News and Calendar of Events
School of Mass Communication Events
For a complete look at all upcoming events go to the calendar.
News and Announcements
Journalism instructor elected to Press Club of New Orleans Board
Les East, journalism instructor in Loyola's School of Mass Communication was elected to the 2008-09 Press Club of New Orleans board at the club’s annual meeting on Thursday, June 26, 2008. East will be the sole member of the Journalism Education division. For a complete list of board members, visit the Press Club of New Orleans.
Environmental Communications professor honored by diplomacy council
Dr. Robert A. Thomas, interim director of the School of Mass
Communication, will receive the Outstanding Citizen Diplomat Award from
the New Orleans Citizen Diplomacy Council on June 26 at 7 p.m. at the
Southern Food and Beverage Museum in the Riverwalk Marketplace.
This is the second year that the New Orleans Citizen Diplomacy Council has honored three professionals in the community for shaping U.S. foreign relations by meeting with visitors. Dr. Raphael Cassimere, Professor Emeritus of History at the University of New Orleans, and Vicki Weeks, executive director of Belle Reve New Orleans, will also be recognized.
Dr. Thomas has worked with the New Orleans Citizen Diplomacy Council
from the past 20 years, hosting visitors from around the world and
sharing with them stories of New Orleans, its climate and its people.
Since 2005, Dr. Thomas has brought visitors on tours of the devastated
areas of the city and discussed the impact the storm had on area. Dr.
Thomas has hosted visitors from Canada, Russia, Montenegro, Holland and
Azerbaijan, among others. He also played host to the Amir of Qatar on
his highness' April visit to New Orleans, when he met with recipients of
Qatar's $100 million gift to the Gulf States region.
Public Relations Alum elected PRSSA National President
Brandi Boatner, A'05, was elected the 2008-09 National President for the Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA). Boatner, a graduate student studying for her master's degree in communications and international marketing at Hawaii Pacific University, is the organization's first African-American female president as well as first national president to represent Hawaii. As PRSSA national president, Boatner will act as the principal administrative officer of the PRSSA National Committee. The committee manages the business affairs of PRSSA and functions as a guide to members who have concerns or are interested in participating nationally within the Society. Boatner will supervise the PRSSA National Conference, organize and supervise PRSSA national subcommittees, advise and instruct committee members on policies and procedures of PRSSA, and administer PRSSA chapter and member reward programs.
Society of Professional Journalists at Loyola hosts regional conference
The Loyola chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists hosted SPJ's annual spring regional conference March 28-29, 2008 at Loyola University New Orleans.
More than a hundred journalists attended the two-day conference, which included panel discussions on covering disasters, media coverage of race and class in the Jena Six assault stories, plagiarism, online media, open meetings, media convergence, among other topics.
The conference was a joint production of SPJ's Region 8 and Region 12, which includes Louisiana, Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Mississippi, and Tennessee. Participants representing the following organizations attended conference events: Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Arkansas State University, Gambit Weekly, Knoxville News Sentinel, Northwestern Oklahoma State University, The Oak Ridger, Oklahoma Gazette, Oklahoma State University, San Antonio Express News, Southeastern Louisiana University, Tarleton State University, Tarrant County College, Texas State University, The Times-Picayune, The Mississippi Press, University of Arkansas, University of Louisiana at Lafayette, University of Mississippi, University of Tennessee, University of Texas at Austin, Wedgwood News, and The Wynne Progress.
Public Relations Student Society of America at Loyola hosts spring regional
Loyola University New Orleans’ chapter of the Public Relations Student Society of America hosted their first-ever regional activity, “Crisis Communication: New Orleans Is Open For Business” March 29-30, 2008. More than twenty students from Loyola University, Louisiana State University, Southern University, Nicholls State University and the University of South Alabama converged on campus the morning of March 29 for a crisis communication bus tour of Downtown New Orleans. The tour included stops at the Aquarium of the Americas, the National World War II Museum, and the New Orleans Convention and Visitors’ Bureau.
Public relations professionals gave presentations on the role of crisis communication at each organization post-Katrina. Presenntations included FedEx Senior Communications Specialist, Ryan Furby, A'00, a former PRSSA member who worked in conjunction with the Audubon Nature Institute and Ketchum on the Silver Anvil award-winning campaign “Flight of the Penguins-A Homecoming Celebration to New Orleans.” Following the bus tour, the day ended with a PRSA and alumni networking social in the Audubon Room in Loyola's Danna Student Center featuring the music of a local jazz trio. The activity concluded on Sunday morning with a streetcar ride downtown and a rooftop brunch at Keating-Magee Momentum Marketing’s Jackson Brewery office.
Environmental Communication professor addresses climate change
Robert A. Thomas, Ph.D., interim director of the School of Mass Communication, was a keynote speaker at the Tulane Law School's 13th Annual Environmental Conference on Law, Sciences & the Public Interest on April 4-5, 2008.
Dr. Thomas delivered the keynote address on climate change with Dr. Jay Gulledge, the senior scientist and program manager for science and impacts at the Pew Center on Global Climate Change. The address was a primer for the conference's panels discussing the risks of climate change in the context of scientific uncertainty.
Dr. Thomas also participated in a panel discussion on global warming's effect on endangered species. Panelists included Karla Raettig of the National Wildlife Federation, Kassie Siegel of the Center for Biological Diversity, and Jill Witkowski of the Tulane Environmental Law Clinic.
Journalism professor works as field producer on TNT movie
Prof. Lisa Martin, A'95, worked as a field producer in March on the cable network TNT movie, The Librarian: The Curse of the Judas Chalice. The movie is scheduled to air in winter 2008. During her work, Martin interviewed several of the movie's cast members, including Noah Wyle, an actor on the popular TV show ER; Bob Newhart, an actor from The Bob Newhart Show; Bruce Davison, an actor from X-Men and Knight Rider; and Stana Katic, an actress from Feast of Love.
Advertising professor participates in Gulf South Summit on Service-Learning
Dr. Anita Day, Ph.D., advertising sequence head, presented information about the School of Mass Communication's Advertising Campaigns course at the 2008 Gulf South Summit on Service Learning hosted by Belmont University in Nashville, Tenn., March 13-15, 2008.
Dr. Day shared information with conference participants about how she used service learning in her Fall 2007 Advertising Campaigns course. Students in the course adopted a New Orleans area non-profit school faced with declining enrollment and addressed the school's problems through a comprehensive advertising campaign.
The students' work for The Hill School, an elementary and middle school in New Orleans’ Lower Garden District neighborhood, included creating a situation analysis, descriptions of the school's target market, media planning, public relations and promotions recommendations. The students presented their work to the school's board of directors in December 2007.
Themes for the 2008 Gulf South Summit on Service-Learning were community engagement, civic responsibility and democratic renewal. The annual conference serves as a forum for best practices, sharing research, and development of a professional network of practicioners in all aspects of service-learning.
Alums named to Photo District News' List of "30 Under 30"
Loyola alums Jesse Morgan-Owens, A'99 and James Owens, A' 99, both English Writing majors who studied photojournalism in the School of Mass Communication, were named to Photo District News' prestigous list of "30 Under 30."
Jesse and James met and married in New Orleans. Now based in Brooklyn, the couple have been shooting together since 2000. These days they photograph for Travel+Leisure, Budget Travel, Everyday with Rachel Ray, and custom publications. The couple recently completed a book project for Harper Collins, scheduled for early this year.
Current projects include a portrait-based exhibit on networks and their influence on the art world, and a book on how readers visualize literary images.
Journalism alum to show film at Cannes Film Festival
Brian Clarey, A'93, editor of YES! Weekly in Greensboro, NC, joined forces with a team of actors, technicians, and friends -- the Keene Collaborative -- to create "JoBeth" for the Greensboro (NC) 48-Hour Film Project. In late February, the film was chosen at Filmapalooza in San Jose, Calif., to be screened at the Short Film Corner at the annual Festival du Cannes in the south of France, along with four other national winners. Clarey says he plans to be there.
Clarey worked on The Maroon when he was a student at Loyola University New Orleans. He has been editor of YES! Weekly since its inception in December 2004. "JoBeth" can be viewed on YouTube here.
School of Mass Communication hosts 32nd annual Tom Bell Silver Scribe High School Journalism Competition
The School of Mass Communication hosted the 32nd Annual Tom Bell Silver Scribe High School Journalism Competition on Saturday, March 1, 2008. The event was held on the third floor of the Communications/Music Complex.
John Walsh of Jesuit High School was awarded the Silver Scribe Grand Award. Jesuit's newspaper, The Blue Jay, and Baton Rouge Magnet High School's newspaper, Campus Currents, tied for best newspaper, and Jesuit won the sweepstakes award for most points amassed by students from one school.
More than 35 students from nine area high schools participated. The annual day-long competition is co-sponsored by the Press Club of New Orleans and Loyola’s School of Mass Communication. The event is named after its founder, the late Tom Bell, a longtime Loyola journalism professor and a former Press Club president.
Journalism professor travels to Boston to aid in recovery of New Orleans healthcare system
Prof. Lisa Martin, A'95, traveled to Boston, Mass., with representatives from the Tulane School of Medicine and several New Orleans city leaders March 3-4, 2008. During the trip, the group looked at health care models in Boston in an effort to incorporate similar models during the hurricane recovery in New Orleans.
Farewell to the Chief
Alumnus and beloved former journalism faculty member Edwin P. Fricke, Sr., A’48, passed away November 14 at the age of 84. Fricke served in the U.S. Army during World War II and was a disabled veteran before finishing his education at Loyola and returning to teach. While here, he served as adviser to The Maroon and The Wolf, leaving his students with tough lessons and fond memories. Former students and friends can go to www.legacy.com to post their remembrances.
Communication studies alum stars in TV show
Rising star Mykel Shannon Jenkins, A’93, is playing the role of Lt. Baker’s son, Charlie Baker, on the soap opera “The Bold and the Beautiful.” Born in Biloxi, Miss., Mykel traveled around the U.S. due to his father’s position as an officer in the USAF, eventually settling in New Orleans. After graduating from Loyola, Mykel made a name for himself as an on-air personality hosting New Orleans’ “WB38 Kids Club.” In 2003, Mykel, his wife, Tracy, A’92, L’96, and their son made the move to Hollywood where he began auditioning and taking roles in various movies and television shows. In 2004, he landed a 13-week gig on ABC’s “General Hospital” as Officer Murphy.
Public Relations professor receives Marquette Fellowship
Cathy Rogers, Ph.D., public relations sequence head, was awarded a Marquette Faculty Fellowship for the Summer of 2008. With her fellowship, Dr. Rogers plans to conduct a qualitative study of the use of persuasion in public opinion formation and coalition building, with particular emphasis on challenges New Orleans faces following Hurricane Katrina.
The Marquette Faculty Fellowship is annually awarded to tenured and tenure-track faculty at Loyola University New Orleans to support scholarly and creative activities. Up to five faculty members are named Marquette Faculty Fellows each year and receive stipends of $7,500 to support two months of full-time work on scholarly or creative projects. The university's president and the provost select the Marquette Faculty Fellows upon the recommendation of the University Committee on Grants and Leaves.
Journalism professor receives $34,000 grant
Leslie Parr, Ph.D., associate professor in the School of Mass Communication and journalism sequence head, was recently awarded $34,955 from the Louisiana Endowment for the Humanities in support of a project entitled "Looking at History: Photography and the American Past." The grant was awarded to Dr. Parr as part of the LEH Teacher Institute for Advanced Study.
Public Relations professor honored for service by local professional organization
Cathy Rogers, Ph.D., associate professor in mass communication and public relations sequence head, was honored by the New Orleans Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America as one of the chapter's most active members. Dr. Rogers was given the organization's Great Ball of Fire Award, which is annually presented to the chapter's “most active member, who gives willingly of his/her time, talent and resources to help the chapter achieve its goals." Dr. Rogers received the award at the PRSA New Orleans' annual awards banquet Nov. 14, 2007. This is the second time Rogers received the award. She previously received the same honor in 1996.
Journalism professor celebrates second year on the air at WRBH Radio
S.L. Alexander, Ph.D., associate professor in the School of Mass Communication, recently celebrated her second anniversary as host of “Writer’s Forum,” a weekly program on WRBH 88.3 FM in New Orleans where Alexander interviews the authors of popular books.
Alexander has hosted the program with subjects including Walter Isaacson, author of Einstein: His Life and Universe; Debbie Macomber, who sold 70 million copies of more than 150 romance titles; (the now of-late) Bebe Moore Campbell (“maybe the most important [female] African-American novelist of the century”); and the original Sweet Potato Queen, Jill Connner Browne.
Numerous members of New Orleans‘ literary community have discussed their recent books, including poet/essayist Andrei Codrescu, mystery writer Julie Smith, historian Patricia Brady, columnist Ronnie Virgets, author Jason Berry, and dozens of other local and national writers. Writer’s Forum is heard in New Orleans 7:30 a.m. Saturdays, 8:30 a.m. and 10:30 p.m. Sundays at 88.3 FM or online at wrbh.org.
Professor selected to participate in governor-elect's transition team
Governor-Elect Bobby Jindal recently announced that Robert A. Thomas, Ph.D., Loyola University New Orleans Interim Director School of Mass Communication, Chair in Environmental Communications, and professor, will serve as chair of the newly formed Environment Group of the Economic Growth Transition Advisory Council.
The Economic Growth Transition Advisory Council has seven groups of focus, including Business Retention and Recruitment, Environment, Higher Education, Natural Resources, Small Business and Entrepreneurship, Transportation, and Workforce.
Thomas is the director of the Center for Environmental Communications at Loyola. Thomas was the founding director of the Louisiana Nature Center, where he served as the liaison for the community in information pertaining to science education, environmental issues, and natural history. He is the past president of the Association of Nature Center Administrators and has served on the Accreditation Commission of the American Association of Museums, and as chair of the Environmental Advisory Committee for the Strategic Petroleum Reserve. Thomas received his doctorate in vertebrate zoology from Texas A&M University and holds adjunct professorships at the University of New Orleans, Tulane University, and Louisiana State University.
Professor appears on panel for national law enforcement conference
Visiting Professor Michael Perlstein was a member of a panel discussion on criminal justice journalism at the International Association of Chiefs of Police conference held in New Orleans, October 13-17. More than 17,000 law enforcement professionals from across the country attended the conference. The panel Perlstein appeared on was called "Criminal Justice Journalists: Why is Crime Increasing in Many Cities?" Other guests on the panel included: Ted Gest, president of the Criminal Justice Journalists Association in Washington D.C.; David Kunkle, Chief of the Dallas Police Department; and Peter Scharf, research professor of criminal justice at Texas State University in San Marcos, Tex.
Mass Communication students, professor featured in story on text messaging
Several Mass Communication students and Dr. Anita Day, advertising sequence head, were featured in a TV news story on text messaging. The story, which aired in October 2007 on WDSU-TV Channel 6 in New Orleans, focused on college students' reliance on text messaging.
The students featured in the story included sophomore Trevor Cassidy (pictured left) and senior Qiana Millon-Anderson.
Download the story.
Advertising alum featured in magazine's "People to Watch 2007"
Amy Boyle, A'96, the executive director of the Young Leadership Council (YLC), which focuses on leadership development of young professionals through community projects and civic engagement, was featured in New Orleans Magazine's "People to Watch 2007" feature in September.
Boyle spent the last 10 years as a specialist in marketing, advertising and public relations. In 2006, she worked for J. Walter Thompson – a national advertising agency. While traveling for work, all the New Orleans native could think about was what was happening in her hometown.
Always active in the community, she served on the board of directors for the YLC and “my goal became landing this job,” she said. “So I could work on the rebuilding full time with an organization that had a seat at the proverbial table and could make a difference … It’s these people – the dedicated people of our city who have made a difference – that inspire me and affirm my decision to be here and involved in the renaissance of a great American city.”
What’s next? “I want to be able to say that YLC has a project that impacts every aspect of the recovery in New Orleans.” She also wants to end the year raising more money than in 2006. “I always want to grow our base so we can continue to do more and more in the community.”
Interim director appears on NBC's The Today Show
Robert A. Thomas, Ph.D., Interim Director of the School of Mass Communication, and Loyola Chair in Environmental Communications, appeared Sept. 6 on NBC’s “The Today Show” as part of the program's "America the Beautiful" series, a travel program that highlights unique and beautiful parts of the United States.
"The Today Show" weatherman Al Roker interviewed Thomas about the geographic, economic and lifestyle aspects of the New Orleans metro area and the Gulf Coast.
Memorial scholarship created in memory of slain graduate
Friends and family of Nia Robertson, A'04, are honoring her memory through the creation of a memorial scholarship at Loyola University New Orleans. Named the Nia Robertson Memorial Scholarship, friends and family are aiming to design an endowed scholarship to be provided for a person from New Orleans, attending the School of Mass Communication at Loyola, and interested in social causes, who needs financial help to further his or her education.
Friends of Robertson are aiming to collect $25,000 to create an annual endowed scholarship. Donations to the Nia Robertson Memorial Scholarship should be mailed to Loyola University New Orleans, 7214 St. Charles Ave., Campus Box 909, New Orleans, LA, 70118. Checks can be made payable to the scholarship or simply to Loyola University New Orleans. Gifts can also be made online by visiting www.loyno.edu and clicking on “Giving to Loyola” and then, “Give Now.” On the form, please check “Other” and indicate in the text box that the donation is for this scholarship. All donations will be acknowledged, and the parents will be notified of gifts made in Robertson’s memory.
Public Relations professor joins School of Mass Communication
Prof. Valerie Andrews joined the faculty of the School of Mass Communication in August. Andrews teaches in the public relations program.
Previously, Valerie was assistant professor of Mass Communication at Georgia College & State University in Milledgeville, where she taught public relations and advertising courses. She also has taught at Louisiana State University, University of Southern Mississippi, and Tulane University.
A graduate of Northwestern State University in Natchitoches, La., Andrews received her master’s degree in journalism from Louisiana State University. She is a native of Gonzales, La., the Jambalaya Capital of the World, which was founded by her great-grandfather, Joseph "Tee Joe" Gonzales.
Valerie has worked extensively in public relations and advertising for companies in manufacturing, food service, printing and educational materials. She has held editorial positions with two magazines, including senior editor of the Journal for Minority Medical Students. She has been published in academic journals and has made scholarly presentations at numerous national conferences.
Other News
- Journalism instructor named to Press Club of New Orleans Board(July 2008)
- Journalism alum named WAFB General Manager (June 2008)
- Public Relations alum named national president of PRSSA (May 2008)
- Communications alum named Ad Person of the Year by Ad Club of New Orleans (April 2008)
- The Maroon, Loyola's student newspaper, wins top regional awards (April 2008)
- The Wolf takes regional honors at the Southeast Journalism Competition (March 2008)
- Student reporters find real-world experience in Audubon Park (March 2008)
- Marquette Faculty Fellowships award by Loyola (February 2008)
- Journalism professor receives humanities grant (January 2008)
- Young and broke in the city, but staying afloat (January 2008)
- Advertising alum named new chair of Center for Job Order Contractor Excellence (January 2008)
- Faculty members honored for 25 years of service (January 2008)
- Former Adviser to The Maroon dies at 84 (January 2008)
- Institute for Environmental Communication welcomes new fellows (November 2007)
- Public Relations professionals honor Loyola professor (November 2007)
- Journalism professor and court expert featured in U.S.-Canada Judicial Conference (November 2007)
- Journalism professor celebrates second year on the air at WRBH (November 2007)
- Professor selected to participate in governor-elect's transition team (November 2007)
- Journalism professor presents lecture on media coverage of the American court system (September 2007)
- Public Relations alum elected to PRSSA national committee (September 2007)
- The Maroon nominated for seventh Pacemaker Award (September 2007)
- Public Relations alum and author to conduct booksigning (September 2007)
- Interim director to appear on NBC's The Today Show (September 2007)
- Memorial scholarship created in memory of slain graduate (August 2007)
- Alum named the Voice of the Green Wave (August 2007)