We are so grateful to our alumni and friends who choose to give their time, talent and resources to the College of Media. We are thrilled to share a few of their stories in this issue of Advancing Excellence and to recognize many of our generous alumni and friends of the College this past year. Today’s global media landscape demands constant innovation, cutting-edge resources and Message from the Dean technology, and effective collaborations across This is an exciting time to be in the business of media and disciplines. The College of Media is committed an even more exciting time to be in the College of Media to meeting these demands as we prepare a at Illinois. new generation of leadership in advertising, The media landscape continues to evolve, and the demand for critical and conceptual thinkers, content generators, agricultural communications, communications innovators, entrepreneurs and research analysts has never research, journalism, media and cinema studies and been greater. The College of Media continues its tradition public media. and mission of educating the best and the brightest media students and preparing members of this next generation to We invite you to participate and invest in the be the leaders in the new world of media. future of the College of Media. Your investment The College’s strategic plan is forward-thinking and advancing excellence has tremendous impact on our students, faculty, unconventional. It aligns our goals with our resources and and programs. We are pleased to share these the needs of our students. As such, our priorities include We are delighted to bring you this edition of Advancing Excellence, the publication of the stories with you. providing transformative learning experiences on and Office of Advancement at the College of Media. We are pleased to report our progress off campus, building partnerships with campus units and Please visit our website, media.illinois.edu, to corporations to develop programs that are “exclusive” to toward the goals within our strategic plan, and to recognize and celebrate our alumni learn more about how support from our alumni Illinois, building on our tradition of impactful research, and and friends who are partnering with us in achieving these goals. This fiscal year, we and friends can be transformative in the lives of expanding engagement with the multiple publics we serve through our academics, our scholarship and our public will continue our efforts toward our top priorities for the College: transforming media our students. There you can read about recent broadcasting arm, Illinois Public Media. education, building leadership in media scholarship, delivering exclusive University of scholarship recipients who were recognized at our We are part of your past, and you are part of our future. Illinois programs and expanding Illinois Public Media and public engagement. Our success annual Honors Reception last spring. The accomplishments of our strategic plan are only in these areas will rely heavily on our ability to recruit and retain top students and faculty, possible through your continued financial support and engagement. Thank you for being our partner. our partnerships with corporations and industry professionals, and our strengthening and leveraging of one of the College’s greatest resources, Illinois Public Media. Marlah Bonner-McDuffie Associate Dean for Advancement Jan Slater, Dean 2 COLLEGE OF MEDIA ADVANCING EXCELLENCE 2014 3 alumni profile: ryan baker 1991, BS Journalism Sports Anchor, Reporter; WBBM-TV Ryan Baker grew up on the South Side of Chicago and has to persevere, to take advantage of opportunities, always admitted, “One of the greatest thrills for me was being able focused on short-term and long-term goals.“ to come back to my hometown where my grandparents A college education was talked about and encouraged could see me on the news every night.” Ryan still has family in his family. “Without an education it would be difficult all around Chicago. Returning has been something of a to advance, to progress, to do what you need to do. dream come true. Advancement for black folks was foreign. It was another Media has always had an influence on Ryan, especially the world.” Ryan knew that education was the key to that. “A images portrayed. As a child he wanted to be an architect degree gives you credibility … allows you to get in the like Mike Brady, sitting at the drafting board in his big office. game.” “It seemed like a good profession — had the nice house Illinois had always been on his radar, but was not his first and the big family … Alice and Sam,” laughed Ryan. After choice for college. Syracuse — where Bob Costas and Dick seeing drafting in practice through a job shadow program, Enberg went — was his first choice. He received a special Ryan realized the idea tapped into his creative side. brochure from the journalism school with endorsements In seventh grade Ryan got closer to his current profession from many heavy hitters. Then he saw the out-of-state during a persuasive speech contest. His speech was a tuition and he thought, “hell no.” commercial for prayer cloths done in the vein of Reverend Growing up in Chicago, a basketball hotbed, every kid Ike. Public speaking wasn’t a challenge, and he won the wanted to go downstate to play in the tournament. It made anchor, who proved to be an instrumental relationship and wouldn’t trade any of it. When you focus and concentrate contest. Later he wanted to write for Sports Illustrated — an impression and Ryan admits, “I still get a thrill walking mentor. Those connections paid dividends. They led to his on the work, honing your craft, being as professional and most likely the influence of a sports town like Chicago. into ‘The Hall’.” He also attended Illinois Summer Youth first job in Champaign as a photographer and cameraman committed to your profession as you can … that’s when When he reflected on the influence of media at that time in Music Camp, staying in Allen Hall close to Krannert Center with WICD. After becoming an on-air reporter with WICD, time flies. Opportunities open up and you’re prepared for it.” his life Ryan said, “I think subconsciously I was drawn to it. for the Performing Arts. “You get an emotional attachment he was hired by WCIA as a news reporter and fill-in sports That was the day and age when as a family you watched and feeling that this is a special place, that I have a While technology has dramatically changed the accessibility anchor. Ryan also worked in San Diego, Calif., and Orlando, the news. There was no cable; there was 2, 5 & 7. Bill Kurtis connection here.” of information, Ryan believes there will always be a need Fla., before returning to Chicago. for a storyteller. And while television and broadcasting will and Walter Jacobson were an institution. It was part of the Ryan was a President’s Scholar and that helped with tuition. “I’ve always tried to put myself in a position to succeed. I look different in the future, we’ll still have to be able to daily routine. It’s mind blowing that you fast forward and I’m And today he says that attending Illinois was the best felt if I did that, held up my end of the deal, was prepared, distinguish fact from fiction; information from opinion. “It’s working with them.” decision he ever made. “I chose Illinois and Illinois chose me. worked extremely hard, everything would fall into place and harder now to navigate what’s real and what’s not.” Jim Rose and Warner Saunders were also important role It was the correct connection … a game changer and the it really has." Being in broadcasting forces you to be on your models. As a teenager, Ryan talked to Rose once in a foundation of my success professionally.” His advice to today’s students is simple: stay committed game. It keeps your mind moving. “There are no do-overs in to the profession. Regardless of medium, you have to stay restaurant. Rose was one of the first black sports anchors “When you go to college and are in the dorm with people live TV.” committed to the passion of being a storyteller. “Your role is in Chicago, and he talked to the young Ryan in an honest from different backgrounds and environments, different While at Illinois, Ryan learned about the importance of to seek the truth in whatever story you’re telling” and straightforward manner, something Ryan has tried religious and races … it really opens your mind and you telling a story in an engaging and compelling way and about to emulate with young people. For a college project Ryan begin to understand that there is more than just the Ryan and his wife, Jessa, are generous supporters of the understanding and having respect for the fundamentals of interviewed Warner Saunders — who was also very honest perspective from where I am now. It was really motivating.” University of Illinois and recently established the Ryan Baker and straightforward — a trailblazer who broke down journalism. “Always keep in mind that you’re a storyteller. Endowed Fund in Journalism, which will provide support Ryan was a student basketball manager at Illinois so he barriers in the Chicago market. Ryan recalled, “Seeing Even as a sportscaster. It’s a hands-on business and while for journalism students in the College of Media. Ryan also could be around the people who did what he wanted to someone who looks like you, who came from where you visual, writing is still the most important skill — driving currently serves on the Illini Leadership Council, lending his do.