Professor Helps to Author Digital Newsbook on Plagiarism

By Nicole Gennarelli

Jan Leach, associate professor in the School of Journalism and Mass Communication, helped write a digital newsbook titled “Telling the Truth and Nothing But” about plagiarism and fabrication produced and released by the National Summit to Fight Plagiarism and Fabrication.

Craig Silverman, the award-winning journalist and the founder of Regret the Error, started the idea for the book last summer when he wrote about incidences of journalistic plagiarism. His article on Poynter Online asked senior newsroom employees about the incidents but he received no response. From his frustration, he wrote “Journalism’s Summer of Sin marked by plagiarism, fabrication, obfuscation” and said that newsroom employees are unwilling to acknowledge and take responsibility for this problem. According to the article, Silverman suggested “journalism’s leading professional organizations have their ethics committees (and/or boards) look at this issue, gather what material and policies they have, and determine what guidance they can offer to newsrooms.” Teresea Schmedding, president of the American Copy Editors Society, responded to his post agreeing with the need for high-level analysis of plagiarism. From that, the book project became a reality.

“I think members of the Summit, including everybody who participated and the sponsoring organizations, realized how urgent this issue is because there were and are so many high-profile instances of plagiarism and fabrication,” Leach said. “All these cases chip away at journalism’s credibility.”

Schmedding contacted Leach last year to ask her to contribute to the digital newsbook. Three committees were created and each was assigned a specific part of the book to complete. The three sections are: “Defining the Problem,” “Preventing Infractions” and “Responding to the Inevitable.” Leach was part of the definitions committee along with Henry Fuhrman, Los Angeles Times chairman; Maria Cianci, Yahoo.com; Pam Fine, University of Kansas; Dylan Smith, Lion Publishers/TucsonSentinel.com; Mark Willis, Sirius SM Satellite radio and Stacey Woelfels, University of Missouri. The definitions committee wrote part of the book’s introduction, plus Chapter 2 “Defining the Problem,” and various parts of the report.

“We did individual research, wrote and edited specific parts of the chapter and collected material and resources. There was a lot of sharing and talking. We had a very tight deadline because we started work in December and turned everything in for compilation and editing in February,” Leach said. “I’m also quoted in Chapter 3 about who plagiarizes or fabricates. For that part of the report, I was interviewed via email by Patrick Smith of the Omaha World-Herald, another participant on a different committee.”

Leach believes this book is a useful tool for many types of authors.

“The book should be a useful tool for editors, educators and everybody who collects information for distribution,” Leach said. “It’s a practical guide with specific examples and prescriptive examples to avoid plagiarism.”

KENT STATE UNIVERSITY TO CREATE THIRD FEATURE FILM, KICKSTARTER FUNDRAISER LAUNCHED

By Brandon Koziol

Kent State University Independent Films has the cameras ready to roll again to create its third feature film, “Hell at Heathridge.”

Written by former student Bryan Kelly, the terror-filled tale weaves the story of five young actors who reenact a grisly murder-suicide that occurred at Heathridge University 20 years ago. However, they come to realize it’s not just a simple reenactment. The students soon learn one thing – evil is real.

At this time, more than 50 aspiring filmmakers are tackling the groundwork for this movie in Associate Lecturer Traci E. Williams’ three-hour preproduction class. From working on teasers to casting talent, this is a real film production.

“I’m always trying to top the previous project,” Williams said. “And ‘Hell at Heathridge’ will do just that.”

For this project, Williams is teaming up with JMC Associate Professor David Smeltzer to give students a taste of the real-world film industry. With Williams’ experience working with Hollywood icons such as George Clooney and Denzel Washington, and Smeltzer’s experience creating the award-winning documentary “Lucy in Disguise,” they create a knowledge-packed team. Also bringing her 16 years of expertise in the TV and film industry, working on shows like “Charmed,” is senior Estee Hodge.

“Nobody else is doing this,” Hodge said. “Not even world renowned film schools.”

To prepare for the summer shoot, student directors Tyler Pina and Caroline Abbey are leading the preproduction phase. Pina and Abbey are working together with a large student crew to schedule, budget and cast the film to get ready for the shoot starting June 10 and ending August 3.

KSU Independent Films will then premiere the film in front of hundreds at a red-carpet event in 2013. Soon after, “Hell at Heathridge” will hit the international and national film festivals. The producers are also looking to secure a distribution deal for the movie.

“We’re totally revolutionizing the electronic media production program,” Pina said. “This is the biggest project of our lives.”

Williams is hoping to use the success of “Hell at Heathridge” as a platform to launch a film program at Kent State.

“My vision, my dream, is to one day have a full, functional sound stage here at Kent State,” she said.

Even without an official program, Williams and her students have all ready created two other feature films: “Breaking News,” a national award winner, and “Research: The Musical,” a musical comedy with original songs written and scored by students.

Williams and Smeltzer continue making films out of their dedication to give a whole range of students real-life working experience – even those students outside the electronic media production major.

“It doesn’t matter what your major is. I will find a use for you,” Williams said. “From accountants to fashion designers, anyone can join and help out.”

Everyone involved in this film project is truly dedicated, she said. Not only are they using this experience to help launch their careers, but they are making a name for Kent State University and filmmaking in Ohio as well.

For more information about the film or how you can donate, visit KSU Independent Films’ Kickstarter page at http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/92739116/hell-at-heathridge-a-feature-length-psychological or visit its website at http://kentstatefilms.wordpress.com.

Kent State to Host its First Job Fair Focused Exclusively on Communication, Media and Design Professions

The College of Communication and Information (CCI) is hosting its first job fair exclusively focused on juniors and seniors seeking internships and entry-level jobs in the communication, design and media industries. CCI’s JobExpo2013 will be held on Friday, April 26 at The Ritz-Carlton in Cleveland.

Corporations and organizations from Northeast Ohio that hire advertising, communication, journalism, multimedia, public relations, visual design and professionals from related fields are invited to participate in JobExpo2013 and will have the opportunity to meet CCI students, review their portfolios and conduct interviews. Student resumes and biographies will be available in advance to employers who register for the event.

“We are excited about this job fair for two reasons. First, it gives us the opportunity to demonstrate to prospective employers the very high level of professional education we provide for our students,” said CCI Dean Stan Wearden. “In addition to traditional classroom education, virtually all of our graduating seniors will have had at least one internship and will have worked in student media, in our student-operated marketing communication agency, or in our division of TeleProductions. Second, this is a great service to our graduating seniors and our juniors seeking internships. This gives them the opportunity for real-world feedback that will strengthen their interviewing skills, improve their resumes, and lead to jobs and internships that will help them kick off their professional careers.”

Detailed information:
What: CCI JobExpo2013
Where: The Ritz-Carlton, 1515 W. Third St., Cleveland
When: Friday, April 26
11 a.m. to Noon, Employer Set-up in The Ritz-Carlton Ballroom
Noon to 1 p.m., Lunch for up to two recruiters per employer
1 to 4 p.m., JobExpo2013
Cost: Free

More than 110 students from CCI’s Schools of Communication Studies, Journalism and Mass Communication and Visual Communication Design will participate.

Questions: Contact John Butte, 330-672-8304 at jbutte@kent.edu.

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In its 75^th year, the School of Journalism and Mass Communication at Kent State University is a leading accredited school with cutting-edge curriculum and facilities. The School’s mission is focused on understanding the media marketplace and media-related careers while providing professional undergraduate and master’s programs within the liberal arts tradition. JMC teaches its students to gather information, to present it clearly and to think critically within a legal and ethical framework. It serves as a resource for professional practitioners, for media consumers and for Kent State University. For more information, visit jmc.kent.edu.

COMMUNICATION STUDIES STUDENTS EARN POSITIONS IN UNDERGRADUATE STUDENT GOVERNMENT

After much campaigning, junior communication studies students Natalie Moses and Amish Patel have officially earned their positions in the Undergraduate Student Government (USG). Both students attribute their successful campaigns to their experiences in communication studies and their involvement on campus.

Moses is the new senator of the College of Communication and Information (CCI). She is majoring in applied communication with a double minor in media literacy and public relations. As senator of CCI, Moses’ job is to represent the voice of all CCI students. One of her many responsibilities is to keep scholarships objective and make sure all undergraduate students have equal opportunities through the student government. Moses felt that she is a good fit for this position because she is an effective communicator and can relate to any CCI student. “I have a good understanding of the overall interests of CCI,” said Moses.

Patel is now the executive director of USG. His position involves being the spokesperson for the students, acting as liaison between the university administration, Board of Trustees and the USG, creating programs and initiatives to enrich the lives of Kent State University students, and much more. Within in the past two years, he has held positions such as director of student involvement and director of communications.  Patel’s passion for Kent State is what drives his involvement with student government. “I want to give back to a school that has given me so much,” said Patel, “When I saw the opportunity to make things come full circle and further improve the university, I knew it was my time.”

Both Moses and Patel agree that their experiences within CCI have contributed to their campaign success. Moses felt that skills she learned in advertising, visual design and public relations helped her while putting together her campaign. “The High Impact Professional Speaking class really helped me to be a confident speaker,” she added. Moses also noted her experience studying abroad in London as significant to her campaigning. “Working closely with Michelle Ewing and Dr. Danielle Coombs gave me advertising and public relations insight that taught me how to campaign,” Moses said. Moses is also very involved in student media, which she said keeps her up to date on what is happening on campus.

Patel said that holding multiple positions for Phi Delta Theta fraternity is what started his involvement on Kent’s campus. “My involvement in my fraternity has given me countless real-world experience and it has provided an amazing platform to network with,” said Patel. He was further introduced to the Greek Community and various aspects of the university as a result. Patel has been involved with different organizations such as Focus on the Future, Black United Students, Distinguished Undergraduates and more. Patel said that the remarkable insight he gained about student life is what ultimately made him want to share his experience with the rest of Kent State.  “As a communication studies student, I knew I wanted to change how USG reached students and presented information,” said Patel.

Both Moses and Patel want Kent State students to be more aware of what is happening on their campus and encourage them to get more involved with student government. “As much as this can be a boring thing for students to hear about, current legislation really affects students and their ability to be successful students and future professionals,” said Patel. Moses suggested that students attend the public USG meetings every other Wednesday, at 5 p.m., in the Governance Chambers, to see what is currently happening and pitch their ideas. Moses wants students to know that USG “is not an unapproachable thing.”

Moses and Patel both stressed the significance of USG’s Student Allocations Funding opportunities as something for students to take advantage of. Students and organizations are able to request funds to go on conferences that pertain to their major. “This is an amazing way for students to get real world experience and network with professionals across the country,” said Patel.

Patel encourages students to “follow a passion and get involved on campus! Plain and simple.” Applications and more information can be found in the USG office and online at usg.kent.edu.

Shel Holtz to Keynote Sixth Annual YouToo Social Media Conference Focusing on Social Visualization,

www.youtoosm.com 

Want a FREE seat? Tweet or retweet anything about the conference using #YouToo2013 until Friday, April 12, and you could win. Read contest details.

Communication expert Shel Holtz will discuss social visualization strategies and tactics as the keynote speaker at the Akron Area Public Relations Society of America’s YouToo Social Media Conference on Friday, April 19, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Kent State University’s Franklin Hall.

“The rise of social visual communication, with platforms like Pinterest and Instagram, require communicators to think about how images can convey messages, tell stories and engage audiences when they stand alone,” Holtz said. “Gamification also presents communicators with new ways to engage audiences, adding game elements to more mundane activities. The question for both is, how do communicators apply them so they won’t just be another shiny object in the communications toolkit but rather help move the needle?”

Five-time winner of IABC’s Gold Quill award, Holtz has nearly 35 years of experience in organizational communications in corporate and consulting environments. His experience includes corporate public relations, crisis communications, media relations and more. Holtz also has expertise in strategic communications planning, communications research and the integration of technology into communications strategies. He speaks frequently on different topics, such as strategic organizational communication and the application of online technology. Holtz just celebrated his eighth year of podcasting with For Immediate Release: The Hobson and Holtz Report.

Kevin Dugan will serve as the opening speaker at the social media conference. Dugan is the director of marketing at Empower Media Marketing and founder of the Bad Pitch Blog. He has won six national awards for his work in public relations. Dugan is an expert in social media, marketing communication, public relations and media relations.

The conference, co-hosted by Akron Area PRSA and the Kent State Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA), also will have breakout sessions in the morning and afternoon as well as panel discussions by experts discussing social visualization more in-depth. Other speakers include:

• Luke Armour, assistant professor in the School of Journalism and Mass Communication and coordinator of Flash Communications, Kent State University
• Carolyn Fertig, digital producer, Marcus Thomas, LLC
• King Hill, senior vice president, Marcus Thomas, LLC
• Allison Peltz, Social marketing strategist, Rosetta
• David LaBelle, director of photojournalism in the School of Journalism and Mass Communication, Kent State University
• Scott Linabarger, senior director, multichannel content marketing, Cleveland Clinic
• Katelyn Luysterborg, social marketing specialist, Rosetta
• Amy Martin, vice president of marketing and communications, The Centers for Families and Children
• Heidi Modarelli-Frank, vice president/public relations, Marcus Thomas, LLC
• Phong Nguyen, art director, Marcus Thomas, LLC
• Kelly Piero, corporate communications, Diebold Incorporated
• Jenn Yokley , manager of corporate communications, Quicken Loans Arena

Students can attend the conference for just $40.

“As a student who has attended past conferences, I can say from experience the YouToo Social Media Conference is a great way to network with professionals and learn more about the industry,” said Taylor Titus, a senior public relations student who is the student co-chair of the event. “I also gained a lot of tangible knowledge I can use now in my school work and future career. The conference is a great experience for upcoming young public relations professionals, and I highly encourage you to attend.”

 

Students will benefit additionally from this year’s student-only development track at the conference. A student-only morning breakout session provides a unique Q&A with Holtz as he talks about how he got into the industry and relates his experience to the students. An afternoon wrap-up session hosted by the Akron Area PRSA Young Pro’s group for students will help put the day in perspective by helping students apply what they have learned during the conference to their school work and internships.  View the entire schedule here.

 

Benefits for attending the conference include:

• Learning about the latest trends in social visualization.
• Networking with professionals from around the Northeast Ohio area.
• Gaining hands-on experience for students from the student-only development sessions.

To register for the YouToo Social Media Conference, visit www.youtoosm.com. Registration closes at noon on Thursday, April 18. Also, find YouToo on Facebook and Twitter.

The Akron Area Chapter of Public Relations Society of America is part of the world’s largest organization for public relations professionals helping to advance the profession and the professional. Its nearly 115 local members represent business and industry, counseling firms, independent practitioners, military, government, associations, hospitals, schools, professional services firms and nonprofit organizations. www.akronprsa.org

The Public Relations Student Society of America is a national public relations organization that provides professional development opportunities for students. PRSSA aims to develop highly qualified future public relations professionals. The organization has more than 10,000 members at hundreds of universities across the country. PRSSA Kent is an active student organization on the Kent State Campus. http://prssakentstate.wordpress.com

Class Teaches Social Media Skills for Business and Professional Use

By Nicole Gennarelli

Twitter, Facebook, Foursquare, Pinterest and Instagram are apps people access everyday on their smart phones or tablets without thinking about how it can benefit them and their careers. Social media has grown and will continue to grow, changing the way that people communicate day-to-day.

Social Media Strategies, an online course that allows students to engage in many hands-on and useful learning activities, was introduced to the School of Journalism and Mass Communication in spring 2012.

This course, which will be offered again this summer, from May 13 to June 29, is intended to help students and faculty understand the impact social media can have on businesses, society and culture. The course curriculum shows students how social media can benefit their lives by incorporating research, literature and technology into assignments.

“JMC Public Relations Associate Professor Bill Sledzik started the process for this class, and we worked together to outline the course content. From there, I created the content and online lectures,” said Stefanie Moore, JMC assistant professor and instructor of Social Media Strategies. COMM Associate Professor Jeff Child, Ph.D., also assisted in the early planning stages of the course.

At the end of the course, students will develop a strategic social media plan for personal and professional use. This course is open to all majors across campus wanting to learn more skills or perfect their existing knowledge in social media.

“Students have sent me notes saying how much they enjoyed and valued the course,” Moore says. “One of my smaller successes is when students participate in an online discussion that isn’t even required because they enjoy talking about the topic. Social media and technology impact all of us, not just PR majors.”

The class occupancy started with less than 30 students the first semester it was offered and is now full at 50 students, with several students waiting for a seat. The course will be offered again this summer beginning May 13.

Elizabeth Holton, senior advertising major, says she is a social media addict in her personal and professional life. “I say that in the most positive way possible. My passion for media, marketing, and advertising made this course especially intriguing. After completion of Social Media Strategies, I was able to take my prior knowledge of viral marketing and improve it by generating creative, personable, and original online marketing approaches.”

Holton currently works for Undergraduate Student Government as the director of programming where she does a lot of online strategic marketing for upcoming concerts.

“One of the most beneficial things I learned to do was how to advertise via promotions on social networking sites like Facebook and Twitter,” she says. “These tools help me to promote my organization, concert and myself.”

Social Media Strategies takes everything you will learn in a communication, advertising, PR, and writing course and implements it into one online course that is practical for those students who want to work in the world of mass communications, says Holton.

“Personal branding is something that has been incorporated into a lot of my social media work,” Holton says. “I continue to use the skills I’ve gained in this course in my personal life, school work and job.”

Moore says in addition to the two major projects in the class, she looks for critical thinking and clear and effective writing in the online discussions.

“All students are looking for a job when they leave college,” Moore says. “It’s helpful for them to know how to network and market themselves to potential employers both online and offline.”

Summer registration is available online via Flashline. For more information about the course, email Moore at smoore1@kent.edu.

Internship with News Outlet Prepares Students to be Journalists

By Chloe Dong

As a college student, you keep asking yourself, “How can I apply what I have learned to the real world?” Students working with the News Outlet internship program get a chance to answer this question through a unique professional experience.

According to its website, “the News Outlet is a collaboration between three public universities in Northeastern Ohio and professional media partners.” The three universities include Youngstown State University, Kent State University and the University of Akron. The News Outlet was founded and operates at Youngstown State University and “seeks to give students valuable experience reporting and producing investigative and enterprise stories, producing valuable content and providing audiences with critical information they need in order to be informed and engaged through legacy media.”

The News Outlet project began in Fall 2009 and “is in the end of its third year that we have worked with the News Outlet,” said Barb Hipsman, an associate professor in the School of Journalism and Mass Communication at Kent State. Interns from the three universities produce stories for “regional and statewide media partners, including WYSU-FM Radio, The Vindicator (Youngstown), the Akron Beacon Journal and Rubber City Radio (Akron),” she said.

Kelsey Misbrener, a senior news major with a concentration in magazine, has been working with the News Outlet since last summer.

”This is a really great experience,” Misbrener said. “It definitely makes me a better writer.”

Now, she is working on a story about fracking and other energy suppliers. Together with her colleagues, she has a couple of trips planned for interviews. She is talking to farmers and other people involved with fracking. She may also go to New York in February to see how people are dealing with the issue there and how fracking affects them.

Being a journalist means spending a lot of time doing interviews and collecting sources. By now, Misbrener has already finished five substantial stories, which required a lot of reporting and a plethora of sources.

“I am really into politics, though, I know it’s a hard field to tackle. Every day, I have to stay on top of what is happening” Misbrener said. “My dream job is to be a magazine journalist. I really want to impress the people and editors that I am writing for. I just want to write the best story.”

Alexander Atkinson, a senior news major with a concentration in newspaper, also had his internship with the News Outlet. He wants to be a sports reporter.

“I find almost everything but sports is negative in the news. I like covering sports because I find it an escape from the more important, often negative, coverage in the news,” Atkinson said.

Atkinson started working with the News Outlet two weeks before the fall semester started.

“Professor Hipsman sent out an email about a paid internship opportunity with the News Outlet. You don’t find many paid internships,” Atkinson said. “Kelsey and I had a short phone interview with Alyssa Lenhoff, the co-director and journalism director at the News Outlet, before traveling to the News Outlet office in Youngstown the next day to meet the whole staff as well as be introduced to our first reporting project.”

However, working with the News Outlet is not as easy as people thought it would be. It requires students to work on tight deadlines and in a fast-paced environment.

“It is different and a little bit difficult,” Atkinson said. “Being that our editors were based in Youngstown, Kelsey and I only saw our editors once a week in a meeting at the Beacon Journal. We worked entirely away from the actual Youngstown office. It was a little challenging at times knowing exactly what our editors wanted us to do. So, we would be out gathering our story, have an unexpected twist and then communicate and seek guidance via email instead of sitting down in meetings.”

In the News Outlet, students from three universities work together and learn from each other, however, there is a little competition among them. During their interaction and cooperation at the News Outlet, students with different backgrounds combine their experience in order to further their professional knowledge in the real world. It is a good way to learn more about journalism and gain experience as well, Hipsman said.

“Compared with students from other universities, our students have much more reporting experience, because we have all the student media outlets at Kent State,” she said.

Kent State Chapter of Public Relations Student Society of America Earns National Honors

By Nicole Gennarelli

The Kent State Chapter of the Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA) won three national awards at the PRSSA National Conference in San Francisco, Calif. earlier this fall.

PRSSA Kent won the Teahan Award, the most prestigious PRSSA award, for its website, and the Star Chapter Award, honoring the Chapter for its achievement of Chapter and professional goals. PRSSA Kent was selected from more than 300 chapters across the country for the Star Chapter Award.

“We were ecstatic to win the Teahan and Star Chapter Awards,” said Online Media Manager Ryan Collins. “Earning Star Chapter validated what we already knew − that PRSSA Kent is one of the best opportunities for Kent State students to learn and succeed.”

PRSSA Kent collaborated with Stefanie Moore, an assistant professor in the School of Journalism and Mass Communication (JMC), and with Flash Communications’ students to research, design and create content for the new website.

“The students spent a great deal of time researching best practices related to website design for PRSSA chapters, as well as testing the website,” said Michele Ewing, PRSSA Kent faculty adviser and JMC associate professor. “The research efforts played a key role in the design and content development for the website.”

In addition, PRSSA Kent President Christine Morgan won the National Gold Key Award, the highest individual honor for PRSSA students. Morgan was one of 27 students to win out of 10,000 PRSSA members nationwide.

“When they called my name at the National Conference, I couldn’t help but smile,” Morgan said. “I felt a deep sense of accomplishment. Looking back at my freshmen year, I never would have pictured myself with this award standing in front of a room filled with the next generation of PR professionals.”

The four-day conference was composed of sessions that included panelists, speakers and events where students could network and improve their communication skills. There were many opportunities for students to connect with professionals and other students from across the country to secure internships and jobs after graduation.

Assistance from public relations alumni, Cleveland and Akron PRSA and other resources is what sets Kent State’s PRSSA chapter apart from the rest, Ewing said.

“The PRSSA Kent Chapter is fortunate to have Akron PRSA and Cleveland PRSA professionals located near Kent State and willing to help with professional development activities,” she said. “Our PRKent alumni are huge supporters of our Chapter. The students have lots of resources, but it really comes down to the leadership of the PRSSA officers. They spend countless hours on PRSSA activities. Generations of PRSSA Kent student leaders have worked extremely hard to grow the Chapter and create one of the strongest PRSSA chapters in the country.”

JMC prepares its public relations students for the real world by keeping the curriculum up-to-date by integrating social media and other Web content.

“It starts with guiding students to be excellent communicators, particularly developing strong writing and strategic thinking skills,” Ewing said. “The continued success of our PRKent graduates has built a valuable brand for the PR major at Kent State. We stress professionalism and ethics throughout the program.”

Photo: Five PRSSA Kent officers attended the 2012 PRSSA National Conference in San Francisco, Calif., this year. From left to right: Stephanie Black (VP of Public Relations), Trenton Chavez (VP of Membership), Ryan Collins (Online Media Manager), Christine Morgan (President), Hallie Pendergast (Secretary).

Kent State Welcomes ESPN Investigative Unit Producer

In a candid and lively exchange with journalism students, athletes, sports reporters, and the general public at Kent State University on Monday, ESPN senior coordinating producer Dwayne Bray traced his career from his early days as a student reporter and baseball player in East Cleveland to his current post as a senior  investigative producer for America’s foremost sports reporting outlet.

Bray oversees reporters for ESPN’s well-respected “Outside the Lines” and “Sports Center” programs.

Bray spoke at the Kent State University School of Journalism and Mass Communication’s FirstEnergy Auditorium in Franklin Hall as part of the School’s diversity initiative, exposing students to successful minorities who an serve as role models in journalism and mass communication.

Bray provided an overview of ESPN the media conglomerate and dealt directly with the balance between the network’s business and journalism missions.  ”How do we report aggressively on teams when we have billion-dollar business relationships with sports leagues?  We focus on our mission:  to serve the sports fan on any platform, anywhere.  We chase the best stories out there,” he said.  ”My theory is ‘truth to power’ journalism. To have high-impact, we must cover the most powerful players and stories. We don’t let business relationships affect our reporting. We balance our relationships, but no one has ever told me not to go after a story.”

Bray emphasized the importance of solid reporting skills, cultivated first at the local level. “Good stories are based on notebooks filled with good facts and figures.  To build good stories, you have to work harder than everyone else.  The most important thing is to be competitive in getting the story first.  You have to chase the story.”

Bray shared examples of ESPN’s aggressive investigative reporting, including the network’s lawsuits to obtain records from Ohio State University and the University of Texas.  ”ESPN has also been sued, but when you do investigative reporting, you have to be prepared for that,” he said.

Bray also discussed how sports had shaped his life, first as a child living in East Cleveland, and then as a sports reporter and baseball player at Shaw High School.  ”My love for sports saved me from a life in the ‘hood,” he said.  His passion for sports and sports reporting led to a career in journalism that includes city reporting, police reporting, and sports reporting and editorial assignments in Dayton, Dallas, and Los Angeles.

Speaking of the experiences that have contributed to his success in journalism, Bray noted,  ”Anyone who wants to be a serious reporter needs to work a police beat,” he told the crowd.  ”That’s where you learn about getting the facts right.”

Bray believes that American life is increasingly influenced by sports. “ESPN has become even more vital since the recession.  More people are staying home, watching us,” he said.  ”Sports fans are passionate.  They scrutinize us and follow everything we do, so we have to get it right.”

Bray shared several ESPN investigative reporting videos, including stories that would not have been covered by other national media outlets, such as gambling on PeeWee football in South Florida.

ESPN is a useful example for journalism students.  ”Today the lines are blurred between print and broadcast. Students need to be proficient in both writing and shooting video.  Dwayne’s experience helps students learn about what it takes to be a sports journalist today,” said Sue Valerian, an adjunct instructor in the School of Journalism and Mass Communication, who helped to arrange Bray’s visit.  ”Dwayne is a good role model for aspiring young journalists. He’s a terrific journalist who’s passionate about great stories and uncovering the truth.”

Media contact: Jennifer Kramer, APR, 330-672-1960, jlkramer@kent.edu

Social Media Sites Develop Best Practices Guide for Political Reporting

By Nicole Gennarelli

The 2012 Poynter Kent State Media Ethics Workshop brought together professionals from different journalism and political backgrounds to discuss the ethics topic of political reporting. Although the workshop is over, the conversation surrounding media ethics and best practices in political reporting continues.

Kent State University, the Poynter Institute, the Civic Commons and the Journalism Accelerator have partnered to create a series of online conversations surrounding issues journalists face when covering politics. The four topics include: What happens when social media and political coverage collide, managing the ethical minefields of “access journalism,” fact checking and delivering coverage voters deserve. From these conversations, an Ethics Best Practices Guide to Political Coverage will be created.

“The Journalism Accelerator is going to curate the conversation that’s happening online,” said Jan Leach, workshop organizer and associate professor in Kent State’s School of Journalism and Mass Communication. “They’re not aggregating from a lot of places but looking at the comments that are there and picking out the top points. We’re going to take the top points about political media reporting and develop a best practices guide.”

The Best Practices Guide will be published in places such as Poynter Online, Journalism Accelerator’s website and the JMC website, plus the permanent archives for the 2012 Ethics Workshop, Leach said.

Lisa Skube, founder of Journalism Accelerator, said she felt online conversations and a resulting best practices guide are a terrific opportunity to partner with smart people thinking hard about the future of journalism as well as an excellent way to crowd source something of lasting value – the guide to political coverage.

“Ethics are a key piece of building trust, and trust has become ever more crucial in defining the value of journalism as people have more choices about what information they seek,” Skube said.

“We hope the Ethical Best Practices for political coverage that will come out of the conference and the online conversations on the Journalism Accelerator afterwards will both reflect and shape the industry,” said Emily Harris, who is responsible for editorial content on Journalism Accelerator.

Leach said she hopes the Journalism Accelerator will be a partner in the Ethics Workshop again next year and continue the conversation online for the 2013 Conference.

“Extending the conversation is the thing,” Leach said. “It’s not just participating for one day and going back to your classroom or newsroom and forgetting it. It’s being able to say you learned something and here’s what came of it.”

For more information and to participate in the online conversation visit the Journalism Accelerator website.