Retired adviser dies in Florida; had been affiliated with CMA since early days

Special to CMR

The late Shirley Quate’s love of journalism spanned decades—from her teen years, which found her working for her high school newspaper in Muncie, Indiana, and writing a column for the local paper, to being a member of a writing group in her 80s. As a journalism educator, she taught, advised, was active in college media associations, and retired as a professor emeritus of journalism.

A celebration of life service will be held at a later date for Quate, who died Jan. 28 at her home in Port Saint Lucie, Florida, according to her obituary, published on Legacy.com.

“She was an excellent teacher, leader, worker and friend,” said Lesley W. Marcello of Quate, who held offices with the National Council of College Press Advisers, the predecessor to the College Media Association, and also worked with CMA.

Quate held a master’s degree and doctorate from Purdue University. While teaching writing and literature as a professor at the Indianapolis campus of Purdue, Quate was also tasked with founding the student newspaper.

Continue reading “Quate’s love of journalism spanned into her 80s”

Reporting stories for national, regional and college media

While voters trek to the polls in New Hampshire today, college media advisers from Missouri and Oklahoma reflect on the efforts of students in covering last week’s Iowa caucuses.

Northwest Missouri State University students, Steven Chappell go to Iowa

Steven Chappell, director of student publications and multimedia instructor at Northwest Missouri State University, and his political journalism class saw the Iowa caucuses up close and personal—as in covering and producing stories for the campus media at Northwest Missouri, located in Maryville.

A university grant helped cover transportation, lodging and other expenses, he said.

To see the students’ work, here are links Chappell provided:

• This link: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCm0faj6jUBbJbcwoY5sEfjA connects to our video packages on YouTube.
• This link: http://www.nwmissourinews.com/news/politics/?refresh004 connects to our Missourian newspaper coverage
• The KNWT Facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/WatchChannelEightNews/
• The hashtags: #NWCaucus and #NWPolitics were used for all of our Twitter coverage.

Oklahoma students cover Iowa caucuses

The University of Oklahoma Gaylord College of Journalism and Mass Communication sent 14 students to cover the Iowa caucuses, according to John Schmeltzer, professor and Engleman/Livermore chair in Community Journalism.

“They were there from Jan. 17 and returned to campus on Feb. 2. All the stories have revolved around the millennial involvement in this year’s election,” Schmeltzer said in an e-mail.

Continue reading “Student journalists tackle national campaign coverage”

Book finds common ground among writing styles for print, web, promotions, advertising and marketing

By Lindsey Wotanis
Marywood University

Anyone who has taught a required basic news writing and reporting course that serves as a core requirement for all communication majors—from journalism students to those in public relations, advertising, marketing, or even film—has likely heard the familiar groan, which is usually followed by a question like:

“Why do I need to take a news writing course if I’m studying for a career in marketing?”

The answer: Because in order to work well with others and achieve specific writing goals, media professionals need to understand the style and mission of their colleagues’ writing goals.

Beginning students often just don’t get it, but media writing teachers like Vince Filak do. Filak must have been sick of explaining this notion to students—and sick of hearing his colleagues groan about all the groaning—because he’s just published a new textbook called “Dynamics of Media Writing: Adapt and Connect” from CQ Press which is likely to help alleviate the frustration.

Continue reading “Review: ‘Dynamics of Media Writing: Adapt and Connect’”

In Memoriam: Ron Spielberger

Ron Johnson helps with the roast of outgoing CMA Executive Director Ron Spielberger during the College Media Association / Associated College Press convention in Orlando, Oct. 27, 2011. Photo by Bradley Wilson

In Memoriam: Ron Spielberger

Lillian Kopenhaver helps with the roast of outgoing CMA Executive Director Ron Spielberger during the College Media Association / Associated College Press convention in Orlando, Oct. 27, 2011. Photo by Bradley Wilson

In Memoriam: Ron Spielberger

Steven Chappell helps with the roast of outgoing CMA Executive Director Ron Spielberger during the College Media Association / Associated College Press convention in Orlando, Oct. 27, 2011. Photo by Bradley Wilson

In Memoriam: Ron Spielberger

Outgoing CMA Executive Director Ron Spielberger talks poolside during the College Media Association / Associated College Press convention in Orlando, Oct. 27, 2011. Photo by Bradley Wilson

In Memoriam: Ron Spielberger

Outgoing CMA Executive Director Ron Spielberger with is daughter, Robin, and wife during the College Media Association / Associated College Press convention in Orlando, Oct. 27, 2011. Photo by Bradley Wilson

In Memoriam: Ron Spielberger

Outgoing CMA Executive Director Ron Spielberger during the College Media Association / Associated College Press convention in Orlando, Oct. 27, 2011. Photo by Bradley Wilson

Colleagues praise former director’s contributions to college media and the CMA

From CMR staff reports

Ron Spielberger — called “Mr. CMA” by many admirers — has died, the College Media Association announced today.

“We are heartbroken to hear of Ron’s passing,” Kelley Lash, CMA president, said. “Ron was the consummate gentleman, a kind soul and a wealth of information, advice and support.”

Spielberger served as CMA’s executive director for almost three decades, 1982-2011, CMA’s longest serving executive director.

Spielberger was a frequent contributor to College Media Review, often contributing research articles that were the results of a long time collaboration with former CMA President Lillian Kopenhaver as they gathered information and explored the impact of college media programs nationwide.

“Serving CMA as executive director for nearly three decades, Ron was the face of CMA for many, working behind the scenes to make sure the spotlight was focused on issues of importance and on the work of others,” said CMR Webmaster Bill Neville, former CMA treasurer. “He seemed to treat CMA like family, knowing families squabble at times but still pull together for the good of all.”

In the executive director position, he coordinated numerous fall and spring conventions, summer workshops and other association events. After leaving the position, he continued to serve CMA by chairing the Hall of Fame committee, serving on the advisory council and presenting sessions.

“If you asked Ron Spielberger what his job was with College Media Association, he’d smile and say, ‘I’m in the making people happy business,'” Neville added. “Ron made it look easy. Juggling the needs of members, convention management, and innumerable behind the scenes details often taken for granted, while remembering that our members are advocates for the student journalists we serve. Ron did what he set out to do — he made people happy.”

Continue reading “Ron Spielberger was ‘Mr. CMA’”

Delta State’s adviser loses battle with cancer

 By Elisabetta Zengaro and Debra Chandler Landis
Special to College Media Review

While the late Patricia Roberts battled ovarian cancer, she also fought for college journalism at Delta State University in Cleveland, Mississippi.

She did both with grit and grace, and her journalistic legacy continues, say those who knew her.

Roberts, 66, adviser to The Delta Statement student newspaper and the university’s sole journalism professor, died Dec. 7 from complications from chemotherapy. A memorial service was held at the Bishop-King Funeral Home in Lake Village, Arkansas, on Dec. 11.

In spring 2015, the Mississippi Institutions of Higher Learning Board of Trustees approved the discontinuation of five academic programs, including journalism, communications/theater studies, and modern foreign languages, at Delta State University.

The university also decided to eliminate money for printing of The Delta Statement.

Roberts told the Student Press Law Center, Huffington Post and other media organizations the plan to eliminate the journalism program was announced after a Statement story about a lawsuit a former Division of Languages and Literature chairman filed against Bill LaForge, Delta State University president. However, LaForge denied the move was retaliatory, and said the $1 million budget cuts were university-wide.

Throughout it all, Roberts never lost hope. Continue reading “A remembrance: Patricia Roberts”

A multitude of educative, thought-provoking posts, blogs and stories have emerged in the wake of the incidents this week at the University of Missouri that resulted in the resignation of top administrators and a vigorous debate on the First Amendment  The insights can aid college and professional media looking to hire more diverse staffs and considering ways to improve news coverage. The New York Times collected varying view points in this discussion.

http://www.nytimes.com/roomfordebate/2015/11/11/why-has-trust-in-the-news-media-declined

From the Washington Post:

“Mass media professor under fire for confronting video journalist at Mizzou” at http://wpo.st/wqSm0

“There’s a good reason protesters at the University of Missouri didn’t want the media around” at http://wpo.st/wqSm0

From the Columbia Journalism Review:

“Why journalists have the right to cover the University of Missouri protests,”  http://www.cjr.org/united_states_project/university_of_missouri_protests_first_amendment.php

From the New York Times:

A Lesson in Journalism at the University of Missouri

From the Los Angeles Times:

 University of Missouri names black administrator with civil rights background as interim president