FIRST COLLEGE OF COMMUNICATION AND INFORMATION JOBEXPO DRAWS CROWDS AND KUDOS

Seventy-three College of Communication and Information (CCI) students. Fifty recruiters from 25 companies. One room, one afternoon. Hundreds of connections.

These were the vital statistics of CCI’s JobExpo2013 – Kent State’s first job and internship fair specifically for juniors and seniors from every undergraduate degree program in the Schools of Communication Studies (COMM), Journalism and Mass Communication (JMC) and Visual Communication Design (VCD). JobExpo2013, held on April 26 at The Ritz-Carlton in Cleveland, attracted an impressive array of regional employers, including national advertising agencies, integrated marketing communication agencies, TV stations, radio stations, newspapers, magazines, healthcare insurers, banks, national corporations, the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

But the numbers behind JobExpo2013 tell only part of the story. The real value of JobExpo was measured in contacts and connections. Students spent nearly three hours in one-to-one conversations with hiring managers and industry professionals, and employers had the opportunity to meet CCI’s aspiring professionals, review and collect resumes and offer advice.

JobExpo2013 closed to great reviews from industry professionals and CCI students, including these:

Industry Perspectives

• “Kent State has one of the top communication programs in the country. There is great benefit for us to meet these students and for the students to see the wide variety of employers Cleveland has to offer – all in one room.” – Cari Jeanne Steiner, Fahlgren Mortine

• Your students are fantastic! I’m impressed with their professionalism and enthusiasm. They are well prepared, they ask relevant questions, and they’ve done their research. The event itself is a great idea because communication majors are in demand. We’re hoping to connect with a few Kent students this summer for fall internships.” – Monica Conklin, Cleveland Cavalier

• “As job fairs go, this one was exceptional for what we need. The narrow focus on communication and media compared to other job fairs is fantastic! My time was well spent.” – Susan Pace, WJW Fox

• “The students are definitely well prepared compared to others I’ve met, and go to college campuses throughout Ohio. The students dressed well, they were ready to ask questions and they were not afraid to put themselves out there.” – Kimberly Joyce, Medical Mutual

Student Perspectives

• “JobExpo was a wonderful event. I’m so happy the College did this for us. We can never go wrong increasing our network of contacts.” – Thomas Jessup, senior applied communication major

• “Through the Expo, I learned that there are many broadcasting opportunities outside the newsroom. This was a great networking opportunity, and journalism is a who-you-know business. It’s at events like this that we get to know people.” – Jonathan Jankowski, senior broadcast journalism major

• “There were so many businesses and agencies I didn’t know about. I definitely recommend CCI do this again. What a great opportunity!” – Whitney Gibson, senior magazine journalism and information design major

• “This was a good experience and a beneficial event. Even when agencies aren’t hiring designers, they take my resume because they know someone who might be.” – Crystal Chow, senior visual communication design major

• “I learned how to show myself in the best light, and I learned different ways to make my resume stand out.” – Matt Orzag, senior public relations major

JobExpo2013 was principally organized by John Butte, JMC’s new coordinator for career services, whoalso sponsored resume workshops with industry professionals prior to the event. “The ability of juniors and seniors to have structured conversations with perspective employers and professionals in their fields is extraordinary. For example, the news director of Cleveland’s WOIO/WUAB was here all afternoon talking to long lines of students,” Butte said. “Through JobExpo, we are introducing our best and brightest to Northeast Ohio employers. For a region long concerned with brain drain, we are taking positive steps to keep our best talent right here.”

“This first internship and job fair was a tremendous step toward increasing the level of service we provide to our students,” said JMC Director Thor Wasbotten. “We look forward to showcasing our students to prospective employers in the future.”

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.

VCD students open resource site

by Meghan Caprez

Two Kent State University Visual Communication Design BFA seniors recently started their own online design resource business called The Warehouse.

The recently engaged couple, Jesse Snyder and Brittany Deighton, opened their website to the public earlier this fall, selling a package of icons Deighton designed. The site also offers two free texture packages for other designers to use as resources for their own designs.

Snyder and Deighton have been designing together since they were in high school, and they noticed there weren’t many resources offered in their price range when they were starting out.

“One of the things we noticed is that a lot of the students early in the VCD program don’t have a lot of access to inexpensive or free things,” Snyder said. “Most of these things cost a lot of money, and there aren’t a lot of resources available. We’re trying to make it inexpensive for people who are just starting out.”

“We wanted to make a place for them to go,” Deighton said. “When we were younger, we didn’t have a lot of people guiding us in regards to resources.”

As the business expanded, Snyder and Deighton implemented a “pay what you want” policy in lieu of set prices.

“For younger students who might not have money, if they want these resources for free, they can do that,” Snyder said. “If they want to pay, they can do that, too.”

Many people have downloaded their texture packages, Snyder said. They are most popular within the Kent community and abroad.

“We’ve gotten a lot of international downloads from places like France and Brazil,” Snyder said. “For some reason, those are the countries we get the most from.”

In the future, the couple hopes to add additional products to the website, such as vector packs and patterns. Upon graduation, they plan to open the website up as an online design studio where they can work on designing for their own clients.

“We’ve just been doing this in our spare time,” Snyder said. “It hasn’t taken too long. We’re pretty efficient. We’re always busy with design, though. We don’t usually take much time off to do anything else.”

“We have no party life,” Deighton joked. “Strictly design.”

Snyder and Deighton were inspired by VCD professor Jillian Coorey and her Graphic Design II course to pursue their own side project.

“Jillian’s class really pushed us to keep us thinking conceptually and out of the box,” Deighton said. “I think that’s how we thought up a lot of the website stuff.”

Snyder encourages other students to take on personal projects to enhance their learning experience. He said the projects are a good way to attract attention to a student’s portfolio.

“It makes you unique if you’re filling a niche that some people haven’t,” Deighton said.

For more information about The Warehouse, visit the website at http://thewarehousedesign.com/.

Get to Know Your Academic Advisors

By: Meghan Caprez

I was still in high school when I first met my academic advisor. My mother insisted on dragging me into the JMC advising office one Wednesday morning Spring 2011 because she’d heard about the old “Walk-In Wednesday” policy. I’d tried to explain to her that it only applied to kids who were actually in college, but she insisted it was for anybody.

They were surprised to hear we were there, demanding to meet with an advisor, especially since I hadn’t even committed to go to Kent State yet. Nevertheless, they sent Amy Wilkins out to talk to us. I sat mortified in the corner while my mom asked question after question. I thought I’d never live it down.

When I did commit to Kent State and attended Destination Kent State, Amy was the advisor who helped me schedule for my classes. Much to my horror, she remembered me because I came in with my mom earlier that year. I think she must have known how embarrassed I was about being the “kid who came in with mommy,” so she joked about it with me to put me at ease. To this day, she still asks me how my mom is doing, and all I can do is smile and roll my eyes at the memory.

There tends to be a malevolent rumor that runs around college campuses concerning advisors. A lot of people don’t trust in the advice they are given in regards to classes and scheduling because they’ve heard through the grapevine about an advisor who gave incorrect information. Those people are missing out on an incredibly valuable resource.

The cool thing about CCI advising is that it’s decentralized. Instead of everyone in the college going to a handful of advisors who know a little bit about each major, students turn to advisors located directly in their school with knowledge about their specific programs. For example, Amy Wilkens is an advisor in the School of Journalism and Mass Communication. Her office is in Franklin Hall, and she knows about every single one of the JMC majors and minors. If I was a VCD student, I would go see Vince Giles in the Art building. If I was a COMM student, I would go see Lorie Hopp in Taylor Hall.

After working with them all summer during Destination Kent State, I can honestly say CCI advisors are the coolest advisors on campus. Who else would lip sync and play air guitar to “Eye of the Tiger” in front a bunch of incoming freshmen and their parents? Who else would spend a half hour with a student just scrolling through and printing out Photoshopped images of Coney from Collegefest 2012? They really care about connecting with the students.

Make sure you take advantage of the services they provide! Schedule an advising appointment today!

My Best Decision: Getting Involved

by Meghan Caprez

The best decision I made my freshman year was getting involved in campus groups and activities, specifically in the College of Communication and Information. I know that seems ridiculous; of all the decisions I must have made my freshman year, I chose that one to highlight. But it’s true!

In order for an organization to excel at what it does, it must have a communications practitioner. This universal truth is especially poignant at the beginning of each school year when student organizations are trying to coerce under and upperclassmen alike to become active members of their groups.

CCI majors have a distinct advantage when it comes to joining groups they’re passionate about, even if the organization is outside the college. They have communication skills. Those skills can be utilized by the group to generate awareness in the Kent community, promote membership and much, much more.

Whether you get involved in TV2 or the Bollywood dance group, PRIDE! or intramural broomball, the group needs someone to handle social media, flyer design and even chalking across campus. Because you are a CCI major, you will always have the opportunity to enhance your resume if you choose to take on the role of communicator in an organization.

My freshman year I decided to get involved in Kent’s chapter of Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA). Later, I also became a part of the TV2 marketing team. Both of these activities allowed me to network with professionals in the communications field and practice what I’m going to do for the rest of my life as a PR practitioner. I also had a really great time getting to know some of my fellow students and, occasionally, I got a free meal out of it, too.

PRSSA and TV2 are just two of the many activities offered under the umbrella of CCI. Students can have their own radio shows on Black Squirrel Radio, write or take pictures for one of more than 10 media outlets, or join other professional organizations like AAF or AIGA. There are even a few companies that are run by the university that hire Kent students for their work such as Teleproductions, The Tannery and Glyphix.

My advice? Don’t wait until you’re an upperclassman to start getting involved. The sooner you get involved, the more you’re going to learn from advisors, professionals and other students associated with that organization. Do it now!

Here’s how you can get involved in some CCI organizations:

TV2 news talent audition: August 29 6:30-11 p.m.

TV2 entertainment audition: August 29 1-5:30 p.m.

TV2 tech sign-up: August 28 and August 30 from 5-9 p.m.

Black Squirrel Radio auditions: September 3 from 2-5 p.m. and September 4 from 5-8 p.m.

For any student publication, email the appropriate student leader:

a – Emily Inverso (einverso@kent.edu)

Burr – Leighann McGivern (lmcgive2@kent.edu)

Daily Kent Stater – Emily Inverso (einverso@kent.edu)

Fusion – Jackie Bergeron (jberge11@kent.edu)

Kentwired.com – Rebecca Reis (rreis@kent.edu)

KSUBuzz.com – Rachel Kilroy (rkilroy6@gmail.com)

Luna Negra – Zachary Lutz (zlutz@kent.edu)

Uhuru – Oziengbe Ikuenobe (oikuenob@kent.edu)

Farewell CCI

I can remember writing my welcome blog post almost a year ago, and now as I sit and write my farewell the irony seems bittersweet.  This past year at CCI has been the best work experience ever! When I started out here as Practicum student I wasn’t expecting to spend the next semester as a Marketing Assistant and even to come back this past spring semester after graduating in December.

My position here at CCI allowed me to work on a lot of fantastic projects, the coolest being the premiere for Research: The Musical. I served as the head of the movie’s marketing and PR team, which allowed me to gain hand’s on experience in planning a major art’s event like the movie premiere. This project also helped me figure out my career goals.

When I first came to CCI, I had plans on being a journalist. See blog post. However I soon realized that my love of writing would go perfectly with my love for the arts. In other words I decided that I wanted to work on the communications side of the entertainment industry. My ultimate goal would be to start my own arts non-profit for children from low-income families. I believe talent should be nurtured no matter what your financial circumstances are. I plan to work towards this goal by obtaining my Master’s from Akron University in Arts Administration in the fall and continuing to do post-graduate internships within the arts and media industry throughout Norteast Ohio.

Working with the CCI staff truly changed my life. I would recommend to anyone who has the oppurtunity to work here to make your experince count by getting to know the people you’re working with and tailoring your projects to fit your future career plans.

Britany Ruby has been a Marketing Assistant for the College of Communication and Information from May 2011-May 2012 . She graduated with her BA in Communication Studies in December 2011 and will be pursuing her Master’s in Arts Administration beginning Fall 2012.

CCI is now on Pinterest!

By: Emily Horne

Pinterest, a virtual bulletin board, seems to be the new “it” Web site and social media outlet that many people are talking about. While it has not entirely reached the business and organization audience, Kent’s College of Communication and Information (CCI) is now on Pinterest. Like some other universities, CCI has been researching the best ways to utilize Pinterest. There seem to be mixed opinions on whether universities need to be on Pinterest yet or not but why shouldn’t Kent’s College of Communication and Information be one of the first?

What other universities are doing:

1. Contests
2. Showcasing its Personality
3. The Student Experience
4. Study Abroad Destinations
5. Dorm Room Decorations
6. Artwork Created by Students
7. Achievements from Alumni

What can students gain from CCI’s Pinterest profile?

1. CCI Student, Alum and Faculty Successes: Many people with connections to CCI go on to do great things during or after their time with the college. On this board, followers can see what these people are doing.
2. School of _________: There is a board for each of CCI’s four schools that showcase information about the school and stories that relate. Pay attention to these boards if you are a prospective student, a current student, or a former student!
3. Facilities: This board showcases the great facilities each of CCI’s programs are housed in. From the recently renovated facilities in Franklin Hall to the Resource Room in the Art building, CCI’s programs offer their students the best.
4. Study Away: CCI offers a variety of study away programs. Here, we are pinning information about various programs.
5. Why CCI Kent Blog: Here we are reposting blogs posted here on our Why CCI Kent blog to reach more students.
6. For Future Students: Students interested in CCI, whether current college students in other majors or current high school students, can look to this board for basic information.

Send us your work:

We would love to begin showcasing student work (artwork, photography, research, Web site design, etc.) on Pinterest. If you are interested in seeing your work on our page, please send an E-mail to ccikent@kent.edu with your work, a caption, and a link (if applicable) to attach to the pin.

Follow CCI Kent State:

Follow us on Pinterest to keep up on the latest information.  http://pinterest.com/ccikentstate/ Also, please help us to promote our Pinterest account. Share it on Facebook, Twitter and repin our pins that interest you!

How does CCI fit into Destination Kent State?

By Emily Carle

For all of our newest Kent State students, the most exciting part of the summer outside of move-in day is Destination Kent State. The day and a half orientation program allows students to learn more about Kent State, meet faculty and advisors, schedule classes and most importantly connect with fellow classmates.

While all of the information is beneficial to student success, it can be a little overwhelming. To make it easier for students, there are different sessions focusing on specific topics throughout their time in Kent. Specifically, the session Pillars of Success, known just as Pillars, focuses on each student’s major and how to get involved within their college.

As the College of Communication and Information, we offer students a look into the structure of the college and where they fit in their school and their major. Kent State University can be a big place and it is comforting to know that students have a home within CCI. Some of the best ways to feel connected is by getting involved. Luckily with CCI, there are dozens of ways to get involved with all of our majors. We stress to students, first-year students especially, to get involved in some way.

Our award-winning Student Media offers all students real-world experience in a handful of different media. Other CCI clubs include Kent Communication Society, American Institute of Graphic Arts, KSU Ad Club, and Public Relations Student Society of America that allow students to connect with classmates, faculty and alumni.

Outside of offering a support system and opportunities to the new CCI students, we want to help students find their paths within their major. To explore the majors that the college offers, visit the About CCI page or browse all degrees through Graduation Planning System.

Another valuable addition for a college student is the opportunity to study abroad. CCI offers numerous programs from two weeks to semester long trips abroad that cater to the wants and skills of our own students.

From Destination Kent State to Graduation, CCI will be there for student for advice, support, opportunities and experience. Come to us with questions!

What are some tips you wish you would have learned as a first-year student?

If you are a first-year student, what questions do you have about CCI Kent State?

If you have already attended Destination Kent State, what was your favorite part? What could be improved?

Emily is a communication studies graduate and a marketing assistant for the College of Communication and Information.

Kent State Professor Shares Her Experiences in Good Enough is the New Perfect

By Brianne Kimmel

 JMC Assistant Professor Jan Leach is one of dozens of working women featured in Good Enough is the New Perfect: Finding Happiness and Success in Modern Motherhood.

 Since her arrival at Kent State University in August 2003, Leach has shared her journalistic background and personal experiences with hundreds of Kent State University students.

 “I enjoy every minute at Kent State,” Leach said. “I’m still a professional journalist; I maintain professional contacts; I study journalism trends, and I also have the opportunity to interact with great students and people within the university.”

 In October 2008, a professional contact surprised Leach with a rare opportunity.

 “I was very honored Becky [Beaupre Gillespie] wanted to include me in the larger story of women finding self-worth,” Leach said.

 Good Enough is the New Perfect by Becky Beaupre Gillespie and Hollee Schwartz Temple features research on today’s working women and a number of firsthand accounts from working mothers balancing success in the office and at home.

 Leach was interviewed about experiences after having twins, “finding myself after pregnancy was a very important lesson for me,” Leach said.  “Being on bed rest for 29 days, while also having a three-year-old daughter was challenging. I remember thinking after I gave birth, what does Jan want to accomplish with her life.”

 After leaving her position as managing editor of the Cincinnati Enquirer, Leach became editor and vice president of the Akron Beacon Journal where she coordinated coverage of the September 11 attacks, including publishing an “Extra” edition, covering the local impact, and helping to launch and promote the “Fire Truck Fund” that raised more than $1.3 million for new safety equipment in New York City.

 Leach currently teaches media ethics, copy editing and other news courses and is director of Kent’s Media Law Center for Ethics and Access. She is also an Ethics Fellow at the Poynter Institute for Journalism Studies in St. Petersburg, Fla.

 Leach was the editor of two books by Terry Pluto. She is the author of four chapters in the book The Edge of Change: Women in the 21st Century Press, published in 2009.

Visit the Web for additional information on Good Enough is the New Perfect and Kent State University’s School of Journalism and Mass Communication.

CCI Welcomes New Marketing Assistant & Blogger!

Hey fellow Flashes! It’s Britany Ruby here, the newest Public Relations and Marketing assistant with the College of Communication and Information. I would describe myself as a little Anna Wintour mixed with a lot of Carrie Bradshaw, with plans to pursue a career in the Magazine Industry after graduation in December 2011. I am a native of Dayton, Ohio, and a senior at Kent State University pursuing a bachelor of arts in communication studies with a concentration in applied communication.

I studied fashion merchandising here at Kent for three years before realizing that my love of writing had overpowered my love for fashion. However, before I switched my major I was able to study fashion in New York, New York, for the spring 2010 semester. My time in New York greatly influenced my writing and lifestyle as a whole. It helped me to realize my ultimate dream of moving back to the Big Apple to work at a major fashion magazine.

In the past four years I have worked on the staff of Kent State University’s, UHURU Magazine and Artemis Women’s Magazine. I have interned with SELF Magazine in New York, New York. And, I also completed an editorial internship with Padosa.com in 2010, while at home in Dayton, Ohio.  

While I have had other internships in the past I hope to have a completely different experience here at the College of Communication and Information. Here I hope to not only better my writing skills, but to learn more about public relations and marketing as a whole. I hope that you will join me on my journey this summer and until then please let me know if you have any questions!

Britany is a senior applied communication studies student and marketing assistant for CCI.