Tyler Lance hired by WKQW radio

May 2018 Digital Media Journalism graduate Tyler Lance is no stranger to radio. Tyler was a four year veteran of WRDL 88.9 FM radio at Ashland University. In fact, he served as the WRDL Program Director for three years and he was a national finalist (Intercollegiate Broadcasting System) for his work as a sports broadcaster.

Tyler was recently hired by Clarion County Broadcasting Corporation to work at its Oil City, PA radio station WKQW.  At WKQW, Tyler will be serving as an on-air announcer, news producer and high school sports play-by-play broadcaster. According to Tyler, his new boss was very impressed with the radio experience that he received with the department of Journalism and Digital Media and WRDL.

JDM upgrading audio and video editing lab facility

The department of Journalism and Digital Media has undergone many changes since its creation in 2011. The number of individual DMJ and DMP majors has doubled in the last five years. Radio broadcasts and television telecasts hit new all-time high levels this past year.  National, regional and state media awards were collectively garnered by AUTV 20, AU Live, The Collegian and WRDL radio for the very first time.

Even the venerable facilities improved, as the JDM Convergence Newsroom was built four years ago, AUTV 20 added all new HD control room equipment and studio cameras in 2017 and WRDL received a new transmitter in 2018. However, move improvement to the facilities needed to be rendered to meet the growing demands of the program.

With the help of the College of Arts and Sciences and the IT department, JDM will spend tens of thousands of dollars to renovate the aging, smallish Mac editing room. The idea for the renovation came from a meeting between John Skrada, JDM Director of Broadcasting and Operations, and Dr. Dave McCoy, Chair and Associate Professor of Journalism and Digital Media. Skrada and McCoy developed a plan to knock down a block wall that separated 139 CFA (Mac Lab) and 140 CFA (equipment storage room), gut both rooms, install 17 new computer work stations and develop a modern teaching presentation area in the expanded space.

The new JDM Audio/Video Lab will be fully operational for Fall 2018 classes. Please take a look at a few photos that show the deconstruction of the two rooms.

Tom Nesbitt embarks on radio career

Recent (May 2018) Journalism and Digital Media graduate Tom Nesbitt will continue his stellar radio career in Ohio. Tom, a Digital Media Production major and a stalwart at WRDL, begins this month at both WOHF and WFRO in Fremont, Ohio. These stations are owned by BAS Broadcasting and they feature music from the 1960s through the 2000s and local high school sports coverage.

Tom will serve as an audio board operator, a producer for the weather programs and a sideline reporter for the broadcasting of high school football games. His work at WRDL prepared him well for this position. JDM wishes Tom good luck on this exciting phase of his career.

JDM congratulates Spring 2018 graduates

The Journalism and Digital Media department is very proud of its graduates. In the brief eight year history of the department, JDM seniors have walked the commencement stage and undertaken a bevy of fantastic media jobs. Spring 2018 graduates are no different, as a small, but mighty, group of seven matriculate to professional careers.

The magnificent seven are:
Renee Borcas (DMJ/DMP double major) Magna Cum Laude 
Megan Furby (DMP major)
Sami Holzman (DMJ/DMP double major)  Cum Laude 
Bex Hunter (DMJ/DMP double major)  Magna Cum Laude
Tyler Lance (DMJ major)
Tom Nesbitt (DMP major)  Cum Laude, Gamma Alpha Kappa 
Zachary Portner (DMP major)

JDM students receive Ashland University academic honors

Journalism and Digital Media students Tom Nesbitt, Noah Cloonan and Kellie Pleshinger were feted at the April 22nd Ashland University Academic Honors Convocation. Tom Nesbitt, a Digital Media Production major, was selected for the JDM Senior Award. Noah Cloonan, a Digital Media Journalism and DMP double major, was selected for the JDM Junior Award. Kellie Pleshinger, a DMP major, was selected for the JDM Sophomore Award. Each honoree had a stellar GPA and numerous academic accomplishments.

The three honorees will be recognized at the annual JDM Student Awards banquet to be held on Thursday April 26.

WRDL 88.9 Launches Vinylthon 2018

Sometimes things that are old can become new again. Vinyl records, thought to be left in the dustbin of time, have resurfaced in powerful ways. WRDL 88.9 FM will kick off a salute to vinyl records with a 24 hour programming schedule that features many station personalities. Zack Portner, Jake Smith, Marshall Wheeler and WRDL alum Vince Lester will kick off the programming. Tom Nesbitt (Sweet T) will cover the late night schedule. Station Manager Derek Wood and JDM instructor Scott Saunders will host a morning programming block while Waylon O'Donnell, Katelyn Moore, Glenn Rausch and Tyler Lance will be heard throughout the day. Even JDM Chair and WRDL Faculty Advisor Dr. Dave McCoy will get into the act with an afternoon air shift.

Vinylthon 2018 is set to commence at midnight Friday April 20 and run to midnight Saturday April 21. Tune in to wrdlfm.com to listen to your favorite song in record form.

NSPA & JEA Conference 2018

JDM majors Renee Borcas and Bex Hunter are all set to meet and greet nearly 4,000 high school students at the National Scholastic Press Association & Journalism Education Association national conference in San Francisco.