School of Journalism & Media

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”

Award-Winning Sports Writer and Broadcast Journalist Gene Wojciechowski Joins CCI Faculty

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Award-winning sports writer and broadcast journalist Gene Wojciechowski (’79) has returned to the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, numerous times during his nearly 26-year career at ESPN. He typically makes time to stop at the College of Communication and Information—where he developed the foundational skills that propelled his career in journalism—to offer students career advice and perspective, as well as reflect on his own career experiences. But the next time he visits CCI, it’ll be as a faculty member in the School of Journalism and Media. Wojciechowski has accepted a position as a full-time professor of practice as the Edward J. … Read more “Award-Winning Sports Writer and Broadcast Journalist Gene Wojciechowski Joins CCI Faculty”

Award-Winning Sports Writer and Broadcast Journalist Gene Wojciechowski Joins CCI Faculty written by Hillary Tune and originally published on the College of Communication & Information site.

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”

Author Chris Grabenstein Receives Donald G. Hileman Distinguished Alumni Award

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Chris Grabenstein (‘77) has been an actor, an improv comedian, a bank officer, an advertising executive, and most recently, a best-selling author. 

To honor his storied career and service as a Volunteer, the College of Communication and Information has named him as the 2023 recipient of the Donald G. Hileman Distinguished Alumni Award. 

Grabenstein can trace back skills he has used in every one of his careers to his time at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, and to what he learned in his communications classes and the many other opportunities on campus he enthusiastically pursued. The Signal Mountain, Tennessee, native … Read more “Author Chris Grabenstein Receives Donald G. Hileman Distinguished Alumni Award”

Author Chris Grabenstein Receives Donald G. Hileman Distinguished Alumni Award written by Hillary Tune and originally published on the College of Communication & Information site.

Students Attend SPJ23 Journalism Convention in Las Vegas

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Students traveled to Las Vegas in September to attend SPJ23 Journalism Convention. Pictured from left to right is Jack Foster, Peyton Gravell and Assistant Professor Michael Martinez

School of Journalism and Media senior Peyton Gravell has been a member of the Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ) student chapter at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville since her first semester on campus.

So, when Assistant Professor Michael Martinez sought students to attend the SPJ23 Journalism Convention this past September, it was an easy decision for Gravell, who serves as the chapter’s vice president.

Martinez said this past conference was the first … Read more “Students Attend SPJ23 Journalism Convention in Las Vegas”

JEM Professor Releases New Book On Eclipses, Recounts 2023 ‘Ring Of Fire’ Eclipse

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School of Journalism and Media Professor Mark Littmann has written a new book with Fred Espenak called “Totality: The Great North American Eclipse of 2024”.

School of Journalism and Media Professor Mark Littmann still recalls his first total eclipse.

The year was 1979 and a total eclipse of the sun would occur on February 26 along a path through the northwestern United States and central Canada. Given the time of year, he knew visibility from the ground was unlikely due to heavy cloud cover at that time of year, so some people wanting to experience a total eclipse were trying … Read more “JEM Professor Releases New Book On Eclipses, Recounts 2023 ‘Ring Of Fire’ Eclipse”

Alumni Assist with CCI’s Annual Career Fair

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It was an internship that led to Pam Schmidt’s current job at MP&F, where she’s worked for a total of 25 years since she graduated from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. It’s no wonder that, as director of human resources and talent development, she’s an avid proponent of students getting internship experience before they graduate.

“There’s only so much you can learn in school. The best way to learn what this industry is really like is by getting out there and getting hands-on experience in real-world settings, which is why I feel so strongly about internships and about our intern … Read more “Alumni Assist with CCI’s Annual Career Fair”

Alumni Assist with CCI’s Annual Career Fair written by Hillary Tune and originally published on the College of Communication & Information site.

Alum Gene Wojciechowski shares insights, reflects on award-winning sports journalism career with students

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The first time Gene Wojciechowski (’79) was on camera it went horribly.

It was at the Augusta National Golf Club in Georgia and Wojciechowski was covering the Masters Tournament for ESPN. He was charged with delivering a two-minute live report that morning. The plan was that once on air, fellow ESPN broadcaster Scott Van Pelt would cue Wojciechowski up on each item and he would deliver his report.

However, things did not go as plan and Wojciechowski was suddenly on camera.

“And, I just melt,” Wojciechowski said, speaking to a class of School of Journalism and Media students on Wednesday. … Read more “Alum Gene Wojciechowski shares insights, reflects on award-winning sports journalism career with students”

Nashville Broadcast Meteorologist, CCI Alum Lelan Statom Recognized with Alumni Professional Achievement Award

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Lelan Statom (‘86) has always been a weather nerd. When he was in middle school, he never missed a forecast, and he had his own weather station in the backyard. Fast forward a few decades, and Statom was honored by the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Alumni Board of Directors with an Alumni Professional Achievement Award for his many years working as a broadcast meteorologist.

On the Way to Weather

Despite his interest in weather, Statom didn’t come to the College of Communication and Information’s broadcasting department to be a weather person, but instead was working towards being a news reporter … Read more “Nashville Broadcast Meteorologist, CCI Alum Lelan Statom Recognized with Alumni Professional Achievement Award”

Nashville Broadcast Meteorologist, CCI Alum Lelan Statom Recognized with Alumni Professional Achievement Award written by Hillary Tune and originally published on the College of Communication & Information site.