Graduate students taking the first-ever JOUR 500 Journalism Innovation course in the Meek School have created a series of online stories, which got solid reviews from Chip Mahaney, Director of Digital Content for The E.W. Scripps Company and its Broadcast Division.

One of the story sites explored the issue of Alzheimer’s in Mississippi and an innovative new resource for caregivers here in Oxford. Students Lauren Zimmerman and Alex McDaniel produced the site.
“They did a nice job presenting a polished product,” said Mahaney. “The writing here was generally very good.”

A light-hearted look at the “pizza culture” of Northeast Mississippi was the focus of a site produced by David Steele and Eric Griffis.
“A good ‘I didn’t know that’ topic, and you can tell the project’s creators have a passion for their topic. That passion is reflected in their writing and their producing of the related content,” Mahaney said. “Good use of video, including embedded video from somewhere else on the Internet. Recall Jeff Jarvis’ good advice: ‘Do what you do best, and link to the rest.’ (or “embed” the rest, in this case).”

Lindsay Jordan and Dani Ligato explored the growing movement toward organic and locally produced food in Organic Oxford.

This site has a simple design and layout (good), an easy navigation system (good) and lots of information (good),” Mahaney said. “…the writing is clean. The use of various multimedia elements is good.”

Faculty member Deb Wenger, who taught the course, is looking forward to working with a new crop of students in the spring.

“I learned a lot from these students and I’m proud of what they accomplished,” Wenger said. “I look forward to more excellent work from next semester’s student projects as well.”

Two Journalism students wrote enterprise articles for The Quitman County Democrat this semester, as part of their classwork in Professor Patricia Thompson’s Advanced Reporting course.
Molly Hutter and Natalie Dickson wrote articles that were published on the front page of the newspaper, which is located in Marks.

“Molly and Natalie researched and reported stories I’d been trying to get to for over a year, so they helped serve the people of this county,” said Josie Fleming, publisher of The Quitman County Democrat. “This serving by informing is what community journalism is all about. And they worked without working me, a big help. They took their assignments and ran with them and gave me an excellent final product.”

Linda Rutherford, vice president for communications and strategic outreach at Southwest Airlines, recently spoke to Robin Street’s PR classes about the critical role social media plays in today’s public relations. Rutherford (left) is pictured with Street (right) and student Stuart Johnson (center), who invited Rutherford to campus after meeting her through his aunt.

The Institute for Education in International Media (ieiMedia) is now accepting applications for summer media programs in France, Italy and Turkey.
 
Students spend four weeks studying international reporting and media skills (multimedia, video or magazine) and reporting on the host community. They then create a publication (website, magazine or book) about the city. The programs are open to English-speaking students from all colleges and universities, as well as recent graduates. Preference given journalism, media or mass communication majors and students with experience on a college or professional publication.
ITALY: Urbino (Academic partners: Iowa State University/James Madison University)
Section 1: Multimedia Reporting or Section 2: Magazine Publishing
June 9-July 7, 2011

Urbino lies in the northern part of central Italy’s Marche Region, nestled between the Apennine Mountains and the Adriatic Sea. Students will live and learn at the University of Urbino, with all meals included. Students who sign up for the magazine publishing project will produce Urbino Now, a digital English-language magazine. Those who sign up for Multimedia Reporting will study photography, international reporting and video and produce a website about the city. For examples of previous student projects see InUrbino.net and Urbino Now magazine.

FRANCE: Perpignan (Academic partner: San Francisco State University)
June 23-July 23, 2011

Study multimedia storytelling and French language and culture in this charming Catalan city near the Spanish border. Students will study blogging, shooting and editing video, and international reporting and create a multimedia website about the community. Perpignan lies in the Languedoc region of southwestern France, 8 miles west of the Mediterranean Sea and 19 miles north of the Spanish border, within sight of the Pyrenees.  Students will live in air-conditioned studios in a modern hotel and study French at a respected language academy. For examples of previous student work see InPerpignan.net.

TURKEY: Istanbul (Academic partners: San Francisco State University/Winston-Salem State University)
June 23-July 21, 2011
Come report on this exotic yet sophisticated city, the only major metropolis that straddles two continents, Asia and Europe. Students will cover street life, politics, culture and the arts, while learning about blogging, basic multimedia techniques and Turkish language and culture. Stories will be published on a website and considered for inclusion in a book about the city. Students will live in a modern dormitory.All programs are $4,995 plus airfare. Program fee includes tuition, housing, ground transportation from airport to host site and cultural activities.
For more information and application go to http://ieimedia.com.