JDM student to present at CAS URCA Symposium next month

JDM is proud to announce Senior Broadcast Communication major Meghan Ellsworth's oral presentation based on her documentary, A Look Inside Ghana's School System was accepted for presentation at Ashland University’s Third Annual College of Arts and Sciences Undergraduate Research and Creativity Symposium March 27th.

In his acceptance letter, Dr. Andrew Greene, Director of the URCA Committee said, "We are pleased to offer this exciting forum for you to present your work to faculty, students, and friends from across the College of Arts and Sciences."

As A Blog Converged highlighted back in the fall, Ellsworth interned in Ghana last summer where her documentary was shot. She is currently completing post-production on the project.

Her presentation is scheduled during Oral Session III, which will run from 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m during the Symposium.

JDM creates AU Media Group on Linked-In

What's the value of your professional network? For aspiring media professionals and seasoned media pros alike your "rolodex" connects and sustains your career. And with today's technology tools like Linked-In, connecting to fellow media pros is easier than ever.

Which is why JDM is proud to announce a new Linked-In Group called the Ashland University Media Alumni Network. AUMAN is designed to let current AU media students connect with Ashland's vast, varied and talented network of media alumni working all over the world.

For Ashland's newly created and converged media department, using Linked-In was a natural according to JDM's Dr. Gretchen Dworznik, "We wanted to provide an avenue for our current students to connect with our large base of media alums working in the industry. Linked-In was the perfect place because many of our students and alums already use it." Dworznik said. "The idea was actually suggested by one of our current students - Tim Hawk. We thought it was a great idea!"

To join the AUMAN on Linked-in - if you have a Linked-In account - log on and search Ashland University Media Alumni Network. If you don't have a Linked-In account, sign up and then search for our group!

Way to go Tim Hawk!!

Collegian photographer featured on Washington Post website

A photo taken by Dan Shade, photo editor for The Collegian and Sports Update producer for AUTV-20, is featured on the Washington Post website today.

The photo, which accompanied an Associated Press story about labyrinths, has also been published on the websites of the Deseret Morning News and the Winnipeg Free Press. Shade's mother, JoAnn Shade, a corps officer for Salvation Army, is quoted in the story regarding the labyrinth at the Kroc Center in Ashland.

The Collegian wins first place, twice, and hears VP Joe Biden speak at ONA

Four staff members for The Collegian and adviser Matt Tullis attended the Ohio Newspaper Association's annual conference Thursday, a conference that included a speech by Vice President Joe Biden and a keynote address by Jack Hanna, director emeritus of the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium.

The Collegian, which was represented by managing editor Justine Ackerman, entertainment editor Glenn Battishill, sports editor Chris Bils and photo editor Dan Shade, also picked up three awards in the Ohio Collegiate Newspaper and Web Site Competition. AU's student newspaper earned first place honors for best arts and entertainment coverage and best headline writing. The Collegian won third place for best Web site. 

This is the second time in three years that The Collegian has won awards in the competition, but the first time it earned first place honors. Judges said the newspaper's arts and entertainment coverage was, "Both amusing and informative, subjects are handled well." Judges also said The Collegian's headline, "Students diagnose Health Center" was creative and put "the students in the position of diagnosing the Health Center when the reverse should be true! Effective because the content of the story is evident immediately upon reading the headline!"

Photo courtesy of ONA

As for The Collegian's website, judges said stories were well-written.

"The structure of the sight is good," the judges said. "Nice use of white space. Good color choices. Photo galleries work well."

Biden spoke just before lunch, giving what could be construed as a pep talk for America. 

"America is coming back and America will be second to no other country in the world," he said. 

While Biden brought in a crowd, Hanna brought down the house by bringing out a lynx, a penguin, a flamingo and a cheetah. He also railed against state legislators for watering down an exotic animal bill that would effectively ban Ohioans from keeping exotic animals at their homes. 

Photo courtesy of ONA

He also shared sad news that his daughter, Julie Hanna, had just the evening before learned she had a brain tumor. Julie Hanna is a long-term childhood cancer survivor who has battled secondary tumors caused by the radiation she received as a toddler. 

Tullis featured Julie Hanna prominently in a story on long-term childhood cancer survivors that he wrote when working for the Columbus Dispatch in 2007. 

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.