Putting our stamp on 2011

2011 was indeed an exciting year for JDM as we continued to execute our college's (CAS) reorganization plan that created our new department from scratch; a unique and rare alignment of planets in higher education we were told.

For our part we took the ball and ran with it spending last year recruiting and retooling our innovative curriculum on the notion that today's media industry demands production professionals and journalists have converged skills.

Our department has much to be thankful for in 2011:

• To our Dean, Dr. Dawn Weber for her continued support and vision.
• To our largest freshman class, you had a great semester in 2011. Your assignment? Top it in 2012!
• To the newest member of our faculty, Dr. Dave McCoy, thanks for your insights, your passion to teach media and for your flexibility!
• To JDM's spiritual leader (and den mother!), Dr. Gretchen Dworznik, congratulations on your beautiful baby girl. We wish you both good health in 2012. You're not allowed to scare us like that again!
• And finally, to our Ops Manager, John Skrada, a thousand thanks for all the extra time keeping track of our equipment, and for your passion to teach high standards of media production across all of our outlets.

Our wish for 2012? Simple. Continue to strive to be the best journalism and digital media department in Ohio and beyond.

Happy New Year to all from JDM!

YouTube 2.0?

Interesting article in the media industry trade pub Ad Week speculating about an evolution of YouTube, the internet video site many of our students worship.

Interesting to meet the men behind the media curtain.

WRDL Broadcasting Men's and Women's Basketball

WRDL 88.9FM, Ashland's Alternative cranked up its sports programming schedule last week producing the Hillsdale and Wayne State games on Wednesday and Saturday on radio. For Sport Communication and JDM students, it is the ultimate sports media lab.

"You can talk about sports in a classroom setting like we did in our Sports Broadcasting class, but until you put on a headset, sit in the arena and calmly and accurately describe the action while the place is going crazy, that can't be reproduced in class." said Interim Chair of Journalism & Digital Media, Tim McCarty. "We're also very excited that we have so many talented freshmen producing and announcing sporting events."

For last week's broadcasts, freshmen Kate Lentz and Kevin Stoicovy joined sophomore Hilary Neal and senior Marcus Walsh behind the mic. "It was exciting to sit at the table courtside and be that close to the action." said Lentz who was announcing her very first game. "I loved it! I felt like a kid in a candy store. This was why I came to Ashland."

Freshman Tyler Orr, Andrea Stevenson and Logan Gay took turns as producer at the announcer table. And back at the station, freshman Ryan Sampson deftly handled the many studio producing chores.

UPCOMING BROADCASTS:
Tune into 88.9FM WRDL Wednesday, December 7th as the men take on Wilberforce at 7:30pm. Marcus Walsh and Kevin Stoicovy will have the call. On Sunday, December 11th, Kevin Stoicovy and Collegian Sports Editor Chris Bils will have the men's game call at 1pm and Kate Lentz and Hilary Neal will call the women's game at 3pm. Sunday is a doubleheader versus Lake Erie.

Tune in for rebroadcasts throughout the day on WRDL 88.9FM. Game on!

So, you want to be a storyteller...

Current JDM majors, take heart. Here's what a pro named Ira Glass, who produces a radio program called This American Life has to say to you.


Ira Glass on Storytelling from David Shiyang Liu on Vimeo.
To all of our aspiring storytellers, the JDM faculty has this to say to you: word!
We love you guys, stay the course and have a great holiday break. But be ready to craft your storytelling "taste" into better stories in 2012!

ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT: Lauren Allenbaugh

Laura Allenbaugh graduated in 2003 with a bachelor’s degree in Journalism and Electronic Media Production.  She started with NBC after graduation and now works as a Producer at Nightly News with Brian Williams.  She covers national events such as hurricanes, floods, politics and medical news.   And her favorite - the Olympics!

 

Name:  Laura Allenbaugh

Degree Received upon graduation: Bachelor of Arts

Graduation Year: 2003

Current Job: Producer, NBC Nightly News with Brian Williams

Brief description of your duties: Doing whatever it takes to get Nightly News on the air that evening.  Sometimes I work from the building with an editor to put the piece together, sometimes I am out in the field with the correspondent and crew and other times I shoot and edit my own pieces for air.

How did AU and the broadcast/journalism department help you receive this job:   Experience.  I walked into the building knowing how to shoot and edit.  I wasn’t allowed to do it right away, but when the company was looking for a way to cut costs, I was able to jump out into the field with a camera as well as train those who were learning to shoot and edit. 

Also the career center was a huge help in getting my first job at NBC.  It was a rigorous interview situation and they did several mock interviews, including setting up a panel interview, to get me ready.

What is your favorite aspect of the job:  The people.  I work with amazing professionals and I meet amazing people in our stories.  I’ve spent a lot of time in small towns - Tuscumbia, AL - Olathe, KS – Butte LaRose, LA -  and the people are always so gracious and kind.  For the people who say that our country is derailing and people are no longer good, I’ve met a family who took in a girl with cerebral palsy who had been wasting away in a nursing home, a man who gave up his job and now volunteers to fix up cars for people in need, and a woman who, as she was packing her entire life into one small car to leave before a flood, offered me and my crew bottles of water. 

Also I got spend 2 months in Vancouver for the Olympic which was very cool!

Spreading AU Christmas Cheer!

Check out AU's world famous AU E-Card, brought to you this year by JDM.

From all of us, Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!



2011 E-Card:

Extreme Office Makeover

Several JDM offices in the basement of the Center for the Arts (otherwise known as A&H for you old-schoolers) have been remodeled. Check out the before-and-after photos of the main office.

It won't take us long to start covering those big white walls with awards and framed front pages of The Collegian, the best weekly college newspaper in Ohio.

Also getting makeovers are the offices of interim chair Tim McCarty, Dr. Gretchen Dworznik and operations manager John Skrada. Now we just need a really big donation so we can build out the other side of the hallway and create the (Insert Your Name Here) Converged Media Center. Any takers?

ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT: Ryan Squire

Name: Ryan Squire          

Degree Received upon graduation: B.A. Electronic Media Production, Programming and Performance/B.A. Public Communications

Graduation Year: 2000

Current Job: Director of Social Media at KindredHealthcare

Brief description of your duties, etc.: I am responsible for the strategic direction of Kindred Healthcare’s social media content creation and dissemination as well as using social and digital media to create a social healthcare business.

How did AU and the broadcast/journalism department help you receive this job?: I have spent years working in local TV and that is where I learned about social media and the power it has to connect people and help companies better serve customers. If it were not for Ashland, I would not have made it in to a very competitive industry straight out of college.

What is your favorite aspect of the job?:  My favorite part of the job is innovating and serving our customers.

Congratulations to Megan Wise, Speech Communication and JDM major, for being appointed as the next Editorial Assistant for Communication Research Reports (CRR).  This position is one that is generally reserved for graduate students or professors just starting their careers.

Professor Ted Avtgis, Editor-in-Chief of CRR said "Megan was a logical choice for this position as she has a commitment to excellence, maturity beyond her years, and a passion for learning.  I believe this to be a great thing not only for Megan, but also for the Department of Communication Studies.  We are proud of her!"

Wise, a junior said "It is a wonderful honor and privilege to be chosen as the Editorial Assistant for this esteemed communication journal. This is an incredible opportunity and I am looking forward to being a part of this professional publication.  Being a member of this prestigious team will provide me with an invaluable amount of experience that will be extremely beneficial as I continue my undergraduate studies and look toward a future career."

Burger Quest Fulfilled!

My secret menu in LA is no secret.

One famous double-double, fries and chocolate shake didn't stand a chance this evening, JDM fans.

All is good and right and tasty!

For those wondering what all the fuss is about, this burger has quite the history.

NATAS Faculty Seminar: Day 3

Today we meet the creative team from HBO Films behind their new film, Too Big To Fail, from the bestseller by Andrew Sorkin. We heard a panel from the producers, screenwriter and cinematographer about how they brought contemporary history to life.

Here's the trailer:


Here's the behind the scenes:






In the afternoon we headed out for another studio tour, this time at the historic Warner Bros. lot. WB studio is home to the Conan O'Brien Show and Two and a Half Men.

All in all, another great day in LA!

NATAS Faculty Seminar: Day 2

Yesterday was another fun-filled day at the Academy seminar. In the morning we heard from three TV Directors talking about their paths and their craft. In the afternoon we heard from an Editor, Director of Photography, Special Effects Supervisor and Art Director. All were very informative and inspiring as they told their stories of how they started in the business. (The editor of the show Dexter told of inspiration from his college professor!)

Next, it was off to the famous CBS Studio Center for a walking tour. Studio Center began its storied Hollywood life as the historic home of Max Sennett's Studio of Keystone Cops fame. Today the facility includes 18 sound stages on 40 acres and includes three permanent exterior sets; New York City Street, Central Park and a Residential Street. But the coolest part of our adventure was getting to roam around the Hot in Cleveland set and the enormous CSI: New York set on the lot. (Complete with fake bloodied tools!)

We capped our evening with an Academy event featuring the Producers and Cast of the new Starz show, Boss starring Kelsey Grammer in his first dramatic role in many years.

IN-n-OUT Burger update: home too late last night for a Burger. The quest continues...

NATAS Faculty Seminar: Day 1

Our day began at the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences complex in Hollywood. They have a cool courtyard with statues of the greats from TV. (If you can't tell by the nose, that's Bob Hope pictured!)

Our panel discussions featured a veteran producer on the business of television and the art of "the pitch." (Hint to students, successful pitches are not about TV or film, they're really about interpersonal communication, persuasion and having a killer script! Duh!!) Our second panel was hosted by two entertainment lawyers and was very enlightening about copyright, fair use and educational media.

After lunch we took a short bus ride over to the CBS Television City Studios and joined the audience for a taping of The Price is Right hosted by Cleveland native Drew Carey. The episode will air December 22nd so the audience was decked out in all of their Christmas glory. (Our group was on the far screen right...)

Tomorrow we'll hear from TV show executives (called show runners), Directors and will take a CBS Studio tour. In the evening we'll preview the new Kelsey Grammer show, An Evening with the Boss.

Still looking for a nearby IN-n-OUT Burger... A Double-double will be mine!

Tyler Miller (left) records NASCAR driver Dale Earnhardt, Jr.

Tyler Miller graduated from Ashland University in 2008 with a Bachelors degree in Sports Communication and Electronic Media Production.  He currently works for Sirius XM Satellite Radio as a producer on Sirius XM NASCAR Radio.  Tyler has recently changed roles on the channel and is now producing the mid-day show, Tradin’ Paint with Rick Benjamin and Chocolate Myers, weekdays from 11am-3pm.  He started with Sirius as an intern in New York City the summer before his senior year at Ashland.  Upon graduation he moved to New York and after the merger with XM, Tyler moved to Washington DC where he currently lives and works.

Name: Tyler Miller
Degree Received upon graduation: B.A. in Sports Communication and Electronic Media Production (Audio Concentration)
Graduation Year: 2008
Current Job: Producer of Tradin’ Paint on Sirius XM NASCAR Radio

Brief description of your duties: I produce a daily NASCAR themed sports talk show.  I book guest,s update production, schedule travel for special events, create and run contests and giveaways and keep my hosts and our staff updated on all the latest news in NASCAR.

How did AU and the broadcast/journalism department help you receive this job? As a Junior at AU, I applied for an internship at  Sirius XM.  The education I was getting at AU along with the experience at local radio stations (including WRDL) helped me stand out from the other interns and allowed me to secure a job upon completion of my internship.

What is your favorite aspect of the job? I enjoy going to work every day, it’s always different and that keeps things fun and exciting. 

ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT: Michelle Wilson (Valiquette)

Michelle Wilson (Valiquette) graduated from AU with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Television Broadcast Production and Professional Video.  Michelle is currently the Executive Producer of a nationally syndicated health and fitness show entitled Peter’s Principles with Peter Nielsen.  She is in charge of all aspects of the show’s production from producing, writing, managing crews, contacting sponsors and booking guests.

Name:  Michelle Wilson (Valiquette)

Degree Received upon graduation: Bachelor of Arts in Television Production and Professional Video

Graduation Year: 1992

Current Job: Executive Producer: Peter’s Principles Health and Fitness Show

Brief description of your duties:  I coordinate all aspects of production for a nationally syndicated health and fitness show including producing, writing, managing crews, contacting sponsors and booking guests.

How did AU and the broadcast/journalism department help you receive this job?  Ashland gave me hands on experience that was vital to succeed in the Television business. Through Ashland, I was able to secure an internship in a newsroom and by the end of the internship I was producing their 5pm newscast, all because of the knowledge and experience I learned at Ashland.  That same internship led to a full time news producing job, which lead to a health producer job in a larger market where I met Peter Nielsen and was hired as his Executive Producer.  It all started with knowing what to do in a newsroom from producing, writing, editing, shooting and even running scripts.  When you know the skills, you have the confidence and it can take you anywhere.

What is your favorite aspect of the job?: I am able to reach out and help people all across the country.  There is no greater joy than hearing from someone that you changed their life and in some cases, saved their life. 

The Collegian is the best in state

Collegian managing editor Justine Ackerman, design guru Tyler Remmel and adviser Matt Tullis traveled to Cleveland Saturday to pick up the newspaper's award for Best Non-Daily College Newspaper in the state. The award was given by the Ohio Society of Professional Journalists.

This is the second time in as many years that The Collegian has won an SPJ award. Last year, then-managing editor Katie Ryder received a second place award for Best College Feature Writing.

One more note: Ashland University journalism and sport communication grad Eric Frantz won first place for Best Trade Publication Web Site. Frantz is the owner and editor of Miami Valley Sports. Frantz graduated from AU in 1998.

Collegian staffers attend law conference

Four Collegian staff members attended the Ohio State Bar Association's annual Law and Media conference in Columbus on Friday.

(From left) Videographer Dan Shade, Sports Editor Chris Bils, Managing Editor Justine Ackerman and Entertainment Editor Glenn Battishill attended sessions on everything from editorial cartooning and the First Amendment in the digital age to social media and the law in the day-long conference. 

More than 150 lawyers and journalists from all over the state attended the conference. 

JDM to Offer First Ever AU Course on Social Media!!

One need not look any further than how social media tools shaped and reshaped the Arab spring to know how powerful they've become on a global scale.

JDM's Dr. David McCoy will be teaching our newest course offering, Global Impact of Social Media next semester. Dr. McCoy is excited to explore with students why social media has the power to bring people closer together from all parts of the world. Dr. McCoy also notes that it will be interesting to study where the future of social media might lead us all.

And the best part? JDM 405 fulfills a Social Science requirement in the AU core!

Course Facts:
JDM 405 – Global Impact of Social Media
Pre-req - junior and senior status only.
Offered: T/TH, 1:40 – 2:55, or T/TH, 3:05 – 4:20

ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT: Tom Walters

At A Blog Converged, we're excited to launch a new segment as a companion to our very popular Intern Spotlight, called Alumni Spotlight! Mr. Walters, you're in the leadoff spot!
 

Tom Walters graduated from Ashland College in 1985, and has worked as a news photojournalist for over 25 years. Originally from Syracuse, NY, he started at the ABC station (where he interned as part of an Ashland College internship), and worked his way up to Chief Photographer. In 1993, Tom moved to Tampa, Florida to work at the CBS station. Then, in 1995 it was off to Indianapolis, where he worked at WRTV, the ABC affiliate for four years. Tom moved back to Tampa, and returned to WTSP for another three years, before heading back home, to help start up News 10 Now (now YNN), a 24 hour local news station, owned by Time Warner. Tom has been the Senior Photojournalist at YNN Syracuse for the last 8 years. Part of his job is to help in the training of all the new One Man Bands or MMJ’s that work at the station.

Name:  Tom Walters

Degree Received upon graduation: Radio/TV Production

Graduation Year: 1985

Current Job: Senior Photojournalist, YNN Syracuse

Brief description of your duties: Shoot and edit daily news and sports stories, and statewide franchise pieces, run microwave/satellite truck, and train all VJ’s and photogs in use of their cameras.

How did AU and the broadcast/journalism department help you receive this job?  My degree at Ashland was instrumental in getting me into a career in television news. Ashland’s influence reached to WIXT, where they helped me to get my foot in the door with a summer long internship. The people at WIXT were impressed with my knowledge of TV production, and it was the multitude of opportunities at Ashland’s radio and television stations that gave me the skills and confidence, which I applied at the station.

What is your favorite aspect of the job? The best aspect of the job is that every day brings something new, and no day is ever boring. This job has allowed me access to people and places I would normally never get to meet or see. One day, you could be in the same room with the President of the United States, while the very next day, you could find yourself shooting inside of a C-130 transport plane. For someone who enjoys professional sports, I have been lucky enough to be in the middle of a Super Bowl, multiple NBA playoffs, Major League baseball games, college bowls and I even got a chance to shoot in a pace car on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, with golfer Greg Norman as my personal driver. All of these things were possible because of Ashland University.

We look forward to featuring as many of our talented AU media alums as we can in the coming days! Given JDM's bloodlines and rich history from the R/TV days, we should complete this project in the year 2050!

JDM Professor Selected to Attend Television Academy Seminar

Tim McCarty, interim chair of the Journalism & Digital Media Department at Ashland University, has been selected as one of 20 individuals nationwide to attend the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Foundation's 2011 Faculty Seminar in Los Angeles next month.

“This is great recognition of Tim's professional background -- he has won three Emmys, as well as recognition of our new Journalism and Digital Media program,” said Dr. Dawn Weber, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences.

Collegian wins SPJ award!

JDM is proud to announce The Collegian was honored as the Best Non-Daily College Newspaper in Ohio for 2011! Congratulations to our newspaper staff and Collegian adviser, Matt Tullis.

And baby makes four!

JDM is full of "uncles" today and we're proud to announce the arrival of our newest crew member! Madeline Dworznik was born today around 3pm to our very own Dr. Gretchen Dworznik!

Baby Madeline weighed in at 8.5lbs and was 20" long.

Dr. D and Maddie are both doing fine. Woo-hoo!!

9/11 Remembered - Full Documentary

JDM's new documentary, 9/11 Remembered, in its entirety.

Guest Speakers to visit JDM classes this month!

This month, Professor Randolph's Media Management class will be joined by Natalie Walston the Founder, CEO and Owner of The Walston Group, LLC. The Walston Group provides Public Relations, Social Media Management, Crisis Communications and Media Training. Natalie worked for more than 15 years in Central Ohio as a media reporter and producer as well as a public relations director for the Ohio Corn & Wheat Growers Association.

Also this month, Karen Kasler, the Statehouse Bureau Chief for Ohio Public Radio & Television, will visit JDM Professor AJ Randolph's Intro to Journalism this month. The Statehouse News Bureau covers state government and statewide issues for Ohio’s 33 public radio and 12 public television stations. Kasler, an award-winning reporter and editor has also worked for WTAM in Cleveland and WBNS-TV in Columbus.

INTERNSHIP SPOTLIGHT: Dan Shade

Senior Dan Shade, a Broadcast Communication major and Journalism minor, was awarded the Bill Wiedenmann Scholarship to be an Operations Intern at WEWS Channel 5 in Cleveland this summer. WEWS gave Shade the opportunity to work and experience many different angles of a news station, as he got work in the operations, production, and promotions departments. The unique experience Shade had will be something he will carry with him into future jobs.

Name: Dan Shade
Internship: WEWS Channel 5 ABC
Location of Internship: Cleveland
 “Job Title”: Operations Intern

Favorite Part of Internship: 
I really got to expand past the operations department and I was able to experience things in many different departments. I really enjoyed being able to test the waters in operations, production, and promotions. I got to do something different every week and I learned so much about the entire production department.


Least favorite part of internship: 
My least favorite part is that I felt like I wasn’t there enough. I was only there twice a week, so it seemed like I was never there on the most exciting day when a big story would break.

What will you take away from this internship for future jobs?
I have learned so much about production and organizational processes. When you are around professionals, you get to learn what works and what doesn’t work. You learn how to be efficient, whether it’s editing a story, shooting a story, or writing a script. I will be able to take these things I have learned in and out of the news studio and really apply them to all parts of life.

How did AU and the JDM department help you succeed in the internship:

The most important thing that AU and the JDM department helped me with, is that I had a lot of experience. I had spent a lot of time shooing, editing, writing, and building graphics for the JDM department, so when I got to Channel 5, I picked up things quickly. The systems were a little different, but the concepts were the same. Without having the experience I already had, I feel like I would have been lost at my internship.

JDM Professor's article published!

How are reporters and photographers psychologically affected by the tragic stories they cover? That’s the topic of an article published by Dr. Gretchen Dworznik in July of 2011. “Factors Contributing to PTSD and Compassion Fatigue in Local Television News Workers” was published in the International Journal of Humanities, Business and Technology. The article was based on a study of 280 local television news workers that was completed as part of Dworznik’s dissertation.

JDM Collaborative Online Reporting course cutting edge!

In the fall of 2010, JDM Professors Matt Tullis and Dr. Gretchen Dworznik created an innovative reporting course never before taught at AU. The Collaborative Online Reporting course brought together print and broadcast students and taught them how to converge their skills to create multimedia pieces for the web. The faculty detailed their experience in an article published in the July 2011 edition of the Journal of Media Education.

9/11 Remembered Documentary to Premiere Sept. 8th

JDM is proud and honored to premiere a documentary entitled, 9/11 Remembered, Thursday Sept.8th at 7p.m. in the Hugo Young Theatre on the Ashland University campus.

The 30-minute documentary produced by students and staff of Ashland University's Journalism & Digital Media department, features reflections of faculty members and the story of Jess Baker an '02 AU R/TV graduate who drove to Shanksville, PA and NYC to cover the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center.

See the extended trailer:



The 9/11 Remembered premiere is free and open to the public.

2011 AU Football Preview Show...Preview!!

JDM just completed post-production on the 2011 AU Football Preview Show. Hosted by AU alum Matt Brubaker and featuring an AU football cast of thousands, the episode will air on STO Wednesday, August 24th in primetime at 8pm.

For those who can't wait, here's a preview of the opening and first segment. Go Eagles!

INTERNSHIP SPOTLIGHT: Meghan Ellsworth

JDM Senior, Meghan Ellsworth, a Broadcast Communication major and Spanish minor, travelled all the way to Africa to intern at a TV station this summer.  Coastal TV, based in Cape Coast, Ghana, is a small station that strives to educate the community and focus on social issues within Ghana’s Central Region.  Ellsworth’s time was definitely an adventure and the unique experience will be something she carries with her into future jobs.

Name: Meghan Ellsworth
Internship: Coastal TV
Location of Internship: Cape Coast, Ghana, Africa

 “Job Title”: Coastal TV Intern

Favorite Part of Internship: The best part of my internship was that I could play a huge part in the production aspect of the station’s programming.  The station is small and since I brought my own equipment I became a producer, shooter and editor in the first week.  Being able to have my hands in every part of the production of a TV show was a great experience.

Least favorite part of internship: My least favorite part of the internship was definitely the prevalence of “Ghana time.”  Basically, this means that it can be expected that your interviewee, your co-worker, or even your boss will be up to an hour later than when they said they’d arrive.  In an industry that relies on deadlines it’s hard to work around people who are chronically late.
What will you take away from this internship for future jobs?  I learned a lot about filming in different climates, weather situations and settings.  From loud Ghanaian markets to bright sunny beaches to rainy street settings, I had to adapt to the situation and figure out what worked best in each, usually with very little time to spare.  Being able to adapt to the environment and still produce quality footage will definitely give me an advantage in future jobs.


How did AU and the JDM department help you succeed in the internship:  Knowing how to edit was a huge help, especially since I was usually editing with very little time to spare.  What the JDM department taught me about editing, as well as how to compose a shot and use a camera were a huge help in my internship.  All the hands on experience I was given at AU paid off in the field.  Without that knowledge I would not have gotten as much out of my experience as I did.

INTERNSHIP SPOTLIGHT: Dan Griffin

JDM Junior Daniel Griffin, a Broadcast Communication major and Journalism minor jumped into the world of reality television working for Leftfield Pictures, a production company based in New York City on his internship this summer. Leftfield Pictures produces many network shows, including History Channel’s “Pawn Stars” and “American Restoration.”  Griffin’s experience at a network production company was incredibly beneficial and one he will never forget.

Name: Daniel Griffin
Internship: Leftfield Pictures
Location of Internship: Manhattan, New York
 “Job Title”: General Intern and Casting Assistant

Favorite Part of Internship: Every day was something different. Whether I was helping out on the set of Science Channel’s Oddities or delivering Pawn Stars footage to the History Channel HQ across town, there were very few times where I was bored. That was the best part. My job was constantly changing.

Least favorite part of internship: Leaving! I had to say goodbye to a lot of friends and co-workers, some I may never see again. Hopefully we’ll cross paths in the future.
 
What will you take away from this internship for future jobs?: I know so much more about how production companies “work.” I did such a variety of things at Leftfield that I feel I can take on any production job now. I’m really looking forward to my next internship!

How did AU and the JDM department help you succeed in the internship: My confidence level has gone way up since I came to AU and I’ve learned so much about filmmaking these past two years with JDM. A lot of my co-workers were impressed at how much I’ve done for being so young. They were all jealous!

INTERNSHIP SPOTLIGHT: Megan Wise

Megan Wise on duty at the HOF!

It's been a busy summer for JDM interns. From film production companies in NYC, to the NFL Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio, many of our students spent their break getting hands-on experiences in media. 

Junior Megan Wise, a Speech Communication and Broadcast Communication double major, parlayed her strong interest in the production of events into a private events internship with the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio. Wise learned the finer points of creating and facilitating first class events for the Canton community and for the 2011 NFL Class of Enshrinees, their families and their guests. A Blog Converged caught up with Megan after this weekend's big NFL party to discuss her internship with the Hall of Fame and how it has helped her gain further insight into the event industry. 

Name:  Megan Wise

Internship:  Pro Football Hall of Fame

Location of Internship:  Canton, Ohio

 “Job Title”:  Private Events Intern

Favorite Part of Internship: The 2011 Enshrinement Weekend had to be my favorite part of the internship for so many reasons. After months of brainstorming, creating, and implementing, it was so satisfying to see all of the Enshrinees’ parties come together. From the lights, décor, food, and entertainment, I had an absolute blast running around the HOF campus making sure that everything was running smoothly. It was satisfying that I had the opportunity to be a part of someone’s special night and help make it as memorable as I could for them. Sure, my feet were tired and the downpours didn’t help much, but it was an experience that I will always remember.

Least favorite part of internship- Even though I had no control over this, the cancellation of the NFL/Hall of Fame Game was my least favorite part of my internship. I wasn’t able to experience how the event staff tears everything down early Sunday morning after the Saturday night parties finish, and then turn right around to prepare for the game. It was a crucial part of the event process that I didn’t have the chance to experience, so I guess I have to go back next year to help and see it all unfold!

What will you take away from this internship for future jobs?- This internship taught me a great deal of how to create and implement a large range of events on a national stage. As I continue to pursue my interest in events, I will have the confidence in knowing that I have the preliminary background of how to professionally and creatively host events varying from small business luncheons, to high profile parties.

How did AU and the JDM department help you succeed in the internship:- Ashland University helped me in more ways than one in preparation for this internship. Across campus, I was taught how to act in an extremely professional manner, and the JDM department taught me how to respectfully communicate to a large range of people. As a whole, AU significantly prepared me in how to present myself at a nationally recognized organization.

Stay tuned for more Internship Spotlights in the coming weeks!

2011 Football Preview Show set to air on STO!

JDM is hard at work this month producing a 30-minute AU football preview show. Hosted by recently graduated Sport Comm. major Matt Brubaker (now STO intern!), the episode will air August 24th.

Showcasing what is easily the sweetest sports complex in the GLIAC, The Dwight Schar Athletic Complex is the backdrop for this year's preview and features interviews with Head Coach Lee Owens, QB Taylor Housewright, RB D.J. McCoy, DB Logan Kerr, DL Jaime Meder and Special Teams standout and recent Gold Medal winner, Gregg Birkshire.

Check Sports Time Ohio's web site and A Blog Converged for exact air times. Also, look for air times of the 9/10 and 9/24 home football games on STO. Why?

JDM students will be producing the games.

JDM student travels to LA to film Documentary

A Blog Converged is excited to report JDM student Ashliegh Jarzenski was chosen to join a select seven women crew set to direct, shoot and edit a documentary beginning August 13th in LA. The doc will help create awareness on the issue of domestic violence on behalf of the Mary Kay Inspiring Stories program and Dreaming Tree Films.

Jarzenski, a sophomore broadcast communication major who recently worked on JDM's 9.11 Remembered doc, is excited to practice what she's learned at AU on a worthy cause.  

"I am so blessed to have this opportunity to create an awareness on this important cause while also learning so much more about the film and broadcast industries! I know I will be well-prepared to take on Hollywood thanks to the experiences that I've had in the short amount of time in the JDM Department. Hollywood, here I come!"

The piece features former Spy Kids star, Alexa Vega, and Joanna Garcia Swisher, who starred in the shows Privileged and Reba, who will narrate the film.

Stay tuned for reports from the set!

(R/TV) Alum featured in JDM's 9.11 Documentary

How do you know you're a Journalist? Like Police, Fire and Medical first responders, when everyone is moving away from danger, a Journalist moves towards the story.

In addition to the many outstanding faculty interviews, a highlight in JDM's new documentary on the 10-year anniversary of the World Trade Center attacks, 9.11 Remembered, features an interview with R/TV alum Jess Baker ('02), who along with her partner Laura Allenbaugh ('03), drove from Ashland to NYC with a video camera to cover the biggest story since Pearl Harbor.

Why? Because that's where the story was.

Coming soon...

It's been a busy summer for JDM.

In production for this fall are a couple of cool documentaries. (We think!) One on Ashland's annual Balloonfest, and another on the 10-year anniversary of the 9/11 World Trade Center bombings as seen through the eyes of Ashland faculty and students.



Check out the 9/11 Remembered trailer:

JDM: Got camera?

JDM recently took delivery of a new DSLR for the The Collegian staff.

Canon's 7D DSLR is right in our converged wheelhouse as it shoots 18mp stills and full 1080p HD video with selectable frame rates of 24p, 25p or 30p (50p or 60p at 720p HD and SD). We paired it with two lenses: a 24-70mm f2.8L, and a 70-200mm f2.8L...

Yeah, serious camera-geekness! Woo-hoo!

Photo by Robin Holland

At a Blog Converged, we get asked this question a lot, "Who do you want your journalists to be like?"

It's a good question. Our ingredients would includes smarts, savvy, great writing skills, empathy, good interview skills and last but not least, what we call "the fire" to tell stories.

On top of our list of journalists we hope our students emulate? Bill Moyers. The host of the acclaimed PBS series, "Bill Moyers Journal" talks about his new book, "Bill Moyers Journal: The Conversation Continues."

To all aspiring journalists, be like Bill!

WRDL digital makeover continues...

JDM recently took delivery of a new Harris digital board for the main console in the WRDL studio. The Harris board replaces the aging, analog Auditronics Series 210 installed in the 70's. This new board, paired with our new PTEK digital transmitter, make a powerhouse duo and will have WRDL sounding sweet for years to come!

Here's to the new board training as many outstanding radio journalists and talent as the last one...

Rock on!

Long-form journalism finds new platforms

The Los Angeles Times had a great piece in Sunday's newspaper about new platforms arising for long-form, narrative journalism. The piece talks about new sites like Byliner.com, the Atavist and Virginia Quarterly Review, all of which have given literary journalism a new, highly-visible home.

Byliner / May 15, 2011

Byliner.com launched in a big way with John Krakauer's "Three Cups of Deceit," which was a takedown of Greg Mortenson's untruthful memoir "Three Cups of Tea" and the tremendous amount of money Mortenson takes from the charity he created to fund his own book promotions.

This story backs up our belief here at AU that journalism is not dead, and long-form, literary journalism, still has a strong market. People will read it.

What happens when a Journalist give the commencement speech?

It's commencement season and A Blog Converged took note of who passed along some words of journalistic wisdom to The University of Colorado's J-School grads recently.

Talk about the life of Reilly... His best advice to aspiring journalists?

"Don't write for free! Doctors don't doctor for free. Professors don't profess for free. Writers shouldn't write for free. Have some pride! If you do it for free, they won't respect you in the morning. Or the writer who comes along after you." ~ Rick Reilly, ESPN's Go Fish Blog