Ashland's WRDL 88.9FM to become CNN Radio affiliate!

JDM is proud to announce our 2011 New Year's resolution early! Ashland University's student-run radio station, WRDL 88.9FM, will begin broadcasting CNN Radio news updates at the top and bottom of every hour 24/7 beginning January 1st.

"WRDL's affiliation with a great news organization like CNN not only helps fulfill our mission to educate the next generation of journalists, but also helps us better serve Ashland and the surrounding communities with news and information locally, nationally and from around the world." said WRDL Advisor and JDM Professional Instructor, AJ Randolph. "This is just the first step in Ashland's WRDL becoming a VALUED, trusted and reliable broadcast outlet for the area."

In addition to a new content source, JDM also gains access to CNN's extensive audio content library for use as educational tools in its writing, editing and production classes.

For WRDL Program Director, senior Brad Eustathios, the CNN partnership means more opportunities for JDM students. "Now, not only is 88.9FM able to offer the latest in news talk programming for the community, it also opens the possibility for locally produced news and information programming, and the chance to get more students on the air. Now, we have the chance to start building relationships and reaching out to our listener-base within the community itself."

Tune in to 88.9FM Ashland to ring in 2011!

JDM's "Vision" segment!

Today's JDM student should always be looking forward. Understanding trends (like Social Media) and learning the latest tools (Blogger and WordPress, anyone?) could mean the difference between landing a job in today' hyper-competitive media, or being passed over. In JDM's "Vision" segment, we share the future of digital content creation!

• Social Media growing as a tool for journalists.
• New uses for Social Media tools in journalism.
• Some think Student Journalists' New Media Potential *Still* Unplugged.
• Social Media tips for Journalists.

Seeing a trend?

• Got "Digital Journalism" skills?
• Here's what skills Sam Feist, CNN's Political Director says students should have! (By the way, at A Blog Converged, we're sure this videographer has definitely NOT taken JDM's basic video course! Rule #1, use a tripod, especially for interviews. Rule #2, see Rule #1!)
• Got blog skills?

Next "Vision" segment: audio/video tools for journalists!

Dan Gillmor's Mediactive interesting read for new media journalists...and consumers!

All is not lost in the world of journalism according to Dan Gillmor's new online book, Mediactive. Gillmor is the Director of the Knight Center for Digital Media Entrepreneurship at Arizona State University’s Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication. The book is reviewed here, and here.
Gillmor's blog.

From the Author: Who Is This [Book] For?

"I don’t really expect to persuade everyone to jump off the couch and become a mediactivist. That would be wonderful, but it’s not going to happen. If you are still sitting back in the cushions, though, maybe I can help you imagine the results of leaning forward and demanding something better than you’re getting, so that you’ll be better informed about the things that matter to you."

 Here's what other Journalists had to say about Mediactive:

“Dan Gillmor has thought more deeply, more usefully, and over a longer period of time about the next stages of media evolution than just about anyone else. In Mediactive, he puts the results of his ideas and experiments together in a guide full of practical tips and longer-term inspirations for everyone affected by rapid changes in the news ecology. This book is a very worthy successor to his influential We the Media.”

--James Fallows, Atlantic Magazine, author of Postcards from Tomorrow Square and Breaking the News

Pulitzer Prize now mostly platform neutral

Further proof that media is being converged, care of the Pulitzer Prize board.

"The changes recognize the growing importance of visual storytelling using video and other multimedia formats and the board’s ongoing intention to honor the best journalism from eligible news organizations, regardless of format."

Filmmaker brings Steadicam to JDM Classroom!

Sophomore Molly Leonard tries out the Steadicam!

Emmy-award winning filmmaker Adam White stopped by JDM's Directing class and brought one of the coolest production gadgets on the planet; a Steadicam!

Invented by Garrett Brown, the Steadicam has been a staple of film productions like Return of the Jedi, and television productions like ER. "The Steadicam operator owns the ER set!" Mr. White told JDM students.

Steadicam is a specialized camera mount allowing the camera operator to essentially "float" the camera in the air. Check out the history of the Steadicam here!

For a look at all of the images from our very special guest speaker, check out our Flickr page!

AU Eagle News Update!

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 Eagle News Update Headlines!

• Roast & Toast
• Madrigal Feaste
• Finals Week

Collegian Headlines This Week!

Check out the Collegian today!

• Dangerous products harmful to health
• Search continues for new head volleyball coach
• Miller Hall's Final Christmas
• Kale Richardson names GLIAC Player of the Week
• Men's Basketball opens season 3-1
• AU runners narrowly miss berth at nationals
• IT promises improvement next semester

The Collegian is AU's award-winning student newspaper.

"Who did the artwork of the AU Eagle?"

JDM's new Eagle art was created by Ohio-born artist and animator, Ty Schafrath.

The son of former Cleveland Browns left tackle, and Wooster native Dick Schafrath, Ty's animation credits include Nickelodeon's "The Angry Beaver's Show," and more recently, Walt Disney's "The Princess and the Frog."


"Ty's work is phenomenal!" said Tim McCarty, Interim Chair of Journalism & Digital Media, "I've been looking to find the right project to feature his work for a long time, and when JDM was created this year, I knew Ty was the right artist to bring the Eagle to life!"

Besides episodic and feature-length animation work, Ty also creates a wide variety of art from specialized greeting cards, to caricatures, to book illustrations and web art. Check out his other work here!

Latest Eagle News Update!

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Eagle News Update Headlines!

• Drug bust on campus
• Marisol opens
• R&B Singer Javier performs on campus

Latest Eagle Sports Update!

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Eagle Sports Update Headlines:

• AU Football sets records.
• Volleyball Coach fired.
• Scores and more!

Record setting WR Joe Horn guest on Lee Owens Show!

Senior wide receiver Joe Horn talks about his record setting Saturday on this edition of the Lee Owens Show!

Check out all the records tied or broken by Horn. Hey, don't take our word for it. Even ESPN thinks Horn had a great day!

The Lee Owens Show airs Friday, Nov. 19th at 10:30pm on STO.

Old Style Journalism vs. New Style Journalism Discussed

Fellow media students and educators...

Interesting journalism discussion between Ted Koppel, former ABC and Nightline host, and Dr. Jeff Jarvis, Interactive Journalism Professor from CUNY New York about traditional and "new" journalism on npr.org. Check out the audio! Or, read the transcript!!

Catch The Latest AU Sports News!

Eagle Sports Update Headlines:

• Football teams beats SVSU
• Women's Volleyball

Lee Owens' Show featuring Ashland Football set to air on STO!

The premiere episode of the Lee Owens' Show will air in primetime on Sports Time Ohio Friday, Nov. 5th at 8pm!

Produced by Ashland's Journalism & Digital Media department, the first episode features Matt Brubaker, a senior Sport Comm. major as host, Eagles Head Football Coach Lee Owens and special guest sophomore quarterback Taylor Housewright.

"The opportunity to have student-produced programming air on STO in primetime all over the state of Ohio, and all over the country on satellite," said Tim McCarty, Interim Chair of the Journalism & Digital Media department, "came about because of our unique relationship with STO and the Ashland alumni working there. We think it's a great opportunity for JDM students, and what sets this program apart from other college media programs."

Ashland University Creates New Digital Media Department!

Read the full story!