Maha Bashri,
Published Author

BU SPEECH TEAM
WINS 2009 STATE TOURNAMENT

Congratulations to Bradley’s Speech Team who took first place in the 2009 Illinois Intercollegiate Forensic Association State Tournament, held at Northern Illinois University. This is Bradley’s seventeenth consecutive year to take the championship, this year defeating second-place Illinois State by more than 100 points. Four BU students brought home a state trophy: Patrick Campbell won in Extemporaneous Speaking, Communication Analysis, and Presentation; Molly Quirk won for Oral Interpretation; and Elijah Misigaro and Camille Yameen won for a duet.  Congratulations to the entire Speech Team as well as to Dan Smith, Director of Forensics, and Tyler Billman, Assistant Director of Forensics, for their leadership.

See a complete list of Speech Team winners

Dr. Margaret Young
Promoted to Associate Professor

The Department of Communication congratulates Dr. Margaret Young on her recent promotion to the rank of Associate Professor with tenure.  Dr. Young graduated from Washington State University with a B.A. in Liberal Arts and went on to the University of Idaho for her M.A. and to the University of Illinois to receive her PhD in Communications Research.

Dr. Young has a long history in the field of communications, working as a DJ for radio, an actress in a dinner theatre, a community reporter in journalism, a designer and account representative in advertising, and a director of public relations for a large non-profit corporation. She has taught speech, journalism, advertising, and public relations both in a part-time and full-time capacity at Bradley University as well as the University of Idaho, Seattle Community College, Carl Sandburg College and Knox College. In addition, Dr. Young is an award-winning designer and writer, co-authoring three books and has contributed articles and book chapters for both academic and popular journals across the US and Canada.  The department salutes Dr. Margaret Young for this significant achievement.

Erin Wood Awarded Intern of the Year for Slane College

Senior journalism major and marketing minor, Erin Wood, was recently awarded Intern of the Year for the Slane College. Selected from a number of students who applied to Smith Career Center for the internship, Wood was chosen because of her quality work as an intern as well as her initiative, which excelled the standard established by the program.

Being an intern at the Peoria Journal Star helped Wood to extend her skills from the classroom to actual reporting. “The hands-on experience I gained as a real-world reporter was one of the most challenging but realistic and rewarding experiences I will take from college,” Wood said.  She interned during the summer and fall of 2008 and worked as a reporter covering everything from the police and fire beat to news-feature stories and even a few longer, in-depth reports. Upon graduation in May, Wood hopes to pursue a job in reporting for a major daily newspaper or attend graduate school and earn a master’s degree in journalism.

As the winner of this citation, Wood will receive a monetary award and plaque as well as the privilege of being guest speaker at a number of Smith Career Center related events during the semester.

Bradley’s visiting journalist from Serbia, Marko Jelicic, had the trip of a lifetime. Over winter break, he had the opportunity to spend 25 days in New York City, which, according to Jelicic, “has world famous diversity of styles, people, cultural events, and cuisines.” He and several other visiting Serbian journalists in colleges across the nation had the opportunity to see all of the famous landmarks that a first-time visitor must see: Empire State Building, Statue of Liberty, Metropolitan Museum of Art, Museum of Natural History, United Nations, Guggenheim Museum, Central Park, Brooklyn Bridge, and the list goes on.

What was Jelicic’s favorite? “As a graduate in political journalism and international relations, I have studied the UN and its 64 years of activism in detail, so this visit was of great importance to my personal interests.” However, on a lighter note, he also saw Disney’s The Lion King on Broadway. “This striking, world famous production was probably the best audio-visual experience I’ve seen in the theatre. Another glamorous night, typical for New Yorkers, was going to the Metropolitan Opera and watching Puccini’s La Boheme. It was so unique and powerful.”

How did Jelicic sum up New York City? “It’s decidedly the best city I’ve ever been to, but it’s very hard to say why exactly. I would say it’s that specific rhythm of the city that makes you feel more alive, more vibrant. Strolling down Central Park or Fifth Avenue, you just breathe the cosmopolitan atmosphere and feel the city’s pulse. I will be back to New York City…no matter how…no matter when!”

The Department of Communication is proud to announce that a new program – Sports Communication – will be offered for the first time in the fall, 2009. This new concentration is due to the tireless efforts of the Communication faculty. It responds not only to the industries’ needs for professional communicators in the context of sports but also to an emerging scholarly interest in sports communication

Courses which will be offered will be a combination of existing courses and five new ones, which will be designed to expose students to various aspects of sports communication, including writing, performance, sports ethics, international issues in sports, cultural influence of sports, and sports promotion and publicity. 

This new, outstanding sports communication program will be distinct nationally, and the department is proud to be on the cutting edge of the future.

Bradley Hosted 61st Annual Norton Speech Tournament

Paula Berg From Southwest Airlines Visits Department

Communication majors were excited to welcome Paula Berg, Manager of Emerging Media for Southwest Airlines, to campus.  She was visiting classes for Dr. Ron Koperski, Dr. Margaret Young, Dr. Steve Banning, and Dr. Maha Bashri.

Over the past two years, Berg has managed and developed the company’s corporate blog, “Nuts About Southwest.” Since its launch in 2006, “Nuts” has experienced tremendous success. In 2007, it was named Best Blog by PR News and has been recognized in major publications. Berg shared her expertise about blogging to the communication students. “Nothing in blogging is black or white. You often have to go with your gut feeling,” Berg said. She felt that “Nuts” has served to build a loyal Southwest customer base and has influenced several important business decisions.

Not only were the Bradley students impressed with Paula Berg, but also she was excited to meet them. “The students at Bradley were so professional and had such good questions. I was very impressed,” Berg commented. “I love to be on a college campus because I always loved college.”

On November 7, Dr. Ron Koperski’s public relations class had the rare opportunity to talk with David Horowitz via audio conference. A 1959 Bradley University alumnus, Horowitz was once a regular consumer advocate on the Johnny Carson “Tonight Show,” a reporter-anchor for KNBC-TV in Los Angeles, a writer for a consumer column, as well as the host of his own “Fight Back” syndicated TV show for 18 years.

Horowitz was asked a multitude of questions from Dr. Koperski’s public relations class. Horowitz warned the students about consumers’ growing concerns. “Despite the vast amount of information presented by the Internet, consumers still need to check things out before they buy. Make sure you get everything you’re paying for.” Horowitz also suggested that “one of the most powerful weapons a consumer can use remains the traditional letter -- the one with a stamp or sent via Fed Ex.”

Now doing most of his fighting on the Internet, Horowitz will go to bat for the consumer – for a price – on his website fightback.com.

BU Students Are at Extreme Home Makeover

Bradley University students from Dr. Margaret Young’s classes were part of the media tent in Pekin for the Grys family’s Extreme Makeover. The Hollywood production claimed a heavy presence in Pekin for a week, shutting down roads and bringing thousands of workers and spectators to the building site. However, the Bradley students – Leah Moran, Paul Friener, Arin Davis, Alexis Tice, Bart Kwasniewski, and Danielle Shylanski -- were found in the VIP tent, observing with the other members of the media.

Leah Moran said about the project, “It was a very fun experience, and it was great to see Bradley students conducting interviews on the spot. It showed the dedication Bradley students had since they were standing out in the rain for hours trying to put together a great piece….”
”It was great,” said Bart Kwasniewski, who was on the scene videotaping. “I believe the spice of the story stems from the fact that Jake, the young kid of the family living in the house, has a horrible disease and his parents are so giving and caring that they deserve this home.”
Paul Friener, another media student from BU, concluded by saying, “Our experiences came from the entire opportunity to work for a great cause. From helping write press releases, working in the media tent, helping promote the event through advertising flyers…everything we are learning at Bradley played a part in this process….we had the chance to learn how the entire process worked from a small organization perspective with little money.”

Robison Lecture Delivered by Gideon Yago

The Department of Communication welcomed MTV journalist, Gideon Yago as its fall Robison Lecturer October 22.  Yago’s presentation was entitled “They’re doing WHAT? Politics and the Youth Vote.” Yago’s career as a correspondent for MTV News began in 2000 when he was still a student. At the age of 21, Yago was handed a camera and told to cover the Presidential campaigns of John McCain and George W. Bush. Eight years later, Yago has become a credible journalist and a major MTV on-air presence who reaches millions of young adults.
Yago’s meteoric rise was propelled by 9/11 immediately after which Yago and two other young broadcasters controlled 40 percent of the programming on MTV – not music or videos but the news. “Post-9/11, every 15 minutes, we had a 10-minute news slot,” he remarked.

Yago answered numerous questions concerning Presidential candidates of 2008, the Electoral College, a revised national voting process, Acorn, and the possible upswing of young people’s votes during the Presidential election of 2008.  Yago encouraged the young audience by saying, “It’s you guys and the election, you guys and politics….there’s a generational need to vote. This election is about now, your future, and the new frontier.”

Founder's Day Celebration, 2008
A Good Day For The Department Of Communication

Dr. Robert Jacobs instructs radio/television majors with a creative focus on audio/video production. Jacobs has a variety of film and television credits as well as Associated Honors for Postcards from Home, Connections, Peoria 911, Postcards from the Heart, and a variety of others. His publications include books as well as book chapters and numerous articles. In addition, Jacobs has film, television, and radio scripts to his credit.

A sincere congratulations to both Dr. Steve Banning and Dr. Robert Jacobs for jobs well done! The Department of Communication is proud to have you on our faculty!

Department Alum Named Outstanding Young Graduate

Sal Tinajero received the alumni association’s Outstanding Young Graduate award at the recent Founder’s Day Convocation. Tinajero was a 1995 graduate, majoring in Communication, and he became a teacher and coach of Fullerton Union High School Speech and Debate Team in Fullerton, California. Among his various honors, most recently he was awarded the 2006 National Hispanic Teacher of the Year. Our sincere congratulations to Sal!

Slovenian Students Arrive At BU

Saturday, September 13 was an eventful day for eleven Slovenian students – all studying journalism at the University of Ljubljana -- who arrived in Peoria to get a glimpse of America as Bradley University students. Organized by Dr. Margaret Young, this is the sixth year for this program, which allows the Slovenian students to come to America in September; in exchange, Bradley students will visit Slovenia during their spring break in March, 2009.
The students – along with their professor from Slovenia, Marko Milosavljevic – took a 2-day trip up the Illinois River on the Peoria Riverboat.  They also attended a reception at the Kickapoo Creek Winery, toured Caterpillar, saw a local museum, met professionals from advertising and public relations, and visited the Peoria Journal Star, the Register Mail, and Mid-State Magazine.  They were also entertained by Sigma Chi and Alpha Chi Omega to give them a sample of Greek life.
Later in the week, the group took a four-day trip to Chicago, where Bradley students treated them to a tour of big-city hotspots. They had the opportunity to visit the zoo, area parks, and recreation sites, all wedged between meetings with professionals in the public relations, advertising, journalism, and film industries. Highlights of their visit included a dinner at the top of the Hancock Towers and an evening at Tommy Guns where they were treated to a special Chicago-land gangster show. They also enjoyed a city tour, had the opportunity to see WTTW and NBC studios, the Chicago Tribune, listen to an array of notable guest speakers, and much more.
The students then traveled to New York for a week before returning home to Slovenia. International interns Ashley Kline and Bart Kwasniewski assisted Dr. Margaret Young who planned the trip along with Slovenian exchange alums, Kelly Kolton and Chris Kaergard. Generous help from Caterpillar Public Relations Event Planner, Paula Douglas, gave the tour many of its unique opportunities.

BU-CAN
Bradley University Communication Alumni Network

On Saturday, October 4, during the week of Homecoming, BU-CAN held its first meeting. Dr. Paul Gullifor, Chairperson of the Department of Communication, welcomed all alumni, students, and guests who were attending the meeting either in person or via the Internet.  President Joann Glasser spoke at length about all of the incredible accomplishments of the Department of Communication, starting with the organization of BU-CAN. She stated that until recently, Bradley University didn’t have any affinity groups. More importantly, BU-CAN is the first academic-based affinity group at the university, which is a tremendous accomplishment.  The president promised to be a part of that continuing project, ending with the thought, “Once a Brave, always a Brave."

Matt Noe, a 2002 graduate of BU and Interim President of BU-CAN said, “I am passionate and hungry to connect BU students to current alumni and to connect faculty to alumni.

Additional speakers at the first BU-CAN meeting were Josh Koebert, a freshman giving his perspective; Christy Cordes, a senior giving her perspective; Rich Draeger, Development Committee; Chris Kaergard, Communications Committee; Sally Baker, Networking Committee; Kelly Kolton, Interim Secretary; and Michelle DeSantis, Interim Vice-President.

Anyone wanting to be a part of BU-CAN may e-mail the committee at bucan@bradley.edu

BU-CAN Interim Vice President Michelle DeSantis addresses students and alumni at the first informational meeting October 4

Left to Right: Andy Rowe, Emily Adams, Joanna Bielecki, Ashley Kline, Eric Brinker and Sheri McGill.

Department of Communication Slane Scholar-in-Residence Eric Brinker is working this semester with advertising and public relations students on branding and promoting the Metro Centre in Peoria.  Eric, as a 1998 graduate of the department and president of Metro Centre, has been working with communication students on a variety of projects.  Most recently, they teamed with WCBU-FM to create a Taste of Stories, which was a celebration of the visit of StoryCorps.

Fraser Engerman Speaks at “Majors Night”

“Majors Night” was held on Monday, September 8, 2008, in the Student Center with 150 spectators in attendance.  This annual event introduces new students -- who are either freshmen or transfer students -- to our department’s faculty as well as to student clubs and organizations promoted by Slane College. In addition, traditionally, alumni return to share their insights as well as advice.

Marko Jelicic Sees Obama

Emily Regenold (Bradley Scout reporter), Jan Frazier (instructor BU Communication Department), and Marko Jelicic in the crowd of 35,000 Obama fans in Springfield.

  As the thousands of Obama supporters formed a line that wound for blocks and blocks – in and out of streets, around buildings, and through parking lots – Marko Jelicic stood aghast at the turnout for Barack Obama in Springfield, IL, on August 23.
     Jelicic is a 23-year-old visiting political journalist from Serbia, participating in the Professional Development Year Program 2008-2009 in the Department of Communication, sponsored by the International Broadcasting Bureau. He relished the opportunity to see American history in the making at the Springfield rally.

Deford Speaks at Bradley as Spring Robison Lecturer

The department hosted The Spring Robison Lecturer, Frank Deford, April 2-3.  Deford, a prominent sports journalist and contributing senior writer for Sports Illustrated, delivered an address entitled “A Half-Century (Well, Almost) in Sports Journalism,” to a packed Neumiller Auditorium.  The Robison Endowed Lectureship Series was established by the late Mary Leslie Robison to bring distinguished journalists and journalism educators to Bradley University. She taught journalism as an assistant professor at Bradley from 1957 to 1969.  The Lectureship began in 1988, two years after her death.  

Dr. Ron Koperski Wins Putnam Award

Robison Lecturer Plays to Packed House