October 2004 The Journalist Issue 2 Journalism Department Newsletter for Majors Mike Cowling, the newest inductee in the Journalism Alumni Hall of Fame By Cassie Fifer Devoting his life to journalism is something that Mike Cowling has never thought twice about; therefore, no one was surprised when Cowling was inducted into the Journalism Alumni Hall of Fame. According to John Ryan, chair of the selection committee, “He was very good, very conscientious and was very dedicated….” Ryan got to see first hand how devoted Cowling was to journalism because he went to school with him. Cowling broke into the newspaper business when he was in high school. He worked for his hometown newspaper in Mt. Carmel. “I wrote sports, covering Dr. Les Hyder welcomes Mike Cowling to the Journliasm Alumni Hall of Fame on Wednesday little league games and realized back then Oct. 13. Cowling spoke to a group of alumni, students and faculty about his career in the that I had a knack for it,” he said. journalism field at the induction in Buzzard Auditorium. Photo by Doug Lawhead “I was a journalism minor because they didn’t actually make this a major until I confidence in me and helped me get into Lori Miller Drummond, who was was a junior or senior. I had enough credit this program with financial assistance,” also an announced honoree, will be from both that I decided I would double Cowling said. Since that day many years inducted into the Alumni Hall of Fame major in history and journalism, ” he said. ago, he has believed that it was people like when attending the Student At Eastern, he was editor of The Daily Thornburgh and this university that made Publication Banquet in the spring. Her Eastern News for a semester, worked as a a positive difference in his life. mother, Beverly Miller, accepted her sports editor for the Warbler for a year Cowling has been very helpful in giving plaque in her absence, Oct. 13. and during his summers, he went back back to Eastern. He provided the initial home and worked for the same newspaper donation for the David Reed scholarship Things to know about Mike Cowling: in Mt. Carmel that he covered sports for and makes contributions to the Dan • Teaches media ethics and editing, and in high school. Thornburgh endowment. “I owe also has taught news writing, reporting After leaving Eastern, he earned his something to a department like this that and feature writing for the past ten master’s in journalism at the University of gave me chance,” Cowling said. years as an associate professor in the Illinois, but no school will be as dear to Alumni, faculty members, students or Department of Journalism at the Cowling as his alma mater, Eastern. others who have worked with a University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh. “EIU has been very influential in my prospective honoree submit nominations • Was the executive secretary of the career and I have a very close relationship for this annual award. A committee of Northeastern Wisconsin Scholastic with the journalism department still to journalism faculty members makes the Press Association, an organization for this day,” Cowling said. selection. The main things the committee high school journalism students. Originally, when Cowling was looking consider are the nominees’ long-time •Taught part time at California State at colleges he was unsure if he could come professional experiences and University-Fullerton and at Cal to Eastern because of costs. But Dan achievements; as well as, his or her Poly-Pomona. Thornburgh solved this problem. contributions to society. continued on p.2 “He took a chance on me, showed The Journalist October 2004 Page 2

Cowling (continued from page 1)

•Worked during the summers from 1997 Raleigh (N.C.) News and Observer, the through 2004 as a copy editor on either Wichita Eagle, the Belleville (Ill.) the National desk or the Foreign desk at News-Democrat, the Lafayette (La.) The New York Times, and for the past Advertiser, the American Press Institute, five years, worked as an editor for The the Illinois Press Association, the Virginia New York Times on the Web, reading Press Association and the Wisconsin section fronts five nights a week. Press Association. • Worked eight years as a national news • His free-lance articles and essays have editor at the Los Angeles Times, and appeared in the Los Angeles Times, the for three years as a copy editor at Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Editor & the Chicago Sun-Times. Publisher magazine, the Journal of Mass • Has worked as an editor or reporter at Media Ethics, and Journalism & Mass five other newspapers in Illinois. Communication Quarterly. He also has • Cowling has also conducted editing and written a column titled “Writing With ethics workshops or served as a writing Precision,” for Publishers’ Auxiliary, and coach for newspapers and news Mike Cowling and Mrs. Beverly Miller, Lori has done training videos on writing Miller’s mother, show off the awards. Lori will be organizations across the country, creative headlines and improving lifestyle inducted in the Alumni Hall of Fame this spring. including The Boston Globe, the copy for the Newspaper Satellite Photo by Doug Lawhead Oklahoman in Oklahoma City, The Network, based in Dallas.

Poulter awarded for excellence in technology

By Ashley Walz Each of the four colleges established “Technology, when used well, can their own criteria and nominated really enhance the classroom and help individuals. Once the four finalists were students. Technology used well can chosen, the names were forwarded to accomplish a lot,” said Professor Brian Hoadley and then recognized at the Poulter. second annual Technology Day on Poulter was recognized for his September 23. “excellence in the use of technology” by the “Our goal at CATS is to keep Center for Academic Technology Support recognizing faculty each year through this (CATS). award because it sends a very strong According to Dr. Michael Hoadley, message that EIU is committed to assistant vice-president for Academic providing the best learning environment Affairs for Technology, “Those faculty for our students,” Hoadley said. members utilize technology to help Poulter integrates technology into his classes by utilizing computers, software and digital cameras. He has recently “Technology, when used co-authored news writing simulations in movie form using Quicktime Virtual well, can really enhance Professor Brian Poulter helps his students to Reality. This allows students to meet with better understand the technology available. the classroom and help virtual news sources to practice writing Agency archive photo and research skills. students.” “Brian Poulter is an excellent example The journalism department doesn’t of a faculty member who effectively – Brian Poulter really have a choice when it comes to incorporates technology into the keeping up-to-date with technology, journalism curriculum,” Hoadley said. explains Poulter. “Our industry has to Eastern Illinois University move ahead stay current with technology to succeed.” with its academic mission through “Technology is just a tool,” he adds. Watch for a profile of new instruction, research and service. Computers, software and digital cameras journalism faculty member Ultimately, the benefits are experienced by are all simply tools to be used. “You can’t Dr. Sally Turner in the students, faculty and the university just have technology. You must use it well community as a whole.” for it to make a difference,” Poulter said. next issue! The Journalist October 2004 Page 3 WEIU-TV: A chance for students to work in broadcast

By Jeffrey Tischauser WEIU news is shown Monday through Eastern Illinois University offers Friday at 5:30 p.m. students a variety of opportunities to “There are strict deadlines. Students establish their ambitious avenue for early must meet them,” said Kelly Runyon, success. Students interested in careers in WEIU news director. “That is the only broadcast are no different. catch; students can miss a deadline only WEIU-TV is open to all students, once.” regardless of their major. WEIU offers “It is vital to the station that all students opportunities behind the scenes deadlines be met. Working with such and in front of the camera. Students deadlines will only enhance a student’s interested in working in front of the experience,” Brooks said. camera are required to meet some WEIU provides students real world prerequisites. An on-air position is pressure that cannot be found in the Tiffany Swiderek, senior communications competitive, but can be achieved through classroom. WEIU.net, the station’s studies major, works for WEIU-TV. work. However, any student can help website, is a valuable resource for students Photo by Jeff Tischhauser behind the scenes right away. considering media broadcast. The “Just show up. The first day we let the website explains that WEIU is “deeply students observe, we ask them their committed to paraprofessional “It’s more than the classroom. It interests and fit them in. We are always preparation of students seeking degrees prepares you for work better than what looking for help,” said Jared Brooks, leading to careers in broadcast.” you learn in the classroom,” Brooks said. WEIU sports producer. WEIU broadcasts to 12 counties: The WEIU-TV office is located in Students learn how to write for news Champaign, Clark, Coles, Crawford, Buzzard Hall. Any interested students broadcast, how to use the equipment and Cumberland, Douglas, Edgar, are welcome to walk right in. all other fine points of broadcasting for Effingham, Jasper, Moultre, Piatt and news and programs provided by WEIU. Shelby..

WEIU-TV wins Silver Dome Award second year in a row By Sara Wagoner For the second straight year, WEIU Newswatch has won first place at the Illinois Broadcasters Association Conference. Eastern won first place for best student newscast in the state, as well as first place for best website. The conference, which was held in Bloomington, featured keynote speaker Larry Smith of CNN Headline News. Smith is also an Eastern alumnus. News Director Kelly Runyon said the awards are fantastic. “Fantastic for the station and fantastic for the students who work so hard,” Runyon said. Although this is the second straight The WEIU-TV news team: (from left) Patrick Comerford, Whitney Self, Jared Brooks, Lea year Eastern has won the Silver Dome Erwin, Blake Wood, Amanda Zeman, Brandi McDonnald and Brian Hajik. WEIU-TV photo award, Runyon said that winning is not the goal, “Our goal isn’t to win awards; it Northern Illinois Universities, Bradley, an accomplishment to beat SIU two years is to produce a topnotch broadcast each Illinois State and others. in a row because SIU is the station’s night.” Whitney Self, who has worked at the biggest competition. Eastern defeated Southern and station for three years now, says it is quite The Journalist October 2004 Page 4

Webcast in Buzzard focuses on new technologies

By Jeffrey Tischauser trusted mass media, they wouldn’t go survey questions to his audience and the The webcast in the Buzzard searching for news on the Internet.” A results were answered and posted quickly. auditorium, Oct. 5, focused on the impact debate ensued regarding the truthfulness McCabe asked the audience whether or of new technologies and media on the of the mass media. Froomkin responded not they felt informed enough to make a November 2 presidential elections. awkwardly. He stated that as a columnist good selection for president. Almost Journalism professor Sally Turner was he is able to express his opinions, “In that ninety percent said that they felt they the coordinator of the webcast for sense, I am similar to a blogger,” he said. could make an informed decision. Eastern. Her diligent work allowed Questions of why he would support his students to witness the height of media competition by comparing his work to technology. bloggers were left unanswered. Jason McCabe, co-founder of Weblogs Retha Hill, vice president of content Inc. hosted the webcast. The featured development for BET.com, assailed the discussion leaders came from a variety of mass media for not being fair to the backgrounds. Mediacenter.org gave American public. She stated that media background information regarding the companies were competing with each panel and the purpose of the webcast. other, which cause companies to try and The website suggested that political outdo each other, sometimes using parties, advocacy groups and others are exaggerated or bad reports to create empowered to get their message out—to shock value. She cited Dan Rather’s motivate action, debate, fund raising and ordeal as an example. Hill asserted that Agency Director voting through the Internet. such practices must cease or media Kimberlee Boise The panel discussed the positives and companies would forever lose their negatives of using the Internet for that viewers to the Internet or newspapers. [email protected] purpose. “People are becoming disenfranchised In addition, the panel discussed how with main stream media. Blogs are taking user attitudes and behaviors, combined advantage of that,” said Jonathan Agency Assistant Director with technology, create new avenues for Bullington, junior journalism major. Sara Wagoner sharing information. The panel, led by Stephen Bromberg, executive editor of sportscast84 @yahoo.com Dan Froomkin, WashingtonPost.com, FoxNews.com, who attended the responded saying that blogs (web logs) webcast, answered questions regarding are one way people are getting additional the conservative nature of Fox News. “I Agency Adviser first-hand information. A blog is an online represent FoxNews.com…we strive to log that can be created by anyone and can bring balance to our news,” said Terri Johnson cover any topic. For example, Senator Bromberg. Fox News is frequently [email protected] John Kerry and President George W. attacked for being unfair and filling its Bush employ bloggers to follow their station with conservative propaganda. respective campaign trails. However, Mediacenter.org affirms that the The Journalist Editor Froomkin asserted that readers must be Internet allows voters to react to current Holly Frejlich leary of blogs because they are often events, to report and distribute new one-sided. information and to share and debate their [email protected] A debate then emerged. Jehmu opinions as never before. The panel Greene, president of Rock the Vote, maintained that because voters have the The Agency is a student-run public insisted that mass media’s checkered additional resource of the Internet, the relations organization. Anyone is relationship to their viewers have driven presidential election of 2004 should have welcome to join. Meetings are held the demand for these additional sources of the most informed voters of any election. every Wednesday from 4-6 p.m. in news. Greene stated that, “If Americans During the webcast, McCabe posed Buzzard Hall, room 2436