School of Journalism & Media

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”

40 Under 40: Alumna Heather Melton Lives the Volunteer Creed Every Day 

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Alumna and Volunteer 40 Under 40 Class of 2024 inductee Heather Melton (‘06) works as the executive director of the Kidney Foundation of the Greater Chattanooga Area helping hundreds of individuals. Pictured from left to right are foundation staff members Genna Parker, Kirbee Hutchins, Melton, and Susannah Shaver.

For more than a decade, alumna Heather Melton (‘06) has helped hundreds of individuals who rely on the life-saving services offered through the Kidney Foundation of the Greater Chattanooga Area. 

Her dedication and passion to help others has earned her a spot on the Volunteer 40 Under 40 Class of 2024, which … Read more “40 Under 40: Alumna Heather Melton Lives the Volunteer Creed Every Day ”

Tarwater, WVLT Wins Emmy® Awards For Documentary On Clemency For Cash Scandal

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School of Journalism and Media Assistant Professor of Practice Brittany Tarwater (‘09) won Midsouth Regional Emmy® Awards for her work on the WVLT News Original Documentary, A Tennessee Waltz: Ray Blanton’s Last Dance

School of Journalism and Media Assistant Professor of Practice Brittany Tarwater (‘09) isn’t sure what made her take author Keel Hunt’s book on vacation that day.

Titled Coup: The Day the Democrats Ousted Their Governor, Put Republican Lamar Alexander in Office Early, and Stopped a Pardon Scandal, Hunt’s book captured the behind-the-scenes story of how Tennessee Democrats and Republicans banded together to remove former Gov. Ray Blanton … Read more “Tarwater, WVLT Wins Emmy® Awards For Documentary On Clemency For Cash Scandal”

Doctoral Student’s Research Seeks to Improve Health Information Messaging in Rural Communities

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Doctoral student Kristin Schrader won first place for best doctoral student research presentation at the 46th Annual College of Communication and Information Research Symposium on Feb. 8.

While rates of colon cancer are pretty similar across rural and urban areas, research shows rural residents typically find the cancer at a much later stage.

This can lead to them experiencing higher rates of death and severe acute illness related to colon cancer. This occurs despite both rural and urban populations receiving similar messaging from public health agencies encouraging routine preventative screenings.

In an effort to understand this disparity and encourage more … Read more “Doctoral Student’s Research Seeks to Improve Health Information Messaging in Rural Communities”

40 Under 40: Alumna Erin Exum Finds Passion and Success Through Sports Communication

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As a child, alumna Erin Exum (‘10) dreamed about becoming a sideline reporter.

This dream brought the Florida native and fervent Tennessee Vols fan to the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, to study journalism. However, not long after, she realized being a reporter was not her calling after all.

But, that didn’t deter her from finding a way to still tell impactful stories from the sidelines. 

For eight years, Exum worked for different NFL organizations leading their media relations and communications efforts. She later took her communications expertise to Electronic Arts (EA) Sports where she currently leads efforts to grow their … Read more “40 Under 40: Alumna Erin Exum Finds Passion and Success Through Sports Communication”

40 Under 40: Alumna, Award-Winning Broadcaster Heather Waliga Proud To Serve East Tennessee

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Alumna Heather Waliga (‘06) co-hosts 10News Today for WBIR-TV and Fox43 News This Morning in Knoxville. She joined the team in March 2018. Pictured, from left to right are: Morning News Anchor Abby Ham, Meteorologist Rebecca Sweet and Waliga.

Knoxville native and alumna Heather Waliga (‘06) was thrilled to accept the anchor position at WBIR-TV in 2018.

“I love doing this job in the community that I grew up in because I feel even more connected and invested in the people who live here and it’s really fun to tell the stories of people here in East Tennessee,” Waliga said.… Read more “40 Under 40: Alumna, Award-Winning Broadcaster Heather Waliga Proud To Serve East Tennessee”

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”

UT Alum, Award-winning Reporter Brittany Tarwater Brings Industry Experience to the Classroom

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Caption: Award-winning reporter and alumna Brittany Tarwater (’09) working for WVLT News. Tarwater is the School of Journalism and Media’s newest full-time assistant professor of practice.

One of alumna Brittany Tarwater’s (‘09) favorite classes as a student was Journalism and Electronic Media 460—colloquially known to students then as UT Today.

The class operated similarly to a newsroom while students worked on their writing, editing, and broadcasting skills. Professor Emeritus Sam Swan taught the course. Tarwater said Swan “fanned the flames” for her when it came to pursuing a career in broadcasting. She added his patience, advice, and guidance helped her … Read more “UT Alum, Award-winning Reporter Brittany Tarwater Brings Industry Experience to the Classroom”

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”