E-ALERT - SEPTEMBER 2004

MARK YOUR CALENDARS

October 9th is our traditional Homecoming Barbecue at SCETV. We look forward to seeing alumni, faculty and staff in both the journalism and library schools to share memories before the game with Mississippi. For $5, you get barbecue, drinks, the latest edition of the college’s homecoming t-shirt and camaraderie. We’d like to give you game tickets and parking, too. But even we have our limitations.

As part of the Homecoming celebration, the USC Alumni Association is honoring journalism alumna Darci Strickland as its Outstanding Young Alum. This event will be held on Friday, October 8, at Columbia’s new Convention Center.

On November 18th, the School of Journalism and Mass Communications will honor its outstanding alumni. Robin Roberts, a 1976 graduate, is president of National Media Inc. in Alexandria, Virginia. Knight-Ridder White House Correspondent Bill Douglas is a 1980 journalism graduate. The school’s

outstanding young alumnus is Jason Wagenheim, a 1995 graduate, is advertising director for Conde Nast Traveler magazine.

WIRELESS ELECTION CONNECTION

Newsplex will be the hub of a nationwide election-day project to capture the mood of the day and create a web-based mosaic of the candidates and the electorate. The Wireless Election Connection moblog (mobile weblog, in case you were wondering) is sponsored by Cingular, one of our Newsplex technology partners. Students from USC and other journalism schools use photo phones to shoot the action and text message their reports to Newsplex. The Wireless Election Connection has already been acclaimed an innovative success in its capturing of the Republican and Democratic national conventions. See what it’s all about at http://wec.textamerica.com

WEC is coordinated by Randy Covington, the new director of the Ifra Newsplex at USC. Covington has shifted from his position as the college’s director of advancement, so we’re in the midst of a national search for a new director of development who can spearhead the fundraising campaign for LeConte and other college projects. Stay tuned for news on this search.

VISUAL COMMUNICATIONS

Twenty-nine students have already signed on as “Vis Comm” majors in the new program launched this semester by the journalism school. We believe this will open new opportunities for students interested in careers in digital photojournalism and web design. Students must think so, too. Sequence chair Van Kornegay projects the major will grow to approximately 160 students.

WHO’S NEW

Our faculty grew at the start of fall semester, adding strength across the curriculum of each school. Dr. Susanna Priest came from Texas A&M to be the college’s new research director succeeding the new retired Bob Williams. Dr. Dan Stout teaches advertising and brought the co-editorship of the Journal of Religion and Media with him from Brigham Young. Dr. Laura Smith joined our broadcast journalism faculty after receiving her Ph.D. from Texas. Dr. Augie Grant’s been with us quite a while, but he’s no longer a “visiting” professor. Augie also directs our master’s program. In the library school, Dr. Judith Marley joined us from Texas Woman’s University. Jinmook Kim came on board as he completes his doctoral work at the University of Maryland.

And is growing. We’re launching national searches for five faculty members in the journalism school and one new member of the library school faculty to join us for the fall 2005 semester. Thanks to three-year funding of $300,000 provided by the USC Vice President for Research, we’re seeking a senior level faculty member in the area of health and science communication. We also hope to add two faculty each in advertising and public relations. Plans are advancing to add undergraduate and Ph.D. programs to the library school.

ELECTION RETURNS

Dean Charles Bierbauer has been elected to serve this year as chair of the University’s Council of Academic Deans. This is the liaison body that represents the colleges and schools in advising the President, Provost and central administration. As for those other elections, the Dean has some thoughts in his on-line column on the college home page.