School of Journalism & Media

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

by

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

by

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

by

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

by

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 

by

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 

by

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

by

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

by

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”

Alumna Cecelia Prewett Sees Her Study Abroad Scholarship Impact by Joining Ireland Trip

by

When Cecelia Prewett (’93) was studying journalism at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, she had one of the most impactful experiences of her life when she participated in a study abroad trip to the Netherlands.

“It changed my life. So, when I was asked to join the Board of Visitors and they said, ‘You can do direct giving or give to the general fund.’ I said immediately I want to help change somebody’s life like mine was,” she said.

With that knowledge, Prewett established a scholarship specifically earmarked to support students at the College of Communication and Information who want … Read more “Alumna Cecelia Prewett Sees Her Study Abroad Scholarship Impact by Joining Ireland Trip”

CCI Faculty Present At ICA Conference; Iannocone Earns Top Thesis/Dissertation Award

by

Tombras School of Advertising and Public Relations Assistant Professor Jeannettee Iannacone was honored with the James E. Grunig and Larissa A. Grunig Outstanding Thesis and Dissertation Award at the 2024 International Communication Association Conference (ICA).

Iannacone was part of a group of College of Communication and Information doctoral students and faculty members from the Tombras School and the School of Journalism and Media (JEM) representing the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, at the prestigious conference in June.

JEMa Assistant Professor Mustafa Oz said ICA is a highly important conference in the communication field, attracting thousands of academics and scholars from around … Read more “CCI Faculty Present At ICA Conference; Iannocone Earns Top Thesis/Dissertation Award”