The Nevada Journalist, June 2009
Dear Friend of the Reynolds School,
One of our most important jobs is to convene conversations about journalism. We think we have a lot to add to those conversations, plus we like to bring to campus those who may not have enjoyed the beauty of the University and the Reynolds School of Journalism.
We just learned that the State Department has chosen us as one of "10 leading schools of journalism" to participate in the fall in the Edward R. Murrow Program for Journalists. We'll host 12 to 15 international journalists-we don't know where they'll be from-who will want to meet faculty and students to discuss everything from journalism ethics to new media to environmental journalism. Our students stand to gain as much from this exposure to international visitors as the visitors themselves do.
Meantime, this summer sets some records for visitors. As it has for the last several years, the Maynard Institute Multimedia Editing Program will bring journalists from small and medium-size publications to our school to brush up their print talents and learn online skills. Their teachers will be some of the big names in journalism. The group meets June 1 to July 10.
Also returning is the Reynolds High School Journalism Institute, administered by the American Society of News Editors. About 30 high-school newspaper advisers from around the country will learn how to improve high-school journalism. The group meets here from July 12 to 25.
Three new groups are coming;
--The Newspaper Association of America Foundation chose the Reynolds School as the site of its inaugural News Challenge, a chance for 15 college students from around the country (including one from the University) to develop new content and business models for the news industry. The group meets here May 31 to June 6. The opening speaker is Leonard Downie, former executive editor of the Washington Post.
--Four international journalists from the International Visitor Leadership Program will be here June 4 and 5 to learn about investigative reporting.
--The American Press Institute will host its New Newsroom Workshop at the Reynolds School June 19. Most attendees will be Nevada journalists, but some of our faculty members as well as the Maynard students will sit in.
The Nevada Press Association brought Steve Buttry of Gazette Communications in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, to the school to teach ethics in an online world to Nevada journalists. The Reynolds School and our High School Journalism Association brought hundreds of Nevada student journalists here to improve their skills and learn about our school. Finally, a dozen prominent journalists attended a think tank here about the future of journalism during J Week in March.
The second part of our formal name is the Center for Advanced Media Studies. By hosting some of the biggest names in journalism-the Maynard Institute, the American Press Institute, the Newspaper Association of America, the Nevada Press Association, the Reynolds High School Journalism Institute (run by ASNE), we think we're living up to that title.
If you'd like to sit in on any of the sessions mentioned above, e-mail me (jceppos@unr.edu) or call me at (775) 784-6531. And have a wonderful summer.
Jerry Ceppos
Dean
Reynolds school graduates embrace their future
Swirling speculation about the future of newspapers has not dampened the enthusiasm of students preparing for journalism careers. The 2009 Reynolds School class - 72 undergraduates strong - tied a spring ‘08 record as the second largest to participate in spring commencement May 16. Eighty-three undergraduates participated in commencement in spring ‘07.
Student interest and confidence in the future of journalism also is reflected in enrollment figures. Last December, The Nevada Journalist reported that the Reynolds School enrollment increased five percent while University enrollment increased one percent.
One of the Reynolds School graduates said it best.
"The journalism school's been helpful in preparing me," said graduating senior Clarissa León, 23. "I think I'll be OK. The best thing about this school is that I know I can talk to the teachers any time about anything. That makes it not so scary."
Already, León has gained experience as a freelance writer, reporter for The Nevada Sagebrush, and editor of the University's student magazine, Insight.
ethics pledge enters second year
Prior to the traditional class photo taken at the graduate reception, Reynolds School seniors signed an ethics pledge to practice ethical behaviors throughout their careers. Pledge signing is becoming tradition; graduates signed ethics pledges at the May and December 2008 graduate receptions. The Reynolds School is the only U.S. journalism school to offer such a pledge.
2009 laxalt distinguished writer announced
Isabel Wilkerson - Pulitzer-Prize winning journalist, Emory University ethics professor and historian - has been named the 2009 Laxalt Distinguished Writer. Wilkerson will meet with Reynolds School students and deliver a public presentation at the University Oct. 7.
Wilkerson served as the Chicago Bureau Chief of The New York Times, during which she won the 1994 Pulitzer Prize in feature writing for "First Born, Fast Grown: The Manful Life of Nicholas, 10," the story of a boy growing up on the South Side of Chicago.
Wilkerson is the first African-American woman to win a Pulitzer Prize in journalism.
The Distinguished Writer Program is a tribute to Robert Laxalt, who is considered by many to be Nevada's finest writer, founded the University of Nevada Press; he wrote l7 books, two of which were nominated for the Pulitzer Prize. Laxalt wrote under contract for National Geographic magazine; and, for l8 years, was a professor at the Reynolds School of Journalism.
Reynolds school faculty members retire
Two Reynolds School professors -some might call them ‘institutions' - will retire June 30. It is a substantial understatement to say that Warren Lerude and Bourne Morris will be missed, and we'd like to offer them a little recognition here:
Many in the know swear that Warren's participation initiated two of the (arguably) most significant steps in the Reynolds School's 85-year heritage of journalism education. Warren - and fellow RSJ alumnus Rollan Melton - petitioned then-University president Joe Crowley to establish the School of Journalism independent of the College of Arts and Science, its former department home. Later, Warren and Rollan asked Don Reynolds to put his name on the school.
Warren, and his wife Janet, replaced the School's typewriters with its first computers. Over the years, Warren solicited gifts from many of the Reynolds School's benefactors.
Warren may be retiring but we've talked him into serving as the school's intern coordinator for another year. He'll continue to help place more than 100 students a year at plum positions from the Dow Jones News Service in Tokyo to The Washington Post. In all, interns work at newspapers, magazines, online services and in broadcast journalism, advertising and public relations all across the country.
If you attended Warren's retirement party, you'll know that he received a custom Stetson. So, Warren, we tip our hat to the one of the School's most enduring legends-reporter, editor, publisher, professor, author, screenwriter (you'll have to ask him about that), First Amendment scholar and wonderful supporter of the Reynolds School of Journalism.
It is difficult to quantify or describe Professor Bourne Morris' influence on the instruction, research and mentoring of journalism.
Bourne joined the University's department of journalism in 1983 as a Distinguished Reynolds Professor and served for one year as the department's interim chair, before the Reynolds School became an independent professional school.
Bourne led the searches for three deans and more than 20 faculty positions for the Reynolds School so she deserves credit for identifying successfully many of the faculty members who contribute to the school's reputation of quality.
As a senior faculty member and experienced advertising executive, Bourne's leadership within the community and the University has allowed the Reynolds School to maintain a strong and prosperous relationship with the Reynolds Foundation, and expand the philanthropic and foundation donor base.
It's not too late to send a message to Warren or Bourne. We've included a link to Soup de Journalism, the school's social networking site, where students, faculty and alumni to share professional work, contacts and activities. Sour de Journalism is accessible at:
faculty research, professional activities receive top awards
A Reynolds School research paper that critiqued convergence relationships between television stations and newspapers tied for first-place in a news division competition at the 2009 Broadcast Education Association conference in Las Vegas April 24-25.Larry Dailey, professor and Reynolds Chair of Media Technology, submitted the paper, "The Convergence Continuum Redux: Does the Web Jeopardize Newspaper-Television Partnerships?" He co-authored it with Mary Spillman, an assistant professor at Ball State University.
Professor Saundra Keyes' wrote the cover story for the winter 2009 edition of The American Editor, the magazine of the American Society of News Editors. Saundra's story is titled "Fiery Forums: Anonymous comments drive traffic to newspaper Web sites and generate news tips, but with embarrassing flame wars and damaged credibility, is the price too high to pay?" Saundra wrote also the sidebar about how editors handle online comments.
j-week: A look inside ‘big headlines'
One of the Reynolds School's most visible projects during spring semester was Journalism Week, or J-week, as we've branded it. The theme, "Inside Big Headlines," attracted print and broadcast journalists and public relations practitioners who have covered or been involved in some of the nation's most significant stories during the last 20 years. Faculty members - too many to mention here - participated in project planning and hosted guest speakers. Events throughout the week were streamed live to the Internet and received thorough coverage on the Reynolds School website and in mainstream media.
We organized 25 individual workshops, social and networking activities, and keynote presentations during the six-day conference. Content emphasized exploring the future of journalism and one day was dedicated to new media. Some highlights include:
- Featured Fred W. Smith Ethics Seminar Series speaker was Clark Hoyt, The New York Times public editor.
- Facebook, a social-networking site, was integrated into marketing and promotion, facilitating distribution of more than 1,200 invitations to Facebook friends from students and faculty.
- College deans, program directors and department chairs across campus promoted J Week to students and faculty. This broadened exposure to students in other disciplines including photography and art, public health, engineering, environmental faculty, political science, University diversity committees, athletics, and computer and information sciences.
- A ‘breaking news' edition of The Nevada Journalist e-newsletter was sent to more than 1,200 people.
- The Reynolds School partnered with the Nevada Press Association to host a day-long program titled "Ethics for an Online World." The event sold out.
- Members of the alumni chapter reviewed student resumes and offered interview etiquette and recommendations.
Workshops' popularity reflect importance of social media
Todd Felts, assistant professor of public relations, likes to say that the Reynolds School prepares students for jobs that haven't yet been created, and he's right. Social media are bringing together people in ways that could not have been imagined a decade ago. We want to convene the practitioners who creating the future every day.
The Reno-Tahoe Wordcamp, sponsored by Twelve Horses and the Reynolds School of Journalism, featured a day-long series of speakers on using WordPress, the world's largest, largest self-hosted blogging tool. The April 26 event attracted more than 75 participants who are interested in developing a personal brand and understanding social media.
Speakers included Matt Mullenweg, who wrote the original code for WordPress and David LaPlante, CEO of TwelveHorses, an interactive and social media marketing agency.
Bob Felten, assistant professor, was instrumental in the Reynolds School sponsorship because - in his words - "we want RSJ to be at the center of this conversation in the community."
On March 5, the Reynolds School hosted the Nevada Interactive Media Summit, the first statewide conference to bring together interactive media and technology professionals, hobbyists, futurists to engage in conversation, hands-on learning, networking, and exhibits.
Bloggers, podcasters, Tweeters, film makers, PR and ad professionals and anyone interested in interactive media participated in hands-on learning, rich discussions, and plentiful networking opportunities at the sold-out (and SRO) event.
online magazine profiles randy gener ‘92
The online edition of Quill, a magazine of the Society for Professional Journalists, has published a terrific story about Randy Gener, whose academic career included many journalism courses. We've included a link to the story. (We hope that you'll read it last because the link takes you away from our website!)
Randy's story is accessible at: https://www.spj.org/quill_issue.asp?ref=1512
RSJ Alumnus publishes autobiography
Pat Hickey, MA '01, describes his journey to self-enlightenment in the book, "Tahoe Boy: A Journey Back Home." Pat's biography and book excerpts are available at his website: http://www.tahoeboy.net/.
a planned gift is a wonderful gift
You decide. When you make a planned gift to the Donald W. Reynolds School of Journalism, you integrate your financial goals with your personal goals to help shape the future.
A gift is "planned" to the extent that you purposefully incorporate a charitable gift into your overall financial, tax, and estate planning. Planned gifts are often in the form of a charitable bequest, but there are a variety of planned-giving options which can provide significant tax benefits and even income to you or a loved one during your lifetimes. Planned gifts can be made using many different kinds of assets, including cash, stock, qualified retirement account assets, real estate, insurance policies, and even artwork or business interests.
If you appreciate how the Reynolds School has enriched your life, follow the lead of others who have established scholarships or given to the endowment of their choice. Your gift will make a difference. Creating better futures for generations to come - it's your legacy.
To learn more, please contact Kristin Burgarello, director of development at (775) 784-4471 or kburgarello@unr.edu, or visit the university's planned giving website at: giving.unr.edu/planning.aspx.
