Media College News

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.

The WVU Reed College of Media has added a new public affairs television show to the broadcast news curriculum.

“West Virginia Today” addresses matters of public interest and policy including education, culture and politics. Assistant Dean of Academic Affairs Gina Dahlia, who has led the award-winning “WVU News” team since 2002, first piloted the class in fall 2020 as a special topics class.

Favorite part of your job?

Getting to be creative with the type of content we’re producing for the brand. Social media is fast-paced with trends coming and going every day.  My team and I are constantly brainstorming new ideas and innovative ways to connect with our audiences. I even get to help film content for our social platforms which is so much fun.

This fall, Reporting on Addiction co-directors Ashton Marra and Jonathan J.K. Stoltman officially launched journalism school curriculum at five universities, including West Virginia University, to train students on how to talk about substance use disorders to reduce the stigma and discrimination associated with addiction and recovery.

Marra, teaching assistant professor in the WVU Reed College of Media and executive editor at 100 Days in Appalachia, and Stoltman, director of the Opioid Policy Institute, began their work in the summer of 2020 and officially launched Reporting on Addiction in September 2021, coinciding with National Recovery Month. During that time, they created a set of trainings for student journalists, media organizations and addiction science experts. They also developed research-based reporting guides and a searchable database of addiction subject matter experts from across the country.