School of Journalism & Media

Land Grant Films’ Howard Baker Documentary Premieres at CCI Board Meeting

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Former U.S. Ambassador and longtime friend of U.S. Sen. Howard H. Baker, Jr., Arthur “A.B.” Culvahouse, Jr., addressing the crowd ahead of the screening of Land Grant Films’ Baker for America documentary.

College of Communication and Information master’s student Seth Reynolds vividly remembers his dad’s reaction when he shared he was selected to work on a documentary about U.S. Sen. Howard H. Baker, Jr.

“My dad’s jaw dropped to the floor,” Reynolds said. “‘That is my hero,’ he said.”

Growing up in East Tennessee, Reynolds’ dad idolized Baker because of his character and willingness to put the American people over … Read more “Land Grant Films’ Howard Baker Documentary Premieres at CCI Board Meeting”

Election Project Endeavor Includes Extensive Coverage and Live TV Special

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The College of Communication and Information established The Media Center this year to create more opportunities for students to get exceptional hands-on opportunities to learn through experience. That goal is already coming to fruition in The Media Center’s first endeavor, in collaboration with the School of Journalism and Media, to produce coordinated coverage on a news topic, in the form of the Election Project. 

“We have all of these amazing outlets housed within the college now and co-located and it’s important to find ways we can increase the power of our reporting,” said Professor Nick Geidner, The Media Center … Read more “Election Project Endeavor Includes Extensive Coverage and Live TV Special”

WUOT Covers Hurricane Helene, Raises Funds For The Region In Partnership With East Tennessee Foundation

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Caption: WUOT Reporter and All Things Considered host Jacqui Sieber (center) and WUOT Reporter Pierce Gentry (right) interview Carter County Public Information Officer Ivan Sanders (left) on Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2024. The reporters traveled to Carter County to report on the city of Elizabethton and nearby towns, which saw some of the worst of the flooding wrought by Tropical Storm Helene. (Justin Hicks/Kentucky Public Radio)

Pierce Gentry never imagined he’d be covering one of the region’s largest natural disasters just weeks after becoming a part-time reporter at WUOT 91.9 FM. A Knoxville native and senior majoring in journalism and media … Read more “WUOT Covers Hurricane Helene, Raises Funds For The Region In Partnership With East Tennessee Foundation”

Students Encourage Voter Participation Through the Election Project 

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With messages such as “Voting is Key” and “Rock the Vote,” students in Professor Rob Heller’s class once again designed billboards in partnership with Lamar Advertising to encourage Tennesseeans to vote this November.

Heller said six billboard designs shared with Lamar Advertising began running on digital billboards throughout Tennessee on October 4 and the company plans to keep sharing them until the day before the election.

Heller’s graphic design class is just one example this election season of students gaining invaluable hands-on experience in the industry while also educating audiences on civic topics. 

That is the purpose of the Election … Read more “Students Encourage Voter Participation Through the Election Project ”

Industry Hires Bring Expertise to CCI Classrooms

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The College of Communication and Information welcomed four industry professionals this past year to the college faculty.

Among the hires are Professor of Practice Gene Wojciechowski  (‘79), Assistant Professor of Practice Brittany Tarwater (‘09), Professor of Practice Peyton Manning (‘97), and Professor of Practice Dustin Thomas.

From ESPN to CCI

Wojciechowski joined the college in August 2024 and holds the Edward J. Meeman Distinguished Professorship, which recognizes his outstanding contributions to industry and supports bringing nationally recognized industry leaders to the classroom.

Wojciechowski will teach a variety of topics including sports reporting, feature writing, and video production, and he will … Read more “Industry Hires Bring Expertise to CCI Classrooms”

WUOT Covers Hurricane Helene, Raises Funds for the Region in Partnership with East Tennessee Foundation

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Caption: WUOT Reporter and All Things Considered host Jacqui Sieber (center) and WUOT Reporter Pierce Gentry (right) interview Carter County Public Information Officer Ivan Sanders (left) on Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2024. The reporters traveled to Carter County to report on the city of Elizabethton and nearby towns, which saw some of the worst of the flooding wrought by Tropical Storm Helene. (Justin Hicks/Kentucky Public Radio)

Pierce Gentry never imagined he’d be covering one of the region’s largest natural disasters just weeks after becoming a part-time reporter at WUOT 91.9 FM. A Knoxville native and senior majoring in journalism and media … Read more “WUOT Covers Hurricane Helene, Raises Funds for the Region in Partnership with East Tennessee Foundation”

CCI Launches The Media Center to Boost Real-World Experience for Students

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School of Journalism and Media student Eliza Noell shooting at Macmillan Publishers office in New York City for Land Grant Films’ Shooting for an A: Video Games and Education documentary.

The College of Communication and Information officially launched The Media Center this summer as an initiative to provide more high-quality, real-world experiences for students. 

“Working at the student and professional outlets in CCI during college is an invaluable experience for students,” said School of Journalism and Media Professor and The Media Center Director Nick Geidner. “They gain real-world experience in a supportive learning environment, where they are able to grow … Read more “CCI Launches The Media Center to Boost Real-World Experience for Students”

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”

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”