News and Features
Watch JMC’s recognition ceremony
Almost 250 students received diplomas at JMC’s May 9 recognition ceremony, featuring our guest speaker, CBS News Correspondent Barry Petersen. Students now will go on to careers in broadcast, print and multimedia journalism, or in the advertising industry. Some will continue on to graduate school or pursue other opportunities. Congrats to all of our grads. [...]Alum John Branch describes NYT’s “Snow Fall”
By Natalie Boyd What started as a small story about an avalanche turned into a precedent-setting multimedia project for reporter John Branch (MA ’96) of the New York Times. Branch, a Times sportswriter, is the author of “Snow Fall: The Avalanche at Tunnel Creek,” a 15,000 word story accompanied by videos, photographs and 3D maps [...]
Students honor teachers for engaging, motivating lessons
Two members of the Journalism & Mass Communication faculty were honored recently by students for their teaching skills and personal support. Assistant Professor Hun Shik Kim and adjunct instructor Noah Clark were honored at a banquet hosted by CU Leadership, Excellence, Achievement, and Diversity (CU-LEAD) Alliance. Clark was nominated by advertising student Favian Castillo, who [...]NBC’s Tom Costello (’87) speaks to students
CU alum/NBC correspondent on covering the news Tom Costello (Jour ’87) tells CU students about big stories he’s covered and the ethical principles that guide him. Watch JMC’s livestream now! https://new.livestream.com/accounts/983593/Tom-Costello-live-at-CUJMC advisory board expands with industry leaders
CU Journalism & Mass Communication Advisory Board With its March 1, 2013 meeting, the JMC advisory board expands to 10 members from a range of journalism and advertising fields. JOHN BRANCH (M.A. ’96) has been a New York Times sports reporter since 2005. Previously, he was a sports columnist at The Fresno Bee from 2002 [...]
CU News Corps: Students gain experience, media outlets use their work
Katharina Buchholz awoke to the sound of her phone ringing at 7:30 on a morning last July. When she answered, a fellow student asked her to come to the Armory, where CU’s Journalism & Mass Communication program is headquartered. There had been a mass shooting at a movie theater in Aurora. Buchholz was one of [...]
Online system, coaching prepare students for internships
CU Journalism & Mass Communication students are reaping the benefits of a revamped internship and career services program that connects them directly to employers through an easily accessible online database. Employers worldwide can use the system to post internships and jobs. “We are reaching out to more media employers than ever, and students are [...]Nakkula Award draws nationwide entries
The 2013 Nakkula police reporting contest drew 25 entries from news outlets around the country, including the New York Times and USA Today, and nonprofit online news outlets including The Center for Public Integrity and California Watch. Judges are now reviewing entries for the $2,000 prize and the second-place certificate for work published in 2012. [...]
Grad Speaker Cheryl Preheim: “Serving is Leading”
Cheryl Preheim delivered the commencement address for Journalism & Mass Communication graduates on December 20, 2012. Preheim is the evening weekend anchor on 9News is Denver. She has won two national Edward R. Murrow awards, six Emmys and numerous awards from the Colorado Broadcasters Association, the Associated Press and other news organizations. She holds a [...]Student Chosen For PBS Inauguration Workshop
Journalism & Mass Communication student Robert Denton is one of 14 students across the nation chosen for an upcoming PBS NewsHour workshop in Washington, D.C. Denton and the other students will participate in the NewsHour’s four-day Inauguration Multimedia Short course, an intensive multimedia production camp aimed at bringing together some of the brightest and most [...]
“Hot News: Smart Tools” alums offer newsgathering tips
When it comes to using digital tools in everyday newsgathering, as a journalist you gotta do what you gotta do. That’s what Journalism & Mass Communication students, alumni and faculty members heard during the Homecoming panel, “Hot News, Smart Tools.” Three JMC alums shared their experiences using social media in newsgathering, including their coverage of [...]
CU senior releases EP, sells music to Justin’s Nut Butter
With a successful kickstarter project, the release of his EP, and the purchase of an original jingle by a national company, JMC senior Petey Purcell is evidence that musical creativity paired with entrepreneurship can be profitable. As an advertising major and technology and media arts minor, Purcell has been able to use the business-savvy and [...]
JMC professor explores impact of negative political ads
JMC Associate Professor Liz Skewes grappled with a big question recently: “Can Your Vote Be Bought?” Speaking to CU-Boulder’s Denver alumni group, Skewes talked about her research on political advertising and its impact on voters. Skewes said that as negative advertising skyrockets in swing states during this campaign season, it’s not just the presidential candidates [...]
JMC professor re-routes conversation about Muslims in the U.S.
Recent violent reactions to a YouTube video that mocks the Prophet Mohammed sparked debate and discussion about cultural clashes and misunderstandings surrounding Islam. CU Journalism & Mass Communications Professor Nabil Echchaibi hopes to open communication about such controversies and what it means to be a Muslim in the United States through “Muslim Voices in [...]
JMC students win scholarships and awards
Forty-one Journalism and Mass Communication students took home $186,000 in awards at our annual scholarship banquet. The students were recognized by a variety of generous donors for outstanding academic achievement and professional potential. The scholarships went to: A. Gayle Waldrop Award Sean Quinn Arthur B. Levis Scholarship Jillian Fox Barrie Hartman [...]
Scientist Explores Role of Politics, Media in Climate Change Debate
A conference hosted by JMC’s Center for Environmental Journalism is exploring how the science of climate change intersects with politics and culture. The conference on Culture, Politics and Climate Change opened with a keynote address by Raymond Bradley, professor of geosciences and director of the Climate System Research Center at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. [...]And the Emmys Go To…CU Journalism & Mass Communication
We won! CU Journalism & Mass students won two Emmys at the five-state regional Heartland Emmys awards presentation in July. JMC’s newscast, NewsTeam Boulder, won for best student achievement in a newscast and the program’s CU Science Update video podcast won for student achievement in long-form non-fiction for its episode “Cocaine Addiction.” NewsTeam Boulder is [...]
PBS NewsHour rep talks about JMC partnership
CU journalism students are involved in an election-year partnership with the PBS NewsHour this fall, and they recently got a visit from the project’s director. Imani Cheers heads “Listen to Me, an initiative in which students are producing short videos asking members of the public for their views on America’s political climate. CU was one [...]International Conference Draws Experts in Climate Politics and Culture
Global experts in climate change politics and policy will be in Boulder September 13-15 for the International conference on Culture, Politics & Climate Change. The conference is organized by the Center for Environmental Journalism at the University of Colorado. Hundreds of participants from over 20 countries will explore intersections between culture, politics and science in [...]
Journalism Plus Bolsters Students’ Expertise
As a new year and the spring semester begin, the University of Colorado Boulder is welcoming the first class of journalism students entering under a new undergraduate degree structure called “Journalism Plus” that CU officials say will create better journalists, better news content and, over time, a more informed society.Students, Staff Meet Recruiters at Unity
JMC students, alums and staff traveled to Las Vegas recently for the 2012 Unity Journalists convention. Unity brings together several national journalism groups to advocate for outstanding news coverage about people of color and to encourage the industry to hire staffers who reflect our country’s diversity. The group’s quadrennial convention also offers students and professionals [...]Expert: Journalism Education Must Change
A lot of newspapers won’t be able to survive the digital revolution, and some of the nation’s 400-plus journalism programs are going to die too, according to a prominent advocate for reform in journalism education. In both cases, the institutions are threatened because they’re refusing to change, said Eric Newton, senior adviser to the president [...]
CU Journalism News Service Covers Shootings, Wildfires For Industry Outlets
Reporters for the CU Journalism News Service covered the July 20 mass shootings at an Aurora theater, providing copy and photos for news outlets including the Aurora Sentinel and KUNC public radio. It was the latest reporting effort for the news service, which was formed recently to supplement the work of Colorado news outlets at [...]
Alum’s TeachAIDS Curriculum Goes Global
AIDS is a taboo, and terrifying, topic in much of the world. So how you teach people to prevent or treat the disease? Piya Sorcar (’01) has developed a curriculum that has millions of people watching, and learning. In Rwanda, crowds who gathered outdoors to watch World Cup soccer saw Sorcar’s animated tutorials between periods [...]Incoming Frosh Launch PoliBuffs Website
More than a dozen incoming CU freshmen recently spent a week on campus for our annual Pathways to Excellence in Journalism program. They lived in the dorms, heard what academic life will be like and started practicing journalism. They toured local newspapers and TV stations, conducted a press conference with CU Regent Joe Neguse, and [...]
Students Produce Boulder Wildfire Video
CU journalists covered Boulder’s Flagstaff wildfire and shared their video story with local radio station KUNC 91.5. Grad student Beth Bartel and instructor Paul Daugherty were on the scene shortly after the fire began. Photo by Andrew Eppler VIDEO: Boulder Responds To Flagstaff FireNew Scripps Fellow Wins Prestigious Photo Award
Photographer Jerry Redfern, who’ll be a fellow at CU Journalism & Mass Communication’s environmental program this fall, has won a prestigious award from the Society of Environmental Journalists. Redfern received the society’s 2011-2012 prize for outstanding photography for “The Flavor of Danger” in Gastronomica magazine. Here’s Redfern’s project “Eternal Harvest” which formed the basis for [...]
Committee Proposes New CU College of Media, Design and the Arts
CU Boulder Provost Russell L. Moore is reviewing a report from a campus committee proposing the creation of a new college that would include journalism and expand the chance to learn about digital technology in many fields. You can see the report at http://academicaffairs.colorado.edu/academicreview. The steering committee suggested establishing a new College of Media, Arts [...]Amanda Leigh Mascarelli (MA ’06), freelance writer
Amanda Leigh Mascarelli (MA ’06) writes about science, health and the environment for major publications like Audubon, Nature, High Country News, Los Angeles Times, Science News for Kids and The New York Times. She’s traveled widely for her job, reporting on places like Argentina and Iceland and writing about topics ranging from the health of Mongolian reindeer to biological [...]CU environmental journalism students launch online magazine, The Boulder STAND
JMC Newsgathering master’s students Breanna Draxler, Ted Burnham and Mass Communication Research student Brendon Bosworth have launched an online environmental magazine The Boulder STAND. Associate Professor Tom Yulsman, co-director of the Center for Environmental Journalism, is the faculty adviser. Read all about it.
Arizona Republic Reporter Betty Reid Writes About Arizona’s American Indians
CU journalism alumna Betty Reid (’85) wrote about her Navajo roots and Arizona’s American Indians in a series for The Arizona Republic. In “Code Talker,” she interviews Chester Nez, the only living member of the original 29 Navajo Marines who created an unbreakable military code during World War II. The article recounts Nez’s journey away from [...]Get LinkedIn to JMC Alums!
Join more than 1,600 JMC alumni and students in the JMC LinkedIn group to find old friends and make new contacts. A vital site for networking, job ideas and staying in touch. Read More
W. Eugene Smith Grant Awarded to CU JMC Alumna
JMC alumna Krisanne Johnson received the prestigious W. Eugene Smith Grant in Humanistic Photography in 2011 in recognition of her project, “I Love You Real Fast.” Johnson has been documenting the coming of age of women in Swaziland since 2006, focusing on modern youth culture and the country’s high rates of HIV/AIDS infection in females. The [...]
Colorado River: Running toward empty?
The online publication Climate Central is publishing a two-part series on the water woes of the Colorado River Basin co-authored by Professor Tom Yulsman and environmental journalism master’s student Brendon Bosworth. Significant portions of the series at CEJournal.
MA student Ben Chambers reports on oil spill for The Palm Beach Post
Scientists challenged the rosy-picture talk about Gulf oil spill.
Colorado medical marijuana surplus leaks to black market
Master’s students Jordan Wirfs-Brock, Lauren Seaton and Andrea Sutherland and the I-News Network reported on a loophole in Colorado’s medical marijuana rules that means thousands of pounds of surplus marijuana are left to feed the black market here and in neighboring states. A new state law, which took effect July 1, doesn’t clear up the [...]
Kevin Moloney (’87) photographs NYT’s travel feature: Four Corners, Two Wheels
Kevin Moloney ('87) photographs NYT's travel feature: Four Corners, Two Wheels
MA student’s story reports BP spill may reach Palm Beach County
Ben Chambers, Newsgathering master's student, used his environmental reporting skills to report and write a story on how the BP oil spill could threaten the shore line along Palm Beach County.
Tomas van Houtryve (’99) will exhibit first-place photography in France and in Los Angeles
Van Houtryve’s work will be exhibited starting on June 24 at The Annenberg Space for Photography in Los Angeles and at the Visa pour l’Image in Perpignan, France
JMC interns report for The Denver Post
Yesenia Robles and Sarah Horn cover general assignment stories.
Kris Hudson (’94) covers hotels and retail property from a real estate perspective for The Wall Street Journal
Read his stories.
Kelly Kennedy (MA ’07) cited for certificate of merit by 2009 John B. Oakes Award judges
Kelly Kennedy (MA ’07) is one of two recipients of certificates of merit from the judges in the Oakes Award for excellence in environmental journalism. Kennedy, a reporter for the Military Times was sited for the work, a Web-only project, about the health hazards of burn-pit smoke to soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan. Her new book "They Fought for Each Other" is about Charlie Company, a regiment that had the most casualties of any U.S. battalion since Vietnam.