Distinguished Professor’ Responses
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Vol. 22 Summer 2012 Lang honored as ‘Distinguished Professor’ responses. Dis- covering which Having triggered a paradigm shift in the more than 50 years. She assumes that com- aspects of which understanding of how human beings process munication is a fundamental human behavior media drive mediated messages with her model of infor- which evolved to allow embodied “brains” to which automat- mation processing, Professor Annie Lang has communicate with other embodied “brains.” ic responses and received Indiana University’s most prestigious Lang conceptualizes all communication as understanding academic rank of Distinguished Professor. mediated - the original media were air and how conscious The rank of distinguished professor honors light (affording hearing and vision). As hu- intentions and outstanding scholarship, artistic or literary mans developed symbol systems and electronic learning inhibit distinction, or other achievements that have media, the reach of brain to brain interaction and facilitate won significant international recognition by extended across space and time. Lang argues these automat- the recipient’s peers. Only 42 current faculty that humans evolved in a world that obeyed ic responses on the Bloomington campus hold this rank. Of constant physical laws. For example, objects during media use is the primary goal of her those, only six are women. did not simply appear and disappear and they research. Lang was nominated by her fellow faculty did not walk and talk. Instead they sat still and Professor Lang has been extremely produc- members in the department who built a case let humans act upon them. Things which did tive since joining the Department in 1995. She for the stringent selection process. Over two walk and talk, that is, things which were able has published more than 75 refereed publica- dozen letters were received from preeminent to display animate behavior, were animals and tions, 14 book chapters, and nearly 150 refereed national and international scholars attesting therefore represented potential threats and convention papers. She is a highly sought-after to the impact of her body of work. One writer opportunities and afforded social behavior. speaker, having given more than 40 invited described Lang as a “ferocious intellect.” Because many media appear to display animate talks, many outside the United States. In 2009, Department chair Walter Gantz said this was a behavior we tend to respond to them as if she received one of the highest honors in her “great individual honor, acknowledging Annie’s they were animals rather than objects. For this field, the International Communication Asso- extraordinary accomplishments as a scholar reason, people respond to media automatically ciation’s prestigious Steven H. Chaffee Career and mentor.” and unconsciously as social actors. As a result, Productivity Award. It recognized 20 years of Lang’s goal is to build a general theory of media form, structure, content, and context work on the understanding of media effects communication, one that challenges views have the ability to drive automatic motiva- and its implications for the design of media about media research broadly supported for tional, emotional, cognitive, and behavioral messages. Coaches’ Shows produced for BTN There is no substitute for learning by doing, particularly in the field of media production. This past year, students gained on-the-job experience by producing the Kevin Wilson and Tom Crean coaches’ shows for broadcast on the Big Ten Network. The shows featured IU’s football and basketball head coaches in a review of the past week’s performance, hosted by Jeremy Gray, IU Assistant Athletic Director for Broadcast Services. IU Athletics enlisted the Department of Telecommunications to update and improve production of the programs. Jo Throckmor- ton, a veteran freelance writer and producer, came aboard as the instructor of a class which he organized to mimic the actual newscast production done at television stations across see Coaches’ Shows (continued on page 5) Each year the MultiVisions Communications in media industries. Conference provides a meeting place that results in The Media Showcase & Awards night—a internships, jobs, and mentoring relationships that celebration of creative and scholarly excellence—was last well beyond the conference. held two weeks later, on April 13. Thirteen students The MultiVisions tradition continued, bringing were honored with scholarships and awards for 26 successful and engaging industry professionals academic distinction, creative merit, or to support to campus on March 30. During panel expenses associated with an internship or conference. discussions, one-on-one informational interviews, Ten students were recognized as new initiates into and informal conversations over lunch, over 300 Phi Beta Kappa, the academic honor society. The students were given glimpses of professional Showcase was the culmination of the annual media opportunities and challenges in media. Based on competition for students’ creative projects in video, evaluations, the conference motivated undergrads audio, graphics and animation, and scriptwriting. to more closely define their skill set and provided Entries were judged by professionals across the roadmaps toward their career goals. Conversely, country who provided constructive critiques along the visiting professionals were inspired and with their scores. Clips of the top entries were encouraged by the students’ passion, initiative, screened and trophies were presented and overall level of preparation to launch careers to 35 winners. MUMULLTIVISIONSTIVISIONS FUTUREFUTURE VISIONSVISIONS Above: During his Right: Adam keynote talk at the Schweigert, left, Media Showcase and Director of Strategy Awards celebration, for Mindset Digital Jo Throckmorton, in Columbus, Ohio, producer and and Patrick Connors, Telecom instructor, Associate Publisher showed the audience for Glamour magazine the reels of one of his in NYC, react to a first films. comment from the audience. Below: John Blizek ’75, Film Editor/ Director in Pasadena, passes on his best career tips. Left: Stephen Lucas ’80, Director Nightly News, NBC in NYC, com- mented: “[Conducting] information interviews gave me a chance to meet the students and find out their career interests and pass along some individualized advice that might help them in reaching their goals.” 2 Media@IU is a cross-campus collaborative Above: Venetia Pristavec ’06, Host/Producer for effort of faculty, staff and students interested Airbnb out of San Francisco, listens intently to and engaged in research, teaching, and a comment by Brian O’Neill ’04, Senior Sales creative activity in the broad field of media, Manager of Pandora in NYC. communications and the creative industries. Creative industries is broadly defined to include advertising, public relations, marketing communications, film, computer and video games, software programming and design, web development, music and recording, performing arts, publishing, TV and radio, and journalism. The list is nearly endless. Media@IU originated in 2009 as an initiative of professors Mark Deuze (Telecommunications), Mary Gray Along with a successful free- (Communication and Culture), and Mike lance production career, Tom Conway (Journalism) as members of key units Barker ’72, has collected on campus that provide research and education vintage equipment, some in the field of media arts and sciences. The of which he displayed at Media@IU team and volunteer graduate MultiVisions. students gathered information and built a listserv, database and website of all things media. The website, www.mediaiu.indiana.edu, includes: • over 700 undergraduate and graduate courses related to media and creative industries offered regularly at IUB, searchable by unit and discipline; • over 70 active student organizations related to the creative industries; • overview and contacts of media resources at IUB; • list of companies and professionals engaged in media production and management who might offer internships and employment to IU students and grads. You’re Invited to... Plan now to attend The first annual Media@IU symposium on Saturday, November MultiVisions 2013 on 3, IU-Bloomington. Alumni and friends are invited to attend and Friday, April 5. to join this effort to foster innovation and collaboration. To get Everyone’s welcome! involved or for more information, email the team at mediaiu@ indiana.edu. 3 Ron Osgood and Herb Terry retire after a combined 63 years at IU Ron Osgood has won many teaching petitive grants for research, including two New Drawing on his own experience serving in awards, written an acclaimed field production Frontiers grants from the Lilly Foundation. the Navy as a crewman on an aircraft carrier textbook, and received many competitive Somehow, Osgood also found time for his off the coast of Vietnam, Osgood embarked on research grants during his 25 years as a clinical own creative pursuits—long-form documenta- producing a documentary about the thoughts professor and manager of the department’s pro- ries. Shirts and Skins: The Sociology of Basket- and emotions of Vietnam veterans with chil- duction facilities. He retired in January but his ball was his first major project, broadcast in dren who had served in Iraq. My Vietnam Your legacy is a top-notch facility for future students 2002 and now distributed internationally. He Iraq has won numerous awards at film festivals and countless graduates of the department then convinced John Mellencamp to give him