PR/J News

www.utica.edu Summer 2010

Platt to be honored at Homecoming

By Wesley Allen 10
Editors note: the RSI recognizes an Outstanding Alumnus annually at the Awards Brunch in the spring. Last fall began a new tradition of honoring a second Outstanding Alumnus each year at the colleges Homecoming in September. A nationally-esteemed journalist and author, Utica College journalism graduate Larry Platt 85 is coming back to UC to be honored by the Raymond Simon Institute. Platt will be presented with the 2010 Outstanding Public Relations/Journalism Alumnus award Sept. 25 during Homecoming weekend. Platt has had many professional accomplishments; he was named Editor-in-Chief of Philadelphia magazine in September 2002. Since that time, the magazine has won 16 city and regional magazine awards and has also been named the nations third-best newsstand performer by Capells Circulation Report. Platt has written features on sports, politics, media and business. His writings have appeared in GQ, the New York Times Magazine, Mens Journal, Playboy and Salon. com. Platt has also appeared on a variety of television shows including Nightline, ESPN Outside the Lines and HBO Real Sports. In 1997, Platt wrote his first book titled Keepin It Real: A Turbulent Season at the Crossroads with the NBA. Temple University Press published an anthology of Platts work and called it New Jack Jocks: Rebels, Race and the American Athlete in 2002. He is also the author of Only the Strong Survive: The Odyssey of Allen Iverson (published October 2002). RSI Executive Director Kim Landon is impressed with Platts body of work. We are very proud of Larrys extensive professional accomplishments, Landon said. We are grateful for his support of our program, most especially through his visits to campus and his willingness to help faculty and students whenever called upon. He is a more than deserving recipient of this award. Platt is no stranger to ceremonies at Utica College; he delivered the Convocation address to the Class of 2008.

Program highlights
Tau Mu epsilon This year seven public relations or public relations/ journalism majors qualified for induction into the Public Relations academic fraternity Tau Mu Epsilon. Students must maintain a GPA of 3.0, exhibit integrity in and outside of the classroom and a strong interest in public relations. Pat Swann, associate professor of public relations, is TMEs adviser. society for Collegiate Journalists This spring, the student chapter of the Society for Collegiate Journalists formally changed its name to the Utica College John C. Behrens Chapter of SCJ. Behrens, professor emeritus of journalism, was the first journalism professor at Utica College. SCJ members along with chapter adviser Kim Landon and Tangerine adviser Patty Louise attended the SCJ conference in New York City this spring. PRssA International Conference The Utica College Raymond Simon Chapter of PRSSA sent nine students to the annual conference, held this year in San Diego. For the first time, it presented a chapter development workshop at the conference. It discussed ways to reach out to other campus organizations to cosponsor events and increase outreach with students in other majors. Junior Danielle DuPree, PRSSA vice president, was elected to the PRSSAs national executive board as the director of public relations. In this position she will be responsible for promoting the activities of PRSSA. In addition, DuPree won the Charles S. Smith Memorial Scholarship from the Rochester PRSA Chapter. Charles Smith was an alumnus of Utica Colleges public relations program. Rochester Institute of Technology Conference for Undergraduate Research in Communications (CURC) This year six students from PRL 375 Public Relations Research presented their research papers at the RIT CURC. These papers were published in the conference proceedings book available at http://www.lulu.com; Student research included social media and hospitals, Twitter communication among celebrities, interactivity factors on websites, and how colleges portray diversity on their websites.
send correspondence to: klandon@utica.edu

LeBris named Outstanding alumna Prof. simon to celebrate 95th birthday

Known as The Father of Public Relations Education, Utica College Professor Emeritus and Public Relations author Raymond Simon turns 95 on Aug. 12. The College will celebrate the occasion on Saturday, Sept. 25 at 6 p.m. as part of Homecoming weekend. The celebration highlights a schedule of PR/J-related Homecoming events, including a PR/J alumni, faculty and student pregame tailgate picnic prior to the UC football teams 2 p.m. kickoff against Wilkes University. See page 7 for more details.

The Raymond Simon Institute honored Salina (Goggins) Le Bris 80 at the April awards brunch with the Outstanding PR/J Alumna Award. During her two-day campus visit, LeBris presented a workshop for public relations and journalism students and faculty on search engine optimization. She also met with students informally to offer career and internship advice. The founder of ComStrategist, LeBris is the former vice president of corporate communications and public relations at Reed Business Information; director of marketing at Streamedia.net; consultant/account manager at Herndon Associates; and director of communications and public relations at ConEd Solutions. In her career, she has also held the positions of acting general manager/account executive program; department manager of energy services and, director of public affairs, all at Con Edison. She was also director of marketing communica-

Please see HONOREES, page 2

Ray suarez discusses future of news

Editors note: Ray Suarez, senior correspondent for the The News Hour on PBS, delivered UCs 2010 Commencement address. It was a sobering speech to the graduates amid economic turmoil reminiscent of the Great Depression. Ever the journalist, Suarez spoke the unvarnished truth about the grim realities of the nations fortunes and the stiff headwinds that graduates face in the journey ahead. PR/J News Assistant Editor Keith
editor: Kim Landon Assistant editor: Keith Henry Contributors: Wesley Allen 10

Henry had a chance to sit down with the award-winning journalist and discuss the state of journalism, a profession caught in its own maelstrom of uncertainty. KH: Ray Suarez, welcome to Utica College. Where do you see the news business in 10 years? Rs: Unless theres a digital business model that creates a revenue stream

Please see SUAREZ, page 3

The PR/J News is published by the Office of Marketing and Communications at Utica College. 2010 Utica College

PR/J Newsletter, Summer 2010

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Honorees
tions at The MONY Group. LeBris was recognized as one of Utica Colleges Alumni of Achievement at Homecoming 2007 and is a member of the colleges Board of Trustees. Junior Tamira Smith attended LeBriss presentation. During my time at Utica College, Ive been blessed with the opportunity to meet with several Utica College alumni, and meeting with Salina was definitely one of my most inspirational. She was extremely well spoken and confident about her knowledge of the public relations field. She was eager to share information and more than happy to answer the one million questions I asked her. She seemed extremely happy with her education from Utica and reassured me that I would be more than ready for the real world after graduation. Senior Devorne Hormeku shared Smiths enthusiasm. I thought the presentation was a breath of fresh air. It was unique and innovative. It was an efficient way to show students the emerging techniques in PR. It stuck with me more than other presentations because I could relate to her. Communications as senior vice-president and partner in 1995, and, because of the sale of the firm, became of counsel to its successor firm Manning Selvage & Lee in 2004. He is also president of TMAC Communications Inc. MacMillan spent 17 years in the newspaper business with Sun Media, including five years as vice president with the Financial Post. He also served as special assistant to the Treasurer of Michael May, Tom MacMillan, Linda Vaccaro Schmit Ontario and Minister of Inter-Governmental Affairs. His corporate communications experience In his career, MacMillan has provided a full range of communications counsel and services to a wide included Participaction, Uniroyal and Abitibi. As a student, MacMillan was a member of the variety of clients including: Porter Airlines, Trump Public Relations Student Society of America del- International, The Toronto Port Authority, Rogers egation that represented UC at a convention in Cable, Hamilton Port Authority, Ryerson UniverChicago. He was a distinguished member of Tau sity, CanWest, Sun Media Corp, The National Post, Mu Epsilon and Pi Delta Epsilon, national honor- Macleans Magazine, Roy Thomson Hall, Maytag, ary public relations and journalism fraternities. He Royal and Sun Alliance, Aviva, Enbridge, Talisman also worked for The Tangerine for three years and Energy, Hunt Oil, The Toronto Blue Jays, Canadian interned at the Utica College News Bureau, where Broadcast Sales, The CN Tower, VIA Rail, Jetsgo, he was the news director. MacMillan received the Canadian Pacific, The Competition Bureau, and The Board of Trade of Metropolitan Toronto. Alumni Associations Outstanding Senior Award. In Toronto, he has a long record of community During his visit to campus in September, Macservice. He is a member of the Board of Trustees Millan spoke to several public relations classes. He also provided media training to journalism and of the Centre for Mental Health and Addiction public relations students. Combining their reunion (CAMH), a director of Ontario Place, the United with MacMillans visit, two of his 1969 classmates, Way, the Outward Bound Wilderness School and Linda Vaccaro Schmidt and Michael May, joined serves on two committees of the Royal Ontario him in role-playing during the media training. Museum.

macmillan Outstanding alumnus

The Raymond Simon Institute honored Tom MacMillan 69 with the 2009 Outstanding PR/J Alumnus award during Homecoming last September. MacMillan, who for decades has hosted PR/J student visits to his home city of Toronto, joined fellow alumni at their 40th reunion. RSI Executive Director Kim Landon presented MacMillan with the award at a reception during the Homecoming festivities. She said the RSI selected MacMillan because of his extreme contribution and generosity to the public relations and journalism department. She said she first met him as a student when Professor Raymond Simon took a group of students to Toronto. MacMillans career spans 39 years and includes extensive experience in media, politics and the corporate world. He joined Advance Planning and

The Tangerine recognized by local non-profit

The Genesis Group honored The Tangerine as a top collegiate program designed to educate students. Genesis, an organization that promotes the Mohawk Valley region, recognized UCs student newspaper and its adviser Patty Louise Gannon at its Fourth Annual Celebration of Education in November. In notifying her of the award, Louise said that the association felt that PR/J students at Utica College have a great resource to learn their craft.

rSi award memorializes manning

Bruce Manning 76 died Aug. 19, 2009, of a heart attack in Mission Viejo, Calif. He was 55. A graduate of Utica Free Academy, Manning was at one time public relations director for the Mohawk Valley Comets. He left Utica to do PR for the newly formed hockey team The Long Beach Sharks. He later worked as a freelance journalist, television reporter, radio news anchor, financial consultant and occasional actor. He operated his own public relations firm, The Manning Group. A member of the Public Relations Society of America, Manning also served as an adjunct professor at the Dodge Film and Television School of Chapman University in Orange County, CA. He arranged several charity events and was board president of the Hillel Foundation. His PR/J classmates from the mid-1970s remember his antics on the college radio station WEDJ, as Kenny Du It, including once staying on the air for 24 hours to raise funds for charity and entering the Guinness Book of World Records for doing so. Mannings survivors include his wife, Roberta, and four daughters: Andrea, Jamie, Stephanie and Mychal, a graduate student at Utica College. A memorial service took place in Costa Mesa, where his sisters Lori Manning Greenberg and Shari Manning Rosen gave the eulogy. They shared memories of his years at Utica College. We were regulars at the college radio station and pub at the tender of ages of 9 and 12, said Greenberg. They also recalled that Mannings photo once made it into The New York Times when he was shoved off the top of a car while trying to get an election night quotation from the citys colorful Mayor Ed Hanna. More than 10 years ago, they recalled, Manning had presciently reflected upon his life in an Orange County newspaper article. Life seems to be going by quicker. Sometimes you have to go after what you want to do, despite the naysayers. Better to have at least tried something and given your all than to spend your life wondering what if. Try to have fun. This is not a dress rehearsal and the show could be over without notice. Mannings family and friends have created an RSI award in his memory.

PrSSa visit with Professor Simon

After the PRSSA International Conference, students had a gettogether with Ray and Lyn Simon about their trip. For most students, this was their first introduction to Prof. Simon!

The posts and tributes on Facebook have been overwhelming and stunning. Bruce could not go to school, teach a class, work a job or play a game of poker without making a friend.
His sisters referred to his stillexisting Facebook page. The posts and tributes on Facebook have been overwhelming and stunning. Bruce could not go to school, teach a class, work a job or play a game of poker without making a friend. It will go annually to a student who exhibits Manning-style enthusiasm for Utica College. Donations to the Bruce Manning/RSI Spirit Award can be sent to the RSI c/o Prof. Kim Landon, 1600 Burrstone Road, Utica, NY 13502.

PR/J Newsletter, Summer 2010

uc PrJ students team up for campaign

New year, new look

In honor of the legacy of journalism The PR/J Newsletter has an intentionally fundamental new look, using the classic elements of a traditional newspaper. Please let us know what you think.

alumnae awarded
When the Observer-Dispatch won nine awards in the annual Associated Press contest for newspapers in New York state last fall, the honorees included two UC PR/J alumni. The ODs Presentation Team Leader Muranda Hartness 00 won two awards for Spot News Presentation. She won second place for her front-page design in April 2009 of coverage of the Craigslist Killer case. She won third place for her frontpage design in July 2008 of coverage of the Boilermaker Road Race. In the Business/Finance Reporting category, former OD reporter Dana Silano 04 won honorable mention for a July 2008 article on substantial insurance industry donations to state Sen. James Seward, R-Milford, who at that time chaired the state Senate Insurance Committee.

Elliot Maldonado 82 gives a presentation to students during an October visit to Utica College.
UC PR/J students had a unique opportunity last fall to participate in a national media relations campaign with Publishers Clearing House. During the famous Prize Patrol blitz campaign in November, UC students helped set up media coverage for the Patrols home visits. Elliott Maldonado 82, Publishers Clearing House Creative Group Head, invited the UC students to participate. I thought of UC because I have so much respect for the program. My courses and the professors prepared me so well, it was just natural to want to go back to my school and seek out the aid and talent of the students and their professors. He visited campus Oct. 21 to train students. He explained how the PCH direct marketing campaign works, how they choose prizewinners, and how the Prize Patrols arrange visits to the winners homes. He later provided UC students with all of the winners media markets. The students researched the local print media in each market and sent news releases requesting coverage of the Prize Patrol visits. Each team Big Checks worth $10,000. Publishers Clearing House got significantly more local coverage because of this PR initiative with Utica College. And I feel much was learned to make the future efforts even more

It was wonderful to see that the UC public relations program is still as vital and vigorous as I remember.
was also responsible for contacting their areas Prize Patrol and tracking the media coverage. Maldonado said he felt the program was successful. Besides developing a theme for the Prize Patrol Blitz called Reality Check a team of 20 UC students alerted local newspapers that the Publishers Clearing House Prize Patrol was visiting their towns to hand-deliver effective, said Maldonado. It was wonderful to see that the UC public relations program is still as vital and vigorous as I remember. Publishers Clearing House may have awarded over $1,000,000 in prize checks during the three-day Blitz, but -- thanks to Utica College Publishers Clearing House was the big winner!

Pr class works with community

Students from PRL 385 Public Relations Campaigns class completed two campaigns for two community clients: Faxton-St. Lukes Health Care Centers smoking cessation program and the Dunham Public Library in Whitesboro. Adjunct Professor Aida Mariani 99 was the faculty supervisor. Both campaign teams not only planned but implemented a part of their public relations campaign. The Observer-Dispatch and WKTV both ran stories as a result of the students efforts.

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Suarez

that allows you to pay professionals to do their work, were going to be in desperate shape, and a lot of the news business will have moved to the not-for-profit model in the next 10 to 20 years, held by community corporations and 501(C3) corporations whose business is to operate a newspaper or operate a magazine. Youre already seeing it; Pro Publica, which is an endowed organization that does investigative reporting because the commercial news business has largely abandoned investigative reporting. Youre seeing it in magazines like The Nation and the New Republic moving to a less profit-driven status and less advertisingdirected business model. Youre see-

ing it in public radio. Where public TV has not succeeded in a much more competitive universe, public radio has. And as commercial radio has gotten junkier and junkier, public radio has really prospered. KH: So what does it mean to up and coming journalism students? What should they be doing to prepare themselves for this new and shifting paradigm? Rs: Cross-training. When I got started in the business, you could be a radio person or a TV person or a print person and they were siloed. Nobody expected that they would work parts of their career in different media. That world is dead like it

never even existed. You have to be cross-trained to work in all media. Youre going to have to know a little TV. Youre going to have to know how to post to the web, you have to know how to freshen up the top of your story because its no longer a question of making two editions of the paper but the deadline is now. Whens the deadline? Now. Because news lives right now, its not like making a deadline in five hours. Everything is sped up. KH: Do you think that journalists today have the skills set to meet the challenge of todays journalism? Rs: I think youre getting more and more cross-trained kids coming out

of journalism programs so the quality of a lot of that stuff will change. Instead of an old ink-stained wretch like me, you have somebody who has grown up with all these gadgets and technology. They have grown up both consuming and contributing to digital media. Once you have a generation that grew up with that as management and as the frontline troops in the news business, it will all change and the quality of cross platform products will change as well. Were going through a learning curve at the News Hour. You can read my blog, but primarily Im a TV guy, but I do those other things, too.

PR/J Newsletter, Summer 2010

rSi honors top students, alumna

The annual Raymond Simon Institute Awards Brunch recognized 22 students in April 2010 for their accomplishments as well as their potential for success in public relations or journalism. Outstanding PR/J Alumnus Salina LeBris received her award and addressed the gathering. (See page 1.) Winning the coveted Raymond Simon Scholarship was Devorne Hormeku of Brooklyn. Public relations and journalism alumni established this award in the 1970s to honor Prof. Raymond Simon. The scholarship goes to a student with an excellent academic record, high quality participation in extracurricular activities associated with the PR major, and promise for success in public relations. Hormeku has been president of the Student Senate and the Society for Collegiate Journalists, as well as of his freshman, sophomore and senior classes. He studied in London during his junior year and held a PR internship with an agency there. The Ben and Gene Comora Scholarship, established by Owen Comora in memory of his parents, is awarded to a student who has attained an outstanding academic record and has demonstrated exemplary personal and professional qualities. Jeff Kassouf, a junior from New Paltz, more than met the award

criteria. He earned a 3.88 GPA while also playing soccer for UC and regularly reporting on Womens Professional Soccer for a number of soccer websites. He also served as Tangerine online editor. The third major scholarship, the John C. Behrens Print Journalism Scholarship, went this year to Alexandra Caldas, a sophomore from Pawtucket, RI. She has a 3.45 GPA and hopes for a career as a copy editor.

In a first for the RSI, a student this year funded an award. This years Tangerine editor Jonathan Monfiletto created an award in honor of his late grandmother to recognize a staff writer enrolled in the Tangerine Practicum course. The first Mildred Schwartz/RSI Tangerine Award went to Gabe Kashuba of Salisbury Center. Another new award honors the late Bruce Manning 76. Created

upon his death in 2009 by his family and friends, the Bruce Manning/ RSI Spirit Award recognizes a student who, like Bruce, has immense school spirit and loves Utica College. The first recipient was senior and PRSSA President Jessica Mauer of Port Ewen. Members of the Manning family attended the awards brunch for the presentation.

Please see RSI, page 5

charles S. Smith scholarship awarded

awarded the first Charles S. Smith Scholarship by the Rochester Public Relations Society of America Chapter in December 2009. The $1,000 award is in honor of Smith, a 1972 Utica College public relations alumnus and former president of the Rochester Chapter. Smith, a communications director and group vice president at Eastman Kodak Company, passed away in November 2007 after battling cancer. Smith was known for his dedication to young people in the public relations profession. He served as a mentor to many students and shared his knowledge at several conferences and professional development events, including classroom presentations at Utica College. His donations allowed numerous Utica College students to attend the regional PRSA northeast public relations conferences that students otherwise could not afford. Smiths commitment to the public relations profession lives on through this scholarship fund. Per Smiths wishes, scholarships from this fund will be awarded to members of PRSSA, enabling them to attend public relations conferences. DuPree is a member of the Utica College Raymond Simon Chapter of Public Relations Student Society of America. She has served as an executive board member for the past two years and last year was the Chapters national delegate to New Orleans.

ScJ hosts activities

The Society for Collegiate Journalists filled its second year with activities involving the entire campus. SCJ co-sponsored the Banned Book Read-in and the campus Haunted House that is open to the community. The group hosted its annual Internship Panel and Ice Cream Social featuring PRJ students reporting on their summer internships. At the Fall Induction Ceremony, three new members joined the group. In February, the SCJ hosted Listening to African-American History Out Loud, to celebrate African-American writerswho excelled in journalism, poetry and literature. In March, members attended the College Media Convention in New York.

Danielle DuPree, a sophomore public relations-journalism major, was

Pr/J family mourns passing of dear friends

The UC PR/J family lost several beloved members last fall: Patty Behrens, wife of Professor Jack Behrens; Janet Baker, widow of former UC PR Director and adjunct professor Larry Baker; and Ruth Rogers, longtime secretary to Professor Raymond Simon in the Division of Business Administration. Patricia Ann Patty Beaty Behrens was a native of Carroll, Ohio. She graduated from The Ohio State University with a degree in hospital dietetics. She married John Jack Behrens June 17, 1956. The couple had two children, Cynthia Sue Behrens Daugherty of North Canton, Ohio and Mark Andrew Behrens of Hopedale, Mass. Her husband, children and grandchildren, Jessica and Christopher Daugherty of North Canton, survive her. In her 30-year career, she was chief dietitian with a number of facilities, including Faxton Hospital in Utica. She served as clinical dietitian at St. Lukes Hospital in Utica and at Hospice of Central New York. Condolences can be sent to Professor Behrens at 57 Stebbins Drive, Clinton, NY 13323. Janet Baker, 79, married Lawrence James Baker of Boonville. They raised four children from coast to coast, finally returning to their beloved Adirondack Mountains in 1971. After her husbands retirement from Utica College, they settled in Sharon, Conn. Following his death, she moved to Ukiah, Calif. and resided there for 20 years. She worked primarily in financial services, including several banks and restaurants. She recently retired from the Blue Bird Cafes in Hopland and Ukiah, Calif. Condolences may be sent to Cheryl Hudspeth, 610 N. Carbon St., Girard, KS 66743. Ruth Rogers, 80, a graduate of Utica College, was married to Jason D. Rogers, a UC adjunct professor who predeceased her. After leaving UC, she worked as director for Madison County Elder Care and later at Community Memorial Hospital in Hamlton as a social services caseworker. Survivors include her four children and their spouses, 13 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren.

PR/J Newsletter, Summer 2010

alumna shares career path, advice

Angela Grande 04 knows a thing or two about succeeding in the broadcast news business. While still a senior at UC, Grande was the producer for the local CW 11 newscast in Utica and remembers fondly the sage advice she got from her professors at UC as she finished her studies while juggling classes, studying, work and her daily newscast. I waitressed, and I was a commuter, so I didnt do all of the college-y things, but I do remember the relationships I had with my professors, especially Professor Landon and Professor Chanatry, she said on a recent visit to campus to speak to PR/J students. Even now I appreciate the relationship I still have with them, especially Kim and Dave. They were always so encouraging After graduation, Grande moved to WTVH in Syracuse as a news producer and then moved to the bigger Albany market at WRGB where she produced the six oclock news. Grande shared her journey with UC PR/J students and emphasized the importance of writing. I told them about my career path and about what kind of skills I use on a daily basis. I told them writing, writing, writing is so important because if youre a good writer you can do anything. She also emphasized the importance of organization and that above all, students need to have a passion for the craft. Its a very cutthroat business and you work overnights, you work weekends, you work holidays, you work all these crazy hours, it really is a lifestyle and if youre not passionate about it, youre not going

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rSi

to give 110 percent. And if youre not going to give 110 percent then youre not going to succeed because there are always a hundred people who want your job. The students responded well to Grandes observations. They were pretty responsive, they all asked questions. They were interested, she said. Her interactions with the students brought back memories. But those memories didnt include the most impressive thing Grande saw on her visit back. The studio is crazy. I love it, I love it. Im so jealous that I didnt get to use it. It is setup exactly the way I work, Grande said, referring to the nearly-new Raymond Simon Convergence Media Center. When we were touring the studio, it was just exactly the way it is for me every day. The idea of all

the producers and writers writing in one room and running back and forth to the edit room, And I want it this way and I want it that way. And the prompter and all the equipment the whole chain, the way its set up, its exactly like a real newsroom. I think it really trains aspiring news people the way it is going to be when they get that job. Grande is presently working at WNBC-TV in New York as a producer but she still stays in touch with her former professors. Whats nice now is that I still have a relationship with my former professors, like Kim and Dave, I still e-mail them and keep them posted on where I am. Its awesome, even after I graduated theyre still there to help. And you always know that theyre there for you and they are.

tau mu epsilon inducts five

The George Jones/RSI Outstanding PR/J Student Awards this year recognized freshman Alissa Scott of Huguenot; sophomore Katie Gleitsmannn of Utica; junior Jeff Kassouf of New Paltz; and seniors Jacqueline Klotzbach of Hilton and Jonathan Monfiletto of Morristown. Among the other awards presented were the following: The RSI/Faculty Award recognizes an upperclassman with one of the top averages in the program. It went to New Hartford senior Katie Prue with 3.85 GPA. Owen Comora/RSI Tangerine Award goes to the staff members who contributed most to the success of the newspaper in the past year, that being Utica sophomore Katie Gleitsmann and Brooklyn senior Amelia Rawlins. Established in memory of David T. Santora (Class of 1988) by his friends and the Utica College Foundation Board, the David T. Santora Memorial Scholarship is awarded to a member of The Tangerine staff, this year to Bronx junior, Anthony J. OHagan The Eleanor and Matty Sokolow/ RSI Writing Award, named in honor of 1953 PR alumnus Owen Comoras mother-and-father-in-law, recognizes students who have demonstrated excellent writing proficiency in PR/J classes. This years winners were senior Maria Dischiavo of Stittville, junior Miranda McKee of Glenfield, and Waterloo junior Kristin Smith. The Ed Matesky/RSI Award, created by Jim Greene 54 in honor of his late classmate, honors a student who shows promise in the field of broadcasting. Gino Geruntino of Sherburne won. The Rubin R. Teitelbaum/RSI Award was established by alumna Ann Marie Teitelbaum 92 to recognize a student who has maintained good academic standing while involved in a variety of activities and experiences at Utica College. This years winner was incoming Tangerine editor Christopher Cooper of Brooklyn. Additional awards included: Gagliardi/RSI Award to Nicole Adamczyk of Sayville Gary and Jeanne LaBella/RSI Transition Award to John Engell of Remsen

Tau Mu Epsilon 2009 inductees and officers(from left): Professor Pat Swann, Jacqueline Klotzbach (president), Miranda McKee, Nicole Adamczyk, Christine Phelps, MaryMargaret Plado-Costante and Katie Prue (vice president). Missing: Devorne Hormeku.

The Flaherty/RSI Creativity Award to Jacqueline Klotzbach of Hilton Fred and Corinne Grates/RSI Achievement Award to Christina Soave of Hopkinton, MA. Joanne Reppel/RSI Research Award to Mary Margaret Plado Costante of Whitesboro RSI/Student of Promise Award to Christine Phelps of Utica

Five Utica College students were inducted into Tau Mu Epsilon academic fraternity at a campus ceremony in December 2009. Inductees are current juniors and seniors in the public relations major or public relations/journalism majors, who have maintained a 3.0 or higher grade point average, have been involved in campus extracur-

ricular activities, contributed to the vitality of the academic or campus life and are known for their integrity. Tau Mu Epsilon is the oldest public relations academic fraternity in the United States and Utica College was the second chapter established in 1952. The honorary fraternity also inducted Joseph Stabb 07, who is di-

rector of emerging media for ABC Creative Group in Syracuse. The following students were inducted: Nicole Adamczyk, Miranda McKee, Christine Phelps, MaryMargaret Plado-Costante, and Devorne Hormeku. Emeritus Professor Raymond Simon and Associate Professor Patricia Swann advise Tau Mu Epsilon.

PR/J Newsletter, Summer 2010

chanatry reports from Southern Sudan

Faculty Notes
David Chanatry, associate professor of journalism, traveled to the Sudan in March to do investigative reporting on medical clinics funded by Central New York donors. (See story.) Chanatry is developing a Center for Journalism in New York State, which will allow him to produce in-depth stories about New York for various broadcast outlets, such as National Public Radio. He has been granted a reduced load (2/2) to launch this center and seek outside funding sources. edward J. Conzola, former UC assistant professor of journalism, has accepted a position as assistant city editor at the Casper, WY Star-Tribune. Cecilia Friend, professor of journalism, has been granted a minisabbatical to work on a new edition of her textbook titled Contemporary Editing. She will be on a reduced teaching load, 2/2, next year. The second edition of this text co-authored by Friend and Donald Challenger, has been published in Chinese. New Ideas and Practices for Convergent Classes and Curriculum was a teaching panel Friend proposed and then moderated at the national conference of the Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication in August. Incorporating multimedia storytelling into classes and programs is a challenge for most journalism programs. Some are converging their curricula entirely, eliminating separate tracks for print, broadcast and Web. Others are incorporating multimedia into selected courses or have separate courses for Web-related media. The panelists selected shared their varied struggles and successes in trying to prepare journalism students for a still-emerging new media world. Kim Landon, associate professor of journalism, has announced that she plans to retire in 2012. Paul MacArthur recently had articles published by Smithsonian.com and a sports journal. He also presented research at the Broadcast Educators Association conference this spring. Patricia swann, dean of the School of Business and Justice Studies, is serving as the elected head of the public relations division of the Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication. In this position, she is responsible for organizing the 2010 national conference in Denver, as well as general oversight of the divisions operations. She attended AEJMCs winter meeting in Jacksonville, Fla., in December. In October, swann gave a research presentation titled Corporate Blogging as Public Relations Strategy During a Crisis: An Exploratory Examination of General Motors Fast Lane Blog to the New York State Communication Associations annual conference. She also served as a national judge for the Institute of Public Relations 2009 Northwestern Mutual Best Masters Thesis Award. Swanns book, Cases in Public Relations Management, is being reissued by Routledge

Associate Professor of Journalism David Chanatry shares a photo with children in a village in Southern Sudan.

Southern Sudan is one of the poorest and most remote regions in the world. So when Associate Professor of Journalism David Chanatry had the chance to go, he jumped at it. Chanatry journeyed there on a reporting trip over spring break, traveling to two medical clinics and visiting the site of a recent tribal battle. It was a physically demanding but ultimately very rewarding trip, said Chanatry. We worked hard in the heat of the day, slept in tents at night, filtered all our water and pretty much lived on rice. Chanatry travelled along with David Reed, a doctor who was delivering a portable ultrasound machine to a clinic started by a refugee who fled the brutal civil war in Sudan and now lives in Syracuse, and with Syracuse University Professor of Multimedia Journalism Bruce Strong. They flew to Nairobi, Kenya, and then boarded a small plane for a flight up the Rift Valley, landing on a dirt airstrip near the village of Duk Payuel, where Chanatry said it seemed like every child there turned out to greet them. While Dr. Reed worked with the local medical staff, Chanatry and Strong chronicled the action.

Southern Sudan has one of the highest rates of maternal mortality in the world, according to the World Health Organization, and Chanatry planned to do a story about that pegged to the new ultrasound machine. He witnessed the first ultrasound ever given in that part of the countryit confirmed a pregnancyand interviewed villagers and staff about the particular risks of giving birth in the bush. The story took a dramatic twist when on his last night there a young woman came in critically ill. She represented all the risks. She had delivered six weeks earlier, on a dirt floor. She had hemorrhaged, and was severely anemic with a high fever. But the clinic had just started doing blood transfusions and she got one just in time. Chanatry said. If that clinic had not been there, he said, she may not have survived. A flight in a tiny, four-seat plane then got them to the village of Old Fangok on a tributary of the White Nile, and to a health facility run by an American doctor. But while the Lost Boys clinic had a hopeful feel to it, Chanatry said Fangok seemed more desperate. Patients and their families were all in one room in an old British colonial building, while outside well over a hundred people

waited each evening to be seen by the doctor. Many suffered from a parasitic disease known as Kala azar, or the black fever, one of the worlds biggest killers. The doctor and staff were truly doing heroic work. But the people were so sick and she was being run ragged trying to care for them all. And, to put it mildly, this was not what we in the west would consider a safe, sterile environment. Chanatrys first story from the trip was broadcast in May on the Edward R. Murrow Award-winning weekly radio program The World Vision Report on public radio stations. At least one more radio story is forthcoming, and he and Strong are collaborating on a multimedia project from the trip. Chanatry said the experience will be useful for his broadcasting classes at UC. Ive seen a lot in my reporting career, but you never stop learning. Theres no shortage of material from this trip that will provide fodder for discussion in my classes, from a how to lesson in technique or storytelling, to a discussion of journalism ethics. To listen to Chanatrys report, go to http://www.worldvisionreport.org/ Stories/Week-of-May-8-2010/LostBoys-Clinic.

Swann named dean

Patricia A. Swann, associate professor of public relations and department chair, has been appointed dean of the School of Business and Justice Studies. Swann came to UC in 2002 with more than 20 years of experience in journalism and public relations. She earned a bachelors degree in mass communications from Truman State University, Kirksville, Mo., and a masters in public relations from Syracuse Universitys Newhouse School of Communication. A search for her teaching replacement is under way; several candidates have benn interviewed. Paul MacArthur, assistant professor of public relations, will be the new department chair.

PR/J Newsletter, Summer 2010

Pr/J Homecoming calendar

Pre-game party and BBQ saturday, 11:30 a.m.2 p.m., $10, On the lawn Get ready for Pioneer footbal! everyone is welcome to attend this party hosted by National Alumni Council. Beer and wine included with adult cost. Look for the PR/J table. Raymond simon Institute Reception, saturday, 6 7 p.m., DePerno Hall Honor the fall RSI Outstanding Alumnus, Larry Platt 85, and celebrate Professor Emeritus of Public Relations Raymond Simons 95th birthday. sign up online at www.utica.edu/homecoming

PRSSA members sport their new club t-shirts.

Keeping up with emerging media trends

PodCamp Toronto is a free Unconference that seeks to bring together professionals and hobbyists to explore the cutting edge of new and social media. The two-day weekend event at Ryerson University in Toronto, provided an opportunity to share ideas, discuss theories and learn lessons from an audience of experts, and was attended by Utica College students for the first time in the events four-year history. Pioneer Communications, Utica Colleges student-run public relations firm sent their two firm directors Brenna Durr and Michael Pacuk, to PodCamp in Toronto with 2007 Utica College alumnus Joseph Stabb. For the first time in its history PodCamp featured one Utica College alum as a presenter: Stabb. Stabb currently works as the Director of Emerging Media for ABC Creative Group in Syracuse and is a well respected young PR professional with a strong knowledge of social media. His presentation on the Business Case for Digital and Social Media discussed the challenges that many small- and medium-sized organizations have when they try to establish a social media presence while taking into consideration their own time and monetary restrictions. Saturdays presentations were highlighted by Dave Fleet, an Account Director at ThornleyFallis Communications who educated attendees on the difference between earned, paid and owned types of media. Fleet pointed out that social media is constantly changing, adapting, and being exchanged, and used the Molson companies participation at the 2010 Olympic Games as an example of how organizations can engage their customers. One of the major industry leaders featured at PodCamp Toronto was General Motors Director of Social Media Chris Barger. Barger discussed his professional experience with using social media as a part of a crisis communication plan. After his organization faced one of the worst crises in North American history, Barger explained how social media has helped General Motors get its reputation back. Sundays events featured a presentation by Bob Nunn of searchpeople.com on Social Media Return on Investment (ROI). Nunn discussed the LISTEN method of social media engagement that focuses on using social media as a two way communication device in order to constantly work with customers and interested parties in order to improve your organization and make money. The presentations were culminated with Ryan Wiseman of RJG Creative Group with Event Capture 101, which took a unique look at how everyday people can capture an event through social media to keep people engaged all year round. Wiseman explained how Twitter can be used to keep track of who is talking about the event, and Drop.io can be used to keep people engaged Joe Stabb 07 year round. His presentation also provided listeners with a basic overview on what cost effective tools that people use if they are looking to break into the event capturing business. PodCamp Toronto 2010 provided a unique networking experience for both students and professionals. It offered an atmosphere in which

individuals can come and learn from one anothers experiences as we all try to keep up with constantly adapting digital media. The experience that PodCamp Toronto presented can be very beneficial to students, alumni, and faculty of the Utica College PR/J program.

PR/J Newsletter, Summer 2010

alumni and Faculty Notes

Alumni
Jim Leach 67 was recognized by UC President Todd Hutton for 14 years of service as a Raymond Simon Institute for Public Relations trustee. Leach was the Outstanding PR/J Alumnus in 2001. Brian Russell 79 is CEO and owner of Home Run Consultants, a managementconsulting agency in Chicago. He is also the COO for Coin That Phrase, a website that lets people coin a phrase and share it with the world, on the site or through tshirts, mugs and other merchandise. Ginger Parker 81 has been named the YWCA of the Mohawk Valley Outstanding Woman in Arts and Communication for 2010. Joanne (Vassallo) Jamrosz 81, of New Hartford, has published her book Skating Forward, the stories of 16 young women figure skaters. Jamrosz is a contributing writer with U.S. Figure Skating and has written for Skating Magazine and PS Magazine, the magazine of the Professional Skaters Association. Larry stone 82 has been named director of executive communications for the electronics and intelligence business of BAE Systems. Stone manages communications, counsels executives, and oversees editorial output for an organization with operations across the United States and in the United Kingdom and Israel. He recently observed his 25th anniversary with BAE Systems, a global defense, security, and aerospace company. Stone and his wife, Julie, live in Johnson City, N.Y. Nancy Kriz 82 writes for Straus Newspapers, publisher of nine local weekly newspapers in contiguous towns on the New York-New Jersey-Pennsylvania border. A former adjunct assistant professor of communications at Iona College, Kriz this winter taught a six-week course Want to Become a Freelance Newspaper Writer at SUNY Orange in Middletown. Dawn (Colacchio) Chmielweski, 83 reporter for the Los Angeles Times, spent five days training with Jonathan Roberts of Dancing with the Stars, and then performed before the broadcast for the judges and studio audience. The entertainment reporter took the assignment on a dare, and even appeared in a costume once worn by former Spice Girl Melanie Brown. Read her article at http://www. latimes.com/business/la-fi-dancing212009nov21,0,2214349.story Dave Armon 83 has joined Context Optional, Inc. as vice president of strategic accounts. The company works with major U.S. brands Target, Toyota, Kraft, PayPal, Toys R Us, Safeway, Johnson & Johnson, Electronic Arts, MTV, and others and their agencies to bring campaigns to life on the social platforms, mostly via Facebook applications. stacy (Beaumont) Rounds 94 is a marketing analyst at The Free Lance-Star Publishing Co. in Fredericksburg, Va. Kory Michael Aversa 96, senior development officer for the Philadelphia Senior Center, won a Ladle Award from the Philadelphia Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America for a campaign that raised more than $200,000, allowing the PSC to install a new air conditioning system. He also won the Public Relations Society of America - Philadelphia Chapter Pepperpot Award. The prestigious award, which is the Philadelphia regions equivalent to the nation PRSA Silver Anvil Award, recognized Aversa for his creation and implementation of the Philadelphia Senior Centers 60th Anniversary Campaign. Howard LaMunion 96, founding partner of The ConsultUs Group, Inc. of Dallas announced that they have launched a separate company, PIO Services Group Inc., to provide media relations services, media interaction training and Web-based news portal development for small and medium size police departments and sheriffs offices. Regina (Macchia) Luttrell 98 is a visiting professor at The College of Saint Rose and is working on a Ph.D. from the California Institute of Integral Studies with a concentration is in public communications. Kelly Adams 00 has been named assistant vice president for advancement/marketing and communications at Utica College.He oversees all aspects of the colleges internal and external marketing and public relations activities. Laurent Lawrence 04 is a senior associate in the public affairs practice at Burson Marsteller in New York. His job involves a variety of public relations activities, including third party advocacy consulting and development, media and government relations, event management and government projects management. Jessica Lyng 04 has been named service academy coach for The Hartford Insurance Company in New Hartford, NY. Victor skinner 05 lives in Kent City, MI and is a freelance reporter for the Grand Rapids Press, Michigan Outdoor News, and DiscGolfer Magazine, among others. He also covers the police beat at the Muskegon Chronicle. Jason D. williams 06 is the district sales manager of the Greater Pittsburgh Area for Hewlett Packard. ABC Creative Group in Syracuse hired Joseph stabb 07 as director of emerging media to lead the agencys digital media strategy efforts. Desiree Dismore 07 is a leasing consultant with the Bozzuto Management Group in Centreville, VA.
James Asher 69, chief investigative editor with McClatchy News in Washington, DC, reunited with Prof. Simon at the 2009 Homecoming festivities. Asher joined his classmates in celebrating their 40th reunion. This year Homecoming recognizes the Classes of 55, 60, 70, 80, 85, 00 and 05.

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