Volume 1, Issue 1
May 13, 2005
Newsletter of Mass Communications Department
THE SPOKESMAN
College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences
Savannah State University
Mass Communications Experiences Growth
and Technical Development
Inside This
Issue:
♦
Mass Communications
Experiences Growth
And Technical
Development
2-3
♦
Message from the
Chair
2
♦
Enrollment Statistics/
Production
♦
The Department is a
University Center of
Excellence
3
3
In 1971, the mass communications program at Savannah State
University was established as a minor
in the department of humanities.
Enrollment in the minor program
grew from nine in 1971 to seventynine in 1981 when the program became a baccalaureate degree program. By 2001, the mass communications program had ninety-five majors. On August 1, 2002, the mass
communications program became
the mass communications department with ninety-five majors. By the
2004 fall semester, enrollment in the department increased from ninety-five majors to over three hundred majors
(approximately three hundred percent
increase over a two year period).
(L-R: Richard Smith, and Quincy Harris)
From June 1983 to May 2004, the department has graduated 293
Continued on page 2
♦
Department Expands
Broadcast
Curriculum
3-4
♦
Faculty and Staff
4
♦
Recent Alumni
Highlights
5-6
The Department is a University Center of Excellence
The mass communications department is listed as a center of excellence in the
Savannah State University Strategic Plan 2002 – 2007. As a center of excellence, the department will differ from traditional programs by including
special attention to cutting-edge research and the use of innovative teaching/
learning practices to make it without peer in the region. The strategic plan of
the department has as one of its main goals the attainment of Accrediting
Council on Education in Journalism and Mass Communication (ACEJMC) by
the 2006 -2007 academic year. The department has accomplished the following
relative to ACEJMC accreditation procedures:
continued on page 3
Volume 1, Issue 1
Page 2
Message from the Chair
Welcome to the first edition of the mass communications department’s official newsletter – THE
SPOKESMAN. The purpose of this quarterly newsletter is to inform mass communications and
Savannah State University alumni, current students, stakeholders, and supporters about the mission and vision of the department. The department is designated as a center of excellence in the 2002 – 2007 Strategic
Plan of the university. One of the immediate goals of the department is to attain Accrediting Council on Education in Journalism and Mass Communications (ACEJMC) Accreditation by the 2007 academic year. This is
a three to five year process, which the department began in 2002. This prestigious accreditation would allow
the department to acquire more grants, corporate support, and this will become a value added to all graduates
of the degree program. Moreover, the department has been enhanced by over $l.5 million in funding by the
president and vice president for academic affairs. The curriculum went through a major revision during the
2003 -2004 academic year when the radio/television sequence added film as a part of the concentration. Over
eleven new courses have been added through course revisions, and one new faculty member was hired to
teach in the department. Exciting new plans include assembling a mass communications advisory board comprised of leading media and corporate executives to forge a twenty-first century agenda for the program. Plans
also include the formation of a mass communications alumni association, which will also serve in an advisory
capacity to the department. We welcome comments and participation in the department.
Thank you,
Charles J. Elmore
Mass Communications Experiences Growth and Technical Development
continued from page 1
students (74 males – 25%; 219 females – 75%). The unprecedented growth required the department to
undergo extensive building renovations, the upgrade of the computer laboratories, and the television production facility. During 2004 – 2005, eight faculty members (four part-time) taught 489 students in 34 courses,
and generated 1388 semester credit hours with an average class size of 14.38 students. Since 2001, the department, located in John F. Kennedy Building, has undergone a $1.5 million equipment and technology upgrade, and a 6,550 square foot building renovation. The renovated areas include the television production
studio, computer laboratories, faculty offices (office space for five faculty and a secretary), and a multi-purpose
classroom. The $500,000 broadcast studio upgrade includes a new lighting grid system, two teleprompters,
five-camera studio, multiple non-linear editing stations (Avid and Premiere in PC and Final Cut Pro in MAC
format) in a separate non-linear editing laboratory, a satellite downlink, and a retractable chromakey wall.
continued on page 3
Volume 1, Issue 1
Page 3
Mass Communications Experiences Growth and Technical Development
Increased enrollment will result in space utilization changes relative to the placement of mass communications laboratories and classrooms. Beginning with the 2005 fall semester, the non-linear editing, G-5
Mac, and sound studio laboratories, as well as the television production studio, will be located on the first
floor of John F. Kennedy Building. All mass communications lecture classes will be held in multi-purpose
classrooms on the second floor of Kennedy Building. Additionally, a second Mac computer laboratory will
be opened on the second floor of the building.
The Department is a University Center of
Excellence
•
A successful preliminary site visit September
29 – October 1, 2004, by Dr. Barbara Hines,
ACEJMC council member, representing Suzanne Shaw, executive director, ACEJMC.
•
Acquired new broadcast and computer equipment ( with appropriate soft ware) throughout
the academic year.
•
Asa Gordon Library ordered numerous books,
videos, and other materials ordered by the department specifically earmarked for ACEJMC
accreditation this academic year.
•
2006 fall semester the department’s television
production studio will be a total digital environment.
200
4
Enr -2005
oll
men
Sta
t
t
Pro istics
d
/
PRO uction
D UC
/
TIVIY
Eight faculty members (four part-time)
taught 489 students in 34 courses
during 2004—2005. These courses
generated 1388 semester credit hours
with an average class size of 14.38
students.
•
The new Ecolab 2900 digital switcher
will be fully operational, and this will enable graduates to enter the broadcast media workforce with cutting-edge production skills.
Department Expands Broadcast
Curriculum
During
the 2003-2004 academic
year, the mass communications department revised the curriculum in radio/television by adding
film to the existing concentration. The broadcast
sequence is now known as a radio/television/film
degree concentration. Eleven new courses were
added to the present broadcast curriculum to include – COMM 1000 (Colloquium – a new one
hour orientation course for entering mass communications freshmen), COMM 3301 (Introduction
to Television Production),
COMM 3303
( Scriptwriting for Radio, Television, Film),
COMM 3305 (Introduction to Film Production),
COMM 3306 (Introduction to Audio Production), COMM 3901 (History of Film), COMM
continued on page 4
4108
Volume 1, Issue 1
Page 4
FACULTY AND STAFF
Dr. Jane M. Gates, Dean
College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences
Charles J. Elmore, Chairman
Reginald L. Franklin, Associate Professor
Novella Cross-Holmes, Associate Professor
Kai C. Walker, Assistant Professor
Karen R. Conner, Office Assistant
PART-TME FACULTY
Department of Mass
Communications
Savannah State University
Steve Bisson, Chief of Photography, Savannah Morning News
Calvin Beam, Copyright Chief, Savannah Morning News
Joy Driggers, Graphic Designer, Scuba Diving Magazine
Mary Mayle, Reporter, Savannah Morning News
P.O. Box 20634
Savannah, GA 31404
Phone: 912-356-2169
Fax: 912-351-6588
Email: [email protected]
Continued from page 3
Department Expands Broadcast Curriculum
Broadcast Curriculum (Film and Television Directing), COMM 4109 (Radio Production and Programming), COMM 4111 (Film and Television Editing), COMM 4112 (Commercial Recording), and
COMM 4113 (Advanced Post Production Techniques). Kai Walker, assistant professor, mass communications, was hired during the 2003-2004 academic year to teach television and film courses in the radio/
television/film sequence. Ms. Walker received a B.S. degree in communications and theater arts from
Eastern Michigan University in Ypsilanti, Michigan, and an M.F.A. in video and film from the Savannah
College of Art and Design.
Volume 1, Issue 1
Page 5
RECENT ALUMNI HIGHLIGHTS
continued on page 6
Class of 2002
Christopher McDuffy
Crystal Boggs
Christopher Middleton
Verizon Wireless
Client Services and
Seond Year Law Student
Associate
Event Coordinator
Vermont Law College
Atlanta, Georgia
Urban Sports Entertainment
South Royalton, Vermont
Charlotte, North Carolina
Devin Hill
Alicia Wallace
Teacher
LaFreda Hendley
Teacher
Gadsden Elementary School
Talent and Media
Savannah/Chatham Public School System
Savannah, Georgia
Coordinator
Owner
Universoul Circus
Xposure Media Company
Jovielle Coxon
Savannah, Georgia
Graduate Student
Atlanta, Georgia
Master’s in Speech Pathology
Michael “Tonee” Bell
Thomas Porter
South Carolina State University
Central Marketing Brand
Communications Officer
Orangesburg, South Carolina
Ambassador
United States Navy
Swivel Media.Com
Richard Chapman
San Francisco, California
Shayla Grant
Substitute Teacher
Teacher
Enrolled in Master’s Program in
Rasheim Wright
Myers Middle School
education
Account Executive
Savannah, Georgia
Central Michigan University
Cumulus Broadcasting, Inc.
Savannah, Georgia
Tonya Brown
Kimberly Starks
Teacher
Newspaper Reporter
William E. Martin
Haven Elementary School
Marietta, Georgia
Editor
Savannah, Georgia
WSAV-NBC-Channel 3
Savannah, Georgia
Class of 2003
Class of 2004
Janea Robinson
Mahreon Johnson
Kayla Lightbourne
Video Editor
Video Journalist
Anchor-On-Air Personality
WNCN-NBS Channel 17
WNCN-NBS Channel 17
WIV Cable Television
Raleigh, North Carolina
Raleigh, North Carolina
Providenciales Island, B.W. I.
Volume 1, Issue 1
Page 6
Continued from page 5
TIGER’S ROAR
TRAFFIC HITS
Recent Alumni Highlights
Student Newspaper
Class of 2005
Toccara Allen
Production Assistant
The Tiger’s Roar Online has exceeded all expectations. During the 2004-2005
WIS-TV NBC Affiliate
academic year, the online paper had 741, 622 hits. Spearheaded by Professor
Columbia, SC
Novella Cross Holmes, the online publication was launched in 2004.
Log on to
www.tigersroar.com.
Calandra Blockman
Graduate Assistant
University of Texas at Arlington
Arlington, Texas
Cassandra Boyd
Center of Leadership Service
Graduate Studies
Florida International University
Miami, FL
Cedric Howard
Sports Information Assistant
Carolina Panthers
National Football League
Charlotte, NC
Designed by
Karen R. Conner
Traffic Report for
www.tigersroar.com
Main Summary
Timezone: America/New_York
Summary Period Last 12 Months
Generated 06-May-2005 08:46 CDT
Traffic Report Help
SAVANNAH STATE UNIVERSITY
MASS COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT
l
ALUMNI SURVEY
l
Dear Alumni:
In order to continue to provide qualitative and quantitative services to our students, alumni, and to address
those areas that need strengthening, we ask that you kindly complete the brief questionnaire below and return
it to us at your earliest convenience.
MAJOR (Check one)
____Radio/Television/Film
____Print Journalism
____Public Relations and Advertising
YEAR OF GRADUATION _____________________
RATE THE OVERALL QUALITY OF YOUR UNDERGRADUATE EDUCATION
____EXCELLENT
____ABOVE AVERAGE
____GOOD
____FAIR
____POOR
IF POOR,
DESCRIBED______________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________
LIST YOUR CURRENT JOB TITLE:
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________
DO YOU HAVE A GRADUATE DEGREE? WHICH SCHOOL DID YOU ATTEND?________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________
LIST STRENGTHS AND WEAKNESSES OF THE DEPARTMENT OF MASS COMMUNICATIONS
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________
WHAT ARE YOUR CURRENT MAILING ADDRESS, PHONE NUMBER, FAX, E-MAIL___________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Please return this completed form by:
Fax: (912) 351-6588
Mail: Charles J. Elmore, Mass Communications Department, P.O. Box 20634, Savannah State University,
Savannah, GA 31404
(PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS SURVEY FORM CAN BE PRINTED AND DISTRIBUTED TO OTHER GRADUATES)