Category Archives: Featured Story
Q&A With IRTS Fellow Ford Sanders
In his journey to becoming a news anchor after graduation, senior journalism and electronic media major Ford Sanders has gained experience with news stations on the local and national scale during his time as a student at UT, from working with WVLT-TV and the UT Today program in Knoxville to now working with CBS’ New York City-based programs.
Sanders was among an elite group of students who had the opportunity to be a part of the International Radio and Television Society (IRTS) Fellowship Program, a prestigious program for 30 to 40 students from a nationwide pool of more than 1,000 … Read more “Q&A With IRTS Fellow Ford Sanders”
CCI Dean Mike Wirth to Return to Teaching
Mike Wirth, dean of the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, College of Communication and Information for the past 14 years, has announced his decision to step down and return to teaching at the end of the current academic year.
Wirth is an internationally known expert in the field of cable telecommunication and broadcast economics, and his career includes many accomplishments and accolades. He is a current member of the Executive Committee of the Association of Schools of Journalism and Mass Communication.
As a co-editor of the Handbook of Media Management and Economics, he received the 2006 Robert Picard Award for … Read more “CCI Dean Mike Wirth to Return to Teaching”
CCI Alumni Start VOLs Remote Internship Program for Students
As many students around the country had their summer internship plans put on hold because of COVID-19 and economic uncertainty, the University of Tennessee’s New York City Alumni Chapter quickly organized a virtual internship program for future communicators.
The VOLs Remote Internship pilot program paired five interns from CCI with social media and digital communication roles at nonprofit organizations dedicated to education.
CCI Board of Visitors member Jamie Lonie (PR ’10), who also serves as president of New York City Alumni Chapter, said the idea for a digital internship program was born from the November 2019 CCI Board of Visitors … Read more “CCI Alumni Start VOLs Remote Internship Program for Students”
2020 CCI Diversity & Inclusion Week
The 11th annual CCI Diversity and Inclusion Week is targeted at all members of the CCI community with specific focus on our 1,280 undergraduate majors. The four-day event offers participants an opportunity to gain diversity skills and knowledge along with a chance to dialogue about diversity and inclusion issues and to share best practices by bringing together leaders and experts from inside and outside the college and university.
Our 2020 theme is “Communicating Why Black Lives Matter.” Two keynote events, nine panels, and a diversity festival will provide our students, faculty, staff, and the UT Knoxville community with an inspirational … Read more “2020 CCI Diversity & Inclusion Week”
Q&A with Gabriela Szymanowska
While she was a student in the School of Journalism and Electronic Media, Gabriela Szymanowska (JEM ’20) developed a passion for telling people’s stories that can raise awareness or inspire change on important social issues.
She gained more experience telling those critical stories through writing and photography during her eight-month John and Patty Williams Fellowship with the Carnegie-Knight News21 program, the prestigious multimedia project that brings together the country’s top journalism students and graduates. Because of COVID-19, this year’s 31 News21 fellows from 16 universities collaborated virtually on “Kids Imprisoned,” an investigation into juvenile justice in America.
Szymanowska served as … Read more “Q&A with Gabriela Szymanowska”
Marketing a Vol Hotel
Ben Weprin (’01) has developed a national brand on building and repurposing hotel properties in college towns to appeal to alumni returning to their alma maters. His latest project has brought him back to his own alma mater, and he has given fellow Vols a chance to be a part of the project.
Weprin opened Graduate Knoxville in the former Hilton Garden Inn on Cumberland Avenue on August 13. The revamp includes a lot of features that will make Vols cheer, including UT-themed illustrations by cartoonist Marshall Ramsey (’91) in the lobby. And thanks to a friendship between Weprin and … Read more “Marketing a Vol Hotel”
New CCI Faculty, Staff for 2020-21
The College of Communication and Information welcomes seven new faculty and staff members for the 2020-21 school year.
The new year also brings two familiar faces to administrative roles. Professor Beth Avery Foster became the new Director of the School of Advertising and Public Relations on August 1. Chancellor’s Professor and Board of Visitors Professor Carol Tenopir was named interim director of the School of Information Sciences when SIS Professor and Director Diane Kelly was named UT Vice Provost for Faculty Affairs.
New Faculty
Guy Harrison (Assistant Professor, Journalism and Electronic Media) has a PhD in Journalism and Mass … Read more “New CCI Faculty, Staff for 2020-21”
CCI Presents at 2020 AEJMC Conference
Faculty and graduate students from the University of Tennessee College of Communication and Information (CCI) presented 10 peer-reviewed research papers at the Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication’s (AEJMC) annual conference, which was held virtually Aug. 6-9.
In addition, six CCI faculty served as panelists, moderators, and discussants during the conference.
Faculty serving in AEJMC leadership roles include: Amber Roessner, associate professor in the School of Journalism and Electronic Media, who was elected to the Standing Committee on Research, and Joy Jenkins, JEM assistant professor, who is the incoming head of the Magazine Media Division. Moonhee … Read more “CCI Presents at 2020 AEJMC Conference”
Foster Named New ADPR Director
Professor Elizabeth Avery Foster became Director of the School of Advertising and Public Relations on August 1.
She takes over from Professor Sally McMillan, who returned to the faculty after serving as interim director since June 2019.
“Beth Foster is an internationally known scholar, an outstanding teacher and an excellent servant leader,” said Wirth. “Her experience in working with a wide range of constituencies and of developing effective working relationships at all levels will allow her to be very effective in her new role.”
Foster joined the ADPR faculty as an assistant professor in 2006 and was promoted to professor … Read more “Foster Named New ADPR Director”
Kelly Named UT Vice Provost for Faculty Affairs; Tenopir Named Interim SIS Director
Diane Kelly, director of the School of Information Sciences, was named UT Vice Provost for Faculty Affairs effective August 1.
Kelly did an outstanding job of serving as professor and director of the School of Information Sciences since 2016. Her accomplishments included leading the school to a 110 percent enrollment increase in the Master of Science in information sciences and the creation of a new bachelor’s degree in information sciences.
Read Provost and Senior Vice Chancellor John Zomchick’s letter about Kelly’s appointment.
Chancellor’s Professor and Board of Visitors Professor Carol Tenopir will serve as interim director of the School of … Read more “Kelly Named UT Vice Provost for Faculty Affairs; Tenopir Named Interim SIS Director”