School Of Communications

News media students met and learned from journalists who were once in their shoes

The second lecture in this year’s annual Beckham Lecture series will be given by BYU alumnus Brent Anderson

Samantha Clark Forrest chose to study journalism because she loves writing and telling stories. She loves the changing and adapting environment that news media offers and she enjoys learning how technology is changing media. Her first hands on reporting experience was writing for The Daily Universe (Comms 321) where she went to the Utah Capitol every week to interview various state senators and legislators about their committees and bills. The experience taught her about politics and helped build her writing portfolio. While in the program, Forrest enjoyed getting to know and work with the other journalism students. A pivotal moment was the hands on experience she gained at the School of Communications New York Internship program where she had experiences that changed her life. “I met so many lifelong friends, worked for the news startup Bold TV, and also attended Broadway shows,” Forrest said. “The experience taught me a lot about myself and really pushed me outside of my comfort zone. I will definitely always remember my time living in New York City.” Forrest benefitted from working closely with professors who helped influence her experience and goals. After graduation, Forrest plans to move to San Francisco and work in communications. “You can do anything you set your mind to if you work hard,” Forrest said. “My advice for students would be to start networking and making an effort to get to know your peers and professors.” What are you looking forward to after graduation: “I am excited to put my education to use and live in a big city.” What was the most meaningful class you took at BYU? “Student Development 317. The sole purpose of this class was to prepare me for the workforce. I learned how to perfect my resume, apply for jobs, and write a cover letter. It was definitely a class that prepared me for graduation.” Movie title for your life: “‘Confessions of a Teenage (College) Drama Queen.’ I am a very dramatic but passionate person.” If you could have a toy designed after you: “A Kate Spade-fidget spinner. I love fashion and I can’t sit still.” How did your professors impact your education? “In some way or another, every professor I had impacted my education. I am a very hands on student so I feel like I had a lot of interaction with many professors. The professors that impacted my education the most were: Joel Campbell (Journalism), Quint Randle (Journalism), Kevin Kelly (New York Internship), and Christina Johnson (Print Publishing).”

22 communications students spent six weeks in the media capital of the world. Brooklyn Riepl plans to work in communications in a big city, but she wanted to get a taste of what it would be like before she graduated. The School of Communications’ New York Field Experience provided that opportunity. The New York Field Experience is available for students majoring or minoring in communications. Riepl and her fellow classmates spent six weeks in the Big Apple attending classes, exploring the city and learning about the professional communications industry. Riepl fell in love with advertising after taking a prerequisite advertising course that introduced her to the field. She believes advertising is the best way to channel numbers, strategy, research and executing data to engage an audience. Riepl and her peers had the opportunity to attend a networking event with BYU alumni working in communications in NYC. Calling it her most influential experience in New York. “It’s one thing to daydream about living in the city and working at an agency, but actually talking to people who were in my place at one point — seeing where they are now, where they’re working and how they got there — was helpful,” Riepl said. “I was amazed to see the reality of their dreams coming true.” Riepl said living in New York made her excited to enter the professional world, but it also provided a reality check to help her see what it takes to live in such a big city and to fit into the career world. Riepl said her hands on experience in New York added to her educational experience by helping her look beyond her grades and focus instead on piecing together what she wants to do and why she wants to do it. “Experiences like going to New York help you gain experiences and skills that prepare you for your career,” Riepl said. “It’s so exciting, and college is the perfect time to capitalize on those experiences. I’d encourage everyone to go, a million times over, it was so fun and I learned so much!” Learn more about Riepl’s experience in the Big Apple at nybyu.com.

Fischer's career includes 17 years as an instructor at three different universities. BYU alumnus, Kenneth A. Fischer, was awarded the prestigious Edward L. Bliss Award for Distinguished Broadcast Journalism Education, the second BYU alumnus to receive the award. Fischer attended BYU in 1982 while obtaining a masters degree in Communications. While at BYU, Fischer worked directly with Thomas A. Griffiths, an emeritus member of the Communications faculty, who also received the Ed Bliss award in 2004. “This is a humbling honor to be included on a list with Walter Cronkite’s writer/producer Ed Bliss and my own BYU mentor Professor Griffiths,” Fischer said. Dale Cressman, associate professor in the BYU School of Communications, said it is quite the achievement to win the award, let alone to follow in the footsteps of a professor who has also won the award. Cressman solicited letters of support and wrote the nomination cover letters for both Fischer and Griffiths. Cressman said the “Ed Bliss” award is the most prestigious award for a broadcast journalism professor to receive. According to Cressman’s experience, winners usually have to be re-nominated over a period of several years until they are chosen. “It is very unusual—and possibly unprecedented—for a teacher and his student to both win this award. And it is noteworthy for two award winners to come out of BYU,” Cressman said. The award comes from the Electronic News Division of the Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication, also known as AEJMC. The award is given to broadcast journalism educators who have made “significant and lasting contributions to the field,” according to the Electronic News Division’s website. Fischer’s nominating team made a case for him to receive the AEJMC educator award based on his teaching and service work. “I wish to suggest that Ken Fischer is the consummate unsung hero in the academy. He is selfless, generous, and dedicated, yet he does not draw attention to himself, nor is he quick to claim credit,” Cressman stated in his nomination letter for Fischer. “This is a professor completely without pretense, yet driven to serve his students, his colleagues, and his academic committee.” Fischer was first introduced to BYU by Lee Scanlon, a professor Fischer worked with as an undergraduate student at California State University, Fullerton. Scanlon, who received his PhD from BYU, drove Fischer to Utah in 1978 to visit with Griffiths who was the News Director for KBYU at the time. During the trip, Fischer decided to apply for the BYU communications graduate program. “That visit to BYU and my decision to attend changed the course of my life to this day,” Fischer said. “I have utilized what I learned at BYU in both my professional and academic newsrooms and studio work.” Teaching broadcast journalism helps keep Fischer “alive and fresh” in an industry that provides something new everyday. Fischer is currently a member of the Gaylord College of Journalism and Mass Communication faculty at the University of Oklahoma. He is also working towards obtaining a PhD in Communication. “Dr. Griffiths and my BYU friends have been encouraging throughout the process. They remind me that learning never ends,” Fischer said. “But as far as the award is concerned, I may not be a member of the flock, but like the sign at the ‘Y’ says, ‘the world is our campus, go forth and serve.’” Fischer will be presented with a recognition plaque at a special ceremony on August 10 as part of the AEJMC’s Chicago Conference at NBC’s WMAQ television station. Fischer’s name will also be added to the permanent plaque housed at American University in Washington, D.C.

A team of BYU students took the top prize in the country’s most competitive student advertising competition — for a project they did not for a class or client, but for fun. It was summer and they had a little extra time, so the crew set out to create “something big and cool and different,” said senior Taylor Dahl. Their finished product — a whimsically illustrated and filmed Vespa commercial — took national best of show at Saturday’s Student American Advertising Awards Competition (commonly referred to as the ADDYs). Awards committee chair George Riddell called the competition a “showcase of bright new talent” that provides “a glimpse at the advertising industry of tomorrow.” The best of show award, one of eight national ADDYs BYU received, is a high point in a season of high points for BYU’s ad program. Click here to read more...

“Advertising is creative problem solving,” said Sheets, acknowledging that advertising also has the power to persuade for both positive and negative.

Students create experiential technology to help patients explore outside hospital walls

Each fall semester, the School of Communications presents the Raymond E. and Ida Lee Beckham Lecture in Communications series. The series includes three lectures that explore the interactions between media and society. The final lecture of this year's series is on October 29, 2015 at 11 a.m. in the HBLL auditorium. The speaker will be Kristin Matthews, a professor of English and American Studies here at BYU. Her lecture will be entitled, “New Media for an Old Message: Print Culture, Democracy, and New Left Politics in 1960’s America.” You can also check out the first two lectures on YouTube including “Creating Viral Content: The Science Behind Social Sharing,” by Ryan Elder and “Transforming the Soviet Soul: Labor, Science, and Religion in Gulag Newspapers,” by Jeff Hardy. The lectures were established in 1995 in honor of Ray Beckham’s late wife, Ida Lee. Raymond E. Beckham was a leader in education at BYU for 42 years. He was the driving force behind the BYU Evening school program, the BYU Travel Studies program, Aspen Grove, and founded the New York Internship program for Communications majors.

BYU students often have problems during the wintertime, but soon, for a lucky few, the cold will not be one of them. Next winter semester, during the summer months of the southern hemisphere, about 20 students will travel throughout New Zealand in a new study abroad program that focuses on media and culture, entitled “New Zealand: Global Mass Communication.” In addition to shadowing professionals from several New Zealand media outlets, students will create and publish content that investigates the issues surrounding the Maori, Pasifika and other minority communities in New Zealand. Dr. Clark Callahan, co-faculty director of the program, hopes that students will seize not only the opportunity to grow their portfolios but also to develop an empathetic worldview as they explore different cultures. “My area of interest is how social media affects cultures, so we’ll have a couple of research projects going on. We’ll be interviewing minority populations about how they use social media and what they get out of it. We’ll ask, ‘Does it strengthen or weaken their culture and their cultural perspectives?’” Dr. Callahan said. As part of their research, students will be paired with and embedded in Samoan families for a week. Students will record their experiences in video diaries that will be used to produce a documentary film highlighting the efforts of different organizations to preserve the Maori, Pasifika, and Samoan languages and culture. Steve Thomsen, co-faculty director, believes that New Zealand offers a diverse setting for students to study and create media. “We wanted to create an experience that would be as diverse as possible for students,” said Thomsen. “The objective of the study abroad will be to focus a lot of our efforts on the Pacifica and Maori peoples through the lens of media and the perspective that it if offers,” said Thomsen. The media that students create will be used as programming for the Pacific Media Network and will be published on the student-run website, fightforthefew.org. The latter outlet is currently being developed by the Media Advocacy and Social Change class, which is taught by Dr. Callahan. Hannah Lunt, a senior public relations student in the class, hopes that all these efforts–the class, the website, the study abroad–will help others increase their awareness about minority issues. “I have already seen a difference in how much more aware I am,” said Lunt. “I hope the blog will grow and be a voice to change.” Applications are available through the Kennedy Center’s International Study Programs website, kennedy.byu.edu, and are due Oct. 9 at 5 p.m.

Each fall semester, the School of Communications presents the Raymond E. and Ida Lee Beckham Lecture in Communication series. There is no charge or registration required for admission. All lectures in the series, will be held in the HBLL auditorium at 11 a.m. and are open to the public. The series includes three lectures that explore the interactions between media and society, including media culture, political economy, media effects and the use of new media. Lecturers are selected from BYU faculty who submit their proposals to the School of Communications. Lecturers Ryan Elder, assistant professor of marketing, researches how sensory experiences affect consumer perceptions and behaviors, as well as how visual cues affect persuasion. His lecture, “Creating Viral Content: The Science Behind Social Sharing,” will be held Sept. 24, 2015. Jeffrey Hardy, assistant professor of history, specializes in the Soviet penal system. His lecture, “Transforming the Soviet Soul: Labor, Science, and Religion in Gulag Newspapers,” will be held Oct. 1. Kristin Matthews is an associate professor of English and Director of the American Studies Program at BYU. Her research focuses on twentieth-century literature and culture with an emphasis on the Cold War. Her lecture, “New Media for an Old Message: Print Culture, Democracy, and New Left Politics in 1960’s America,” will be held Oct. 29. The annual series began in 1995 by Ray Beckham in honor of his late wife Ida Beckham. Ray Beckham is a major contributor to the School of Communications and is a driving force behind the BYU Evening school program, the BYU Travel Studies program and Aspen Grove. Beckham also and founded the New York Internship program for Communications majors. Information Dates: September 24, October 1 & 29, 2015 Times: 11:00 a.m. Location: HBLL auditorium Admission: Free, no registration required

By Sarah Ostler Hill From an early age, Art Rascon recalls having an intense curiosity about the world around him. In the evenings, the family would gather around the television set to watch the news while he held the rabbit ear antennas.

Like her fellow BYU journalism majors, Jane Clayson Johnson brought to her career not only her strong natural abilities, but also the values of BYU. She says she always considered herself a representative of BYU and the Church.

Sharlene Wells Hawkes, alumna of the BYU School of Communications, will be honored July 2 during the Freedom Awards Gala as part of America’s Freedom Festival at Provo. According to festival organizers, Hawkes is among four recipients to be recognized for 'unique contributions to the cause of the freedoms guaranteed in the U.S. Constitution and the cherished America values of God, family, freedom, and country.' Photography by Mark A. Philbrick Link to bio on BYU Alumni site. >>>>

Brigham Young University and four ElevenNEWS at Noon students won a grand total of five Gracie Awards in the student-level competition this year. The Gracies focus on recognizing exemplary programming created for women, by women and about women. Since 1975, these awards have been presented by the Alliance for Women in Media Foundation to honor programming and individuals in radio, television, cable and web-based media. The numerous winners in this year’s competition highlight the caliber of students and quality instruction that can be found at BYU. “My education at BYU has allowed me to go beyond the classroom; the hands on opportunities to work in the lab and with professors have taught me so much,” said Rebecca Woahn, a senior in the journalism emphasis and Gracie winner. “I graduate in August and as I've been interviewing for internships and jobs, people are always impressed by the experiences that we have as undergraduates here at BYU.” For Lauren Butterfield, it has not only been receiving the Gracie Award that will forever be memorable, but also the experiences that she has had along the way. “I received the award for a story very close to my heart,” said Butterfield. “The story was about my 5-year old friend who not only fought cancer twice, but has beaten it both times. She is an inspiration and hero to me and it means so much that through her, I won a Gracie, which is all about the empowerment of women. I feel very blessed.” Below is a list of the Gracie Awards presented to BYU this year: CoogTube Outstanding Sports Program Brigham Young University Aubree Jones Outstanding Reporter/Correspondent Brigham Young University Lauren Butterfield Lifesaving Bond — Outstanding Soft News Feature Brigham Young University/KBYU Rebecca Woahn Outstanding On-Air Talent: Sports Program Brigham Young University/KBYU Tawny Zambrano Outstanding Director — News Brigham Young University/KBYU Each winner will receive their award at a ceremony in New York City in late June.

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Students and faculty of the College of Fine Arts and Communications’ Department of Communications took the lead October 24 at a presentation in the Hinckley Center for the President’s Leadership Council (PLC), a group of donors who match student, employee and alumni donations.

BYU female broadcasters win three of nine student awards, continue winning tradition Three Brigham Young University broadcasting students have carried on an award-winning tradition, recently receiving national recognition as student winners in the Gracie Awards. Julianne Horsley, Mary Blanchard and Danielle Ycmat Jansson won three of the nine available awards for students. Other student winners were from schools such as Fordham, Hofstra and George Washington universities. BYU was the only school to have three or more winners. The Gracie Awards highlight outstanding work in television programming created for women, by women and about women. Past professional winners include Tina Fey, Katie Couric and Barbara Walters. The three BYU students now join the ranks of those big names, along with the many BYU winners that have come before them. BYU’s student journalists have a history of doing well in the Gracie Awards. “From the beginning of the program, our professors expect us to be professionals,” Horsley said. “They hold us to the same standards as they would at your first job. It was really hard, but I’m glad they did.” Horsley won the Gracie for best anchor, Blanchard for best sports host and Jansson for best news producer. The students said the hands-on experience they received in the newsroom was specifically beneficial in preparing them for work in the industry. Blanchard said her experiences and watching past students win Gracie Awards helped her produce high-quality work. “Past students kind of set a precedent that you don’t want to be anything less than the best,” she said. Kristine Pratt is one of those past students and won a Gracie Award for Outstanding Director just after she graduated in 2010. She’s now a news producer at KSL 5 in Salt Lake City. “I certainly consider my Gracie Award to be one of my greatest accomplishments, and it gave me, as a college graduate, an extra push to launch into the job world with confidence,” Pratt said. Chad Curtis, BYU’s broadcast news manager, echoed Pratt’s sentiment about the impact of these awards. “It’s empowering for our female students to enter their work in a nationwide competition that emphasizes the professional contributions of women in the media,” Curtis said. “It is then extra gratifying to have their work honored by the Gracies’ judges as being worthy of praise.” Horsley is now working in marketing and communications for Goldman Sachs in Salt Lake City. Blanchard and Jansson will both complete internships this summer and graduate in August, before looking at entering the world of professional broadcasting. About the Gracie Awards: Established in 1975, the Gracie Awards is an annual competition that recognizes the highest quality programming for women, by women and about women in the media and entertainment industry. The Gracie Awards are presented by the Alliance in Media Foundation, which supports education, charity, public service and scholarships that benefit women in the media. Source: BYU News