JDM to broadcast 24/7 on new Armstrong TV channel in 2012

As 2012 begins, JDM's TV broadcast operation offers a host of exciting changes and updates to the Ashland community. In collaboration with AU's College of Arts & Sciences and Armstrong, the department is launching a new 24/7 TV channel on Armstrong called, AU-TV20.

JDM Interim Chair, Tim McCarty, said a stronger relationship with Armstrong made the new broadcast venture possible, "Both JDM and the College of Arts & Sciences understand that Armstrong’s commitment to give us real estate in the form of a new TV channel to provide local programming is a win for our students, a win for the institution, a win for Armstrong and for our community.”

Dr. Dawn Weber, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, said she is excited about the new partnership with Armstrong. “In 2010 we created the Department of Journalism & Digital Media with a goal of creating a converged media department to prepare students to succeed in today's media industry. Partnering with Armstrong Cable to create and launch Channel 20 is a critical part of achieving our goal,” she said. “I'm very excited to see our students, faculty and staff creating a variety of programming that focuses on community and campus events. As our enrollment increases, Channel 20 will increasingly become a key source in delivering news and entertainment to the Ashland community."

Several significant technologies will go online this month including a Leightronix UltraNexus broadcast video server and automation system, as well as a CastNet digital video message board system. Technology updates to the department's post-production capabilities, include new Avid Media Composer software, iMacs and an 8TB Facilis TerraBlock shared media storage network .

Anyone interested in submitting community event info to the new CH.20 message board can send it to: au-tv20@ashland.edu

And thanks for watching AU-TV20 on Armstrong!

JDM majors receive Who’s Who Among Students in American Universities and Colleges recognition

The JDM is proud to announce that two of our very own, senior Molly Leonard and senior Justine Ackerman, are Ashland University recipients of the Who’s Who Among Students in American Universities and Colleges award. This award exists as one of the most prestigious and long-standing honors programs in the nation. For students across the country, it marks an impressive scholastic achievement. The students who are chosen to receive this award strive to enhance the positive image of students through their efforts and contributions to the community and their school.

Molly is well-known across campus and active in many different clubs and organizations including cheerleading and works as the news update producer for AU-TV20. Tim McCarty, Interim Chair of the Journalism and Digital Media Department says that the JDM staff couldn’t be more proud of Molly, “We think it's great. Molly is a terrific student and she has learned a ton of production skills to which have helped her produce many great news segments for AU-TV20. We are all very happy for Molly!”


Justine is a journalism major and is the managing editor of The Collegian, which this year was named the best non-daily college newspaper in Ohio and is also a finalist for three awards in the Ohio Newspaper Association's annual college newspaper competition. Matt Tullis, assistant professor of journalism and adviser of The Collegian, says the Justine's honor is well deserved. "Nobody works harder, both in and out of the classroom, to make herself a better journalist. She's been instrumental in the redesign of The Collegian and in making sure we remain one of the best college newspapers in the state."

Congrats Molly and Justine for this awesome recognition! We are proud of you!

ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT: John Telich

One of Cleveland’s very own sports directors graduated from Ashland College and we couldn’t be more proud! John Telich had the passion to cover sports and Ashland gave him the support and tools to seek a sports media job upon graduation. Telich is now a part of a Northeastern Ohio news network, scoring the latest stats and interviews with Ohio’s athletes!

Name: John Telich

Degree received upon graduation: Broadcast Journalism

Graduation year: 1975

Current Job: I am the Sports Director of Fox8 Television in Cleveland, Ohio

Brief description of job duties: My duties include determining what sports content to cover and making sure that we can get to the venues to cover the sporting events, and conduct interviews with athletes. I also keep tabs on games all over Northeast Ohio and the nation to determine our video highlights to air.

How did AU and the broadcast/journalism department help you receive this job? I owe my career to Larry Hiner, Dick Liedy and others who helped shape my professional style. The greatest aspect of what Ashland afforded me was the hands on method to teach. Being a so- called professional broadcaster while still in college prepared me to have the mindset to be successful.  

What is your favorite aspect of your job? My favorite aspect of the job is that every day is different. I cover a variety of sports and personalities and that never gets old.  I can cover everything from Pro sports to youth sports in the same day.

AU hoops on STO

Ashland University's men's and women's basketball games versus Saginaw Valley State — games that the Eagles swept — will air on Sports Time Ohio today. The men's game airs at noon, and the women follow at 2 p.m.

Journalism and Digital Media students handled most of the work during the game, running cameras and working in the truck with director John Skrada, our esteemed operations manager. AU radio/tv alumni Ken Dworznik and Ted Klopp called the games.

The Eagle women have now won 15 games in a row and are 9-0 in GLIAC play (15-1 overall), while the men have won six in a row and are tied for the sixth best conference record at 5-4 (10-6 overall).

Collegian goes Mac

The Collegian got a nice, late Christmas present today from the Journalism and Digital Media Department in the form of four brand new iMacs, one 27-inch and three 21-inch. The Collegian has also upgraded to Adobe CS5 for inDesign and Photoshop. The Macs are significant upgrades over the PCs the newspaper has been using for the last three years, plus they just look so pretty.

The first Collegian of the semester will be published Jan. 19.

Collegian earns ONA honors

The Collegian is a finalist for best arts and entertainment coverage, best headline writing and best website in the Ohio Newspaper Association's annual collegiate newspaper competition. The recognition comes for issues published during the 2010-11 academic year.

The newspaper's staff will travel to Columbus on Feb. 9 for ONA's annual convention, where award placing will be announced.

This is the second time in three years The Collegian has been recognized by the ONA. In 2010, the newspaper received second place for best news coverage and third place for best arts and entertainment coverage.

In October, The Collegian was named the best non-daily college newspaper in Ohio by the Society of Professional Journalists.

Dr. David McCoy appointed to journal editorial board

Congratulations to Dr. David McCoy, assistant professor of Journalism & Digital Media, on his appointment to the editorial board for Technoculture: An Online Journal of Technology in Society. The journal features critical articles on media use in society and informed reviews on technology and culture. Journal submissions come from communication, media and social science scholars who work in the general area of technology studies, including new media, technodrama and documentary. Dr. McCoy will serve a two-year term (2012-2013) on the editorial board.