Department Of

journalismdepartment of university of wisconsin oshkosh http://www.uwosh.edu/journalism/alumni June 2011 Journalism packing, moving to Sage Hall By Emily Williams got it.” SPJ chapter vice president In contrast to the present labs and Faculty in the Department of offices, the new facility will offer an Journalism are getting ready for the up-to-date atmosphere including new move to the soon to be completed furniture, cabinets and carpeting that Sage Hall, which will officially open will replace the 1970s-era items that in fall 2011. now dot the department in Clow. While the move will certainly “A new green building with bring many changes to the the latest technology, open space department, some things will remain and modern décor will help attract constant through the move. students to an already strong “I don’t think we lost anything,” program,” said Mike Cowling, chair Dr. Vince Filak said. “I think we’ve of the Department of Journalism. gained some stuff.” The department computer labs Some of the things that will will overlook Sage’s courtyard and remain the same in the new in the fall it will make the space building are the small class sizes even more aesthetically pleasing, and proximity of faculty offices, especially in comparison to the classrooms and supplementary closed-in spaces that now house the space. journalism offices. “Our goal has been to maintain Beyond improvements to the VandeHei awarded doctorate the same close and familial atmosphere of the classrooms, the Jim VandeHei of Politico received an honorary doctor- atmosphere in Sage as we now have department will also have additions ate degree during the university’s commencement cer- in Clow,” Dr. Tim Gleason said. emonies on May 14. Story on Page 5. “This was important to us and we Please turn to SAGE / Page 11 Reunion to mix the past, present and future The Department of Journalism is plan- accomplishments of alumni award winners, alumni honored this year by the university. ning an alumni reunion during Homecom- recognize the establishment of two new A webinar with a social media ing weekend on Friday and Saturday, Oct. scholarships in the department, and draw at- emphasis. Troy Janisch, digital market- 21 and 22, 2011. It will be the first such tention to the evolving age of digital media. ing manager for American Family Insur- reunion in several years. Final plans will be announced during ance, and a member of the advisory board, Faculty, professors emeritus, student the summer, and alumni will be kept up- is working to line up some top names in groups, and members of the Journalism Ad- dated on specific times and dates. Here are digital media. Alumni can watch and par- visory Board will be working on events for some of the activities tentatively planned ticipate in the webinar while it is ongoing. a celebration of the department’s move into for the reunion: In addition, current journalism students are the new academic building, Sage Hall. A panel discusion/symposium focus- being asked to serve as “mentors” to alumni Besides showcasing journalism’s new ing on the state of journalism today and attending the webinar. facilities, the reunion this year also will prospects for the immediate future. Panel- Please turn to REUNION / Page 11 provide an opportunity to acknowledge the ists are expected to include four journalism Two young alumni are selected for awards Two journalism alumni who gradu- writers. His firm does work for several TNT and the Cartoon Network. ated six years apart will have something in Fortune 500 companies. Her work as part of the CNN team has common this fall when they both receive “Most recently Mike helped us shape led to two Peabody Awards and a DuPont Outstanding our digital service offerings Award from Columbia University. Young Alumni and is currently spearheading If you go to a doctor’s office or Awards. an effort to expand the role and medical facility, you are likely to see the Mike Fre- stature of our creative services Accent Health Network on the televi- drick (1996) within the agency,” Jeff Young, sion. Kraus is responsible for determining and Lori executive vice president of which CNN programs should be promoted Kraus (2002) Bader Rutter, said in a letter of on this network. are among support. “These efforts have Prior to joining CNN in Atlanta, three alumni required vision, persistence where she started as a video journalist in chosen for the and patience, all of which Mike the Media Operations Department, Kraus award by the brings to his role daily.” honed her skills by working at several UW Oshkosh In his biographical material, radio stations and networks. Alumni As- Fredrick says, “I am committed “Lori exemplifies leadership, atten- sociation. The to helping mentor tion to detail and awards will be the creative lead- knowledge of the presented at a ers of tomor- news environment reception and row.” Those are around the world,” dinner on Oct. not just words. said Mary Lou 21 in Reeve Union. He is a regular guest Navarro of CNN. “Fredrick is one of those special peo- speaker in advertising and “She is extremely ple who has been moving up the corporate public relations classes in dedicated to her job ladder of success due to his hard work, the journalism department. and consistently but who at the same time remembers the He also volunteers to help goes above and people who have helped him along every nonprofit organizations beyond by work- step of the way, said Mike Cowling, the with advertising projects. ing long hours or chair of the Department of Journalism. Kraus, who also was weekends to make “The best word to describe him is nominated by Cowling, is sure our promotion ‘creative,’” added Cowling, who nominat- part of the CNN On-Air is effective.” ed Fredrick for the award. “It has been in Promotion team that facili- When noti- his job titles from the advertising agencies tates all on-air promotion fied that she would he previously worked for in the Milwau- and strategic placement receive the award, kee area until today.” of promos for several of the company’s Kraus said, “I am speechless, but very As the creative director at Bader Rut- various networks. Her team also cross- honored.” She later added, “I know there ter, Fredrick is in charge of 20 associate promotes for networks under the Turner are so many qualified people out there creative directors, art directors and copy- Broadcasting umbrella, including TBS, with so many accomplishments.” NEWSPA conference draws 400 students to campus By Molly Linn “We’re trying to get younger people to be our keynote speak- SPJ chapter member ers at the request of the high school advisers and students,” said About 400 high school journalists and advisers attended the Barb Benish, the executive secretary of NEWSPA. “High school Northeastern Wisconsin Scholastic Press Association conference students can better relate to those younger speakers.” on April 13 in Reeve Union. Awards were presented, including the Skip Zacher Friend of The conference featured sessions at three time periods in the Scholastic Journalism Award and a NEWSPA Scholarship. morning, followed by a keynote speaker. Topics included social Joe Heller, an editorial cartoonist for the Green Bay Press- media, grammar “smackdown” and photo composition. Gazette and a NEWSPA presenter since 1979, received the The keynote speaker was Alex Gelhar, who once attended Zacher Award. The recipient of the $500 scholarship was Logan NEWSPA, whose topic was “The Walk-on Mentality.” Haen of Sevastopol High School. 2 Stiegman to be honored as distinguished alumni When Pat Stiegman graduated in 1988 a major factor in his selection in 1998 with a major in journalism, he had finished as a recipient of the Outstanding a program where typewriters and pencils Young Alumni Award. It is what he and paper were common tools used in the has done since then that has led to his classroom instead of today’s sophisticated latest university honor. digital technology. Stiegman joined ESPN in May He took those basic writing skills and 2004 as senior director and executive the ability to adapt to a changing industry editor for Insider, SportsNation and landscape, however, and became a leader editorial integration. He was named in online journalism. Stiegman’s skill at vice president in 2006 and added innovation is one reason he will receive a executive producer responsibilities Distinguished Alumni Award on Oct. 21 in 2007, overseeing all daily online during Homecoming weekend. sports content. Stiegman was a major player in the When contacted by alumni direc- John Kosner, the senior vice president development of Packer Insider and Badger tor Chris Gantner in mid-May about his and general manager of ESPN Digital Inc., Plus Online for the Milwaukee Journal latest award, Stiegman replied: “What a wrote a letter of support for Stiegman. In it Sentinel, and JSOnline.com. wonderful honor, and surprise, to learn he said: “Patrick’s body of work and inno- While at the Journal Sentinel, Stieg- about the distinguished alumni award. I vations at ESPN are a considerable part of man came to the UW Oshkosh campus have to tell you, that caps both a humbling our success and our leadership position in nearly every year to be a session leader and exciting stretch for me—two weeks sports web and mobile content. His com- at the department’s annual conference for ago I was named VP/Editor-in-Chief for mitment to continuous improvement and high school journalists. ESPN.com, and this award from my alma leadership is matched only by his ability to His work at the Journal Sentinel was mater is extremely gratifying.” make those around him better.” Journalism students benefit from new scholarships The number of scholarships that journalism majors can apply Backmann said.

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