JWR News and information for EIU students in the Department of Journalism

April 2014Vol. 1, No. 2

T h e J o u r n a l i s t

T h e W a v e l e n g t h

T h e R e l a y

Staff Editorial

Throughout the Eastern Illinois University journalism department, communication law is one of the most revered—and feared— courses required in the curriculum. The man behind the class, James Tidwell, was one of the most respected and known among the students.

Tidwell died the morning of April 12 after a 19-month-long battle with pan-creatic cancer. He left behind shoes that will never quite be filled in the same way. Starting at Eastern in 1987, Tidwell was a strong proponent of the 1st Amendment and wrote the book on media law in the state of Illinois, Me-dia Law in Illinois: A Reporter’s Hand-book .

An avid sports fan, Tidwell was filled with Eastern pride. He was also a member of the Coles County Babershop Chorus and sang in the choir at the First United Methodist Church in Gulfport, Miss.

Toward the end of Tidwell’s fight with cancer, students, faculty, and al-ums of the journalism program wrote encouraging and reflective messages about their experiences with the former department chair.

Sean Copeland, senior journalism major, took communication law with Tidwell this semester and said that he was a kind of mentor to him.

“I didn’t meet James Tidwell until I was admitted to Eastern and I remem-ber how he showed me the program and

what classes I need to take in order to achieve my goals,” Copeland says on Facebook.

Copeland says that while he did not always agree with the former depart-ment chair, he respected Tidwell and his devotion to the First Amendment and Eastern Illinois University.

Some students took to social media to pay their respects to Tidwell without even knowing him.

“I will forever regret not getting to know you, though you did help me get my first semester in order,” Jason How-ell, current journalism student, said. “Despite what every one says about Comm. Law, I was looking forward to the challenge.”

Some faculty noted that Tidwell was also a huge fan of the Swedish Pop group ABBA.

“The chance to sit in a dark and din-gy Dairy Queen, complete with three DQ workers smoking in a nearby booth while eating chicken strips in rural In-diana as James sang the ABBA classic, Fernando,” journalism professor Brian Poulter says. “It brings a tear to my eye just thinking about it.”

Some were surprised to hear that Tidwell was a big fan of ABBA.

“Aware of his Oklahoma roots, I would have assumed that his ears bent more towards Nashville, rather than Stockholm,” Dan Crews, Director of Pa-tron Services at Doudna Fine Arts Cen-ter says. “So today, when I think of An-ni-frid, Benny, Bjorn and Agnetha, I also think of James.”

Although Tidwell may be gone he will live on in the memories of all of us in The Agency,the journalism depart-ment, Eastern Illinois University and supporters of the First Amendment.

“James Tidwell lives on – a part of him in every EIU student he taught or mentored,” journalism instructor Liz Viall says.

Survivors include his wife, Muri-el Everton, also a professor at Eastern, whom he married in 1991; his father, Ray Tidwell, and his stepmother, Bet-te Chasteen Tidwell, Moore, Okla.; his sister, Phyllis Foree and brother-in-law Roger Foree, Pasadena, Texas.

Journalism department loses beloved chairman, professor, mentor

“I didn’t meet James Tidwell until I was admitted to Eastern and I remember how he showed me the program and what classes I needed to take in order to achieve my goals.”

— Sean Copeland

James Tidwell in the department’s conference room. Photo by Brian Poulter

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JWR T h e J o u r n a l i s t

T h e W a v e l e n g t h

T h e R e l a y

JWR is a publication of the EIU Department

of Journalism.2521 Buzzard Hall,600 Lincoln Ave.,

Charleston, IL 61920 217-581-6003

www.eiu.edu/~journal

JWR: is organized, edited and designed by The Agency, the student-run public re-lations firm at EIU.

The Agency meets:Every Thursday in 2434 Buzzard Hall5 p.m.

Editor: Ty Noel

Associate Editor:

Alex Seidler

Photographers:Liz GrubartJoe ValenzioBrian Poulter

The Agency produces JWR and writes news for the department’s blog

Blog: www.eiujournalism.wordpress.com

Twitter: @EIU_Journalism

Facebook Page:search for Eastern Illinois University Journalism

Staff:

Gina Volk takes Reins of WarblerBy Liz Grubart

Gina Volk, a junior jour-nalism major with a focus in photojournalism, was chosen to be the new editor for The Warbler.

Volk began working as an editor for the yearbook while attending East Rich-land high school, which sparked her interest in jour-nalism and started her pur-suit for yearbook.

“I knew this was exactly what I wanted to do,” Volk said. “I was very devoted to it.”

After attending Olney

Central College, she trans-ferred to Eastern and be-gan working for The War-bler immediately.

Volk said the main theme for the yearbook is focusing on individuals and profile pieces.

“I love yearbook be-cause it’s very photo heavy and you can be more cre-ative with designs and ideas,” Volk said. “It’s also great because people al-ways go back to look at their old yearbooks, and it’s good to know that people will be looking at my book years from now.”

By Richard Upshaw

Every year the journal-ism department puts on an end-of-the-year banquet, and this year is no different.

On Friday, May 2, at 6:30 p.m. the journalism department and student media will gather in the Grand Ballroom for food, speeches, and for students to be recognized for out-standing achievements.

At the event speakers and advisers will give out

awards to students wh0 have shown exemplary leadership in groups such as The Agency, The Daily Eastern News, The Warbler and Fresh.

Also, students who have taken the responsibility of spear heading the organiza-tion they are affiliated with will be recognized for their achievements.

Scholarships will also be awardsed to students who have applied and per-formed at an excellent lev-

el in their academic field of study.

The department awards up to 19 scholarships each year, which are funded by alumni and friends of the department.

The journalism banquet will be a night of relaxation and fun that is open to fac-ulty, retired members of the journalism department, scholarship donors, and students alike. Students tickets are $10; tickets for all others are $15.

Since incorporation at EIU in 1983, Kappa Tau Alpha has been recognizing ac-ademic achievement and encouraging scholarship among journalism and mass communication students. Kappa Tau Alpha acknowledges the top ten percent of graduating students and extends to them an invitation to become members of an elite group. April 1 the honor society welcomed four new members. They are Bri-an Vorce, Seth Schroeder, Shea Lazansky and Josh Jones. Photo by Joe Valenzio

Gina Volk is the new editor of The Warbler, EIU’s year-book. Photo by Liz Grubart

Candidates for grad-uation in journalism this spring and summer in-clude, for spring 2014: Nick Blankenship, Sabrina Dun-can, Kaylia Eskew, Natalie Fedder, Margaret Hocken-berry, Shea Lazansky, Jal-isa Paramore, Amir Prell-berg, Emily Provance, Seth Schroeder, Daniel So-menck, Jillian Stock, Bri-an Vorce and Michael Wol-bers.

Candidates for summer 2014 graduation are: Sa-

sha Corwin, Brandyce Gor-don, Kyle Mayhugh, Tyler Noel, Ashleigh Owens, Mi-randa Ploss, Jasmine Ran-dle, Bryce Ricketts and Ju-waan Wright.

Fall 2013 graduates in journalism included Pip-er Black, Stacey Catterson, Robyn Dexter, Sara Hall, Dana Jackson, Erik Jensen, Samantha McDaniel, Kath-ryn Richter, Rachel Rodg-ers, Jordan Thiede, Lauren Thomas, Alex Warpinski and Merritt Whitley.

23 named as candidatesfor spring, summer

2014 graduation

Website: www.eiu.edu/~agency

The Agency Adviser:

Liz Viall,ekviall@eiu.edu

Writers: Alex SeidlerJoe Valenzio

Richard UpshawLiz GrubartKatelyn Ifft

Katelyn DonovanMichael Wolbers

The Agency is looking for you!

The student-run public relations firm at EIU will be hiring editors for paid

positions in fall 2014. If you’re interesting in writing, design, public relations and campaigns, join us fall

semester. Contact Katelyn Ifft,2014-15 director, at krifft@eiu.edu

AgencyDirector:Michael Wolbers

Agency Assoc. Director:Katelyn Ifft

Journalism/Student MediaScholarships, awards

focus of May 2 department event

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Spring 2014 went by in a whirlwind and a blurEnd of the year

Warbler continues tradition of the coffee table layoutBy Katelyn Donovan

The 2013-14 edition of he Warbler, the EIU year-book, will be distributed to graduating seniors upon cap and gown pick-up.

The layout will again be in the form of a ‘coffee ta-ble’ book, which started in 2011. Sally Renaud, a jour-nalism professor at EIU as well as the adviser to The Warbler, gives a big thanks to ad sales.

The longevity of the members created a special bond which will be cele-brated along with the book at a dinner. This is when the

staff really gets to see the book for the first time. Re-naud said she was proud of the staff, which welcomed newbies and the non-jour-nalism majors.

“We will miss the grad-uating seniors. These last weeks with no pressures makes it feel like they moved out of the news room onto a different life. It is bitter sweet,” Renaud said.

Renaud was especial-ly grateful to Betsy Jewell, along with student publica-tions and The DEN.

“It is a great feeling to have all of their support.”

She also recognized Bran-dyce Gordon, the graduat-ing editor of The 2013-14 Warbler.

“She is a great teacher, and is still helping out with this upcoming book. It is hard to imagine life without her here when she goes on to bigger and better things,” Renaud said.

Gina Volk was hired as the new editor. She al-ready has her management team set up, and they have the next book in progress. It is a nonstop process; just like the news, it comes ev-ery day. The Warbler staff meets on Sunday evenings.

The 2013-14 cover of The Warbler is black with spotch-es of color, a contrast to the previous year’s white cov-er.

Yearbook

By Alyssa Stockton

As usual, journalism students at EIU have been busy this semester.

The Agency has con-stantly updated the journal-ism department’s Twitter account to keep other stu-dents, alumni and friends informed of the latest hap-penings. Posts varied from upcoming events and vis-iting alumni on campus to new articles on the de-partment’s Wordpress blog to retweets and mentions about other campus activi-ties.

The loss of Dr. James Tidwell became the biggest news this semester, when he died Saturday, April 12, after a 19-month battle with pancreatic cancer. Tidwell was the journalism depart-ment chairman and taught communication law at EIU for 27 years.

This year marked a milestone for the Dan-iel Thornburgh chap-ter of PRSSA. Celebrating 30 years, the chapter wel-comed back Thornburgh’s widow, Adrien Thornburgh, as well as retired faculty ad-viser Terry Johnson.

The Agency brought back the Salvation Army Talent Show for it’s second year, with increased atten-dance and performance va-riety.

Emcee Michael Wolbers kept the crowd entertained, and the judges named beat-boxer Danny Trevor as the winner for the second year in a row.

In February, Home-coming North, the annual Chicago gathering of jour-nalism alumni and student media, was successful.

Professor Cameron Craig spoke at the Society of Collegiate Journalists’ After

Hours Program about his documentary in progress, “Expedition Endurance: An Inquiry into Human Sur-vival.” Also, Buzzard Hall said farewell to Dave Ross, a building service worker who retired after 10 years with EIU.

Nearing the end of the semester the department prepares to say farewell to graduating seniors, includ-ing Brad Kupiec, a broad-cast journalism student who is using his experi-ence with Hit-Mix radio at EIU to pursue his goal in sports announcing. Hit-Mix 88.9 was nominated for an MTVu Woodie Award for outstanding college radio this semester.

Campus welcomed mul-tiple journalism alumni all semester long, including Timothy Martin (‘06), Ted Gregory (‘81) , and Barbara Harrington (‘11). They talk-

ed about their times at EIU, involvement on campus, and current careers.

The Daily Eastern News won 11 awards in the Soci-ety for Collegiate Journal-ists’ national contest this semester.

The News took first place in staff editorials and third place in companion website.

Zachary White took sec-ond place in photo essay. Dominic M Baima took sec-ond place in news photog-raphy and third place in sports photography.

Mia Tapella took third place in column writing. Rob Downen took third place in feature writing and received an honorable men-tion in column writing.

Dominic Renzetti re-ceived an honorable men-tion in the editorial page category. Ashley Holstrom received an honorable

mention in front-page lay-out and Aldo Soto received an honorable mention in sports news story.

Friday, May 2

IHSA Journalism Com-petition - all day, main site in Buzzard Hall

6:30 p.m. - Journalism and Student Media Ban-quet, 6:30 p.m., University Ballroom, MLK Jr. Union

Saturday,May 10`

Journalism Graduate Breakfast, 9:30 a.m., 7th Street Underground, MLK Jr. Union

College of Arts and Hu-manities commencement, noon

By Alex Seidler

Ted Gregory (’81) has co-authored a book with Paul ‘Whitey’ Kapsalis on Kapsalis’ experience in col-lege soccer.

Gregory and Kapsalis visited EIU April 8 to talk about the book. Gregory talked to journalism class-es during the day. He and Kapsalis spoke about their book in the physical scienc-es auditorium that evening.

Kapsalis was told by friends, coaches and profes-sors throughout college that he would never make it as a college athlete.

“You shouldn’t be con-cerned about the outcome,”

Kapsalis said. “It’s all about the journey.”

The book follows his journey as he goes from a struggling member of the soccer team at Indiana Uni-versity to leading his team to an undefeated season as its captain. Gregory decid-ed to take on the project of co-authoring the book about his cousin’s experi-ence, which he has said is the soccer version of Rudy.

“I found the project ex-citing and compelling,” Gregory said. “One of the best parts was reconnecting with my cousin.”

Over the past year Greg-ory traveled all around with Kapsalis to promote the story.

“If you learned from the journey and odyssey then no matter how it ends it’s very worthwhile and you shouldn’t be concerned about the outcome,” Kapsa-lis said.

Kapsalis said he tries to not have any regrets. He has advice for those who want to follow their dreams.

“Just when you get in-spired, have confidence coupled with perseverance to get where you want,” he said. “Always keep an open mind and never lose sight of the original seed.”

Gregory writes for the Chicago Tribune. In 2008 he was part of the Chicago Tribune team that won the

Pulitzer Prize in investiga-tive reporting.

The book is now avail-able on Amazon.

Gregory co-writes book on soccer journeyPRSSA is a profession-

al organization for students studying public relations at EIU.

Students must pay $60 dues each year to join the national and local organiza-tions.

Each year PRSSA sends members to national and regional conferences, holds workshops and network-ing events, plans events and campaigns and meets pub-lic relations professionals.

Dr. Brian Sowa is the group’s adviser. The EIU chapter is named after Dan-iel Thornburgh, the found-er of the journalism depart-ment at Eastern.

PRSSA seeksnew members

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The agency presents:The Agency’s second talent show helps raise food,

funds for the Salvation Army

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Quinn Hussey and Ethan Kinsella perform ‘Free Fallin’ by Tom Petty one last time together before graduation. Photo by Joe Valenzio

By Mike Wolbers

Having just graduated from Eastern Illinois Uni-versity’s journalism pro-gram in 2006 and now working for the Journal Ga-zette-Times Courier, Kate Pleasant was writing an ar-ticle about a television pro-gram that was going into its fifth season.

The show was Heartland Highways, a program about unique people and places in Illinois, Indiana and Mis-souri.

Pleasant interviewed Heartland Highways host Lori Casey about the show for her article. A few months down the road when Casey was searching for a co-host, she remembered Pleasant and thought she would be a

perfect fit. “I had a small town con-

nection and a natural curi-osity which helps when you are trying to tell the story,” Pleasant said.

Pleasant jumped at the opportunity, and became the new co-host of Heart-land Highways as well as a producer/director at WEIU’s NewsWatch.

As a student at EIU, leasant had worked for both The Daily Eastern News and WEIU.

“You know it was inter-esting for me because I kind of got to see both sides of the coin,” Pleasant said, “It was different coming back be-cause I had been in the stu-dents shoes not that long ago.”

While still working on

Heartland Highways and WEIU, Pleasant was able to graduate with a Master’s of Science degree in 2012, majoring in technology and training development.

After six years at WEIU, Pleasant will be leaving for her new position at Sarah Bush Lincoln as a perfor-mance consultant.

Pleasant says that her position will be a challenge.

“I will be doing employ-ee training and will be work-ing with the whole staff to make sure that they are al-ways at their best,” Pleasant says. Her background in journalism has helped her become a versatile commu-nicator, Pleasant says.

“Journalism in whatever field you take on is a broad skill set,” Pleasant said, “You

are taught to do so many dif-ferent things that you are not just stuck in one field.”

The former WEIU pro-ducer/director saw the per-formance consultant posi-tion as an opportunity.

“I wanted to branch out and grow, this position and field is new and different for me,” Pleasant said. Even though she is leaving WEIU, Pleasant will not be far from the PBS affiliate.

“I will never forget what I learned here,” Pleasant said, “I will miss Heartland Highways, the family atmo-sphere and the staff and stu-dents at NewsWatch.”

As Kate says on the Heartland Highways web-page, “Maybe I’ll see you out there on the Heartland Highways.”

Kate Pleasant to leave for Sarah Bush Lincoln

By Joe Valenzio

On April 10 parents, students, and children of all ages filed into Pemberton’s Grand Hall to watch students give it their all while they performed their unique talents.

The Agency sponsored its second annual talent show. The proceeds from the night were donated to the Salva-tion Army, and with students bringing either a dollar for entry or a canned good, it was not difficult to make an im-pact.

The night quickly started off on a good note when Mike Wolbers, The Agency director, took to the stage to greet and do a little stand-up comedy to get the night rolling.

A lot of talent was in the house that night, with per-formances including rapping, Irish dancing, and even some yodeling. It was a tough competition to say the least with crowds shouting in pleasure after every per-formance.

Halfway through the show the crowd was treated by a special performance from EIU’s Hello Dali. If you have yet to see a performance by Hello Dali they are an impro-visational group geared towards knee-slapping comedy guided with the audience’s participation.

The night was coming to an end as the final perfor-mance was taking the stage. Danny Treavor, last year’s first-place winner, stood in front of the crowd as he began to produce simulated noises of scratching records, beats, and rhythms while only using his mouth as a source of sound.

Danny Treavor is a senior communication studies major who has been winning talent competitions using only the percussions of his voice since he was a junior in high school.

The crowds cheers were not enough to gauge who was worthy of taking top prize for their talents. The de-cision came down to the judges who were looking for creativity, audience appeal, entertainment, and stage presentation. The results were in, and with a drum roll provided by Danny Treavor’s ability, the winners were announced.

Third place winners were Quinn Hussey and Ethan Kinsella with a heartfelt duet performance of Free Fal-lin’ played on acoustic guitar and banjo.

Coming in a close second was Konahr Shirley who si-lenced the crowd with her flawless Irish dancing talent.

First place was awarded to Danny Treavor who suc-cessfully fended off the competition to remain the most talented in the show.

Judges for the talent show were Crystal Brown and Rachel Fisher. In addition, an audience member was chosen to participate as a judge.

The Agency collected three boxes of canned goods and about $69 for the Salvation Army.

Kate Pleasant