We rock!
The fall 2013 magazine senior capstone publication, Urban Plains, was named an Associated Collegiate Press Pacemaker finalist. The Pacemaker honors the very best in national student media. Winners will be announced on Nov. 1.
In addition to Urban Plains being named a finalist for best college magazine, Meagan Flynn is a finalist for Story of the Year with her news article for Think about the state of juvenile justice in Iowa. Among the other finalists are students from Harvard, Swarthmore and University of Indiana
What we’re up to
JMC 120 Freelance Writing has begun working on a project with the Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation, writing content for its magazine, website, app and other products.
Students in Professor Jill Van Wyke‘s JMC 73/103 Radio News Reporting and Public Affairs Reporting met with two professional journalists, who paid visits the last two weeks.
- 2011 alumnus Matt Vasilogambros, a staff correspondent for The National Journal, reminisced about his tenure as the 2009-10 Times-Delphic editor-in-chief and how that experience shaped him as a professional journalist. He also talked about making a living as a reporter in Washington, D.C. He visited Sept. 16.
- O. Kay Henderson, news director for Radio Iowa, visited the class Sept. 23 and offered advice on writing, covering politics fairly, and balancing a professional and personal life.
The class is a combination of the Radio News Reporting class and Public Affairs Reporting class and consists of broadcast news and news-Internet majors.
Last week the SJMC entertained two groups of international visitors, brought to campus by the Iowa International Center and the U.S. State Department. On Monday, a group of emerging women leaders from Zambia discussed open government issues with SJMC Dean Kathleen Richardson. Wednesday, a diverse group of visiting journalists and government officials from Europe met with SJMC internship coordinator Carlyn Crowe’s FYS class on “The Real Hunger Games” to discuss food insecurity issues in the United States.
Faculty and staff notes
Professors Jeff Inman and Jill Van Wyke wrote an article on mobile tablet publication for the AEJMC magazine.
Inman has been asked to interview indie rock god Bob Mould for the keynote event at the Des Moines Music Coalition’s Music University at Drake Oct. 4-5. Inman will be onstage conducting the interview and taking questions from the audience.
The spring schedule of classes will be available online this week. Watch for an announcement.
Alumni Corner
Brian Wansink is a 1984 graduate of the SJMC master’s program. He was awarded the university’s alumni achievement award in 2013.
Wansink is now the director of Cornell University’s Food and Brand Lab.
He has recently gained attention for a new book he has written, “Slim by Design: Mindless Eating Solutions for Everyday Life.” The book examines the reasons why Americans tend to “mindlessly” eat, and how with a little redesign they can change that. The book is a part of 25 years of research that he has conducted on eating behaviors. He also wrote “Mindless Eating: Why We Eat More Than We Think.”