The Hank Greenspun School of Journalism and Media Studies is committed to promoting the growth of knowledge about mass communication and enhancing the enlightened use of mass communication to achieve individual, group and societal goals.

Award-Winning JOURNALIST and author joins UNLV's Greenspun School of Journalism and Media Studies as Visiting Professor Alicia C. Shepard, Former NPR Ombudsman

Alicia Shepard

Award-winning media critic Alicia C. Shepard has spent three decades as a newspaper and magazine reporter, author and university journalism professor. She brings an expertise in writing, speaking and teaching about how the news media works -- or doesn't. UNLV President Neal Smatresk said, "We are thrilled to have someone of Ms. Shepard's experience and abilities join our Journalism and Media Studies program. Her hire exemplifies our commitment to building strength in an outstanding program and providing our students with a world class education."

In her most recent job, she spent nearly four years as National Public Radio Ombudsman, where she explained NPR to the listeners and the listeners to NPR. Her commentary on NPR's firing of news analyst Juan Williams, sparked national discussion in 2010. The Washington Post, New York Times, and Chicago Tribune have published her ideas on journalistic practice and ethics.

Shepard is author of the critically acclaimed book, Woodward and Bernstein: Life in the Shadow of Watergate, which explores the lives of two of America's most famous journalists and their impact on the profession. Shepard is a preeminent expert in a crucial era of investigating reporting. According to former Newsweek correspondent Michael Isikoff, "Alicia Shepard has written a brilliant biography of two giants of American journalism."

She is co-author of Running Toward Danger: Stories Behind the Breaking News of 9/11, which documents the role journalists played in our Democracy on that fateful day. She has won the National Press Club's top media criticism award three times.

"We are delighted she's joining the Greespun School," said Director Daniel Stout. "Alicia is a champion of quality journalism and an influential media critic of national scale." She will teach media ethics courses and be involved with KUNV, UNLV's public radio station. Shepard has also taught at the University of Texas at Austin, Georgetown University, and American University.

Traveling widely, Shepard sailed with her family through the South Pacific for three years on a 32-foot sailboat. This summer, before joining UNLV, she plans to do a seven-day bike ride across Iowa.

For more information contact Director, Daniel Stout via email daniel.stout@unlv.edu or (702) 895-5957.

East Paradise Site Acquires New Editor, Plans Name Change

by Alexa Medrano

Jessica Zimmerman

East Paradise, a website housed in the Hank Greenspun School of Journalism and Media Studies, has secured a new Web Coordinator and will rebrand the site as part of the transition.

The non-profit site has branched out from civic journalism based reporting on the Paradise area of Las Vegas to more student-covered events and stories about the UNLV community.

Michelle Aikin, Editor and Web Coordinator, graduates spring semester. The transition in editors will take place over the summer under Jessica Zimmerman, the new Editor, and JMS Professor Gregory Borchard.

"We're not tearing it down and starting over," Borchard said. "We're tuning up the focus."

Zimmerman and Borchard intend to rejuvenate the website through developing a new name that better expresses East Paradise's content. In addition, the team at East Paradise plans to incorporate more multimedia within the site, including links, audio and video to accompany the stories featured on the website.

Zimmerman said she wants to promote the website and showcase student work under a new name, a new layout, and a revised focus fall 2012.

A unique attribute of the site is that it covers events neglected by area news outlets, Aikin said. East Paradise reflects the spirit of the community through student reporting, all the while giving them the opportunity to be published.

For further information, or if you are interested in publishing on East Paradise, please contact the Web Coordinator at eastparadisewebsite@gmail.com or visit the website at east-paradise.com.

Robert Cochrane Named March's Outstanding Graduate Student

by Irene Lopez

Robert Cochrane

Robert Cochrane's hard work and dedication in the month of March has earned him recognition from the faculty and students of the Hank Greenspun School of Journalism and Media Studies. Cochrane, a second-year graduate student, earns his degree at the end of this semester. He is among the school's first graduate students to defend a non-traditional thesis, a documentary on "Godfather of Fitness" Jack LaLanne. The documentary explores LaLanne's impact on society through his television show's use of religious, medical, and political messages.

Cochrane has been highly involved in the JMS program, hosting the school's radio show "Nobody Knows Hollywood," as well as maintaining a teaching assistantship for the past two years. He is also the recipient of the Ned Day Memorial Scholarship and an active member of Phi Kappa Phi and The Golden Key Society with a 4.0 GPA.

Cochrane said he was honored when he received word that his work was considered outstanding. "To be recognized by those who are going through the same process or leading the process means a lot."

He is not a typical grad student. He is married and a father of two children under the age of three, and debated for years if he would pursue a master' degree. He finally decided to go for it, and is now happy he did. The emerging technologies of JMS have exposed him to an entirely different world than his undergraduate days. "Media use and understanding it are some of the most important areas for learning," he said. "Information is everywhere, but if you don't know how to use it or what do to with it once you've found it, it's relatively useless."

Cochrane's advice for future JMS grad students: Make sure you are truly passionate about the projects you decide to do. "Be a good listener, pay attention to the small details and get out and experience life," he said. "You don't 'get it' by reading, watching or listening to it on your smart phone. You have to experience it."

Cochrane's background is in film, and throughout his career he has written, produced, and directed numerous videos. His most recent films have been Share the Road and Boys of Summer, which earned him awards in various film festivals. His passion is to create narratives and documentaries. Cochrane's ultimate goal is to become a successful filmmaker and to make a range of movies. With his ambitions and accomplishments, Cochrane is on the fast road to his dreams.

For April nominees, graduate students should email nominations to Irene Lopez at lopezi2@unlv.nevada.edu. A winner for April will be announced shortly. For more information, contact Gregory A. Borchard, graduate coordinator, at gregory.borchard@unlv.edu or 895-4868.

Professors Bates and Kilker Win $15,000 in Faculty Opportunity Awards

by Irene Lopez

Julian Kilker photo by Aaron Mayes

UNLV President Neal Smatresk has announced that two members of the Greenspun School of Journalism and Media Studies faculty, Associate Professors Julian Kilker and Stephen Bates, have been given Faculty Opportunity Awards. Together they will receive $15,000 for their future research.

Of the 13 grants awarded in the Scholarly and Creative Works category, the Greenspun School of Journalism and Media Studies was one of only three departments across UNLV to receive more than one.

Director of Journalism and Media Studies, Professor Daniel Stout said, "These awards reflect the scholarly and creative excellence of the Greenspun faculty. These colleagues are having influence far beyond the borders of the campus."

Professor Kilker is documenting cultural artifacts in the Mojave desert using night and low light photography. The award will allow him to continue his work, already exhibited by the National Park Service in California, at the Barrick Museum at UNLV, and in Geneva, Switzerland, by focusing on Walking Box Ranch, the former home of silent movie star Clara Bow. The immediate goal is to provide documentary images for education and research projects related to the ranch, while the longer-time goals are to experiment with imaging techniques under extreme conditions. "Starting out from an interest in the act of 'driving by' desert locations, this project has grown into an exploration of interactions between the fragile desert environment and its visitors, and of techniques to better document these challenging locations," said Professor Kilker. "Using low light techniques allows me to better control the imaging process, almost as if I were in a laboratory setting; this grant will allow me to invest in equipment to further improve and explore this process."

Stephen Bates photo by Irene Lopez

Professor Bates is writing a book about a leading critique of the American press from the 1940s. Chaired by Robert Maynard Hutchins, president of the University of Chicago, the Commission on Freedom of the Press featured a dozen of the most prominent public intellectuals of the era, including playwright Archibald MacLeish and theologian Reinhold Niebuhr.

According to Professor Bates, journalists and journalism educators mostly denounced the group's 1947 report, A Free and Responsible Press, because of its criticisms of the press. But the report's influence has grown with time. Still in print after 65 years, it's assigned reading in some schools of journalism. It forms the basis of the "social responsibility" theory of the press, he said. "I first wrote a monograph about the Hutchins Commission in the 1990s, and I've always hoped to expand it into a book," said Professor Bates. "This grant will enable me to study Commission members' papers and other relevant materials in archives at Yale, Duke, the University of Chicago, and elsewhere. It will be a much more comprehensive project as a result."

For Professor Bates, it's a historical study with contemporary relevance. "The Hutchins Commission addressed some of the fundamental questions in our field," he said. "How does the press serve American democracy? Can the government improve its performance through regulation, or are there better alternatives? We're still looking for answers."

Congratulation to both professors, we are proud and look forward to their future research. To contact Professor Bates email him at Stephen.Bates@unlv.edu. For Professor Kilker email kilker@unlv.nevada.edu.

Ryan Hamilton Named February's Outstanding Graduate Student

by Irene Lopez

Ryan Hamilton

The Hank Greenspun School of Journalism and Media Studies introduced a new program this semester to recognize Outstanding Graduate Students. Faculty and students alike understand that hard work and commitment is involved in the master's program, and they have joined to acknowledge the effort and dedication required to complete a degree. Many of the graduate students in the program balance studies with work and families to achieve their goal in receiving their degree. The Outstanding Graduate Student recognition acknowledges that the journey is half the battle, and it seeks to honor the students who go beyond the requirements of the JMS program.

For February 2012, the work of first-year graduate student Ryan Hamilton has been selected for recognition. Hamilton was selected through a process that included nominations from faculty and students for his achievements in February. Hamilton was shocked, humbled, and grateful, he said, upon receiving the recognition from the School. "The school is full of incredible talent and people," he said. "To be acknowledged among them has motivated me to try to improve my performance academically."

Early in the semester, Hamilton worked hard on refining course-related papers, and he made two presentations at the Far West Popular Culture and American Culture Associations conference. His papers and presentations were about best practices for political communicators and the role social media played for campaign media. When he is not working on academics, Hamilton volunteers to judge the speech and debate leagues in Las Vegas and writes weekly columns for The Rebel Yell, UNLV's student newspaper. His interests apart from academia include world travel destinations and SCUBA diving.

Hamilton offers advice for future graduate students: "Develop a healthy skepticism for everything and avoid the pitfalls of ideology. Be nothing if not a skeptical pragmatist. Read things you passionately disagree with. Secondly, take every opportunity you can to write—even small, 50 word blurbs." Hamilton also says making new friends helps, and it has been the best part of his experience in the journalism program.

Hamilton has been granted an assistantship with JMS that begins this fall. After graduation, he hopes to work for an organization based around a cause like Journalists Without Borders, USAID, or the UN. Being an editorialist is also another dream for him. Without a doubt, we are certain that Ryan Hamilton is on the right path of fulfilling his dreams and we wish him and the rest of the graduate students best of luck on their studies.

For March and April nominees, graduate students should email nominations to Irene Lopez at lopezi2@unlv.nevada.edu. A winner for March will be announced shortly. For more information contact Gregory A. Borchard, graduate coordinator, at gregory.borchard@unlv.edu or 895-4868.

Full Ride Scholarship and In-Station Internship Paid

by Irene Lopez

It is that time of the year to start focusing once again on future tuition costs! There are currently several scholarships available for students to apply this spring. In order to have the applications completed please fill out your FASFA, scholarship application form, and read the criteria for each scholarship, since they are all different. The amount of money, eligibility criteria, requirements and extra incentives vary from each scholarship as well.

Scholarship Page

The Mike Zigler Scholarship for Excellence in Journalism is now available for students to apply. The scholarship is valued at $1,000 to the student that writes the most compelling piece about the history of "Gonzo" journalism. For complete details click on the link. Deadline March 23, 2012.

Mike Zigler

The Ned Day Scholarship is now available as well. The Ned Day was known as a hard-hitting investigative journalist. The scholarship is valued at $2,500 to the student that best answers the following questions in an essay form: What do you see as the future of investigative journalism in modern news reporting? How has technology changed the way reporters research and report in-depth stories? Please read if you are eligible to apply and further instructions. Deadline March 23, 2012.

The Ned Day Scholarship

The Nevada Broadcasting Foundation Scholarship will be available in Spring 2012. Scholarships are limited, but include full tuition and an in-station paid internship according to the student's career preferences. Do not let this opportunity pass by; make sure to apply. Deadline is May 1, 2012.

Nevada Broadcasting Foundation Scholarship

Keep an eye on our website, Facebook, Twitter, and emails from your professors for any new scholarship that may become available and good luck!

JMS Grad Program Represents at FWPCA/ACA 24th Annual Conference

by Gregory A. Borchard

The JMS graduate program made a robust appearance at the Far West Popular and American Culture Associations (FWPCA/ACA) 24th Annual Conference on Feb. 24-26. Five graduate students and three faculty members met at the Palace Station to discuss with other conferees their work.

Three graduate students and two faculty members Hank Greenspun School of Journalism and Media Studies participated on a panel titled "Social Media's Contemporary Intersections" on Feb. 26. The material developed for the panel consisted primarily of research developed by graduate students that explores contemporary issues in the development of social media. Jazmin Brooks presented her research on the involvement of women in social change movements, focusing on how social media has encouraged participation. Brooks described how the ongoing social and political uprisings throughout many parts of the Arab World have shed new possibilities into the breadth and influence of social media. Ryan Hamilton presented his research on social media uses in disseminating political messages in campaign efforts. Hamilton described social media's role in disseminating campaign information and explained how it adds a new layer to the "echo chamber" theory, in many respects, turned the agenda setting theory on its head. Jenna Kohler-Kaufmann presented her research on issues of trust and privacy and their affects on social media uses. Kohler-Kaufman described how social network sites usage has increased over the last ten years, and so has the concern over the diminishing level of privacy and overwhelming amount of trust exhibited by the sites' users. The moderator for this panel was Gregory A. Borchard, JMS graduate coordinator, and the discussant was Paul Traudt, JMS assistant director.

JMS faculty and grad students made individual paper presentations as well. On Feb. 25, the following faculty and grad students featured their work:

• Ryan Hamilton, "It's the Media Campaign Stupid"
• Taisik Hwang, "Media Coverage and Framing of Christianity in South Korea"
• Dr. Gary Larson, "A Graceful Death: Nancy Grace, HNL, and Semiotic Destruction of Reasoned Inquiry"
• Jennifer Liese, "Media Coverage of Military Conflict in the United States: Political Elites, Framing, and Public Misperceptions"

UNLV English professor Dr. Felicia Campbell, the chief organizer of FWPCA/ACA conferences, described this year's event as the most attended in its 24-year history!

For more information contact: Gregory A. Borchard, graduate coordinator gregory.borchard@unlv.edu; 895-4868

Spotlight on Stephen Bates

by Irene Lopez

One of Assistant Professor Stephen Bates's specialties is privacy in law and culture. He has taught a graduate seminar and written several articles on the topic, including one that was heavily quoted in a recent Reuters blog, Two cheers for tabloid trash. Professor Bates regularly teaches The First Amendment and Society (JOUR 401/JMS 601), and in spring 2012 he will teach a graduate seminar, First Amendment Theory (JMS 733).

For more information, contact him at Stephen.Bates@unlv.edu.