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Zeenath Haniff Named April's Outstanding Graduate Student by Irene Lopez  Zeenath HaniffZeenath Haniff's academic accomplishments during her final semester in the Hank Greenspun School of Journalism and Media Studies earned her the title of Outstanding Graduate Student for April. Haniff, a second-year graduate student, concluded her graduate assistantship in the Virtual and Digital Media office where she explored virtual education for students and teachers online. Most importantly, she successfully defended her thesis and graduated this spring. Her thesis, Niche Theory in New Media: Is Digital Overtaking the Print Magazine Industry?, explored competition between print and digital magazines. Haniff helped create UNLVirtual, a digital newsletter, writing and publishing articles on a monthly basis, as well as contributing stories as a staff writer to the student newspaper the Rebel Yell. She has presented and published papers for the GPSA Graduate and Professional Student Research Forum, the Greenspun School Research Symposium, and VisCom 25 conference. She interned as an editorial assistant for Las Vegas Woman Magazine and also published work in Las Vegas Bride Magazine. She is a legal assistant at a solo practitioner law firm. This summer, Haniff hopes to start her career in the publishing industry. Her dream job would be a magazine editor, and eventually to become a publisher. She is also interested in communications and public relations. She offers the following advice for new graduate students: "Take advantage of independent study courses in which you can customize and concentrate your studies to align with your career goals." She also recommends networking with professors and fellow students, a key skill in the communications industry. The Graduate Student of the Month will resume in the fall and the committee was pleased with the enthusiasm graduate students and faculty expressed for this program. For more information, contact Gregory A. Borchard, graduate coordinator, at gregory.borchard@unlv.edu or 895-4868.
Spotlight on Stephen Bates by Irene Lopez
For more information, contact him at Stephen.Bates@unlv.edu.
JMS Grad Program Represents at FWPCA/ACA 24th Annual Conference by Gregory A. Borchard
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 JMS faculty and grad students made individual paper presentations as well. On Feb. 25, the following faculty and grad students featured their work:
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
Full Ride Scholarship and In-Station Internship Paid by Irene Lopez
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. 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 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!
Ryan Hamilton Named February's Outstanding Graduate Student by Irene Lopez  Ryan HamiltonThe 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.
Robert Cochrane Named March's Outstanding Graduate Student by Irene Lopez  Robert CochraneRobert 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.
Advice From the Professionals by Irene Lopez  Linda Bonnici, Vice President of Sales, 8 News NOW KLAS-TV and Adam Sandler, Vice President, Nevada Broadcasters Association offer great advice to journalism students. Their experience in broadcasting is extensive; both are well known in the Nevada media industry. When asked about the first job in broadcasting, they cautioned against setting expectations too high. According to Linda, you might not get your "dream" job the first time, but entry-level positions teach skills and experience that eventually lead to the dream job. You get a sense of various types of positions, and perhaps your "dream" job might change. Adam and Linda compared a career to a college degree, where freshmen take core requirements in order to excel in higher courses. Entry-level positions are like core requirements; they help you grow into the kind of professional you want to be. Don't get discouraged if you don't get the job you wanted, and take the opportunities that come your way, they said. It's essential for journalists to use social media. Linda and Adam recommended having Twitter or Facebook accounts at a minimum. Social media play a big role in the broadcasting world and many employers require new hires to have active social media accounts. Students should learn new social media applications, since employers are looking for those that can do more in a rough economy. The more skills you can learn, the more equipped you are for the right career. If you have more questions you can email Linda Bonnici at lbonnici@8NewsNow.com. For Adam Sandler, contact him at adam@nevadabroadcasters.org. Good luck to all graduates in your search for an exciting career. For jobs, internship, and scholarship information follow us on our Facebook and Twitter account. Interview with the Artist - Julian Kilker by Erica Arnold Professor Julian Kilker's collection of desert photography debuted at the UNLV Marjorie Barrick Museum in an opening reception on Dec. 2, from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. The exhibit, entitled "Lost Places in the Mojave," is comprised of 20 photographs of abandoned buildings and decaying structures throughout the Mojave Desert. Although none of the photographs feature people, mankind leaves a mark on nearly every still. Lost Places in the Mojave by Julian Kilker by Irene Lopez Associate Professor Julian Kilker is exhibiting a photography show called Lost Places in the Mojave at UNLV Marjorie Barrick Museum from December 2 and extended to February 3, 2012. The Marjorie Barrick Museum is located on campus across from the Lied Library. Admission is free, so don't miss out on this great photo show. Dr. Kilker researches how people use information technologies for social and media purposes. He is particularly interested in how people understand one context from different perspectives. Lost Places in the Mojave exhibit depicts the Mojave Desert as seen from an unusual visual perspective, that of low-light photography. The exhibit emphasizes interactions between people and the desert over long periods by highlighting natural decay and human-influenced damage on objects and buildings. The photos are shot at night to avoid the harsh daytime light of the desert and to emphasize specific artifacts and textures. The lighting was not modified using Photoshop; instead, light sources include moonlight, flashlights with color gels, and a variety of experimental lights built and modified by Dr. Kilker. If you are interested in learning more about the exhibit contact Dr. Kilker at kilker@unlv.nevada.edu. Nevada Broadcasters Association Scholarship Winners by Irene Lopez  Sedinam KakradaDid you know that every semester prestigious scholarships could be applied for? Last semester the Nevada Broadcasters Association donated significant scholarship funds to students in Journalism and Media Studies. Thanks to their donation, three outstanding students won scholarships through their academic achievements, persistence, and dedication. Winners were graduate student Sedinam Kakrada, undergrad seniors Rachel Johnson, and Adrienne Lefebvre. Sedinam (also known as Seddi) was shocked when she found out she had won. She mentioned how this scholarship reassured her academic path. Since she was a little girl, Seddi has always dreamed of being a news anchor. If you get to know her you can she is charismatic, funny, sharp and has a TV personality. She's on the path of fulfilling her dream.  Rachel JohnsonRachel expressed excitement and gratitude upon receiving the news, as one of the highlights of her college career. For all the scholarships she applied for she won "the one that really counts." Rachel dreams being a tech director for a political comedic show. She also hopes to travel the world as a broadcaster. Adrienne also shares her excitement about this honor. She hopes to work in radio production and host a TV or radio news show. All three ladies will have full tuition paid thanks to the Tony and Linda Bonnici Scholarship Fund. They will also receive a paid in-station internship with the candidates' top preferences. They were extremely thrilled to get the hands on experience. Rachel's advice to scholarship applicants is to persevere and persist by applying for as many scholarships that are available. Seddi says to be patient, focus, and improve your resume. She also suggests networking with professors, co-workers, classmates and anyone that you come across, because you never know who you can use as a reference! Good luck ladies in pursuing your dreams; we know that you're heading into the right path! For more information on upcoming scholarships and internships see our website. Like us on Facebook and Follow us on Twitter to receive additional information. East Paradise Site Broadens Scope on Urban Las Vegas Community by Alisha Wexler
"East Paradise is a unique website where both journalism students and citizens can publish stories about an area near UNLV," said Michelle Aikin, web coordinator. "The website is already receiving a lot more traffic, but I'm hoping to see more people visit it." Aikin has retooled stories in ways that are enticing to their readers by using up-to-date multimedia techniques, featuring web links, videos and audio clips to enhance the information provided. The East Paradise site, a non-profit website sponsored by the Hank Greenspun School of Journalism and Media Studies, is housed in Greenspun Hall, a $100 million building. The Greenspun family donated $50 million toward building the home of the College of Urban Affairs, and the other half was paid for by state money. JMS faculty encourage students to investigate and report news, maximizing the site as an opportunity to publish stories about issues that are important to them. For additional information, please contact Michelle Aikin at eastparadisewebsite@gmail.com. You can also visit east-paradise.com. Second Life changing the way we learn by Irene Lopez
 Larry Mullen and Zeenath Haniff
Second Life will influence the virtual and digital world for years to come because it crosses international boundaries, languages and it can be used for personal, academic or business purposes. Professor Mullen states that, "The world of Second Life is created by its users, so any changes you see in there will primarily be initiated by users. Linden Labs takes care of the maintenance and server support, but it is the users who will be the impetus behind any new changes we see in the future. I think we can look for changes to tend toward a greater sense of realism -- more realistic avatars, more realistic clothing and other features that make the immersive experience more real. I also think you'll find advertisers and marketers trying new things in the virtual setting to attract attention and customers, track fashion trends, and more. Up until now most of their efforts have failed, but I think they will eventually figure it out. In terms of educational usage, I think Second Life will be used less, mainly because Linden Labs doesn't offer educational institutions discount rates like they used to, but there will always be innovative teachers who can find ways to use this platform for learning, training, and recruiting. Second Life is also up against new, emerging virtual worlds that are being designed specifically for educational purposes. So, there will be more competition for academic users in the future." It is ultimately in the users' hand. How will you use Second Life? If you are interested in learning more about Second Life, attend a workshop taught by Zeenath Haniff. The final workshop is Monday, November 14, 2011, at 2:00 p.m. in GUA 1125. It will focus on research methods, topics and tools in Second Life. Zeenath also publishes the UNLVirtual (University Newsletter for Virtual and Digital Media) every 3 weeks on Fridays, which is emailed to all UNLV students and faculty. Abstract submissions on virtual and digital media topics are welcome. Submission guidelines: 100-150 words in a Word document. Include name, department and title. Email attachment to haniffz@unlv.nevada.edu. (Archive Date 12/7/11) Gregory Borchard Book Release by Irene Lopez Associate Professor Gregory A. Borchard, Ph.D, authored his new book Abraham Lincoln and Horace Greeley, and it is now available to purchase at bookstores and on Amazon. The book is about American politics and journalism in the mid-nineteenth century and it follows the life of Abraham Lincoln and his on sometimes ally New York Tribune editor Horace Greeley. The book focuses on the impact these powerful men had on the press during a very chaotic, political era in American history.  Greg Borchard at UNLV BookstoreDr. Borchard has been researching this topic for more than 10 years. He is particularly interested in history and especially the Civil War. His dissertation at the University of Florida focused on Greeley and his associates in New York. When this book opportunity came, he was more than thrilled to contribute a new book on Lincoln, commemorating Lincoln's 200th birthday. Dr. Borchard's favorite section of the book is the 30th Congress in 1848-1849 in Chapter 2. He likes this section because of the important issues addressed that affected the future of the country and helped shape the Civil War. He coauthored Journalism in the Civil War Era and has published journal articles focusing on the nineteenth-century press. If you are interested in learning more about this topic, this book is part of a series by Southern Illinois University Press for the bicentennial of Lincoln's birth in 2009. If interested in learning more about these issues, take History of Journalism (JOUR 413 or JMS 713) with Dr. Borchard. You can also contact him for more information at gregory.borchard@unlv.edu or call (702) 895-4868. Fun Facts about Dr. Borchard Mojave After Sunset by Julian Kilker by Irene Lopez
Dr. Kilker researches how people use information technologies for social and media purposes. He is particularly interested in how people understand one context from different perspectives. The Mojave After Sunset exhibit depicts the Mojave Desert as seen from an unusual visual perspective, that of low-light photography. The exhibit emphasizes interactions between people and the desert over long periods by highlighting natural decay and human-influenced damage on objects and buildings. The photos are shot at night to avoid the harsh daytime light of the desert and to emphasize specific artifacts and textures. The lighting was not modified using Photoshop; instead, light sources include moonlight, flashlights with color gels, and a variety of experimental lights built and modified by Dr. Kilker. If you are interested in learning more about the exhibit, see http://www.nps.gov/moja/planyourvisit/kelso-art-exhibition.htm. You can also contact Dr. Kilker at kilker@unlv.nevada.edu. (Archive Date 11/21/11) East Paradise brings light to east Las Vegas community issues by Maria Jose Flor Agreda The East Paradise website features news that relate to a neighborhood on the east side of the Las Vegas Valley and allows for students, faculty and residents to access important information about this smaller, urban community. The community-based news source expands from Russell Road to Desert Inn Road and from Eastern Avenue to Koval Street. Inaugural Media Tech Camp Completed The first Media Tech Camp of 2010 on digital photography commenced on November 18 in Greenspun Hall. Dr. Julian Kilker led the workshop and attendees used DSLR cameras and Adobe Lightroom to explore introductory and intermediate digital photography topics. Samples of some of the attendees work are displayed below.
Journalism Grad Wins Alumni Award 
Lisa Story, who now works for Southern Nevada Water Authority in Public Information, recently was named outstanding alum of the Greenspun College of Urban Affairs. The journalism and communication graduate is joined by her daughters Kaili (right) who is a UNLV senior and Sydney (left) who is in 8th grade and says she is headed to UNLV too. The family of UNLV supporters were part of an alumni gathering in Greenspun Hall this month.
Professors Laurel Fruth and Kathy Espin among the throngs at the 'Rally to Restore Sanity' in Washington, DC. JMS Students Cover SPJ Convention Two Greenspun Journalism majors, Gregan Wingert and Nikki Villoria, were staff members for The Working Press daily newspaper during the recent Society of Professional Journalists national convention at the Planet Hollywood Hotel in Las Vegas. Gregan worked as a reporter and covered a variety of seminars and speeches. Nikki was a photographer. Her work included a two-page spread on the Greenspun School. They were given rooms in the hotel for three nights during the convention. They were among 13 students selected for the Working Press staff. UNLV was the only school to have two student staff members. Associate Professors Mary Hausch and Paul Traudt were speakers during the convention. Hausch spoke on a panel about interviewing skills and Traudt participated in a round-table discussion on diversity and minority news coverage. Journalism students get chance to directly interact with broadcast news legend Jim Lehrer
JMS Grads Win Nevada Press Association Awards Seven Greenspun graduates were honored in this year’s Press Association competition. The awards were announced Sept. 18 in Pahrump. JMS Reaches Toward the Future of Journalism By Kristina Ellis LAS VEGAS — Battling a decline in newspaper readership, the Hank Greenspun School of Journalism and Media Studies (JMS) pushes not only journalism students but students from across campus to look into the future of journalism as they prepare for graduation. Click below for the full story. Future of Journalism - Full Story JMS Students Head Rebelation Public RelationsBy Ashley Platt Rebelation Media, headed by Shane Collins, Krista Gilbertson, and Maddie Edgerton, is UNLV's first and only student public relations agency, operating out of the School of Journalism and Media Studies, and it is now open for business. Click below for the full story. Join the Hank Greenspun School Facebook page Get up-to-the-minute news about the Hank Greenspun School of Journalism and Media studies by joining the Facebook group. Announcements include job and internship opportunities, networking events, special classes and news about students, alumni and faculty. Add UNLV as one of you networks then join the Hank Greenspun School of Journalism and Media Studies group. Interviews with UNLV Visitors Assistant Professor Stephen Bates interviews author and columnist James B. Stewart, film critic David Thomson, New York Times Columnist Maureen Dowd and New York Times media critic Alessandra Stanley. Watch the interviews in Multimedia. (Archive Date 07/20/11) Beloved Professor Tony Ferri Passes Away
Anthony J. Ferri, 60, a faculty member in the Hank Greenspun School of Journalism and Media Studies where he taught since 1985, passed away June 15. His academic administrative assignments while at UNLV included serving as general manager of KUNV, UNLV's public radio station, and associate director of the Greenspun School of Communication. His research focused on media and society, critical analysis of media and entertainment media. A campus memorial for Dr. Ferri will be held at 2 p.m. July 12 in the Greenspun Hall Auditorium. Ferri completed his Ph.D. and MA degrees in Mass Communication at Wayne State University in Detroit, Mich., and his BA (with honors) in Communication Studies and his BA in Communication Arts at University of Windsor in Ontario, Canada. He published two books, four book chapters and over a dozen research articles during his career. His book, Willing Suspension of Disbelief: Poetic Faith in Film, is a groundbreaking application of Samuel Coleridge's ideas to the study of movie viewers. At the time of his death, Ferri was working on archival data for a co-authored book on Harry Rapf, one of the founding members of MGM and the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. He is co-author of an article in the August 2011 Journal of Popular Culture that compares the entertainment values of Rome and Las Vegas, two cities he loved. He was named Outstanding UNLV Faculty Member by the NSHE Board of Regents and was awarded the Rita Deanin Abbey Teacher of the Year Award while teaching at UNLV. He was active in UNLV Faculty Senate and served on several committees in the Graduate College, Greenspun College of Urban Affairs and Hank Greenspun School of Journalism and Media Studies. He was on the editorial board or a reviewer for four scholarly journals and served as head of the Entertainment Studies Interest Group after helping found it for the Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication. A strong mentor to graduate students, Ferri chaired some 20 theses and was a member of nearly 40 dissertation, thesis or exam graduate committees during his 26 years at UNLV. A scholarship has been established in Professor Ferri's name to support UNLV journalism and media studies graduate students. Those wishing to contribute should note their gift is for the Anthony J. Ferri Memorial Scholarship Fund and send it to the UNLV Foundation, 4505 Maryland Parkway Box 451006, Las Vegas, NV 89154-1006. Gifts also can be made on-line at http://foundation.unlv.edu/give.html by selecting the link for the Greenspun College of Urban Affairs and selecting Tony Ferri Scholarship Fund. Ferri loved rock music and was an ardent fan of the Grateful Dead. Playing drums for the local band, Alter Ego, was a highlight of his adult life; one of his favorite songs was Traffic's, The Low Spark of High-Heeled Boys. Ferri is survived by two children, Steven and Theresa Ferri.
(Archive Date 04/01/11) JMS faculty and students will present papers at the 23rd annual meeting of the Far West Popular Culture/American Culture Associations JMS faculty and students will present papers at the 23rd annual meeting (March 11-13) of the Far West Popular Culture/American Culture Associations at the Palace Station. The following authors compose a panel titled "Media Technologies and Social Change," with Dr. Gary Larson facilitating discussion.
In a second panel titled “Numinous Media: Emerging Audiences of Cultural Religion,” faculty and students will present papers that address various audiences of cultural religion or media phenomena involving belief, ritual, feeling, and community dimensions. Recent studies of Oprah Winfrey media, Trekkies, and Elvis worship indicate that something like religion occupies all sectors of culture. Each panel participant will discuss a particular audience or “interpretive community” regarding its similarities to traditional religion. Papers draw on cultural studies frameworks as well as sociology of religion. Participants:
(Archive Date 03/04/11) Richard Wexler Presentation On Child Welfare Richard Wexler will speak on child welfare on Wednesday, Feb. 23, starting at 1:00 pm, in the Greenspun Hall Auditorium. After his lecture, journalism students are invited to meet with him in GUA 2213, beginning at 2:30 pm. (Archive Date 03/04/11) KUNV Debuts New Show Hosted by John Katsilometes and Tricia McCrone "Kats With the Dish" airs Fridays at 6 p.m. on KUNV 91.5 FM. Be sure to tune in for the debut show on February 11, featuring a discussion with Holly Madison, star of "Peepshow" at Planet Hollywood and "Holly's World" on E! Entertainment. (Archive Date 11/22/10) MEDIA TECH CAMP 2010
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Prison City: Life with the Death Penalty in Huntsville Media Management: A Casebook Approach |
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Willing Suspension of Disbelief: Poetic Faith in Film by Anthony Ferri |
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The Coming of the Frontier Press: How the West was Really Won by Barbara Cloud |
Stephen Bates, Assistant Professor
Anthony J. Ferri, Associate Professor
Lawrence J. Mullen, Associate Professor
Susanna Hornig Priest, Professor
Julian Kilker, Associate Professor
Gary W. Larson, Assistant Professor
Alien no longer
Tony Ferri, Associate Professor of Journalism and Media Studies, is now an American citizen and a registered voter. On October 3, Tony reluctantly surrendered his green card and his beloved expired Canadian passport and then recited the oath of citizenship in front of Judge Llyod D. George.
“I even put my hand over my heart when reciting the pledge of allegiance, “ Tony said, adding “ Of course I don’t know the words to the pledge. I just faked it.”
After the pledge, Tony registered to vote and debated whether to wait in yet another long line to apply for his American passport. He promises to vote early and often in the upcoming election, just like Uncle Al used to say.
Congratulations Tony!
JMS will sponsor lecture by film critic David Thomson
Film critic and scholar David Thomson will discuss his new book, Have You Seen....A Personal Introduction to 1,000 Films, in the Greenspun Hall Auditorium on Wednesday, October 15, at 7:00 p.m. The event is co-sponsored by the School of Journalism and Media Studies and the Department of Film as part of the School’s entertainment studies initiative.
Thomson is the author of several books including the Biographical Dictionary of Film, Showman: the Life of David O’Selznick and Rosebud: the Story of Orson Welles. He contributes regularly to the Guardian, the New York Times and the New Republic.
The lecture is free and open to the public but seating is limited. For more information, contact Stephen Bates at 895-5118.
JMS Alumni Association Event Set
The Journalism and Media Studies Alumni Association and the College of Urban Affairs Alumni Association will host a social event on Thursday, October 17, 6-8 p.m., on the Greenspun Hall plaza. The event will feature free food and drink, an opportunity to mingle with faculty and students and tours of the building. For more information, contact Dan Grimes 895-0735.
JMS moves to Greenspun Hall
JMS faculty and staff moved from the central desert complex to Greenspun Hall on Thursday, September 11. The School is located on the first and second floors of the east wing of the building.
Classes will be offered in three of the four teaching laboratories in the Spring semester with the remainder of the building slated for completion in June 2009.
Click here for sights and sounds of moving day
JMS Welcomes a New Staff Member
The School of Journalism and Media Studies is pleased to introduce Mike Piper as the new media network engineer for Greenspun Hall. Piper’s responsibilities include managing and administering the media network in Greenspun Hall, working with students and faculty to access and store digital assets and securing the network from outside threats.
Prior to coming to UNLV, Piper was employed as the IT/Team Lead for the Bureau of Reclamation in Boulder City, Nevada. He holds a bachelor of science degree in geography from the University of California, Los Angeles and an executive MBA degree from UNLV.
Piper says he looks forward to helping the School transition to a high-definition digital platform. “I was impressed by the goals the School has set for itself and I’ll do my best to help the School become one of the best journalism programs in the country.” Piper said. “We have a lot of work in front of us but I’m confident we have the talent and drive to meet our goals.” The media facility in Greenspun Hall is scheduled to be completed in April, 2009.
JMS Welcomes Visitors from Tsuda College
Professors Takeshi Suzuki and Kaori Sakagami of Tsuda College in Tokoyo, Japan visited with JMS faculty and spoke to students during a recent whirlwind visit to UNLV. Tsuda and UNLV faculty discussed potential collaborations and the possibility of a student exchange program.
Students to Attend Democratic National Convention
Four undergraduate students will represent the Hank Greenspun School of Journalism and Media studies at the Democratic National Convention in Denver, August 25 to 28. Ariel Gove, Sandra Hernandez, Reid Geary and Denitsa Yotova will interview Nevada elected officials, prepare daily video news packages and collect footage for a mini-documentary depicting their experience at the convention.
“Our plans are ambitious but we couldn’t pass up the chance to attend this historic event, “said Journalism and Media Studies Director Ardyth Sohn.
The students will use both traditional and new media equipment to cover the convention. Four Nokia N95 smartphones, on loan from the Nokia Corporation, will enable the students to stream live video and commentary from the convention. Students will also prepare daily video stories for distribution electronically to this website and the KLAS TV website, Las Vegas Now.
“Another important goal of ours is to connect the East Paradise neighborhood surrounding UNLV with elected officials at the convention, “Sohn said.
“We’ve talked to the residents and identified five questions on topics important to them. The students plan to ask these questions of four Nevada elected officials: Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, http://reid.senate.gov/, Clark County Commissioner Chris Giunchigliani, http://www.accessclarkcounty.com/depts/Commission/Pages/Chris_g.aspx, Clark County Commission Chairman Rory Reid, http://www.accessclarkcounty.com/depts/Commission/Pages/reid.aspx and State Senator and Democratic Congressional Candidate Dina Titus, http://www.dinatitus.com/.”
Resident profiles and questions and the responses of the elected officials will be posted on the East Paradise website coming soon.
While the students are at the convention, other UNLV staff and students will be coordinating the distribution of media to various web sites. Graduate student Michael Sears and undergraduate student Rob Ponte will organize the East Paradise neighborhood project and UNLV TV staff members Mike Piper and Dan Grimes will coordinate the distribution of media to various news outlets.
Convention coverage will begin Monday, August 25. Click on UNLV students at DNC to watch their reports.
Faculty on the Move
By Michael Sears
Three faculty members from the Greenspun School of Journalism will spend some time working away from UNLV either this summer or next fall.
Paul Traudt has been invited for the second time to serve as a visiting professor in the Institut für Angewandte Medienforschung (Institute for Applied Media Research), at the Universität Lüneburg, in Lüneburg, Germany. Lüneburg is a university town of about 70,000 located about a half hour south of Hamburg in Northern Germany.
“I will be joining the faculty there about midway into their 2008 spring/summer semester,” Traudt said. “Three years ago I taught mostly American students enrolled in a special international program at Uni-Lüneburg, but this time I will be working exclusively with German undergraduate students enrolled in the university.”
Traudt said he will be teaching two courses to undergraduates at Uni-Lüneburg that are nearly identical to two of the courses he teaches here at UNLV: 1) Mass Media and Society; and 2) Global Media. He said German and American media studies professors are not that different in terms of graduate training and research.
“We very often share common theories and research literatures and teach many of the same kinds of courses. However, German and American professors often differ significantly in terms of approaches to teaching pedagogy,” said Traudt.
As part of a larger project designed to provide both prerecorded and real-time global media resource materials for courses here at UNLV, Traudt will also be conducting a series of videotaped interviews with German university colleagues and regional media professionals.
“This is another part of the School's efforts to network globally in terms of academic teaching and research,” he said.
Finally, Traudt said he will be presenting a paper on feature-length films portraying Chicano/Latino in the Southwestern United States at the Universität Göttingen at a conference examining international trends in transnational films that address transcultural issues. Traudt said he will be leaving just after finals here at UNLV and will return later in the summer.
Lawrence Mullen will be attending the International Association for Media and Communication Research in Stockholm at the University of Stockholm from July 20-25. According to the website, it's a symposium of world-renowned researchers and experts as well as a unique opportunity to learn and form contacts.
Mullen said he will be presenting research related to virtual communities. Using visual data and interviews with simulation developers and online players, his study attempts to tease out the thoughts, ideas, concepts and opinions about virtual communities, such as Second Life.
Last but not least, John Naccarato will be the visiting professor at the University of Torino in Torino, Italy. He will be teaching two 300-level courses next fall, one on advertising and the other on marketing.
IDC President Reichmann (third from left) Former Friend of Hank Greenspun, welcomes IDC and JMS Faculties
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JMS faculty visit important cultural site of Jerusalem |
Priest, Mullen and Sohn visit the sea of Galilee |
Larry Mullen, Susanna Priest and Ardyth Sohn spent the week before classes began visiting with faculty members of the IDC Sammy Ofer School of Communication in Israel to begin work on the Global Democratic Dialogue project—a collaborative research effort between JMS and the IDC.
“The purpose of the partnership is to explore global democratic discussions in different forums.” Sohn said. “We have a hunch, although not a lot of data to support it, that virtual worlds could stimulate debate about serious issues such as global warming. Collaborating with faculty at the Sammy Ofer School broadens our perspective and allows us to design truly global projects.”
Among the events scheduled during the five-day visit was a daylong workshop on virtual worlds. Mullen discussed visual explorations in Second Life and Priest gave a talk on virtual environments and public debate. Other presenters included representatives from IBM Software Group, the Holon Institute of Technology and Metaverse Labs. Priest said the trip very successful. “We developed four different project ideas that we hope to pursue with our IDC colleagues, some of which will involve other JMS faculty as well.”
Mullen and IDC professor Doron Friedman are encouraging students to interact with one another in Second Life as part of their collaborative ethnographic study of Second Life participants and are talking about purchasing a robot or ‘bot” to collect information from avatars. “This is a new form of data collection and the goal is to see if information collected by “bots” is substantially different than information collected avatar to avatar.” Sohn explains.
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JMS and IDC faculty in front of new Sammy Ofer School of Communications |
Other potential research projects include an examination of copyright issues and challenges in an international context and exploring Second Life as a communication medium from a social science perspective. Priest says she and Mullen are busy writing research presentation proposals involving both JMS and IDC faculty for submittal to the International Association for Media and Communication Research meeting scheduled in Stockholm later this year.
Although the focus Democratic Dialogue Project research is on virtual worlds, Mullen said one of the most meaningful parts of the journey was getting to know the faculty at IDC. “The tour of Israel was great too. It really opened my eyes to the land and people of Israel.”
The School plans to invite IDC faculty to UNLV in early 2009.
The School of Journalism and Media Studies received a $50,000 gift from KLAS-TV Channel 8 in support of the School’s civic journalism program. Director Ardyth Sohn says the funds will be used to buy video and audio equipment for student journalists.
“Our students will use this equipment to capture the thoughts, concerns and needs of local residents.” Sohn said. “The point of civic journalism is to reach out to the public, learn what people think and feel and then use this information to enrich news stories.”
Students began using the equipment in the Fall semester to explore the neighborhood immediately surrounding UNLV. Students wrote about community efforts to provide after-school activities for children, concerns about health care availability and the wealth of cultural diversity among people living in the geographic area bounded by Twain and Hacienda Avenues and Eastern and Maryland Parkway. A number of similar civic journalism projects are planned for Spring journalism classes.
“Stories produced by these projects are in keeping with the commitment that KLAS-TV has made to the local community.” Sohn said.
The most compelling stories highlighting a community need or identifying local concerns will be featured on the KLAS TV website.
JMS Students Initiated to Kappa Tau Alpha
Professor Emeritus and Founding KTA advisor Barbara Cloud formally welcomed new members to Kappa Tau Alpha, a national honor society recognizing excellence in journalism and mass communication. Initiates included: Brian Ahern, Nanelle Fellows, Thomas Foley, Kelly Todd Frost, Meghan Furtado, Nurulain Kausar, Katie Mayorga, Shannon Onstot, Derek Schoen, Justin Shearin, Natasha Shepherd, Lindsay Sheman, Sean Skottey, Elise Timothy, Brittany Warnock, Erika Bayer-Polak, Jen Shymansky, Rachel Wax, Rob Ponte, Sarah Hodges, Asmeret Asghedom, Noel Navarro and faculty members Ardyth Sohn and Anthony Ferri.
Alan Feldman, Senior Vice-President for Public Affairs, MGM Mirage, congratulated the new members and encouraged them to “honor the profession of journalism by focusing their efforts on stories that improve lives and better society.”
View a slide show of the KTA ceremony.
Yahoo Design Manager Visits JMS Classrooms
Guy Schackman, Design Manager for Yahoo News and JMS Alumnus, talked to journalism and media studies students last week about the challenges of designing for Yahoo and staying abreast of changing technology. Schackman discussed some of the more interesting projects he’d worked on this year, including the Democratic Candidate Mashup (http://debates.news.yahoo.com) and told students to “find something that interests you and then immerse yourself in the tools.”
When asked to predict the future of Yahoo News, Schackman said “There will always be a need for news aggregators like Yahoo and Google.”
(l-r) Rob Curley, Charlotte-Anne Lucas, Kristin Dero, Heperi Mita, Rob Ponte, Jenna Kohler
Rob Curley Addresses JMS Students and Faculty
Newspapers have larger newsrooms, more journalists and better resources than most television stations. But if you’re one of the millions who prefer to find news online, chances are you’re not looking at your local newspaper website. And that’s bad news for local newspapers, according to Rob Curley, Vice-President of Product Development for the Washington Post-Newsweek Interactive. Curley challenged an audience of JMS faculty and students to rethink how news is developed for the Internet during a workshop on campus last week.
“Web sites created by television stations are more popular than those created by newspapers because what television stations do best is also what works best on the Internet,” Curley said. “Television stations know how to do video and they know how to do breaking news.
According to Curley, newspapers need to move beyond web sites that just republish stories from the paper. For web sites to be successful, Corley says they must focus on local news, develop databases of information important to the local community, incorporate video, build evergreen content, encourage dialogue and create information that can be delivered on cell phones, I-Pods or “any other device you can think of.”
Curley says the Internet can provide information in ways and forms that traditional media cannot. To illustrate this point, Curley identified three websites that made maximum use of online tools: one that showed Kansas Jayhawk fans the view they would have of the court from their respective seats; another that linked readers of restaurant reviews directly to the reservations desk of the dining establishment; and a third that illustrated the shopping habits of teens by tracking the stores they visited and the purchases they made in a single day."
Corley will present the full new media workshop this week at the annual Online News Association Conference in Toronto, Canada. Director Arydth Sohn will also attend the conference with JMS professor Charlotte-Anne Lucas and five JMS student.
A Topping Off at Greenspun Hall
Brian and Myra Greenspun, UNLV President David Ashley, Dean Martha Watson and a host of hardworking men and women celebrated the halfway mark in the construction of Greenspun Hall with a traditional pouring of the last foot of concrete into the building’s foundation. Greenspun thanked the construction workers for the more than 30,000 man hours put into the building since the groundbreaking.
“Most of you won’t be here when the building opens but rest assured that you have created a foundation for learning for the thousands of students who will pass through these doors.” Greenspun said.
Jon Lagarza of American Nevada Company said the topping off ceremony represented a significant milestone for everyone, including the Greenspun family and UNLV, adding, “It won’t be long before our grand opening ceremony.”
The building is expected to be completed by Fall, 2008.
© 2008 University of Nevada, Las Vegas | College of Urban Affairs
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, 
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.
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.
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 
The 
In a time when virtual and digital media are evolving, students are learning new concepts. One example is Second Life, a free Internet-based virtual reality social network. Professor Larry Mullen is heading a long-term research project in this area. Second Life is what the user makes of it. It can be a game, a source of social media, a learning environment or anything one imagines. On Second Life a person customizes an avatar and navigates the character through virtual worlds. Second Life has replicas of entire real-life cities, historic landscapes, buildings and imaginary cities. So how can Second Life be used in education?
Associate Professor Julian Kilker is exhibiting a photography show called Mojave After Sunset at the Desert Light Gallery at Kelso Depot from August 28 to October 23, 2011. The Desert Light Gallery is located in the Mojave National Preserve and managed by the National Park Service.
It is a fitting tribute to Barbara Greenspun that the author of her obituary in the Review-Journal,
Lawrence Mower, is a graduate of the Hank Greenspun School of Journalism and Media Studies in the
Greenspun School of Urban Affairs at UNLV.
The School of Journalism and Media Studies is saddened by the loss of Emerita Professor Barbara Cloud who passed away on December 24, 2009.
