Cartoonist Wins Pacemaker Award

theJournalist newsletter for Journalism Majors & minors Nov./Dec. 2006 issue 1 Cartoonist wins Pacemaker Award By Derrick Johnson II David Pennell of the The Daily Eastern News has been named the winner of a 2006 Pacemaker Award for his editorial cartoon shown here. Pennell won the award Editorial Cartoon of the Year. The winners were announced at the 85th annual ACP/CMA National College Media Convention. The convention took place in St. Louis, from Wed, Oct. 25, to Sun., Oct. 29. Simply being nominated for Pacemaker Awards is an honor in itself. For Pennell to win the award shows his skill as an artist. The DEN staff’s reaction to Pennell’s cartoons is given proof of his talent. “It is absolutely deserved,” senior Kyle Mayhugh, DEN editor in chief, said. “He is amazing. People gather around the mail boxes when he drops off his cartoon.” Along with Pennell, the DEN was nominated for best student publication and the online edition of the DEN was nominated as well. This was the third year that the online edition of the DEN was nominated, said John Ryan, director of student publications. The National College Media Convention is an annual event hosted by the Associated Collegiate Press and College Media Advisers. The four-day convention allowed student publications The Editorial Cartoon of the year was created by David Pennell of The from across the country to communicate Daily Eastern News. The award was announced at the 85th annual with each other, present their publications ACP/CMA National College Media Convention. and give student journalists a chance to network with professionals. are around 80 daily student newspapers of,” Mayhugh said. “And I’d say the “This is the largest national meeting in the country, so to be even nominated combination of advisers and The Daily for college media with the two biggest means we’re in the top of the highest Eastern News environment produces a lot organizations for college,” Ryan said. student newspaper category there is.” of skilled people.” Mayhugh agrees that the National The DEN’s nominations are proof of the Pennell, who is studying political College Media Convention is one of the effort that was displayed the previous year. science, is considering a journalism largest student publication events. “We generally have very solid minor, after his experience as an editorial “It is very big,” Mayhugh said. “There news coverage that we’re quite proud cartoonist. Eastern alumnus chases journalism dreams By Cory Dimitrakopoulos recognized bylines of my now-colleagues Martin is currently in Seoul, Korea, Even in his first days attending and realized that I viewed them as if they where he plans to stay for “as short as a Eastern Illinois University, Tim Martin were mini-celebrities. Their work blew year and as long as forever.” stood out from his peers. me away,” Martin said. “English teaching in Korea is a “On the first day of school, he Working at such a large-scale multibillion dollar business. I was able was in the newsroom getting any newspaper opened Martin’s eyes as to to find a teaching position [in Korea] that and all assignments he could. He had how far his dedication and passion for was loaded with perks and a great salary,” more passion for journalism than any journalism actually took him. Martin explains. freshman I’ve seen,” explains John While his colleagues at The Wall Street While in Korea, Martin is still writing Ryan, student publications coordinator at Journal inspired Martin, he was also for The Wall Street Journal. Eastern. inspired to do something he had wanted to “The WSJ has left open the door for Ryan had a lot of experience with do for years. me to freelance, both for the [American] Martin as Ryan was his adviser. “I am a Korean adoptee. I became and Asian Wall Street Journal,” explains During his years at Eastern, Martin interested in my heritage in college…and Martin. was involved with The Daily Eastern realized that I needed to [go to Korea to] Martin says he used the excellent News, DEN Online, Minority Today, gain fluency,” explains Martin. education he was offered and has Student Publications Board, and the After studying his heritage for awhile, become a successful journalist, doing Asian American Association. Martin decided that it was time to visit and following his dreams. “I’d like to Martin’s experiences at Eastern Korea. [eventually] be a foreign correspondent and the knowledge he gained from participating in these programs were important; however, the most significant lesson Martin said he learned in college was “how to be unashamed of my intelligence.” His eagerness to learn and his curious personality were greatly encouraged by his professors and mentors at Eastern. “Without them…I may have lacked the assurance and gratification that my hard work was worth all of the effort,” Martin said. Martin took over an editor position for The Daily Eastern News the first semester of his freshman year. Even though he was new to the scene, he was recognized as being great at what he did. “Tim was a very energetic reporter and editor…he recruited a very large staff while he was editor and worked well with them. He was a prolific writer [and] editor and did an excellent job,” said Ryan. Martin’s final two years at Eastern consisted of mainly freelance work at Tim Martin, shown here clowning for the camera, is currently teaching various professional newspapers. All English in Korea while writing stories for the Wall Street Journal. of Martin’s hard work, dedication and Martin says his journalism experiences at Eastern have helped him passion paid off in a great way. After obtain his personal goals. graduation, Martin was offered a job writing for The Wall Street Journal, one “I never thought of leaving Illinois, let based in Seoul. Alas, I’ll look to use my of the most acclaimed and prestigious alone the Midwest or the United States,” journalism skills to travel and story-tell newspapers in the country. said Martin. all over the globe,” said Martin. The most rewarding part of writing He realized that as his journalism Martin was an honors student and for the Wall Street Journal, Martin career furthered, his chances of being able member of Kappa Tau Alpha, the explains, “is existing in a newsroom to drop everything and travel across Asia journalism honorary society, among where everyone is on top of their games. were becoming a distant hope. So he took his many accomplishments as an As an avid reader of the Journal, I had advantage of his situation and headed east. undergraduate. -2- Good advice: Preparation, Persistence, Passion By Lindsey Fletcher accomplish your dream,” she said. a newspaper or magazine, when to begin Cynthia Todd knows that any job can The student chapter of the National looking for internships and how to decide feel like a roller coaster. She’s been there. Association for Black Journalists specifically what to do with a journalism This accomplished writer, TV broadcaster sponsored Todd’s visit as well as a student degree. and now talent recruiter for the St. Louis dinner with her. A total of eight students Among her advice was the importance Post-Dispatch knows what it’s like to be attended; among them was journalism of technology. Keeping up with new an aspiring journalist. major, Sheree Patterson, who said, “It developments is as important as keeping This Peoria-native has some major wasn’t a question and answer format at up with the news itself. Staying on top of bragging rights. She began her career in all; it was intended to be a relaxing, fun new technologies gives students a little the fifth grade when she was 10 years dinner.” bit of a head start in this industry. As old working for the school newspaper. Todd took this time to get to know the convergence of media types continues and Years later, she went on to intern with the students a little better and connect on a the Internet becomes a more prominent Peoria Journal Star, where she earned a more personal level. “I got the age-old and accurate news source, organizations four-year scholarship. She went to college question, since I’m from Urbana, ‘Why are finding more need for Web designers, and gradually moved from print to TV didn’t you go to the U of I?’” Patterson graphic artists and people who are better broadcast news with WNB-TV in Peoria. shared. Once she explained that living in oriented with new computer technology, Wanting to feed her hunger for the the same town as the University of Illinois according to Todd. horizon, Todd set out to St. Louis where made a difference in where she decided to Todd is just one of many examples she was offered a position on KSDK- go, Todd related immediately, having once of a successful career within the field of TV. After two years, she was let go and felt the need to leave her comfort zone and journalism. Todd offered one last piece of moved on to pursue a public relations spread her wings. advice to students in general, “Always try focus. She went back to school, hoping During her speech earlier in the day, to do the best that you can at whatever you to attain a Masters degree, just before she Todd shared a few morsels of advice for do.” got a job with what is now Harris-Stowe aspiring journalists: how to dress the part, Her visit to the campus was inspiring State University. She launched the public how to develop story-seeking abilities, and motivating, according to students in relations program there and after four what to avoid when beginning to write for the class. “I thought her three P’s were years, decided she wanted to very important – persistence, get back to her roots. passion and preparation,” Patterson Her love for print, as well added. as for St. Louis, drove her to For any student with any apply for a job at the St. Louis major, persistence, passion and Globe-Democrat, casually preparation were three things Todd known as The Globe. Though stressed in order to accomplish she was not hired, she was goals. Take it from Todd: anything is soon offered a job with the St. -4- Louis Post-Dispatch. She has possible! remained there for 23 years. - “Believe it or not, I’m not 70 years old! You might think it would take someone that long to do all of those different things,” Todd said to Eastern journalism students during her Oct. 4 visit. Rather, it was her Todd offers motivating ad- passion for educating people vice to journalism students and speaking out for others that and speaks to them about kept Todd in the game. their future careers in a Journalists of her time period, she said, “… wanted to news writing class earlier be crusaders to a degree. We this semester. Todd also wanted to give people a voice was on campus to recruit who didn’t have a voice.” Her students to work for the St. persistence played a large part Louis Post-Dispatch. in her undeniable success. “Just because someone says ‘no’ doesn’t mean you can’t Photo by Katrina Zaret -3- Internship shows student glimpse of the real world By Angela Pham Senior journalism major Willie Griggs interest for Griggs. During his internship, professional setting,” Ryan said. “They went beyond the Daily Eastern News last he noted the lack of minorities in the field give students great experience and a year when he interned for the Maywood of journalism. chance to see if they can function in a Herald, a newspaper in Oak Park, a suburb “When I was there, there was only one professional setting.” of Chicago. other black writer,” Griggs said. “There is Griggs encourages other students to Griggs was an intern from December a huge disparity in journalism writing, as pursue internships in their field of study 2005 through May 2006. He obtained far as minorities go.” as well. the paid internship through the African- Griggs has had an interest in journalism “I encourage everybody, but especially American studies and journalism since high school and said he was inspired minority students. It’s tough but I got what departments after receiving approval to pursue it as his major due to his it takes. I got that internship,” he said. from journalism department chair, James command of language. In the future he Tidwell. plans to try to write for magazines and Griggs, who has contributed to the write grants for corporations. DEN, Minority Today and the Vehicle, He credits his internship for helping said he enjoyed being able to cover him arrive where he is today. different beats for the Maywood Herald, “It really helped my networking skills,” including school boards, county boards he said. “In this field, it’s ten-percent skill the and breaking news. He also covered a and ninety-percent networking, that’s how Journalist murder that occurred near his house. I feel. It pays off to be a people person. newsletter for In regards to covering stories on “I learned that the ‘real world’ moves sensitive subjects like murder, Griggs said so much faster; I learned that I’m really Journalism Majors that he is cautious. “I’m not as open,” he going to have to be prepared to be in the & Minors said. “I have to protect the identities of working world, and that the only way people, when their life might be at stake.” you’re going to succeed is if you use your Nov./Dec. 2006— issue 3 Griggs’ favorite assignment involved common sense to get the things that you Editors: Terrah Graves & writing for a section called “Charity want,” he said. Deidre Sheahan Focus,” in which he covered the history Journalism professor John Ryan, Agency director: of black aviators. Griggs said the topic who helped Griggs obtain his internship was inspired by a slave’s baby carriage through phone calls and paperwork, Katrina Zaret from the 1800s that he saw in Maywood’s agrees. Associate Director: cultural museum. “Internships help students apply the Danielle Neal Minorities are a strong subject of skills they are learning in college in a Agency Adviser: Terri Johnson E-mail story ideas to [email protected] or Willie Griggs [email protected] reads The Daily Eastern News and compares Pub Board makes his experiences working for appointments the Maywood The student publications board Herald where met Wed., Nov. 28, to make spring he interned last semester appointments to student spring semester. publications. Nora Maberry has been named editor of the Daily Eastern Griggs returned News. Jenn Ether has been appoint- to EIU this fall ed editor of Minority Today. to graduate. Publications board officers include chairman, Cathy Bayer, vice chair- Photo by man, Kayla Crow, and secretary, Jaclyn Gorski. Angela Pham -4-