Media College News

Two journalism professors at  West Virginia University’s  Reed College of Media will lead a series of collaborative community events throughout Appalachia to explore voting rights and engage young people in democratic processes with the support of a $300,000 grant from the  Mellon Foundation.

Dana Coester and  Joel Beeson have a 20-year track record of working with key community members — faith leaders, veterans, educators, parents, youth and civic leaders — throughout Appalachia, specifically in West Virginia. These relationships will be the bedrock of a series of nonpartisan virtual and in-person workshops, presentations, panels and screening events that will help build community resilience to off- and online disinformation, manipulation and political violence threatening election integrity and community stability.

Many West Virginia residents will tell you they feel a deep sense of pride for the state’s unique beauty and Appalachian heritage. Students in Martin Hall Agency (MHA) launched a campaign during the fall 2022 semester to ensure that pride extends to agritourism destinations.

“Agritourism offers countless opportunities for West Virginians to learn, seek adventure, create family traditions and establish a deeper connection to their home state,” said Dee Singh-Knights, a WVU Extension specialist in agribusiness economics and management.

During the fall 2022 semester, WVU Extension partnered with Martin Hall Agency, the WVU Reed College of Media’s student-run public relations and advertising agency class, to develop a campaign focused on increasing awareness of farm-to-table restaurants, farm stays, breweries, cideries and you-pick farms that provide family-friendly adventures and hands-on experiences unique to Appalachian culture.

“We know a lot of people travel to the Mountain State for the beautiful landscapes, adventure experiences and outdoor fun,” said Cheyenne Oakes, senior public relations student who served as the team’s account executive. “However, what we found in our research is that increasing awareness of farm-based businesses that share the history and traditions of Appalachia could encourage leisure travelers to stay a bit longer.”

This fall, the Martin Hall Agency (MHA) class partnered with WVU Extension to elevate the cider industry in West Virginia. The campaign aimed to increase awareness of and pride in the Mountain State’s deeply rooted hard apple–cider traditions.

“The Mountain State holds such a significant part in the history and culture behind apple cider,” said Dee Singh-Knights, associate professor of resource economics and management and a specialist for WVU Extension. “We want to recognize, celebrate and educate others on West Virginia hard cider stemming from Appalachian roots.”

West Virginia native Emily Dodds is passionate about having a positive influence on her community. For the past year, the Advertising and Public Relations major has advanced pediatric health awareness in West Virginia through a grant-funded internship with the West Virginia Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics.

“Not only have I extensively expanded my knowledge on how to promote health in children, I have learned how to effectively connect with different types of audiences across the state,” Dodds said. “I’m grateful that I have the opportunity to play a role in achieving the Chapter’s goals of promoting and advancing the health of all children in West Virginia.”