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May 22, 2013

Broadcast students perform well vs. pros, other students

College of Communications students grabbed several top finishes in a statewide competition conducted by the Pennsylvania Assciated Press Broadcasters Association.

The annual competition allows students to compete both against other college broadcasters and by radio market size, pitting students against professional broadcasters from across the state. Penn State competed in the Medium Market Division, against stations from Allentown and Harrisburg, among others.

A list of Penn State’s finishes follows:

• MEDIUM AND SMALL MARKET RADIO
  Enterprise/Individual Reporting
  -- Jon Blauvelt, “Paterno Catholic Center,” ComRadio, first place
  -- Torri Singer, “Hurricane Sandy,” ComRadio, third place
  
  Feature
  -- Miranda McCormick, “Cheerleading Injuries,” ComRadio, first place

• MEDIUM AND SMALL MARKET TV
  News or Sports Talk Program
  -- “In the Game” (Episode 103), ComMedia, first place

• STUDENT RADIO
  -- Casie Tennin, “Scandal Recovery Efforts,” first place

• STUDENT TELEVISION
  -- Liz Derita, Katie Bassett, Carolyn Cohen and Lucy Ukwa, “Service Dogs,” first place
  -- Erica Brecher, “Comfort Zone Camp,” second place
  -- James Swanson, Aaron Dunlevy, Bill Hood and Kofi Appiah, “Hockey Lockout Puts NHL Cities and Businesses in the Penalty Box,” third place

May 13, 2013

Student's work featured in New York Times blog

An independent study assignment by a College of Communications student was recently published by “Lens,” the photography blog of The New York Times.

With "Letting Go of a Baby, But Not the Emotions" the Times focused on work by Jill Knight.

Knight, a senior, had previously published “Special Delivery” on ComMedia as she followed the experiences of Kristen Broome, who served as a surrogate mother for her cousin, Jamie Pursley. Knight chronicled much of what led up to the April 3, 2013, birth of Pursley's child.

Knight completed the independent study under the direction of senior lecturer John Beale. Knight expects to complete her degree this summer with an internship at the Charlotte (N.C.) Observer. She previously completed an internship with the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette and has worked as a freelance photographer for Polaris Images, the Centre Daily Times, the York (Pa.) Dispatch and the Fayetteville Observer.

Her photo story, “A Navy Officer in Training,” recently placed fourth in the picture story category of the William Randolph Hearst Foundation’s Journalism Awards Program.

In 2012, Knight traveled to Rio de Janeiro with a team of students for a short-term international reporting project. Her multimedia piece from the trip won first place in a National Press Photographers Association quarterly student clip contest and was published in various McClatchy News Service publications.

Knight’s work may be found at www.jillianknight.com online.

"Lens" presents the finest and most interesting visual and multimedia reporting -- photographs, videos and slide shows. A showcase for Times photographers, it also seeks to highlight the best work of other newspapers, magazines and news and picture agencies.

May 6, 2013

Students, alumnus honored by NPPA

A team of students an alumnus earned first-place finishes in monthly contests for May conducted by the National Press Photographers Association.

Winners were:

• Multimedia Project -- "Bear'd Up," by Katherine Rodriguez, Dave Cole and Steven Osborn.
• Video -- "Smiling and Laughing Through Dementia's Darkness," by Andrew Colwell ('11 Journ, A&A). 

The National Press Photographers Association (NPPA) has been the voice of visual journalists since 1946.

May 6, 2013

Senior film screens in New York City

"Rhythm Between the Tracks," a short film created by Xavier Jordan, was featured as part of the NewFilmmakers Series at the Anthology Film Archives in New York City on April 24.

Jordan, from Doylestwon, Pa., created the eight-minute film for COMM 437 Advanced Documentary Production. He graduated with his classmates in the College of Communications on May 4.

The film features the musical talents of several subway performers in New York City and examines the relationships between performers and their audiences. The piece offers a unique perspective on the work of artistic performers, the attractions to this lifestyle, and the tensions that arise from the pressures to please a diverse audience.

The NewFilmmakers Series began in 1998 through the efforts of New York University film students hoping to promote their work. The goal of the series still stands to provide opportunities for young filmmakers.

NewFilmmakers has achieve international recognition and has screened more than 600 feature and 2,000 short films during the past 14 years. The series screens more 1,000 films a year, including animation, documentaries, shorts and features.

May 5, 2013

Speaker stresses passion, family at commencement

For many of the 777 people who became College of Communications graduates during commencement exercises May 4, the ceremony was the end of a passionate pursuit -- one made possible with the support of family and friends, thousands of whom were in attendance at the Byrce Jordan Center for the special occasion.

Appropriately, speaker George Bodenheimer, the executive chairman of ESPN, focused on two points when addressing members of the Class of 2013. He said passion was the most important thing in any career pursuit, and that family should come first in whatever they do.

Bodenheimer, who took a job in the mailroom of ESPN to start his career, told class members that his passion for sports inspired him to write every Major League Baseball team when he graduated from college and assure them that they needed him in their front office. Only one of 28 teams even responded to his letter. Still, he was undeterred and when the entry level job at then-fledgling ESPN opened in 1981, he was happy to open mail, make deliveries and shovel snow -- whatever was necessary.

In addition, he told them that busy careers might mean tough choices about balancing time with their careers and families. He encouraged them to lean toward family whenever possible.

The graduating class was the fourth-largest in the history of the College of Communications and class members were repsresented by six student marshals. They were: Eric Feinstein, Ellicott City, Md., overall marshal; Blaire Kelly, Jenkintown, Pa., advertising/public relations; Ernie Lehman, Navarre, Ohio, film-video; Anita Oh, Wales, Pa., journalism; Alyssa Bender, York, Pa., media studies; and Sara Battikh, Panama, telecommunications.

Apr 23, 2013

Students help drive Beaver Stadium run records

Some 3,500 runners converged outside Beaver Stadium on Sunday, April 21, for the annual Beaver Stadium Run/Family Fun Walk and their participation helped Special Olympics PA raise a record amount -- more than $350,000.

A group of Penn State public relations students played an important role in that success.

The students in COMM 473 Public Relations Campaigns organized a working group, known as Willard Communications, and worked closely with race organizers, law enforcement officials, other student groups and volunteers to help grow the race.

Their primary focus was Penn State alumni involvement, and the race attracted 563 alumni.

In addition, the students helped share the story of first-time runner Greg Focht, a 47-year-old Special Olympian who was inspired by the stadium run last year and decided this year to run his first 5K and finish at the 50-yard line of Beaver Stadium. With help from volunteer trainers and shoe donation from Rapid Transit Sports in State College, Focht completed his transformation from a self-described "couch potato" to a race finisher. He had hoped to run the route in 40 minutes, but actually did so in 38:22. 

As part of their PR efforts, the students chronicled Focht training and raceday in a video.

Training Update #1 -- Training Update #2 --  Raceday

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