School of Journalism & Media

J. Phenise Poole 2024 Recipient of the Donald G. Hileman Distinguished Alumni Award

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When J. Phenise Poole (’95) joined College of Communication and Information students during their global programs trip to Dublin, Ireland, this past summer, she was very excited when CCI Dean Joe Mazer said that the next Donald G. Hileman Distinguished Alumni Award winner was in the room. Phone in hand with the camera ready to capture the lucky alumni winner’s face, Poole awaited the reveal. 

Luckily, School of Communication Studies Professor and Director Jon Hess had the same idea as Poole and quickly snapped a series of photos recording her reaction when Mazer said her name.

“He says my name

… Read more “J. Phenise Poole 2024 Recipient of the Donald G. Hileman Distinguished Alumni Award”

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”

School Of Journalism And Media Alumni, Faculty Celebrate Broadcasting Awards Together 

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School of Journalism and Media alumni and faculty won several awards at the 2024 Tennessee Association of Broadcasters Awards in August. Pictured from the left are: alumna Caroline Mueller (’24), Assistant Professor of Practice Brittany Tarwater (’09), and alumna Nicki Marker (’24). with their trophies.

Alumna Nicki Marker (‘24) was leaving the stage at the 2024 Tennessee Association of Broadcasters Awards when the next award was announced and the winner’s name was one very familiar to the WHNT News multimedia reporter. 

Marker won the Horizon Award for Best Up-and-Coming Radio or Television Reporter or Personality but her excitement grew when … Read more “School Of Journalism And Media Alumni, Faculty Celebrate Broadcasting Awards Together ”

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”

School Of Journalism and Media Alumni, Faculty Celebrate Broadcasting Awards Together 

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School of Journalism and Media alumni and faculty won several awards at the 2024 Tennessee Association of Broadcasters Awards in August. Pictured from the left are: alumna Caroline Mueller (’24), Assistant Professor of Practice Brittany Tarwater (’09), and alumna Nicki Marker (’24). with their trophies.

Alumna Nicki Marker (‘24) was leaving the stage at the 2024 Tennessee Association of Broadcasters Awards when the next award was announced and the winner’s name was one very familiar to the WHNT News multimedia reporter. 

Marker won the Horizon Award for Best Up-and-Coming Radio or Television Reporter or Personality but her excitement grew when … Read more “School Of Journalism and Media Alumni, Faculty Celebrate Broadcasting Awards Together ”

Students Get Hands-On Experience Covering Adaptive Sports At The 2024 Paralympics

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School of Journalism and Media student Griffin Hadley interviewing athletes at the 2024 Paralympic Games for USA TODAY

Senior Griffin Hadley was first exposed to the sport of goalball while visiting the Philippines with the VOLeaders Academy at University of Tennessee, Knoxville.

A year later, the School of Journalism and Media major and Tennessee Vol swimmer would be in Paris at the 2024 Paralympic Games producing an explainer video for the USA TODAY Network to introduce others to this unique and possible “new favorite” sport.

“In the middle of a trip where I was fully immersed in adaptive sports, learning … Read more “Students Get Hands-On Experience Covering Adaptive Sports At The 2024 Paralympics”

Coffey Honored With 2024 AEJMC Robert Picard Book And Monographs Award For Media Analytics Book

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Pictured is School of Journalism and Media Director Amy Jo Coffey (left) accepting the 2024 Robert Picard Book and Monographs Award on behalf of both authors, as Ann Hollifield was not present at the annual AEJMC conference. Holding Hollifield’s copy of the award above is Media Management, Economics, and Entrepreneurship division vice chair Dr. Min Xiao (right).

School of Journalism and Media Director Amy Jo Coffey received the prestigious 2024 Robert Picard Book and Monographs Award for a book she co-authored on media analytics.

The Association of Education in Journalism and Mass Communication (AEJMC) Media Management, Economics, and Entrepreneurship Division … Read more “Coffey Honored With 2024 AEJMC Robert Picard Book And Monographs Award For Media Analytics Book”