School of Journalism & Media

Student Documenting Triathlete’s Journey To The 2024 Paralympic Games

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Senior Lukas Vysniauskas (left) in Park City, Utah with triathlete Carson Clough (right) ahead of the 2024 Paralympic Games in Paris.

Senior Lukas Vysniauskas did not know what to expect when he traveled to Park City, Utah, this summer to film US Paralympian Carson Clough’s training ahead of the 2024 Paralympic Games in Paris.

Vysniauskas is one of nine School of Journalism and Media students who will be covering the Paralympic Games for the USA TODAY Network. His primary role is to be the group’s videographer, providing video content for online and social media.

While brainstorming content ideas ahead … Read more “Student Documenting Triathlete’s Journey To The 2024 Paralympic Games”

Lady Vol Basketball Player Jewel Spear Gains Leadership Skills in Rwanda

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When Lady Vol basketball player and School of Journalism and Media alumna Jewel Spear (`24) first learned about the Tennessee-Rwanda Leadership Experience, she knew almost instantly she wanted to take advantage of this program.

During a routine visit to meet with her academic advisor last year, Spear met with Senior Associate Athletics Director and Associate Provost Marshall Steward, who informed her she was nominated to participate in the Tennessee-Rwanda Leadership Experience. 

Organized by the Division of Access and Engagement and the Thornton Athletics Student Life Center, the Tennessee-Rwanda Leadership Experience brings together twenty to twenty-five students to participate in … Read more “Lady Vol Basketball Player Jewel Spear Gains Leadership Skills in Rwanda”

Scovel Named National Wrestling Media Association Journalist Of The Year 

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When Assistant Professor Shannon Scovel and her father attended the 2017 NCAA wrestling championships, it was a special moment both personally and professionally for the wrestling beat journalist.

After covering the early sessions for American University, Scovel joined her father in the stands. It had been thirty years since her father, who competed in the 1987 NCAA wrestling championships for the University of Maryland, returned to a national tournament. 

Assistant Professor Shannon Scovel and her father attending the 2022 Division I Wrestling Championships.

The announcer requested anyone who competed in a tournament before to stand and be recognized. Her dad … Read more “Scovel Named National Wrestling Media Association Journalist Of The Year ”

Students Attend Realscreen Summit 2024 in New Orleans

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Students attended Realscreen Summit in 2024 in New Orleans. From left to right: Adjunct Lecturer Clint Elmore, Adjunct Lecturer Melissa Sykes, Fulton Myrick, Garrett Wright, Lukas Vyniauskus, Aaliyah Hammontree, Sierra Scott and, Katlynn Gill

On his first day at Realscreen Summit 2024, senior Lukas Vysniauskas attended a speed networking session.

He met around twenty individuals with various levels of expertise in film production. An aspiring documentary filmmaker, Vysniauskas said he learned a lot about different aspects of the industry, including opportunities he was unaware of prior to attending Realscreen, an annual global market and conference for the unscripted and non-fiction … Read more “Students Attend Realscreen Summit 2024 in New Orleans”

Students Participate In Tennessean Journalism Academy

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The Tennessean from Jan. 9-11, 2024, hosted 13 college students for an inaugural Journalism Academy. From left to right, the students who attended were Stevie Paige from the University of Memphis, Garrett Bland from Tennessee State University, Symone Maxwell from University of Memphis, Marisa Sardonia from East Tennessee State University, Braden Simmons from Belmont University, Ella Grey MacNicoll from the University of Tennessee at Knoxville, Jennifer Lindahl from Austin Peay State University, Charlotte Mauger from Vanderbilt University, Riley Haltom from the UT Knoxville, Alayna Simons from Trevecca Nazarene University, Hannah Cron from Lipscomb University, Shamani Salahuddin from Middle Tennessee State … Read more “Students Participate In Tennessean Journalism Academy”

Graduating Senior Sarah Grace Kennedy Hopes To Reflect The Volunteer Spirit In Her Work

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Learning about the Volunteer spirit convinced graduating senior Sarah Grace Kennedy to attend the University of Tennessee, Knoxville.

“Tennessee stood out to me from most of the schools I got into because I liked the Volunteer spirit,” Kennedy said. “Helping the community is really important to me and I like that we are the Volunteers. That was something special to me.”

Kennedy has been volunteering from a very young age. She and her family raised more than $100,000 for the American Cancer Society through its Relay for Life campaign. She also recalls working with Seeds of Hope, a nonprofit organization … Read more “Graduating Senior Sarah Grace Kennedy Hopes To Reflect The Volunteer Spirit In Her Work”

Graduating Senior Peyton Gravell Grateful For Hands-On Experiences At UT

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Graduating senior Peyton Gravell loves being on-air, but the School of Journalism and Media major was not always comfortable being in front of the camera.

The first time she was on-air for The Volunteer Channel (TVC), she was eager but a bit stiff.

“I could tell she was a natural but she was all in her head,” said Clinton Elmore, the station’s video production specialist and advisor.

He took her aside afterwards and worked with her on having a more conversational tone on-air. Gravell was excited for the constructive feedback and has since ran with it as she works towards … Read more “Graduating Senior Peyton Gravell Grateful For Hands-On Experiences At UT”

Alum Steve Hamer Reflects on Basketball Career, Supporting Future Vols

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Alum Steve Hamer (’20) speaks to adjunct lecturer Phil Kaplan’s JREM 475 Sports Writing class during the fall 2023 semester.

Growing up in Grand Junction, Tennessee, there were two things School of Journalism and Media alumnus Steve Hamer (‘20) wanted to do as a kid: play basketball and commentate on basketball games.

Throughout his career Hamer accomplished both of those things. The former University of Tennessee, Knoxville college basketball standout and NBA player has not only played the game at the highest level but also routinely shares his expertise as a sports commentator for basketball games on the SEC Network … Read more “Alum Steve Hamer Reflects on Basketball Career, Supporting Future Vols”

Students Document UT Alum, Medal of Honor Recipient Larry L. Taylor’s Story For Future Generations

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Above: School of Journalism and Media student Sarah Grace Kennedy interview UT Alum and Medal of Honor Recipient Capt. Larry L. Taylor in Chattanooga.

Twenty years ago, the total number of living Medal of Honor recipients was in the hundreds.

Today, fewer than 100 living recipients remain.

For the past decade, students with the School of Journalism and Media have been documenting the stories of these American heroes as part of the Medal of Honor project — a student-led program produced by Land Grant Films and The Volunteer Channel.

Most recently, junior Carter Moore and senior Sarah Grace Kennedy traveled … Read more “Students Document UT Alum, Medal of Honor Recipient Larry L. Taylor’s Story For Future Generations”

UT Student Media Organizations Win CMA Individual Pinnacle Awards

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The Daily Beacon won a second-place 2023 CMA Individual Pinnacle Award for best special section, four pages or less., for its piece focusing on the impact of the “12th man” during the Tennessee Volunteers’ win over Alabama in October 2022.

Ablaze magazine and The Daily Beacon won three College Media Association Individual Pinnacle Awards last week during the 2023 Associated Collegiate Press/College Media Association Fall National College Media Convention.

“It’s exciting to see The Daily Beacon and Ablaze represent the University of Tennessee, Knoxville at the College Media Association convention,” Office of Student Media Advisor Kylie Irvine said. “We are … Read more “UT Student Media Organizations Win CMA Individual Pinnacle Awards”