EAGLE CALLVOLUME 1, ISSUE 2SPRING 2010

LETTER FROM THE CHAIR...

The 2009-2010 school year is keeping the department of communicationsbusywith the addition of themass communication portfolio requirement andthe proposed master’s program. The portfolio was a recommendation fromtheAccreditingCouncilonEducation in JournalismandMassCommunications,orACEJMC.Thishasbeenputinplaceforallmasscommunicationmajorswhodeclaredtheirmajorsummer2009orlater.Thenewportfoliorequirementwillgivestudentsashowcaseoftheirwork,whichtheycanpresenttoprospectiveemployersandwillbeanimportantpartofthedepartment’sassessmentprocess.TheportfoliowillbereviewedandevaluatedinCOMM497,CareerPlanningandPersonalDevelopment.

USIhopesto implementthenewMasterofArts inCommunicationprogramintothefall2010semester.Themaster’sprogramhasbeenapprovedoncampuswiththeUSIboardoftrusteesandwassubmittedtothestateforapproval.Themaster’sprogramisagreatopportunityforstudentstofurthertheireducationwithouttravelingtoadistantcampus. USIhasagrowingpopulationandthecampusisadjustingwithsomekeybuildingadditions.USIhasrecentlyintroducedDr.RonaldS.RochonasthenewProvostandvicepresidentofacademicaffairs. Iwouldencourageprospectivestudentsandpastalumnitovisitthecampusorourwebsitetolearnmoreaboutareasofstudyofferedbythedepartmentofcommunications.

J. Wayne Rinks Ph.DChair of the Department of Communications

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WHAT’S INSIDE...

Social Networking Sites: The Modern Classified SectionBy Ben WillsPage 3

Communications Student Spotlight:Jessica GerlachBy Amy BrittPage 3

SMALL TOWN, BIG DREAMSSouthern Indiana Town Goes Green to Achieve DreamBy Whitney WagonerSubmitted to Reader’s Digest MagazinePage 4-5Department of Communications Welcomes New FacultyBy Nicole WessleyPage 6

Second Annual Communications CookoutBy Lauren TraceyPage 7

Radio and Television Student Receives Awards for His Works By Sara CarronPage 7

Student’s Participate in 18th Annual High School Media DaysBy Amber JohnsonPage 8

Lee Presents Paper to AEJMCBy Meghan SeibertPage 9

Internship Opportunities Create Map for SuccessBy Katie EvansPage 10

Incoming Freshman Are Required to Build PortfolioBy Megan OrrPage 11

Communication Studies Connection: A New Direction for the Communications ClubBy Nick FowlerPage 13

University of Southern Indiana8600 University Boulevard Evansville IN, 47712-3596

Phone 812/464-1855

AdvisorMary Beth Reese

DesignersAmber Johnson Ben Wills

EditorsMeghan Seibert Lauren Tracey

Howard Wins Award at Conference in IrelandBy Michelle SeibPage 12

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Today’seconomyhascreatedacompetitivejobmarketrequiringuniqueapproachestothejobsearch.Inthepast,jobsearcheswerefrequentlydonebysearchinglaboriouslythroughclassifiedsectionsofnewspaperswiththehopeoffindingpotentialemployment. LinkedIn,apopularsocialnetworkingsitewith50+millionusers,hashelpedtostreamlinethejobsearchprocess,essentiallymakingclassifiedsectionsobsolete.MembersofthebusinessorientedWebsitecreateprofilescloselyresemblingarésuméwhichhighlightstheusers’educationandemploymenthistory.ThetraditionalrésuméisgivenaninnovativeupdateontheWebsite,addingfeatureslikea“Recommended”sectionwhichallowsothermembers,whoarefamiliarwithyourworkethic,towriterecommendationsonyourbehalf. Arguably,themostusefulfeatureofthesiteisthe“Connections”feature,whichallowsuserstobeconnectedwithothermembers.Thesepotentiallyvaluableconnectionscanhelplandajobinatougheconomy,givingreferencetotheadagethat“it’sallaboutwhoyouknow.” Recentgraduate,KaylaRoark,believesintheimportanceofputtingyourselfoutthere. “Jobswillnotcometoyou,andbyputtingyourselfoutthere,youwillincreasethechancesoffindingcompatibleemployment,”Roarksaid. Sendingamessagetoaconnectiononthesite,whoyoudonotnecessarilyknowwell,isnotastabooasmanywouldthink. “Don’tjustaskforajob.Instead,sayanyadviceyoucangiveisappreciated,”Roarksaid. Companies,too,areusingeveryavailableresourcetomoreefficientlylocateandscreenthemostqualifiedandcompatiblejobseekers.InaJune2009surveyofmorethan2,600hiringmanagersbyCareerbuilder.com,45percentofemployerssaidthattheyusesocialnetworkingsites,likeLinkedIn,toscreenpotentialjobcandidatescomparedtojust22percentlastyear. LinkedIncanalsobeawaytoreconnectwithformerclassmates.IfyouareinterestedinjoiningLinkedIn,gotowww.linkedin.com.

Social Networking Sites: The Modern Classified SectionBy Ben Wills

Communications Student Spotlight: Jessica GerlachBy Amy Britt

AccordingtoadvertisingprofessorRobertJeffers,youwillhaveahardtimefindinganycommunicationsstudentwhoismorepreparedforsuccessthanJessicaGerlach.“She’sdoneitall,”Jefferssaid.“Shemaintainsa4.0GPA,spentasemesterabroadatHarlaxton,hadaninternshipwithKellerCrescent,hasanotheronelinedupwithSMGandis

theAdvertisingClubpresident.” ThroughbeinginvolvedwiththeAdvertisingClub,GerlachmetMelanieLeach,whoistheMarketingManagerforSMGWorldwideEntertainmentandConferenceVenueManagement.SMGinEvansvillehelpsscheduleeventsforRobertStadium,TheCentre,VictoryTheatreandMeskerAmphitheatre.LeachexplainsthespecificsthatSMGdealswitheveryday,suchasworkingwithbands,ticketsales,makingavailablecertainitemstothecelebritiesandmostimportantly,safeguardingthetalent.Theymustmakesuretherightpeoplearealwaysintherightplacesattherighttimes,aswellasbeingavailableforpressconferenceandpublicappearances. Gerlachismajoringinpublicrelationsandadvertising,withamarketingminor.Shesaysshelikesbusiness,butenjoyscommunicatingwithpeople,whichmakesadvertisingbettersuitedforher.Sheiscurrentlyasenior,withplanstograduateinMay2010.WhenGerlachwasasophomore,shewasrecognizedbyreceivingtheDenisePowersMemorialCommunicationScholarshipthefollowingyear.ThisscholarshipisawardedtojuniorandseniorstudentswhodemonstrateacademicexcellenceandservicetoUSI.Gerlachreceivedthisscholarship,becauseshewasselectedasoneofthestudentsdemonstratingintellectualbrilliance.Jeffers,whoisheradvisor,presentedtheawardattheawardsceremony. “Receivingthisawardmeantalottome,especiallysinceIknewwhoIwasgettingtheawardfrom,”Gerlachsaid.“Mostpeopledon’tknowwhowasgivingthemtheirscholarships;ofcourse,Jefferswasmyadvisor,sothatwasnice.”

JessicaGerlach,publicrelationsandadvertisingmajor

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SMALL TOWN, BIG DREAMSSouthern Indiana Town Goes Green to Achieve DreamBy Whitney WagonerSubmitted to Reader’s Digest Magazine

USI’sPublicRelationsStrategicWritingclassacceptedanewclientforthesemester.ThroughtheCenterforAppliedResearch,thestudentscompleteddeliverablesforIndiana’sfirstnet-zeropubliclibrarylocatedinChrisney,Indianatogainlocal,stateandnationalrecognition. ThisservicelearningprojectdirectlyrelatestotheuniversitycommunityoutreacheffortsthroughUSI’sCenterforAppliedResearchthatactsasa“frontdoor”forstudentstogetafeelofhowandwheretheircareerscouldpossiblytakethempostgraduation.Thecenterisafacilitythathelpsbusinesses,students,facultyandstafflinktogethertomakebusinessgoalsandobjectivesareality. “WemobilizetheresourcesoftheUniversity,includingitfaculty,students,andstaff,tohelpregionalbusinessesandorganizationsthrive,”DirectorforTheCenterforAppliedResearch,SueEllspermannsaid. ThePublicRelationsStrategicWritingClassleadbyinstructorMaryBethReeseturnedintoapublicrelationsdepartmentwhereeachstudentwasassignedtwotothreedeliverables.Mediakitswerecompletedbasedonthedeliverable,newsconferenceswereplanned,articleswrittenandsubmittedforpublication,speecheswritten,apublicrelationsplanwaswritten,agrantwrittenforspecialfunding,nationalmediacontactedandpitchesmade,clientmediatraining,educationalbrochuresfocusedonthesciencebehindnet-zero,andnewsletterarticles. Belowwehaveincludedjustoneexampleofadeliverablecompletedbyastudent.ThisarticlewassubmittedforpotentialpublicationtoReadersDigestbythestudentauthorWhitneyWagoner.

NestledinthehillsofSouthernIndianaisthesmalltownofChrisney,amodestcommunityof544thatpridesitselfoneducation,peoplehelpingpeople,andgoodChristianvalues.Withlittlemorethanastoplight,theresidentsofChrisneylongedforaplacewheretheirchildrencouldgotolearnandgrowandfortheentirecommunitytogather.Theywantedsomethingtocalltheirown,somethingtomakeChrisneyasspecialtoeveryoneelseasitistothem.Withlittlemoneyandawholelotofheart,thissmalltownwasreadytoembarkonajourneyto

achievealoftydream.In2004,WhenChrisneyTownBoardmembersandClerkTreasurer,KimLitkenhus,metwithgrantwritersfromIndianaRegion15todiscussafiveyearcommunityimprovementplan,theysawtheirwindowof

opportunity.Region15isagroupof

grantadministratorsinthestateofIndianaassignedtoassistcertaincommunitiesinapplyingforandreceivinggrants. LitkenhussuggestedtoRegion15andtheTownBoardthatwhatChrisneyneededwasalibrarythatalsoservesasacommunitycenter.Shethenintroducedtheideaforthecommunitytoapplyforagrantforalibrary.ChrisneyhadpreviouslyapproachedtheLincolnHeritagePublicLibrary,Dalebranchforsupportforalibrary,butfundingwasjustnotpossible.However,withtheopportunitytoapplyforcommunityimprovementgrants,LitkenhusandtheTownBoardagreedtomoveforwardandtrytoachievethetown’sdream. LitkenhustookthereignsonthisprojectandwiththehelpofRegion15,startedthetediousjobofapplyingforgrants.ThefirstroundgranttheyappliedforfromOCRA(OfficeofCommunityandRuralAffairs)wasdenied.However,withpersistence,theyappliedforthesecondgrantandreceiveditintheformof$447,000forconstructionfromOCRA.Thegrantalsoincludedastipulationtoraiseanadditional$50,000fortheproject.Thiswasquitealargetask

Theneweco-friendlyChrisneyLibrarythatispoweredbysolarandgeothermalelectricity.

Chrisney Library Creates New Learning Opportunities

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giventoacommunityofonly544,buttheresidentsofChrisneyanditsfaithfulalumniweremorethancapableoftacklingit.Nowfacedwithraising$50,000,thecommunitywouldhavetocometogetherandtrulyshowtheirstrength.Businessesandindividualsincludingareachurchmembersandalumnihadtheopportunitytopledgemoneytothelibrary.Pledgesweregivenintheformof$1000,$10,000and$20,000bypeoplewhowantedtohelpthiswonderfulcommunitycenterbebuilt.However,thelibrarywantedtogivebacktothepeoplewhopledgedmoneybybuildingaplaquethatisplacedintheentranceofthelibrary.Theplaquerecognizedthosepeopleandtheirdonationstoshowtheimportantroletheyplayedinmakingthisdreamareality. Thiscourageoustownalsobandedtogethertosellmemorialbrickstobeusedasthesidewalkleadinguptothelibrarydoors.Thecommunitysoldover300memorialbrickswithdedicationsengravedoneachforlovedonesandfamilies.Over$10,000wasraisedbythesellingofthebricks.Withthepledgeddonationsandthepurchasingofbricks,thistinytenacioustownsurpassedthehugegoalof$50,000byraisinganastounding$80,000. WiththemoneyraisedandsupportfromtheLincolnHeritagePublicLibrary,theonlytaskleftwashowtofundthelibrary’soperationalcostsonceitwasbuilt.TheLHPLagreedtosupportthelibraryaslongasitwasabletokeepoperationalcostsdown.Ifcostswerekeptataminimum,theLPHLwouldtakethelibraryoverin2years. Tryingtofindawaytokeepthecostsofoperatingabuildingataminimumisnoeasytask,however,Litkenhuspresentedafantasticsolutiontotheproblem.Thiswasalsoasolutionthatwouldmakethelibraryevenmoreuniqueofastorythanitalreadywas.WiththehelpofrenownedarchitectBillBrown,LitkenhusdecidedtomakethelibraryIndiana’sfirstnet-zerolibrary. BillBrown,whoisnowthedirectorofsustainabilityatIndianaUniversity,agreedtoworkwithLitkenhustomakethislibraryanenergyefficientfacility.Brown,whoisalsoanativeoftheDale,Indianaarea,isarenownedarchitectknownforhissustainablebuildingdesigns.WiththehelpofBillBrown,makingthelibrarynet-zerowouldnodoubtkeepcostslowenoughtooperate. Tobeconsiderednet-zero,abuildingmustmeetalltheirenergyrequirementsbyusinglow-cost,locallyavailable,nonpolluting,renewableresources.Throughtheuseofsolarpanels,theLincolnHeritagePublicLibrary,ChrisneyBranchwouldgenerateenoughenergytopowertheirfacility,makingitamodelnet-zerofacility.Thelibrarywouldalsousegeothermalandeverythingfromsidingtocarpettoroofingismadefromrecyclables.Withthedecisionto“gogreen”withthelibrary,LitkenhuscalleduponMortonSolarandWind’sBradMortontotakethereignsinmakingthisdecisioncometolife.

Aftermonthsofconstructionandhardwork,theLincolnHeritagePublicLibrary,ChrisneyBranchopenedonwitharibboncuttingonApril19,2009to400eagerattendantsincludingtheChrisneytownboard,theschoolcorporation,theSpencercountycouncil,aswellasMortonSolarandWindrepresentatives.Uponthelibrariesgrandopenings,itquicklybecameexactlywhatLitkenhusenvisionedittobe:acommunitycenter.Thelibrarybecameahavenfortheentirecommunity.Thechildrenflocktothelibrarytoreceivehelpfromthe40volunteersthateagerlyawaitthem.RetiredteachersvolunteertheirtimetoworkwithChrisney’sstudents.Theyhelpthemwithschoolprojectsandhomeworkandmanyothergeneraltutoringskills.ThelibraryisalsostockedwithlaptopsdonatedbytheLibraryDistrict.Thisgiveseveryoneinthecommunityaccesstocomputersandinternet. Thelibraryalsooffersmanycommunityactivitiessuchasmovienightswherethecommunitycancometothelibraryforasit-instylemovieandfreepopcornwiththeirneighborsandfriends.Storytimeisofferedforthechildrentocometothelibraryandheartheirfavoritebookreadtothem.Thelibraryalsooffersthingssuchasbookclubswherethecommunitycanhaveachancetosharetheirloveofliteraturetogether.Therearealsogardeningteamsandacrochetingclassissoontobeoffered,amongotherskillsclasses.AdamTrinkelgrewupinChrisneyandbelievesthelibraryisawonderfulassettohishometown.Trinkelsaid,“PeoplelivinginChrisneyandsurroundingruralareasnowhavegreateraccesstoresources,suchasbooks,computers,andtheinternet.Thelibraryisaplacecommunitymembersareproudofandarededicatedtoitsgrowthandmaintainingitsexistence.Thelibraryhasstrengthenedthesenseofprideamongmembersofthecommunityandpeoplearevolunteeringtheirtimeandtalentstoensurethelibrary’ssuccess.” Overthelast5years,KimLitkenhusandtheentirecommunityofChrisneyhavededicatedtheirtimeandhardworktowardstheirveryowncommunitycenter,butitismuchmorethanthat.Thisstoryofasmalltownreachingouttoitscitizensandpullingtogethertoachieveadreamistosaytheleast,inspirational.Notonlydidthe544membersofthiscommunitycreateawonderfulcenterandlibraryforitspeople,buttheyalsotookastepinmakingtheenvironmentabetterplacebygoinggreen.Chrisney,Indianaachievedtheirdreamandsomuchmore.Thisstoryshouldserveasalivingexamplethatanythingcanbeachievedbydedicationandhardwork.Nodreamisoutofreach,itisalwaysattainable. KimLitkenhussaid,“Thedreamforthiscommunitywastocreateauniqueplaceforitschildrentolearnanditsresidentstogrowtogether.Throughthehardworkanddedicationofourcommunity,thislibraryhastrulybecometheheartofChrisney.”

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Department of Communications Welcomes New FacultyBy Nicole Wessley

UniversityofSouthernIndianawelcomesDr.StephanieYoung,Dr.ZachHenning,andMr.MichaelMcLeodtothedepartmentofcommunicationsthisyear.YoungcompletedhergraduateworkatOhioUniversitywheresheearnedhermaster’sandherdoctorateinvisualrhetoric.Sheisanewprofessorteachingpublicspeaking,gendercommunicationscultureandinterpersonalcommunications.

“MyfatherisanEnglishprofessor,soIguessyoucouldsayitwasinmybloodtoteach,”Youngsaid.“Iloveteaching.ThisyearI’mteachingandlearningwiththestudents,andithelpsbothofus.”AsaKorean-American,Youngusesherethnicidentitytostartdiscussionsinherclassconcerningrace,racialidentityandinterracialcommunications.

Then,theseconversationsareusedtoexplainhowracialandsocialidentitiesareconstructed,expressedandreflectedsocially.McLeod,ajournalismprofessoratUSI,graduatedwithamaster’sdegreefromOhioStateUniversityandwasajournalistfor33yearsbeforebecomingateacher.Thoughhewroteforseveralnewspapers,hespent20yearsattheOrlandoSentinel,wherehewrotefortheirSundaynewspaper.“Ihadalongcareerinthenewspaperindustry,butafewyearsago,IdecidedIwantedtoseewhatitwasliketoteach,”McLeodsaid.McLeodlikesthechallengeofjournalismand

teachingjournalism,especiallytheAssoci¬atedPressStylebook.“IfIcanmakemystudentsseethemagicinwritingandbeyondthepainfulpartsofjournalism,IwillhavedonewhatIintendedtodo,”McLeodsaid.Henningisanassistantprofessorofcommunication

studies.Hecompletedhisdoctoratein2007fromtheUniversityofKentuckyincommu¬nication,focusingonorganizationalandinstructionalcommunication.Whileinschoolstudyingforhismaster’sdegree,hewasa

teachingassistantatthecollegelevelforper¬suasionandpublicspeaking,which

ledhimtodecidethathewantedtoteach.“IneverknewwhatIwantedtobewhenIwasincollege.IalwaysthoughtI’dbeincorporatecom¬munication,butwhileIwasteachingthroughgradschoolIrealizedIwantedtobecomeaprofessor,”Henningsaid.AfterHenningearnedhisdoctorate,hewasavisitingassistantprofessoratEasternKentuckyUniversityfortwoyears.Duringthistime,HenninggainedexperiencethathashelpedhimsucceedatUSI,includingbecominganadvisorfortheCommunicationStudiesConnectionstudentorganization. SinceHenninghasbeenatUSI,hehasreorganizedtheCommunicationStudiesConnection.Sofar,theyhaveraisedmoneyforascholarshipfundfromalumnidonationsandhavesponsoredatroopinIraq.Henninghasmoreplannedfortheclubinthefuture.

Dr.ZacharyHenning,AssisantProfessorofCommunicationStudies

Dr.StephanieYoung,ContractAssistantProfessorofCommunicationStudies

Mr.MichaelMcLeod,InstructorofJournalism

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Second Annual Communications CookoutBy Lauren Tracey

ThesecondannualCommunicationsCookoutwasaperfectwaytostartthesemester.ThePublicRelationsStudentSocietyofAmerica(PRSSA)heldthecookoutforthesecondyearinarowtoraiseawarenessandmembershipfortheclubsinvolvedinthedepartmentofcommunications. “Lastyear,wedecidedtherewasaproblemwiththewaystudentsgotinvolvedandthelackofinvolvementintheclubs,”BrooksCooper,presidentofPRSSA,said.

Thecookoutisawayforthecommunicationsclubstojoinforcesandworktogethertogainindividualmembers.Sincestudentsareabletojoinmorethanoneclubinthedepartmentofcommunications,workingtogethergivesstudentsanopportunitytolearnabouteachclub. ThecookoutwasheldthefirstThursdayofthefallsemesterontheterraceoftheLiberalArtsbuilding.Holdingthecookoutatthebeginningofthesemesterhelpedthecommunicationdepartmentclubsgetaheadstartonattractingstudentbeforeotherclubactivitiesbeganoncampus. ThefreeeventwasheldandfundedbyPRSSA.PRSSAgainedsixnewmembersattheevent.Overall,thisyear’scookoutwasasuccess. “Thesecondyearisalwaysinterestingtoseewhathappens,butweworkedoutthekinksfromthepreviousyearanditturnedouttobepositiveforallclubs,”Coopersaid. Ifyouareanalumnusandwouldliketojointhecookoutnextyear,orwouldliketosponsorthecookout,pleasecontactDr.GaelCooper,advisortoPRSSA,atgcooper@usi.eduorvisitthePRSSAwebsiteathttp://www.usi.edu/libarts/comm/prssa/fortheclubcalendar.

Radio and Television Student Receives Awards for His Works By Sara Carron

AlumnusofUSI,BenWeber,graduatedcumlaudeinMay2009,withamajorinRadioandTelevisionandminorsinbothSociologyandPublicRelationsandAdvertising.WhileattendingUSI,heenteredtheCollegeBroadcastersInc.’sNationalStudentProductionAwardsContest. TheCollegeBroadcastersInc.representsstudentsinvolvedinradio,television,webcastingandotherrelatedmediaventures.Also,theyencourageacommitmenttoeducationandthestudentpursuitofexcellencethroughactiveinvolvementinelectronicmedia,whilepromotingcooperativeeffortsbetweentheassociationandothermediaorganizations. Thisisanationalcontestwith34categoriesandover400entries.Weberenteredthe‘BestPublicServiceAnnouncement’categoryforthisspecificcontest. Weberwroteapublicserviceannouncementaboutthepositiveandnegativeeffectssurroundingrecycling.WebergivescredittoJohnMorris,professor

andGeneralManagerofUSI’sradiostation,forhisencouragementtoenterthecontest.MorrishelpedWeberdiscoverthecategoryhewantedtoenteranddevelophistopiconrecycling.“JohnMorriswasmybiggestinfluence.Heencouragedmetoenterthecontests,andhegavememybaseofknowledgeinproduction,”Webersaid. Weberhasalsoparticipatedinstatewidecompetitions.HeplacedthirdintheBroadcastEducationAssociationPSAcontestinthespring2009.HisworkhasplacedfourtimesintheIndianaAssociationofSchoolBroadcastersCollegeCompetition.In2008,heplacedsecondinSpotproductionandsecondinImaging.In2009,heplacedfirstinSpotproductionandfirstinImaging.

PRSSAPresidentBrooksCooper,VicePresidentofSpecialEventsMeaganWhalin,andVicePresidentofCommunicationsChelseaThomas,enjoyabitetoeatattheCommunicationsCookout.

BenWeber,RTVmajorNationalawardrecipient.

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Student’s Participate in 18th Annual High School Media DaysBy Amber Johnson

USIhostedthisyear’s18thAnnualHighSchoolMediaDaysonFriday,November13.HighSchoolMediaDaysisaneventwherehighschoolstudentsfromthetri-stateareacompeteinnewspaperfeaturestories,yearbooks,photographyandwebsitewritingcontenttobejudgebyprofessionals.Theeventwashostedtogivestudentsachancetoreceiverecognitionfortheirhardworkanddedicationfortheirbestworkscompletedduringtheirhighschoolcareer. Thisyear’skey-notespeakerwasJackPate,PublisherandPresidentoftheEvansvilleCourier&Press.AfterPategavehisspeech,studentsattendedtwobreakoutsessions,dependingontheirspecialinterestwithinthecommunicationsfield. “Thiseventgiveshighschoolstudentsan

opportunitytomeetwithreporters,editors,photographersandinstructorsincommunicationstolearnaboutthecraftsofjournalismandmedia,”saidErinGibson,USIinstructorofJournalism,Advisor,TheShield. “Thisyear’seventwentverywell,”saidDr.Gael

Cooper,professorofpublicrelationsintheUSIdepartmentofcommunications,and

directoroftheScrippsHowardCenterforMediaStudies.“Welookforwardtonextyear’sHighSchoolMediaDay,whereweplanonaddingathirdsession,togivestudentsanotherchancetohearfrommoreprofessionalsregardingtheirspecialinterestwithinthecommunicationsfield.” Thisyear’seventwassponsoredbyScrippsHowardCenterforMediaStudies,EvansvilleCourier&Press,YoungReadersServices,theCollegeofLiberalArtsandtheUniversityofSouthernIndiana.

Dr.Leeandstudent’sdiscusstheimportanceofScholasticAdvertising.

Special Interest Sessions:

Instructor & Title

TheBigSearchforFreshStoryIdeas

Erin Gibson,USIinstructorofJournalism;Adviser,The Shield

WebVideographyWes Rucks,Courier&PressOnlineMultimediaSpecialist

ScholasticAdvertisingYoon-Joo Lee,USIAssistantProfessorofAdvertising

DigitalVideoEditing

David Black,USIAssistantProfessorofRadio&Television;Adviser,AccessUSI

JournalismEthicsChad Tew,USIAssociateProfessorofOnlineJournalism

OnlineJournalism Tom Fischer,Tripodder.com

DigitalAudioEditingJohn Morris,USIInstructorofRadio&Television;GeneralManager,WSWI

DigitalPhotographyErin McCracken,Courier&PressPhotographer,Newspaper Reporting

NewspaperReportingLydia McCoy,Courier&PressCourthouseReporter,Television Reporting

TelevisionReportingBeth Sweeney,WFIE-14Anchor/Reporter,ReportingNews for the Internet

ReportingNewsfortheInternet

Gavin Lesnick,Courier&PressWebandPublicSafetyReporter

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Lee Presents Paper to AEJMCBy Meghan Seibert

Assistantprofessorofadvertising,Dr.Yoon-JooLee,likestoresearchcorporatesponsorshipinsocialcausesbecauseitusesadvertisingpositivelytopromotesocialcause.Whileresearching,shebecameinterestedinhowconsumersunderstandcorporations’effortsinsponsoringsocialissuemessages.ShehasresearchedMcDonald’scampaignforobesityandMillerBrewingCompanyforbingedrinking.Thekeyfactorinthestudywasforconsumerstodeterminewhethertheybelievedtheadvertisers’intentionsinsponsoringsocialcauses. “Ilikehowadvertisingreflectssociety,”Leesaid. Forexample,sincetheeconomicdownturn,carcompaniesareadvertisingthatifanindividuallosestheirjob,theycanreturnthecar.Theyarereflectingthecurrenteconomicsituationofourcountryintheiradvertising. LeehaspresentedherresearchpapersfortheAssociationforEducationinJournalismandMassCommunications,AEJMC,whichisthelargestannualconferenceforcommunicationsprofessorsandgraduatestudents.ShehaspresentedtwopaperstotheAEJMC.Thisyear,shewastheonlyrepresentativefromUSItopresentattheconference. AttheAEMJCconferencethisyear,Leepresentedapaperdescribingindependentanddependentcharacteristicsonvaluesadvocacyadvertising.Valuesadvocacyadvertisingisadvertisingofacompany’simagethatdeflectscriticism,advocatesaparticularpolicy,andhelpstoenhanceacceptanceofacompany’sproductorservice.Thispaperfocusedontwodifferentsocialcauses:McDonald’scampaign“Let’sBeatObesity”andMillerBrewingCompany’scampaign“Let’sPreventBingeDrinking.”Thegoalforthispaperwastohaveaholisticapproachofunderstandinghowconsumersprocessinformationwhenviewingvaluesadvocacyadvertising. Whileinthebeginningstagesofresearch,Leeandotherresearchersdiscoveredthatindividualsmayhavedifferentperceptionstowardvaluesadvocacyadvertisingdependingontheirindividualpastexperiences.Theyconstructedanequationmodelbaseduponhowindependent

anddependentindividualsperceiveacompany’sgenuinenessinhelpingthesocialcauseintheirvaluesadvocacyadvertising.Ifthemessagesareinconsistent,theconsumermaythinktheadvertiserisnotgenuineandhasdifferentmotivesintheiradvertisement,whichwillchangetheirpurchasingintentions.Howtheindividualtruststhecompany’sgenuinenesswillreflecttheattitudeoftheconsumer.Therefore,howtheconsumerperceivesthevaluesadvocacyadvertisingwillinfluencetheirbehaviorandpurchaseintentions. Whileresearching,Leeusesresourcessuchasscholarlyjournalarticlesandinternetdatabases.Shelikestoseewhatothershavealreadyresearchedtohelpherdevelopastartingpointonherresearch. “It’slikebuildingablock,”shesaid.“Youareaddingyourresearch‘block’ontopofothers’research.” Duringherresearch,Dr.Leeandother

researcherscreatedseveraldifferenthypotheses.Theytestedthesehypothesesbysamplingadultsaround25yearsoldthathadconsumedbeerorfastfoodwithintheprevioustwomonthsofthesurvey.Theywantedtochoosepeoplethatwerecurrentlyconsumingbeerandfastfoodtoseehowtheirbehaviorandpurchaseintentionswouldchange.Then,theyseparatedtheparticipantsintotwogroupsandaskedthemquestionsrelatedtothe

company,thesocialcauseandvaluesadvocacyadvertising.

Theresultsofthestudyshowedthatifmessagesarefittingwiththeconsumers’perceptions,theyarelikelytoacceptandtrustthecompanyisnotactingselfishly.Specifically,theparticipantsbelievedMcDonald’ssponsoredobesitypreventionmessagesinordertohelpsociety,butmainlytogenerateprofits,whichwouldaffecttheirbehaviorandpurchaseintentions.Additionally,participantsbelievedMillerBrewingCompany’smessagetobetrustworthy,whichwouldinfluencetheconsumer’spurchaseintentions. LeehasalsopresentedpapersattheInternationalCommunicationsAssociation,andattheAmericanAdvertisingAcademy.Twoofherpaperswerechosentobepublished,oneintheJournalofCurrentIssuesResearchinAdvertisingandAdvertisingandSocietyReview.SheisworkingonagettingherpaperaboutMcDonald’sandMillerBrewingCompanypublishedinajournalsoon. Currently,LeeandotherresearchersinSouthKoreaareresearchingcrossculturalcorporateadvertisingandcomparingpublicserviceannouncementsforthegovernmentthataresponsoredbycorporationsinSouthKorea.

Dr.Lee,assistantprofessorofadvertisingworkswithstudentinlab.

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10.

Internship Opportunities Create Map for SuccessBy Katie Evans

Graduatingwithexperienceisimportanttoastudent’sfuturesuccess.Internshipsprovidestudentswithnetworkingpossibilitiesandworkexperienceforfuturecareers.Manybusinessesinthetri-statearea,bothprofitandnon-profit,workwithUSIgivingstudentsopportunitiestogainexperienceandearncreditstograduate. AbbyWaningergraduatedfromUSIwithacommunicationsdegreeinpublicrelationsandadvertisingandaminorinartandmarketing.Sheattendedthefall2007USICareerFairandspokewitharepresentativefromTheGrowthAllianceforGreaterEvansville(GAGE).WaningercompletedaninternshipwithGAGEintheplanningdepartment.Shegainedexperiencebywritingnewsreleases,creatinglogos,flyersandpostersforevents.Shealsoassistedwiththeoperationsofeventsbyplanningallaspectsoftheevent. “EverydayIlearnedsomethingnew.EventplanningisnotexactlywhatIwenttoschoolfor,butIfeelthatwhatIlearnedinmypublicrelations,advertising,marketingandgraphicdesignclassesatUSImademeverywellpreparedfortheinternshipandjob,”Waningersaid. ShewashiredbyGAGEasanAdministrativeandEventsAssociateinApril2009.Sincethen,shehasbeenpromotedtoCrossDivisionProjectManager. LindseyZiliak,acurrentjournalismmajor,hadtheopportunitytointernfortheKnoxvilleNewsSentinelinKnoxville,Tenn.frommid-MaytothebeginningofAugust2009.ZiliakwrotemanystoriesfortheMetroandFeaturesectionsofthenewspaper.Herfavoriteassignmentswerepre-trialhearings. “Thekeytogettingvaluableinternshipsisstartingsmallandstartingearly.IwantedtostartaccumulatingexperienceandstoryclipsassoonasIcould,soIgotmyfirstjournalismjobduringthesecondsemesterofmyfreshmanyear,”Ziliaksaid. Ziliak,likeeverystudent,hopesthatherexperienceswillleadhertoafull-timejob.ShebelievestheeditorsfromKnoxvilleNewsSentinelwillbeagreatreference.WhileastudentatUSI,shehaswrittenforthestudentnewspaperTheShield,completedaninternshipattheEvansvilleCourier&PressandwasoneofonlytwochosenfortheScrippsHowardfoundationSummerInternshipGrant.ItwasthroughthegrantthatshewasabletoworkatanyScrippsHowardnewspaper,televisionstationorradiostation.LindseychosetheKnoxvilleNewsSentinelandsaiditwasthemostvaluableinternshiptodate. ChristieClarkisadoublemajorinradioandtelevisionandpublicrelationsandadvertising.SheiscurrentlyacommunicationsinternforAlcoaWarrickOperations.Sheisscheduledtocompleteher

internshipinAugust2010. ClarklearnedabouttheinternshipthroughCareerServicesatUSIandbecameinstantlyinterested.Withinanhourofe-mailingherrésumé,aletterofrecommendationfromoneofherprofessorsandacoverlettertotheHRdepartmentatAlcoa,shewasaskedforinterviewthenextday. Whenaskedwhatausualdayonthejobislike,Clarksaid,“Therearedailytasksthathavetobecompleted,butthereisneveraweekthatisthesame.Everyweekthereisanewprojectwithdifferentobjectivesandtasks.” Clarkhasquicklylearnedthatgainingexperiencehelpsopenmoredoorsforsuccess.

“Myadvicetoanyoneseekingemploymentinthiseconomy,especiallyforcommunicationsjobs,istodiversify.Learnavarietyofskillsandtrytoobtainmanydifferentexperiences.Themoreyoucando,themoreemployableyouare,”Clarksaid. MilesSeltzerisagraphicdesignmajorandpublicrelationsandadvertisingminor.HecompletedaninternshipattheRecreationFitnessandWellnessCenteratUSI.TheinternshipstartedinMay2009andendedinAugust2009.Communicationwasakeyinmakingthisinternshiphappen. “Inowhaveamuchbetterunderstandingofhowtherealworldworks.Whentherearedeadlines,theymustbemet.ThebestthingItookawayfromthisinternshipwasyouneedsometypeofrealworkinthatfieldandapplywhatyouhavelearnedinyourclassestosucceed,”Seltzersaid.Moststudentsgainvaluableskillsthroughtheinternships.Theinternshipsprovidethestudentswithexperience,references,portfolios,universitycreditsandrealworldexperience,allofwhichhelpthemsucceedinthemarketplace.CareerCoordinatorandLiaisontotheCollegeofLiberalArts,PamDoerter,hasworkedwithseveralcommunicationsstudentsatUSIfor12years.AlumniareinvitedtocontactDoerterbyphoneat812/464-1865oremailatpsdoerte@usi.edutoprovideinternshipopportunitiesforUSIstudents.

ChristieClark,internatAlcoa

11.

Incoming Freshman Are Required to Build PortfolioBy Megan Orr

Beginningfallof2009,allincomingfreshmanandthosewhohavejustdeclaredtheirmajorinthedepartmentofcommunicationswillhaveanewgraduationrequirement,aportfolio. Theportfoliowillbeacollectionofassignmentsandworkscompletedduringstudents’collegecareer,andwillbeexpectedfromthosewhohavechosenadegreeinpublicrelationsand

advertising,journalismorradioandtelevision. “Eachofthesethreemajorswillhaveaportfoliorequirementcontainingassignmentsfromallrequiredcourses,”saidRobertWest,assistantprofessorofadvertisinginthedepartmentofcommunications.

Portfolioswilldisplayskillsandinformationthateachstudenthasretainedduringtheircollegecareer,aswellasanevaluationofthecoursesandtoolsbeingtaughtbythedepartment. “Thepurposeisforassessment,”Westsaid.“Thiswilltellus,asadepartment,toaddordropacourse,orchangehowtheclassisbeingtaught.” Weststressesthatthenewgraduationrequirementisnottokeepstudentsfromgraduatingandpastassignmentsintheportfolioswillnotbegradedforasecondtime.Studentswillbeallowedtore-writeandeditpastassignmentspriortosubmittingtheportfolio. “Writingcomponentsareabsolutelyessential,”saidDr.GaelCooper,professorofpublicrelations.“Theportfolioistoensurethatweareteachingtherightthingsintherightclasses.” “Resultswillbesharedintheaccreditationreport,”Coopersaid. Thedepartmentwasreaccreditedinspring2009andisevaluatedeveryfiveyears.Priortothissemester,gradepointaveragewasamainsourceofassessment.

“Itisaflawedandinaccuratesystemweusenowwhendealingonlywithgradepointaverage,”Coopersaid.“Theportfoliowillprovideactualwritingsamples.” Anewcoursehasbeenintroducedtotheuniversityandmaybecomearequirementforallstudentswhohavemajorsinthedepartmentofcommunications.Careerplanningandprofessionaldevelopment,COMM497,isaonecredithourcoursethatpreparesseniorswhoareenteringtheworkforceorgradschool.Portfolioswillbeevaluatedduringthiscourse.

Studentsinthecommunicationsdepartmentprepareportfoliosthroughouttheircollegecareer

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12.

Howard Wins Award at Conference in IrelandBy Michelle Seib

Insteadoftakingatypicalsummervacation,AssociateProfessorofCommunicationStudies,Dr.LeighAnneHoward,traveledabroadtoMaynooth,Ireland.Insummer2009,Howardpresentedherpaper,“ConnectingtheWorldtotheWord:TheLivingNewspaperandInterculturalCommunicationPedagogy,”attheWorldCommunicationAssociation’sBiennialConference.ThepaperwasawardedBestConferencePaperinInterculturalScholarshipofTeachingandLearning.Shestudiedadialogicalapproachtointerculturalcommunicationinstruction.Shecollecteddataoveratwo-yeartimeperiod.Inthepaper,shediscussesanapproachtocommunicationinstructionphilosophyintroducedbyscholarssuchas:PauloFreire,HenryGiroux,MartinBuberandPeterMcLaren,andhowtheirphilosophiescanbeappliedtotheinterculturalcommunicationclassroom. WhileHowardconductedresearch,shedocumentedstudentslearningaboutdiversetopicssuchasgrouplearning,communicationcomprehensionandhowperformancecanassistwithunderstandingculturalcontext.Shealsodiscoveredthestudentsappreciatedhowmuchtheylearnedfromtheinterculturalcommunicationclassandhowtheycanconnectperformancetoculturaldifferences.Shefeelsasthoughherstudentsareambitious,soshefacilitatedadifferentwayforstudentstoengagewithtopicsandprocesses. HowardhasbeenamemberoftheWorldCommunicationAssociationfortenyears,butthisyearwasherfirsttimeattendingtheirconference.Howardconnectedwiththisassociationthroughhermentor,JudithD.Hoover,whohasbeenamemberoftheorganizationforabouttwentyyears.Theconferenceattractspeoplefromaroundtheworld,andmostattendeesconsistoffaculty,graduatestudentsandundergraduates.GoingtotheconferenceandbeingawardedforoneofherwritingswasmajorcareerachievementforHoward.Alongwiththisaccomplishment,shehaspreviouslypublishednumerousarticlesand

presentedmanyinvolvingperformanceasacriticalmethodforunderstandingsocial,cultural,political,andpersonalcommunication.“EverytimeIgotoaconferenceIlearnsomething.Igetnewideasandenergytobringbacktotheclassroom,andImeetnewcontacts,whichcanpotentiallybringspeakerstotheUniversityforthestudents,”Howardsaid. Howardisnowpreparingtopublishtheawardwinningpapershepresentedattheconference.SheisalsoconductingresearchontheimpactofinteractivetheateronUSIstudentswhentheygototheBoysandGirlsClubofEvansville,aswellascompletingaprojecttoexplainhowtodocumentperformancepedagogy.Alongwithherresearch,sheisdevelopingotherprojectsrelatedtoherLivingNewspaperresearch. WhenspeakingwithHowardthereisonemajorqualitythatprojectedfromher:Whensheisinvolvedinclassesandteaching,shelovesforherstudentstobeinvolvedwithdiscoveryanddialogue,haveresponses,andaskquestions.

13.

Communication Studies Connection: A New Direction for the Communications ClubBy Nick Fowler

TheCommunicationsClubhasanewnameanddirectionattheUniversityofSouthernIndiana.ItisnowcalledtheCommunicationsStudiesConnection.“Wewanttoinfusemoreenergyintotheorganization.So,wechangedthenametosomethingthatismoregearedtowardourmissionandwhatthestudentswanttodo,”Dr.ZacharyHenningsaid.TheCommunicationStudiesConnectionisastudentorganizationprimarilydesignedtohelpstudentssociallyandprofessionallyconnectwiththeoutsideworld.TheclubneededtobemoreconnectedwiththeprofessionalsinthecommunicationfieldandespeciallyinthecityofEvansville.StudentswanttolearnhowtocommunicatemoreefficientlyandlearnhowtocreateabetterdialectbetweenCommunicationStudiesConnectionmembersandtheUSIcommunity.“Weconnectwithbusinessesinourcommunitytolearnhowtoprofessionallycommunicate,acknowledgelocalcompaniesandvolunteerourtimetoshowourappreciation,”saidCarolMeyers,PresidentofCommunicationsStudiesConnection. TheCommunicationsStudiesConnectionhasgonethroughtheinitialprocesswiththeNationalCommunicationAssociation(www.natcom.org)tobecomeanofficialnationallyrecognizedstudentorganization.Studentsareplanningtoattendaprofessionalconferencethisspring.

 

AllUSIstudentsareencouragedtojointheCommunicationStudiesConnection.Studentsneedtounderstandtheimportanceofcommunication.TheCommunicationStudiesConnectionhasamembershipoffortymembers,whichisahugeimprovementfromjusthavingthreememberslastyear. FormoreontheCommunicationStudiesConnection,orifyouasanalumnuswouldliketo‘connect’withtheclub,gotowww.usi.edu/libarts/comm/commclub/.

Thisisaphotofromthephone-a-thonwheretheCommunicationsStudiesConnectionraised$340fortheCommunicationStudiesAlumni.Startingclosest-isLeslieSaunders,middle-LyndseePriest,Farthest-WilliamMartinez