School of Journalism & Media

Big Orange Welcome to new JEM Professor

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By Chelsea Babin

Every year, the University of Tennessee family grows as new faces appear on  campus. Some are from East Tennessee, while others travel far to call UT their new home. This year, UT’s College of Communication and Information’s School of Journalism & Electronic Media welcomes a new assistant professor.

Joy Jenkins, PhD, originally from Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, is now a proud member of the BIG ORANGE family here on Rocky Top.

Jenkins is an alumna of the University of Oklahoma, where she received her Bachelor of Arts in journalism; Oklahoma State University for a Master of Science in … Read more “Big Orange Welcome to new JEM Professor”

Former NOVA Executive Producer to Spend a Week Mentoring Students at UT

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ORNL Documentary

Sixteen students in a documentary production class at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, have spent much of the fall semester at Oak Ridge National Laboratory doing interviews and filming to make a 30-minute documentary about the Spallation Neutron Source.

Now the students—14 undergraduates and two graduate students—are getting an extraordinary opportunity: they will work alongside longtime NOVA executive producer and award-winning science journalist Paula Apsell, who arrives at UT Monday, October 28, for a weeklong distinguished lecturer residency.

As part of her visit, Apsell will deliver a free public lecture, “The Art of Science Communication,” at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, October … Read more “Former NOVA Executive Producer to Spend a Week Mentoring Students at UT”

Nannette Baker Receives 2019 Hileman Award

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Nanette BakerTo celebrate a career that has spanned the newsroom and the courtroom, Nannette Baker (JEM ’78) was honored with the 2019 Donald G. Hileman Distinguished Alumni Award at the CCI 50th Anniversary Gala on October 11 at the Knoxville Convention Center.

The Hileman Award, established in 1994, is the highest alumni award presented annually by the college.

Baker began her career as a broadcast journalist before making an about-face and entering the legal profession. Today she serves as chief magistrate judge in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri in St. Louis.

Baker was born in … Read more “Nannette Baker Receives 2019 Hileman Award”

New Website Catalogs Eyes on LaFollette Photojournalism Project

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Each spring, professor Rob Heller from UT’s School of Journalism and Electronic Media in the College of Communication and Information takes his advanced photojournalism students to LaFollette, Tennessee, to find and photograph stories in the Campbell County community of 7,000, about 45 miles north of Knoxville.

It’s a ritual that has been reaping rewards for Heller, his students, and the public for more than a quarter of a century. Spring 2020 will mark the 27th anniversary of Eyes on Lafollette.

A new website chronicles the history of the project and the amazing body of work it’s yielded over the years. … Read more “New Website Catalogs Eyes on LaFollette Photojournalism Project”

After Whitewater Canoeing, Kerns Finds Grad School Smooth Sailing

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Journalism PhD student Charli Kerns has fought her way through whitewater rapids and cascaded over waterfalls in her canoe. Knowing that adrenaline rush, she doesn’t get too stressed out over research, writing, or teaching a class.

Kerns been an action sports enthusiast since being introduced to kayaking through UT’s Outdoor Pursuits during her undergraduate days on Rocky Top. She later picked up canoeing and now considers whitewater canoeing her main sport. She’s traversed waterways across the United States as well as in Canada, Costa Rica, Mexico, Germany, France, and India.

She’s managed to translate her love for action sports—the preferred … Read more “After Whitewater Canoeing, Kerns Finds Grad School Smooth Sailing”

Emmy-winning filmmaker to deliver annual Hill Lecture

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Three-time Emmy Award-winning science documentary filmmaker Sarah Holt will speak on “Turning Complex Science Stories Into Compelling Television” at the 27th annual Alfred and Julia Hill Lecture at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville.Holt will give her Hill Lecture on Tuesday, April 2 at 8 p.m. in the McClung Museum Auditorium on the UT campus.The event is free and open to the public.

The annual Hill Lecture series brings acclaimed science journalists to Knoxville to speak on issues in science, society, and mass media. The series was a gift to UT’s School of Journalism & Electronic Media in the College of … Read more “Emmy-winning filmmaker to deliver annual Hill Lecture”

JEM Students Earn Regional Journalism Accolades

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SEJC Onsite TeamStudents from the UT School of Journalism and Electronic Media (JEM) competed at the Southeast Journalism Conference (SEJC), taking home two onsite victories and a wide range of additional awards. This year’s conference was held Feb. 14-16 at Middle Tennessee State University in Murfreesboro, Tennessee.

JEM assembled an eight-journalist squad to participate in the onsite competition for the first time, finishing in a third-place tie with Lipscomb University in team scoring. The competition required a well-rounded group of specialists from writers and editors to photographers and broadcast reporters. The top three competitors for each division were recognized, including first-place finishes … Read more “JEM Students Earn Regional Journalism Accolades”

Two years later: JEM Alumni receive Emmy nomination for Vietnam Veteran War documentary

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Often times, moments in history are forgotten and so are the people in them. As journalists, it is our job to make sure the moments and people are remembered for years to come. And, that is just what two recent University of Tennessee graduates did as journalism and electronic media students.

Isaac Fowler and Tim Morris, created a Vietnam War Veteran documentary titled “Welcome Home Brother” while working as undergraduates with the School of Journalism & Electronic Media’s documentary program: Land Grant Films. Dr. Nick Geidner, JEM associate professor and director of Land Grant Films, was executive producer and Clint … Read more “Two years later: JEM Alumni receive Emmy nomination for Vietnam Veteran War documentary”

Watch Live as Team Provides Social Media Monitoring of Super Bowl’s Ads

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Stuart N. Brotman work with graduate student James Zhang and senior Maggie Akins to examine Super Bowl LIII's ads.A faculty member and a team of students from UT’s College of Communication and Information will be providing real-time analysis of Super Bowl LIII’s commercials for WLVT on Sunday.

Viewers will be able to see them at work on the station’s Facebook page and during the 10 p.m. coverage on WBXX, the CW Knoxville.

The team has been preparing and investigating the ads that were released early. They have been trained in the Adam Brown Social Media Command Center in the College of Communication and Information, which uses Salesforce Marketing Cloud Social Studio software to analyze Twitter messages and trends.… Read more “Watch Live as Team Provides Social Media Monitoring of Super Bowl’s Ads”

JEM Alum Included in “Vols to Watch”

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Let our alumni entertain you. (Excerpt from UTK story, “Vols to Watch“)

Malorie CunninghamMalorie Cunningham

Screen: Southern Comfort (Avery)

Malorie Cunningham’s series Southern Comfort, created for her comedy duo Dolly Partners, was nominated for best web series at the Chain Film Festival in 2018.

Cunningham (‘14) had earlier co-founded the improvisation group Full Disclosure Comedy in Knoxville and studied at the Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre in New York City.

At UT, Cunningham, a journalism and electronic media major, remembers “teaching myself to edit, running to campus events to shoot a story, and rushing back to the writing studio … Read more “JEM Alum Included in “Vols to Watch””