristen Uppercue WILLIAM AND JEAN REED JOURNALISM SCHOLARSHIP Graeson Baker Amy Pratt WILLIAM F. TOLBERT JOURNALISM SCHOLARSHIP Elizabeth Keim

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Enhancement funds make it possible for Reed College of Media students to get the real-world experience that enhances both their character and their resumes. In 2017-18, these funds allowed students to intern for organizations like the Cannes Film Festival in France and Ketchum in New York City and study abroad in China.

CHARLES HODEL ENDOWMENT Robert Simmons Atlanta, GA Noelle Forde United Kingdom Nicholas Tabidze Cannes, France GEORGE ESPER INTERNATIONAL STUDY ENHANCEMENT IN JOURNALISM Ella Jennings China Shyla Parsons China Abigail Lawhead China JIM AND BETSY KLEBE DZIEDZIC CAREER DEVELOPMENT FUND Savannah Schafer Norwalk, CT Johnna Herbig New York, NY JOHN AND CINDY WALLS CAREER DEVELOPMENT FUND Meg Weissend Los Angeles, CA Samantha Stocksdale Washington, DC JOHN AND CINDY WALLS COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT FUND Hannah Belt Rockville, MD WVU REED COLLEGE OF MEDIA STUDENT ENHANCEMENT FUND Abby Briggs Los Angeles, CA

MAKE A GIFT To learn more about leaving your own legacy through a planned gift, making a donation or providing scholarship funding, visit reedcollegeofmedia.wvu.edu/give or contact:

ENHANCEMENT FUNDS

Tiffany Samuels Director of Development WVU Reed College of Media tdsamuels@mail.wvu.edu 304-293-6775

Jentzen Kowcheck New York, NY Emily Amsdell Phoenix, AZ Emily Zekonis New York, NY

CLASS NOTES

CORI MCCULLOCH This year marks the 50th Anniversary of “Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood,” a children’s television series created and hosted by Fred Rogers. In June, “Won’t You Be My Neighbor?,” a documentary about the life and guiding philosophy of Rogers, was released prompting a wave of reflection and compassion in social media chatter. Cori McCulloch (BSJ, 2014), a marketing coordinator for Fred Rogers Productions, is the voice of the company on social media and is on the receiving end of this chatter. A Pittsburgh native who grew up watching “Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood,” she can easily relate to his fans. In addition to managing social media for Fred Rogers Productions, which produces shows like “Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood,” “Peg+Cat” and “Odd Squad,” McCulloch manages web content for fredrogers.org, and helps to coordinate “Be My Neighbor Day” with PBS affiliates all over the country.

How did you land the gig at Fred Rogers Productions? Honestly, I just applied. My major was visual journalism, and I originally wanted to be a documentary filmmaker. Before Fred Rogers Productions, I worked at the Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh. I started really liking strategic communications and social media, and I gained a lot of knowledge about child development. I think that helped pave the way for my career at Fred Rogers Productions.

What are your ultimate career goals? My career goals have changed dramatically over the last five years. I never thought children’s media would be my calling. The beautiful thing about where we are right now with media and technology is that there are no more traditional paths. You can take your skills and apply them to whatever cause you’re passionate about. You never know where you’re going to end up, things might change and that’s ok. What is it like working for the company during the 50th Anniversary? The 50th Anniversary is exciting and challenging. There’s no better way to learn on your feet than when you’re in an international spotlight. I recently posted a clip of Mister Rogers buttoning his sweater. He’s singing and starts to giggle because he started on the wrong button and he says, “Do you ever make a mistake? Because sometimes I do, and it’s ok.” Droves of people reached out to thank us, commenting that they really needed that reminder. In the small dayto-day, we still need to hear what Mister Rogers has to say. Just because we’re adults and have responsibilities doesn’t mean we’re above these basic reminders for ourselves and others. During the 50th Anniversary, we’re having conversations about why he’s so relevant, and it’s because these are basic human things that we deal with every day.

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With childhood memories of watching “Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood,” what does it mean to work for Fred Rogers Productions now? It’s kind of surreal. I grew up in this Pittsburgh bubble where I didn’t realize that everybody watched Mister Rogers. It seems cliché that everyone that works for Fred Rogers Productions is kind and empathetic, but it’s really true. I feel like I’ve become a more emotionally literate person. Being able to contribute to something that was so essential to my childhood, but also contributing on new productions and being able to provide resources to help parents have meaningful interactions with their kids – that is really special. Being in the grocery store

and hearing a kid sing a strategy song from “Daniel Tiger” never gets old.

What is it like managing social media for children’s programming? We’re not really marketing to kids because they don’t have social media – we’re marketing to their parents. I’ve been able to find my way in this complicated space of showing that we have something fun for kids, but that a child’s developmental benchmarks and concerns are also taken into consideration very purposefully.

CLASS NOTES

Class Notes 1960s

Frank Clark (BSJ, 1969) is enjoying retirement in St. Augustine, Florida. He continues to play tennis four times a week. Ron Guziak (BSJ, 1968) retired this spring after a nearly 50-year career in public relations, development and health care administration. He retired as President/CEO of Sun Health Services, the largest nonprofit provider of senior living services in Arizona and is now in the process of writing his first book with the working title of “Everything I Know I Learned as a Caddie.” Lynne Schwabe (BSJ, 1965; MSJ, 1971) is the director of development for the WVU Eye Institute in Morgantown, West Virginia.

1970s

Catherine Helean (BSJ, 1978) is a chief marketing officer in Alabama. Hoppy Kercheval (BSJ 1977; MSJ, 2005) is celebrating his 41st year with the West Virginia Radio Corporation. He is the vice president of operations, as well as a talk show host. Richard Lee (BSJ, 1975) is currently freelancing and teaching English as a second language. He hopes to teach English overseas this year. He is a retired journalist. Charles Mason (BSJ, 1977) retired from newspaper work on June 1, 2017, after 40 years in journalism. He last worked at the Bowling Green Daily News of Bowling Green, Kentucky, where he served as a police, education, and business reporter for the past five years.

Kathy Palokoff (BSJ, 1975) has released a motivational howto book called, “Firestarters: How Innovators, Instigators, and Initiators Can Inspire You to Ignite Your Own Life.” The book provides insights into the difference between people who make things happen and those who only think about making an impact. Palokoff is the chief ignitor and owner of goFirestarter, a consulting company that provides strategically-driven content.

1980s

Kristen Emery (BSJ, 1988) is a meteorologist for KDKA-TV in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Jeff Hertrick (BSJ, 1981) was promoted to director of digital video operations at National Geographic in Washington, D.C. He has worked for the company for 16 years. In 2017, Hertrick also joined the faculty of Northwestern University at the Medill School of Journalism as an adjunct lecturer at its Washington, D.C., location. Delice Weaver (BSJ, 1983) is a marketing coordinator for Launch Federal Credit Union in Merritt Island, Florida.

1990s

Marc Davis (BSJ, 1999) is a coordinating producer at SNY in New York, New York. Jeff Geisler (BSJ, 1993) is the chief marketing officer at Crispin Porter + Bogusky.

Assad Khan (BSJ, 1999) is the director for undergraduate student affairs at George Mason University College of Science in Fairfax, Virginia. He works in radio as well at DC101. He earned his master’s degree in Higher Education from George Mason, and he and his wife welcomed their son, Aydin, into the world in March 2018.

Journalist recognized in annual defense journalism award competition

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J. Ford Huffman (BSJ, 1972) has been recognized for his work in Commentary for

the Military Times by the Military Reports & Editors Association, the preeminent organization for U.S. media professionals specializing in national security. The judges were faculty members at the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University and Howard University. The judges wrote that he is “one of the few regular sources of helpful commentary about contemporary military-related fiction and nonfiction.” Huffman will be recognized at MRE’s annual conference on October 26 at the Navy League of the United States headquarters in Arlington, Virginia.

Melissa Kress (BSJ, 1993) was promoted to senior news editor at Convenience Store News in Jersey City, New Jersey. She joined the business-to-business magazine in November 2010 as associate editor and was previously promoted to senior editor. Philip Maramba (MSJ, 1993) is a research and writing specialist for FEMA in Charleston, West Virginia. John Shepard (BSJ, 1995) was promoted to vice president of Tower Operations at TelConn Inc., in Parkersburg, West Virginia. Rick Smith (BSJ, 1990) published his first short story, “In Organ Cave Where Tina Danced,” in the Boulevard Press anthology “Warp: A Speculative Trio,” in May 2016. He also published his first novel, “Times Squared” (a licensed DOCTOR WHO spinoff in the “Lethbridge-Stewart” series from British publisher Candy Jar Books) in November 2016. He is a senior media writer, NASA Marshall for ASRC Federal in Huntsville, Alabama.

2000s

Nicole Beagin (BSJ, 2010) is a communications specialist for The College of New Jersey in Ewing, New Jersey. Erin Beck (BSJ, 2015) is a healthcare strategic communications consultant for Jarrard Phillips Cate & Hancock in Brentwood, Tennessee. Jason Bentley (MS IMC, 2009) received a Doctor of Education in Higher Education Leadership & Innovation from Wilmington University in fall 2017. Jason and his wife, Kristie, were inducted into the Irvin Stewart Society on September 15, 2017. He is the director of development for Delaware Technical Community College in Georgetown, Delaware. Chelsea Bricker (BSJ, 2017) is the director of strategic communications for Vaught, Inc., in Beckley, West Virginia. Scott Castleman (BSJ, 2005) was named PRSA-WV’s 2017 Practitioner of the Year. He is the manager of U.S. Gas Communications for TransCanada in Charleston, West Virginia, specializing in media relations, operational and emergency communications support, and social media management. He led TransCanada’s external communications efforts across the company’s 31,000 miles of U.S. natural gas pipeline and $8 billion growth portfolio. Domenick Casuccio (BSJ, 2002) was named the 2017 Attraction Partner of the Year by Richmond Regional Tourism. He also received the Commonwealth Award of Merit in Community Relations in May 2017 from PRSA Richmond. Casuccio is the director of communications for the American Cancer Society in Glen Allen, Virginia.

College of Media alumna wins Food Network cooking competition

Robert Chan (BSJ, 2009) is a supervisor at GroupM in Los Angeles, California. Jennifer Colodney (MS IMC, 2012) was named the vice president of marketing and communications for the Somerset County YMCA, based in Basking Ridge, New Jersey. In that role, she oversees the marketing communications function across all five branches: Basking Ridge (Mt Airy and Riverwalk locations), Somerville, Bridgewater and Hillsborough. Nicole Curtin (BSJ, 2015) is a varsity athletics communications intern at Dartmouth College in Hanover, New Hampshire. Joel Danoy (BSJ, 2009) is the director of marketing and communications for Mercy High School in San Francisco, California. Maria De Lucca (MS IMC, 2016) is an integrated marketing specialist for Minitab in Chicago, Illinois. Tracey Gould (MS IMC, 2010) was named vice president of communications and marketing for NC Realtors in Greensboro, North Carolina. She was also selected to present at the national REALTOR AE conference in 2018. Her presentation, “Get Inked,” covered strategies on building relationships with the media and earning media placements. Richard Jones (BSJ, 2004) is the national sales manager for Equipment Trader, a division of Trader Interactive, in Norfolk, Virginia.

FOODNETWORK.COM

Brittany Furbee (BSJ, 2014; MSJ, 2015) has won Food Network’s “Cooks vs.

Cons,” a cooking competition program in which two home chefs go up against two professionals. Furbee went on to prove “Mountaineers go first” by winning $10,000 and bragging rights by beating two professional chefs.

Tommy Morgan (MS IMC, 2017) is a public relations account executive for Sage Communications in McLean, Virginia. Kristina Murrill (MS IMC, 2014) was named the creative director at The Manahan Group, an advertising and public relations firm in Charleston, West Virginia.

Rachel Palo (BSJ, 2011; MS IMC, 2014) is a communications specialist for Blue Cross Complete/AmeriHealth Caritas in Southfield, Michigan. Matt Perl (MS IMC, 2013) was named the director of customer acquisition for the Oakland Athletics in Oakland, California.

Ann Mangold (BSJ, 2002) is a vice consul at the U.S. Department of State in Sao Paulo, Brazil.

Nicole Racadag (BSJ, 2008; MSJ 2010) is the managing editor at the American College of Radiology in Reston, Virginia.

Stephanie Mathias (BSJ, 2009) is the director, Cox Political Action Committee at Cox Enterprises in Washington, D.C.

Chris Schielzo (BSJ, 2011) is a program management lead at Yahoo! in Los Angeles, California.

Jessica McGee (BSJ, 2007; MSJ, 2009) is the assistant director of digital communications, video strategy for the NCAA in Greenwood, Indiana. In May 2017, her and her husband welcomed a baby girl into their family.

Jeffrey Tice (MS IMC 2016) is a program coordinator of New Student Orientation in the Office of Admissions for West Virginia University.

Alex McPherson (BSJ, 2011; MS DMC 2017) is the director of insights and analytics at FleishmanHillard in Dallas, Texas.

Morgan Uhler (BSJ, 2013) is a KYW Newsradio promotions director at CBS Radio in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Kyle Monroe (BSJ, 2017) is a remote broadcast coordinator for the University of Florida in Gainesville, Florida. He is responsible for broadcast engineering, logistics and recruitment for ESPN/ SEC network television productions, as well as the GatorVision video productions across all sports at the university.

Laken Vita (BSJ, 2014) is an audio visual assistant for Team People at the World Bank in Washington, D.C. Ashlie Walter (BSJ, 2013) is a writer/ photographer for the Virginia Military Institute in Lexington, Virginia.

Tim Wright (BSJ, 2017) is a business unit communications specialist for TransCanada Corporation in Houston, Texas.

IN MEMORY We extend our heartfelt condolences to the families and friends of the following WVU Reed College of Media alumni who have passed away from June 2017 through April 2018. Ashley D. Asbury (BSJ, 2005) Norman G. Booth (BSJ, 1977) Thomas J. Cervenak (BSJ, 1949) Sue A. Childs (BSJ, 1969) John B. Crist (BSJ, 1981) J. B. Fisher (BSJ, 1973) Donald G. Groves (BSJ, 1995) Julia A. Halstead (BSJ, 1976) John C. Harwick (MSJ, 1981) Tina N. Jones (BSJ, 2000) Joseph R. Kilmer (MS IMC, 2014) Janice L. Knopp (BSJ, 1977) Perry S. Newhouse (BSJ, 1988) James A. Pahl (BSJ, 1979) Kathleen U. Poling (BSJ, 1961) Thomas J. Polites (BSJ, 1977) Cletis G. Pride (BSJ, 1953) Monique T. Rollins (BSJ, 1984) David R. Sutphin (BSJ, 1982) Jonas N. Swecker (BSJ, 1976) Susan E. Taylor (BSJ, 1952) Mary E. Voltz (BSJ, 1949)

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Bryan Moffett (BSJ, 2004) is the chief operating officer at National Public Media in Washington, D.C.

Katie White (BSJ, 2013) is the creative director and faculty liaison at Strategic HR U.S., in Portland, Maine.

THE LAST WORD WITH

Jane Schachtel

INTERVIEWED BY ERICA LINDSAY

It’s easy to “like” alumna Jane Schachtel’s mantra – marketing new technologies with new technology. Since graduating with her bachelor’s degree in Journalism in 1988, Schachtel has lead marketing teams for companies like Microsoft, Intuit and, most recently, Facebook. From the heart of Silicon Valley, Schachtel is the director of Facebook’s Global Marketing Solutions, where she creates and manages partnerships with global agencies and brands to help them be as successful as possible on the social media platform.

SUMME R 2 018

You’ve worked for some well-known, innovative companies. Did you ever imagine this would be your path when you were a student at WVU? When I was at WVU, the internet was barely up and running. So, it wasn’t as if I said “I’m going to be part of that.” It was more about wanting to do marketing for products that change and evolve but also have a lot of value in people’s lives. That’s what I thrive on. To be able to work for a company like Facebook whose mission is to connect people around the world and help them form communities – it’s so powerful. I feel privileged and honored to work for a place with a mission like that.

Your professional career progressed alongside the World Wide Web. What was it like implementing this new medium into your marketing plans? Since the start of my career, I’ve gotten the most energy from marketing new technologies with new technology, from ecommerce and online banking to search and, most recently, Facebook. The internet, mobile, AI, VR, and whatever else is coming – continuously disrupts business models and marketing models which creates a ton of new and fun programs to work on.

How do you stay current on the latest trends in technology in media? Living in Silicon Valley means you’re surrounded by tech people, companies, podcasts and blogs. There are a couple go-to sources I have. One is Ben Thompson’s daily newsletter, Stratechery and for media, it’s AdAge or The Drum. I get my best ideas and inspiration on long trail runs.

Can you think of a specific big win or special moment during your career at Facebook? One of the most genuinely inspiring moments for me is when Mark (Zuckerberg) shared his manifesto and changed our mission to be about community in March 2017. We, as a company, realized that we did a really good job of connecting people with people, and we were seeing communities naturally arise from those connections. To evolve our mission to be about that – where people can find purpose in their connections – to me, that’s a really beautiful and meaningful evolution that reflects what makes people, people. They’re connecting to each other and now we’re helping by building tools to connect them to things they care about. Do you have any special memories about your time at WVU? WVU was where I really discovered myself and my strengths because the University offered so many opportunities. The College of Media, specifically, allowed me to take on the first-ever magazine editorial internship for WVU’s college radio station, U92. The College gives their students the freedom to find the things they are really passionate about and do great, constructive work in that area. That is a special thing and I’m really appreciative that I was given that freedom. Do you use social media in your personal life? Social media has had a hugely positive impact on my life, from being able to connect to friends from all parts of my life to staying in touch with families to being able to connect to and donate to the causes I care about. For example, a few weeks ago NatGeo started a Facebook Group called Women of Impact and the stories that are being told and shared in that group are really powerful. I regularly use Facebook and Instagram Stories.

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WVU Media College Magazine 2018

Articles inside

The Last Word

Donors and Scholars

Student Profiles

Class Notes

Faculty News

For the Social Good

Leading Innovation

Message from the Dean

Year in Review