By Erin Roberts, roberte1@ohio.edu

Photo, left to right: Seaman David Rinehart, Seaman Joshua Dissette, and Seaman Douglas Russell take a moment for themselves between jobs on the fantail of the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower as they prepare for the ship to dock at Naval Station Norfolk in Norfolk, Virginia on Thursday, July 30, 2009. After / Photo by Ryan Henriksen, 2009 College Photographer of the Year

ATHENS, Ohio (Nov. 18, 2009)—Ryan Henriksen, a senior studying photojournalism in the School of Visual Communication at Ohio University, has been named the College Photographer of the Year in the 64th annual College Photographer of the Year (CPOY) contest conducted at the University of Missouri School of Journalism. His win marks the third time in four years that a student from Ohio University has won the title. Ohio University graduate student Maisie Crow was runner up.

Overall, Ohio University won nearly a third of the contest awards (28 of 92)—more than any other school in the nation. Eight of 16 gold awards and the entire illustration category were won by students from Ohio University.

“My biggest surprises were having the top two students in the main category and to see the undergraduate student beating the graduate student,” said Terry Eiler, the school’s director. “Of course, I was thrilled to see how many awards were won by our students. It underscores the effort the faculty puts into the school.”

Henriksen, an Illinois native who transferred to Ohio University after earning an associate’s degree from the Brooks Institute of Photography in 2007, said he has entered the contest before but that this is the first year he’s won anything and that he was surprised to hear he won the title.

“I was not expecting it at all, so it was a huge surprise,” Henriksen said. “I’m happy the school gets this recognition again too.”

In addition to the top prize, Henriksen won Silver in the Sports Portfolio category. Eiler said Henriksen took the initiative to become a stringer for a local newspaper upon arriving in Athens and that he was aware only of Henriksen’s skill in sport photography.

“I had no idea he had such breadth in his portfolio,” Eiler said of Henriksen’s winning entry.
Eiler said a school sweeping an entire category, as Ohio University did this year in Illustration, is unusual but indicative of a strong program.

“To win first, second, third and two honorable mentions in the Illustration category was amazing,” he said. “Kudos for these wins to go Larry Hamel-Lambert and Gary Kirksey, who teach that area to our students.”

Kirksey, an associate professor, is quick to pass on accolades to the students.

“I think the results for this year’s contest clearly illustrate the strength of the program and how well our students apply themselves as commercial photography majors,” Kirksey said. “Over the years, we’ve always placed well in the contest, but this past year, our students’ work stood out even more.”

Standout Henriksen fumbles a bit when asked his thoughts on the National Geographic internship that is awarded as part of the College Photographer of the Year prize. “I’m a little intimidated. For sure, that’s a good word.”

As for long-term plans, Henriksen said, “I’d love to work for a newspaper—just to get a job and keep making pictures all the time. It’s what I love to do. If I get a job doing it all the time, that’s all I want.”

Among the contest judges was Ohio University alumnus Zach Wise, who earned a bachelor’s degree in 2001 and a master’s degree in 2009 from the School of Visual Communication. Wise is now a multimedia producer for The New York Times. Other judges included freelance photojournalist Nicole Frugé, formerly of the San Antonio Express-News; Seth Gitner, an assistant professor of journalism at the Newhouse School at Syracuse University; Barry Locher, former managing editor at The State Journal-Register in Springfield, Ill.; and Lara Solt, a staff photographer for The Dallas Morning News.

Cliff and Vi Edom founded the CPOY contest in 1945. The contest is administered by The University of Missouri with support from its co-sponsor, Nikon Inc.  A complete list of winners can be found on the CPOY site at http://www.cpoy.org/index.php?s=WinnersList&yr=64. To view more of Henriksen’s work, visit www.ryanhenriksen.com.

ATHENS, Ohio (Nov. 10, 2009)—Two Scripps College of Communication visual communication graduate students, Angela Shoemaker and Kainaz Amaria, are currently studying abroad on Fulbright grants.

Terry Eiler, director of the School of Visual Communication, said there have been nine Fulbright Scholars in the school.

“Anytime we get internal recognition for documentary photojournalism, I just feel proud about the quality of writing and creative work our graduate students produce,” he said. “Angela and Kainaz brought extraordinary work to the Fulbright committee, and it’s great to see them being rewarded for that.”

Shoemaker is currently working in the Netherlands on a documentary about Muslim youth culture assimilation into Dutch society. The documentary will serve as her master’s project. Shoemaker has written in her blog about the importance of choosing a topic that will reap benefits for a number of audiences.

“The core purpose of the Fulbright grant is to promote international understanding through learning,” Shoemaker wrote. “So the topic you choose should highlight issues within the country from a fresh perspective and in a positive light.”

Amaria is using her award to create a documentary on the Parsi community in Mumbai. The Parsi community is made up of Iranian Zoroastrians, and they are known for integrating themselves into Indian society, while still maintaining their traditional beliefs.

Beth Clodfelter, director of U.S. Fulbright Programs at OU, said it’s a major achievement to have two Fulbright Scholars from one college within a university. She said that it is difficult for two students from the same program to get a recommendation for the program itself, and it’s even more impressive that both of them received recommendation to move beyond the first round of the competition, which is an arts round.

“It’s an honor for the women and the visual communication school to have two Fulbrights awarded in same year,” Clodfelter said, “[Amaria and Shoemaker] are hardworking, extremely intelligent women who care about making a difference through photography.”

Clodfelter also applauds Amaria and Shoemaker for starting their Fulbright projects early. She said they spent a lot of time perfecting their projects and working with faculty, who spend a great deal of time on supporting documentation for Fulbright applicants. Eiler agreed that his faculty deserve credit for their role in the wins.

“When a student goes up for a Fulbright, it takes the supportive work of an awful lot of faculty to aid in creating the proposal, argument and connections,” he said. “These awards can’t happen with faculty support and the wonderful work of Beth Clodfelter.”

Furthermore, Eiler said Ohio University’s VisCom program is making a name for itself among its competitors for its consistency in earning Fulbright grants.

“While I can’t prove this, I’m told by my colleagues at other photojournalism programs that no one has a track record of Fulbrights like we do, he said.

The Fulbright Scholarship program, named for Senator J. William Fulbright, is an international exchange program sponsored by the U.S. government. Its goal is to increase understanding between students in the United States and the international community. The Fulbright Scholarship program provides students with the opportunity to study, teach and conduct research overseas. To read more about the program, visit www.iie.org/Fulbright/.

ATHENS, Ohio (Nov. 9, 2009)—The Scripps College of Communication was among three Centers of Excellence at Ohio University approved by the university’s Board of Trustees on June 26, 2009 and continues to be in contention for the designation in the newly-created University System of Ohio (USO).

“Being designated a Center of Excellence by the Ohio University Board of Trustees is recognition of our national prominence as a college,” said Scripps College of Communication Dean Gregory J. Shepherd. “The Scripps College of Communication helps distinguish and differentiate Ohio University from other institutions, and this designation will bring us additional attention and, I hope, additional resources. Our faculty, staff, students, and programs are undeniably excellent; I'm thrilled that they have been publicly labeled as such.”

Identification of Centers of Excellence throughout the state is part of the USO's strategic plan to raise the national profile of Ohio's public institutions, prioritize resources and better meet student needs. According to the USO's strategic plan, Ohio Board of Regents Chancellor Eric Fingerhut, in consultation with the state's director of development, will make final determinations on Centers of Excellence at each of Ohio's public institutions in order to guarantee a range of academic strengths.

The Scripps College of Communication is one of three entities put forth by Ohio University for state Center of Excellence consideration. On Oct. 28, Chancellor Fingerhut announced that Ohio University is a Center of Excellence in Energy and the Environment. Ohio University’s Center of Excellence designations in the Scripps College of Communication and Advancing Health and Wellness through Translational Biosciences, Educational Innovation and Rural Health Services, are yet to be determined.

In an email sent to faculty in late May, then Executive Vice President and Provost Kathy Krendl said the process to determine Centers of Excellence on the Ohio University campus was complex, but that it drew heavily on the university’s strategic planning initiatives.

"Our initial Centers of Excellence candidates embody the progress that we have made toward many of the goals that were set forth in Vision Ohio," she said. "Their strong academic accomplishments have been enhanced by strategic investments in faculty and facilities, the deans' willingness to support interdisciplinary work, and some of the largest donations received in the history of the university."

The Scripps College of Communication is a national point of pride for the Ohio University, with its breadth, quality and reputation for housing exceptional communication programs. The college's excellence is upheld through the quality of its students who become influential figures in journalism, broadcasting, television and film, and business.

Recently, the college has been the beneficiary of several large private gifts, including a $15 million gift from the Scripps Howard Foundation and a $7.5 million gift from alumnus Steve Schoonover, CEO of CellXion. The college's multidisciplinary nature, housing a broad range of disciplines, from the humanities, the social sciences, engineering, arts and professions, and its educational outreach endeavors through the WOUB Center for Public Media further enhance its stature.

Related Links:

• Governor names Ohio University a “center of excellence” for energy, environment, http://www.ohio.edu/research/communications/coe_energy.cfm
•  Board of Trustees approves fiscal 2010 budget,
  http://www.ohio.edu/outlook/08-09/June/722.cfm
•  Proposed Centers of Excellence announced,
  http://www.ohio.edu/outlook/08-09/May/630.cfm

By Erin Roberts, roberte1@ohio.edu

ATHENS, Ohio (Nov. 3, 2009)—Ohio University’s E.W. Scripps School of Journalism in the Scripps College of Communication has released the first iPhone application for a school or department of journalism education.

School of Journalism Associate Director Robert Stewart said the free iPhone app, called "JSchool," is intended to make information about the school's activities more widely available to students and alumni, while also demonstrating its commitment to new technology.

"As media technology evolves, we believe it is essential that we do our level best to not just know about it, but to incorporate these opportunities to communicate into our curriculum,” he said. “The iPhone app demonstrates our commitment to our students, alumni and prospective students.”

The application, which incorporates news, events and video content from the school, was approved by Apple and launched in time for Ohio University’s Homecoming Oct. 15. Tom Hodson, the school’s director, said the school researched moving from printed communication to new media before making the decision to fund the creation of the iPhone application.

“It’s great to be first in something that is so important: mobile communication,” Hodson said. “It’s forward-thinking because the whole movement in communication is toward the mobile platform and social networking.”

Hodson said the application also allows the school to connect with students who rely heavily on both mobile devices and social media sites.

“If you look at students, they don’t even like to use email anymore,” he said. “They prefer to get their information on Facebook, Twitter and mobile applications. The communication industry requires us to take some bold steps into the foray of mobile communication.”

The power of such types of media isn’t lost on Stewart, who said he was surprised to get a congratulatory email about the application just a day after it launched from alumna Arian Smedley, BSJ ’07, and before it was advertised by the school at all.

Smedley, mobile online editor for The Associated Press at headquarters in New York, learned about the application from a “tweet” posted on Twitter, a popular social media site, by the Ohio Alumni Association.

“It is great to see the school going in that direction and experimenting with the technology to see if it’s going to work for them,” Smedley said. “The application is a work in progress, just like anything else, but I can tell that the school officials see mobile as an important platform and that they are putting effort into it.”

Stewart said content for the application is pulled entirely from the school’s Web site through the use of Rich Site Summary (RSS) feeds. The school’s site was recently developed by Bryan Duffie, a 2005 graduate of the visual communication program, who recommended Acacia Tree Software, an Athens-based iPhone and Macintosh software development company owned by fellow 2005 alumnus Ben Lachman, to create the iPhone application.

Stewart believes the application to be the only one of its kind coming from a journalism school or department. “I’ve searched the iTunes store in every way possible, and I’ve not found any other app coming from a journalism school,” he said, adding that even only the most prestigious universities and colleges like Yale and Harvard seem to have an application at all.

Smedley says the application is not only helpful for alumni wanting to stay in touch with the school but that exposure to the platform will benefit students entering the ever-changing media industry as well.

“It’s also good for the students to be involved and to see a mobile application in practice so close to home,” she said. “It’s going to be more and more popular in the coming years.”

To download the application, search “jschool” at the iTunes Store. For more information about the E.W. Scripps School of Journalism, visit http://scrippsjschool.org or follow it on Twitter @scrippsjschool.

Position. This is a full time, administrative position that also holds tenure in one of the schools in the college. The associate dean reports directly to the dean and serves as administrative head of the college in the dean’s absence; works closely with the dean on strategic planning and governance, and collaborates with school directors and other key administrators as part of the college’s leadership team; supervises graduate programs (six master’s and two Ph.D.’s) and provides leadership in the development of new ones; serves as the chief research officer in the college, encouraging and assisting faculty and students in the research enterprise, liaising with the Office of Vice President for Research; supervises a number of direct reports among college staff; drafts proposals and reports for internal and external audiences; represents the dean and the college both within and outside the university as appropriate; develops and administers summer budget; manages other administrative duties as they arise.

Required qualifications. Ph.D. with experience and accomplishments to warrant appointment at full professor rank in one or more of the schools; strong scholarly credentials; broad knowledge of, and appreciation for, the many fields of communication covered in the college; thoughtfulness about the rapid changes taking place in media industries and communication culture; understanding of the challenges facing higher education today; excitement about providing leadership to top-ranked programs at a time of change; good ideas; collaborative instincts; excellent writing, presentational and interpersonal skills; a good sense of humor. Candidates must have outstanding leadership, management, and interpersonal skills to relate to a wide diversity of faculty, staff, students and community members

Preferred qualifications. Administrative experience at the level of graduate director or above; experience supervising staff; demonstrated budgeting skills.

Applications. Nominations and expressions of interest can be emailed to ScrippsAssociateDean@ohio.edu. For fullest consideration, applications (including cover letter, CV, and names and complete contact information for three references) should be submitted electronically by November 2, 2009 to www.ohiouniversityjobs.com/applicants/Central?quickFind=55776

 
Ohio University is an equal opportunity employer.

Shawn Tignor, of Athens, is the 2009 winner of the Thomas Lonsbury Scholarship.

Golfers chat near a sign thanking a sponsor at the 8th annual Thomas Lonsbury Scholarship Golf Classic held on the Ohio University Golf Course on Thursday, Oct. 1, 2009. / Photos by Brad Vest

ATHENS, Ohio (Oct. 8, 2009)—For the eighth year in a row, friends, faculty and alumni of the J. W. McClure School of Information and Telecommunication Systems gathered in Athens to support a scholarship fund benefitting students in the program on Thursday, Oct. 1.

The Thomas Lonsbury Scholarship Golf Classic, named after event organizer, school advisory board member and honorary alumnus Tom Lonsbury, has raised a total of more than $100,000 and awarded seven scholarships. This year’s event, at capacity with 72 golfers, took place on the Ohio University Golf Course.

“I usually start my fundraising efforts in January, but this year, I just didn’t have the heart,” said Lonsbury, who was worried the recession might make this year’s event impossible. “When things started to look up a bit in March, I decided to get started, and it all came together.”

One person who is glad Lonsbury didn’t give up on the event this year is sophomore Shawn Tignor, who is the 2009 winner of the scholarship.

“I was actually studying abroad in Austria when I got a call, at 2 a.m., my time from ITS Director Phil Campbell telling me how exclusive the scholarship was and that I’d won,” said Tignor, an Athens native. “I enjoyed meeting Tom the day before the tournament this year. He seems like a nice guy, and he puts a lot of time into the tournament.”

Lonsbury said this was the first year that all golfers had pre-paid and is appreciative of the sponsors, golfers and volunteers who help make the classic a success every year.

“It’s a top-quality operation,” he said. “The gifts, the prizes and the fact that we are here on Ohio’s course—it’s like coming home.”

The tournament offered new board member and Verizon Business employee Sean Davidson, who attended Ohio University, the chance to support students in the school and visit campus on a beautiful fall day.

“From a golf perspective, we had a great day,” he said. “It was a lot of fun, we had great weather, and the event was well-coordinated. I forged a camaraderie with people who work at AT&T and Sprint—my competitors in the workforce—and was able to share that with students in the school. The event promotes the industry, the school and Ohio University as a whole.”

This year’s top raffle prize—a 3-day, 2-night golf villa package from Achasta, a residential golf community in Dahlonega, Ga.—was won by Dan Davies, BSC , IT director of telecom/network platforms for Progressive Casualty Insurance Co. in Mayfield Village, Ohio.

The 9th annual Thomas Lonsbury Scholarship Golf Classic is being planned for Thursday, Sept. 30, 2010.

Scott Sines, managing editor of The Commercial Appeal in Memphis, Tenn., talks to students in the Scripps College of Communication during Scripps Day at Ohio University on Oct. 5, 2009.

Sue Porter, vice president of programs for the Scripps Howard Foundation, critiques the résumé of Emma Frankart, a student in the E.W. Scripps School of Journalism, on Oct. 5, 2009. / Photos by Brad Vest

ATHENS, Ohio (Oct. 6, 2009)—Nine E.W. Scripps Company executives from throughout the state and the country visited classes and conducted résumé critiques and mock interviews with students in the Scripps College of Communication at Ohio University on Monday, Oct. 5, during the fourth annual Scripps Day.

The event helps to connect students in the Scripps College, which is supported in part by a $15 million gift from the Scripps Howard Foundation, to the expertise of E.W. Scripps Company professionals.

“Being on campus renews us as well because we get to see the new generation,” said Bonnie Barclay, owner of The Branding Iron, LLC, an Atlanta, Ga.-based firm that handles marketing for the Scripps television stations group. “Giving up a day in the office is such a pleasure because we all remember being in college and wanting professionals to come to us.”

Associate Professor Gary Kirksey in the School of Visual Communication said his students benefited from a visit from John Sale, assistant managing editor for visuals at The Commercial Appeal in Memphis, Tenn. He said Sale’s visit helped students to understand how newspapers are learning to survive in a tough media environment.

“Bringing these professionals in lets students see a different viewpoint of the industry,” Kirksey said. “For instance, John shared how his newspaper is collaborating with MTV to do multimedia pieces to increase their revenue stream. His viewpoint is fresh given the current atmosphere and economic climate that people in the industry are experiencing.”

Scripps College students also took advantage of the expertise of Rusty Coats, vice president of interactive for The E.W. Scripps Company’s newspaper division; Sue Porter, vice president of programs for the Scripps Howard Foundation; and Jane Battes, human resources manager of Scripps’ WEWS-TV in Cleveland, by signing up for exclusive résumé critiques and mock interviews throughout the day.

“I think every interview I have gives me a better understanding of myself and of the interview process,” said Tyler Slentz, a junior in the J. Warren McClure School of Telecommunications and Information Systems.

Tina Stewart, alumni and internship coordinator, said evaluations for the résumé critiques and mock interviews were overwhelmingly positive and believes it’s important for students to have one-on-one interaction with industry professionals.

“I don’t think students always see themselves the way professionals see them,” Stewart said. “For instance, professionals learned through conversations with students of work experiences and time spent abroad that weren’t listed on résumés but were impressive. Students sometimes leave those types of things off résumés because they don’t feel they fit or don’t feel they are important, but, to the contrary, those experiences can make them unique in a pool of applicants, which is always beneficial.”

Mike Phillips, president and CEO of the Scripps Howard Foundation, enjoyed meeting with students to discuss where the industry is headed and said Scripps Day is an affirmation of a longtime partnership yielding positive results.

“We have such a great partnership with Ohio University, and it’s always delightful to come to campus,” Phillips said. “I’m always impressed by the quality of the young people in the Scripps College’s programs and of the young people the Scripps College puts out into the industry. I think Ohio University understands it’s an exciting and changing world, and the students I talk to are well prepared to enter that changing world.”

Porter echoed this sentiment, saying the sampling of students she met with for résumé critiques was impressive.

“I was very impressed with the students, their preparedness, their education and the experiences they have already had through internships,” she said. “Every person I met was workplace-ready. Our Scripps professionals felt the students were very welcoming and attentive and asked wonderful questions indicating that they are well informed and passionate about their majors.”

Other professionals who participated in the event included Tim King, vice president of corporate communications and investor relations at The E. W. Scripps Company; Chip Mahaney, director of digital content for The E.W. Scripps Company's broadcast division; and Scott Sines, managing editor at The Commercial Appeal in Memphis, Tenn.