Media College News

Whether it’s showing prospective students around campus or taking sideline photos in Milan Puskar Stadium, Advertising and Public Relations (ADPR) students play important roles at WVU. You see them in front of the camera as Homecoming Royalty and the official Mountaineer Mascot, but they’re also working behind the scenes in a variety of ways.

Senior ADPR student Paige McElroy was named WVU Homecoming Royalty in October.

The West Virginia University Reed College of Media was named to the PRNEWS Education A-List for the second year in a row. The list recognizes the best institutions of higher education for career advancement in public relations and marketing communications.

The College offers fully online master’s degrees in Integrated Marketing Communications (IMC), Data Marketing Communications and Digital Marketing Communications. In a recent survey of these alumni, more than half said they have received pay increases of 25% or more since earning their degrees. Additionally, 96% believed their degree made them more competitive when applying for jobs, led to a better position or prompted a promotion.

Rhyanna Wiethe, a Journalism master’s degree student in the WVU Reed College of Media, has been awarded the Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA) National Gold Key Award – the highest individual honor bestowed upon PRSSA members.

Created in 1983, the award recognizes students who display outstanding academic excellence in public relations and leadership qualities within their PRSSA chapter. Wiethe was one of 26 students chosen nationally.

Favorite part of your job?  My favorite part of my job is that I have the opportunity to speak with young professionals who have a growth-oriented mindset. We're oftentimes so involved in our specific majors that personal finance skills don't make the way into the picture. I love having conversations with individuals with different backgrounds because they are not alone, and I want to be there to help guide them along the right path.

Griffin Weand is a Sports and Adventure Media major from Boyertown, Pennsylvania. 

Rachel Johnson (BSJ, 2022) and David Malecki (BSJ, 2022) spent part of their summer break learning about the advertising and public relations industry from top executives at Deutsch NY’s Summer Creative, Advertising and Media Program (C.A.M.P.).

The virtual, annual weeklong program is an opportunity for students and professionals interested in agency work to network, further their development and get a crash course on the industry.

Martin Hall Agency (MHA), a faculty-led, student-run advertising and public relations agency operating out of West Virginia University's Reed College of Media, was recognized at the West Virginia Public Relations Society of America’s (WV PRSA) 2022 Crystal Awards ceremony.

MHA was awarded three Crystal Awards, the highest honor a public relations campaign can receive from WV PRSA, and one honorable mention during the ceremony Aug. 26 in Charleston – held in-person for the first time since 2019. Public relations senior Cheyenne Oakes and journalism graduate student Rachel Johnson represented the agency at the ceremony alongside Advertising and Public Relations Program Chair Geah Pressgrove.

“WVU News,” the WVU Reed College of Media’s student-produced television newscast, has been awarded an Emmy for the special edition episode “Mental Health in America, a Growing Crisis” in the Student Production Awards presented by the Ohio Valley Emmy Chapter.

Judged by a team of experts, the competition recognizes excellence in television journalism by college students.