Jayhawk Journalist

Summer 2019 | Alumni Magazine

JayhawkThe William Allen White School of Journalism & MassJournalist Communications at the University of Kansas

PRIORITY: PLANET EARTH

Alumni find inspiration everywhere in advocating for the environment

INSIDE: PROFESSOR RETIREMENTS & STAUFFER-FLINT RENOVATION PROJECT Summer 2019 Dean Ann M. Brill, Ph.D.

Editor Julie Adam Photography & Design Julie Adam Angel Tran Writers Angel Tran Julie Adam Printer Modern Litho

Online Find more content at jayhawkjournalist.com

Cover Photo Craig Welch (j’89), senior staff writer at National Geographic, takes notes at dawn at 12,000 feet in the Ethiopian Highlands where he was reporting a story about gelada monkeys. The cliff looks out over northern Afri- ca’s Great Rift Valley. (Photo courtesy of Jeff Kerby, National Geographic)

William Allen White School of Journalism & Mass Communications

Stauffer-Flint Hall 1435 Jayhawk Boulevard Lawrence, KS 66045 journalism.ku.edu [email protected] 785-864-4755 Spreading the message TO SAVE THE PLANET

he clock is ticking. Temperatures are increasing. Species are dwindling. Even though the clarion call for action has been deafening, the Earth faces a dire diagnosis and critical consequences sooner Tthan we would like to admit. Several J-School alumni are using their training, talent and toughness to bring attention to the climate crisis that has put our planet and ourselves on the endangered list.

Stories begin on page 20

A crabeater seal rests on an iceberg off Cuverville Island along the western Antarctic Peninsula. (Photo by Craig Welch)

Jayhawk Journalist 3 This architect’s drawing shows the remodeled first floor of Stauffer-Flint Hall, with work spaces for student media organizations, a news ticker and TV screens. The renovations are scheduled to be completed for the spring 2020 semester. LETTER FROM THE DEAN

ardon our mess! So, it’s been nearly 40 years since the down repeatedly, and the HVAC system was P The renovations to Stauffer-Flint Hall building has significantly changed. Certainly, so noisy we had to cancel or move classes. have begun, and we could not be more there’s been work on classrooms to bring And we wanted to bring this time-honored excited about the changes. In case you’ve them up to date. But the infrastructure was building into a new era with a front door not heard what we’re doing, we are repairing wearing out and visitors, especially potential facing Jayhawk Boulevard. Through the new some areas and updating others. It is time. new students, were telling us it was time to door will be an experience of being in a KU built this beau- make some other changes. Now, thanks to dynamic, creative space. We want everyone tiful, iconic building generous donors, we can make changes. who enters to feel as if they are part of the in 1898 at a cost of More than a year ago, we began the process School, to feel the energy that our students $21,000. Originally of studying how we were using every space create. While the door will be new, we’ve named Fowler Hall, it in the building. The results were expected — worked closely to maintain the historic housed the University we don’t need more space, just better use of nature as part of KU’s historic district. shops. The stone for the space we have. What also will be maintained are our iconic Dean Ann Brill the then two-story Students work differently than they did 40 values. Our skills, passion and integrity ema- building was quarried years ago. Classroom instruction is much nate from Mount Oread. on Mount Oread. Although the use would more hands-on rather than lectures, and Please let me know if you have any ques- be “commonplace,” according to a history of video permeates all forms of media. We also tions, comments or concerns about this KU architecture, it was also meant to honor worked with industry experts to see what project. If you are able, we also hope you the donor’s father, so KU wanted an “attrac- they were doing to change their workplaces. contribute financially to ensure that this tive building.” Mr. Fowler’s original gift was After all that research, we concluded that building hosts Jayhawk Journalists for anoth- $18,000, but when the cost went up, so did we needed collaborative and flexible spaces. er 120 years. his contribution. Fire destroyed the east end Students told us they needed three things to of the building in 1918. At the time, some get their work done: high speed Wi-Fi, power Rock Chalk, Jayhawk! thought the blaze was the work of a German to charge their portable devices, and bever- spy! ages to keep them caffeinated! They added In 1982, the building underwent extensive that they wanted to “experience” what it renovation thanks to the generosity of Oscar was like to be immersed in a professional Stauffer. It cost a bit more — $1 million — work environment. for the renovations than the original. The Despite a year in which we had a 6 per- Ann M. Brill building became Stauffer-Flint Hall in honor cent budget cut, we knew we had to move Dean of Mr. Stauffer and former dean Leon Flint. forward. In recent years, the elevator broke

4 GREETINGS JayhawkJournalist FROM Summer 2019 | Alumni Magazine THE EDITOR ilestones allow us to reflect on Mgoals accomplished and mem- ories made. Sometimes, we just feel the need to pay homage to the passage of time and years. We’ve celebrated some big milestones recently in the J-School. Last year, we commemorated the 150th 18 birthyear of William Allen White. This Lawrence year is the 75th anniversary of the 6 Block-by-Block naming of the school after White. We’ll remember 2018 and 2019 Professor Retirements Project as pivotal years in the history of the school. We paused to celebrate the careers of several professors who were committed to building the reputation of this institution and helping students find a path to success. With the retirements of Max Utsler, John Broholm, 38 Jimmy Gentry and Barbara Barnett this spring and Susanne Shaw last year, Student Spotlight we lose a century of knowledge and experience. (Pages 6-17) Yet, we continue to look forward. As 45 Donor you read this, another milestone is un- Spotlight derway: renovations that will transform historic Stauffer-Flint Hall yet again. 40 44 Next academic year will mark the Class Alumni 50th anniversary of the first edition of 35 the Jayhawk Journalist, and although I Notes Authors William Allen White am still formulating ideas for that com- National Citation memorative edition, I invite alumni to send me ideas. Perhaps you’d even like to write a story. You are part of these stories of the J-School. If you haven’t been back for a while, or even if you have, next year will be a great time to return and see the new chapters taking shape.

36 Julie Adam, Editor Jayhawk Journalist Faculty and Staff Achievements

Jayhawk Journalist 5 Inside the School All for the students

Susanne Shaw retires after almost five decades devoted to being a teacher, mentor, adviser and friend

ver four decades at the William Al- Olen White School of Journalism and Mass Communications, deans and faculty have come and gone, curriculum has evolved, Stauffer-Flint has been remodeled, and thousands of students have graduated. But one thing remained constant: Susanne Shaw. Former students returning to the school were always comforted to see Shaw sitting at her desk in her first-floor office, advising a student or on the phone, probably working on an internship or job for a current student or checking up on a former student. Shaw’s office is unrecognizable now, the walls torn down for the Stauffer-Flint renovation. Shaw retired last spring, but her legacy will always loom large inside the J-School, and it extends far around the world with the army of students Shaw taught, mentored and dispatched to make their mark in the field of journalism. Shaw officially retired from the school after the 2018 spring semester but remained on as director of the Accrediting Council on Education in Journalism and Mass Communi- cations, a title she had held since 1986 until July 1, 2018. Her retirement ended a nearly 50-year career, most of it at the J-School. Shaw was born into a newspaper family. Her father was an editor at the Welling- ton (Kansas) Daily News, and while in high school Shaw worked summers at the newspaper. Girls couldn’t have a paper route, so Susanne Shaw spent almost all of her career at the J-School. She left twice for newspaper jobs but returned she did a little of everything else that was each time because she said she missed working with students. needed: tending to the mail, waiting on cus- tomers, proofreading or doing sports or and earned her master’s degree in journalism the J-School and taught alongside some KU obits. in 1967, then went back to Wichita to be the J-School journalism legends. She decided to study elementary edu- publications adviser while teaching journal- “I was forever grateful that I had John cation and came to KU, attracted in part, ism at Wichita South High School. In 1970, Bremner, Calder Pickett and Del Brinkman as she said because KU had a good basketball she came back to KU to become managing my mentors,” Shaw said. “They taught me the team, and Shaw, who played basketball in high editor at Kansas Alumni magazine. After a right values.” school, has always been an avid sports fan. year, she was convinced to join the faculty of Shaw worked with colleague Dana Leiben- She received her bachelor’s degree in 1961 the J-School, becoming an assistant professor good to start the Kansas Scholastic Press As- and taught English and journalism at Wichita in 1971. sociation for high school journalists and drew Heights High School. She returned to KU Shaw was one of few women professors at on her experience as a high school teacher

6 “From the very first day that you walk into the journalism school, you know that you need to know Susanne Shaw.” to help recruit students to the J-School. She realize their potential and not waste the talent made sure that once those students got here, that she saw in them. She knew what the job they had a contact and someone to offer ad- of a journalist required, and she did her best vice and a place to go to ask questions during to prepare them and set them up for success. their first two years before they were allowed Colleen McCain Nelson (j’97), vice presi- to get into the school. dent and editorial page editor at the Kansas Stephen Wade (j’90), publisher of the Tope- City Star and opinion editor for McClatchy, ka Capital-Journal, said he had a rough transi- recalls how it felt to walk by Shaw’s office. CAREER HIGHLIGHTS tion from high school to KU and was floun- “From the very first day that you walk into dering and disillusioned as a freshman. Shaw the journalism school, you know that you EDUCATION was his J-School adviser. need to know Susanne Shaw,” Nelson said. “Susanne convinced me to stay, convinced “You’d walk by her office, and she kind of B.S., education, University of me that there were opportunities and that I scares you, but also more than anything you Kansas could do this,” Wade said. “I’ll never forget it, want her approval, and you want her help, and M.S., journalism, University of and throughout the rest of my tenure here, you want her guidance. And so I remember Kansas the number of discussions that Susanne and walking by her office on my way to the Kansan I had were countless. She’s somebody whom newsroom and I wanted to talk to her, but I HONORS I have bragged about for years and years and also was scared to talk to her.” Presidential Award, Association years.” Jerry Seib (j’78), executive Washington ed- for Education in Journalism and Shaw was news adviser for the University itor at The Wall Street Journal, admitted that Mass Communications Daily Kansan from 1972 until 1975, and when Shaw terrified him when she tested him as a Brinkman became dean, he asked Shaw to transfer student so he could pass from Re- Al Neuharth Teaching become associate dean, a position she held porting I to Reporting II. Professorship from 1976 until 1982, and it was a job that she “I passed, but the first thing I learned was Del Brinkman Teaching loved. that she was tough as nails,” Seib said. “It took Professorship “Being Del Brinkman’s associate dean and a bit longer to learn the rest of Susanne Shaw: Lifetime Achievement Award, working with Dana (Leibengood) was the best She cared deeply about her students, under- The Freedom Forum job I ever had,” Shaw said. stood the real world of journalism and what H.O.P.E. Award nominee Her KU career was interrupted twice, for a it required better than anybody, and she was a one-year stint as associate editor at the Talla- lot of fun. She was my mentor, my adviser and H. Bernerd Fink Award for hassee Democrat in Florida, and for two-and- my friend, all in equal measure, and I'm proud Distinguished Classroom Teaching a-half years when she left to become editor and thrilled to say the friend part lives on, af- and publisher at the Coffeyville Journal in Kan- ter all these years.” AT KU sas. Each time, she returned to the J-School Shaw knew what students thought about Shaw served as news adviser and because she missed the students. her, but she also knew her tough love ap- general manager of the University “Students give me rewards that money can’t proach worked. The students she advised and Daily Kansan, as the J-School’s buy,” Shaw said. “I love the students.” mentored won prestigious national awards graduate director, and twice as And the students felt the same way, even- while at the J-School and went on to work at associate dean of the school. She tually. Most students, when they met Shaw, the top news organizations in the world. was managing editor of the Kansas admitted that they were scared. Former stu- “I was always told I was intimidating, but Alumni magazine, 1970-71. She also was the inaugural recipient of dents lovingly described her as tenacious, they came around after the fact, years later, the Bengtson Faculty Mentoring imposing, demanding, tough and intimidating. and said ‘Geez, we learned a lot, but you were Award. She was gruff and brutally honest in assessing intimidating,’” Shaw said. their skill level or work ethic. But they quickly Traci Carl (j’95), director of partnerships, learned that was her way to push them to commercial and digital markets at The As-

Jayhawk Journalist 7 almost as if she had a Rolodex in her brain. “Her memory of students and her interest in where they are and what they are doing — I’ve never seen anything like it,” recalls John Egan (j’86), a freelance writer and editor. “She has been so committed to this journalism school. It’s like when Bremner retired and when Calder Pickett retired, it’s like, how are things going to go on without them?” Shaw’s connection with students continued long after they walked down the hill. As ACEJMC director, Shaw would find her students everywhere in her frequent travels all over the world. “Throughout my career, as she traveled the world for work, she always looked me up to chat,” Carl said. “In Mexico City, we would Mentoring students was Susanne Shaw’s favorite part of her long teaching career at the J-School. meet near my office, and she would give me advice as a young reporter and then manager. sociated Press, said she appreciated Shaw’s She watched me get married and have two “straightforward, no-bull form of teaching.” “Students give me children. In addition to being a mentor, she “She always broke down your strengths in also became a close family friend.” honest, authentic ways,” Carl said. “A compli- rewards that money After she started as ACEJMC director in ment from Susanne was real and well-earned. 1986, Shaw had to stop teaching because her But she never let me sit back and settle. As can’t buy. new position required her to travel so much. soon as I reached a goal, she set another and When she took the job, there were no in- coached me on how to achieve it.” I love the students.” ternational journalism programs accredited, “She saw potential in me that I didn’t see in but now there are eight. Even though she myself,” Carl said. “She expressed it in a way er for The Washington Post for more than 32 stopped teaching classes, she was still advis- that made me believe I could achieve goals I ing students up until she cleaned out her of- hadn’t even dreamed of previously.” years. Along the way, Susanne has been there at every twist and turn, still giving me advice fice last spring, helping them get internships DeNeen Brown, a reporter for The Wash- and jobs. ington Post, said she was a shy student when about life and journalism,” Brown said. Shaw was a master of networking long Her role at the ACEJMC made her an ex- she arrived at KU in 1982. She planned to perienced world traveler, jetting off to all go to law school, but after she took a writ- before that word even came into common vernacular in the 1980s. parts of the globe dozens of times a year. She ing class in the J-School, she met Shaw, who never minded long flights to Dubai or China, became her adviser. Shaw convinced her Because of the connections she made inside the school and with the Accrediting so she still travels frequently in retirement. to pursue a career in journalism, and when She volunteers on several boards and has Shaw left to become editor and publisher at Council on Education in Journalism and Mass Communications (ACEJMC) and the rela- more time to devote to those pursuits. She the Coffeyville Journal, she hired Brown for a said she “plans to go where I want to go, summer internship. tionships she kept with the successful journalists she sent out into the world, she be- when I want to go, and that’s probably what “When my mother expressed concern I’ll do.” about me leaving home for the summer, Su- came a one-person ad hoc journalism career center at KU. Editors would call Shaw and Students and alumni lament that her retire- sanne personally called my mom to assure ment is an enormous loss for the J-School. her I would be well taken care of,” Brown tell her they needed a reporter or an editor, and Shaw would look for the right fit for the “Susanne Shaw has shaped so many jour- said. “Then Susanne found a family in Cof- nalists who have come out of the William Al- feyville with whom I could live for that sum- paper and the student. Former students now in the workforce sought recommendations len White School of Journalism,” Nelson said, mer.” “and so we are all better for having known When Brown graduated in 1986, she got from Shaw, and her connections grew expo- nentially each year. Susanne Shaw.” an internship at The Washington Post. – Julie Adam “At the end of that summer internship, She kept close track of her students’ ca- Post Executive Editor Ben Bradlee hired me reers and lives and had an uncanny ability to work full time. I have worked as a report- to remember what seemed like all of them,

8 Inside the School

Jimmy Gentry taught many journalism students how to decipher financial statements and extract the stories behind the numbers. The J-School change agent

As dean, Jimmy Gentry rallied the faculty to institute major curriculum change to address the evolving media industry

f there is one word to sum up Professor tions from 1997-2004. He taught classes at time of adjustment and uncertainty in the field IJimmy Gentry’s career, it’s “change.” He has the graduate and undergraduate level in Law- of journalism. studied it, taught it, managed it and embraced rence, at the KU Edwards Campus in Over- Gentry, who at the time was dean at the it. land Park, Kansas, and with different off-site School of Journalism at the University of Ne- Over the course of his career, including programs. He is nationally known for teaching vada, Reno, was recruited by Professor Su- 22 years at the J-School, Gentry’s message thousands of communicators, journalists and sanne Shaw. has been that change is inevitable, and stu- students how to turn complicated financial “Part of my gospel was that we needed to dents need to be prepared to navigate the and accounting information into understand- change and that our students needed to be ever-changing world of media. able language. able to work cross platform,” Gentry said. Gentry, who retired at the end of the spring Gentry’s career at KU started in 1997. The Having done his dissertation on change semester, was the Clyde M. Reed Teaching school sought a dean who could lead the and leadership, he understood and enjoyed Professor and dean of the William Allen White effort to modernize the curriculum and shift the process of preparing an organization for School of Journalism and Mass Communica- the instruction to digital communications in a challenges of the future, and he was excited to

Jayhawk Journalist 9 Inside the School

embark on that process as dean of the School of Journalism at KU. Preaching media convergence, Gentry brought in instructors and sought buy-in from faculty to teach students skills that would translate to a wide range of careers in the digital multimedia world. “Advertising and PR students needed to understand marketing and needed to be able to work together; they needed to use research in ways never before,” Gentry said. “Report- ers needed skills in print and video and audio and digital media as well, so we were among the first schools to make that real commitment to changing the curriculum. And when you’re first, there are some traditionalists who were appalled by that very notion. It turned out later on that we were right.” One of the faculty members who was on board with Gentry’s ideas was Professor Rick Musser, who said Gentry’s vision was to em- phasize skill sets, not media-centric silos. “I don’t think anyone in the ’90s really foresaw the digital disruption that was coming to the newspaper world,” Musser said. “I think what Jimmy did understand was that the future of newspapers was already on un- steady ground and that we had a program built around being a top newspaper school. Jimmy Gentry was dean of the J-School from 1997 to 2004. Yes, we were very good at what we did and at what we taught, and our students had been And they did it, and Musser said that in the Even though the dean’s job was rewarding, very successful reporters and editors and end, the change benefited the students and Gentry was not interested in a long-term photographers, but it was a dangerous strat- the faculty. commitment. As a believer in the idea and egy to ride that print-product brand into the The school also instituted tracks — news power of change, he went back to teaching university’s future.” and information and strategic communication after he had accomplished his goals in the Musser led about 15 faculty members from — and adjusted the ratio of faculty to reflect dean’s office. various career sequences and media types in the increasing numbers of students choosing “To make all those changes we did was a a process of discussion and action that was the strategic communication path. herculean effort by a whole lot of people, not easy or painless, starting from working on “The great thing was that we all had to do many of whom had to totally change their syl- designing one introductory course with a sin- a lot of reading and research about where the labi and what they taught,” Gentry said. gle syllabus that would prepare every student future of communication was going,” Gentry In 2004, he moved out of the dean’s office for the more advanced courses in different said. “And again, the digital world created and returned to his roots as a “business jour- sequences. these environments that no one knew. And so nalism guy.” At the University of Missouri in “The task meant getting students out of we used to talk about that we were preparing the 1980s, he had been the director of the their silos and restructuring the school’s cur- students for jobs that don’t exist — jobs we business journalism program and enjoyed riculum leading to news editorial, public re- don’t even have a clue about what they are. Of teaching students and professionals financial lations, broadcast journalism (TV and radio) course, that’s the same today. ” literacy, innovation, entrepreneurship and and advertising degrees,” Musser said. “And During Gentry’s tenure, he also led the marketing. He liked the challenge of taking then … get the entire faculty to vote the charge to revise the mission and values state- what many people would consider a boring, change into existence. All with about a one- ment to be more student-centered, and the dry subject and making it interesting. When year deadline.” wording remains the same today. looking at financial statements and sheets of

10 numbers, he made sure students understood along the way, allowed me to realize I didn’t they weren’t in a math class — he wanted them want to work at a traditional business imme- to think critically to find the story the numbers diately after graduating. I do not think I would were telling. have come to this conclusion about myself and Jeff Akin (j’11), president of Westwork Con- my goals without Gentry’s mentorship.” tent + Design who earned a master’s degree Former students recall that Gentry’s influ- through the J-School’s Integrated Marketing ence went beyond what they learned from him Communications program at the KU Edwards in the classroom. He became a mentor, adviser Campus, at first was dubious about taking Gen- and friend. try’s Financial Fundamentals for Communica- Shortly after Nick Boehm graduated in 2012, tors class. he was offered a full-time position and needed “With remarkable patience, perseverance some advice. and humor, Jimmy soon had me eagerly poring “I barely knew what a 401k was, let alone through 10-Ks and corporate balance sheets,” how to negotiate a salary, so who did I ask for Akin said. “It’s one of the guidance? You guessed it most important courses I’ve — Jimmy Gentry,” said ever taken and essential in Boehm, who is a business giving me the knowledge and “Part of my gospel intelligence specialist at CAREER perspective needed to start the University of Kansas my own agency.” was that we needed Health System. “Intangi- HIGHLIGHTS Gentry created that pro- ble things like character gram’s capstone course in to change and that and integrity can be hard EDUCATION marketing and communica- to define, but the kind of B.A., history, Millsaps College, tions and ran a program for person who will spend our students needed Jackson, Mississippi the Reynolds Center for time helping a former stu- Business Journalism at Ar- to be able to work dent when they have no M.A., journalism, University of izona State University that obligation to do so is the Missouri immersed working profes- cross platform.” kind of person who is full Ph.D., journalism, University of sionals in a week of research of both character and in- Missouri analysis and sorting out finan- tegrity.” cial statements. Most recently, he taught a class Gentry has enjoyed his career being a teacher NATIONAL HONORS that on Fridays met in a co-working space in and an administrator, but as he has always been, Kansas City, which brought together students he is ready for a change. He’s retired from KU, Barry Sherman Teaching Award, and local entrepreneurs to learn and work to- but he still plans to teach an online class in fi- Association for Education in Jour- gether. nancial fundamentals for the University of Iowa. nalism and Mass Communication, Katie Kutsko (j’16), who is partner develop- He plans to volunteer more with his church 2008 ment manager, metrics for news, at the Amer- and with his wife’s nonprofit organization, Young Distinguished Achievement ican Press Institute, took three classes from Women on the Move. He will do consulting Award, Society of American Busi- Gentry because she said the topics he taught work on curriculum change and plans to do ness Editors and Writers, 2002 were relevant to real life and he challenged, some learning as well — he wants to learn more supported, critiqued and inspired students. She about artificial intelligence and machine learning praised the Friday co-working class as the best and wants to play the guitar better. With all of course she took at the J-School. that on his plate for retirement, he’ll be taking “We learned lean startup principles, met his own advice that he has shared with his stu- dozens of founders, several entrepreneurial dents: “Given the way things change so rapidly communicators, journalists who cover entre- these days, you’ve always got to be thinking preneurs, learned about intrapreneurship, and about how you will be refocusing yourself,” he immersed ourselves in the lingo, environment said. and culture,” Kutsko said. “This course, coupled – Julie Adam with many conversations with Professor Gentry

Jayhawk Journalist 11 Inside the School The J-School’s news handyman

John Broholm taught just about every news course during his career and focused on the importance of good writing

arly in Associate Professor John Bro- Eholm’s career, becoming a professor wasn’t necessarily on his radar. As a news producer in broadcast television, one day he came to the realization that he was spending a lot of time teaching his staff to write better stories. “I was hiring producers and writers,” Bro- holm said, “and the writing was driving me mashoogy.” That moment set in motion a 35-year career of teaching journalism at the William Allen White School of Journalism and Mass Communications, which came to a close in May when Broholm retired at the end of the spring semester. His interest in journalism started early in high school with stints as co-editor and editor of his school paper and an internship at a television station in St. Louis. “Essentially it was a month of a high school internship at the NBC station, which planted a seed that wouldn’t go away,” Broholm said. He was accepted to Stanford and got involved in radio working at KZSU, which had a high profile on campus because it covered the demonstrations against the Vietnam War, he said. “We were in the thick of things from a community-needed-to-know-this perspective, and that kind of stayed with me,” Broholm said. “I wasn’t a newsperson per se. I wasn’t doing the newscasts, I wasn’t following the Palo Alto City Council or anything like that, but that stayed with me.” After graduating in 1973 with a bachelor’s degree in communications, broadcast and film, he moved to Denver and managed record stores and worked at the Denver University radio station doing a weekly blues program. But the itch to cover the news wouldn’t go away, and he started graduate school in 1978 at the University of Missouri. One instructor who had a great influence on Broholm was John Broholm retired after the spring semester, ending a 35-year career at the School of Journalism.

12 Inside the School

“John’s instruction, guidance and passion for story have served as my indestructible foundation.”

Professor Dave Dugan, “a powerful force of One of Broholm’s former students, Tami personality” who had worked with news leg- Hale Frymark (c’93), who is a senior producer end Walter Cronkite. for the “Dr. Phil” show, said Broholm taught “He instilled a sense of purpose and profes- her “the art of storytelling well beyond the sionalism that I really needed badly,” Broholm lead and the sound bite.” said. “Over nearly 30 years, my career has been After two years of honing his craft in TV exciting and rewarding,” Frymark said. “From news and earning his master’s degree at the producing newscasts in markets small and University of Missouri, Broholm worked as a large, to producing stories that have taken news producer at TV stations in Dayton, Ohio, me around the world, and finally producing Salt Lake City, Utah, and Denver, Colorado. a departure from news and into daytime talk It always was in the back of his mind that – John’s instruction, guidance and passion for since he had a master’s degree he could teach, story has served as my indestructible founda- and ultimately his desire to create better tion.” CAREER writers led him to switch careers. One of Taiju Takahashi (j’91), news director at his former instructors at Missouri, Max Ut- WJTV News in Jackson, Mississippi, called HIGHLIGHTS sler, took a job at the J-School at KU, and the Broholm “a true mentor” who even after school was looking to hire another instructor students graduated would take the time to EDUCATION to teach broadcast news classes. respond if students needed advice. B.A., communications, broadcast “Teaching writing was harder than doing “Dr. Broholm has a unique way of relating the newscast,” Broholm said, “and what was to students,” Takahashi said. “He has a quirky and film, Stanford University appealing here was well, let’s give this a shot sense of humor; he’s not overbearing or con- M.A., journalism, University of and maybe I’ll learn something about teaching descending. He did everything he could to Missouri writing.” make sure you succeeded in class and in the Ph.D., education, University of Broholm taught broadcast news classes and real world as well.” Kansas was encouraged to earn his doctorate by the Broholm attributes his success to his own guy who hired him, Dean Del Brinkman. Even mentors, including Professor Roger Gafke, HONORS though he said that was the furthest thing who was “pretty damned uncompromising” from his mind at the time, Brinkman helped in terms of quality in teaching TV news classes H.O.P.E. Award finalist, 2000 make it happen and by arranging his schedule at the University of Missouri, and Utsler, with School of Journalism awards for so he could continue to teach. whom he was a co-instructor his first semes- instructional innovation, 1991, “If all administrators were that good, things ter at the J-School. 1990 would run a lot better,” Broholm said. “That “We don’t teach alike, we really don’t,” Bro- was Del. He was just one of those people that holm said of Utsler, “but his approach has things worked, things happened.” always been an influence on me.” Broholm became the “handyman” of the Broholm hoped that he instilled on his stu- news courses, teaching writing, editing and dents the importance of working hard on ac- ethics. He also had a stint as the school’s grad- curacy and relevancy of information because uate director. Through all of that, he focused it’s very easy to get things wrong. He also said on what made him want to teach in the first he tried to challenge his students, and based place. on their careers, he’s been successful. “What I’m proudest of is my continued fo- “What’s inspired me most is the degree cus on teaching writing, which is difficult and that students I’ve had have gone on to do it’s also a hell of a lot of work, a lot of grind,” amazingly much more than I ever did,” he said. Broholm said. “And that I’ve been adaptable to – Julie Adam different media on that.”

Jayhawk Journalist 13 Learning in the course of teaching

Barbara Barnett found inspiration in different perspectives of students, women, underrepresented groups and military

ometimes, the path of a person’s life turns Son the most innocuous of conversations. For Professor Barbara Barnett, it was one of those moments — an offhanded comment she doesn’t even remember — that led to her becoming a professor and teaching at KU. Barnett, who started at the William Allen White School of Journalism and Mass Com- munications in 2003, retired at the end of this school year. How she got here hinged on a remark she made while she was director of communications for the North Carolina Hospital Association. While working on a partnership for a grant with the University of North Carolina journalism school, she offhandedly mentioned that she might like to teach someday. The next week, she got a phone call: someone at UNC was going on academic leave, and the school was looking for a fill-in. She agreed and was hooked and still remembers her first class: “It was so much Barbara Barnett retired in May after a 16-year career at the School of Journalism. fun because those students were so eager and so enthusiastic, and it was really interesting to see the world through their eyes.” will work to help me, and that turned out to “She really challenged me, pushed me, to She taught a couple of classes and then be true,” Barnett said. think critically, pay attention to the world after a 25-year career in which she worked as Since she had worked in both news and around me, and to write well,” Erickson said. a newspaper reporter and a public relations strategic communication fields, she was a Barnett said one of the most gratifying parts professional, she decided to quit her job, and good match for the new curriculum that was of her career is that she also learned some- she earned her Ph.D. at North Carolina. At instituted by Dean Jimmy Gentry. thing new every day from the students. the time, the KU J-School was looking for “I understood how news helped PR, and “I remember this quote from when I first someone to teach an introduction to mass I understood how PR helped news, and so started to teach, about somebody saying that communications class, which Barnett taught I think that was an advantage coming in as a teacher is the giver of eyes, that you help at North Carolina. A friend of hers who had a teacher,” Barnett said. “I think my skill set students learn to see,” Barnett said. “Well, worked at the Wichita Eagle told Barnett that matched what KU needed at the time, which they helped me learn to see because they have Lawrence was a lot like Chapel Hill and she was somebody who could teach a lot of differ- totally different life experiences, totally differ- would like it. However, having lived her entire ent courses, who could teach on both sides of ent perspectives.” life in North Carolina in close proximity to the curriculum.” It was that relatability that created a bond the ocean, Barnett wasn’t sure she could live That varied professional experience helped between Barnett and Jess Skinner. landlocked in the middle of the country. students learn all facets of the communica- Skinner, senior director of special events at After her visit to Lawrence, interview at the tions world. Lauren Erickson, director of mar- KU Endowment, didn’t know anyone when J-School, and dinner with students, she decid- keting communications at KU, said Barnett set she moved from North Carolina to the ed KU was going to be a good fit. her up for continued success in journalism J-School for graduate school. Wandering the “I felt that this is a place where everyone classes, internships and her career. halls one day, she stopped in Barnett’s office

14 Inside the School

to ask a question. She noticed that Barnett also Through her work with the military, she at- was from North Carolina, and that made her tended a national conference on research about feel a little less alone. post-traumatic stress disorder, and she started “I didn’t know at the time, but she would go researching PTSD in journalists. That’s when on to be one of my professors and the chair of she realized that journalists had no resources my graduate dissertation committee,” Skinner available to assist them with the experiences said. “She really became a mentor to me and they had been through while covering war, vio- then a friend.” lence and conflict. Barnett also was on the thesis committee “I am proud of some of the research I’ve for Rhonda LeValdo, who received her master’s done, I’m proud of the media and the military degree from the J-School in 2009 and is now a program because that was crafted out of noth- professor of media communications at Haskell ing, and it turned into something that I think Indian Nations University. was helpful,” Barnett said. “Professor Barnett Barnett is also grate- comes across as a genuine ful to have been a part person who really wants “She really challenged of so many students’ students to succeed,” Le- lives, and she’ll miss the Valdo said. “She is so kind, me, pushed me, to daily interaction with CAREER and I really felt comfortable them. She’ll also miss in her classes. She always think critically, pay being a part of the KU HIGHLIGHTS did wonderful constructive community. criticisms on our work as attention to the world “I’ll miss the Jayhawk well, so it didn’t feel too camaraderie, being part EDUCATION harsh but again, wanting to around me, and to of this big institution B.A., English, Pembroke State make sure our stories and where you can go any- University projects were going to be where in the world and good.” write well.” see somebody with a M.A., liberal studies, Duke LeValdo also praised Barnett’s research on Jayhawk and say, ‘Oh yeah, me too!’” Barnett University diversity and women in journalism — how said. Ph.D., journalism and mass underrepresented groups are stereotyped by While there are some things she wished communications, UNC-Chapel Hill the media, and the inequities that women and she could have done in her career, she is ready minorities face. to relax and enjoy retirement. The first order “So many students aren’t aware of the issues of business is to move near a beach. She also AWARDS different groups face, whether that is race, cul- would like to travel, teach adults to read, do Mary Ann Yodelis Smith Award for ture, religion or sexual orientation,” LeValdo some freelance writing, and work with interna- Feminist Scholarship, AEJMC said. “Those things are what I teach other jour- tional students in some way. And even though Katich Creativity Award, William nalists about, the stereotypes of Native Ameri- that will keep her still quite busy, she’s looking cans in media.” forward not having a schedule. Allen White School of Journalism Another legacy Barnett leaves is her work “I’ve been really excited about retiring, and and Mass Communications with the military. She was brought on board I just started thinking, ‘Oh my gosh, I’m not when KU received a grant from the McCormick going to have a schedule, and what will I do all BOOKS Foundation to develop a media and the military day? Every minute has wrapped around work. program. The school developed a program to And I said something to a friend about how I “Motherhood in the Media: hold joint classes with Fort Leavenworth to don’t know what I’ll do, and he said, ‘Well, you Infanticide, Journalism and the help military officers become better commu- can spend time now with the people who love Digital Age” (2016) nicators. you,’ and I thought, that is so true. So one of the “Military people and journalists both love the things I’ll be doing is spending more time with First Amendment but in very different ways,” the people I love and the people who love me, Barnett said. “The military are fighting for you so I’m looking forward to that.” to have it, and journalists are fighting to practice – Julie Adam it.”

Jayhawk Journalist 15 Inside the School Sports journalism to the Max

Max Utsler’s love of sports and expertise in broadcasting has helped thousands of students find their own niches

hen Associate Professor Max Utsler Waccepted a teaching job at the William Allen White School of Journalism and Mass Communications in 1984, he wasn’t planning to stick around for very long. He told his new boss, Dean Del Brinkman: “I’ll be staying here about five years and moving on.” Thirty-five years later, he’s now moving on. Last month, Utsler ended his teaching career at the J-School in which he taught, by his estimate, close to 5,000 students everything from writing, TV broadcasting and all facets of sports media. The sports part has been a central theme throughout Utsler’s life. Had it not been for sports, Utsler wonders if he would have even gone to college at all. Growing up on a farm in central Illinois, everyone was either a farmer or a factory worker, Utsler said, and he was a “duck out of water” in that environment because he didn’t like the dirt or the isolation. What did interest him, though, was sports, and he played as many as he could: football, basketball and baseball. In his senior year at Knoxville High School, Associate Professor Max Utsler’s office was filled with years worth of sports memorabilia he’s collected during Utsler had initially turned down an offer to his career. He retired in May after teaching for 35 years at the J-School. play basketball at nearby Knox College in fa- vor of prestigious Dartmouth College, a place volunteer baseball coach at the University of ought to get a Ph.D., and I couldn’t turn him that seemed like a world away from his small Minnesota. He wanted a paying coaching job, down,” Utsler said, especially when his adviser town and he had never even visited. A couple though, which meant he’d need a master’s pointed out that “‘Look, we have Ph.D.s that of months before he was to move away, a bad degree, so he went off to the University of are driving in from Kirksville and St. Joe. All stomachache turned out to be an appendicitis. Missouri to study journalism, where he was you have to do is walk across the quad.’” In the hospital, the Knox College basketball offered a volunteer assistant coach position After getting his doctorate and tenure, he coach visited Utsler and offered Knox Col- there. decided to leave MU to work in television in lege’s training facilities for him to use before The summer before he was to finish his St. Louis, largely for financial reasons. He loved he headed east. master’s degree, a teaching opportunity St. Louis and thought he would stay, but after “My mom and I said, ‘I don’t know why I’m opened, which led to Utsler “hanging around” a year, he was contacted by Brinkman, who looking at going halfway across the country MU for about 10 years, teaching and coaching. offered him a teaching position at KU. to college when a guy like that is right here,’” Under the advice of his mentor Dave Dugan, Despite his assertion that it would be a Utsler said, noting that his coach turned out Utsler beefed up his professional experience short-term career move, he loved the con- to be one of the biggest influences in his life. by working during semester breaks at TV sta- nections he made with his students. After earning his bachelor’s degree in Amer- tions in Kansas City. “I’ve always made it a point to remind my- ican Studies at Knox, he taught seventh grade “Then my mentor said, well, if you’re going self that I teach students — not news, not English in suburban Minneapolis and was a to stick with this teaching thing, you probably sports, not video,” Utsler said.

16 “He understands that students are just that — people who are here to learn and hone a craft.”

Alana Flinn (j’18), account manager for Amer- doors for me in the academic world,” Bacon icanEagle.com in Chicago, appreciated the kind said. “For example, he has a long-lasting rela- and nurturing way that Utsler taught. tionship with the Broadcast Education Associa- “He understands that students are just that tion. During my first national conference in Las — people who are here to learn and hone a Vegas, he introduced me to everyone he could. craft,” Flinn said. “He was never judgmental or This included faculty members in my field, divi- harsh, as some in this field become. If you strug- sion leaders, and even national leadership.” gled in one area, he’d be happy to work with Utsler will miss the day-to-day contact with you and find your niche in another.” students, but he will continue to mentor young Lara Moritz (j’92), news anchor for KMBC 9 people. News in Kansas City who also graduated from In the last couple of years, Utsler has become Knox College, said Utsler has been “one of the involved as curriculum coordinator for C You CAREER great people I’ve met in my life.” in the Major Leagues Foundation, a nonprofit HIGHLIGHTS When Moritz was looking at options for organization founded by Kansas City Royals graduate school, one of her advisers suggested General Manager Dayton Moore. The group’s that she talk to Utsler. mission is to support youth baseball, education, EDUCATION “Max talked to me for a long time on the faith-based organizations, and families in crisis, B.A., American Studies, Knox phone, overnighted an application to me, and in and Utsler mentors 11 high schoolers from College a matter of weeks I was going to KU for an M.S. underserved areas of Kansas City. M.A., journalism, University of in journalism,” Moritz said. Now that he’s retired, he’ll also have more Missouri “He has been a mentor to me, a cheerleader time for sports. He plays baseball two nights a Ph.D, education, University of for me and most importantly a dear friend over week and plays hockey as well. Missouri the decades to me,” she said. As anyone who knows Utsler is aware, he Because of his professional experience and is fiercely loyal St. Louis Cardinals fan, so he’ll connections in broadcasting and sports, Utsler have more time to travel across the state to helped countless students learn the skills and catch a few more of those games. And even HONORS gain the experience to work in television and though he’s attended or covered plenty of Bengtson Faculty Mentoring sports. memorable professional sports games, Utsler Award, 2019 Utsler created the “Sports, Media and Soci- enjoys watching kids’ games, too, or high school Katich Award for Creativity in ety” class to teach students all aspects of the or college sports. Teaching, 2017 business of sports, and each year, the enroll- “I love the fact that pretty much every time H.O.P.E. Award finalist, 2003 ment was pretty evenly split between news and I watch a game or play in a game,” he said, “I’m strategic communication students, he said. going to see something I’ve never, never seen “We finally woke up and realized that it’s a before.” big business and that there are some special He’ll also keep working as an official score- skills that you need to have to work in that keeper for the Kansas City Royals, which he business,” he said. has been doing for past seven years. For Utsler, Chris Bacon, assistant professor at the it’s not work; it’s just being a part of what he School of Journalism at Middle Tennessee State has enjoyed doing since his childhood. University, met Utsler while working on his “I love the atmosphere of a game,” Utsler doctorate at the J-School. Bacon worked close- said. “Some people like to visit art museums. I ly with Utsler while Bacon was executive pro- like a gym.” ducer at the student-run KUJH-TV. — Julie Adam “During my time at KU, he helped open

Jayhawk Journalist 17 Block-by-Block is featured on the Unmistakably Lawrence website and displays timelines for buildings that students have researched. View the project at rockcha.lk/blockbyblock. (Image courtesy of Unmistakably Lawrence) Learning Lawrence’s history, block by block

In JOUR 302: Infomania, students used effective research strategies to uncover and share the deep and unique history of buildings in downtown Lawrence

n the corner of Massachusetts and whether the information is credible. Bobkow- OEighth streets is Merchants Pub & Plate, ski was inspired by the One Block feature in a beloved restaurant that has become a sta- New York Magazine and decided to recreate ple of downtown Lawrence. However, back a version of that for his class. The project has in the 1930s, this same location used to be been assigned every semester since then. a bank that was robbed by Clyde Barrow “A building will have a lot of records related from “Bonnie and Clyde.” Farther down Mass. to it — property records, business records, Merchants Bank first formed in 1877 and became a Street is a clothing store: Urban Outfitters. information about companies and individu- national bank in 1886. In 1930, it became the First In 1870, that store was a residential building als,” Bobkowski said. “Taking a building was a National Bank of Lawrence. (Photo courtesy of Spen- for a family physician, John Medlicott. There really good way to bring a lot of these pieces cer Research Library, Pictorial History of Lawrence, Douglas County, Kansas. Taken about 1915.) was a huge case involving Medlicott for com- of information together and have students mitting a double homicide with morphine research them.” poisoning. He was found guilty and sentenced Students are split up into groups and as- so it gets students out and researching in to hang, but his conviction was overturned. signed to do research on a building in down- other places and talking to people who are Not a lot of people living in or visiting Law- town Lawrence. Students do about half of the interested in this type of research,” Bobkow- rence may know these historical facts. At research online, and then they have to go out ski said. least not until the Block-by-Block project in the field to complete the rest. Bobkowski His students said the class introduced them came along. said that some resources such as city direc- to a new method of doing research. The project was created by Associate Pro- tories, phone books and newspaper clippings “I’m so used to doing all of my research fessor Peter Bobkowski in the spring of 2017 are only available as physical records, not online, so I never realized how valuable it is for his class JOUR 302: Infomania. In Info- online. to go to a library and sift through old news- mania, students learn how to find out infor- “We go to the Spencer Research Library, papers,” said Jordan Arnold, a senior from mation, use different sources, and evaluate the Watkins Museum, the public library, and Lake Quivira, Kansas. “It really helps to paint

18 Inside the School

Students from JOUR 302 were presented with the Travel Industry Association of Kansas Marketing award. From left: Andrea Johnson (director of marketing and communications, Unmistakably Lawrence), Grant Heiman, Jordan Arnold, Brock Sauvage, Grace Woods and Associate Professor Peter Bobkowski

together timelines from past students’ pro- Campaign among “large budget” destinations jects to be displayed on the Unmistakably in Kansas, but it also won “Best in Show” out “Taking a building Lawrence website. of all the marketing award entries. “Going from having no experience with re- Bobkowski plans on continuing the Block- was a really good way search to now spending my fourth semester by-Block project and partnership with Unmis- on the project, I’ve gained practical know- takably Lawrence in his classes. Looking back to bring a lot of these ledge vital to being a professional journalist,” on it all, Bobkowski is amazed at how far it’s Heiman said. “It lays the groundwork for re- come. “I knew it was a good idea, and I was pieces of information search tools that are key for any professional really excited. I couldn’t predict that it would communicator.” go in this direction, but I’m glad that it has.” together and have The project was also submitted for a Travel Industry Association of Kansas Marketing – Angel Tran is a May 2019 graduate from students research them.” award in the “Integrated Campaign” category. Wichita, Kansas Not only did it win first place for Integrated a picture of what life was like then.” When Bobkowski started the project, he wanted to find an organization that could pro- vide a public platform for his students’ work. He reached out to Unmistakably Lawrence, the city’s visitor bureau that handles travel and tourism. The organization was interested because it wanted to promote historical tourism in Lawrence. A partnership was born. Unmistakably Lawrence uses the students’ research on its website, and students get their work and names published on the website. Students also leave Infomania with useful skills that they take into their upper-level classes and professional careers. Grant Heiman, a junior from Wichita, Kan- sas, took the class with Bobkowski and was The Granada was a theater that showed films from the 1930s until the late 1990s. Now, it is a live venue for his student assistant. Heiman edited and put shows and concerts. (Photo credit: Hannah Cruise and Farm Security Administration — Office of War Informa- tion Photograph Collection from Library of Congress)

Jayhawk Journalist 19 Spanning the globe to put spotlight on the climate crisis

A reporting class set National Geographic writer Craig Welch on the course of a job of a lifetime

Craig Welch prepares to interview scientists at the edge of the frozen Arctic Ocean outside Barrow, Alaska. (Photo by Steve Ringman, The Seattle Times)

tanding on the edge In a wetsuit to protect himself from bar- Middle East to report on sea turtles, he fol- of a speeding boat nacles on the turtles, Welch waited for the lowed a team of research scientists who were in the Persian Gulf perfect moment as dark figures darted by researching these creatures. A “rodeo” was underwater. When the timing seemed right, the safest way to catch the turtles and ob- off Abu Dhabi, Craig Welch launched himself off the boat and into serve their health. Since there were limited SWelch mentally and physically the water in an attempt to wrangle and catch spaces on the boat, the deal was that Welch prepared himself for what he a sea turtle. He caught a couple but missed a could come along and report on their work was about to participate in: lot more and had the bruises to show how only if he helped catch sea turtles. challenging this feat was. While a sea turtle rodeo is anything but or- a sea turtle rodeo. When Welch took an assignment in the dinary, it was just another day at work for him.

20 Priority: Planet Earth

Welch, who graduated from the William Allen White School of Journalism and Mass Communications in 1989, has worked at Na- tional Geographic for almost five years. Ini- tially, he was hired on as a contributing writer and moved up to senior staff writer in Sep- tember 2018. “I just happened to be at the right place at the right time,” Welch said. “I thought ‘Well, who wouldn’t want to work for National Geographic?’ So, I applied and got lucky.” Perhaps it was more than just luck, though. Before National Geographic, Welch was an environmental reporter for the Seattle Times for more than 14 years. During that time, he and his colleagues won the 2015 Pulitzer Prize for coverage of the deadliest landslide in U.S. history. Welch has also earned several other journalism awards, particularly for environmental reporting. SHELL GAMES Welch has now solidified himself as an es- teemed environmental reporter in the industry, but during his time at KU, Welch didn’t Hamad Al Jailani, with the Environment Agency of Abu In 2010, Craig Welch published his know what he wanted to do and said he Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates, hands a green sea first book, “Shell Games: Rogues, turtle to Mona Mӧller of the Emirates Wildlife Society— chose journalism after taking a reporting class. Smugglers, and the Hunt for Nature's World Wildlife Fund, during a research trip. Welch “It was really the first thing in college I took Bounty,” after learning about a huge was in the Middle East reporting on a story about the to,” Welch said. “I wasn’t particularly good at global state of sea turtles that is scheduled to appear investigation involving shellfish smug- it, but I enjoyed it.” in the October 2019 issue of National Geographic glers, the black-market wildlife trade, After college, he took a job at a small news- magazine. (Photo by Craig Welch) and undercover cops and federal paper in Wyoming where he eventually did en- agents. “Shell Games” received praise vironmental reporting. From that point on, he Welch has also interviewed former President for being a thoroughly reported, immediately knew that was all he ever wanted Obama on Midway Island. And he’s floated well-written and compelling true-crime to do. It was also the perfect excuse for Welch down a river in the Arctic for eight days. adventure. to be outdoors. His reporting included grizzly In his recent trip to South America, Welch Welch said the smugglers were like a bears, forest fires, and oil and gas drilling on and his team camped for 10 days and were up small international mafia and under- public lands — all issues a Middle America against harsh weather conditions, with winds world that people didn’t know existed. guy growing up in the suburbs hadn’t thought reaching 85 mph one night and knocking them Not only is it a great detective story, but much about. off their feet. “Shell Games” also provides perspec- “It’s a completely different world and made Even after traveling to numerous countries tive on how technology has changed me realize how much I didn’t know,” he said. throughout his career, Welch said he feels like how we buy and sell the planet’s natural a visitor in the larger world and everything parts around the world. still surprises him. He finds every place capti- So much stands out about Welch’s career vating. It’s a job where he never stops learning. Book honors: that it’s difficult to know where to begin. He’s “I like getting a chance to see parts of the traveled seemingly everywhere, reporting world that I would have never had any reason • Winner, 2011 Rachel Carson En- from all seven continents multiple times. to go,” he said. “I love meeting people from vironment Book Award, Society of He’s caught a sea turtle with his bare hands. cultures that are completely unlike my own.” Environmental Journalists He’s spent a night inside a tent on an island When Welch first started working as an • Finalist, 2011 Best Nonfiction Book in the Arctic Ocean. He and a photographer environmental journalist, he was interested Pacific Northwest Booksellers Award both had shotguns next to their sleeping bags in how nature works and how ecological sys- • Finalist, 2011 Nonfiction Book of the because there had been a polar bear nearby. tems fit together. But now the clock is ticking. Year, Washington State Book Award Needless to say, they were a little terrified. As climate change has become a bigger part of

Jayhawk Journalist 21 what he does, Welch said it now feels less like CAREER a fascinating new problem and more like an emergency. He feels more of an urgency to HIGHLIGHTS tell people how fast the world is changing. Before joining National Geograph- A large focus of his environmental report- ic, Craig Welch worked at The Seattle ing is on climate change, which he emphasized Times for more than 14 years, where he is affecting every single thing on the planet and his colleagues won a Pulitzer Prize in dramatic and subtle ways. Many ecological for Breaking News in 2015. His work systems have been fundamentally altered, and also has been featured in Newsweek, Welch said there’s no going back. The Washington Post and Smithsonian When it comes to helping the environment, magazine. In 2006, Welch was a fellow at Welch’s main philosophy is that real science the Nieman Foundation for Journalism matters. The truth matters. And with that, at Harvard University. Other honors decisions should be made based on science. include: He said it’s important for people to do research and learn about these issues from • Outstanding Beat Reporting, Society of experts and reputable news outlets and not Environmental Journalists, 2017 to fall for fake news and outlets that are “man- • Finalist, National Academy of Sciences’ ufacturing BS.” But it doesn’t just stop there. Keck Futures Award for Science Com- Welch said that after educating yourself, you munication, 2017 must use that knowledge to vote wisely. • Alfred I. duPont Columbia University Interestingly enough, Welch does not con- Award, 2014 sider himself an activist, but a factualist. He • Knight-Risser Prize for Western Envi- said his job is to simply find information and ronmental Journalism, 2014 present it in a way that keeps people engaged, • National Academy of Sciences’ Keck so they can make good choices themselves. Futures Award for Science Communica- “We have to figure out a way to do things tion, 2014 that put people first. We can’t be trying to • Associated Press Media Editors’ Inter- make sure that one country is better off than Welch interviewed Barack Obama on Midway national Perspectives Award, 2014 others,” Welch said. Island in September 2016 shortly after the presi- • Finalist, National Emmy Award for For all the adventures he’s been on, sights dent expanded an existing marine reserve in the he’s seen and turtles he’s wrangled, Welch Pacific Ocean. (Photo by Brian Skerry, National News and Documentary Coverage, 2014 Geographic ) • Online News Association Award for is also a simple man. He loves his family and Explanatory Reporting, 2014 • Society of Environmental Journalists’ Kevin Carmody Award for In-Depth Reporting, 2014 • Edward J. Meeman Award for Environ- mental Reporting, 2014 • Hillman Prize for Web Journalism, 2014 • Honorable Mention, White House Correspondents Association’s Edward A. Poe Award, 2014 • Finalist, James Beard Foundation Award for Coverage of Food Politics and Environmental Policy, 2014 • Overseas Press Club Whitman Basso Award for International Environmental Reporting, 2014 • Outstanding Beat Reporting, Large Market, Society of Environmental Jour- nalists, 2010 and 2005 Villagers outside a church explain to Welch how they've managed to protect the rich grasslands in their community of 45,000 in the highlands of Ethiopia — a place where most meadows, thickets, moors and swamps are in steep decay. (Photo by Jeff Kerby, National Geographic)

22 Priority: Planet Earth

Ferocious winds bend trees into a snarl amid the world's southernmost forest on Cape AROUND Horn Island, off the coast of South America. (Photo by THE WORLD Craig Welch)

Craig Welch’s job has taken him all over the globe, and he has reported from all seven continents. Here’s all the places out the most: “I’d like to do some stories that he’s been: help make things better.” “What kind of planet Welch explained that his current stories do • The Arctic help but specified that he wanted to produce • Alaska, United States we leave for our kids something that was clearly and undoubtedly • Dutch Harbor (Aleutian Islands) helping people make good decisions. • Antarctica has an awful lot to do “I would love to write a story and have peo- • The Antarctic peninsula ple hold it up and say ‘Did you see this? This is • Dominica in the Caribbean with how we spend why we need to get moving and get our con- • Costa Rica gressional representatives to do something • Puerto Williams, Chile the next 10 years.” about climate change’ and have that actually • Isla Hornos, Chile help change things,” Welch said. • Paris, France • Mediterranean Sea hates being away for so long, especially when It seems like he wants what every good • Ethiopia and the Highlands, Africa it means missing his daughter’s soccer games. reporter should want — to change the world. • Cape Town, South Africa He enjoys being outdoors and will go hiking, “What kind of planet we leave for our kids • Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates trail running or fly fishing any chance he gets. has an awful lot to do with how we spend the • Chersky, Russia For Welch, working at National Geographic next 10 years,” Welch said. “We need to not • Thailand is no easy feat. But he loves his job, has a great waste time.” • Sulawesi Region Indonesia team and does life-changing work. One could • Islands near Papua New Guinea even say that working for National Geograph- – Angel Tran is a May 2019 graduate from • Midway Island in the Pacific ic is the pinnacle of environmental reporting. Wichita, Kansas When asked about his goals, Welch mentioned spending more time with his family See more photos from Welch’s travels at and lowering his running times. But one stood jayhawkjournalist.com

Jayhawk Journalist 23 Forrest MacDonald‘s artwork shows that “we’re not using our precious resources to the best of our abilities. We’re not protecting the climate.” Highlighting humanity’s role in destroying the environment

Forrest MacDonald hopes his artwork inspires people to reflect on how they can create change

hree decades ago, Forrest MacDon- the Gulf War. Afterward, he realized he didn’t up to society for good or bad,” he said. “The Tald (j’89) was a new graduate from the want to pursue that career route and turned mirror I’m holding up is showing that we’re William Allen White School of Journalism to commercial photography. But his interest not using our precious resources to the best and Mass Communications. He knew that he for that also faded, and he eventually found of our abilities. We’re not protecting the cli- wanted to pursue photography for his career. himself in the fine arts. MacDonald enjoyed mate.” After all, he was a photojournalism major and the creative control and found a reason to do MacDonald said he has always been inter- worked with the University Daily Kansan as a this type of work. ested in preserving the environment. Back in staff photographer and photo editor. Now, he uses his photography and artistic the ’80s, he found the idea of polluting nature Initially a photojournalist, MacDonald abilities to express his thoughts, especially and wasting resources disturbing. “I still feel worked with a local newspaper in Florida and when it comes to the environment. that way, and now it’s morphed into other flew to Jerusalem to take photographs during “My job, as an artist, is to hold the mirror concerns like global warming and endangered

24 Priority: Planet Earth

“My job, as an artist, is to hold the mirror up to society for good or bad.”

how it can cause the failure of these systems. The last line of Homage’s artist statement drives the point home. “Growth and life — however coerced and deceptive they may be — struggle to survive despite degradation and corruption.”

Recipes for Disaster (2012) “I constructed and photographed miniaturized landscapes of domestic environments exploding that reflect our insatiable appetite for sensational- ized images of violence and destruction.” – Reci- pes for Disaster artist statement

The Mayans predicted that the world would end in 2012. With so much focus on chaos and destruction, MacDonald wanted to create huge cinematic pieces on what he thought the end of the world could look like. The end result was “deconstructed landscapes [that] display the fragile and transitory nature of existence.” Homage is part of a series titled “Homage,” 2010 Not only does Recipes for Disaster show how terrifying and tumultuous destruction species,” MacDonald said. ald photographed flowers, added other ele- can be, the series makes the point of how hu- In his three latest environmental projects, ments and painted over the backgrounds to mans view it as a grand spectacle of disaster, MacDonald takes a closer look at how hu- demonstrate the above and below ground MacDonald said. Advancements in telecom- manity plays a role in both the creation and perspective — what is seen and unseen by the munications have made it possible for people destruction of the environment. human eye. to watch the tragedies of others around the In some pieces, MacDonald used roots and world right “in the comfort of [their] own strings to symbolize the life forms’ intercon- homes.” Homage (2010) nectedness while cardboard or glass suggests By using various photographic techniques their separation. The whole series represents “Homage is a series of photographs about and Photoshop, MacDonald’s goal was to cre- their dependence on each other and the com- interdependence and the complexity of relation- ate natural and manmade disasters that were plex nature of coexisting. ships between mutually dependent life forms, frightening and fascinating, yet also artificial MacDonald said that each photo in Hom- such as flora and fauna, humans and the envi- with a sense of realism. age has a story, but it’s not important for the ronment, all the way down to single-cell bacteria.” “Although these created sets are from my viewers to know every one. Instead, he wants – Homage artist statement imagination, the nightmare these photographs people to understand the big picture: the frag- represent is not far from the images I see on In this earlier mixed-media work, MacDon- ile balance between two desirable beings and

Jayhawk Journalist 25 EF5 is part of a series titled “Recipes for Disaster,” 2012. the nightly news or in the movies,” MacDon- industry, MacDonald saw the opportunity to destruction, his newest work is more about ald said in his artist statement. create and celebrate life rather than focus on hope. waste and destruction. Trying to solve huge issues like global What also made Wired Up unique was the warming is going to seem overwhelming and Wired Up (2016) viewer engagement that MacDonald received especially daunting at a time when science is “Seven figurative sculptural characters created from it. The series was featured in an out- being questioned, actions are delayed and cor- using fragments taken from deconstructing broken door exhibition in Orlando called “Art in Odd porations have too much control, MacDonald obsolete technologies and various types of wiring.” Places.” He had to create art that could be said. He suggests focusing on smaller, plausible – Wired Up artist statement displayed on a sidewalk but would not block it. actions that can be done. He solved the problem by elevating the sculp- “If you think about what you could do in MacDonald’s most recent work stands in tures on PVC pipes. your area to help with any environmental situ- stark contrast to his previous two. To make it look more visually interesting, ation, any aspect of it — collectively, we could Wired Up is a series of seven distinct and MacDonald printed off graphic illustrations do better,” MacDonald said. quirky characters that seem to have animated to cover up the pipes, and provided markers personalities of their own. The irony is that and colored pencils. People passing by were MacDonald used broken and wasted pieces encouraged to color in the illustrations and “Collectively, we of technology, like laptops and phones, to give finish the work that MacDonald started. With them new life. Each sculpture even has its own Wired Up, the boundary between the artist could do better.” name because MacDonald believed it would and the viewer disappeared. give them a human element and “solidify traits “Sometimes we only show work in the they might have.” museum and galleries. You lose touch of the Just like the last 30 years of his life, MacDon- “I took [items] apart and I kept seeing dif- everyday person,” he said. “I was really happy ald said he does not have the next 30 years ferent components that would make sense how many people would actually stop and figured out. However, he has enjoyed the free- to use as a robot,” MacDonald said. “I found color or look and comment about the work.” dom and ever-changing nature of creative art, inspiration in the fragments of those pieces.” and he hopes to continue it. MacDonald plans One of the messages of this series is that on revisiting some of his older environmental technology has become easier to replace. Currently, MacDonald works at the Univer- pieces and creating new art based on them. MacDonald said people are constantly updat- sity of South Florida where he teaches sub- As shown in his previous works, MacDonald ing their items and want — but don’t need jects such as photography, design and drawing. said his style of art is always evolving and — the latest models. Technology is quickly He would eventually like to become a full- changing based on what he’s trying to do. changing; new versions are created while the time artist. “Part of me can’t 100% know my artwork previous items are thrown out and already MacDonald said that even though his older because I get bored with it,” he said. “I have to forgotten. Although that is the reality of the works were centered on despair, chaos and have this undiscoverable element to it for me

26 Priority: Planet Earth

Above: LINDA, reclaimed wire sculpture, is one of seven characters in a series titled “Wired Up,” 2016. Right: SURI, reclaimed material from failed technology sculpture, is from “Wired Up,” 2016. to stay in it.” Through his work, MacDonald said he wanted to a make a point about the delicate nature of the environment and how humanity competes for resources, yet also wastes them. MacDonald consciously tries to lessen his impact and encourages others to do the same. “If people just woke up and started thinking about little changes they could make, that would have a huge impact,” MacDonald said. “I’m trying to start the ripple.”

– Angel Tran is a May 2019 graduate from Wichita, Kansas

See more of MacDonald’s artwork at forrestmacdonald.com

Right: “Wired Up/Colored By Strangers” was part of an exhibition called Art in Odd Places, produced by the Downtown Arts District of Orlando in 2016.

Jayhawk Journalist 27 A story to save the tigers

Katy Yocom raises awareness about decline of tigers with a touching story about family, love and the fragility of life

A subadult tiger at Kanha National Park. The photo was taken from the back of an elephant during Yocom’s research trip to India. (Photo by Katy Yocom)

can’t write a novel about tigers. For and pursued journalism at KU. are,” Yocom said. “I whatever reason, I just thought that’s Later on, Yocom also earned her Master of In her research, she found that tigers were ridiculous. Who would write novels about Fine Arts in Writing degree through Spalding an endangered species, with only an estimated tigers?” University in Louisville, Kentucky. 3,900 wild tigers alive today compared with These were Katy (Monk) Yocom’s (j’89) Yocom thought her fascination with cats about 100,000 a century ago. Yocom said the thoughts when she was deciding what to was long gone until a tiger at her local zoo had reasons for the decline in the tiger population write about for her debut novel. a litter of cubs. She kept visiting them over the were mostly because of human interactions. As a Kansas native, she grew up surrounded months and witnessed them growing up. They Some major issues were encroachment on by animals, including plenty of cats. At the were hilarious, adorable and quirky — she in- wild land, poaching tigers for their body parts, same time, Yocom’s love of writing grew from stantly fell in love. This led Yocom to research and habitat loss. her love of reading. Before picking a career tigers and she discovered some shocking facts. Yocom knew she had to write a novel and path, she thought about becoming a zookeep- “I quickly realized that the story of tigers raise awareness for tigers. However, about 50 er, veterinarian or marine biologist. In the end, wasn’t just how amazing and magnificent they pages into the book, she didn’t have enough she came back to her true passion, writing, are; it was also about how endangered they information to continue writing. How could

28 Priority: Planet Earth

Yocom with an elephant at Kanha National Park during her research trip to India. she properly write a novel based in India with petition. Ashland Creek is an independent tigers when she had never experienced that press that emphasizes the environment, ecol- environment herself? ogy and wildlife. Although she went with So she applied for a grant through the Eliz- an untraditional route of publication, Yocom abeth George Foundation and was able to said she was glad to be working with Ashland spend three weeks in India at three different Creek Press because its mission aligns with national parks, which she said was a lifetime her book. highlight. Aside from tigers, her book is also about a “I spent time in the backs of Jeeps and on family who must overcome a tragedy, a for- the back of an elephant riding around looking bidden love affair, and what it’s like to live in for tigers in the wild, and that was an incred- rural India. Yocom used her experiences in ible experience. I was seeing tigers almost the J-School to bring life to her main charac- every day,” Yocom said. ter, Sarah, who is a journalist. That trip was more than enough fuel for In the end, Yocom’s goal was to shine light her imagination and after some writing re- on tigers and their risk of extinction. She treats, she was able to complete the manu- wanted to make people care about tigers script for “Three Ways to Disappear.” During while simultaneously tell a good story. this time, Yocom also worked as a full-time “With creative writing, you can’t only be staff member in Spalding’s MFA in Writing aiming to make a point or convince someone program, where she received support in writ- of something,” Yocom said. “You also have to ing her novel. have a great story. A story that people will Upon completion, Yocom entered her un- want to read and take into their hearts." published manuscript in a contest, and it won “Three Ways to Disappear” is scheduled to “Three Ways to Disappear” is available at Amazon and the Siskiyou Prize for New Environmental be published this summer. Barnes & Noble. Literature. In winning that prize, Yocom also received publication for her book through – Angel Tran is a May 2019 graduate from Ashland Creek Press, which hosted the com- Wichita, Kansas

Jayhawk Journalist 29 Always digging for answers

As a watchdog for USA Today, Alison Young’s investigative reporting uncovered dangerous environmental issues

As an investigative reporter for USA Today, Alison Young spent weeks on the road testing soil with a handheld X-ray device in neighborhoods around long-closed lead smelters as part of her Ghost Factories investigation. (Photo courtesy of USA Today)

n the late 1980s, the William Allen White health, environment and consumer issues. journalistic methods to go further or reveal ISchool of Journalism and Mass Communi- As a watchdog, Young found inspiration for something that’s not already known. cations offered a science writing class every stories in a variety of places. She said that it In her nine years with USA Today, Young semester. Alison Young (j’88) was one of the often comes from reading all sorts of things. said that her biggest investigative projects on few people who signed up for it. According to Although Young read articles from different environmental issues are “Ghost Factories” her, it would usually end up getting canceled. news organizations, she also pored over a lot and “Beyond Flint.” Despite that, Young always knew she would of “what some people might consider to be “Ghost Factories” was an investigation work in that field. boring reports.” She sorted through inspector that examined old lead factories that oper- “I love the science of it and it’s such an im- general reports from federal agencies or Gov- ated before the EPA and state environmental portant area to cover — to explain things that ernment Accountability Office reports about laws existed. The objective was to determine impact real peoples’ lives,” Young said. the Environmental Protection Agency, and is whether there was still lead contamination in More than 30 years later, Young is still doing subscribed to announcements on scientific these areas. what she loves. As an investigative reporter studies. Young was required to spend a tremendous for USA Today, her reporting mainly covered Young then took that information and used amount of time in the field, going to neighbor-

30 Priority: Planet Earth

nerable people in the country are subjected NEW CAREER to some of the worst environmental health risks, Young said. PLACES FOCUS Young has worked in the journalism indus- ON STUDENTS try for most of her career and after nearly a decade, she no longer works at USA Today. Alison Young has always loved teaching Young recently became the Curtis B. Hurley and sharing her passion for journalism, so Chair in Public Affairs Reporting for the Mis- when she was approached with a position souri School of Journalism. She will begin her to directly influence the next generation of new role on Aug. 1. She was also previously journalists, it was too good to pass up. the president of Investigative Reporters and Editors, a nonprofit training organization fo- Initially, Young had no intention to change cused on quality investigative reporting. She is jobs, and she had to ask herself early on if still actively involved with IRE. she was ready to leave full-time reporting. Since she left KU, Young said the biggest However, the more she learned about the Alison Young change in how she does investigative journal- position, the more excited she became. (Photo courtesy of USA Today) ism is technology. It has given journalists the The Curtis B. Hurley Chair in Public ability to find and research any information Affairs Reporting is an endowed chair at the hoods in several states with an expensive from their desktop. The digital age of jour- X-ray analyzer to test soil and find out if there nalism also has allowed anyone working for Missouri School of Journalism. In that role, was still lead contamination embedded in the a large or small news organization to publish Young will manage the school’s Washington, sites of former lead smelters. As a result of information that reaches people around the D.C., program. She will organize education- her team’s reporting, several neighborhoods world. al seminars for professional journalists and underwent state and federal cleanups. However, Young said that it has become work with students by teaching, mentoring “Beyond Flint” was an investigation that increasingly challenging to gain access to and developing internship opportunities. She stemmed from the lead water crisis in Flint, what should be public information. The fed- Michigan. Young and her team wanted to fig- eral Freedom of Information Act has become also will organize the annual Hurley Sympo- ure out if other cities had contaminated wa- flawed and broken, she said, because of how sium in Public Affairs Reporting. ter similar to Flint. long it can take to get information from fed- Young hopes to show student journalists Young said there is an outpouring of in- eral agencies. the many different types of opportunities terest in environmental health investigations. “Now more than ever, information is im- available in the Washington area to cover the The positive feedback comes from different portant,” Young said. For journalists, she said, news and be strategic communicators. She levels: people who are affected by the issues, “it is absolutely imperative that we take the also wants to use her professional experience elected officials and regulatory agencies who extra care to understand the science and that will take action, and everyday people who are we break through the noise around environ- to teach students the best practices to do just simply interested in the work being done. mental issues and report factual information.” journalistic work. “They’re grateful to have journalists out Young advises the public to learn about the While it is no longer the focus of her work, there watchdogging and revealing these is- problems and solutions by reading credible in- Young will still be doing some investigative sues,” she said. formation from reputable news organizations reporting. She is eager to start her new job However, Young has also received negative and scientific institutions. on Aug. 1. feedback from individuals who are not happy While her job had its ups and downs, Young about what she exposed, usually from people said that she loved being paid to learn new “I went places that I didn’t think I’d ever who are the subjects of the investigations. things every single day. But the best part? She work, and it turned out to be some of the So, she strived to be fair and accurate in the said it was doing something that makes the greatest experiences ever,” Young said. “This reporting and made sure that people knew world a little bit better in some way, whether is going to be a wonderful experience to exactly what she was doing. for an individual or for an entire community. be able to give back in ways that I received When it comes to reporting in general, “That’s the highest calling of what we do as from so many professors at the University of the two most important things for Young are journalists,” Young said. understanding the science and facts and mak- Kansas.” ing the information accessible to real people. –– Angel Tran is a May 2019 graduate from That’s crucial because some of the most vul- Wichita, Kansas

Jayhawk Journalist 31 Chemicals and corruption

Carey Gillam exposes how corporations place profits ahead of safety with poisonous chemicals in the environment

Carey Gillam met with long- time corn and wheat farmer Mark Nelson in August 2018 to discuss harvest results at one of Nelson’s fields in Spring Hill, Kansas.

arey Gillam (j’85) always knew that she Cwanted to be a journalist. However, she didn’t know what area to specialize in. Gillam “We have a deeply flawed regulatory system was young when the Watergate scandal took place in the early ’70s. Soon after, the movie that essentially allows these big, powerful “All the President’s Men” came out in 1976, and she quickly became interested in inves- companies to run the show.” tigative journalism after seeing firsthand the profound impact it had on the nation. in Gillam’s work. She did extensive research all sorts of environmental hazards as well as After graduating from the William Allen and reviewed numerous studies to familiarize health hazards for our population not only White School of Journalism and Mass Com- herself with the controversy that followed the here in the U.S. but around the world.” munications, Gillam worked as a professional science involved in this product. She decided to focus on Roundup because journalist for 33 years, including 17 years with In 2016, she became the research director it was the most widely used herbicide in the Reuters, an international news organization. for U.S. Right to Know, a nonprofit group that world, and Monsanto was a powerful agro- Before taking on an agricultural beat in 1998, researches U.S. food policies and seeks trans- chemical company. But the bigger picture of she was a banking and corporate reporter parency in the country’s food system. That her book is how corrupt companies place with no business knowledge about food and same year, she signed a contract with a book profit interests ahead of public safety. agriculture. As a result, Gillam spent a lot of publisher to share her stories. In 2017, Gillam Gillam said the book is based on 20 years time learning and understanding that particu- published her book, “Whitewash: The Story of of preparation and research. “Whitewash” lar industry. a Weed Killer, Cancer, and the Corruption of combines FOIA and court documents, scien- A major part of her beat was to research Science.” tific studies, government data, interviews and various companies that were influential in “The book is about the big companies more. She sued the U.S. Environmental Pro- agriculture. She was especially interested in spreading chemicals as representative of na- tection Agency twice for not complying with Monsanto and its multibillion-dollar Round- ture’s problems with pesticide-dependent FOIA — and won both times. up herbicide, which played a significant role food production,” Gillam said. “It’s creating Gillam made it clear that the book lays out

32 Priority: Planet Earth

the research and facts to show that Roundup is linked to environmental and human health hazards. As a result of the evidence Gillam writes about in “Whitewash,” Monsanto has faced extreme backlash and criticism. The company has also lost several lawsuits in which people claimed that using Roundup caused their cancers. Currently, there are thousands of lawsuits against Monsanto pending nationwide for similar reasons. But there is another and equally important message that Gillam wanted people to understand. “If you get rid of this chemical and this company, you don’t solve the problem,” Gillam said. “We have a deeply flawed regulatory system that essentially allows these big, powerful companies to run the show.” Gillam said it’s not just one company and Carey Gillam spoke to members of the Society of Environmental Journalists after accepting the group’s Rachel one chemical, but a handful of corporations Carson Environment Book Award. dictating policies that push for putting poison- and criticism from powerful companies and ous chemicals into our environment. She sug- their scientists in an attempt to discredit her gested becoming more active and demanding work. Opponents have loaded up negative that lawmakers and retailers protect people reviews for her book on Amazon and shown instead of profit. up to her public appearances to shout Gillam The most important thing, Gillam noted, is down. Despite that, she still gets positive feed- education and information. In order to deal back and messages from people all over the with this issue, people must first understand world who share their stories. it, which is why Gillam said she wrote “White- “It’s been very rewarding, and I feel honored wash” and believes it is a great starting point. that people paid attention and gave awards to Because of her work, Gillam has spoken the book. It also really reinforces the prob- in multiple countries and all over the United lems we’re creating,” Gillam said. States on pesticide issues. She also shared her Nearly four decades after its release, Gillam research with congressional staffers in Wash- has seen “All the President’s Men” “a gazillion ington, D.C., and testified with seven experts times” and will still watch it occasionally. It has before the European Parliament in Brussels. helped influence her decision to become an “I was the only non-scientist and the only investigative journalist and watchdog. Through person from the United States. I kept saying her research, she has shined light on today’s ‘Why would they ask me?’” Gillam said. “It food and agriculture systems and is working was very surreal, fascinating and also a little toward a safer future for generations to come. terrifying.” “All journalists should be described as Not only has her book received interna- watchdogs,” Gillam said. “That’s our job to tional coverage and acclaim, “Whitewash” also represent the people and go out there, find “Whitewash: The Story of a Weed Killer, Cancer, and the Corruption of Science” is available on Amazon and won the 2018 Rachel Carson Environment the truth, and demand transparency from Barnes & Noble. Book Award from the Society of Environmen- whoever it is we’re covering.” tal Journalists, a gold medal from the Indepen- dent Publisher Book Awards and first place – Angel Tran is a May 2019 graduate from for the Thorpe Menn Literary Excellence Wichita, Kansas Award. However, Gillam has also faced harassment

Jayhawk Journalist 33 Priority: Planet Earth Covering the Louisiana coast

At KU, Sara Sneath knew she wanted to work to protect the planet and is an environmental reporter

ara Sneath (j’13) wants to help the planet. SSo, most days, she rides her bike to work. In fact, she is a huge cyclist and participates in many bike runs and outdoor activities. But that isn’t the only way she’s preserving the environment. Sneath also has been a reporter for The Times-Picayune Louisiana Coastal Re- porting Team and NOLA.com. After Sneath took an environmental sociology class at the University of Kansas, she became interested in all the different stories that were related to the environment. So, when Sneath graduated with double majors in journalism and sociology, she left KU hop- ing to get into environmental work and help make the world better. In her job at NOLA.com, the day-to-day tasks were different and required Sneath to be versatile. Her work included on-field research, reporting, feature writing, educational Sara Sneath holds an alligator in a marsh in Jesuit Bend, Louisiana. (Photo by Ted Jackson) packages as well as attending government meetings and acting as a watchdog. ent people from all walks of life.” reported on it for almost a year,” Sneath said. However, the best part of her job was going Aside from working at the community level, More recently, Sneath has started work- into the smaller Louisiana communities and one major project that Sneath worked on was ing as an environmental reporter for The talking to people about how they’re affected a series called “Saving the Southern Wild,” New Orleans Advocate, which absorbed The by environmental issues. Sneath enjoyed see- which looked at three Louisiana species — Times-Picayune. ing how other people live and would some- the American alligator, brown pelican and She hopes to learn more skills and diversify times spend the whole day with them. Louisiana black bear — that were all once in the kind of stories she’d like to tell. Aside “There are communities that can’t speak danger. Since then, they have recovered under from writing, Sneath believes that some sto- for themselves and therefore, it’s important the Endangered Species Act. Sneath chose ries are best told in audio, video or photo for us as journalists to talk to them and reach those three animals for various reasons, but form. She is also looking to do another series. out and see how they’re impacted by the deci- believed they were all iconic symbols of Lou- She plans on continuing her environmental sions people who have power make,” she said. isiana. work and raising awareness in any way that Because the Louisiana coast is so diverse, With the current legislative and administra- she can even if it’s as simple as riding her bike. she has had the opportunity to celebrate at tive changes that could drastically modify the But Sneath’s biggest advice to everyone as a Cambodian New Year festival, attend a pot- Endangered Species Act, Sneath wanted to see consumers is to be thinking about the envi- luck with Native Americans and meet people how those alterations would affect species in ronment when it comes to voting or calling from historic African American communities. Louisiana and how the act previously played a state representatives. Sneath has also spoken with individuals who role in the species’ survival. “The most important thing to do is to hold trap animals for a living or go out on their In 2017, The Times-Picayune and The New those people who are in positions of power boats into the Gulf of Mexico for four or five York Times also established a partnership accountable because a lot of these issues can days at a time to fish. with the purpose to “explore the causes and only truly be changed or addressed by our “We find ourselves in these echo chambers potentially catastrophic effects of coastal ero- government,” Sneath said. where the people that we surround ourselves sion and sea level rise along the Louisiana with are very similar to us,” Sneath said. “It’s coast,” according to NOLA.com. – Angel Tran is a May 2019 graduate from really cool to be able to meet all these differ- “That became a focus for our team, and we Wichita, Kansas

34 William Allen White Day Buzbee awarded National Citation

Executive editor of The Associated Press is the fourth J-School graduate to receive the prestigious award

n accepting the William Allen White Foundation’s INational Citation award in April, Sally Buzbee framed her keynote address as more of a pep talk than a speech, encouraging the audience of journa lists, students and instructors to innovate, collabo- rate and remain true to “good, old-fashioned facts.” Buzbee, executive editor and senior vice president of The Associated Press, acknowledged that the news industry continues to face many challen ges, but she pointed to three “guideposts” to pro- pel journalists into the future. News organizations must innovate with technology to report and verify, citing examples of using geo-locations and crowdsourcing during disasters. She also explained how the AP uses data distribu- tions to localize national stories. “We tell a national story, as we often do. But it doesn’t end there. Then we send out local data, so each newspaper or TV station or website can put a spin on the story using data,” she said. She also pointed to ways news organizations can work together — instead of competing against each other — to strengthen their reporting, men- tioning the California wildfires as a perfect example where collaboration strengthened the coverage. “These collaborations are some of the most vital things happening in the news industry,” she said. “They’re resulting in excellent journalism, and they’re helping us all figure out what the future ABOUT SALLY BUZBEE might look like.” Partnering with nonprofits is another innovative Sally Buzbee was the 69th recipient of the National Citation Award and only the collaboration that has emerged recently and has fourth William Allen White School of Journalism and Mass Communications grad- led to powerful investigative journalism, she said. uate to be selected. The others are Bill Kurtis in 1998, Gerald Seib in 2005 and Bob She acknowledged that journalists are facing un- Dotson in 2015. precedented attacks on their credibility and even Buzbee graduated from the J-School in 1988 and has been with the AP her entire their safety, but they must remain steadfast in be- career, working as a reporter in Topeka, Los Angeles and Washington. In 1996, she lieving in the “power of good, old-fashioned facts.” moved into editing roles and was Middle East regional editor in Cairo and bureau “Hold on to the bedrocks of the past that have chief in Washington, D.C. She became executive editor in 2017. Based in New York made journalism strong: the focus on facts, the ac- City, she oversees global news operations from journalists in more than 250 locations curacy, the credibility, the not taking sides part, the in 100 countries. training and the processes that our journalists have After her speech, Buzbee was awarded the National Citation medallion from that make us strong,” she said. William Allen White Foundation Board of Trustees Chairman Rand Mikulecky, who Buzbee closed with a challenge to the audience: noted that the award also comes with a $5,000 honorarium, which Buzbee donated Take risks and embrace the new. “Be bold and con- to the J-School’s student scholarship fund. fident, and I think we’ll get there.”

Jayhawk Journalist 35 Faculty & Staff Achievements

Here are a few highlights of our faculty’s research and recent professional activities

1984 J-School graduate Mark Mears, (from left) Associate Professor Max Utsler and Dean Ann Brill.

Associate Professor Max Utsler At KU Medical Center’s Third Annual received the Bengtson Mentoring Award Diversity and Inclusion Symposium on March Associate Professor Jerry Crawford was honored as during William Allen White Day on April 11. 26, Associate Professor Mugur Geana as a 2018 Outstanding Educator by the Mortar Board The award, which was established by 1984 shared insights from the school’s Center in December. J-School graduate Mark Mears to honor for Excellence in Health Communication to retired Professor Tim Bengtson, recognizes Underserved Populations (CEHCUP) and The Torch chapter of Mortar Board honored a faculty member who inspires students to his experience in addressing health literacy, Associate Professor Jerry Crawford reach their full potential. cultural tailoring and digital literacy. Associate as a 2018 Outstanding Educator at halftime of Professor Crystal Lumpkins was KUMC’s the men’s basketball game on Dec. 4. Mortar Associate Professor Yvonnes Chen faculty lead for this year’s topic: Health Board is a national college senior honors is the recipient of Literacy: From Patient to Practitioner. society that values scholarship, leadership and the 2019 John Katich service. Award for Creativity. Assistant Professor Teri Finneman The annual Katich moderated an opening session of the Kansas Assistant Professor Hong Vu had a Award is given to Press Association convention in February. The chapter accepted for publication in “Asian a tenure-track or discussion examined the role of journalism in Women Leadership: A Cross-National and tenured faculty covering government, the impact of fake news Cross-Sector Comparison,” to be published member in the William rhetoric on the industry, how journalists do by Routledge. The chapter, which is titled Allen White School of their jobs in a state lacking in open records/ “Female Leadership in Vietnam: Traditional Journalism and Mass Chen government transparency, and the role of Gender Norm, Quota and the Media,” reviews Communications who objectivity in today’s journalism. Finneman the history of Vietnam’s female leadership and demonstrates creativity in teaching, research, also taught two sessions on social media feminism and its current policy in encouraging service or a combination of these areas. engagement and brought four J-School women to participate in policymaking. students to the convention.

36 Faculty & Staff Achievements

NEW FACULTY AND STAFF

Himée Kamatuka is the meet prospective students, recruitment coordinator for showcase the beautiful campus, the School of Journalism. A and highlight the amazing first-generation American, opportunities for all in the School Kamatuka was born and of Journalism. raised in Lawrence. She is a William Allen White Eddie Muñoz is academic School of Journalism and adviser for the J-School. He grew Mass Communications up in Lawrence and has been a alumna who also minored in Jayhawk all of his life. He earned African-American Studies. a bachelor’s degree in history As an undergrad, Kamatuka from KU in 2002 and is currently Kamatuka Muñoz conducted research as KU pursuing a master’s degree in TRIO McNair Scholar and participated the Multicultural higher education administration. He started his professional career Scholars Program and Black Student Union. Her background at KU doing administrative work in the Undergraduate Advising includes working with KU TRIO Talent Search, a federal grant Center, then moved on to a dual administrative and advising role program through the Department of Education, educating in the School of Engineering. Immediately before coming to the potential first-generation 6th-12th grade students about the college School of Journalism and Mass Communications, he served as the process. In her role as recruitment coordinator, she is excited to executive assistant to the Vice Provost for Student Affairs.

defines data literacy and develops interdisciplinary materials for teaching and assessing data literacy.

Associate Professor Hyunjin Seo gave a presentation at Harvard Law School on March 5 on research from her digital inclusion project, which is an effort to help underserved populations access the internet through hands-on digital literacy courses.

Cal Butcher, director of Media Crossroads, has been awarded the annual Distinguished Service Award from the Colorado High School Activities Association. Butcher has been a public address announcer for Colorado High School State Championship Associate Professor Peter Bobkowski delivered the Budig Teaching lecture in March. events in track and field, volleyball, basketball and spirit for the past 23 years. The award Associate Professor Peter Bobkowski 5. Bobkowski also was awarded a Keeler was presented at the CHSAA Hall of Fame received the 2018-2019 Gretchen and Gene Family Intra-University Professorship for the Banquet & Ceremony in Denver on April Budig Teaching Professorship of Writing. The 2019-2020 academic year. He will spend the 23. Butcher is also the voice of the Kansas Budig professorship recognizes outstanding fall semester working with researchers at track and field and cross country teams and faculty instruction, and recipients are asked to KU’s Achievement & Assessment Institute recently announced his 10th Kansas Relays. deliver a formal lecture. Bobkowski presented (AAI) and in the Department of Educational his lecture, “Telling Stories: How I Learned Psychology in the School of Education to to Write and Teach Writing,” on March advance a project that comprehensively

37 Jayhawk Journalist 37 Student Spotlight

Jayhawk Journalists bring home national and regional awards and spread out across the globe for internships

INVESTIGATIVE REPORTERS AND EDITORS AWARDS The University Daily GRADUATE STUDENT AWARDS Kansan was named a The J-School honored graduate finalist in the Inves- students during Graduate Student tigative Reporters Appreciation Week in April. Tien and Editors Awards Lee (left), Associate Dean For Grad- in the Student-Small uate Studies, presented awards for: division for a story • Most creative research paper title:

Conner Mitchell Shola Aromona (second from left) wrote about a secret • Most productive researcher: John settlement the university paid to an employee Watson (front) terminated from the School of Architecture • Outstanding GTA: Jill Hinrich and Design. Howell (third from left) • Most resilient: Nyan Lynn (right) • Outstanding graduate student: ACES: THE SOCIETY FOR Shola Aromona EDITING SCHOLARSHIP Savanna Smith won a scholarship OUTSTANDING STUDENT IN LEADERSHIP from ACES: The Soci- ety for Editing, which Doctoral student Michelle Keller received awards scholarships the Outstanding Woman Student in Leader- to students commit- ship Award in April from KU’s Emily Taylor ted to a career in Center for Women and Gender Equity. The editing. Scholarship award recognizes a woman student who has winners receive demonstrated outstanding leadership skills by $1,500 and aid to attend the ACES national taking an active role in campus or community conference. At the conference, Smith won organizations, developing a new project or second place in the student division of the addressing a current need. headline contest.

JAYHAWK IMPACT AWARD WINNERS COLLEGE MEDIA BUSINESS AND ADVERTISING Two J-School students were MANAGERS AWARDS honored in April at the Jay- Two staffers from the University Daily hawk Impact Awards. Thomas Kansan/Jayhawk Media Group won awards at O'Hara (left) and Angel Tran the annual convention of the College Media (right) were selected as Tradition Business and Advertising Managers conven- of Excellence recipients. The tion Feb. 28-March 2 in La Jolla, California. award recognizes students who Senior won second place Taylor Moreno uphold the prestige and history in the best sales representative competition. of the students who came before Senior won third place Baylee Parsons them and who wish to continue in the competition for best student sales or carving a path of distinction for operations manager. the future. 38 Student Spotlight

SOCIETY OF PROFESSIONAL JOURNALISTS AWARDS Several J-School students were recognized Kansas Association of Broadcasters Awards in the Large (10,000+ students) category in this year’s Region 7 Society of Professional Journalists’ Mark of Excellence Awards: • Lara Korte won first place for In-Depth Reporting, for a story on a program for students who aged out of the foster-care system. • Chandler Boese won first place for Breaking News Reporting, for coverage of a fire at America’s Best Value Inn. • Tianna Witmer won for Feature Writing, for a story about a KU graduate and World War II pilot whose remains were finally found and returned. • Hailey Dixon was a finalist for Sports Writing, for a story about junior college football athletes. • Rebekah Lodos was a finalist for Gen- eral Column Writing, for a portfolio of three columns on feminist issues. Students picked up their awards during the Kansas Association of Broadcasters awards ceremony at KU in April. From left: Keely McCormick, Warren Sears, Lauren Wolfe, Court- ney Gehrke, Malik Jackson and Joshua McQuade. GREAT PLAINS JOURNALISM AWARDS Chandler Boese and Shaun Goodwin The following students won awards in the Kansas Association of Broadcasters’ Student were finalists in the 2019 Great Plains Jour- Awards competition: nalism Awards Contest. The regional contest • Courtney Gehrke and KUJH staff, first place in Complete Newscast honors print, online, TV and magazine jour- • Aksinya Kichigina, first place in Hard News Package nalists for outstanding stories, photography • Keely McCormick, second place in Sportscast and design in Oklahoma, Arkansas, Kansas, • Jack Nadeau and Nick Couzin, honorable mention in Sports Play-by-Play Missouri, Nebraska, Iowa, North Dakota and • Keely McCormick and Malik Jackson, honorable mention in Entertainment Program South Dakota.

KANSAS HIGH SCHOOL JOURNALIST OF THE YEAR RECEIVES J-SCHOOL SCHOLARSHIP Nicole-Marie Konopelko, senior from Pittsburg High School, received a plaque March 6 from Eric Thomas, Kansas Scholastic Press Association executive director, for being named Kansas Student Journalist of the Year. Konopelko, who is editor-in-chief of her high school paper, The Booster Redux, also was runner-up in the Journalism Education Association’s contest for national high school journalist of the year. She is the recipient of the J-School’s Kaiser Scholarship, which is a full scholarship to attend the J-School starting this fall.

Jayhawk Journalist 39 Who, What & Where Find out what your J-School classmates are doing now. Let us know what you've been up to by emailing your updates to [email protected].

& Marketing, LLC, in Milwaukee. Fortune 1940s WOMAN hosts a talk radio show, "A Brand New You," Margery Stubbs Handy (j’47) and ENTREPRENEUR a self-help program focused on taking positive Russell L. Handy Jr. live in Sun City Center, OF THE YEAR actions to overcome barriers in life. He also Florida, where she writes poetry and plays co-owns FortuNuts (www.fortunuts.net), a tennis three times a week. packaged nuts business with his wife, Melanie Fortune, also a KU alumna. 1970s Kathryn Myers (j’85, l’91, g’05) and John Judith Diebolt (j’70) is on the board Hampton (c’92) own The Black Stag, a of trustees of The Helm, a nonprofit brewery and restaurant in Lawrence. organization at the John A. and Marlene L. Boll Phil Wilke (c'88, j'92) was named general Life Center in Grosse Pointe Farms, Michigan. manager of North State Public Radio, the She’s a retired reporter and editor at the NPR affiliate based at Chico University in Detroit Free Press and The Detroit News. Chico, California. Previously he had been Carla Ernst (j’73) wrote “Life Without development director at KRWG Public Pockets: My Long Journey into Womanhood,” Media in Las Cruces, New Mexico, and media which was published in 2018 by Henschel manager at Kansas Public Radio in Lawrence. HAUS Publishing. She owns CarlaAnne Mary Padilla (j’88) manages plant Communications in Wauwatosa, Wisconsin. communications at General Motors in Kansas Doug Barrington (j’78) co-owns Team City. Barrington/Realty Professionals in Topeka, Kansas. Timothy McCarthy (j’79) a judge on the 10th District Court in Olathe, Kansas, 1990s Patti Regan (j’87), leader of the Gene King (j’90, j’01) is director of public received the Distinguished Public Service Regan Group and CEO of TRG relations and thought leadership at Ally Award from United Community Services Fulfillment, was awarded Woman Financial based in Charlotte, North Carolina. of Johnson County for his work on Veterans Entrepreneur of the Year at the Los He completed his accreditation in public Treatment Court. He lives in Overland Park, Angeles Lakers game on Jan. 29. Patti relations in 2015. Kansas, with Kay Small McCarthy (c’81, manages direct client relationships Derek Schmidt (j’90, l’16) in November l’87) who owns a law firm. while also positioning TRG as a partner was elected to a third term as Kansas attorney for other marketing agencies. Under general, making him the second-longest her leadership, the Regan Group is now serving attorney general in state history. 1980s one of the top 50 promotions agencies Monica (Hayde) Schreiber (j’90) has Barbara Kinney (j’80) in November in North America and has won multiple worked for the last eight years as a marketing released a new book, “#StillWithHer: Hillary awards for its innovative campaigns. and business development manager for Rodham Clinton and the Moments That international law firm Skadden, Arps, in Sparked a Movement,” which was published the firm's Palo Alto, California, office. After Series, college football, basketball, soccer, by Press Syndication Group. Kinney was the graduation, she worked for local newspapers tennis and various other sports. official White House photographer during in and around Palo Alto, then graduated from Rick Zuroweste (j’82) wrote “Christmas Bill Clinton’s presidency and covered Hillary law school in 2000 from the University of Comes to Prairie Dog Village,” a children’s Clinton’s 2016 presidential campaign. California, Berkeley. She lives in Belmont, book that was published in December. He Jeff Kious (j’80) is a freelance audio California, with husband, Matt, and two owns Zuroweste Marketing Consulting in technician who works primarily for FOX teenage daughters. She writes restaurant Lewisville, Texas. Sports but has freelanced for ESPN, CBS reviews for the Palo Alto Weekly and freelance Darryll L. Fortune (j’83) is principal and other regional networks. He worked articles for Silicon Valley magazine. The Olympics in 1996 in Atlanta, four World consultant of SmallFortune Public Relations

40 Alumni Update

Taiju Takahashi (j’91) joined WJTV in Jackson, Mississippi, as news director in December. For the past two years, he was the KU WOMEN'S HALL OF FAME INDUCTEE assistant news director at KGW in Portland,

Oregon. Stephanie K. Blackwood (j’74) was inducted in April Malissa Courson Nesmith (j’92) is into the University of Kansas vice president of marketing and business Women’s Hall of Fame, which is development at Lee Aerospace in Wichita. sponsored by the Emily Taylor Scott Stucky (c’92, j’92) lives in Atlanta, Center for Women and Gender where he’s vice president and news director Equity. Blackwood, director of at Fox 5 Atlanta/WAGA-TV. major gifts for the Ms. Women’s Sara Beane (j’93) has accepted a job Foundation, has advocated as marketing/content writer for U Inc., in for women’s advancement Overland Park, Kansas. and LGBTQ inclusion in Katherine Manweiler (j’93) lives in the fields of innovative Wichita, Kansas, where she’s self-employed as marketing, development and a copywriter and marketer. communications. Marlene Dearinger Neill (j’94) has been promoted to associate professor and graduate program director at Baylor University in the (Photo courtesy of Kimberly Seifert Department of Journalism, Public Relations & Photography, KU Women’s Hall of New Media. Fame 2019) Jennifer Miller Pesanelli (j’93, c’94) lives in Rockville, Maryland, where she’s executive officer at the Biophysical Society. Twins. (j’00) musical, Hale Sheppard (j’93) is a partner in the Tax Krista Tatschl Eyler's Dispute Section and Chair of the International Neil Getzlow (j’95) has started a "Overture," of which she is the composer, Tax Section of the law new company, Glow Relationships + co-book writer and lead actress, won entry firm of Chamberlain Communications in Overland Park, Kansas. into the 2019 New York Musical Festival and Hrdlicka in Atlanta, He was a communications manager for was in the top 10 of all selections globally. The Georgia. He published McDonald’s for more than 13 years. musical is a work of historical fiction about the 13 articles in major Erin Curtis-Dierks (j’97) and Amy 1953 season of the Kansas City Philharmonic tax journals, including Nouri (j’10) have joined alum Katie Hollar and premiered at the New York Music Festival the Journal of Taxation, Barnard (j’03) at her legal marketing agency, in July 2019. Journal of International Firesign in Prairie Village, Kansas. Curtis- Bill Woodard (j’00) is a media relations Taxation, International Dierks is the marketing project manager, and specialist at Stormont-Vail Healthcare in Tax Journal, Journal Nouri is the vice president of public relations Topeka, Kansas. of Tax Practice & Procedure, Taxes – The Tax and programming for the agency. Autumn Bishop (j’03, j’19) is social media Magazine, and Journal of Real Estate Taxation. Kelly (Kepler) Dispennette (j’98) is and digital communications specialist for In addition, he was inducted as a Fellow in managing director, corporate development, Lawrence Memorial Hospital. She recently the American College of Tax Counsel. He for International Speedway Corporation with finished her master's degree in digital content also was invited to present in 2018 at the headquarters in Daytona Beach, Florida. strategy from the J-School. Southern Federal Tax Institute, Tennessee Kristi Henderson (j’03, j’14) is chief of Federal Tax Conference, Fraud and Forensic staff and communications for the College of Accounting Conference, Georgia Estate Liberal Arts & Sciences at KU. 2000s (j’03, c’03, l’06) is Planning Conference, and American Institute Nicholas Bartkoski (j’00, c’01, g’04) Leita Schultes Walker of Federal Taxation. is an assistant professor of business at a litigator in Ballard Spahr’s media and entertainment law group. She lives in Josh Whetzel (j’94) in November received Southwestern College in Winfield, Kansas. Labette Community College’s William and He and his wife, Jennifer, make their home in Minneapolis. Allene Guthrie Van Meter Outstanding Alumni Wichita with their sons, Thomas and Leo. Katie Briscoe (j’05) has been promoted to president at MMGY Global. Achievement Award. He’s in his 19th year Megan Brouillette Dunn (j’00) is an as radio and TV Voice of the Rochester Red enterprise sales manager at Comcast Business. William Cross (j’05, l’11) is an associate at Wings, the Triple-A affiliate of the Minnesota She and her husband, Jeremy, live in Denver. Lathrop Gage in Kansas City. He specializes in

Jayhawk Journalist 41 labor and employment law. on the politics and government team at the Nikki Wentling (j’14) has been promoted Ryan Greene (j’05) is director of social Minneapolis Star Tribune, where he previously to national reporter at Stars and Stripes in media and content at Top Rank Boxing. He covered federal courts and law enforcement. Washington, D.C. previously was director of Social Strategy- Brenna Long Malmberg (j’11, c’11) Hannah Wise (j’14) has accepted a Sports and Entertainment Brands at MGM manages content marketing at Punkpost, a position at The New York Times. She also was Resorts International. greeting card company. She resides in San named to Editor & Publisher’s “25 under 35” Derek Klaus (j’06) directs communications Diego, California. list of young newspaper professionals moving at Visit KC. Jessica Nelson Palm (j’11) has been the industry forward by showcasing a wide Malinda Osborne Larkin (j’06) was promoted to vice president, lead executive, at range of skills. promoted to senior news editor of the TeamKC: Life+Talent at the Kansas City Area Lydia Young (c’14, j’14) is a social media Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Development Council. specialist at Hallmark Cards in Kansas City. Association. Isaiah Cardona (j’12) is art director at Hannah Barling (j’15) is social media Morgan Wallace Crane (j’07, l’12) is Intouch Solutions, a full service agency in specialist for the Naveen Jindal School of senior counsel for Lyft Inc. in San Francisco, Overland Park, Kansas. Management at the University of Texas at California. Devinee Fitzgerald (j’12) works at Yelp, Dallas. Jonathan Kealing (j’07) is the chief where she’s a senior account executive. Laura Fagen (j’15, c’15, g’18, g’18) lives in network officer at Institute for Nonprofit Andrew Vaupel (j’12, b’12) is associate Minneapolis, Minnesota, where she’s a News in Minneapolis, Minnesota. editor of the Kansas City Business Journal. digital communications specialist at Hennepin Chris Pumpelly (c’07, j’07) lives in Wichita, Brian “Fraze” Frazier Wright (j’12) is Theatre Trust. where he directs operations at Bodhala. a musician and performer in Chicago, Illinois. Derek Skillett (j’15) is a night copy editor Kimberly Wallace Carlson (j’08) is He’s also vice president of the Green Pet at the Lawrence Journal-World. director of engagement at the Ewing Marion Shop, an eco-friendly pet supply company. Victoria Kirk (j’15) lives in Los Angeles, Kauffman Foundation in Kansas City. Jessica Bjorgaard Crozier (j’13) directs where she’s a proposal specialist at Chrome Christopher Nelson (j’09, l’12) is an public relations and social media at InQuest River Technologies. associate at Lathrop Gage in Overland Park, Marketing in Kansas City. Lauren Sati Rich (j’15, a’15) is a Kansas. He’s part of the firm’s business Whitney Antwine (j’14) is the paid media merchandising artist at Gear for Sports in litigation team. manager for Jubilant Digital Marketing in Lenexa, Kansas. Overland Park, Kansas. Jennifer Salva (j’15) has been named a Ashleigh Lee (j’14) is an internal Law School Student of the Year by National communications associate at Garmin in Jurist magazine. Salva is attending Washburn 2010s Olathe, Kansas. University School of Law in Topeka. Stephen Montemayor (j’10) is a reporter

DOLE HUMANITARIAN AWARD RECIPIENT

Shelly London (j’74) was named the 2019 recipient of the Dole Humanitarian Award. The award, from the KU Department of Special Education in collaboration with the Dole Institute of Politics, honors individuals who have had a direct effect on parents and families. London has led national initiatives to support families of individuals with learning and attention issues, and she helped launch Understood.org.

42 Alumni Update

Lauren Armendariz (j’16) is the digital Chandler Boese (j’18) is a copy editor at marketing manager for First Hawaiian Bank in HOD HUMISTON the Columbus (Ohio) Dispatch. Honolulu. AWARD Caroline Burkard (j’18) is a multimedia Hank Cavagnaro (j’16) has accepted a journalist at WECT in Wilmington, North position as a multimedia journalist for KVUE Carolina. in Austin, Texas. He also won an award from Brian Hanni Madison Coker (j’18) has been promoted the Missouri Broadcasters Association for (j’02), Voice of to communications project manager at Sprint Best News Series. the Jayhawks, in Kansas City. Kelly Cordingley (j’16) is the marketing received the 2019 Nick Couzin (j’18) has joined Fox affiliate and content manager at Travel Mindset in Hod Humiston KVRR in Fargo, North Dakota, as weekend Chicago, Illinois. Award for Sports sports anchor/reporter. Vicky Diaz-Camacho (j’16) has joined Broadcasting McKenzi Davis (j’18) is a multimedia KCPT's FlatlandKC as a community reporter. from the Kansas journalist at KSNT in Topeka, Kansas. Melissa Gall (j’16) has been promoted Association of Broadcasters (KAB). Vanessa Gonzales (j’18) is an associate to senior account executive at Parris The award honors an individual who account executive for The Marketing Store. Communications in Kansas City, Missouri. has made significant contributions to Danya Issawi (j’18) is a news assistant at Margaret Hair (j’16) is the director of the field of sports broadcasting as well The New York Times. communications at the KU School of Law. as work in the community. Hanni was a Shane Jackson (j’18) is a sports reporter Emma Hogg (j’16) is a reporter for KMOV sports director at KLWN, did play by play at the Lawrence Journal-World. in St. Louis. She previously was a reporter for for Texas Tech baseball and basketball Kara Kahn (j’18) is an account associate at KWQC News in Davenport, Iowa. and has been heavily involved in several Kemper & Company in Kansas City, Missouri. Allison Kite (j’16) is the City Hall reporter charities in Lawrence during his nearly Ilana Karp (j’18) is a web editor/social video for the Kansas City Star. 20-year career. Hanni was the first producer at Right This Minute in Phoenix. Molly Norburg (j’16, c’16) is an advance recipient of the award who previously Kathleen Keleher (j’18) is a news associate for the Office of the Mayor in earned a KAB Scholarship while reporter for the News-Press & Gazette Chicago, Illinois. attending KU (2000 and 2001). Company in Idaho Falls, Idaho. Ally Northrup (j’16) is a marketing Sara Kruger (j’18) is assistant director, coordinator for Advance Auto Parts. philanthropic resources, at MD Anderson (j’16) is a project manager at Cancer Center. Abby Ogden assistant for B17 Entertainment in Los Barkley, a marketing and advertising agency in (j’18) is a multimedia Angeles. Jackson Kurtz Kansas City. journalist at WJCL-TV in Savannah, Georgia. Rebeka Luttinger (j’17) lives in Dallas, (j’17) is a marketing (j’18) is the media coordinator Cole Anneberg Texas, where she’s a communications Ryan Miller coordinator for Hawes Group in Vancouver, for the Nuclear Waste Program at the associate at Temple Emanu-El. Washington. Washington State Department of Ecology. Candace Miller (j’17) lives in Kansas City (j’17) coordinates (j’18) is an account Nathan Bachynski where she’s a consulting analyst at Cerner. Anna Pankiewicz digital marketing at Allebach Communications executive at Octagon in Kansas City, Missouri. Madelyne Moloney (j’17) is a public in Souderton, Pennsylvania. (j’18) is a large customer relations associate for Guaranteed Rate in Hanna Ritland (j’17) is a field sales associate at Google in Chicago. Mary Kate Baker Chicago, Illinois. representative for Royal Caribbean Cruise Jayla Scruggs (j’18) is a digital interactive Michael O'Brien (j’17) is the marketing Lines in Boston. specialist at Capitol Federal. and public relations manager at Saint Luke’s (j’17) is the public (j’18) is a producer at Ryan Brinker Health System in Kansas City, Missouri. Lexanna Sims information officer for the Kansas WVTM-TV in Columbus, Georgia. Abby Stuke (j’17) is the director of events Department of Commerce. (j’18) is a multimedia at the Lenexa Chamber of Commerce in Grant Stephens (j’17) is social media specialist journalist at WIBW in Topeka, Kansas. Kelly Davis Lenexa, Kansas. at Rally House. Kailin Stinson (j’18) is a website marketer Meg Talbott (j’17) manages accounts at (j’17) is a producer at Tic with Thruline Marketing in Lenexa, Kansas. Maddie Irelan Quest Diagnostics in Lenexa, Kansas. Toc by Bloomberg in New York City. Ellis Wiltsey (j’18) is a multimedia Alison Peterson Tyler (j’17) resides in (j’17) accepted a position to journalist at KOLN in Lincoln, Nebraska. Amie Just Denver, where she coordinates social media cover the Saints for the Times-Picayune/New (j’18) is an editorial producer for Red Robin. Jordan Wolf Orleans Advocate. She previously covered at MiLB.com. Autumn Bishop (j’03, j’18) was promoted Louisiana State University football and to marketing communications manager for basketball for NOLA.com in New Orleans. LMH Health. Marissa Khalil (j’17) is a production

Jayhawk Journalist 43 Alumni Update Transcending life’s tragedies

After enduring the effects and aftershocks of gun violence three times, Todd Allen Smith shares his story of survival

ew people can say they have experienced Physical recovery Fa shooting, and even fewer can say that was extensive for they have experienced two shootings. both shootings, but But Todd Allen Smith experienced —and he was determined to survived — two shootings. walk and use his hand And in between those horrific events, a again. “I’m not going close friend of his was murdered. to let somebody take Smith, who graduated in 2002 from KU with that away from me. I his master’s in journalism, always knew that he just had the drive to wanted to become a writer. He enjoyed read- Todd Allen Smith make it work again. I ing and hoped to write fictional books. Yet giv- just didn’t want to go through life without a en the tragedies that have occurred in his life, leg or hand,” Smith said. Smith said he couldn’t write any other book Smith also had the love and support of his until he shared his own story first. then-boyfriend, David Kaplan. The second “If I was to write a book, I had to write shooting tested their relationship, but it even- this book first,” Smith said. “It’s three major tually brought them closer together. When points of my life that changed my life forever. Smith was recovering in the hospital after the I couldn’t just ignore what happened to me.” second shooting, he proposed to Kaplan. Lat- As a result, “Murder, Romance, and Two er, they adopted a son who turned 4 earlier Shootings” was published in 2018. He said this year. the book accurately recounts his personal Smith and his husband have been traveling experiences, but he did fictionalize minor de- across Europe this past spring with their son. “Murder, Romance, and Two Shootings” is available tails, such as names and places. In this memoir, Kaplan has been doing sabbatical work in on Amazon and Barnes & Noble. Smith recounted details of both shootings, the Germany, so Smith took the opportunity to death of his friend and eventually finding the document their international adventures on love of his life. Then the second shooting came in 2008. his blog, That Away Dad. “All those tragedies changed my life. Each But this time, Smith wasn’t alone. Excited to share this new and more opti- one [left] me a little different each time,” As a St. Louis Suburban Journals reporter, he mistic chapter of his life, Smith also plans to Smith said. was covering a Kirkwood City Council meet- write a book based on his family’s European The first shooting happened when ing on Feb. 7, 2008. After looking through the experiences with the release planned for Smith was just out of college in the sum- agenda, Smith thought it was going to be like spring of 2020. mer of 1997. Smith traveled to the any ordinary meeting until Charles “Cookie” Even though Smith’s life was drastically East Coast looking for jobs. He was out Thornton opened fire. Smith was shot in the changed after these tragedies, he doesn’t let walking one evening to get a Slurpee from a hand. them negatively affect his life. These events 7-Eleven when two men attempted to rob Six people died in that tragedy, including the have shaped Smith into the person he is today, him. Smith thought he could escape, but end- Kirkwood mayor. Smith was the only person and he tries to focus on the positives in moved up with a bullet lodged in his leg. shot who survived. ing forward. Four years later, one of Smith’s closest “The first [shooting] was mentally a lot. It’s “I turned to family and friends that helped friends was shot and killed in what Smith sort of unexpected to be shot like that,” Smith me through each time. The book is about the called a “gay bashing” in Kansas City, Missouri. said. “And the second time takes a lot out of importance of having a relationship with lov- The crime remains unsolved to this day. The you because you have a hard time trusting ing people and how they can help you through killing took an emotional toll on Smith, who people. You’re never completely the same.” struggles in your life,” Smith said. also was in a serious relationship at the time The romance and recovery aspects, how- that “couldn’t survive the tragedy because it ever, are just as crucial to Smith’s story as the – Angel Tran is a May 2019 graduate from was just too much.” tragedies that preceded it. Wichita, Kansas

44 Donor Spotlight Making assists for team KU

evin and Adrian (Mitchell) Newell are no students who have an interest in media forge Kstrangers to philanthropy. their path to a journalism career and attend Kevin (j’79) has served on numerous non- the camp when they might not otherwise have profit boards, including being a founding mem- been able to do so. ber of the Ronald McDonald House near While at KU, Kevin and Adrian Newell were Loyola University Medical Center in Chicago. star athletes. Kevin was an All-American track Adrian (c’80) is working with 11 past mem- athlete and team captain who was a member bers of the Women’s Professional Basketball of the 1977 NCAA Men’s Indoor national League (WBL), serving as secretary of a non- champion mile relay team. Adrian played bas- profit organization, Legends of the Ball Inc., ketball, breaking records side by side with Ly- which showcases the role the league played nette Woodard. Second all-time in the record in the advancement of women’s professional books in both scoring and rebounds, Adrian is basketball. only the fourth woman in KU basketball histo- In 2014, the Newells honored Kevin’s moth- ry to have her jersey retired (2018). er by creating the Delores A. Newell Scholar- They were successful after KU as well. Kev- ship for KU journalism students. This year, the Adrian, Delores and Kevin Newell in rose to become the executive vice presi- Newells decided to give back to KU again by dent and global chief brand and strategy offi- providing scholarship opportunities for high halls and participate in evening social activi- cer for McDonald’s before retiring a few years school students to attend the Jayhawk Me- ties. Workshop topics include in-depth writing, ago. Adrian was drafted by the Chicago Hus- dia Workshop, a five-day summer camp that photojournalism, leadership, publication de- tle of the WBL in 1979 and named an All-Star was held at the William Allen White School of sign and multimedia. in 1980. Journalism and Mass Communications in June. Previous Jayhawk Media Workshop attend- The Newells give back to open doors for Through hands-on activities, high school ees said what they enjoyed most about the young people to get a top-quality education. students have fun learning to produce all types camp was learning from professionals, get- “It’s all about exposure,” Kevin said. “My ex- of media: news publications, video, photogra- ting the chance to be real reporters, having perience at KU opened my eyes to a world of phy, website and yearbook — all taught by ex- the freedom to be creative, and meeting new possibilities. I just want to do my small part to perienced J-School and high school journalism people. The Newells’ support, given during the help create opportunities for other wide-eyed instructors. Teens stay in the KU residence One Day One KU campaign on Feb. 20, helped kids to have that same KU experience.”

IN MEMORIAM

Samuel Adams, who was an associate professor Moines Register, and the St. Petersburg Times and at the William Allen White School of Journalism and taught at the University of South Florida, University Mass Communications from 1973 to 1999, died on of Wisconsin, University of Kansas, Hampton Insti- April 17, 2019, at the age of 93. tute and University of the Virgin Islands. Adams was an award-winning journalist who Adams had bachelor’s degrees in English and fine covered many stories of the civil rights movement. arts from West Virginia State College, a bachelor de- He was nominated for a Pulitzer Prize for a series of gree in journalism from Wayne State University, and articles that chronicled his trek through 12 southern a master’s degree in journalism from the University states after legislation outlawed segregation in 1964. of Minnesota. Adams traveled with his wife, Elenora, to check At KU, he founded the Ida B. Wells Award, pre- compliance of the new laws. A year later, he received sented annually by the National Association of Black another Pulitzer nomination for his reporting on the Journalists to honor those who advance, hire and mishandling of federal funds at Gibbs Junior College promote minorities in news media. Adams received in St. Petersburg, Florida. the award in 2002 and the NABJ Lifetime Achieve- He worked at the Atlanta Daily World, the Des ment Award in 1997.

Jayhawk Journalist 45 Donor Spotlight

A NEW DOOR FOR THE NEXT GENERATION

tauffer-Flint Hall is one of the most iconic Sbuildings on Mount Oread. Built in 1898, it was originally created as a mechanical building and never intended to hold classrooms. A single existing copy of the hardbound book, “The Building of the University of Kansas,” which had been a 1931 architecture graduate thesis written by J. Howard Compton (c’31), tells the eloquent tale of Stauffer-Flint Hall’s beginnings: The machine shops had been under the supervi- Marlys Shulda sion of Professor Blake of the Physics Department. After the shops were destroyed by fire in 1898, Root & Siemens (KC architects) were employed ...& according to Regents’ records were to receive A new front door for Stauffer-Flint Hall and plaza facing Jayhawk Boulevard will be unveiled in spring 2020. as their fee three percent of the total cost of the building. was chairman of the KU Department of Jour- technology and special lighting, will showcase The walls were of rock face ashlar stone quar- nalism from 1916 to 1941. In 1982, Oscar the 24/7 nature of media externally, and a ried on Mount Oread and cost $21,000. The roof Stauffer donated $1 million to again remodel new plaza will be constructed to light the way was of red tile ... & the building two stories high. the interior, and the building was renamed for all who walk or drive by this highly visible The first floor contained hydraulic and testing Stauffer-Flint Hall in 1983. intersection. laboratories, lathe, forge, and casting rooms, and Over the years the building has been lov- As we continue to build on the timeless the university light and power plant; while on ingly cared for by deans, faculty and students. core values in our curriculum, we know stu- the second floor were mechanical engineering Although the familiar stones and windows dents and professionals are looking for an en- laboratories and wood turning rooms. maintain their beautiful, elegant and timeless vironment that also reflects the dynamic and Mr. George A. Fowler (donated) $18,000, but look, the inside hasn’t had a facelift since digital world of today’s media. Once inside the the building cost more than was anticipated. Out 1982. While the iconic building has long been doors, the remodeled first floor will reflect of gratitude for his generosity, the University offi- a beacon for aspiring journalists, it’s been the creative and dedicated work that has long cials ask Mr. Fowler to deliver a commencement missing a front door that matches the energy, been the hallmark of Jayhawk Journalists. address, to which he replied, “How much money enthusiasm and talent within its walls. We are creating a new state-of-the-art do you need to finish the building?” He was in- That’s about to change. A front door that broadcast studio, a world-class newsroom, formed that $3,000 was needed. The money was faces Jayhawk Boulevard, including digital multi-use classrooms and laboratories, a received, but the address never made. student strategy center, and small flex-space The cast end of the second story of Fowler meeting rooms. Shops was destroyed by fire on May 9, 1918. The Thanks to the generosity of donors and Please support the J-School by fire caused such excitement, for it was thought the University of Kansas, construction has for a while to be the work of a German spy. A donating to the J-School remodel- already begun. Please help us write the next metal roof replaced the tile roof & destroyed ing project or scholarships. Donate chapter in the William Allen White School of some of the beauty of the building; never-the-less online at rockcha.lk/jschool-donate, Journalism and Mass Communications’ story it is still one of the best pieces of architecture on use the envelope provided in this by considering a gift to support this exciting campus. issue, or contact Marlys Shulda renovation. — Marlys Shulda is development director for The building was remodeled in the early at [email protected] or 1950s to permanently house the nationally the School of Journalism through KU Endowment. 785-832-7352. accredited School of Journalism. It was named Flint Hall in 1952 to honor Leon Flint, who

46 Donor Spotlight Thanks to our donors Lifetime donors and Deans Club membership for calendar year 2018

Lifetime Donors William T. Kemper Foundation Paul I. Dinovitz & Cathy Dinovitz (Individuals and corporations/foundations who have Kirk Foundation John A. Frazee donated $250,000 and above to the William Allen Muller Bressler Brown Jane Peterson Ganz White School of Journalism and Mass Communi- Trusler Foundation Inc. Jeffrey V. Gaskill cations) Sally Gaskill Deans Club Ambassadors Mugur V. Geana & Anca Geana Corporate/Foundation Donors ($10,000 and above) Robert H. Giles & Nancy M. Giles Estate of Mary Jane Floersch John W. Armstrong Jr. & Karen G. Armstrong Cathy L. Gleason & Daniel J. Gleason The Freedom Forum Danforth W. Austin & Gail Davenport Austin David W. Guth & Maureen Manning Guth William Randolph Hearst Foundation Brian A. Bracco & Sarah Wallace Bracco Dorothy Boller Hall & John P. Hall John S. & James L. Knight Foundation Ann M. Brill, PhD Roger W. Heineken McCormick Foundation Carl V. Ceder Shirley Bush Helzberg & Barnett C. Helzberg Jr. Louis L. & Adelaide C. Ward Foundation James T. Chastain Britton Hunter Kyle T. Craig & Elyse Winick Craig Donald A. Hunter Individual Lifetime Donors Charlotte Kirk Howard & W. Jeffrey Howard Kendra C. Jenkins Malcolm W. Applegate & Carole Jackson Moreno Blaine L. King & Lyndel S. King Constance L. Applegate Fred J. Salinas Dr. Joseph A. Kotarba & Polly Kotarba Mary D. Austin Gerald F. Seib & Barbara Rosewicz Evie Lazzarino Dennis N. Branstiter Valerie Wolf Daniel B. Marshall III Richard C. Clarkson Mark A. Mears & Stacy M. Mears Hubert M. Floersch, MD Deans Club Benefactors David A. Mikols & Julie Updegraff Mikols Mary Haynes Floersch ($5,000 to $9,999) Rand Mikulecky & Susan Pott Mikulecky Steven C. Frazier & Elizabeth A. Leech CDR Daniel G. Felger, USN, Retired Grant S. Moise & Kathryn E. Martin-Moise John P. Kaiser & Mary S. Kaiser & Jean Herz Eric M. Morgenstern & Shanny R. Morgenstern Michael C. Kirk & Julia Turtle Kirk Robert D. Karwath Jr. Eric Nelson & Colleen McCain Nelson Linda Ward O’Hara William J. Redlin & Nina M. Redlin Randy O’Boyle Charles L. Parcell & Alice C. Parcell Linda M. Sobieski & Rodney J. Sobieski Marilyn Zook Petterson & Michael T. Petterson Diane Gray Quinn Mary Ann Powell & Nick Powell Robert P. Sigman Deans Club Patrons Sally L. Reece John H. Stauffer Sr. & Barbara E. Stauffer ($3,000 to $4,999) Kenneth M. Richards, MD & Beth Varvel Oscar S. Stauffer & Cornelia Stauffer Stephen D. Edwards & Donna J. Edwards Richards Ruth Granger Stauffer Michael J. Happe & Kathleen A. Saunders & Ronald K. Saunders William Keith Swinehart Sr. Shannon M. Fitzsimmons-Happe Susanne M. Shaw & Maxine Swinehart Gary M. Smith Daniel J. Simon Jr. & Heidi J. Simon Adelaide C. Ward & Louis L. Ward Mary Sullivan Lynn Singer & Kenneth Singer Helena L. Wooldridge & Norris S. Wooldridge Frank Slover & Deborah W. Slover Deans Club Members Terri Hill Snyder & Steven A. Snyder Corporate Deans Club ($1,000 to $2,999) Kenneth F. Stephens Bernstein-Rein Leonard P. Alfano & Deborah Taylor Alfano Craig A. Stock Callahan Creek Conrad N. Bibens Lynn Beall Trelstad Emporia Community Foundation Kelly Cannon Boeckman John K. White Kansas Creative Arts Industries Commission Lisa Massoth Brinig & Brian P. Brinig Lorie Walker Worner & Rick Worner Kansas Newspaper Foundation Marc A. Buehler Kansas Press Association Inc. Kathleen M. Conkey

Jayhawk Journalist 47 NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION U.S. POSTAGE JayhawkJournalist PAID BLS The University of Kansas S William Allen White School of Journalism & Mass Communications Stauffer-Flint Hall 1435 Jayhawk Boulevard Lawrence, KS 66045-7515

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