Spring 2017 UpdateKANSAS STATE UNIVERSITY THE A.Q. MILLER SCHOOL OF JOURNALISM AND MASS COMMUNICATIONS ALUMNI MAGAZINE 16 Vern Wirka 20 Bringing Radio Back 22 Fired Up 30 A Bare Mistake Spring 2017 • JMC UPDATE 1 FROM THE DIRECTOR video, audio, print, and social media. for student media, including the Collegian, Advertising, public relations and journalism KSDB-FM and Channel 8. They have options students will learn to employ 21st century to specialize in photography, production, tools of the profession. To accelerate students’ reporting and broadcasting. They also will progress through the University, we are work together in a capstone class to produce introducing a three-hour Writing Academy cross-platform content. course they can take during the summer This curriculum will ensure our students prior to enrolling for the fall. This course is can compete with those from any university a refresher for grammar elements, will teach in landing their first jobs and in moving up in AP style and introduce students to the differ- their chosen professions. ences between scripts for television and radio As you reflect on your own time here, and stories for print and online. think about the excitement you experienced Advertising and public relations will be working on the Collegian or the Royal merged into a single sequence titled Strategic Purple, selling advertising or working for the e are excited to announce Communication. Students will choose an radio station. Encourage high school students JMC will implement a new introductory and writing course in adver- you know to come to K-State. Tell them they curriculum in Fall, 2018. tising or public relations. After completing can get professional experience as first-year WDynamic new faculty and a new director of the introductory courses, students will work students. They can grow into amazing profes- the Journalism Education Association, the together in strategy and research courses and sionals. And while you are encouraging them, national high school journalism organization then specialize in one of several areas. To cap and remembering your own experience, think headquartered at the A.Q. Miller School, will their experience, students will work together about giving back. The School needs and help put the curriculum in place. in a capstone course. values your help. This new curriculum is designed to Journalism students will participate in a educate students to write, edit, design and course introducing them to the various media produce across all media platforms, including platforms and will write and produce content NEWS FROM THE SEQUENCES Journalism & Digital Media Advertising Public Relations Journalism students took home several Several advertising students attended Public Relations Student Society of top awards at the Kansas Association the KC Spark Day event in November, in America (PRSSA) chapter members of Broadcasters and at the Broadcast which top ad agencies hosted students attended the "Find Your Passion Education Association. The student from the region to network and discuss Sooner" regional conference in Norman, chapter of the Society of Professional trends and best practices in the industry. Oklahoma, and have been holding Journalists (SPJ) hosted a hands-on This spring, another group of students fundraisers to support students’ travel coding workshop for journalists with from Ad Club (JMC’s AAF affiliate and bring in guest speakers. Students the International Society for News chapter) went to Kansas City on an agency in the public relations sequence have Design and the SPJ conference for crawl where they toured VML, Trozzolo also continued to be competitive and Region 7, which includes professional Communications Group and Greyhealth excel locally and nationally. Taylor journalists from Kansas, Iowa, Nebraska Group to get a better understanding Oldham’s strategy “Get the Double, Get and Missouri. We also added an honors of the advertising industry. Lastly, our the Gainz” received first place in the section to the practicum requirement department has grown with the addition Ketchum Mindfire competition and was where students choose a beat to cover for of Alec Tefertiller, a doctoral candidate at adopted by Wendy’s, the Ketchum’s the Collegian. Tom Hallaq premiered his the University of Oregon. Alec is looking client. Public relations faculty members documentary, “Slow and Low, the Story to complete his degree later this year and have also continued to collaborate with of the Kansas Ag. Pilots,” that has aired will start at the A.Q. Miller School this local agencies by incorporating clients in on several public television stations. fall. various courses to give students real-life — Wesley Wise experiences. — Sam Mwangi — Nancy Muturi 2 JMC UPDATE • Spring 2017 08 Contents COVER PHOTO by James Copeland, junior in journalism 04 New Hires 10 and digital media. Meet the new faces of the A.Q. Miller School Cover photo caption: Firefighters work to contain the 06 Choosing Family fire inside The Dusty Bookshelf Say hello to the new academic adviser; Kylie Kinley on March 2, 2017. Student journalists took advantage of 07 Gateway to JMC the opportunity to report spot An A.Q. Miller School curriculum update news. 08 Reporting Vietnam Published by Interim director reflects on her time reporting the Magazine Article and Feature Vietnam War Writing class in the A.Q. Miller School of Journalism and Mass Communications 10 International Research 16 A.Q. Miller School professors are reaching far Kansas State University beyond Manhattan 105 Kedzie Hall Manhattan, KS 66506-1501 12 Honors and Awards Banquet 785-532-6890 A personal look at the night of celebration © 2017 by The A.Q. Miller School of Journalism and Mass 13 Forward Leading Communications, Kansas State Graduate student introduces former President University Barack Obama 14 Alumni Updates Read where alumni are and what they are doing 20 16 Vern Wirka Radio expert tells his story 18 The Classroom Series KSDB-FM students turn Studio-E into a live show 20 Bringing Radio Back Students bring drama back to radio 22 Fired Up Students cover The Dusty Bookshelf fire in Aggieville 24 Making His Voice Heard 30 Greg Sharpe covered the Wildcats and the Cornhuskers 26 Professional Pitch Students and employers network to find new opportunities 28 Blogger Bonus All Rights Reserved How one alumna found a business through blogging No part of this book may 30 A Bare Mistake be reproduced in any form Alumni reminence about a story that is all-revealing or by any means without the prior written permission 32 of the publisher, excepting 32 California Dreaming brief quotes within bounds of fair use: Student receives internship with ESPN copyright.gov/fls/fl102.html Printed in the United States 34 JMC Athletes of America Get to know the students who juggle classes and sports Printed by Ag Press 1531 Yuma 36 Alumni Updates Manhattan, KS 66502 Read where alumni are and what they are doing A PDF version of this magazine may be found online at jmc.ksu.edu 38 Meet the Staff Eight students produce UPDATE magazine Spring 2017 • JMC UPDATE 3 New Hires Meet the fresh faces of the A.Q. Miller School faculty. Stories by: Pierce Bennett and Ethan Chapman DANIELLE MYERS KELLY GLASSCOCK One Ph.D. student who Meyer’s experience proved Kelly Glasscock, associate Additionally, Glasscock currently resides at the to be just what the department director of the Collegian Media has personal goals for the University of Missouri will have was looking for, according to Group, has recently been organization. those new hire feelings this Professor Nancy Muturi, head named head of the Journalism “I want to see JEA reach summer. However, she won’t be a of public relations sequence and Education Association. beyond journalism classrooms,” having them as a Tiger. She will chair of the search committee. Glasscock will take the reins Glasscock said. “I want to extend be a Wildcat. “The job description fit from fellow Kansas State media literacy across classrooms, Danielle Myers, a new hire in Danielle very well,” Muturi said. professor, Linda Puntney on especially in today’s world where the public relations sequence, “In addition to her professional August 1. deciphering between factual will join the faculty in August. experience, she is very well- Headquartered in Manhattan stories and opinions can be Meyers comes to Kansas State rounded in what she can teach.” since 1988, JEA has been a part difficult.” with academic and professional Meyers said she is excited to of Glasscock's life for a long Glasscock will leave his experience. She received her be part of the K-State family time. current position at the Collegian bachelor's and master’s degrees and to teach something that has “I was exposed to JEA as Media Group as associate from the University of Central always been her passion. a student, and also as a high director. His new duties will be Missouri before starting her “When I was 12 years old school journalism teacher,” divided 80 percent as executive professional life. I wrote a speech in 4-H on ‘if Glasscock said. “The proximity director of JEA and 20 percent Throughout her career, barns could talk,’” Meyers said. and familiarity of the organiza- to teach within the A.Q. Miller Meyers has worked for a “I have always enjoyed public tion helped me know what I was School. multitude of institutions under speaking and writing. PR is getting into.” “I am thrilled to do this, a number of platforms, all while the intersection of strategy and According to Glasscock, JEA and I think my eagerness and teaching as an adjunct instructor creativity, and that’s what I love focuses on supporting high excitement will be a motivator at UCM. about it.” school journalism teachers by for me to do my best,” Glasscock She has returned to academia providing curriculum, First said.