CommBLOG

Comm Grad in Standup Comic Role

2011-10-12T17:11:00.001-04:00

   Comm alumnus Thom Tran does a comic take on his Army experience, touring the nation on the comedy club circuit. He is the creator and executive producer of The GIs of Comedy, five military veterans who say they are still serving their country, one joke at a time.
   Thom was a Media Production student and a staff sergeant when he was deployed to Iraq, where he was wounded twice. During his recuperation, he helped rebuild a television station that was destroyed in the war.
   After Thom returned to Buffalo State, the Communication Department cited the TV station project in presenting him with a special commendation for professional service when he graduated in 2004.
   In news interviews, Thom credits the department with teaching him networking skills he's used to succeed in Hollywood.
   He acted in "Race to Witch Mountain" with Wayne ("The Rock") Johnson, and he has been a military consultant to "CSI New York." His most recent claim to fame is as the model for opposing forces in the video game "Call of Duty: Black Ops."
   Links to WIVB article and video and to his Facebook page.

Instructor Wins AP Blog Award

2011-10-12T13:14:00.000-04:00

Journalism instructor Mary Pasciak won first place in the New York State Associated Press Association awards for her "School Zone" blog. The awards were announced in September.
Pasciak, a Communication Department graduate, is education reporter for The Buffalo News. Her blog deals with all aspects of education, from the classroom to the boardroom.

Screening of Tolerance Film

2011-09-08T11:37:00.003-04:00

David Coryell, adjunct instructor of media production, will lead a panel of experts who will discuss and analyze his 2003 film, "North of 49: Exploring Religious Tension in Rural Areas," during the second annual Global Citizens Conference Nov. 10 at the Adam's Mark Hotel in downtown Buffalo.

Coryell's film, which will be screened during the conference, chronicles an arson hate crime committed against a group of Sikhs by four teens in rural Oswego County shortly after the Sept. 11 attacks. Although the Sikhs immediately forgave the teens for burning down their farmhouse temple, the resulting media attention triggered mixed reactions by the surrounding community.

The film's message about religious intolerance and forgiveness and the crucial importance of cross-cultural education remains highly pertinent today.

Silverman to chair national ethics panel

2011-07-18T14:21:00.002-04:00

Dr. Deborah Silverman, APR, associate chair and assistant professor of public communication, has been appointed chair of the Board of Ethics and Professional Standards for the Public Relations Society of America.

A former national board member who has led numerous PRSA initiatives and is well-known for her dedication to research and education, Dr. Silverman will finish the five months left of the term of departing ethics chair Tom Eppes before beginning a new, two-year term beginning Jan. 1, 2012.

She has also been promoted to associate professor, effective Sept. 1.

Congratulations, Deb, on both fronts!

J-Students Win Scholarships

2011-07-07T14:33:00.005-04:00

Journalism students Julia Merulla and Lauren Kirchmyer have won scholarships from the Greater Buffalo Chapter, Society of Professional Journalists, for the next academic year.

Merulla and Kirchmyer are also recipients of the department's Buffalo News scholarship.

Congratulations to both!

Instructor on Pulitzer Panel

2011-06-24T14:27:00.000-04:00

Part-time journalism instructor Margaret Sullivan has been elected to the Pulitzer Prize Board for a three-year term.
Sullivan served on the Pulitzer jury in previous years to recommend finalists. But in her new role on the board, she will help make the final selection of recipients of the Pulitzer Prize, the most prestigious award in American journalism.
Sullivan teaches COM 210 Media Writing as a part-time instructor in the Communication Department. Since 1999, she has served as editor of The Buffalo News, the first woman to hold that post in the newspaper's 131-year history.

High School Journalism Workshop

2011-05-31T15:41:00.003-04:00

The Communication Department is sponsoring a Summer Workshop for High School Journalists, Aug 15-19. The workshop is open to high school students entering their junior or senior year. Here are some of the benefits to participating students:
- Work with Buffalo State journalism faculty and local journalists
- Get hands-on experience with the college's state-of-the-art equipment
- Learn techniques and skills to apply to your high school campus media
- Have your multi-media reports published online

The workshop runs from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. every day for the week. The $150 tuition includes lunches and all supplies. Application deadline in June 27.

Click here to download the application form.

Silverman Judges National PR Awards

2011-04-06T16:10:00.007-04:00

Dr. Deborah Silverman, APR, assistant professor of public communication, served as a judge for the national Public Relations Society of America's annual Silver Anvils Awards, widely regarded as the "Oscars" of the public relations industry. She was one of 172 public relations practitioners and educators from across the country invited to serve as a judge for public relations campaigns in categories ranging from crisis communication to media relations. The Silver Anvils awards will be presented on June 9 in New York City.

Niman on Internet-Business Panel

2011-04-06T10:33:00.008-04:00

Associate Professor Mike Niman will serve as one of three panelists for a discussion of "The Business of Media in the Age of the Internet," on Monday, Apr. 11, at 7 p.m. in the Cinema at Hallwalls Contemporary Arts Center.

Sponsored by Hallwalls, the Media Law Resource Center, and Talking Leaves, the panel discussion will also include political blogger Alan Bedenko (Buffalo Pundit) and media and First Amendment attorney Joe Finnerty.

The free public panel discussion will focus critical issues facing the media in the Internet age, including citizen journalism, user-generated content, personal and corporate liability, and the definition of “journalist." It also will at developments such as the Newsweek/Daily Beast merger, AOL's purchase of the Huffington Post, the downfall of Rep. Chris Lee, and New York Times' attempts to initiate a paywall.

Comm Senior in MTV "Real World"

2011-03-09T14:39:00.005-05:00

Journalism major Naomi Defensor stars in MTV's 25th anniversary edition of the "Real World."
One of seven housemates whose lives are chronicled in "Real World: Las Vegas," Defensor is a senior originally from the Bronx. She spent nearly three months at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino for the show, which premieres March 9 at 10 p.m.

Out with Smith, In with Marren

2010-12-17T14:39:00.000-05:00

The new year is bring changes for the Communication Department.

   Ron Smith is leaving as chair to answer a call to serve as interim Associate Dean for Buffalo State's School of Arts and Humanities. In this capacity, Ron will assist students and faculty in 10 departments and 3 interdisciplinary programs.
   A professor of public relations, Ron has served as chair since 2003. He joined the department in 1990 after serving as communication director for the Catholic Diocese of Syracuse. He also had worked as a newspaper reporter and a Navy journalist.
   The number of Communication students has grown from 488 in fall 2003 when he became chair to 703 this fall, a 44% growth. Recognition by the Accrediting Council on Education in Journalism and Mass Communications was a highlight of his term as chair.
   Ron holds a bachelor's degree education from Lock Haven University and a master's degree in public relations from Syracuse University. He is an accredited member of the Public Relations Society of America. He holds numerous awards for his work in public relations. He is the author of two textbooks on public relations and co-author of a textbook on media writing.

      Joe Marren, associate professor of journalism, is stepping up as interim Communication Department Chair.
   Joe first joined the department as a student, earning degrees in both journalism and history with a minor in anthropology in 1986. Ten years later, he received a master's degree in history from St. Bonaventure University.
   Joe re-joined the department in 2002 as assistant professor of journalism, after having served as a part-time instructor since 1997 while working as a columnist and associate editor for Business First.

Joe is the author of several book chapters on journalism and the media's role in the desegregation of baseball. He holds journalism awards from the NY Newspaper Publishers Association, NYS Associated Press, NY Press Association, and the National Society of Newspaper Columnists.

Our Blog Readers

2010-12-17T13:18:00.000-05:00

   Who's reading this blog? You and 2,595 other people. That's since we started this blog in June; 696 in the past month alone.
   The most common page readers are seeking is the Internship Update, with 74 visitors. Additionally, we've had 37 readers for Faculty Achievements, 22 for Sports Communication and Advisement/Registration, 20 for Celebrating Meg, 19 for New Students, New Semester, and 17 each for Public Relations Awards, Tips for Part-Time Instructors, and Scholarship Applications.
   Most of our readers are from the U.S., but we've had quite a few internationals -- 30 from the Republic of Georgia, 22 from China, 14 each from Brazil and Germany, and 11 each from Denmark, Russia and Taiwan.
   We're pleased that we've been able to provide useful information for so many readers. We'll keep it up.

Editor-Adjunct on Journalism Future

2010-12-09T22:09:00.002-05:00

   Margaret Sullivan is editor of The Buffalo News. She's also an adjunct journalism instructor in the Communication Department. So when she talks about the future of journalism, she's speaking with experience and expertise. Here's what she offered during a Buffalo City Forum at the WNED studios:
- No one knows what journalism will be like in the future.
- Society may not need newspapers, but it will always need newspaper-style journalism.
- Thus good journalism will always be with us.
   That's the same message that Sullivan, and all full-time and part-time journalism faculty at Buff State, give our students. It's a message about accuracy, integrity, and professionalism. It's a message of hope about their future in a changing profession.
   See the Buffalo News article and download Sullivan's hour-long talk on Buffalonews.com.

Tips for Part-Time Instructors

2010-12-09T11:43:00.001-05:00

   Assistant Professor Annemarie Franczyk likes teaching journalism so much she's helping other communication professionals join her.
   Writing in Quill magazine published by the Society of Professional Journalists, she gives advice on "Landing the Education Gig." Subtitle: "Whether you've been laid off, are semi-retired or are just looking for extra income, teaching journalism is attractive. And it takes a lot more than mere years in the field."
   In the article, Franczyk draws on her own transition as newspaper reporter and part-time lecturer in becoming a full member of the faculty. She also interviews faculty and department administrators at several universities. Read the Quill article.

Media, Music and Dance

2010-12-02T15:13:00.001-05:00

   Department technical assistant Brian Milbrand is directing Surround: Visual, a multi-genre show at Asbury Hall (Ani DeFranco's church on Tupper and Delaware). The show is the second and final segment of the "Beyond / In Western New York" performance series.
   Brian says the goal of this project is "to create an atmosphere that saturates the audience with a stew of media techniques, music, and dance."
   He also directed the opening series event, Surround: Audio, which featured electronic instrumentation and live surround-sound mixing with live mixed videos. That segment was held at the Burchfield Penney Art Center on campus.
   Read about the exhibition in an Art Voice front-page article by Stephanie Berberick, a Communication Studies senior.

Tsunami and Communication

2010-12-01T17:50:00.003-05:00

   Associate Professor Michael Niman has published a chapter about the South Asian tsunami and communication aspects of the natural (and subsequent social) disaster. The chapter examines tsunami stories that most of the world's media did not tell and the environmental and social injustice that such silence nurtures.
   Niman's chapter, "The Political Tsunami: Not All Death and Destruction Is Natural" was published in Tsunami Communication: Interpersonal/Intercultural, Mass Media, and Philanthropic Responses; Historical, Technical, Ethical and Development Communication, published by Hampton Press.
   Read the chapter at mediastudy.com/articles/tsunami2004.pdf.

Newspapers and Baseball

2010-11-29T09:30:00.000-05:00

   Associate Professor Joe Marren presented a paper to journalism historians on "Sol White: An Appreciation."
   White was a player on African American baseball teams in the 19th century. He wrote the first history of African Americans in baseball in a segregated century. Joe is an expert on segregated baseball and the media's role in desegregating the sport.
   The presentation was at the Symposium on the 19th Century Press, the Civil War, and Free Expression, held at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga.

Honors for Students and Alumni

2010-11-28T10:56:00.000-05:00

   The department's annual fall Honors Convocation was a threesome: induction of new Honor Society members, presentation of seven Professional Achievement Awards, and recognition of another Comm graduate receiving the college's Young Alumnus Award. The event took place Nov. 19 in the department's television studio.
   Twenty-two students were inducted into the Communication Honor Society, known nationally as Lambda Pi Eta. Eligibility requirements include having at least a 3.25 GPA in their major. In the four years since the campus chapter was established, the department has inducted more than 125 students.
   Nick Laudico (2001 Public Communication) was one of four recipients this year of the college's Young Alumnus award. Because he was unable to attend the ceremony in September, the department offered its Fall Honors Convocation for the college Alumni Association to present the award. Nick gave the keynote speech for the evening, focusing on the value of professionalism.
   Communication faculty voted to present Professional Achievement awards to alumni and one media professional with close ties to the department. They included:
   Angela Berti APR (1994, Journalism), marketing and public relations coordinator with the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation (Western Region) and one of Business First's "40 Under 40."
   Lisa Flynn (1986, Broadcasting), award-winning reporter and weekend anchor for WIVB-TV 4 until her recent retirement to spend more time with her family.
   Christopher Gallant (1992, Broadcasting), associate professor of digital media at Hilbert College and Emmy-winning television producer.
   Brian Meyer, award-winning Buffalo News reporter and former WBEN reporter who has served as a part-time journalism instructor in the Communication Department since 1994.
   Harry Scull Jr (1989, Journalism), Buffalo News photojournalist; freelance photographer for the Associated Press, Getty Images, and Pro Football Weekly; and team photograp0her for the Jacksonville Jaguars.
   Howard Simon (1984, Broadcasting), sports broadcaster with WBEN radio, Empire Sports Network, and WGR radio.
   Bill Wippert (1979, Journalism). Buffalo News photojournalist and videographer, team photographer for the Buffalo Sabres, and a contributing photographer to Sports Illustrated and ESPN Magazine.

Treaties and Taxes

2010-11-28T10:31:00.002-05:00

   The department's American Indian Policy and Media Initiative hosted a presentation on "Treaties, Sovereignty and Taxation" at the Burchfield Penney Art Center Nov 21.
   Department chair Ron Smith, who directs the initiative, moderated the panel and audience Q&A as part of Native Heritage Month activities.
   Wayne Porter, Mohawk (turtle clan), gave background information on treaties between the Haudenoshaunee (Iroquois) and the English, French and Dutch governments, later becoming the first nations to recognize the newly proclaimed United States government.
   Dr. Lloyd Elm, Onondaga (eel clan), professor of education at Buffalo State, discussed sovereignty. He noted that the U.S. federal government has affirmed the sovereignty of the various Indian nations in New York State.
   Christina Schindler, Seneca (wolf clan), who works with the Seneca Free Trade Association, discussed efforts by New York State to tax good sold on Native lands and federal attempts to regulate commerce between the Seneca and other New York State citizens.

More on Monks & Media Ethics

2010-11-08T12:52:00.001-05:00

   Journalism professor Joe Marren presented a paper on "The Mertonian Journalist: The Impact of One Monk's Philosophy on Ethics and Practices" at a regional meeting of the American Catholic Philosophical Association October 30 at Niagara University.
   Joe is becoming known for his academic work on Thomas Merton, a Catholic monk who wrote about ethics and social justice. He has applied Merton's thought to the field of media ethics.
   See an earlier posting of "A Monk's Advice on Media" in the May entries on this blog, linking to Joe's published paper on Merton and media ethics.

Screening of American Indian Video

2010-11-04T12:07:00.003-04:00

   The Communication Department is co-sponsoring a free showing of "No More Smoke Signals" Saturday (Nov. 6) 2-4 p.m. at the Burchfield Penney Art Center.
   The video focuses on Kili Radio, "Voice of the Lakota Nation." It features people such as Roxanne Two Bulls, who’s trying to start over again on the land of her ancestors; the young DJ Derrick, who’s discovering his gift for Native hip hop music; Bruce, the white lawyer who for 30 years has been trying to free a militant fighting for American Indian rights; and John Trudell, an Indian activist who’s made a career as a musician in Hollywood.
   The department's involvement is through its American Indian Media and Policy Initiative. The video screening is co-sponsored by the Native American Student Organization on campus.

Comm Annual Report

2010-10-15T14:17:00.000-04:00

   Each year the Communication faculty document their academic, scholarly and service activity. The department chair coordinates this and outlines with major activities of the department, as well as its goals for the next year. This information is provided to the dean, provost and president.
   This year's Annual Report outlines department's achievements during 2009-10: accreditation, journalism program revision, course revisions, online courses, scholarships, writing assessment, Sports Communication certification, interdisciplinary master's programs, service learning, alumni recognition, and student honor society.
   It also lists faculty scholarship in various categories: 1 book, 7 articles/chapters, 11 conference presentations, 8 exhibitions, 14 productions & professional projects, 2 grants and consultancies, and 2 community awards.

Scholarship Applications

2010-10-15T09:31:00.000-04:00

   The department's Student Enrichment Committee encourages you to apply for one of the following scholarships.
   Buffalo News Scholarship: The Buffalo News provides two $1,000 scholarships for freshmen Communication majors. Check for info and application form. Applications due Nov. 5.
   Julia A. Piquette Scholarship: A retired Communication professor provides a $1,000 scholarship for Communication juniors. Check for info and application form. Applications due Nov. 5.

Making Their Mark in TV

2010-10-13T17:35:00.001-04:00

   Two Comm majors are off to a big start in making their mark in media.
   George Goshen spent the summer in Hollywood, working for Fox TV. He produces a promotional video for the hit series "Lie to me." Check out his video at Communication YouTube. In his final semester on campus, George wrote, produced and directed a short film, which earned him the department's Commendation for Artistic Achievement.
   Meanwhile, Kevin Slomba, a senior Media Production major, is working as production assistant for the Buffalo Bills, working on "The Thurman Thomas Show" and "The Steve Tasker Show." His job includes reviewing game footage and preparing highlights for the game to be used on the shows. Kevin also creates "melts" (archival game footage for the Bills highlight reels). He also posts TV footages at the website at Buffalobills.com and helps in producing the NFL's RedZone channel.

Chapter on Nonviolence

2010-10-08T11:41:00.001-04:00

Professor Mike Niman has published a chapter on nonviolence in a new book, Nonkilling Societies, published in Hawaii by the Center for Global Nonkilling.
His chapter, "You Can't Be Nonviolent Without Violence," focuses on the Rainbow Family utopian community. The chapter explores how a group committed to nonviolent conflict resolution handles violence directed upon it from outside as well as violent actions by members. Read the PDF link.

Two for Young Alumnus Award

2010-09-24T13:59:00.004-04:00

   Two Communication graduates are among four recipients this year of the college's Young Alumnus Achievement Award.
   Martha Meegan, managing assignment editor at WIVB-TV4 News in Buffalo, holds a BA in Broadcasting from 1992 and a MS in Multidisciplinary Studies (Public Relations Management) from 2006.
   Nick Laudico is senior vice president with The Ruth Group, a New York City agency specializing in investor relations. He holds a BA in Public Communication from 2001.
   Communication grads dominate the Young Alumnus award. Since the Alumni Association gave the first award in 2002, 27 percent (12 of 45 recipients) have been Comm grads. They include:
- 2008: Cesar Cabrera (2006 MS Public Relations Management) and Christopher Gallant (1992 BA Broadcasting)
- 2007: Jennifer Whitson Adams (1999 BA Public Communication)
- 2006: Richard Baumert (1986 BA Broadcasting), Lisa Flynn (1986 BA Broadcast Journalism), Russell Griffin (1993 BA Public Communication) and James Hill (1988 BA Broadcast Journalism)
- 2004: Claudine Ewing (1992 BA Broadcast Journalism)
- 2002: Byron Brown (1983 BA Journalism) and Mylous Hairston (1986 BA Broadcast Journalism)

AP Award for Internship Reporting

2010-09-24T09:55:00.000-04:00

   Journalism major Nick Mattera has received the Associated Press' Young Journalist of the Year award for several stories he developed while he was an intern at the Niagara Gazette.
   Nick also received the AP's second-place honors in the beat reporting category for his stories detailing the spending by Niagara Falls school board members while on trips paid for by district taxpayers.
   Currently Nick is a reporter with the Niagara Gazette, where he interned last fall.

Comm Honor Society

2010-09-23T08:51:00.000-04:00

The campus chapter of the Communication Honor Society is preparing to induct new members in November. Here are the eligibility requirements:
- At least 60 credits completed by the end of the current semester
- At least 12 COM or SPC credits already completed at Buffalo State (not transfer credits)
- Overall GPA of 3.0 or higher
- Major GPA (COM and SPC courses) of 3.25 or higher
If you meet these requirements or have questions, contact communication@buffalostate.edu.

More Comm Students

2010-09-16T14:18:00.000-04:00

   For eight of the past 10 years, the student population in the Communication Department has been increasing annually.
   As this fall semester begins, 665 students are enrolled as majors in the Communication Department. This is the highest enrollment ever, up more than 60% over the past decade. The enrollment pattern shows the following break-out:
- Public Communication: 168 majors (25.3% of department)
- Journalism: 155 majors (23.3% of department)
- Media Production: 162 majors (24.3% of department)
- Communication Studies: 180 majors (27.1% of department)
   The current freshmen enrollment shows a 2% increase in Public Communication, stability in Media Production, and 2% decreases in Journalism and Communication Studies.

Broadcasting Hall of Fame

2010-08-30T14:18:00.001-04:00

Journalism lecturer Brian Meyer has been inducted into the Buffalo Broadcasters Hall of Fame, one of seven 2010 inductees.
Brian has taught part-time in the Communication Department 16 years, teaching courses in media writing, journalism and news writing. After graduating from Marquette University in 1981, Brian began working for WBEN radio in Buffalo. In 1997 he became a business reprter at The Buffalo News, later covering the City Hall beat. He also is founder of Western new York Wares, a publishing company that has produced more than 60 books with a Buffalo-Niagara focus.

Sports Communication

2010-08-27T17:00:00.004-04:00

   The Communication Department is beginning a concentration in Sports Communication that will provide students with a department-issued certificate.
   The program will include five courses focused on sports journalism, production or public relations. Some of these courses are associated with departmental majors; others are elective courses or required courses that students can tailor with a sports theme, such as feature writing or documentary production.
   The Sports Communication program is open to Communication majors who have completed the core courses and have a major GPA of 2.6 or higher.
   The concentration is in addition to the major. Depending on their major and when the student opts into the concentration, the program is likely to add two or three courses beyond the 120-credit graduation requirement.
   The department will hold an information session on the new concentration during Bengal Pause on Thursday, Sept. 23, in Bacon 115. See FAQ on Sports Communication.

BSC Grads Getting Jobs

2010-08-26T13:09:00.003-04:00

   More than two thirds (68.8%) of Buffalo State Communication grads seeking employment got part-time or full-time jobs in their field within a year of graduation, a bit below the national average of 78.5%. Among BSC grads, 14.3% are continuing their education, compared to 9.6% nationally. The data was based on 2009 graduates.
   Salaries for comm graduates nationally are stagnant at $30,000 for the third year. Above-average salaries were reported for public relations, advertising, specialized publications, consumer magazines, and the web. Salaries were slightly below average for daily newspapers and radio, far below for weekly newspapers ($25,900) and television ($24,900).
   Among other findings at the national level: 89.7% of comm grads had at least one job offer (down for the third straight year) but got more phone interviews (4.7%).
   Data showed some evidence that the poor job market is improving. Only 47% of comm grads had a job six months after graduation, but after a year it was 63%. More grads were holding permanent rather than temporary jobs. And the 14.9% unemployment rate for comm grads was lower than all Americans aged 20-24.
   Buffalo State is one of 86 schools in the study conducted for the Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication. See 2009 Annual Survey.

Expert Advice

2010-08-24T14:49:00.011-04:00

Assistant Professor Annemarie Franczyk was asked by local media to comment on the newsworthiness of a Buffalo News article that detailed the criminal pasts of recent shooting victims.

http://www.wivb.com/dpp/news/buffalo/Outraged-community-burns-Buffalo-News
http://www.wkbw.com/news/local/News-Article-About-City-Grill-Victims-Past-Sparks-Outrage-101267089.html

New Students, New Semester

2010-08-16T10:02:00.001-04:00

   The fall semester begins Aug 30 with approximately 80 freshmen Communication majors and an equal number of transfer students into the department's four majors. In total, the department includes about 650 undergraduates, making it the largest department in the School of Arts and Humanities and one of the three largest departments on campus.
   The semester begins with 14 full-time faculty and 27 part-time instructors teaching 2,026 students in 75 sections of 41 different coures.
   In 72 sections of courses specifically for Communication majors, 1,556 students are enrolled. The average class size is less than 22 students. Additionally 3 sections of Humanities core courses have 470 mostly non-Communication students.
   This is based on preliminary data. Official data will be counted by mid-October.

Scholarship Winner

2010-08-02T13:02:00.003-04:00

   John Szablewski, a sophomore Television & Film Arts major, received a $5,000 scholarship frlm Autie Anne's pretzel franchise. John is shift manager at the store in the Walden Galleria mall. He is a graduate of Leonardo da Vinci High School in Buffalo.
   Six college students nationwide received the scholarship, awarded on the basis of character, achievement and commitment to maintaining personal and academic standards. John received the scholarship specifically "in recognition of his outstanding work ethic and educational accomplishments," said TFA Director Jeffrey Hirschberg.
   The TFA program is an interdisciplinary major co-sponsored by Communication, English and Theater departments.

Celebrating Meg

2010-07-21T14:45:00.001-04:00

Media Production professor Meg Knowles was one of seven subjects of a Celebrating Women Exhibition sponsored by the Market Street Art Center. The show screened her documentary "See That the World Is Moving" which chronicles Elizabeth Cady Stanton's involvement in the Women's Rights Convention in Seneca Falls in 1848.

Teaching Journalism in China

2010-06-21T17:05:00.002-04:00

   Journalism instructor Mike Igoe is leaving Buffalo State and heading to China, where he will spend a year as Assistant Professor of International Journalism at United International College. He also will help students produce a weekly TV news broadcast. Students speak English at the school in Zhuhai, which is located in Hong Kong bay.
   Since 2006, Mike has been a part-time instructor in the Communication Department, teaching courses in media literacy, media writing, broadcast news and communication law. Since Spring 2009, he has taught three courses each semester.
   Mike previously was consumer reporter with WGRZ TV-2 in Buffalo.

Public Relations Awards

2010-06-21T11:58:00.004-04:00

   Several faculty and alumni of the Communication Department have received Excalibur awards from the Buffalo/Niagara chapter of the Public Relations Society of America.
   Department chair Ron Smith APR received one of four individual awards, the Board of Directors' Distinguished Service Award. During his 20 years in Buffalo, Ron has served as chapter president and chair of the six-state Northeastern District of PRSA. For most of that time, he coached chapter members preparing for the national APR accreditation exam.
   Professor Deborah Silverman APR received two Excaliburs: a gold award for her published article "A Community Comes Together: The Crash of Continental Flight 3407" and a silver award for a crisis communication case study presentation on the same topic.
   Part-time public relations instructor Jeff Paterson APR and his assistant, department graduate Kate LaBrake, shared seven awards for various programs and projects with the Health Association of Niagara County, Inc.
   Two alumnae, Courtney Quattrini (Travers Collins) and Paula Witherell (Hilbert College), each received four Excalibur awards. One graduate, Kevin Manne (Catholic Charities) received two awards. Several alumni received single Excaliburs, including Mary Cornwell (Gateway-Longview), Barbara Byers APR (University at Buffalo), Olivia Belter (Univera Health) and Debra Park (Canisius College).

Documentary Screening for Professor

2010-06-05T10:17:00.001-04:00

   Squeaky Wheel has honored Media Production professor Meg Knowles by screening some of her experimental documentary films. Her "Retro-Spectacle" is part of Squeaky Wheel/Buffalo Media Resources' regional artists showcase.
   The Buffalo News called Meg "something of a legend" among media artists, citing her "impressive body of work that has been widely praised for its originality and intelligence." The newspaper said that, for Meg, "the video camera is both research tool and paintbrush."
   ArtVoice called her "an artist of extraordinary perception and depth," describing her as "one of Western New York's most talented video artists."
   Meg guides many of her students in documentary productions. She specializes in teaching video documentary and field production courses as well as courses in visual communication and basic media production. Her videos have been featured in art festivals, galleries and museums throughout the United States.

2nd Emmy for Comm Grad

2010-06-03T17:58:00.002-04:00

   Buffalo State Communication alumnus Chris Gallant has received his second Emmy for his work as video journalist.
   Chris directed "A Tale of Two Cities" about the twin cities of Niagara Falls (Canadian and American) and their minor similarities and vast differences. The special, which compares the economy of the two cities, earned a New York State Emmy Award in the politics/government category.
   He previously received a state Emmy for his news special "They Made a Mistake: The Anthony Capozzi Story" based on the true story of a Buffalo man imprisoned for more than 25 years for two rapes that he did not commit. Chris presented that video as part of the Communication Department's Speaker Series last year.
   After graduating from Buffalo State, Chris worked at television stations in Augusta, Ga.; Toledo, Ohio; and at both WKBW and WGRZ in Buffalo. He currently is assistant professor of digital media and communication at Hilbert College.

Comparing BP and Exxon

2010-06-03T17:49:00.003-04:00

   Department chair Ron Smith has given several news interviews comparing the public relations implications of the BP oil leaks in the Gulf of Mexico with the oil spill from the Exxon Valdez in Alaska's Prince William Sound. Ron has previously written about Exxon's poor public relations approach.
Addressing BP's reputation as an environmentally-responsible company, Ron told CNN Money that branding is all about expectation. "The more you posture yourself as a good corporate citizen, the more people expect from you." He told the reporter that a company such as BP should have had a disaster plan in place. "What we don't accept is 'Whoops! I never thought that could happen.'" See "Three Lessons for BP from the Exxon Valdez Spill"
   Ron also was interviewed for Revista Latitudes, an online publication based in Puerto Rico. He compared the public relations response of BP and Exxon, noting that "BP has been visible and is seen as part of the response, rather than merely the cause of the problem." See "Exxon v. BP's Crude Oil Reality"
   Additionally, Ron has been interviewed by the Associated Press in London and by the German publication PR Magazin. In both interviews, he spoke about corporate performance as the basis for good public relations. He noted that, in a crisis situation, the key objective is to maintain the organization's long-term reputation by acting responsibly and effectively.

Journalism Scholarship Winner

2010-06-01T18:20:00.001-04:00

Julia Merulla, a junior majoring in journalism, is one of four recipients of a scholarship for college journalists given by the Greater Buffalo International Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists. Julia is from Liverpool, N.Y.
Other recipients are students at St. Bonaventure University, Fredonia College and Southern Methodist University. In 32 years, SPJ has given scholarships totaling more than $105,000 to college journalists from Western New York, Northwestern Pennsylvania and Southern Ontario.

A Monk's Advice on Media

2010-05-19T09:10:00.002-04:00

   Journalism professor Joe Marren has published an article in Media Ethics magazine, applying the thought of Thomas Merton to the field of American media. His article, "One Monk's Message: Establishing an Enlightened Ethic for the Media" was co-authored by philosophy professor Kimberly Blessing.
   In his 27 years as a cloistered Trappist monk, Merton wrote many books and articles about Catholic mysticism, Eastern spirituality, peace and social justice. He was an expert in Christian-Buddhist relations.
   Merton was concerned that the media have lost a sense of what truly matters. Marren and Blessing write about Merton's focus on truth as the ethical foundation for journalists and other media people, and they analyze his criticism that the media sometimes create false images.
   They conclude that, as Merton separated himself from the secular world, journalists can create a detachment that helps them maintain a critical perspective and report truth regardless of consequences.
   Read One Monk's Message (Media Ethics: Spring 2010, Vol 21, No. 2)

Senior Awards

2010-05-15T13:59:00.003-04:00

   Fifteen graduating seniors received awards from the Communication Department faculty as part of the annual Senior Reception May 14.
   Phillip Weiss (Public Communication) was recognized for receiving the Dean's Award for Outstanding Communication Student.
   Faculty awards were presented to Outstanding Graduates in each of the four departmental majors: Adam Buchanan (Media Production), Jeffrey Duquette (Communication Studies), Kimberly Herman (Public Communication), and Kate McGowan (Journalism).
   Fifteen students received a Commendation for Academic Achievement as the top 15% of graduates, having achieved a 3.5 major GPA. In addition to the five graduates above, commendations were given to Journalism graduates Amanda Griffith, Brandon Koch and Melanie Majewski; and Public Communication graduates Brenna Burns, Catelyn Burzynski, Cynthia Panasiewicz, Sharlitha Reed, Elena Rossetti, Alyssa VanDurme and Ashley Williams.
   The department also presented a Commendation of Artistic Achievement to George Ghosen in recognition of an independent film that he wrote, produced and directed.
   The Charles Adair Award for Excellence in Communication was given to Elena Rossetti (Public Communication.

Full Accreditation for Department

2010-05-04T14:29:00.001-04:00

   The Communication Department has become fully accredited by the Accrediting Council on Education in Journalism and Mass Communications. The action was by unanimous vote at the annual ACEJMC meeting in Washington D.C. It came after a preliminary provisional accreditation that the department has held since 2008.
   This makes Buffalo State the only public institution in New York State to be accredited in professional education for majors in Journalism, Media Production (formerly Broadcasting), and Public Communication (public relations and advertising). It places the college among the 15 percent of American colleges and universities offering communication degrees that are accredited by ACEJMC.
   "Accreditation proves a significant 'value added' for our graduates — past, present and future," said department chair Ron Smith.
   "I want to thank everyone associated with this achievement, which has truly been a combined effort. Our faculty and staff — full-time, part-time and retired — have been key to providing the level of education, individual scholarship and professional commitment that is integral to accreditation. The continuing hard work and success of our students and alumni combine as another key element, as is the consistent support of the college administration past and present. And the positive relationship we have with Western New York communication professionals and media practitioners provides a further foundation for this accreditation milestone."

Service Learning Awards

2010-05-04T14:24:00.000-04:00

   COM 418 Campaigns in Public Relations and Advertising was honored as the "Outstanding Service-Learning Course" by the college's Volunteer and Service-Learning Center. Instructor Deborah Silverman nominated all 26 students for the award, given May 4. The class spent the spring semester working on a service project to enhance communication between the Communication Department and its 650 registered students.
   Three Communication faculty were among 27 instructors teaching service-learning courses. They include Silverman, Meg Knowles, Advanced TV Documentary Production (COM 433), and Ann Liao, Group Communication (SPC 307).
   Liao, a speech-communication professor, also was recognized as one of six Faculty Fellows of the center. Journalism professor Annemarie Franczyk was named as one of five instructors-in-training to become Faculty Fellows.

Filming Work Available

2010-03-18T10:24:00.001-04:00

FASTHockey is looking for videographers to shoot games for USA Hockey April 7-11 at the Amherst Pepsi Center. The Boston company produces live streaming video of amateur ice hockey games. Positions will be paid. Company wants students with tricaster experience.
See FASTHockey.com for details. Contact Linda Buffum, lbuffum@FASTHociey.com.

$500 Senior Award

2010-03-16T11:40:00.004-04:00

Graduating Communication seniors may apply for the department's Charles Y. Adair Award. This $500 grant is awarded to a senior who demonstrates professionalism and commitment. It honors the memory of Charlie Adair, who taught journalism at Buffalo State from 1980 until his death in 2000.

Application deadline: April 15. For info: Adair Scholarship.

Internship Opportunities

2010-03-15T12:28:00.006-04:00

Communication students in the professional majors (Public Communication, Journalism and Media Production) are encouraged to take COM 488 Internship as an elective. Contact Nanette Tramont in Bishop 211 for details on the following companies/organizations seeking Buffalo State Communication interns. See Note on Internship Requirements at end of postings.

Journalism (online, print, broadcast)
Buffalo Business First. Buffalo. Journalism
Buffalo Spree Magazine. Amherst. Journalism
Buffalo Rising. Buffalo. Online journalism
People, Inc., Amherst. Publications
Skunkpost.com. Amherst. Online journalism
WGRZ-TV. Channel 2. Buffalo. Journalism
WIVB-TV. Channel 4. Buffalo. Journalism
WKBW-TV. Channel 7. Buffalo. Journalism

Public Communication (public relations, advertising, marketing communication)
American Red Cross. Buffalo. Public relations
BlueCross BlueShield. Buffalo. Internal marketing
Catholic Charities. Buffalo. Public relations
Child and Family Services. Buffalo. Public relations/internal/external communications
Earth Spirit Educational Services. Orchard Park. Public relations
EPIC (Every Parent Influences Children). Buffalo. Marketing
Headway (Healthcare Marketing). Buffalo. Public relations, marketing
People, Inc., Amherst. Publications
Pure Contemporary (Digital Media). East Amherst. Social media
Rich Products. Buffalo. Public relations
Saint-Gobain Technical Fabrics. Grand Island. Marketing, advertising
US Senate, Office of Sen. Chuck Schumer. Buffalo. Public relations
US Senate, Office of Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand. New York City. Public relations
Veteran's Administration Hospital. Buffalo. Public relations
RPM Entertainment. Buffalo

Media Production (radio/audio, television/video, digital)
Chameleon Communications. Buffalo. Media production
WGRZ-TV. Channel 2. Buffalo. Media production
WIVB-TV. Channel 4. Buffalo. Media production
WKBW-TV. Channel 7. Buffalo. Media production
Pure Contemporary (Digital Media). East Amherst. Social media
Quinlan & Co. Advertising. Amherst. Media Department assistant
Townsquare Media radio. Buffalo. Marketing/programming
Buffalo Sabres. Buffalo. Game night presentations/promotions
Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo. Buffalo. Media relations/marketing/publications

Miscellaneous
Center for Health and Social Research. Buffalo State College. Paid. Telephone survey research assistant

Note on Internship Requirements: COM 488 may be taken for 1-3 credits. A maximum of 3 credits can be applied to the 120 graduation requirement. Internships require a minimum of 150 on-site hours, plus a weekly on-campus session during the fall and spring semesters (handled via e-mail during summer). Prerequisites: Public Communication: COM 301 & 308. Journalism: COM 302 & 303/337. Media Production: COM 304 & 328/329. (Communication Studies is not a professionally-focused program and majors do not generally take internships.) Additional information at department website: www.buffalostate.edu/communication.

V-Logging Workshop for Girls

2010-03-12T13:06:00.008-05:00

  The Communication Department hosted a video-logging workshop for 5th-8th grade girls from the Concerned Ecumenical Ministries After-School Program on March 13.
  Professor Meg Knowles and Technical Assistant Brian Milbrand presented the workshop for CEM, a community-based organization in the West Side neighborhood near Buffalo State. The after-school enrichment program includes video production as one of its areas of activities for girls.
  Here's a note from workshop leader Danielle Boris:

"Girls are setting up their own blogs...! I had no idea how much fun this could be and the girls really seem to be enjoying themselves. I think the highlight of their day was getting to play with photobooth on the Macs in the computer lab.
   It was hard to tell them to stop playing around and focus on the next step in the creation of the blog. Who wants to be the one to tell them to stop when they seemed so happy? I must say that I was impressed with the girls (as I always am).
   They were able to stay on track...keep their focus and follow the instructions that Brian and Meg were giving. ...I was actually a bit surprised that they caught on so quickly. I expected there to be more confusion, more questions and to be totally honest, I expected some of them to panic. If any of them did, it wasn't for long and I surely didn't see it.
   I was amazed at how well all of them were able to navigate the computers and get their sites done, especially with all the laughing they were doing..."

Buffalo News Scholarships

2010-03-10T18:03:00.001-05:00

Two freshmen -- Lauren Kirchmyer and Lakisha Forde -- have received the department's Buffalo News scholarships. The $1,000 scholarships are awarded each year to incoming Communication majors.

Screening of Environmental Docs

2010-03-10T14:53:00.002-05:00

Meg Knowles is curating a screening series for the Burchfield Penney Art Center. The series features documentaries about the environment or environs of Western New York. The four-part series includes the following events:
- Thursday, April 8, 8 p.m. "Everything's Cool" (89-minutes) by Judith Helfand and Daniel B. Gold
- Sunday, April 11, 2 pm. "Heron Pond" (7-min) by Cade Bursell; "Sightings" (4-min) by Holly Johnson; "Motels, Motels, Motels" (3-min) by Jan Nagle; "The Siege" (6-min) by Jan Nagle; "Shoot the Moon" (45-min) by Sethy Wochensy; and "The Last of the Scoopers" (10-min) by Seth Wochensky.
- Thursday, April 22, 7 p.m. "No Impact Man: The Adventures of a Guilty Liberal Who Attempts to Save the Planet, and the Discoveries He Makes About Himself and Our Way of Life in the Process" (90-min) by Laura Gabbert and Justin Schein.
- Sunday, April 25, 4 p.m. "Erie Tales" (9-min) by Courtney Grim; "Buffalo Harvest" by Carl Lee and Dorothea Braemer; "Buffalo ReUse: Building a Community" (19 min) by DCarl Lee; "Random Notes of Ragpicker Woman" (14-min) by Dorothea Braemer; "Warming Trend" (15-min) by Cade Bursell.

Night at the Oscars

2010-03-10T12:46:00.003-05:00

Television and Film Arts hosted its first annual "TFA Night at the Oscars" party. More than 100 people attended the formal event, which included a viewing of the live Oscar telecast on a giant screen in the Savage Building. It also included live music from Fleet Street, food from Chef's Restaurant, screenings of student films, and best-dressed awards.
The "TFA Oscar" for student films went to "Art is Hard," a short film written, produced and directed by TFA students in Professor Jeffrey Hirschberg's TFA 201: Introduction to Television and Film Arts class.
TFA is an interdisciplinary program sponsored by the Communication, English and Theater departments. For info, see www.buffalostate.edu/tvfilm.

Diversity in Public Relations

2010-03-10T11:37:00.002-05:00

Ofield Dukes, an award-winning public relations practitioner in Washington DC, will speak on “Communicating with Diverse Audiences "Thursday, April 8 during Bengal Pause (12:15-1:30 p.m.) in Bulger South 2. Dukes will discuss the implications of America’s increasing racial, ethnic and cultural diversity for businesses and nonprofit organizations, particularly students and professional communicators.
Dukes runs a public relations firm whose clients include Sony Entertainment, RJR Nabisco, the Congressional Black Caucus, AT&T, Motown Records, General Motors, and the U.S. Treasury Department. He is a national board member and special council on diversity issues for the Public Relations Society of America.
His visit is sponsored by the Communication Department, PRSSA, and the college’s Equity and Campus Diversity Office. The visit is coordinated by Professor Deborah Silverman.

Faculty Achievements

2010-03-10T11:20:00.002-05:00

Meg Knowles and Brian Milbrand received Individual Development Awards supported by UUP. Each is working on a video project.
Meg Knowles' “Walk” video is featured in The Journal of Short Film, Vol 17, Fall 2009. JSF is a quarterly peer-reviewed DVD publication of the Ohio State University Film Studies Program.
Joe Marren's article “The Business of Segregation in Baseball” in the Winter 2010 issue of Outside the Lines, a publication of the Society for American Baseball Research (Business of Baseball Committee). The article considers the former segregation policy from a business and journalistic perspective.
Joe Marren presented a paper at the Journalism Historians’ Conference. The paper, “Art and Artifice, Reportage and Reportifarce in James Joyce,” synthesizes existing scholarship into a taxonomy of Joycean tropes vis-à-vis journalism.
Lou Rera presented a multimedia lecture, "Digital Stories: Flash Fiction," at the New Media Consortium's symposium on New Media and Learning. The symposium, held in NMC's virtual world 3D meeting space, features interactive online lectures using virtual technolgies.

Student Media & Service-Learning

2010-03-10T11:16:00.005-05:00

Paul DeWald is working with the UB Primary Care Research Institute to produce a half-hour television program about drug addiction problems among young people. The program will air on local Time Warner cable. Media Production students in DeWald's COM 434 Advanced Video Production Practicum class are assisting on this project.
Meg Knowles and students in her COM 433 Advanced Documentary class are producing a short doc to inform people about an aquaponics system that the Massachusetts Avenue Project. The system uses to grow worm-fed talapia that are subsequently told to Buffalo food businesses such as Delaware North, with resultant basil and watercress crops sold to local vendors and restaurants. It's all part of the MAP Urban Youth Farm project located on seven empty lots in Buffalo. The project employs and educates West Side youth.

Winter Olympics Blogger

2010-01-13T11:11:00.004-05:00

Department grad Kimberly Schweitzer Evering (Public Communication 1994) is a lifelong winter sports enthusiast. Volunteering for the Winter Olympic Games has been at the top of her bucket list. Kim reports that she finally made the cut. She was selected out of 70,000 applicants to work the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games at Vancouver BC. As a Paralympic attendant, she'll assist athletes and coaches at Whistler Creekside, the venue for Alpine skiing. Follow Kim on her blog kimberlysgrapevine.blogspot.com.

Winging It

2010-01-13T11:02:00.003-05:00

Department grad Jennifer Starkey (Public Communication 2008) is Miss Buffalo Wing 2008. In that capacity, she served as the tie-breaking judge for a chicken-wing contest segment on the Travel Channel's upcoming "food wars" series that pits the Anchor Bar's wings against Duff's. Jen does public relations for Niagara Tourism and Convention Corporation. Joining her as wing judges were Buffalo Sabres announcer and former "winger" Rob Ray and Buffalo News food writer Andrew Garlarneau. The program is expected to air sometime in March.

Intercultural Look at 'The Matrix'

2009-12-03T13:59:00.002-05:00

Visiting Chinese scholar Liang Hong presented a paper Dec. 3 on "Media Images and Intercultural Understanding," with a heavy emphasis on comparing the Hollywood blockbuster film "The Matrix" with a classic Chinese movie "Journey to the West" (known to American audiences as "The Monkey King").
Dr. Liang is hosted by the Communication Department through next February. In her presentation, she traced several parallels between the two films, including similarities between Neo and the Monkey King, between the Architect and the Buddha, and between the Oracle and the Boddhisattva Guanyin.
The audience included Communication faculty, the intercultural communication class taught by Professor Faizan Haq, other students and faculty at Buffalo State, and other visiting Chinese scholars. Dr Liang's visit is sponsored by the SUNY Research Foundation and the college's International and Exchange Program. See Dr. Liang's presentation notes.

Communication Hall of Fame

2009-11-30T17:11:00.003-05:00

1981 journalism grad Don DePerro has been inducted into the Communication Hall of Fame. Former editor of the The Record student newspaper, he now is president and publisher of Business First newspaper in Columbus, Ohio.
DePerro was inducted Nov. 20 during the Communication Honors Convocation. He was selected by a faculty-student panel that reviewed the professional work of several media professionals nominated for the Communication Department's recognition of outstanding alumni. Read his professional biography.
He joins 12 other Buffalo States grad who have excelled in various communication professions. See the list of Hall of Fame members. See Honors Convocation video.

About Writing, on Radio

2009-11-25T15:30:00.001-05:00

Department chair Ron Smith was a guest on the "On Target" radio talk show hosted each week by Judge Penny Wolfgang. The topic of the half-hour discussion was writing. Ron's key messages: Writing will always be with us. Many young people are natural storytellers and good writers. Journalism is not dying (just changing). Writing prevails in the Internet age.

Grads Getting Jobs

2009-11-25T15:21:00.005-05:00

Sixty percent of Buffalo State Communication grads report getting full-time jobs in their field within a year of graduation, higher than the national average of 56%. The regional economy was reflected in the survey, with Buff State grads reporting a salary ($23,200) lower than the national average ($30,000). The data is based on 2008 grads.
Among other findings at the national level: the percentage of comm grads with at least one job offer dropped sharply from the previous year; more got telephone job interviews but fewer got in-person interviews; grads express less optimism about the job market; only half found any communication work (part-time or full-time), down from the previous year.
Buffalo State is one of 86 schools in the study conducted for the Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication. See 2009 Annual Survey.

Buffalo News Scholarship

2009-11-24T16:27:00.000-05:00

Two Communication freshmen have received $1,000 scholarships provided by The Buffalo News. Lakisha Forde of Brooklyn and Lauren Kirchmyer of West Seneca are the department's newest Buffalo News Scholars. The scholarship is competitive and is based on high school grades, SAT scores, and writing samples. See Buffalo News Scholars.

Attendance Policy

2009-11-24T10:19:00.001-05:00

The Communication faculty adopted a common attendance policy for all COM and SPC courses. Because active participation is necessary for academic success, the policy outlines student responsibilities on class prticipation. It also outlines penalties for non-attendance, identifies excusable absences, and sets norms for make-up work. See Communication Attendance Policy.

Honor Society

2009-11-20T17:51:00.003-05:00

Nineteen students have been inducted into the department chapter of the Communication Honor Society. Eligibility requirements are a 3.0 GPA overall and a 3.25 GPA in the major. The department's Psi Rho chapter is one of more than 400 campus chapters affiliated with Lambda Pi Eta honor society of the National Communication Association. See Honor Society members. See Honor Society video.

Piquette Scholar

2009-11-14T12:33:00.003-05:00

Jon D'Avolio, a junior Media Production major, is the first recipient of a $1,000 Dr. Julia A. Piquette Communication Scholarship.
D'Avlio, of Buffalo, is involved in several class-related and free-lance video projects. His productions range from silent movies to parodies of radio commercials, and from comedy sketches to Buffalo State sports. His work involves writing, shooting, producing and editing.
Dr. Julia Piquette is a retired member of the department who established the broadcasting sequence and created what was then called the Journalism, Broadcasting and Speech department. Juniors with a 3.7 GPA in the majors are eligible for the scholarship. Applicants prepare a personal statement, and finalists present a speech to the scholarship selection committee.

An Intern's Log

2009-10-29T14:47:00.005-04:00

Media Production senior Andrew Burstein kept a daily log of his experiences as an intern working on a film with Warner Brothers TV in New York City during summer 2009. He details "every grueling, agonizing day of my internship without any commercial breaks." It's an honest, sometimes funny, day-by-day recount of his experiences -- and a great read. See An Intern's Log.

Girl Scouts TV

2009-10-24T12:52:00.006-04:00

Twenty Girl Scouts from Erie and Niagara counties participated in a department-sponsored video production Oct. 24. The production, part of a careers programs of the local Girl Scout council, is an element of the department's community-service agenda.
Department chair Ron Smith and Professor Marian Deutschman helped the girls create a script for a 60-second public-service advertisement. Professor Paul DeWald supervised the videotaping in the department TV studio, with the girls providing both the on-camera talent and assistance as camera operators and floor directors. Professor Lou Rera helped the girls edit the final video.
Here's the Girl Scout TV spot posted at the department's YouTube page.

Advisement & Registration

2009-10-23T17:41:00.003-04:00

Registration begins Nov. 4. Faculty advisers have posted advisement sign-up sheets by their office door, so sign up for your appointment. Advisers do not select classes for you. Instead, they review your intended courses in light of your graduation requirements.Don't know your adviser? See our Adviser List.