Media College News

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.”

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.