The Headliner

454 Moore Hall, Mount Pleasant, MI 48859 [email protected] the Alumni Newsletter

Volume 7,Headliner Issue 1 SUMMER 2011

CMU President George Ross and Sarah Opperman, chair of the board of trustees, pose with Catey Traylor, an award-winning student, at the 2011 Student Awards and Scholarships Luncheon in the Bovee UC. Inside the Headliner Page 2 Page 4 Page 6 Advertising major to replace concentration Awards luncheon held for journalism students Hearst Visiting Professionals Give Page 5 Page 3 Talks to Journalism Students CM Life, NYC Convention, SPJ Tony Dearing honored as Alum of the Year America Online helped graduate gain and Advertising Page 7 induction to CMU Journalism Hall of Fame Internships benefit students Grand Central e-zine grows and grows the 2 Headliner SPOTLIGHT ON ACADEMICS Advertising Major Will Replace Concentration

n advertising major is the latest addition “This is all student driven,” he said. “As the industry changes, we’ll try to to the expanding journalism curriculum Berry said his goals for the journalism change,” she said. A at Central Michigan University. department are to gain recognition in advertising Kent Miller, a journalism assistant Professor Douglas Berry said the and be successful in national competitions. professor, said the photojournalism major was advertising concentration will be transformed “The new advertising major should help it added in fall 2009 to give more emphasis to into a new advertising major. This will be the grow in size and gain the critical mass that a multimedia reporting. first time an advertising major has been offered successful program needs,” he said. The photojournalism major is “much more at CMU, he said. The advertising major isn’t the only recent multimedia intensive” than the photojournalism Berry said the journalism department will change to the journalism curriculum at CMU. concentration, Miller said. He said the eliminate JRN 202: Writing for the Mass Journalism Professor Jiafei Yin said the online photojournalism major includes more multimedia Media, JRN 203: Information Gathering for journalism major began last fall. courses and three art photography courses. the Mass Media and JRN 220: Basic Media Yin said the online journalism major will make Miller said multimedia skills are important Photography from the major and will add four students more marketable. She said basic writing because more people are getting their news marketing courses and an advertising-specific skills are still important, but they are not enough. from the Internet. He said the Internet enables writing course. He said the new courses will “You have to be able to market yourself journalists to include video, audio slideshows help advertising students develop the “marketing before you graduate,” she said. and more photos with their stories. know-how and writing skills” that are more The convergence of news media requires “Going from print to online, we get to tell appropriate for their career goals. students to have multimedia skills, Yin said. She stories in new and valuable ways,” he said. “Since advertising is largely a marketing-driven said students should learn how to incorporate Miller said still photography used to be the career, we’re adding marketing courses,” he said. photos, video and graphic design into reports. main focus of the photojournalism program, Berry said the major will also include a new “You come back (from an assignment) with but now it’s about half of the program. He writing for advertising course and an internship. a package instead of one product,” she said. said his students create blogs and portfolios The journalism department is developing Yin said because of the journalism credit that help them establish an online presence for an advertising major to attract more students, limit, some reporting course requirements had future careers. Berry said. He said he thinks CMU has lost to be removed from the online journalism “It’s just not enough to be a still students to Michigan State University in the major to accommodate new technology course photographer any more,” he said. “The means past because MSU offers an advertising major. requirements. Despite the curriculum change, we have for storytelling have just exploded.” “The journalism department here is too good Yin said the foundation of journalism is the Miller said CMU has won multiple to lose students to Michigan State,” he said. same, and “traditional skills” such as grammar photojournalism awards in recent years and is Berry said the new major will help CMU and AP Style are still essential. She said the now fifth in the nation for photojournalism. advertising students be as prepared for careers most important skills are finding credible He said the national awards continue to attract as MSU advertising students. information and communicating it effectively. students from across the country to CMU. “We’re on an even playing field on the “It’s not only write well, but write clearly,” “The program is really strong,” he said. resume front,” he said. she said. “We’re on a good track.” Berry said fewer students are majoring The online journalism major will help the in the advertising concentration, while more journalism department appeal to more students students have advertising minors. He said because online-only publications are becoming a survey of 140 students taking JRN 360: more popular, Yin said. Advertising Principles, JRN 365: Advertising “We’re trying to keep up with the times,” she Media and JRN 465: Advertising Copy and said. “We want to go to where the market is.” Design classes conducted last year revealed Yin said the journalism department will more than two-thirds of students in these continue to produce quality students and will classes would switch to an advertising major if hope they will be able to find jobs as new it were offered. employment patterns emerge.

“We’re trying to keep up with the times,” she said. “We want to go to where the market is.” Headlinerthe 3 SPOTLIGHT ON THE HALL OF FAME By James Falls America Online helped graduate gain induction to CMU Journalism Hall of Fame

athaleen Curtiss never thought for leading the AOL photography staff in Lem Tucker Journalism Scholarship in 1997, to America Online would affect her life attracting 12 million viewers. honor his friend and classmate. Cin the way it did. Before joining AOL, Curtiss worked - Richard “Dirk” Milliman, a 1980 She said she never even believed that she at smaller publications in Texas, Ohio and graduate and former ad manager for Central would become a member of the AOL staff. Washington, D.C. She received the still Michigan Life. Milliman is president of “What an opportunity it was for me to photographer of the year award from the White Milliman Communications, Inc., which work for AOL!” Curtiss said. “I didn’t think I House News Photographers Association in 1990. includes nine newspapers. was going to be qualified for the job at first.” Curtiss said the smaller publications were - Keith Naughton, a 1982 graduate and The 1980 Central Michigan University places for learning and building a portfolio CM Life alumnus who is the deputy Detroit graduate was one of five inductees in the CMU without as much pressure as major news outlets. bureau chief for Bloomberg News. He Journalism Hall of Fame class of 2010. “Most of the smaller publications were pretty previously worked at the Indianapolis News, During her time at CMU, Curtiss was a laid back,” she said. “I was able to look at my Detroit News, BusinessWeek and Newsweek. photographer for CM Life. She said she set lofty mistakes and correct them as the paper went out.” - John Palen, a retired professor from the professional goals after graduation, but she didn’t Curtiss said she’s happy to be a CMU CMU journalism department who taught think she would work for a company like AOL. Journalism Hall of Fame inductee, but it doesn’t classes from 1984 until 2009, and served as “I have done so much in my career,” Curtiss signify the end of her professional journey. chair of the department from 1993-1996. said. “As the years went by I was bouncing “I believe that I still have way more to Also honored were Mark W. Smith, a 2007 around from place to place.” do,” she said. graduate who was, at the time, Web editor for Curtiss became the first photo editor of The other 2010 Hall of Fame inductees were: the Detroit Free Press, as the Young Journalist America Online and became vice president of - The Honorable Fred M. Mester, a 1959 of the Year. The 1980-81 staff of CM Life also global photography at America Online Media. graduate, retired judge and contributor to the were honored. In 2008, Curtiss received the Hero Award journalism department. He helped establish the Hall of Fame

The 2010 inductees include:  Cathaleen Curtiss (1980 graduate)  Richard L. Milliman (1980 graduate)  Keith Naughton (1982 graduate)  John A. Palen (1984-2009)  The Honorable Fred M. Mester (Honorary) 2010 Young Journalist of the Year:  Mark W. Smith the 4 Headliner SPOTLIGHT ON RECOGNITION By Brent Wycinski Awards luncheon held for journalism students

entral Michigan University students, their families and faculty Cfilled the Rotunda Room of the Bovee University Center for the 11th annual journalism awards banquet in April. Scholarships and awards were presented by various faculty members, CMU President George Ross, and Sarah Opperman, chair of the CMU board of trustees. The Alumnus of the Year was presented to Tony Dearing, who serves as chief content officer for AnnArbor.com. Dearing graduated in 1979, and after spending his senior year as editor-in-chief of Central Michigan Life, he launched a career working for a handful of newspapers in Michigan, including the Saginaw News and the Detroit News. The Journalism Scholar of the Year award went to senior Annie Harrison, who also won the Pam Klein Memorial Scholarship. Harrison said she hopes to work as a political reporter after graduation. Tanya Moutzalias took home the Outstanding Senior award and the Friends of Journalism Scholarship for her work in photojournalism. Two students stood out in the photojournalism awards category. Seniors Jake May and Libby March finished first and second, respectively, in the College Photographer of the Year award, and both students won multiple awards in photojournalism. The Society of Professional Journalists award winners were also announced. CM Life earned All-Around Non-Daily Newspaper and Best Affiliated Website. Students also took home SPJ awards. First place winners included Sean Proctor for sports photography, Jake May for photo illustration, Libby March for feature photography, and Jeffrey Smith for general news photography. Students and faculty listen intently to the awards luncheon presenters. Among those Grand Central magazine, CMU’s online honored are the Alumnus of the Year, Journalism Scholar of the Year, photojournalism publication, won Best Non-Affiliated Website. award winners and winners of the Society of Professional Journalist awards. the Headliner 5 SPOTLIGHT ON EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES By John Manzo CM Life, NYC Convention, SPJ and Advertising M Life employees are ahead of the said. “I learned tips on turning a beat into a took a lot of valuable information out of SPJ. curve. book, and the most repeated advice was to A book could be in his foreseeable future. C A student looking to major in follow your passion and don’t give up when “I never thought about writing a Winter public relations, advertising or journalism you get shot down.” book before, but it would be a really cool 2011 should look no farther than CM Life. ollegeHicks was involved with a handful of experience,”edia he said. “I also got the idea to Students who do, andC have, are well ahead CM Life students who attended SPJ. LonnieM build my own website, containing my resume, of those who areThe not. Industries Newsletter want to see Allen, another CM Life for employee, was College able to clips, photos and aMedia blog.” Advisers clips and experience—not G.P.A. attend both conferences. The advertising side of CM Life also got CM Life students were given the opportunity “I learned that you don’t need journalism to attend a conference in Nashville, Tenn. to attend the CollegeCM Mediaa n AdvisersewS convention school to be a good journalist,”S pringhe said. ConferenTheCM Ce Life n advertisingewS department in New York City March 12-15. At these conferences, students from all attended the national College Newspapers Students AaronSummer McMann, Jackie A Smith,dvi Serover thetr UnitedAining States gather to discuss Business and Advertising Managers Lonnie Allen, Anthony Fenech, Jake May and journalism, attend sessions andNYC11: network with association at the N end of ameMarch and into thedroppi Ng Jake Bolitho were just some of the students other people and publications. beginning of April. on hand at the convention.with Poynter inAllenStitute thinks highly of these conventions In the 30,000-plus circulation division, The SocietyB yof C ProfessionalhriS poore Journalists but was in awe at how fascinating the NYC CM Life won six national awards as a staff. hosted its own conference in Cincinnati, just a convention was. iNIt tookN firstew for the Best Y Onlineork Advertising CitY viCe preSident, MeMBer ServiCeS few weeks after the NYC convention. “The College Media AdvisersBy M conventioniChael K oretzRate CardKy and took third in BestA Colorfeatures designer for the New These conferences offer information that was like being thrown into theSpring spotlight Convention of Advertisement, direCtor Best Group Promotion,York Post. Best will enhance the Putwriting a smiling, skills of students sunny emoticonjournalism on your greats,” calendar he said. “I met many media Advertising Campaign, Best SpecialA photographer Section for Agence France- who look to improve.for the weekend of July 29. moguls and pioneers in new media.I hear I found it all the time…and Best Marketing/PromotionPresse. Plan. “I learned tips to get a job out of college myself in awe over the people and resources CMA is joining forces with the Poynter Institute “Why should I spend my paltry And a “Talk of the Town” writer for and tips to improve my writing,” CM Life available to you as a journalist.” again to host its third annual Summer Advising the New Yorker. staffer and CMU sophomore Justin Hicks Hicks, at his first journalismbudget conference, on the NYC11 when I can save Workshop in St. Petersburg. money by going to And you won’t embark The training is designed to help advisers other media con- on newsroom tours of… overcome the obstacles of ever-changing media. ventions in Kansas CNN. Instructors from the Poynter Institute, the journal- City or Louisville Rolling Stone. ism industry’s leading training center, will share or Sheboygan or The New York Times. research, expertise and advice on the latest trends Poughkeepsie?” Esquire. in new media. Well, you could and O: The Oprah To complement Poynter’s training, veteran ad- do that. But then Magazine. visers will offer nitty gritty instruction on adver- you won’t meet… Or, tising sales, motivating staff members, writing a The publisher of Sit in an AP news student media handbook and many other aspects meeting Time magazine. Join us for the Spring of day-to-day college media advising. The Stu- The editor of Or hang out on the set dent Press Law Center will also offer instruction Slate.com. National College during a broadcast of focusing on the basics as well as recent case law. The editor of The Media Conference ABC’s “Good Morning Last year’s workshop drew about 30 advisers, Paris Review. March 13-15 at the America” and “World and the reviews were excellent. In addition to ses- The executive Marriott Marquis New Tonight.” sions on journalism and newspapers, advisers met So if you want to editor of Men’s Hotel in New York other advisers in a relaxing setting. Health. Chat with the former TownNews.com, an online content management The deputy City at Times Square. Baghdad bureau chief service, and Allow Media + Marketing, the lead- Lonnie Allen, a CMU student, looks at a editor of Nationalstack For of newspapers the latest at the NYC College for Knight-Ridder and a ing advertising agency for college media, spon- Geographic. Mediainformation, Advisers convention. go The to convention current bureau reporter sored the event and spent time with advisers who And the graphicstook www.collegemedia.place March 12-15, and offered for McClatchy’s Wash- had questions about content management services students the opportunity to learn more ington bureau. editor of The Wall org/nyc and see page and national college newspaper advertising. The Street Journal. about journalism. Or hear about intern- Scripps Foundation and Campus Media Group Oh, and you 6 for more details. ships from NBC and the also helped sponsor the event. won’t hear from… NFL. Details for the workshop are still being worked An overnight Or learn about new out. But be sure to watch the CMA web site, editor for Yahoo! media from Groupon listserve and your mailboxes for more information News and Patch.com… about hotels, rates and accommodations. CMA A senior director for ESPN. We’ll see you March 12-15 at the is currently negotiating rates with some of the An editor for the Huffington Post. Marriott Marquis in Times Square. beachfront hotels. Last year’s room rates were just A environmental reporter and a Details are at www.collegemedia.org/ above $100. The conference registration was about sports reporter for The New York nyc. $250 for early-bird CMA-member registrants. Times.

SPOTLIGHT ON GUEST SPEAKERS By Malissa Guiles Hearst Visiting Professionals Give Talks to Journalism Students

MU’s journalism department benefited the Capuchin Soup Kitchen. York Times front page of Michelle Obama. welcomed guest speakers from Ben Lamothe, a 2003 CMU graduate, visited Chad Livengood, political reporter of the Cacross the media spectrum to speak classes from Oct. 12-14. Lamothe is the blog, News Journal in Wilmington, Del., and a 2005 to classes over the past academic year. social media and community content strategist CMU graduate, spoke to many classes over the Joanne C. Gerstner, former president of the for Renaissance Creative in Jacksonville, Fla. course of a week in the spring. Livengood is also Association of Women in Sports Media and sports Lamothe graduated from CMU with a degree in the former editor-in-chief of CM Life. reporter for the Detroit News, visited classes from news editorial journalism and European studies. Sept. 13-15. She has written for many prominent Aiesha Little, associate communications media outlets, including the New York Times, specialist for Kroger Co., spoke to students on Oct. Cincinnati Enquirer and mgoblue.com. She has 18. Little was a former undergrad at CMU who been a guest on ESPN, the Fox Sports Network, worked almost six years as an associate editor at the BBC and other stations around the world. Cincinnati Magazine before joining the Kroger staff. Steve Perez, a staff photographer at the Chief photographer for the Chicago bureau of Detroit News who covers news, sports and the Associated Press Mike Green came to campus features, spoke on Sept. 29-30. Perez has won on Nov. 10-11. Green is a member of the CMU many awards, including an Emmy for a video Journalism Hall of Fame and during the 2008 Chad Livengood was one of the guest project produced with reporter Charlie LeDuff. election, he was assigned to cover the Obama speakers who spoke to CMU students. Perez wrote a book called “My Name Is” that campaign. He recently had a picture on the New

SPOTLIGHT ON ALUMNI By Alex Cheolas Tony Dearing Honored as Alum of the Year ony Dearing spoke to more 90 availability of certain concentrations such as: news Dr. Elina Erzikova, a journalism professor and journalism students, faculty, editorial, photo and public relations. Dearing scholarship committee member, announced T friends and family when he was ended his speech with a positive outlook for the the scholarship winners. Both Ross and honored as Alumnus of the Year. journalism students and faculty in the room. Opperman assisted in this process and Dearing, a ’79 Central Michigan University “The field of journalism is going to be OK,” congratulated each winner. graduate, spoke at the Journalism Awards Dearing said. “You are all in the position to Fifteen journalism students received Banquet in the Bovee University Center Rotunda take advantage of the resources you have at scholarships and more than 40 students were when he was recognized as the alumnus of the CMU, so learn as much as you can now.” recognized for their award-winning work. CM year by the journalism department. He is the The event started with an introduction by Maria Life, Grand Central magazine, and various chief content officer for the online publication Marron, chair of the Department of Journalism, journalism students were recognized for their work. AnnArbor.com and was heavily involved with who welcomed University President George Ross CM Life when he was a student at CMU. and Sarah Opperman, board of trustees’ chair. “I wish I was in your shoes right now,” “The journalism department has constantly Dearing said. “I started my journalism kept its curriculum up to speed with the career with a typewriter, never had Twitter changing times,” said President Ross. “It’s or Facebook, and the Web wasn’t nearly as incredible that so many of the students have developed as it is today.” won such prestigious awards for their work and He also said the journalism program at the number of scholarships available.” CMU is unlike that at other universities with the After the attendees finished their meal, “The field of journalism is going to be okay.” the Headliner 7

SPOTLIGHT ON STUDENTS By Alex Cheolas Internships benefit students nternships for journalism and public turned into a full-time job, putting me on relations students at Central Michigan the right track for a career.” Fall 2010 Internships I University prove to have been a great Another student who has had a positive McCartney, Lisa - MidMichigan Comm. asset to a student’s academic career. interning experience is CMU senior Andrew Action Agency Mary Klenk, a senior and public relations Stover. His major is journalism, but his major, was a spring intern at the Dow Chemical concentration is in news editorial. As the Stover, Andrew - Grand Rapids Press Company as a public affairs co-op. The sports copy editor at the Grand Rapids Press, integrative public relations program at CMU Stover received a great learning experience. Spring 2011 Internships includes an array of journalism, communication, “Central Michigan University’s Allen, Melissa - Special Olympics of Michigan and broadcasting classes, which has prepared news editorial program has helped my Klenk for her particular internship. performance in Grand Rapids,” said Stover. Burke, Dave - Detroit Red Wings “The program has a strong foundation “A lot of things I was responsible for I Clark, Caitlin - Isabella Co. in writing and editing, which is essential in learned at CM Life, but the journalism Commission on Aging my daily job tasks and projects,” Klenk said. program seems to fill in the gaps.” Czachorski, Ryan - Flint Journal “Additionally, the faculty members in the With the collaboration of his journalism program are excellent resources and mentors classes and his role as the sports editor Digue, Lindsey - Special Olympics of Michigan — at times, these relationships have been for CM Life, Stover has had an all-around Dresden, Eric - Saginaw News even more important than what is taught experience in the many aspects of journalism. Klenk, Mary - The Dow Chemical Company inside the classroom.” “My dream career would be a columnist March, Libby - Jackson Citizen-Patriot As an intern, her responsibilities include somewhere down the road, and my internship editing and maintaining the company’s was for designing and editing,” said Stover. “But, McVey, Ciara - Hollywire.com internal employee Website, event planning, I got a good feel for a working news room, and Miller, Ashley - CMU Sports Photography drafting monthly internal newsletters, built relationships with working journalists, so Spencer, Brittany - FacIT, CMU and helping with various executive I’m a lot further ahead than I was.” Tobianski, Joe - Flint Journal communication projects. Overall, both students have had a “I have had a well-rounded experience positive outcome from their internships. Ward, Alexandria - National Cherry Festival and had the opportunity to work on a variety With the efforts from CMU faculty, Woll, Kristyn - Revue Magazine of projects,” said Klenk. “My supervisor also challenging and engaging curriculum, and trusted me to lead a number of projects and outside internship experience, students are work independently, and my internship has better prepared for life after college.

SPOTLIGHT ON NEW MEDIA By Payton Willey Grand Central e-zine grows and grows

MU’s Grand Central Magazine direction and the work we are producing is “It’s a great way to really get into the continues to grow – gaining finally at the quality we want,” said CMU rhythm of writing for a publication, and Cmore recognition this year and journalism professor Betsy Rau, who is producing story ideas and content week producing more content than ever. adviser to Grand Central. after week,” said Caitlin Clark, a junior Grand Central, the online magazine That quality helped Grand Central win who writes for the food section. “It also produced through the Central Michigan the Best Non-Affiliated Website honor from introduces you to working with a team of University journalism department, provides the Society of Professional Journalists. people, and although that’s not always easy, aspiring journalists with an opportunity to All of the students who produce content it’s something everyone has to face in the use all the tools of the web, including video, for the magazine are either in Rau’s JRN real world. So it’s really good practice.” photograph and audio. 497A class or student volunteers. Students “I feel as though we have come a long find that writing for Grand Central is a great way. We are really moving in the right opportunity. the Please Return To: Central Michigan University Department of Journalism 454 Moore Hall Headliner Mt. Pleasant, MI 48859 Volume 5, Issue 1 SUMMER 2011

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