Spring 2010

J-School program expands to meet student needs

eginning in the fall, the J-School will imple- ment two major structural changes to boost the program’sB flexibility and ability to adapt to student needs: freshman admission and a new Journalism Minor in News and Media Innovation. “Students told us what they wanted and we listened,” Journalism Dean Ann Brill said. “These changes will allow more students to make their home in the J-School earlier in their college careers.”

Freshman Admission J-School admission will remain competitive and selective, but the new freshman admissions policy revises admission requirements and reduces some of the barriers students now encounter. The first class of freshman admits were notified of the changes earlier this month. The students who received the admission letters were enthusiastic. “All of the feedback we’ve received thus far from students has been overwhelmingly positive,” A bronze Jayhawk statue welcomes Brill said. “Now students can make the J-School students to the KU campus. home from day one. We are excited at what this means for our students—more networking, mentoring and advising opportunities ear- lier in the academic process.” The freshman admissions policy outlines three “pathways” students can now use to enter the School. The first is for elite Journalism Scholars, formerly called Direct Admits.

(Admission changes – continued on page 2) Letter from the Dean

ne of our visitors recently asked me if things were Leonard Pitts Jr., Pulitzer Prize-winning colum- “slow” at the J-School. He cited the economy and nist and recipient of the 2010 William Allen White Othe challenges facing the various media industries. Foundation national citation; J-School students I asked him if he was busy. Yes, he replied, things pitch in to organize a “Journalists Helping Haiti” were going really well at his newspaper. They had just fundraiser to aid victims of the earthquake. hired two of our graduates and his team won a Pulitzer Prize this year. I was happy to hear that he was doing well. I then In this issue... spent 20 minutes telling him about how busy we are at + Freshman Admission & Journalism Minor the J-School. It occurred to me that J-Links readers might + William Allen White Day Recap like to get caught up on some of the things going on + Journalists Helping Haiti Fundraiser here, too. + New “Media-Military Issues” E-journal We are in the midst of preparing for our reaccredita- + Save the Dates: Upcoming Alumni Events tion site visit in October. Our accrediting council has nine + Brig. Gen. Gary Patton, live from Afghanistan standards by which we will be measured. Of course, we Dean Ann Brill + Awards & Scholarships Ceremony plan to do well in each of them. So, we are compiling lots + Corrie’s Corner: In Memory of... of data to assess how well we’re doing. For me, the value of all this data is to demonstrate + Alumni News & Notes that we are fulfilling our promise to our students to educate them for not only dynamic - Hollywood Hawks, Jayhawk Alumni Group and successful careers in journalism and mass communications, but to be better citizens. - Colleen McCain Nelson, Pulitzer Prize winner - Liz Hawks, Fleishman-Hillard, Inc. (Dean’s letter – continued on page 2) Photos from William Allen White Day, Feb. 5, 2010, honoring William Allen White Foundation national citation recipient Leonard Pitts Jr., a Pulitzer Prize-winning columnist.

(Dean’s letter – continued from page 1) (Admission changes – continued from page 1)

And, in the midst of that, we’re also getting ready This form of admission allows the School to recruit and retain for our inaugural class of freshmen. The faculty vot- the best and brightest students, who will be eligible to receive ed to admit qualified freshmen based on high school scholarships during their freshman year. grades and ACT scores. With the growing demands of The second also allows for freshman admission. Students a journalism education, we decided they should join us can declare a journalism major directly out of high school and as soon as they are admitted to KU. They still will take a be considered for admission to the J-School if they meet certain majority of their courses in liberal arts, but they will be requirements. Previously, students were first admitted into the Jayhawk Journalists from the minute they step on cam- College of Liberal Arts and Sciences their freshman year, then pus. They also will join the inaugural class of students in the semester of completion of 45 credit hours, they could ap- declaring a minor in journalism. ply to the J-School. This pathway now allows students to find We know that journalism in more complex than an “academic home” as soon as they enter KU. These students ever. Our students will need to prepare for jobs that will be eligible to apply for scholarships their freshman year don’t even exist right now. How do we do that? For and receive scholarships during their sophomore year. starters, they need to know how to tell stories. That The third path remains an option for current KU students won’t ever change. This year’s recipient of the William and transfer students to be admitted to the J-School. Allen White national citation told us that. Leonard Pitts To find out more about freshman admission requirements Jr. told us to find and protect the truth. Nothing, he and details, visit www.journalism.ku.edu. said, is more important than your credibility and your integrity. Journalism Minor in News and Media Innovation That’s also the kind of journalism that J-School Also effective this fall, the School will offer a new Jour- graduate Colleen McCain Nelson practices. It’s also the nalism Minor in News and Media Innovation. The curriculum kind of journalism that wins Pulitzer Prizes. Congratu- will focus on the News and Information track courses offered lations to Colleen for the 2010 Pulitzer Prize in Editorial by the School. Writing. “As a nationally recognized leader in journalism innova- We’re not ones to rest on our accomplishments in tion and education, we are so pleased to announce the new the J-School. There is so much going on and so much Journalism Minor,” Brill said. “By expanding the reach of our energy and optimism here. Please read the rest of curriculum with the minor, the School will make media liter- J-Links to catch just some of the highlights. acy a more significant component of KU education and will With this issue, we bid farewell to the Class of 2010. raise campus awareness of the important role journalism plays Among them are our first direct admits, an experiment in many areas of academics and society.” four years ago that showed us freshmen can succeed This 18-credit hour program will provide students cur- here. These graduates face a lot of challenges, but as riculum focused on the importance of effective communica- I’ve gotten to know them, I assure you they have what tion through the basics of good journalism—research, writing it takes to succeed in their careers and in their lives. I and presentation—and the implementation of innovative tech- know they will continue to be busy people! q niques inherent in new media technology. The faculty of the School of Journalism chose to move for- ward with the new minor because students at KU, regardless of their major area of study, must become more aware of the important role media plays in the society in which they will live and work. Keep in touch with the “Technology is making communication immediate and KU School of Journalism through immersive, providing a perpetual flood of messages that has our social networking groups: the potential to overwhelm us, but also to provide us with the information needed to be successful in virtually every aspect of life,” Brill said. Specific emphasis on social media, business communica- www.facebook.com/KUJournalism tion and science/medical journalism will be available in cours- es offered to students in the Journalism Minor. To learn more about the minor, including admission and www.twitter.com/KUJournalism application requirements, visit www.journalism.ku.edu. q

www.youtube.com/KUJournalism 2 J-Links Spring 2010 Photos from the 2010 William Allen White Day dinner, honoring Leonard Pitts Jr. Pulitzer Prize winner recipient of William Allen White Foundation national citation by Carnez Williams, Wichita, Kan., May 2010 graduate

hough widely known for his in-your-face approach to discussing the most pertinent issues of the day, nation- Tally syndicated Miami Herald columnist Leonard Pitts Jr. prides himself on dishing out more than just his opinion. He serves up the facts. Pitts, who doesn’t see the value in finessing the truth, said he encourages people to think beyond their comfort zone – something he fears more Americans are doing less. “We seem to be a very adverse nation,” Pitts said. “We are fast becoming the stupid giant of planet earth – we’re big, we’re powerful, and we seem to be steadily growing less intelligent.” Pitts received the William Allen White Foundation na- tional citation Feb. 5, 2010. The citation is presented annually to journalists who have demonstrated excellence in the field. He gave a public address on the decline of truth in journalism and the growing “stupidification of Americans” – phenomena that he attributed to Americans’ unquestioning allegiance to their political ideologies and fabrication of the truth. “When you repeatedly lie, repeatedly make things up out of whole cloth…it threatens grave and profound danger to the body politic and to the very fabric of our American lives,” Pitts said in his speech. “And I submit this is a crossroads to which we have come.” During his visit, he met with J-School students and faculty to discuss everything from past columns and race relations to politics and current events. Pitts expressed growing concern over Americans’ inability to agree on the facts, citing President Leonard Pitts Jr. (Photo by KU University Relations) Barack Obama’s birth date as an example. He also talked about writing techniques, the future of journalism, and how he devel- “Opinion writing is not just writing your opinion,” Fred- oped his “voice” that now resonates with millions of readers. erickson said. “It’s doing your research and coming to an in- Pitts is no stranger to KU. He first visited the University formed opinion.” in 2006 to lecture on the importance of journalism. Since then, In 2004, Pitts won a Pulitzer Prize for commentary. He has J-School faculty have advocated for Pitts’ return. won numerous awards since starting his professional writing J-School professors Bob Basow, Ted Frederickson and Jim- career in 1976, including the American Society of Newspaper my Gentry are among several who recommended Pitts for the Editors prestigious ASNE Award For Commentary Writing. William Allen White Foundation national citation. Among his most popular columns are his angry addresses to Basow said Pitts’ ability to write with sensitivity, insight the Sept. 11 terrorists and his denunciation of the Fred Phelps’ and candor on issues that aren’t always defined in black or anti-gay protests. white makes Pitts a hallmark of American journalism. Pitts joined the Miami Herald in 1991, and has been a col- “What makes him such an incredible columnist is that he umnist since 1994. Interestingly, what began as a 30-inch test makes you think,” Basow said. “He examines issues in a way column for Pitts at the Herald is now his 19.61-inch space to of- that people can wrap their minds around.” fer his thoughts to readers. That’s the best part of his job, he Pitts cited himself as a purist who believes in preserving said. “Everyone has an opinion,” Pitts said. “Only a few of us the integrity of print journalism. In his speech, Pitts preached get paid for it.” the ethical-storytelling gospel. Pitts joins the company of many legendary journalists who Frederickson, who regularly reads Pitts’ columns, recog- have received the William Allen White Foundation national ci- nizes him as more than just a columnist. Pitts is a lover of soul tation, including Molly Ivins, Bob Woodward, Helen Thomas, music, a historian and a seeker of the truth – a kindred spirit. Seymour Hersh and Gordon Parks. For a complete list of recipi- He said aspiring columnists could take a lesson from Pitts. ents, visit www.journalism.ku.edu q J-Links Spring 2010 3 Photos from 2010 William Allen White Day, honoring Leonard Pitts Jr. Journalists Helping Haiti: Students pitch in for earthquake disaster relief By Alyssa M. Padilla-Esperance, Leavenworth, Kan., May 2010 grad in humanities and western civilization

was on my way to get the oil changed in my car when I received a phone call; Port-au-Prince, Haiti, had just sufferedI a devastating earthquake. My husband, born and raised in the capital city, feared the worst for his family. We spent three tense days scouring the Internet for any information before we heard of their safety. It was immediately apparent that living conditions for survivors were abhorrent, and once we knew that our Students collected nearly $2,000 to fund the assembly of 400 hygiene kits. relatives were okay, we turned our attention to the plight of all Haitians. What could we possibly do to help? The spring 2010 semester began two days after the earthquake, and the School of Journalism staff and students were extremely sympathetic to what my husband and I were enduring. Prof. Mike Williams, faculty adviser to the Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ) student group, approached me with the possibility of organizing a fundraiser in the J-School. “Students at KU are lucky to have the privileges and opportunities we have here,” Williams said. “When someone else—like Haiti—is hit by tragedy, our stu- dents understand that they have a responsibility to do something other than report about it.” Three J-School student groups, the Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA), SPJ, and the KU Ad Club, collaborated to promote the fundraiser. Alyssa Steffen, PRSSA president, Justin Leverett, SPJ president, and Alicia Facklam, KU Ad Club president, worked with Prof. Patty Noland, KU Ad Club and PRSSA faculty adviser, Mike Williams and I to organize the “Journalists Helping Haiti” fundraiser. We scheduled our fundraising efforts to coincide with the School’s William Al- len White Day festivities. On February 3 and 4, students supervised booths to collect money in Stauffer-Flint and Dole. Then on Friday, February 5, we moved our collec- tion efforts to the Kansas Union, where Pulitzer Prize-winning columnist Leonard Pitts Jr. accepted the 2010 William Allen White citation. We raised nearly $2,000 during the three-day period. The money funded the Student volunteers assembling hygiene kits. assembly of 400 hygiene kits, which included basic essentials that disaster victims lacked—a toothbrush, hand towel and washcloth, nail clipper, comb, bandages and soap. “It’s one thing to talk about a number as a goal and to buy several hundred bars of soap at one time, or to snatch up every last nail trimmer in Lawrence,” Stef- fen said. “But it’s another feeling entirely to actually see 400 hygiene kits boxed up, ready to ship to people who need them. The entire process was a truly unforgettable experience.” The hygiene kits were delivered to the Leavenworth United Methodist Church on February 12—exactly one month after the earthquake. From there, they were shipped directly to Haiti through the United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR). The J-School faculty and student collaboration reminded me how valuable the KU Jayhawk Journalism family is, both to its students and the global community. q

Padilla-Esperance has been a student assistant for the J-School since March 2008. Rachel Ryan, Alyssa Padilla-Esperance and her husband Fritz-Gerald Esperance taking donations. 4 J-Links Spring 2010 Prof. Carol Holstead received the Budig Teaching Professorship of Writing for the J-School this year. On April 9, she gave a public lecture on the importance of writing.

J-School launches new Media-Military Issues e-journal

he J-School and the U.S. Army Save the Command & General Staff Col- Tlege at Fort Leavenworth, Kan., re- cently launched a new e-journal, “Mil- Dates: itary-Media Issues.” It is available at: http://military-media.kuinteractive.com. Jayhawk Journalist It is part of a larger program, Bridging the Gap: Military and the Media. The Alumni Reunion program is a partnership among the Events J-School, the U.S. Army Combined Arms Center at Fort Leavenworth, and the McCormick Foundation. Lawrence Alumni Event The partnership began in 2007 Thursday, Nov. 4 & when Lt. Gen. William Caldwell IV, Friday, Nov. 5 Dean Ann Brill and McCormick Jour- Jayhawk Journalists come home! nalism Program Director Clark Bell Alumni reunion event at the signed a one-year agreement aimed at allowing Army officers and working KU J-School, including an evening journalists to better understand the reception on Nov. 4 and a roles each play in society. Three years series of journalism panels, later, the program is going strong. workshops and tours of “KU’s Journalism School has re- the J-School on Nov. 5. ally helped our officers learn how to communicate with the media and the public,” said Lt. Gen. William Caldwell, Com- mander of NATO Training Mission and Combined Security Transition Command– ...... Afghanistan. “I’m really grateful for that support.” Bridging the Gap consists of three elements: a semester-long “Media and the Mil- Denver Alumni Event itary” course integrating Army officers and J-School students; a one-week “Military- Wednesday, Aug. 4 Journalist Experience” workshop for mid-career journalists; and the “Military-Media Alumni reunion event in Issues” e-journal to publicly discuss topics relating to military and the media. Denver, Colorado. More details Work on the first “Military-Media Issues” began late in 2008 with the first issue will be available online at published this month. The next edition will appear in about six months. The edi- www.journalism.ku.edu. tors also solicit manuscripts and photographs for “Military-Media Issues.” Submitted work must be on-topic and the author’s/photographer’s original work. “This e-journal will contribute to the academic and professional discourse about Don’t miss these excellent the relationship between the media and the military,” Dean Ann Brill said. “And, networking opportunities! how as vital institutions in so- ciety, our roles are actually very More details will be similar in that we both work to available online at preserve democracy.” The third MilJo Experi- www.journalism.ku.edu. ence workshop is set for Sept. 26 through Oct. 1, 2010. The partnership welcomes nomi- nations and self-nominations from working journalists and top journalism students who have not served in the mili- tary. Please e-mail interest to [email protected]. q

2009 Military-Journalist Experience class at Ft. Leavenworth, Kan. J-Links Spring 2010 5 CGSC majors and KU students in the Media & the Military class visited the Kansas Speedway for a first-hand look at professional racing integrated marketing and promotions. (Photos by Steve Kerrick) From the Kansan to Kabul: General still mentoring young journalists By John Milburn, 1990 J-School & 1998 political science grad

John Milburn is a military affairs writer. J-links profiled him in its Spring 2008 issue: www.journalism.ku.edu/alumni/Spr08JLinks.pdf

had participated in a number of video teleconferences with officers from the front lines, but this one was going to have Ia different meaning. Sure, I have often known the officers on the other end of the call from Iraq or Afghanistan. We usually met while they were still training at Fort Riley or during their education at Fort Lea- venworth. But this one was a visit in the way-back machine. This one was with an old classmate from Mount Oread, one who I had gone to battle with daily nearly two decades ago as we tried to assemble the next day’s University Daily Kansan. I knew him as just Gary Patton, an Army officer studying at KU. But now he’s a brigadier general, serving in Afghani- stan with Lt. Gen. William Caldwell IV as part of the NATO training mission. Caldwell was the former commander of Fort Leavenworth and proud member with Gary of the Afghanistan chapter of the Jayhawk Fan Club. Gary and I were on the Kansan as well as students in the School at the same time. I was finishing up my undergraduate degree, trying to get as much experience as possible to help Brig. Gen. Gary Patton in Afghanistan. (Photos by Capt. Tamara Gonzales, CSTC-A Public Affairs, and Col. Michael Wehr, CSTC-A Combined Joint-Engineer Director) land a job. Gary was a young officer engaged in graduate work. (He earned his master’s degree in journalism in 1990.) some numbers wrong that prompted a correction. Not surpris- I remember our days—more like long nights—working in ing. When he was on the Kansan desk he was always pushing the Stauffer-Flint newsroom. Many a night was spent pulling the young reporters to be accurate and to “corroborate” their teeth to edit copy or endure yet another computer glitch that facts, figures and statements. brought our finely tuned operation to a grinding halt. But having reporters with troops provides a level of trans- It was obvious during the video link that despite a little parency and accountability to the American public. There are more gray and a few wrinkles, little had changed with Gary. more than taxpayer dollars being expended, namely the na- He was still the same focused individual I knew at the Kansan, tional treasure of sons, daughters, husbands and wives who but now the stakes are higher than the rigors of a college daily. proudly don the uniform every day. He spoke to Prof. Tom Volek’s Military and the Media stu- After the interview with the students, Gary and I were able dents, telling them about his experiences with reporters and to chat a bit and catch up. We have mutual friends from Jour- how his view of the nalism School, including Steve Buckner, whose wife is my son’s media’s role on the fourth-grade social studies teacher. battlefield changed It was nice to touch base with Gary after all the years, es- over the past two pecially to see how our careers have progressed and intersected decades. again. As a reporter for The Associated Press the military has Gary told the become one of my focal points. Now and then, the beat takes me students that he has across the path of people I’ve met and respected from my past. learned that hav- One thing that impressed me about Gary was his desire, as the ing reporters embed father of a young Army officer, to finish the mission than began with his units has with Sept. 11 so his son doesn’t have to plow the same ground been a good experi- he has for the past decade. Gary has led troops in Iraq and now ence, though recent- is fighting another war in Afghanistan that still is fraught with ly there was an issue challenges. where a reporter got Brig. Gen. Gary Patton participates in a video “I want to finish this on my watch,” Patton said, spoken like teleconference with the J-School. a true father. q 6 J-Links Spring 2010 Photos from the April 26, 2010, School of Journalism Awards and Scholarships ceremony at the Kansas Union.

Corrie’s Corner: News from Corrie Moore KU Endowment Association Journalism Development Director In Memory of...

ver the years I’ve had the privilege to work on some very important and meaningful gifts estab- Olished in memory of donors’ friends and family. The loss of a loved one is such a difficult occurrence, and unfortu- Hailey Lapin, incoming freshman and one of the recipients of the prestigious Kaiser nately one that most of us have experienced. It’s touch- and Wooldridge scholarships, with her mother, Shelley, at the April 26 ceremony. ing to see donors honor a life they cherished so much through philanthropy. J-School awards students more than Perhaps one of the more notable funds of this kind is $400,000 at annual ceremony the Roger N. Wooldridge Memorial Scholarships. Norris and Helena Wooldridge established the fund in the ‘70s ach year the J-School recognizes outstanding students in memory of their only son who died tragically while he with scholarships and awards at an annual ceremony. was a journalism student at KU. With this fund, they cre- EThanks to the generosity of our donors, the J-School awarded ated a new family that became very dear to them. They 103 students with $395,000 in scholarships at a ceremony April hosted a dinner on campus every year where they met 26 in the Kansas Union. In addition, named awards totaling each recipient and many times, kept in regular contact $7,600 were given to 21 outstanding students. Awards are es- with students throughout their lifetime. tablished in honor or memory of faculty members or graduates More recently, the dean of the Journalism School, of the School. Award recipients are chosen by the faculty mem- Ann Brill, created an award in memory of her husband, bers in the specialty represented by the award. Larry, whom she lost last year. The Brill/Schmitz Service Journalism Award is given to a student each year who AWARD RECIPIENTS: demonstrates effective journalism skills in service to the Allyson Nienhueser Mel Adams Award community. Alex Garrison Sharon Bass Award “This is the memorial Larry wanted—to continue to Lauren Keith John Bremner Award make a difference in someone’s life,” Brill said. “He lived Clint Armistead Brill-Schmitz Award the principle of giving back and helping others through Aly Van Dyke Walter Ewert Award service.” Kirsten Hudson Gerald Funk Award Journalism faculty member David Guth established Patrick De Oliveira Gerald Funk Award a similar fund in memory of his wife, Jan, who died un- Andrea Olsen Gerald Funk Award expectedly in 2007. The Jan M. Guth Memorial Scholar- Sarah Bluvas Gerald Funk Award ship supports multicultural students studying strategic Michael Moore John Katich Award communication. Carnez Williams Dean’s Award “Jan was a loving and caring person who always Alexander Dufek Diane Lazzarino Award took interest in my students,” Guth said. “A scholarship Alyssa Steffen Dana Leibengood Award in her name seemed a fitting memorial for someone who Shaun Hittle Bruce Linton Award cared so much and did so much for others.” Lauren Cunningham Rick Musser Multimedia Award More than half of the endowed awards and scholar- Gordan Alloway Calder Pickett Award ships offered in the School of Journalism were given in William Jayson Jenks Don Pierce Award memory of former students or faculty. It’s been an honor Jennifer Torline Angelo C. Scott Memorial Award to work with donors on these memorial gifts and create Michael E. Smith Gene Slais Award something positive out of such sad and tragic events. Alicia Facklam Sullivan Higdon & Sink Award These endowed funds will last forever, much like the Adriane Jewett Trivadi Award for Excellence in Writing memories of the loved ones we’ve lost. q

J-Links Spring 2010 7 - Corrie Moore (J’98) ALUMNI NEWS & NOTES Photos from the 2010 School of Journalism Awards and Scholarships ceremony. Where are they now? Samuel Stratton is an audio interactive media at Johnson engineer and stage technician County Community College. at Texas Christian University in He was formerly the J-School’s Fort Worth, Texas. multimedia newsroom 2009 coordinator. Camille Clark Meghan Sullivan coordinates is a retention Kimberly Westphall is a writer advertising for Gragg Eric Sorrentino is a sports copy specialist at KU’s Office of for Midwest Sports Fans Advertising in Kansas City. editor at the Lawrence Journal- Multicultural Affairs. She (www.midwestsportsfans.com). works with the SOAR (Students World. He also maintains the Obtaining Academic Resources) Conference Chatter blog, which Tutoring program, a free 2007 follows the Big 12, on www2. 2008 Christopher Bysrom is an service offered to students of Carter Collins is an account kusports.com. interactive account manager for Hawk Link, an academic based manager at VML, New York City. retention program designed to Goble & Associates. Amanda Kim Stairrett is the assist students in successfully Lauren Henson works for military editor for the Killeen Suse Goericke, MSJ, works navigating their freshman year. the PKD Foundation (www. Daily Herald in Killeen, Texas. in New York City at an pkdcure.org). She leads all agency named Digitas as a Jaclyn Frankenberg is an marketing and media relations Brian Wacker is an associate senior associate in delivery assistant account executive for initiatives. She also leads the attorney with Herzog Crebs, LLP management. Formerly Fleishman-Hillard, Kansas City. day-to-day management of in St. Louis, Mo. He primarily she worked for GMMB in various accounts, focusing on works as a defense attorney in Washington, D.C. Sarah Hemme recently joined executing traditional and social civil litigation, as well as toxic International Architects Atelier media relations campaigns. tort litigation, and is licensed in Skylar Hurst teaches in the (IAA) as marketing coordinator, The PKD Foundation is the both Missouri and Illinois. Austin Independent School project administrator and only organization in the world District in Texas. general accounting manager. dedicated to fighting PKD, IAA is a small design-oriented one of the most common, life- 2005 Alejandra Sacio has returned Lindsey Scott works for The firm located in downtown threatening genetic diseases, home to Lima, Peru, and is editor Robin Shepherd Group, a Kansas City, Mo. She previously through research, education, of the magazine “Maju.” Jacksonville/Atlanta advertising worked at KU’s Audio-Reader advocacy and awareness. program from 2006 to 2009 as agency offering integrated Rene Ward is senior commun- branding, marketing, public assistant development director Allison (Friend) Mazzei is an ications representative at Bayer relations and interactive while completing her degree. She alumni relations consultant Animal Health. She manages all services. She handles marketing also earned a bachelor’s degree at Pennington & Company, a internal communications for the and advertising for Merial’s in art history, minor in French, in Lawrence-based Greek public U.S. animal health division. She Heartgard and Frontline product 2004 at KU. relations and fundraising firm. was formerly a media relations lines. She works with more than and marketing specialist with the Lindsey A. Hirschorn is a public 40 fraternities and sororities Kansas City Area Development relations coordinator at Polaris nationwide to enhance their Council. PR, a personal entertainment alumni relations programs. 2004 publicity firm in Los Angeles. Ashley Anstaett is commun- ications director in the Kansas Margaret Pugh is an account Attorney General’s Office. B.J. Rains is the sports reporter/ executive for Public Strategies in 2006 Madinah (Hazim) Adams, MSJ, multimedia producer for the Dallas, Texas. Globe-Democrat in St. Louis, is an insurance agent at AAA Ryan Greene works as a beat in Oklahoma City, Okla. She writer and multimedia journalist an online-only newspaper Ann Simmermon is the travel also works with marketing and for the Las Vegas Sun, primarily (www.globe-democrat.com). The coordinator for NBC’s EMT St. Louis Globe-Democrat was volunteering efforts for AAA. covering UNLV men’s basketball medical drama “TRAUMA.” and football. first published in 1852, as the She works for Open 4 Business Jacqueline Frye directs events Missouri Democrat and in 1875 Productions, LLC/NBC for the Denver Athletic Club. Maggie Koerth-Baker is a merged with the St. Louis Globe to Universal in San Francisco, Calif. become the Globe-Democrat. The freelance writer and editor based Emily Huffhines is a senior in Minneapolis, Minn., including newspaper’s last print edition Bethany Stanbrough is the account executive with a contributing editor for the blog, was published in 1986. It was assistant director of the Annual Nicholson Kovac in Kansas City. BoingBoing.net. recently revived as an online- Fund for La Salle University in only newspaper. Philadelphia, Pa. Patrick Lafferty, MSJ, is the assistant professor of (News & Notes – continued on page 9) 8 J-Links Spring 2010 Photos from the March 3, 2010, Journalism Career Fair. The event drew 15 companies and 226 students. ALUMNI NEWS & NOTES based in Bangkok, Thailand, music. David Day, 1997, co- from 2003-2010. Time Magazine’s produced and is featured in the (News & Notes – continued from page 8) John Nowak is a photographer 50 Moments of 2009 features film, which was a selection at with CNN in Atlanta. Previously one of his Afghanistan photos. the Independent Film Festival Ann (Erickson) Mermudez is a he freelanced for the New York Newsweek, Time, Stern, Der in Boston and the San Francisco public affairs specialist with the Times and the Wall Street Journal. Spiegel, Internazionale, Bloomberg, Documentary Film Festival. Grill U.S. Army Medical Command in Parade and MSF are among the also is a producer-in-residence San Antonio, Texas. Danielle (Mufich) Suarez and many publications that have at Emerson College, and Day Megan (Knop) Allen are the published his photography. He is a musician and music and Sean O’Grady works as owners of Bella Bridesmaid has covered stories like the civil art editor for Dig, a Boston promotions director for Clear Boutique and Soiree Event war in Sri Lanka, the war in alternative weekly. Channel Radio in Tampa, Fla. Designs in Kansas City, Mo. They Afghanistan, political violence met at KU and were sorority and the cholera epidemic in Mike Norris is marketing sisters at Gamma Phi Beta. They Zimbabwe, and the cyclone 1995 director and foundation assistant started Soiree Event Designs Nargis aftermath in Burma. Traci Carl received a writing at St. Luke Hospital in Marion, event planning company in 2007, Previously he was an advertising award from the Inter American Kan. Previously he served catering mostly to Kansas City copywriter at FCB in Chicago Press Association last week. Carl, as sports editor of the Marion area brides for their weddings. from 2000-2003. former Associated Press bureau County Record. Bella Bridesmaid, a franchise, chief in Mexico City, now is in opened recently in Brookside, charge of the Phoenix bureau. Mo. (www.soireeeventdesigns.com) 1999 2003 Chris Corley is group creative Angela Kokoruda manages Capt. Tamara Gonzales is a director/copywriter on the accounts for Thomson Reuters in public affairs officer for the U.S. 2002 regional McDonald’s account at Overland Park, Kan. Army. She is currently deployed Julie (Carter) Droste is a product Bernstein-Rein, Kansas City. supporting the NATO Training manager for Express Scrips. Mission-Afghanistan and the Juliann (Crider) Wisbrock is 1994 Combined Security Transition Russell Peloquin is the vice president of Competitive Jennifer (Thole) Berquist is Command-Afghanistan. Since International Diagnostics Insights in Chicago. associate director of the Williams graduating from the J-School, Business Manager for Luminex Educational Fund, Kansas she has served as a U.S. Army Molecular Diagnostics, a Athletics, Inc. in Lawrence. chemical corps officer and as a medical diagnostics company 1998 human resources officer. While specializing in human genetics, Kelly (Cannon) Boeckman the other jobs were rewarding, pharmacogenomics and manages products for Sun 1993 she said journalism is definitely molecular infectious diseases. He Microsystems. She lives in Mark Rowlands lives in Kansas her niche. She has served in is responsible for his company’s Golden, Colo. City, where he is deputy director public affairs at Fort Lewis’ business affairs in the U.S., of the Community Improvement Reserve Officer Training Corps Canada and Latin America. Melvin Dunston directs sales District. camp, at Fort Bliss, Texas, and for Residence Inn by Marriott in now in Afghanistan, where she Duluth, Ga. Amy (Lucas) Whitaker is an works with all different branches 2001 artist in Tulsa, Okla. of the U.S. military, coalition Jeff Morris, MSJ, is vice Jennifer Smith is a radiologic forces and Afghan National president for communications technologist at Newton Medical Security Forces. She is married, and marketing at Kansas State Center. She lives in Wichita, Kan. 1992 with a son. University. Laura Russell is a programmer at KU’s Biodiversity Institute. Julie Jantzer-Ward earned Katie (Slaughter) Schillare 1997 her master’s in business manages event sales for the Jenni Carlson won a Top 10 administration with an Cordish Company, Kansas City. Award for Column Writing 1991 entrepreneurial emphasis from from the Associated Press Kevin Baughman directs the University of Missouri- Gina (Leo) Stingley is brand Sports Editors, the largest sports information service for the Kansas City in August 2009. manager for Populous in Kansas journalism organization in the alcohol, drug and related City. country. treatment services group, Valley Jonathan Ng is an attorney in Hope Association in Norton, the Energy, Infrastructure and Amy Grill released a film she Kan. Project Finance practice group at 2000 both directed and produced, White & Case LLP in New York Will Baxter is a photojournalist “Speaking In Code” (News & Notes – continued on page 11) City. based in Phnom Penh, (www.speakingincode.com), Cambodia. Previously he was a documentary about electronic J-Links Spring 2010 9 ALUMNI NEWS & NOTES Photos from the 2010 Journalism Career Fair.

Hollywood Hawks: Jayhawks make their mark on the entertainment industry By Kayla Regan, Wichita, Kan., May 2010 graduate

hile some former Jayhawks choose to nest in Kansas, others decide to spread their wings and fly away. Now Wliving in Los Angeles, Calif., J-School alumnae Caitlin Tew and Elise Stawarz are among the more than 150 Hollywood Hawks who definitely aren’t in Kansas anymore. Hollywood Hawks, a networking group for KU alumni Famed Hollywood sign. (Photo courtesy of Wikipedia) working in the Los Angeles entertainment industry, official- ly kicked off last November and already has more than 150 “The nicest thing about Hollywood Hawks is that it makes members. Tew, who studied Strategic Communication in the the city seem smaller,” Stawarz, an Omaha, Neb., native and J-School, moved to Los Angeles just days after her spring 2009 August 2009 graduate said. “You notice that there are people graduation for an internship with the Jonas Group, a promi- working in every industry in all of these different companies nent music management company. She said she had no idea the and it’s nice to know someone who can help you in a door.” Jayhawks had such a strong presence in the big city. Graduating from KU was certainly an advantage for Tew, “It wasn’t until I started going to watch parties where there who was actually hired by Stawarz to take over her former po- were so many different generations of Jayhawks intermin- sition working on Disney’s Consumer Products for Tween fran- gling,” Tew, originally from Allen, Texas, said. “It’s like you’re chises last November. back in Lawrence, but in Hollywood.” “Networking is so big. I can’t emphasize how important it One of the main purposes of Hollywood Hawks is to help is,” Tew said. “It’s the people you know who will get you in or fellow Jayhawks learn about job openings, networking events, get your foot in the door, but then you have to prove yourself and other career opportunities. In January 2009, Stawarz, who with what you know.” studied News and Information in the J-School and who always Tew said her J-School experience was wanted to work in the entertainment industry, moved to Los the single largest factor in her Los Angeles Angeles to work as an intern for Warner Brothers while she fin- success. It also made Stawarz comfortable ished her degree. Stawarz said it was definitely a big transition with hiring her. Both Tew and Stawarz for her to go from a small Midwest college town to the second recognized the pivotal role their J-School largest city in the country, but Hollywood Hawks helped her education played in getting to where they acclimate to California life and work. are now, and with the help of Hollywood Hawks, they’re definitely excited to pay it forward. “It’s a program for all of us to con- CaitlinTew nect, network and help all of you out in Lawrence,” Tew said. “It’s also to help get acclimated because leaving KU is kind of scary.” Hollywood Hawks plans to serve as a link between the en- tertainment industry and current KU students. They hope to help students interested in the “biz” secure internships, hold workshops on topics such as how to handle yourself on a mov- ie set or with celebrities, and also provide other Hollywood- centric educational opportunities. “It’s surprising because it’s so far away you wouldn’t think there would be a lot of people,” Stawarz said. “But, on the other hand KU graduates tend to do such cool and interesting Elise Stawarz, at right, is pictured with her Disney Consumer Products team on the things.” runway from their Wizards of Waverly Place/JONAS Back to School Fashion Show Are you a KU graduate working in the Los Angeles enter- 2009. The event ran on Disney Channel and YouTube. From left to right are Laura tainment industry? Search “Hollywood Hawks” on Facebook Reid, Magda Loczi, Jennifer Kobashi, Eva Steortz, Henry Ong and Elise Stawarz. for more information. To join Hollywood Hawks, please con- tact Maria Skeels at [email protected]. q 10 J-Links Spring 2010 ALUMNI NEWS & NOTES Photos from the 2010 Journalism Career Fair. in 1995. She holds an MBA from families can find ethical and (News & Notes – continued from page 9) Georgetown University. compatible college athletic pro- Alison Young has joined USA grams. He also coaches elite Darren Richards is vice athletes, and one of his runners, Curtis Estes is a certified Today as its health reporter. president at Tucker/Hall, a Mark Thompson, broke the four- financial planner for She previously wrote a weekly public relations and public minute barrier for the mile Northwestern Mutual Financial watchdog column called affairs agency, in Tampa, Fla. in Europe this summer. His Network in Los Angeles, Calif. “Spotlight” for the Sunday Atlanta Journal-Constitution. 3:59.23 time ranked him 26th in the country for the mile. After Trisa (Dyer) Leibig teaches Prior to the column’s debut in graduating from the J-School English for the Collinsville October 2008, she covered the 1987 Grant Shaffer is a real estate Benjamin went to graduate Independent School District in Centers for Disease Control and agent with Century 21 Scott school in exercise physiology at Texas. She lives in Pottsboro. Prevention for the Atlanta Journal- Constitution. She is currently the Myers Real Estate in San Ohio State and then to KU med- president of the board of Antonio, Texas. ical school. He was a graduate directors of Investigative assistant track/cross country 1990 Barbara Shear is director of the Laura Graham is general Reporters and Editors. coach at KU and Ohio State. U.S. Media Practice for Burson- counsel for the Kansas Bureau of Marsteller, a leading global Investigation in Topeka. 1988 public relations and commun- 1985 Sally Buzbee, ications consultancy. She is a David Danner works for Mark McCormick is executive who as Middle former senior vice president at Keystone Freight Corp. in director of the Kansas African East editor for The Associated MS&L. She has spent nearly 20 Greensboro, N.C. American Museum in Wichita. Press has supervised Iraq war years in public relations, both in- Formerly he was a reporter and coverage and numerous other house and on the agency side, Michael A. Halleran has columnist for the Wichita Eagle key events, has been promoted representing a diverse portfolio written a new book, “The for 14 years. Before joining the to deputy managing editor for of companies, including techno- Better Angels of Our Nature; Eagle he was a reporter at the the new AP News Center, a new logy, consumer electronics, Freemasonry in the American Louisville, Ky., Courier-Journal. global headquarters operation in New York. It works closely with professional services, utilities Civil War.” He is a freelance and smart grid, publishing, and writer, lecturer at Emporia State Cynthia Leitich Smith wrote a AP’s regional and department advertising and marketing. University and a practicing book, “Eternal.” It debuted at leaders to deliver the most At MS&L, she managed the attorney in the Flint Hills of East- number five on the New York comprehensive, competitive corporate business for Philips Central Kansas. Times Bestseller List (children’s coverage in all formats of the Electronics, executive recruiter (http://michaelhalleran.com) paperbacks) on March 14. The day’s top stories. As Middle East Heidrick & Struggles, the media novel is a young adult Gothic editor based in Cairo, she was in relations for Northeast Utilities, fantasy, published by charge of content, staff, budgets IAC Advertising Solutions and Candlewick Press and is told in and complex logistics in 16 1984 smart grid company BPL Global, Charlotte (Burriss) Cool works alternating points of view by a countries stretching from Libya among others. She has worked for McCormick Co., Kansas City. vampire princess and the to Iran and south to Sudan. with many high-profile brands, guardian angel who failed to Under her leadership, the AP including Canon, IBM, Inter- save her life. The cast of opened a news bureau in Saudi national Paper, AOL Moviefone, “Eternal” will cross over with Arabia, one of the first Western 1983 Huawei, Simon & Schuster and Martha Jenkins was appointed the cast of Smith’s “Tantalize” agencies to do so, and expanded Okidata. acting general counsel for the (Candlewick, 2007, 2008), and coverage of Iran. She led cover- age of the 2006 Hezbollah-Israel District of Columbia Alcoholic in “Blessed,” set for release Feb. Beverage Control Board. 2011. For more information, see: war, the Darfur crisis and the www.cynthialeitichsmith.com growing activities of terrorist 1986 cells in countries such as Saudi Kristy (Lantz) Astry works Arabia and Yemen. Before as senior technical writer at 1982 Robert Winterer works for Jacquie Hill is a public relations moving to Egypt in 2004, she McKesson Provider Technologies Edward Jones in St. Louis, Mo. specialist for Assurant Employee covered education, politics and in Westminster, Colo. Benefits in Kansas City. economics in AP’s Washington, D.C., bureau and later was Ashley Benjamin is a 1989 psychiatrist in Ventura County, George Pollock is a copy editor Charles Rotblut, CFA, is vice named assistant chief of bureau Calif. He co-authored a book, for the Newport News Daily Press president at the American supervising foreign affairs “The Student-Athlete’s College in Newport News, Va. Association of the Individual coverage. She joined the AP in Recruitment Guide,” which was Investors in Chicago, Ill. His Topeka, Kan., in 1988 and was published in June 2009. It focuses (News & Notes – continued on page 13) duties include serving as editor a correspondent in San Diego on how high school athletes and of the AAII Journal. before moving to Washington J-Links Spring 2010 11 ALUMNI NEWS & NOTES Photos from the fall journalism graduate recognition ceremony Dec. 13, 2009, at the Kansas Union. Former University Daily Kansan editor wins Pulitzer Prize for Editorial Writing By Kayla Regan, Wichita, Kan., May 2010 graduate editorials exploring the social and economic disparities be- tween the northern and southern sides of Dallas. Frederickson said McCain Nelson always had a good eye for leads. He re- membered one in particular from her profile story of Dennis Dailey, a KU faculty member who taught a popular course in human sexuality. “As I recall, that story went on to win a Hearst Award for profile writing,” he said. After graduating from KU, McCain Nelson worked for the Wichita Eagle and the Fort Worth Star-Telegram until joining the Dallas Morning News as an education reporter in 2000. Since then, McCain Nelson has traveled the country while covering the 2004 presidential campaign, written about state campaigns in 2002 and spent three years covering Dallas City Hall and two mayoral elections. McCain Nelson, originally from Salina, Kan., is married to former Jayhawk and Kansan editor Eric Nelson (they didn’t meet until later in life, she told the Kansan). She told the Kansan that with her recent award, she’s more motivated than ever to Colleen McCain Nelson (Photo courtesy of the Dallas Morning News) stay in Dallas and keep writing about neighborhoods in need. “Professionally, it’s such great validation that what you do arlier this April, 1996 J-School graduate Colleen McCain matters and that what you do makes a little bit of a difference,” q Nelson told her husband it was “Pulitzer day” on her she said. “It motivates you to do more and to do better.” Eway to work for the Dallas Morning News. While in Journalism School, Pulitzer Prize winners were people she read about and winning one was something she’d never dared hope for. So imagine her surprise when she found out she and her colleagues won the 2010 Pulitzer Prize for Editorial Writing. “I’m still shocked—and absolutely thrilled,” she said. “Even now, two weeks later, I wake up wondering: Did that really happen? Did we really win the Pulitzer?” Her former reporting professor Ted Frederickson said he wasn’t surprised at all, remembering her as “obviously the most talented student in the class.” “She was also driven and willing to work long hours, often staying up far too late to work on stories,” Frederickson said. “When I told her that, she insisted she could get by just fine on four hours of sleep.” From the moment she arrived on campus, McCain Nelson said she wanted to learn everything she could about newspa- Journalism Job Listing Service pers. Evidently, those late nights and hard work paid off. “I loved the adrenaline rush of producing a daily newspa- The Journalism Career Center provides an online listing of jobs per,” she said of her work on the University Daily Kansan, which in the journalism industry that require at least two years of she joined her freshman year and became editor of in fall of experience. The job listings and descriptions are posted online 1995. “In the Journalism School I had stellar professors who at www.journalism.ku.edu, under “Alumni & Friends.” This service really prepared me to succeed in journalism. They challenged is for jobs that require two-four, three-five, five-seven and 10 or more years of experience. We hear about such positions on a me, and they were tough on me. But they also inspired me.” regular basis and immediately post the jobs online. If you know McCain Nelson, along with colleagues Todd Robberson of relevant job openings that should be listed, please e-mail and William McKenzie, won the Pulitzer Prize for a series of Patty Noland, journalism career development coordinator, at [email protected]. 12 J-Links Spring 2010 Photos from the fall journalism graduate recognition ceremony. ALUMNI NEWS & NOTES David Kyncl has a new book, U.S. Community Publishing’s (News & Notes – continued from page 11) “Listening Inside Out: Conver- South Newspaper Group, which sations with Twentysomethings comprises 16 Gannett-owned 1981 About Faith, Culture and the media operations in five states. Janis (Biehler) Milham is vice Mark Johnson manages regional Church.” It is a discussion of a Formerly located in Fort Myers, president of Courtyard by sales for Kansas Bankers Surety. survey of what the book calls the South Newspaper Group Marriott Global Brand Manage- He lives in Littleton, Colo. ment. In this role, she is the “twentysomethings,” who were headquarters is now located in at the Church of the Nazarene Nashville with Hudler. In her brand leader for Courtyard Mark Pittman, who died Nov. International M7 Conference in career, she has worked in many and a key member of the Select 25, 2009, is among the winners of Kansas City in Feb. 2007. Kyncl advertising, marketing and Service and Extended Stay Brand the prestigious 2009 George Polk worked in journalism for years, general management positions, leadership team. She started Award for National Reporting. beginning when he filled in to do including at the Kansas City with Marriott in 1988. Previously He collaborated with his some custodial work at the Fort Star, the Orange County, Calif., she worked for franchise partner Bloomberg News colleagues Bob Morgan Times when he was in Register, the Long Beach, Calif., RHW as an opening director of Ivry, Alison Fitzgerald and junior high school. Press-Telegram, the Rochester, N.Y., sales and later director of sales Craig Torres to help make trans- Democrat and Chronicle, the St. and marketing for the RHW parent the transaction of trillions Holli (Schweiker) Pearson Paul, Minn., Pioneer Press and the Management Company. She of dollars toward bank started a publishing company, Macon, Ga., Telegraph. She is a held positions with Residence bailouts. Their stories were Prairie Prayers Ministries, in board member of the Newspaper Inn including regional director invoked by legislators on Capitol 2009 (www.prairieprayers.com). Association of America and of sales and marketing, director Hill and were cited on interna- The company has one product chairs its Audit Bureau of of field sales, general manager tional radio and television. When out so far with more to come Circulations liaison committee. and regional manager. She the Bloomberg staffers’ Freedom from multiple authors. The first transitioned to the Courtyard of Information Act requests were product is “Straight from the brand in 1992 and held the denied, their employer filed a Heart, Prayers for Everyday position of regional manager in lawsuit against the Fed. The 1976 the Pacific Northwest. Living,” by Pearson. Douglas Campbell is president media outlet won the case, and CEO of Syneca Research ` requiring the central bank to Lionel Tipton is an associate Group in Washington, D.C. Janet Murguia is president make available to the public professor of journalism and mass and chief executive officer of more detailed information about communication at Dodge City Morrie Goodman was appointed La Raza, a Latino civil rights its loans. The decision has been (Kansas) Community College. NASA’s assistant administrator and advocacy organization. appealed in court. The George Previously she served as KU’s for public affairs. In this role, Polk Awards are conferred he directs internal and external executive vice chancellor for annually to honor special university relations. She also 1978 communications for NASA and achievement in journalism. They Bolivar Marquez manages serves as a senior advisor to the earned a law degree in 1985 and were established by Long Island bachelor’s degrees in journalism Marquez Worldwide Advertising agency’s leadership. Before University in 1949 to honor Polk, in Panama. joining NASA, he was a and Spanish` in 1982 from KU. a CBS correspondent. Mary Muguia (next entry) is her nationally recognized, award- twin sister. Rob Rains was named sports winning crisis communications editors and baseball writer for and emergency information ` 1979 the St. Louis Globe-Democrat, professional at his company, Mary H. Murguia has been Ronald Altman works as a an online-only newspaper. He Goodman Communications. He nominated by Pres. Barack strategic account lead for AT&T is the author of several books, also worked in the aerospace Obama to fill a vacancy on the in Kansas City. U.S. Court of Appeals for the including his most recent books, industry as vice president of “James Naismith: The Man Who communications for Boeing’s Air Ninth Circuit. She is currently Bruce Benedict is a photojourna- Invented Basketball” and “Tony Traffic Management Division. He serving as an Arizona district list (www.brucebenedictphoto.com). La Russa: Man on a Mission.” was director of strategic judge, and became the first He has extensive experience in communications and emergency Latina to serve on the federal the film industry where he has information at the Federal bench for the District of worked as a camera operator Arizona when Pres. Bill Clinton 1977 Emergency Management Agency and director of photography on Carol Hudler was named appointed her to that position in from 1993 to 1998. At FEMA, he feature films and commercials. president/publisher of Gannett’s 2000. She also graduated from managed crisis communications He also has worked as a ski the Tennessean, in Nashville. the KU Law School in 1985, for some of the nation’s worst instructor in Colorado, as the She had been the president and and in addition to her J-School disasters. (Continued on page 15) marketing photographer for the publisher of the News-Press in degree, earned a bachelor’s Vail ski area, and as principal Fort Myers, Fla., since 2000. She degree in Spanish from KU in (News & Notes – continued on page 15) photographer for SKI Magazine. will remain group president of 1982. She is a former state and federal prosecutor. J-Links Spring 2010 13 Class visitors from left: Chinese journalists; Gwen Griffin of Griffin Communications Group; David Peacock, ALUMNI NEWS & NOTES 1989 grad and president of Anheuser-Busch Companies, Inc.; and Anne Barnard, The New York Times.

Marketing Communications master’s degree helps working mom find leadership niche

relations agency. In my role as chair of FH Moms, I manage a consultancy within the firm of communications professionals in many of our 80 offices who work with clients interested in mom consumers. In developing this role I have carved out a way to turn my personal passion into tangible business, while meeting an unmet need for our firm and clients. How did your master’s education benefit you in your job? In the client service business, it is critical that you can think like your clients, speak their language and consider the whole inte- grated marketing picture when putting together plans. If you are siloed to a particular discipline or specific tactical function within your organization, how can you really provide the best counsel? You have to understand the bigger picture. For me, part of understanding the bigger picture was looking at con- sumers’ behaviors first, using that insight to identify where we have gaps and strategizing around how we can bridge the gaps to affect some kind of behavior. The program certainly helped get me to this point. Liz Hawks with her two sons, Reid and Graham. Why did you choose the Marketing Communications master’s degree program? I chose to pursue this degree at KU iz Hawks is senior vice president & global co-chair for FH after considering both this program and an MBA program, but Moms Practice Group, Fleishman-Hillard, Inc., and a May decided that because my career centers on marketing commu- 2010L graduate of the Marketing Communications master’s de- nications, so should my graduate degree. Learning more about gree program at the KU Edwards Campus in Overland Park, HR, accounting and economics wouldn’t directly impact my ca- Kan. She recently sat down with Kelly Crane, Marketing Com- reer path in the same way as focusing exclusively on integrated munications program coordinator, to talk about her career and marketing communications so it just made sense. how her KU J-School education helped her. What was your career field prior to entering the program? What do you do in your job every day? One thing I love I entered the program while here at Fleishman-Hillard, but pri- about my job is that this question is hard to answer. Working or to that was on the not-for-profit side, managing the volunteer in an agency gives me the ability to work on something new program and marketing for Habitat ReStore, an arm of Habitat all the time, so each day is differ- for Humanity, and was a member of ent. I am the founding chair of our AmeriCorps, the national domestic firm’s marketing-to-moms practice “It is critical that you can think like your service organization. In my field, a group, FH Moms, so the work I clients, speak their language and consider graduate degree is not required, but do involves counseling colleagues the whole integrated marketing picture.” I think the person who pursues the and clients to develop more strate- degree that is not required is more gic communications programs that — Liz Hawks ambitious, more competitive, more will resonate with the lucrative integrated and more likely to bring mom consumer market. I research a different perspective to the table. consumer insights that help me determine the right marketing It accelerates the career growth an ambitious person craves. mix to achieve a client’s objectives. Tactically, this mix may in- What were some of the biggest challenges you faced clude traditional media relations, social media, advocacy pro- while in graduate school? I started my master’s program with grams, developing spokespeople, initiating a cause marketing no children and I am graduating as the mother of two. Hav- program, mobile marketing, experiential marketing, contests or ing both of my babies while working full-time and getting a promotions – you name it. I get to research moms’ evolving con- master’s degree was no small feat. I am proof that this kind of sumer influences and purchasing behaviors and speak about accomplishment is possible. I can’t wait for the day that I can trends at national conferences. And I work with the smartest explain to my sons how they inspired me to achieve success. people in the business and the most fun clients! How old were you when you went back? Old enough to What’s the most rewarding aspect of your career? I have know what I didn’t know; young enough to be guided by blind been able to be an entrepreneur inside the world’s largest public ambition! For more on the Marketing Communications graduate program, contact Kelly Crane at 913.897.8416 or [email protected]. q 14 J-Links Spring 2010 Class visitors from left: Luis Santos, 1970 graduate and CEO of Casa Editorial El Tiempo in Colombia; ALUMNI NEWS & NOTES Gary Bender, voice of the Phoenix Suns; Amy Gahran, media consultant and info-provocateur; and Sharon Woodson-Bryant, 1969 and 1975 MSJ graduate and First 5 LA media manager.

(News & Notes – continued from page 13) Okla. He has worked there in a total of 26 countries. He for 28 years and is responsible and his wife also run a horse 1968 Charles Alfonso directs sales for (Morrie Goodman continued from for video production, still boarding operation from their LG in Langhorne, Pa. page 13) These disasters included photography, graphics, computer home, boarding horses. the Northridge earthquake, presentation systems, etc. Bob Dotson is host of NBC’s the Oklahoma City bombing, Michael Vrabac is vice president “American Story with Bob the Great Midwest floods, and general manager of two of Dotson.” He was chosen as Southern California wildfires, The E.W. Scripps Company’s 1974 the Journalist of the Month hurricanes, and more than 200 Mike Jerrick cohosts a daily television stations in the Kansas for December 2009, as voted other disasters. He worked with morning show called “Good City market. He heads KSHB, by high school broadcast the National Transportation Day Philadelphia” on Fox 29. the Scripps-owned NBC affiliate reporters. “American Story Safety Board after the explosion He was formerly a cohost of in Kansas City, and KMCI, an with Bob Dotson” also won a of TWA Flight 800 and managed “The Morning Show With Mike independent station in Lawrence. National Headliner Award for the board’s hearings. He was and Juliet,” which aired on Fox Since 2006, he had led KJRH, best Feature, Sports or Human press secretary at the Dept. of stations around the country from the Scripps-owned NBC affiliate Interest story for the NBC News Commerce from 1998 to 2001 a New York City base. in Tulsa, Okla. The job at KSHB Today Show story “Potato Peeler under Secretaries William M. marks a return to the station he Millionaire.” Daley and Norman Y. Mineta. Margie (Cook) Strainer is the worked at for eight years until Also a veteran journalist, he school psychologist at Glacier 1979, when he left for his first spent 17 years in television High School and Hedges Ele- stint at KJRH. He left in 1994 to news as a reporter, producer mentary School, Kalispell, Mont. serve as sales director of Tulsa’s 1964 Ralph Gage Jr. has been elected and news director. He was CBS affiliate, where he also had to the board of directors of the senior producer for CNN sales responsibility for Tulsa’s The News-Gazette Inc. Gage is on site at the Kennedy Space WB affiliate. He returned to 1973 director of special projects for Center during the Challenger John H. Brazelton retired from Scripps in 2006 as vice president The World Company, which tragedy. For his work in disaster the U.S. Air Force at Los Angeles and general manager of KJRH. owns the Lawrence Journal- communications, he has won Air Force Base in Oct. 2009 with In Tulsa, he serves on the Board World, as well as several smaller several awards, including the 31+ years of service. His last of the Tulsa Metro Chamber, newspapers in Kansas. He was Federal Technology Leadership position with the Air Force was the Better Business Bureau, the formerly the company’s general Award and top PRSA honors. as acting chief of multimedia Chairman of the Salvation Army manager and chief operating services and chief video services. Adult Rehabilitation Center and officer. Gage also is corporate Paul Sherbo wrote “Unsinkable He also worked in video produc- the Tulsa Executive Association. secretary for a related enterprise, Sailors,” a book about the sink- tion with the U.S. Army in Texas, Through his career he has served WorldWest Limited Liability ing of the USS Frank E. Evans. Germany and Wisconsin. on a number of professional Co., which operates papers in boards including the TVB Sales Colorado and Arizona. He joined Ken Stone won the first Adam Advisory Board and the NBC the Journal-World in 1969 and Jacobs Memorial Award for 1972 Sales Advisory Board. Excellence in Blogging in June J.B. Forbes has been a staff served as reporter, managing 2009. It is a new award given photographer with the St. Louis editor and assistant to the by TAFWA, the Track and Field Post-Dispatch since 1975, and publisher. Earlier in his career, 1970 he was an assistant city editor at Writers of America. His blog on was named chief photographer Luis Santos is the CEO of Casa the Metro-East Journal in East St. adult age-group track is at in 2007. He recently covered the Editorial El Tiempo (CEET), a Louis, Mo. www.masterstrack.com. The blog Haiti earthquake. He worked in leading media company in was launched in January 2003 Kansas at the Parsons Sun and in Colombia, publisher of the and has more than 3,000 entries Florida at the Miami News before national newspaper El Tiempo and 10,000 comments. joining the Post-Dispatch. He has and owner of five other 1949 Patricia (James) Baker is at traveled extensively with the newspapers, five magazines, work composing hymns, both Timothy Watson is president of Post-Dispatch during his career. a local television station, book words and music. Her latest Virginia Textbook Exchange and He has covered war in Central publishing Circulo de Lectores project is a cantata for choral Watson Associates in Midlothian, America, earthquakes in Mexico and 18 Web sites. Santos has led singing entitled, “Glad Tidings Va. and California, revolution in the transformation of CEET from of Christmas.” q Haiti, economic issues in South a one-newspaper company into a America and hurricanes Katrina multimedia organization. Santos 1975 and Rita. He has made several has been at CEET for 39 years, J. Steven Dick is manager of trips to the Balkans with the where he began working after the Conference Center at Saint military and a trip to Iraq in graduating from the J-School. Francis Health System in Tulsa, 2004. Altogether he has worked J-Links Spring 2010 15 Non-profit Organization US Postage Paid Permit #116 Lawrence, KS

Send us Your News Please mail or e-mail your update to Jennifer Kinnard at [email protected].

NAME: J-Links is a publication for the alumni and friends of the ADDRESS: University of Kansas William Allen White School of Journalism CITY/STATE/ZIP: and Mass Communications. current address new address GRADUATION YEAR: Editor Jennifer Kinnard, Communications PHONE: E-MAIL: Coordinator, [email protected], CAREER UPDATE: 785-864-7644 (Include company Printed by name and city) Allen Press Inc., Lawrence, Kansas

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