College of Information and Communications

2019 News Archive

New graduate follows her path to broadcast journalism

Dara Khaalid earned her degree from the University of South Carolina this month, ready to pursue a career in broadcast journalism. It’s a path she started on years earlier — when she was a fifth-grader.

Garnet Apple: Laura Smith

Students who successfully complete Laura Smith’s “Power Producing” course often find themselves in high demand when they’re ready to graduate. That’s because, under Smith’s tutelage, they’ve learned the fundamental skills of TV news producing and hone them further in their final capstone semester.

Students offer perspectives on three-day Multicultural Talent Pipeline

Have you ever wanted to learn from some of the brightest stars in the media industry? In October, two CIC students had the opportunity to do just that at Publicis Media’s Multicultural Talent Pipeline in Atlanta.

Journalism students bring home the hardware

UofSC students racked up more wins than any other school in the television category of the Radio Television Digital News Association of the Carolinas annual competition.

SJMC honors accomplished alumni at awards ceremony

The School of Journalism and Mass Communications presented awards to six recipients at the annual Alumni Awards on Friday, Oct. 18, 2019. The awards recognize exceptional graduates whose careers represent significant professional achievement.

Reporters in the court: UofSC hosts annual Media Law School

Thirty-three journalists from 14 states got a crash course on covering courts at the university's annual Media Law School. Faculty, judges, lawyers and investigators discussed topics such as court procedures and police use of force.

Anti-vaccination mothers have outsized voice on social media - pro-vaccination parents could make a difference

What prompts people to share their opinions about vaccines on social media, and what can be done to counter the spread of misinformation? Health communications experts Brooke and Robert McKeever share their research in this article for The Conversation.

Cam Byrd: Reaching new heights

Cam Byrd is proof that a degree from the College of Information and Communications can take you just about anywhere. That’s because the 2009 public relations alumnus is a senior flight service manager for American Airlines.

Good communication is a key part of disaster response

With hurricane season in full swing, how are public information officers using social media to save lives? What challenges will they face? Our own Dr. Shannon Bowen shares her research on disaster response communications for The Conversation US.

Danielle Williams: From USC Gamecock to Temple Owl

Danielle Williams says her responsibilities as video production coordinator in Temple University's athletics department can change from day to day, but the variety of her job is what she loves best.

Beyond the Ceiling

Kent Babb has dreamed of a career in sports writing since junior high. Now, he's living that dream as a sports feature writer for The Washington Post.

Claudia Chakamian: That's why we do this job

Claudia Chakamian moved nearly 20 hours from Columbia to work as a sports reporter for KQDS FOX 21 in Duluth, Minnesota. The 2018 broadcast journalism alumna is a weekend sports anchor and weekday sports reporter for the Fox affiliate.

The voice of success

Just two years after graduating from J-school, Brett Williams has already landed the job of his dreams. He's the radio play-by-play voice of Western Kentucky University women's basketball for Learfield IMG College Communications in Bowling Green, Kentucky.

UofSC’s CreateAthon to provide free marketing for nine nonprofits

Nine nonprofits will receive pro bono marketing services through CreateAthon@UofSC, a massive 24-hour talent blitz where over 100 Gamecocks will donate their time and talent to help these deserving organizations.

Ethics: it can get you past that career plateau

In part two of her PR Week column, Dr. Shannon Bowen continues a discussion of ethics in careers: how it challenges complacency, is a natural disruptor, and how it can expand career options.

PR Prose: Ethics can land you that next job

In her latest column for PR Week, Dr. Shannon Bowen discusses strategies — with a heavy focus on ethics — that can help get you out of a career rut.

UofSC graduate champions art, culture in Charleston

As Charleston's first poet laureate, Marcus Amaker, a 1999 alumnus of the School of Journalism and Mass Communications, writes poems for and about the city and works in schools to encourage students' interest in writing.

Andrea Hickerson named director of journalism school

Dr. Andrea Hickerson is bringing her innovative leadership style to the University of South Carolina as the newly named director of the School of Journalism and Mass Communications.

SJMC students win national case competition

Advertising majors Noah McGill and Suzanne Green won first place in the Washington Media Scholars Media Plan Case Competition, earning a combined $10,000 in scholarship funds.

Faculty Perspective: Family of Man

Associate professor Ernest L. Wiggins writes about the impact a book of photography had on his childhood and on the way he incorporates it in his classes.

Journalism under fire

What does the spread of authoritarianism mean for journalists across the globe? Randy Covington, CIC director of special projects, weighs in on press freedom for The Conversation.

Journalists invited to apply for Media Law School 2019 fellowships

Working journalists are invited to apply for fellowships to attend Media Law School 2019, an intensive seminar that teaches journalists about criminal and civil law and procedure with a focus on how to more effectively cover trials and the judicial process.

The path to the Panthers

Shortly after graduating, 2015 broadcast journalism alumna Caroline Cann landed the sort of job most seasoned professionals can only dream of: media personality and content producer for the Indianapolis Colts.

Student PR team places second in national competition

A team of students from the School of Journalism and Mass Communications beat out nearly 70 other groups to take home second place in the national Bateman Case Study Competition.

Setting sight on success

When public relations major Sarah Massengale isn’t singing opera or writing articles about performances statewide, she’s busy pursuing her second college degree. She sees her new career path not as an abandonment of music, but as a complementary option.

Extra innings

Baseball writer Bill Madden has enjoyed a remarkable, 50-year career as a reporter, columnist and sports biographer. This spring, he finally finished his degree in journalism.

PR Prose: PR pros can help people unite or we can help them divide

As the news illustrates almost every day, the world has become more contentious and divided than in recent memory. As public relations pros we can help people converse, unite, understand, and listen - or we can help them divide.

Leading the way: Alumnus Stephen Brown named president of Cookerly Public Relations

As the newly named president of Cookerly Public Relations in Atlanta, alumnus Stephen Brown will continue to use his professional success to support USC, particularly students looking to follow in his footsteps.

SJMC honors outstanding students

Students from all majors and degree programs were recognized for outstanding performance in the classroom and in outside endeavors by the faculty and staff of the School of Journalism and Mass Communications.

Professional organizations recognize work of SJMC faculty, staff and students

The School of Journalism and Mass Communications was well-represented among the winners of two April awards ceremonies — the South Carolina Public Relations Society of America and South Carolina Press Association.

Continuing to shine the light

SJMC alumnus Jimmy DeButts, an editor and columnist at The Capital Gazette in Annapolis, Maryland, returned to campus this month to talk to students about the importance of local news — and about his five colleagues who were killed when a gunman stormed his newsroom.

Bloomberg journalist to speak at 2019 Baldwin Lecture

Karen Toulon will speak at the annual Baldwin Business and Financial Journalism Lecture at 7 p.m. on April 17. Read more about her career and her thoughts on the future of business.

A seat by the window

Discovery is central to who Ernie Wiggins is — reflected both in his hobbies and interactions with his students in the School of Journalism and Mass Communications — and is something he has valued in every stage of his professional life.

An impact beyond words

Lisa Sisk, senior instructor in the School of Journalism and Mass Communications, is charting a new course for teaching after being diagnosed with a degenerative neurological disorder that affects communication.

Events bring journalism and civil rights researchers together

Two major conferences drew academic researchers from a variety of disciplines to the SJMC on March 7 and 8. The Media & Civil Rights History Symposium and the AEJMC Southeast Colloquium sparked dialogue about the importance of journalism and the evolving landscape of the industry.

La'Keisha Sutton: Broadcast alum is building her brand

Since her time as a Gamecock, Sutton has continued life on the court as a member of the Harlem Globetrotters. Known to fans as Swish, she also spends time inspiring young people through her organization, Fan Favorite University.

PR Prose: Values managers and leadership

Values managers, sometimes called "culture czars" or "chief engagement officers" are vital says PR researcher Shannon Bowen, in her latest PR column.

Investigative podcaster Al Letson to visit UofSC

Drug addicts sent to work camps instead of rehab. Mortgage lending practices designed to discriminate against people of color. Podcast journalist Al Letson has shed light on these issues and others like them. He’ll dive deeper into the power of public service journalism as keynote speaker at the Media & Civil Rights History Symposium.

UofSC students sweep AAF awards

University of South Carolina students, including many from the School of Journalism and Mass Communications, swept the student awards at the American Advertising Federation of the Midlands’ annual gala on Feb. 16.

Behind the camera

From 1985 to 2000, while innovators in Silicon Valley were focused on changing the world as we know it, Doug Menuez was focused on documenting it. The award-winning photographer and documentarian will talk about his experiences Wednesday (Feb. 20).

All the news that isn't

In the age of social media, it can be hard to tell truth from fiction. CIC researchers, Mo Jang and Jo-Yun “Queenie” Li, look at the origins and spread of fake news on Twitter.

Leaving a legacy

When Mimi Cunningham graduated from the J-school, she was ready to launch a successful career in public information. Now retired, Mimi shares why she and her husband, Tom, have chosen to give back.

Advertising class picks top Super Bowl commercial

Pepsi proved to be much more than just OK when its “Is Pepsi OK?” ad took the top spot in Cocky’s Super Ad Poll.

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