Indiana University School of Journalism » Alumni News:

School mourns loss of Beth Wood

SoJ Web Report — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 20:40:31 +0000

The School of Journalism community mourns the loss of senior lecturer Beth Wood, who died Nov. 14 from complications of treatment for lung cancer.

Wood, 58, taught public relations at the graduate and undergraduate levels and was a leader in service-learning classes in the School of Journalism that assisted many area nonprofits. She was a two-time winner of the Trustees Teaching Award in the School of Journalism.

In 2004, she helped launch the IU chapter of the Public Relations Student Society of America and led it to become the seventh-largest student chapter in the world. In 2008, she led the successful effort for Indiana University to become one of only 20 universities to receive certification from the Public Relations Society of America.

She was a 1973 graduate of the IU School of Journalism and earned her law degree from the IU School of Law in Indianapolis in 1977. She joined the School of Journalism faculty in 2002.

Prior to joining the school, she spent 12 years in law firm marketing, the last six of which were with Barnes & Thornburg, Indiana’s largest law firm. She also worked in corporate communications for Eli Lilly & Co. She was an adjunct faculty member at the School of Journalism at IUPUI, teaching public relations and communications law from 1981 to 1985.

The family requests that in lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the School of Journalism for either the Beth Wood Award in the School of Journalism for international travel for students or the Joan Wood Lecture Series in the College of Arts & Sciences to celebrate women in science and showcase careers in biology. Joan Wood was Beth’s twin sister.

To make the gift, visit the School of Journalism section of the IU Foundation Web site at this link. You may designate your gift in the "additional comments" section.

A message from School of Journalism Dean Brad Hamm:

Beth was a remarkable teacher, colleague and friend. She was dedicated to her students and proud of their accomplishments in life and work.

I admired her talent as a professor, her energy and passion for life, and her genuine concern for others. And I know that her friends and students in Bloomington and throughout the state, nation and world share in the profound sadness that we feel. At the same time, we celebrate all that Beth meant to our lives.

Despite the challenges over the past few years, she remained as positive and upbeat as ever.

On behalf of the School of Journalism family, I extend our deepest sympathy to her husband, Dr. Dan Drew, a valued colleague and broadcast journalism professor for many years in the School of Journalism until his retirement in 2006, and Beth’s sister, Kenna Wood, and her mother, Helen Wood.

Other comments:

From Kallie J. Bonnell, BAJ ‘06:
During my tenure at IU (2002-2006), Beth was an incredible advocate for advancing the public relations curriculum at a time when the school was more focused on print journalism. Her determination and ambition allowed for the creation of a Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA) chapter. I was a charter member and, with Beth’s encouragement, I became chapter president. The in-class experiences and professional experiences Beth brought to my education built an excellent foundation for which I am extremely fortunate and grateful. I cannot imagine a more dedicated professor.

From Kevin Caldwell, BAJ ‘08:
Beth was an outstanding educator, but she was much, much more. She was a special friend. I have her contact information on my cell phone and know she had mine, too. Her words of advice and encouragement went beyond the classroom walls. Although I now live and work in New York, I kept in contact with Beth and she frequently gave students interested in fashion or New York my contact information. Because they were coming from Beth, I knew these fellow Hoosiers were motivated, smart and genuine people. Beth was brilliant.

From Miranda McCage, BAJ ‘07:
Beth brought the real world into the classroom. She constantly wove a variety of topics, guest speakers, projects and work with nonprofits into her classes to help us understand how to juggle a variety of work each day. She timed us as we wrote press releases. She inspired us to create professional quality work. She expected us to succeed, and she didn’t mince words telling us so. Because of her, we rose to the challenge.

Beth’s incredible energy made her classes exciting. You’ll never found students snoozing in Beth’s classes. She bounded around the classroom, and her expressions, gestures and one-liners kept us alert and tuned in. There are few teachers who can perform like Beth. I’m glad I had the opportunity to experience it.

I have many wonderful memories of Beth, but here’s my favorite:

After a public relations class, Beth called me aside and, very seriously, asked that I follow her to her office. I kept thinking: “What is this about? Did I do something wrong?”

Finally, when I finally sat down across from her desk, Beth picked up the phone and called Barbara Coffman of the IU Foundation.

After a few more moments of nervous anticipation, Beth and Barbara shared some amazing news. They had heard that I was paying my way through school and struggling to manage my jobs and commitments. They had done something about it. Without my knowledge, they had worked together to help me receive a scholarship.

Just typing this story makes me tear up. I’ll never forget their kindness.

From Mandy Johnson, BAJ ‘07
The IU School of Journalism has lost one of its best and the students have lost a true mentor. She was a leader in the school and I am so glad I got to experience several of her classes and her mentoring.

As faculty adviser, Beth was the key in launching and maintaining the IU chapter of the Public Relations Student Society of America. Having PRSSA on campus is vital for any public relations or journalism education program. Many employers don’t consider hiring PR students if their résumés don’t mention membership in PRSSA.

Beth recognized the importance of having a chapter and her leadership as the faculty member overseeing PRSSA provided new opportunities for students who wanted to take their education to the next level. Beth provided full-time support to the campus organization and was the driving force behind its growth. She encouraged students to become involved and she was a cheerleader for the organization. She opened the door for PRSSA to make a difference in students’ educational and professional lives by implementing the organization’s networking event opportunities, bringing in professional speakers, holding PR workshops, conducting interview and résumés workshops and more.

From Cory Nelund
Beth Wood was a superior educator. I learned more than I ever thought possible in her Public Relations Writing course. Her methods of teaching are superb. My writing improved 100 percent in 15 weeks. Professor Wood took time to meet with each student one-on-one and go over individual projects. She pointed out the good and the areas where we needed to improve without crushing our spirit. The time that she gave me as an individual student was so helpful.

She could be tough but, at the same time, she was nurturing. Thanks to her, my grammar and my level of confidence improved. With the writing skills and knowledge I gained from her, I’m confident that I can work successfully work in public relations and achieve my goals and dreams.

From Jennifer Evans, BAJ ‘08
Beth Wood was superior. I have known Beth since my freshman year at IU when I joined the first-ever IU chapter of the Public Relations Student Society of America, which Beth spearheaded. Beth reached out to so many people and truly inspired me to follow in her footsteps and study public relations.

Ever since I met her, Beth and I stayed in touch. I took two Beth Wood classes, and we’ve always stayed very close. We exchanged e-mails often, met for lunch or dinner. She took me to Hoosier Chapter Public Relations Society of American (PRSA) luncheons in Indianapolis. Her dedication to my education and future inspired me to reach out and help others with their personal and professional careers.

Beth worked hard to bring in real clients who needed real campaigns. For many projects I worked on in Beth’s classes, we were able to actually win bids and our campaign was put to use around Bloomington.

Beth made her classes fun, exciting and entertaining. I learned a lot from Beth, and I always looked forward to her classes.

She remembered names and responded to e-mails. Today, because of Beth, I always send handwritten thank you notes.

Another lesson from Beth? She treated every situation as an opportunity to build her network of friends. Today I work for the City of Indianapolis and meet a wide variety of people, and I always treat every introduction as potential for future projects, sponsorship, donors and friends.

From Maria Karapetyan, MA ’08
When I started working with Beth as her faculty assistant, it was my first semester as a grad student at the IU School of Journalism School and I had no prior teaching experience.

Beth trusted me. She gave me the confidence to work with students and to pursue my own education and career goals.

After graduating, I sought out Beth’s advice before my first job interview. Because of her, I felt ready professionally and psychologically. I was prepared to take on new challenges.

Beth used her experiences and brought in working professionals as guest speakers to relate classroom learning to the students’ future work environment. She also reached out to students who needed more guidance. She helped students build their confidence and their portfolios.

Beth always told her students: Be professional and keep your moral principles and values. I still practice that lesson today.

From Daryl Witte, BAJ ‘07
One of Beth Wood’s most striking traits was her ability to instill confidence and pride in her students. This is important because graduates need to have loads of confidence for the job hunt following graduation, especially in these challenging times. From my experience, I think Beth believed in me and my abilities more than I did.

Furthermore, Beth’s courageous return to campus following a deeply challenging illness was a true testament of her love and dedication to her students, her profession, and Indiana University.

From Lauren Regan, BAJ ‘07
Beth Wood was my mentor and my friend. She was a special teacher who went above and beyond teaching in the classroom. Beth’s care for her students goes beyond the walls of Ernie Pyle Hall.

My greatest lesson from Beth: Pave your own path! Once you know the fundamentals, work toward what will make you happiest, not what people tell you to do with your life.

I never realized how well Beth prepared me until I started an internship after college. I found myself pulling out worksheets I saved from her classes and the PR Style Book she insisted we would use "one day." Her guidance and words of wisdom are an integral part of the way I write.

Jaclyn Gutmann, BAJ ‘07
When I was a sophomore at Indiana University, I wanted to go into advertising. I found Beth Wood’s Advertising Guidebook, with tips on how to stay involved in the industry, what classes we should take and other things to consider. I made an appointment with Beth right away, and had I not, I might not be where I am today. Beth advised me to stay as involved as possible and meet as many professionals as I could during my time at Indiana. That summer, I took on my first unpaid internship just to get my foot in the door. The next year I became very involved in PRSSA and the AAF National Student Advertising Competition. I met Jim Parham and landed an internship with Hirons and Company. As a senior, I worked closely with Beth as the vice president of PRSSA.

I now work in corporate communications for Raytheon Company. I use Beth Wood’s advice every day. I stay involved, I try to make as many contacts as possible and ask as many questions as I can. Had it not been for Beth’s advice and guidance, I may not have pushed as hard as I did, and I wouldn’t be where I am today.

Jennifer Hurtubise, BAJ ‘06
Beth Wood was a great educator. She did so much more than just teach from textbooks. She provided real world examples and brought in professionals to help students gain a true understanding of the profession. She also gave students in her public relations classes an actual client and class project, which makes the class much more interesting, interactive and educational. You felt as though you were really working on something that would make a difference rather than just another assignment for a grade.

Beth was the main reason the IU School of Journalism’s public relations curriculum has been certified by the Public Relations Society of America and that we have one of the top PRSSA (Public Relations Student Society of America) chapters.

Beth was genuine. She really cared about us as students and about our careers. She helped us succeed. She wanted to know where we were and what we were doing personally and professionally. She was one of the few professors I continued to stay in touch with and, thanks to Beth, I continued to have a personal connection with the IU School of Journalism. If I ever needed help, I knew that I could count on her.

Fox Sports’ Buck talkson lifelong love of sportscasting

Sarah Hutchins — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 13:09:58 +0000

Photo by Jeremy Hogan

Fox Sports’ Joe Buck (right) talked Tuesday night at the Buskirk-Chumley Theater as the last of the school’s fall Speaker Series’ guests. National Sports Journalism Center Director Tim Franklin led the conversation.

Newspaper editors tell how they guide narrative storytelling (Nov. 23)
Star editor advises using data to 'cut through the noise' (Nov. 15)
Buck meets with students
to share career advice (Nov. 12)

Fresh from calling last week’s World Series, Fox Sports’ Joe Buck shed light on breaking into sportscasting and growing up the son of broadcasting legend Jack Buck during his talk at the Buskirk-Chumley Theater Tuesday night.

In an onstage conversation led by Tim Franklin, director of IU’s National Sports Journalism Center at IUPUI, Buck spoke to a crowd of area residents and students as the last of the School of Journalism’s fall Speaker Series guests.

Franklin introduced Buck as “one of the best sportscasters of his generation or any other generation” before a video of sportscaster Bob Costas highlighted some of Buck’s major achievements, such as his six Emmy Awards and his play-by-play duties for Fox Sports’ coverage of Major League Baseball and the National Football League. In 1994, he was the youngest announcer to call a full slate of NFL games on network television.

Buck’s broadcasting career began in 1989 while he still was a telecommunications undergraduate at IU. That year, he called play-by-play for the Louisville Redbirds of the American Association, a minor league affiliate of the Cardinals, and was a reporter for ESPN’s coverage of the Triple-A All-Star Game.

Buck never graduated from IU, but he said his time on campus helped solidify his love of sportscasting and provided a break from living in the public eye in St. Louis. Growing up, he attended a small private school in a city where everyone knew his father and, as a result, watched the younger Buck’s every move.

"It’s great being a kid who was from St. Louis and to come here and to be a social security number," he said. "Your name is irrelevant and that was great."

Buck never regretted growing up the son of a famous sportscaster. He was close to his father, often tagging along on with him on team busses and planes. He tried to stay out of trouble and use the family spotlight in a good way.

"I can honestly say I never wanted to disappoint (my dad)," Buck said. "I was deathly afraid of doing that and it kept me out of trouble."

At a young age, Buck realized what—or who—he wanted to be when he grew up.

"I wanted to be Jack Buck," he said.

He started paying attention to how his dad worked. When he tagged along at baseball games, he found an empty booth to record his own broadcast into a tape recorder. On the way home, Joe would pop the tape in and Jack would critique it.

But Buck knew that at some point he needed to get real world experience. Summers after his sophomore and junior years at IU, Buck bolted off campus to broadcast in Louisville.

Photo by Jeremy Hogan

The stage at the Buskirk-Chumley was set up as an informal interview space. Buck also spent time with students at Ernie Pyle Hall and attended a Bloomington Press Club fundraiser before the evening talk.

"I bluffed my way through it," he said. "That’s when my dad knew I was serious."

Buck left IU to be a radio and television announcer for the St. Louis Cardinals, working in St. Louis from 1991 to 2007. In 1996, he was the youngest person to broadcast the World Series, for an audience of 13 million.

"If there were three million or just three it wouldn’t have mattered," he said. "I was scared out of my wits."

It took Buck years to get comfortable enough with the job that he could relax a little and enjoy it all.

"I look back on Bob Costas and I think, that’s one of the greats," he said. "When you’re a kid, you feel like you don’t deserve this."

Growing up with his father as an example, Buck has tried to strike a balance between work and family. While travel is part of the job, he tries to find time to go to his kids’ games, to pick them up from school and help them with homework.

Buck also talked about dealing with comments from critics.

"If you want to see how much you suck, Google your name," he said.

Every sportscaster is criticized, he said. His father constantly was labeled as someone who anticipated plays. Now, it seems, Buck is critiqued for injecting humor into his work.

"Most of the criticism is during the regular season," he said. "If you can’t have fun and talk about a goofy hat or a funny play, then I don’t want to be in this business."

Buck, who doesn’t consider himself a journalist, said he isn’t sure where the future of sports journalism is headed. Newspapers are sending fewer reporters to cover the World Series and even Buck’s current employer, Fox, is cutting costs.

But as Buck’s contract with Fox comes to an end, where will his future be?

One student suggested he return to campus to broadcast the Little 500, an IU tradition Buck admitted he’s never seen.

Photo by Jeremy Hogan

National Sports Journalism Center Director Tim Franklin introduced Joe Buck and asked key questions. Buck talked about the influence of his father, broadcaster Jack Buck, and how that shaped his own career.

"Keep a spot open in the sports journalism program," he said. "I might need a job."

Alexandra Novak, a graduate student in the sports administration program at the School of Health and Physical Education, attended Buck’s talk because she wanted to hear what a professional sportscaster had to say about the career.

"I liked to he hear how he relates himself to his dad," Novak said. "I can really relate because my dad worked in the industry and I’m trying to follow in his footsteps."

In addition to addressing the packed house, Buck met with students in the School of Journalism library Tuesday afternoon and attended a fundraiser for the Bloomington Press Club’s scholarship fund at Nick’s English Hut.

Bailey Smith, a freshman business communications major, attended the fundraiser and speech. An aspiring sportscaster, she said she came to the event with a list of questions for Buck.

"It was just a great chance to find out what I would have to do to get started," Smith said. "I tape recorded the whole thing so I can take it home and take everything he said into consideration."

New reporting courseincludes travel to Kenya

Jessica Birthisel — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 17:21:31 +0000

Courtesy photo

Associate professor Jim Kelly visited the Buffet Farm, an AMPATH-sponsored project that produces fresh fruits and vegetables for patients at the Moi University Hospital. Kelly plans to lead a class to Kenya next summer to report on these types of projects.

Students already are looking into the School of Journalism’s newest travel course, Reporting on HIV/AIDS in Africa, which will be offered in Summer Session I.

The Indiana University Overseas Study program just approved the four-credit course, which associate professor Jim Kelly planned and will teach. It features travel to Eldoret and Nairobi, Kenya, to work with journalism students in those cities on ways to research and report on the HIV/AIDS crisis.

The school will host an info session for interested students and their parents at 7 p.m. Dec. 1 in EP 214. Online applications will be available Dec. 1, and the deadline to apply is Jan. 19.

The course is open to students with junior or senior standing who have completed J110 Foundations of Journalism and Mass Communication, J200 Reporting, Writing and Editing I and J210 Visual Communications, and to graduate students who have completed or been excused from J505 Intensive Reporting, Writing and Editing Workshop.

Following an April orientation, the course begins May 11 with two weeks of preparatory work in Bloomington. During this time, Kelly said he has invited four guest speakers to inform the students about their travels to Kenya, including Fran Quigley, author of the course text about IU’s Academic Model Providing Access to Healthcare (AMPATH); Andrea Morehead and Deshong Perry, reporter and producer at WTHR-TV in Indianapolis who produced an Emmy-award winning report on Eldoret and AMPATH; and School of Journalism doctoral student Kioko Ireri, who is from Kenya and has worked at The People’s Daily in Nairobi.

Students set out for Kenya May 21. As part of their work there, they will create multimedia news projects about AMPATH, which treats 70,000 HIV-positive patients at 18 sites in urban and rural Kenya, Kelly said. He has traveled extensively in east Africa and south Asia, where he led workshops for reporters covering HIV/AIDS.

The AMPATH reporting experience will be followed by a short trip to Nairobi, "the hub of journalism" in east Africa, according to Kelly. Students will meet with reporters, editiors and correspondents at the two largest Kenyan media houses and at several international news bureaus.

Upon their return to Bloomington, students will spend one week debriefing and producing their projects, which will likely include a written story, photos, video and audio slideshows. Kelly said he hopes that the stories can be posted to the School of Journalism Web site and marketed to local media outlets.

Director of Experiential Learning and Recruitment Kathleen Lee and Riley Visiting Professor Dennis Elliott will accompany Kelly and the students on the trip. Lee, who handles administrative details for the school’s overseas travel, will co-host the upcoming info session.

Kelly said the information session will include photos, a description of the AMPATH project, and time to answer any and all questions about the course and Kenya. Kelly and Lee will outline the course description and rationale as well as important health, safety and security information. Kelly said that student safety is a high priority.

“Because Kenya is under a State Department travel advisory, we’ve taken a number of steps to increase the safety conditions for our students,” said Kelly, who has traveled several times to 10 east African cities.

In addition to ensuring that every student carries a cell phone at all times, Kelly said that IU students will travel with partners from Moi University who speak Swahili and who know the local conditions. Anytime they leave Eldoret, they will be with their partners in university vehicles driven by university officials. Third, they will be staying at the IU house, a secure compound operated by IU.

Contact Kathleen Lee at (812) 855-1725 or by e-mail.
Attend the info session at 7 p.m. Dec. 1 in EP 214.
Apply online by Jan. 19, 2010. (Forms available Dec. 1.)

Student publications win more than 50 awards

SoJ Web Report — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 21:19:25 +0000

Photo by Ron Johnson

IDS news adviser Ruth Witmer, 2010 Arbutus editor Katie Myrick and IDS editor-in-chief Natalie Avon collected awards at the College Media Advisers convention in Austin, Texas last week.

SPJ contest deadline Jan. 27 (Nov. 16)
Hutchins wins second place in Keating competition (Nov. 15)
Board to hear IDS editor-in-chief candidates (Nov. 4)

Indiana University Bloomington’s student publications won more than 50 awards from three national associations this past week, including national first places for IU’s newspaper and magazine.

This fall’s Indiana Daily Student newspaper won first place among large dailies in Associated Collegiate Press’ Best of Show competition Saturday. The newspaper’s section on homecoming won a second place. The fall IDS editor-in-chief is senior Natalie Avon.

Inside magazine, launched four years ago, won a national first in Best of Show. Junior CJ Lotz edits the magazine.

Individual ACP winners include:

IDS sports reporter Matt Dollinger, first in sports writing for his coverage of the rebirth of Hoosier basketball;
IDS columnist Indira Dammu, first in opinion writing for her column on the culture of rape;
2008 Arbutus yearbook photographer Jacob Kriese, second in feature/picture;
IDS designer Larry Buchanan, who came in third in infographics.

Even IU Student Media’s professional staff was honored. IDS news adviser Ruth Witmer won a CMA Honor Roll Award, which recognizes advisers with up to five years of distinguished experience.
In two other national competitions announced last week, IU journalists won more awards than any other school. Designers won six firsts among 14 awards in the Best of Collegiate Design competition of College Media Advisers, and staffers won 17 firsts among 36 Gold Circle Awards from Columbia Scholastic Press Association.

IU was also the only university whose newspaper, news Web site, magazine and yearbook were finalists in ACP’s Pacemaker Awards.

Avon, the fall newspaper editor, said the publications should continue to explore and experiment while maintaining a tradition of excellence.

"From the beginning, our goal has been to cover IU and its students in the best way possible," Avon said. "I think getting recognized this early in the game only gives us confidence and the motivation to keep trying new things while maintaining our core goal."

For the complete list of IU student media winners, visit the IDS Web site.

Big Ten Network to air NSJC symposium

Gena Asher — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 15:55:44 +0000

Buck meets with students
to share career advice (Nov. 12)
Fox Sports' Buck talks
on lifelong love of sportscasting (Nov. 11)
Buck headlines scholarship fundraiser (Nov. 3)

The Big Ten Network will air the National Sports Journalism Center’s recent symposium on diversity in sports media twice Thursday, Nov. 5.

"The Diversity Divide" will air at 10 a.m. and again at 4 p.m. The Sept. 14 panel at the NSJC in Indianapolis featured sports journalists and researchers discussing how a lack of diversity among reporters and sports organizations affects media coverage.

This is the second NSJC symposium on the BTN this year. The network plans to record the upcoming Speaker Series talk with Joe Buck Nov. 10 for broadcast at a future date.

Fox Sports’ Joe Buck wraps up Speaker Series

Gena Asher — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 16:30:39 +0000

Courtesy photo

Fox Sports’ Joe Buck wraps up the school’s fall Speaker Series with a talk Nov. 10. The talk is free and open to the public.

Fresh from calling the World Series, Fox Sports’ Joe Buck visits Tuesday, Nov. 10, as the last of the School of Journalism’s fall Speaker Series guests.

His talk is at 7 p.m. at the Buskirk-Chumley Theater, 114 E. Kirkwood, and is free and open to the public.

Buck is a six-time Emmy Award-winner who handles lead play-by-play duties for Fox Sports’ coverage of Major League Baseball and the National Football League.

“Especially with the recent opening of the National Sports Journalism Center, it was a good time to highlight sports journalism in the Speaker Series,” said School of Journalism Communications Director Beth Moellers, adding that Buck’s appearance is especially timely coming off the World Series. “This adds a new angle for our students.”

Buck’s career path may inspire journalism students. His broadcasting career began in 1989, while he was a telecommunications undergraduate at IU. That year, he called play-by-play for the Louisville Redbirds of the American Association, a minor league affiliate of the Cardinals, and was a reporter for ESPN’s coverage of the Triple-A All-Star Game.

In 1994, he was the youngest announcer to call a full slate of NFL games on network television. Before that, he was a radio and television announcer for the St. Louis Cardinals from 1991 to 2007.

Buck, who serves as a board member for the NSJC, is the son of the late broadcasting legend Jack Buck, whose career spanned parts of six decades. They are the only father and son to each call the Super Bowl on network television.

“I think his visit is going to be, in a lot of ways, a very personal conversation on his reflecting back on his IU days,” said Tim Franklin, director of IU’s National Sports Journalism Center at IUPUI, in a phone interview. “But also, what it’s been like, growing up with a broadcast legend and icon father, and growing into an icon himself.”

Franklin, who will conduct an onstage Q&A with Buck during the event, anticipates that Buck’s insights are not just limited to a sports crowd, but will hit home with a wide range of students and audiences.

“Joe is not just considered one of the premiere sports casters in the country,” said Franklin,” he’s also widely respected as one of the top broadcasters period.”

Prior to his talk, which will be taped to air on the Big Ten Network, Buck will appear at Nick’s at 5:30 p.m. to support a fundraiser for the Bloomington Press Club’s scholarship fund. Tax-deductible tickets are $50, available by contact member Sherry Rouse by e-mail or phone at (812) 855-1024.

Buck headlines scholarship fundraiser

Gena Asher — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 16:30:18 +0000

The School of Journalism’s last guest of the fall Speaker Series, sportscaster Joe Buck, will help out with IU scholarships while he’s here Nov. 10.

The Bloomington Press Club will host a fundraiser featuring the Fox Sports personality at 5 p.m. at Nick’s English Hut, 423 E. Kirkwood Ave. Buck speaks at the Buskirk-Chumley Theater, 114 E. Kirkwood Ave., that evening at 7 p.m. in a free lecture open to the public.

Tickets to the fundraiser are $50, $40 of which is tax-deductible, and help fund the club’s scholarships for IU students who serve as interns for area organizations. Attendees will gather in the upstairs bar to hear from Buck. Food and soft drinks are included.

Only 100 tickets are available. Contact club treasurer Sherry Rouse at (812)855-1024 or by e-mail for tickets.

Buck is a six-time Emmy Award-winner who handles lead play-by-play duties for Fox Sports’ Emmy Award-winning coverage of Major League Baseball and the National Football League. He attended IU in the telecommunications program.

Alumni gathering Friday in Indy

Gena Asher — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 13:05:59 +0000

Experts Workshop matches alumni, students for critique sessions (Nov. 15)
Buck headlines scholarship fundraiser (Nov. 3)
Alumna Lovejoy talks about health, science public relations (Oct. 1)

The School of Journalism Alumni Board members invite alumni and friends to join them for a reception Friday, Nov. 6, at the Rock Bottom Restaurant and Brewery in Indianapolis.

The socializing starts at 5:30 p.m. Attendees also will hear updates about the school from Dean Brad Hamm and Tim Franklin, director of the National Sports Journalism Center.

The reception is in the billiards room, where attendees also may enjoy appetizers and the cash bar. Parking is available across the street from the restaurant at the Circle Centre mall parking garage.

RSVP to Sarah Pappano at the IU Alumni Association by e-mail or phone, (812) 855-6120 or (800) 824-3044.

Alumna Lovejoy talks about health, science public relations

akroliko — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 19:08:13 +0000

Photo by Shabrelle Pollock

Marsha Dawes Lovejoy, BAJ ‘08, talked about her job at Cook Medical in Bloomington. She hadn’t considered a job in PR, but this one proved to be a good fit, she said.

Newspaper editors tell how they guide narrative storytelling (Nov. 23)
Experts Workshop matches alumni, students for critique sessions (Nov. 15)
Star editor advises using data to 'cut through the noise' (Nov. 15)

Until Marsha Dawes Lovejoy, BAJ ‘08, landed a job as public relations coordinator at Cook Medical in Bloomington, she seldom had thought about a career in health care public relations.

“Health care PR wasn’t at the top of my list or my classmates’ lists, either,” Lovejoy told a public relations class Sept. 30. A guest of Ralph Winslow Visiting Professor Jim Bright, Lovejoy talked to J349 Public Relations Writing students.

Several seniors in the class could relate to Lovejoy’s dilemma of starting the job search. She recalled that as graduation day approached in May 2008, she heard Cook Medical was hiring. It offered many of the things that she wanted: a corporate public relations job, based job Bloomington and travel involved. Cook Medical fit the bill.

After more than a year on the job, Lovejoy said she loves it. She writes news releases and fact sheets, works on company publications and coordinates media interviews.

Her biggest challenge: How to take seemingly complex medical terms and turn them into something that will make them easy to understand.

“This is something that takes time to learn to do well,” Lovejoy said.

Lovejoy says it’s also important to make sure you clearly understand basic concepts before starting to give advice on it, she added. She recommends taking biology classes in college to become familiar with scientific terms.

Lovejoy and her colleagues keep up with advancements in the medical world and with electronic communications. She and her Cook Medical teammates have Twitter accounts, enabling them to send and receive breakthrough information as it happens.

While health care can be a challenging field, it has many benefits, she said. PR pros help doctors translate their information to the general public. They also help patients, even if it’s indirectly.

“I have had patients come up to me, hug me and say thank you for your products,” Lovejoy said. “Thank you for what you do.”

Interested in health public relations?

To help IU students prepare for these health public relations opportunities, the IU School of Journalism is offering a new course, J360 Informed Health Reporting, for spring. The course, taught by Riley Visiting Professor Dennis Elliott, will meet on Mondays and Wednesdays from 9:30-10:45 a.m.

Golf outing to benefit alumna’s recovery fund

SoJ Web Report — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 19:43:01 +0000

Experts Workshop matches alumni, students for critique sessions (Nov. 15)
Buck headlines scholarship fundraiser (Nov. 3)
Alumni gathering Friday in Indy (Nov. 3)

Friends and family of Whitney King, BAJ ’09, are organizing a golf tournament Sept. 13 at Eagle Pointe Golf Resort on Lake Monroe to benefit the Whitney King Recovery Fund. King was seriously injured in a traffic accident July 30 and is at Rehabilitation Hospital of Indiana in Indianapolis.

The tournament begins at noon with a shotgun start and the cost is $50 per person. For those not interested in golfing, the organizers are offering a cornhole tournament and various activities at the pool.

To sign up for the tournament, e-mail Jacob King at jacobking@eaglepointe.com or call him at (317)339-2607 if you have other questions.

You can follow King’s progress through family reports at CaringBridge, www.caringbridge.org/visit/whitneyking/.

Read about the accident at the IDS News Web site.

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