DEPARTMENT NEWSU N I V E R C I T YU N I V E R C I T Y

PHOENIX FALL 2002 9

BY MIRANDA MONTOOTH

The week-long intellectual festi-val of UniverCity 2002 was theperfect excuse for alumni to visitand share their expertise with cur-rent students.

On Sept. 25, tent Red 11, locat-ed in Tent City on the lawnbetween the Architecture andLibrary buildings, became a jour-nalism classroom for the communi-ty as part of the university-wideevent.

Throughout the day studentsdisplayed community projects andattended lectures, multi-media pre-sentations and question-and-answer sessions sponsored by thecollege. Robert Pritchard served asthe college representative to theplanning committee.

Chris Jensen (M.A. 1988), theeditorial director for the NationalRetail Hardware Association, dis-cussed the myriad of job opportuni-ties in the trade magazine industry.

“The perception is that trade isnot as exciting [as the consumermagazine industry],” said Jensen.“But I’ve been doing it for 14 yearsand have loved every minute of it.”

Jensen explained that the writ-ing and reporting is the same nomatter which industry you enter.The fact is, he said, there are veryfew opportunities for students tofind jobs at consumer magazinejust after college. But the tradeindustry makes it much easier toget in the door.

“If I can help one or two stu-dents find their way into the jour-nalism world every time I comeback, it’s time well-spent,” saidJensen.

Another look at the world ofjournalism was provided by thedepartment’s second speaker,alumnus Fred Blevens (M.S.1979).

Blevens gave the students ashort but informative look at thepractice of civic journalism. Theformer faculty member, who isnow associate dean at theUniversity of Oklahoma, used thebook he co-authored, “Twilight ofPress Freedom: The Rise ofPeople's Journalism,” as a guide-line.

“There is no set definition ofcivic journalism,” he said. “It canbe whatever helps a paper get intouch with their community.”

He also provided students with aglimpse of what the outside worldthinks of Ball State’s journalismdepartment.

“A degree from Ball Statemeans something,” he said. “It is aplace in perpetual motion.”

Both alumni also met with jour-nalism classes to further share theirexperiences and encouragement.

UniverCity 2002 speakersshare real world experience

Freshman YaShekia Smalls gives all her atten-tion to speaker Fred Blevens.

ABOVE: Chris Jensen illustrates the manyadvantages of work in the trade industry to atent packed with students and faculty.

LEFT: Fred Blevens details thefour beliefs he says are neces-sary to embrace the philosophyof civic journalism.

Photos by Jenny Lesselbaum

Students take notes on the presentation given in the outdoor classroom of theUniverCity festival.

DEPARTMENT NEWS

BY KYNA WILLIS

Nostalgic memories of col-lege days filled the heads ofmany high school journalismteachers as they arrived at BallState University to attend a two-week institute, sponsored by theAmerican Society of NewspaperEditors. Their sweet memories ofa carefree way of life were soonshattered by Mary ArnoldHemlinger, ASNE workshopdirector. She presented a longsyllabus and an overview of theinstitute, welcoming them toASNE BOOT CAMP.

Thirty-five teachers fromacross the United States attendedthe second annual ASNE HighSchool Journalism Institute fromJuly 7-19 at Ball State. The insti-tute was designed to focus onskills including newspaper edit-ing, writing, design and photo-journalism. These skills were tar-geted to help newspaper advisersstart a student-driven newspaper,improve the quality of an existingpaper, and enhance teaching tech-niques in journalism, English,social studies and civics.

“I didn’t realize how much Ididn’t know until I got here,”said Kate Billman from CardinalGibbons High School in Raleigh,N.C. “It was a learning experi-ence that I will definitely use.”

What made the institute sucha learning experience forBillman and the other partici-pants was their daily writingassignments, small study circlesand lectures. Most days the insti-tute started at 8 a.m. and ended at9 p.m.

Session participants attendedincluded graphics tutorials, jour-nalism credibility and ethics,interviewing and advertising.Additionally, their small studycircles were taught by some ofthe leading high school journal-ism advisers in the country,including Ball State alumnus and

2001 Dow Jones NewspaperFund National High SchoolJournalism Teacher of the Year,Terry Nelson (M.A. 1973).Presenters for lectures includedMark Goodman, executive direc-tor of the Student Press LawCenter in Washington, D.C.;Leisa Richardson, recruitmentand development editor fromThe Indianapolis Star; MichelleMcClellan from The Oregonian,who is also a Neiman Fellow atHarvard University; Ken Heinen,photojournalist and professor atBall State; and Pulitzer Prizewinner Angelo Henderson fromThe Detroit News.

The institute’s hectic schedulenot only trained participants to bebetter newspaper advisers, butoffered them six hours of gradu-ate credit upon completion of theinstitute.

“The pace of the institute wasso intense and fast,” said GlenScott Copper from MilwaukeeHigh School of the Arts inMilwaukee, Wisc. “I workedhard to keep up with everythingthat we learned during the twoweeks. It was definitely worthsix credit hours.”

Along with classroom stylelectures, participants were able toexperience the hands-on produc-tion of a newspaper. They touredThe Indianapolis Star’s new $72million production facility, aswell as the Daily News and TheStar Press facilities.

As a reward for their braveryfor enrolling in ASNE bootcamp, worn out participantsenjoyed a day on the town inIndianapolis. They visited muse-ums, the Circle Centre Mall anddined at the Skyline Club.

Lisa Kingsbury from AntiochHigh School in Antioch, Calif.said, “I now have peace of mind.Last year was such a hectic year,but now I have tools, understand-ing, a network and resources toadvise a fantastic paper.”

BY CHRISTI GIRTON

For 37 Ball State’s journalismdepartment has offered high schoolstudents and advisers from aroundthe country the opportunity to taketime out of their summer schedulesand be a part of what has consis-tently been a distinguished journal-ism workshop program. This year,however, the workshops werepushed to a new level.

Under the leadership of first-time director Mark Herron, 400high school students from 12 statescame to campus July 8-12 and July15-19 for intense journalisminstruction.

This came in the form of a top-notch staff from the United Statesand Canada. The staff was comprisedof numerous award-winning teachersand advisers, as well as Gold Crownand Pacemaker winners.

“I absolutely loved my teach-ers,” said Corrie van Amerongen ofSycamore High School in Ohio.

Not only was the faculty intense,but so was the curriculum.

Ball State utilized the writing,editing and design process duringits journalism workshops for thefirst time.

In the past, students signed upfor one class and spent the weekwith one instructor, focusing on oneaspect of journalism. The WEDprocess allowed students to takethree separate daytime sessions andstudy writing, editing and design.

The workshops also offered spe-cialty evening sessions allowingstudents to take time to learn more

about copywriting, yearbookdesign trends and editorial leader-ship. Students got the chance tointeract with up to three differentinstructors and had more of a well-rounded experience.

Chelsea Schnedier, a WarrenCentral High School student, saidshe thought the experience wasgreat, and she wouldn’t change athing.

“I didn’t even think it was possi-ble to learn so much in a week,”said Shelby Dow of Clay HighSchool in South Bend, Ind.

Plans are already well underwayfor summer 2003. Summer schooland other summer camps havecaused conflicts in the past, keep-

ing many students from attending.In 2003, the workshops will takeplace two weeks later than usual,from July 21 - 25 and July 28 –Aug. 1.

Herron hopes that this change ofdates will take care of the conflicts,and he said adviser feedback toldhim students would like to attendthese workshops as close to thebeginning of school as possible.

“We have based the changes onthe Indiana summer school sched-ule as well as the Ball State sum-mer school schedule,” Herron said.“This way, the students can carrythe knowledge and excitement oftheir experience at Ball State intotheir own publications.”

ASNE Instituteoffers journalismeducation training

Summer workshops offer highschool students added experience

Wilkerson: Write with empathy

Participants listen to Kevin Poortigna’s presentation onusing QuarkXpress. Institute participants spent more than45 hours in the large group listening to more than 20 speak-ers from newspapers such as The Houston Chronicle, TheCincinnati Enquirer and The (Muncie) Star Press. Front row:Susan Thames, Kathleen Cecil, Tanya Moss. Back row: GlenScott Copper and James Myers.

High school students are “motivated” by opening speaker ChrisBowers. Photo by Jenny Lesselbaum

BY MIRANDA MONTOOTH

Empathy is not a word one usual-ly associates with journalists. ButIsabel Wilkerson, former ChicagoBureau Chief of the New YorkTimes, says that it is the ingredientthat can make our writing its best.Wilkerson shared her “mantra ofempathy” as part of the Professional-in-Residence program on Oct. 7 inthe Student Center.

“If you approach stories withempathy and you write with the ideaof trying to reach the readers so theycan then, in fact, see themselves inthe subject you’re writing, that to meis success,” said Wilkerson.

In 1994, Wilkerson became thefirst African-American woman towin a Pulitzer Prize. The award wasfor her coverage of the Midwestflooding and a story about a childliving on the South Side of Chicago.It was the profile of 10-year-oldNicholas that Wilkerson used toillustrate her empathetic approach.

But she cautioned that empathycan’t be faked.

“Empathy has to be sincere andreal because people are reallysmart,” she said. “They can seethrough that.”

What is essential, said Wilkerson,is finding the right subject – some-one who is accessible, eager andcompelling. This ultimately takes

time away from the reporting but it isa well-spent sacrifice.

“It’s finding the right subject thatwill make the reporting bear fruit,”she said.

Recently, Wilkerson has been fol-lowing her love of literary journal-

ism. She is working on a non-fictionbook on the migration of African-Americans from the South to theNorth and West during the 20th cen-tury. The story is told through thememories of three families who par-ticipated in the migration.

Isabel Wilkerson shares her expertise with students as part of thedepartment’s Professional-in-Residence series. Photo by MirandaMontooth

10 FALL 2002 PHOENIX

DEPARTMENT NEWS

BY BETSY HATCH

Public relations is becoming more specialized,said sequence coordinator Melvin Sharpe. As aresult, master’s students will now be able to takecourses that focus on a specific aspect of public rela-tions. The program is already implementing anemphasis on sport communication and approvedadding specializations in business, public affairs andcommunication.

“We could see the effectiveness of it in the sportsprogram,” said Sharpe. “That created a lot of pres-sure to do a specialization in business, so we began tolook at our options.”

Public relations assistant professor BeckyMcDonald said the specializations offer students abroader exposure to the industry they are interestedin.

“The specializations have met a student need,”McDonald said. “Many of our master’s students arealready working professionally and the specializa-tions offer a more applied approach that will relate totheir job.”

McDonald also said the business, sports and pub-lic affairs specializations are ideal for someone whoalready has an undergraduate degree in public rela-tions because it will give those students exposure tosomething new.

Meanwhile, the communication option will suitstudents whose undergraduate degree may be in a dif-ferent field, said Sharpe.

“They can come into the program from differentdisciplines and really get a strong communicationsbackground with their master’s degree,” he said.

The specializations are a mix of public relationscourses and courses from other disciplines. Students witha sport communications emphasis take classes from thephysical education department. Students with an empha-sis in business will take courses in management,accounting, and marketing. Students with a communica-tion emphasis will take courses in communication, andstudents with a public affairs emphasis will take coursesin political science and history.

Cliff Fraser, who received a master’s degree inpublic relations with an emphasis in sport communi-cation in May, was the first person to enroll in thespecialization. Fraser, who now works at HoosierPark in Anderson as the coordinator of the TwinSpires Club, said he benefited from the specializa-tion.

BY LAURA HOBBS

Integrity is simple forRobert Sims to define—hedefines it by asking the ques-tion “Is it the right thing todo?”

This point summed upSims’ Nov. 12 speech, the lastProfessional-in-Residencepresentation for the fallsemester.

Sims spoke on integrity inthe workplace to a standing-room-only audience in the Artand Journalism Building’slecture hall.

Sims, a retired Naval offi-

cer, has worked as presidentof National Geographic, in theWhite House under PresidentRonald Reagan, and is nowthe publisher of the CrockettTimes, a weekly newspaper inAlamo, Tenn.

In all his positions, Simssaid he’s never had to goagainst his values in order todo his job.

Robert S. Pritchard, asso-ciate professor of journalismin the public relationssequence and the one respon-sible for bringing Sims to BallState, said he has shaped hiscareer after Sims’ ideas and

values.“He was a legend when I

first got into the Navy,”Pritchard said. “He was amodel for what I wanted tobe.”

Sims commented brieflyabout the new journalismbuilding and the technologyBall State’s journalism depart-ment has.

“I haven’t seen anythingthat compares with this,” hesaid. “I was salivating when Iwalked around your buildingand saw your equipment.”

Part of his speech includedstories of people in journalism

and government Simsadmired for their use ofintegrity. Among those nameswere former President RonaldReagan, current Secretary ofState Colin Powell and televi-sion broadcaster PeterJennings.

Sims concluded his speechby giving a simple piece ofadvice to students — honestyand integrity in the professionwill earn respect.

However, this wasn’t onlya speech to encourage stu-dents but also a testimony tohow far one can go by stick-ing to this advice.

BY GREG CHANDLER

With corporate Americastained by fallouts at compa-nies like Enron andWorldCom, ChristopherKomisarjevsky’s messageabout corporate integritycould not have been moreappropriate.

Komisarjevsky, presidentand chief executive officer atB u r s o n - M a r s t e l l e rWorldwide, spoke to an audi-ence of 400 professionals andstudents as the 24th Vernon C.Schranz distinguished lecture-ship on Oct. 3.

The lectureship was estab-lished in 1979 to honor VernonC. Schranz, Ball Corporation’sfirst public relations officer. Itis recognized as one of thepreeminent lectureships inpublic relations and has beenregarded for the high caliberof professionals who havebeen invited to present the lec-ture, said Dr. Melvin Sharpe,the Ball State public relationssequence head.

Komisarjevsky’s lecture,“Integrity: The FinalFrontier,” challenged publicrelations practitioners to rec-ognize the importance theprofession has in the modernworld and to understandintegrity’s role in corporate

leadership.“There cannot help but be

tears when companies withproud histories that spandecades fall by the wayside—and, in some cases, even dis-appear—in a matter of monthsbecause someone in a leader-ship position didn’t do whatwas right,” Komisarjevskysaid.

While public relationspractitioners do not always

have the final say in majordecisions, their obligation andduty to advise is what estab-lishes their role as theguardians of integrity, saidKomisarjevsky.

“In the best managed com-panies, our position andearned credibility give us astrong vote,” Komisarjevskysaid. “We have the responsi-bility to share our profession-al point of view and counsel,

not only on what the commu-nication should be and onwhich audiences should countmost, but also on what thebehavior must be.”

“In my view, there is noquestion that we must be theguardians of integrity,”Komisarjevsky added.“There is no more importantrole that can be played.”

Komisarjevsky concludedby presenting CCIM Dean,Scott Olson, with a first-edi-tion copy of the Jules Vernenovel “Twenty ThousandLeagues Under the Sea,”which he compared to theworld of public relations atseveral points throughout thelecture. The novel will be dis-played at Bracken Library.

Komisarjevsky is the co-author of “Peanut Butter andJelly Management,” and hasclose to 30 years of profes-sional experience in publicrelations and business. Underhis leadership, Burson-Marsteller has produced $257million in annual income andcontinues to be one of theworld’s largest communica-tions consulting firms, with72 offices in 32 countries. Hehas written articles on numer-ous public relations topics andhas lectured at the prestigiousInstituto de Empresa in Spain.

PR offers new master’s specialization degrees

Former Naval officer gives lesson in integrity

Schranz Lecture highlights integrity

Christopher Komisarjevsky looks ahead to his speech at areception in the Alumni Center. Photo by Miranda Montooth

Please let us know where you are and what you are doing PHOENIX

EditorMiranda Montooth

Assistant EditorLaura Hobbs

DesignerJennifer George-Palilonis

Department ChairMarilyn Weaver

Phoenix is published periodically for the alumni

and friends of the Ball StateUniversity Department of

Journalism. Any comments ormaterial should be directed to:

The Department of JournalismBall State University

Muncie, Ind. 47306-0485(765)285-8200

bsujourn@bsu.edu

PHOENIX FALL 2002 11

Send to Ball State UniversityDepartment of Journalism

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ABOVE:Instructor PamFarmen soaksup the sun during a multi-mediapresentation atUniverCity2002.

LEFT: Familiesget a chance to “play”reporter on the department’snew videobroadcast system. FamilyWeekend featured toursof the newIntegratedMedia Lab.

Photos by Jenny Lesselbaum and Miranda Montooth

ABOVE: BryanErickson of Time

magazine explainsthe art directing

process to students.

LEFT: ChicagoTribune’s TonyMajeri presentsthe Tribune’sinteractive CD,“When EvilStruckAmerica,” tostudents andfaculty.

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EXTRA! EXTRA!June 21, 2003

Student Media Alumni Reunion

If you worked for any campus media andwould like to reminisce

with your colleagues, save this date.

Check the Spring Phoenix for more info!

Fall Fun Fall Fun A look at the events that taught us, intrigued us and even tickled our funny bones.

ABOVE: Professor Mark Popovich andLecturer Emeritus Fred Woodress sharea laugh at UniverCity 2002.

RIGHT: CCIM faculty and staff

gather at the AlumniCenter to honor thisyear’s Distinguished

Schranz Lectureship.