School of Journalism & Media

Gentry Explored Election Intimidation, State of American Democracy During News21 Fellowship

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Getting someone to open up about election intimidation and the death threats they received as a result of their commitment to ensure fair and just elections is no easy task.

However, that was what School of Journalism and Media (J&M) senior Pierce Gentry was tasked to do as he spent his summer conducting in-depth field reporting on the state of American Democracy as part of the Carnegie-Knight News21 Fellowship.

Gentry was one of twenty-nine journalists from across the country that participated in the ten-week reporting fellowship at the Arizona State University Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication. 

The … Read more “Gentry Explored Election Intimidation, State of American Democracy During News21 Fellowship”

Students, First-Time International Travelers Report In Prague Over The Summer

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It’s not every day a college student gets to report in a foreign country.

That’s how School of Journalism and Media junior Alexa Durben viewed the opportunity to participate in this summer’s Going on Assignment in Prague study abroad program. 

It was also the aspiring newscaster’s first time traveling outside the United States.

“I’ve never been to Europe, so the fact that this was my first experience, it definitely was a treat to be able to go,” Durben said. “I would recommend Prague to anybody, and I would recommend this program to anybody.”

Going on Assignment in Prague provides students … Read more “Students, First-Time International Travelers Report In Prague Over The Summer”

Students Produce Documentary On Red Dead’s History, Popular UT Class, Book

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Students and faculty advisors with Lumos Media Services and Land Grant Films pose for a group photo following Red Dead Redemption series actors Roger Clark and Rob Wiethoff after they surprised students in one of Associate Professor Tore Olsson’s Red Dead History course this past spring.

Alumnus and Lumos Media Services advisor Austin Orr (’22,’24)  recalls signing up for Associate Professor Tore Olsson’s inaugural Red Dead History course.

Olsson uses the popular Red Dead Redemption video game series as part of the course to introduce students to different events, people, and themes of American history in the West, deep South … Read more “Students Produce Documentary On Red Dead’s History, Popular UT Class, Book”

CCI Welcomes 12 New Faculty in Fall 2024

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Twelve faculty joined the College of Communication and Information this year, ready to add their expertise, scholarship, and instruction to their respective schools, the college, and the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. Here’s a little bit more about them:

School of Communication Studies

Assistant Professor Elizabeth Carlson

Carlson made the move to the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, to be in a more research-intensive environment. Her area of expertise studies how people learn to work together, and public safety communication, including disaster-preparedness, mobile warning messages, and more. Carlson hopes to broaden her research and use that to keep her teaching fresh. 

She’s

… Read more “CCI Welcomes 12 New Faculty in Fall 2024”

CCI Schools Win 2024 AEJMC Equity and Diversity Award

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The Tombras School of Advertising and Public Relations and the School of Journalism and Media received the 2024 Equity and Diversity Award from the Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication (AEJMC) at its annual conference in Philadelphia.

AEJMC is a prominent international organization for academics in the field, providing regional and national conferences and refereed publications. It consists of various membership divisions, interest groups, publications, and websites.

The Equity and Diversity Award is a prestigious honor recognizing academic programs in journalism and mass communication that have shown measurable success in promoting equity and diversity. The winning programs must

… Read more “CCI Schools Win 2024 AEJMC Equity and Diversity Award”

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”

CCI Alumna Cindy Brewer Establishes LEO Events Fellows Program to Promote Corporate Event Production Careers 

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There are so many communication careers out there that sometimes it is difficult to share the breadth of opportunity within the field with college students. But College of Communication and Information alumna Cindy Brewer (’91) wanted to open the world of corporate events to students at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, so she established the LEO Events Fellows Program, which launches this fall. 

“People don’t know our jobs exist or how lucrative they are—it’s a path for journalism, for broadcast, for so many things coming out of that college,” said Brewer, who graduated from the college with a degree in … Read more “CCI Alumna Cindy Brewer Establishes LEO Events Fellows Program to Promote Corporate Event Production Careers ”

CCI Alumna Cindy Brewer Establishes LEO Events Fellows Program to Promote Corporate Event Production Careers 

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There are so many communication careers out there that sometimes it is difficult to share the breadth of opportunity within the field with college students. But College of Communication and Information alumna Cindy Brewer (’91) wanted to open the world of corporate events to students at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, so she established the LEO Events Fellows Program, which launches this fall. 

“People don’t know our jobs exist or how lucrative they are—it’s a path for journalism, for broadcast, for so many things coming out of that college,” said Brewer, who graduated from the college with a degree in … Read more “CCI Alumna Cindy Brewer Establishes LEO Events Fellows Program to Promote Corporate Event Production Careers ”

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”

CCI Alum Gives $4.5 Million to Establish the Alan and Wendy Wilson Communication and Leadership Academy

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Alan Wilson (’80) used communication skills he learned at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, every day of his storied business career, which culminated as Chairman and CEO of McCormick and Company. 

“The most important part of my job as CEO was communicating. I spent most of my time doing that, but leadership really is about communication—it’s about helping people understand what your strategies are and bringing them into alignment with those strategies,” he said.

The importance of communication in business and leadership is why he and his wife, Wendy Wilson, are investing $4.5 million to establish the Alan and Wendy

… Read more “CCI Alum Gives $4.5 Million to Establish the Alan and Wendy Wilson Communication and Leadership Academy”