Media College News

Check out the spring 2010 visual journalism courses

Questions about VISJ or for course approval, contact Professor Joel Beeson:
joel.beeson@mail.wvu.edu. 304-293-3505×5422

WVU PRSSA is partnering with Damon’s Bar and Grill to host a fundraiser to raise money for the chapter. Damon’s has agreed to donate 10 percent of all checks of any patron who present a PRSSA flier on Tuesday, October 27 from 4 to 9 p.m. Customers must present the flier to their server in order to benefit PRSSA. Only one flier is needed per table. The group is also selling WVU football T-shirts outside the restaurant for $10. All proceeds will be used for professional development, events and conference expenses. Fliers will be distributed a week prior to the event throughout the downtown campus, in surrounding apartment complexes and via e-mail. For more information or to receive a flier via e-mail, contact Ashley Pruitt 570-394-4450 or apruitt@mix.wvu.edu. Damon’s Bar and Grill is located at 550 Suncrest Towne Center.

Members of WVU PRSSA had the privilege of meeting with public relations and marketing directors at the Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium in Pittsburgh recently. The group learned how the team uses advertisements to attract visitors, promote special events, enhance zoo experience, and generate visitors from the local community and surrounding regions. The group also learned how the team coordinates events as well as other public relations practices.
Overall, the experience allowed PRSSA members to learn real-life experiences, gain networking opportunities and access professional development to prepare for a career in public relations. PRSSA has meetings open for new members every Monday at 6 p.m. in Martin Hall.

Due to the high volume of students wishing to take the JQE, another test date has been for added to the schedule for Wednesday, November 4. The last day to pre-register for is Friday October 23 at the Carruth Center No registrations at the door. The $20.00, non refundable test fee will be posted to your student account at registration. Test dates are as follows

JQE TEST DATE #1: Tuesday, October 27, 2009

Join SOJ Associate Professor Joel Beeson Wednesday, Oct. 21 at 5 p.m. in the Gold Ballroom at the Mountainlair for a screening of his documentary film, “Fighting on Two Fronts, The Untold Stories of WWII Black Veterans.” The film is about the experiences of African American veterans in a segregated military in WWII. The film is 60 minutes to be followed a panel discussion with three WWII black veterans (two of those in the film). Students are encouraged to attend, especially those interested in documentary film and oral history.

PrnJ 493A, blogging and interactive journalism, will be offered to undergrads at the SOJ beginning spring semester 2010. Blogging and interactive journalism combine solid principles with new media tools. Students in this course will examine the role of blogging and social media in journalism today. They will also analyze and participate in blogs and other forms of interactive media. Students will maintain a focused group blog and learn to integrate the principles of traditional journalism with social media tools. The class will be offered on Tusday evenings from 6-8:30 p.m.

Grad students may sign-up for a similar class, PrnJ 593A.

Senior Democratic Senator seeks Deputy Press Secretary for fast-paced communications office. Duties include, but are not limited to, operations coordination, drafting press releases and talking points, assisting with media events, tracking media coverage, maintaining the office website, and performing general press office support. Candidates must be able to work quickly, accurately and creatively in an active environment, under tight deadlines. Candidates must also possess excellent writing and editing skills and a team mentality. Prior press experience desirable. Please email cover letter, resume, references, and two writing samples to senate_employment@saa.senate.gov indicating job referral number “101903” in the subject line.

Arnold Zeitlin, a China scholar and former foreign correspondent, will speak to West Virginia University students on Wednesday, Oct. 21, in Room 205, Martin Hall, from 6:30 p.m. until 7:30 p.m. All university students and faculty are invited. Zeitlin will talk about his experiences as a visiting professor in Guangzhou, teaching students journalism practices and training faculty in the new, English-language journalism program at Quangdong University of Foreign Studies (www.gdufs.edu.cn). If you have any questions please contact George Esper, Room 302, Martin Hall; e-mail: George.esper@mail.wvu.edu; Telephone 304-293-3505, Extension 5425.

Interested in writing about sports? The Dominion Post is looking for enthusiastic sports freelancers to cover high school sporting events and write the occasional feature. Those interested must be able to travel to events and have access to a computer and the Internet. Assignments will include covering games on nights and weekends with strict deadlines. If interested, send a resume and three writing samples to Drew Rubenstein at drubenstein@dominionpost.com.
For more information, call Drew at (304) 291-9431.

The Des Moines Register is planning to hire a designer. The statewide Iowa newspaper is owned by Gannett, Co., Inc. If you are interested, contact Kelli (Brown) Morris at kemorris@dmreg.com.