Students covering the Union Jack Classic pose for a picture in front of Big Ben. (left to right) Brooks Babcock, Daniel Schmidt, Patricia Gaston, Wyeth Cooper, Matt Tidwell, Juan Reyes, Ella Boozer, Melaina Hesterlee, Kaityn Gantenbein, Charlotte James | Photo by Himee Kamatuka

JMC Jayhawks are back on U.S. soil after a busy week covering the Union Jack Classic in London. Led by Professor Matt Tidwell, Professor Patricia Gaston and Himee Kamatuka, impact adviser and senior recruitment coordinator, eight students covered practices, press conferences and the game itself at Wembley Stadium. They shared updates from London on social media throughout the week. Congratulations to Charlotte James, Ella Boozer, Kaityn Gantenbein, Melaina Hesterlee, Brooks Babcock, Daniel Schmidt, Wyeth Cooper and Juan Reyes for their work both on and off the field.

KU Offensive Coordinator Andy Kotelnicki jokes with students at Union Jack Classic press conference. | Video by Wyeth Cooper

In the days leading up to the game, students covered an open practice and a press conference with KU offensive coordinator Andy Kotelnicki. Their questions ran the gamut from how players were adjusting to life in London to the best place to grab fish and chips. At one point, Coach K joked that students needed to let the London media ask a few questions as well. During open practice, Charlotte James connected with content creator Kylan Darnell, who has more than 2 million followers across multiple platforms. On the eve of game day, Brooks Babcock, Juan Reyes and Charlotte James provided team coverage of a pop-up pep rally at the Adidas store.

The group's experience extended beyond football. Students met with alumni and visited agencies across London, including FleishmanHillard, where they spoke with UK CEO Marshall Manson. The group also met with E.ON Next data strategist Viviana Millan and learned about covering women's sports from The Athletic's Charlotte Harpur. They even visited The American School in London to discuss college life at KU, current events and taught the Rock Chalk chant to local students.

Students meet with FleishmanHillard CEO Marshall Manson | Photo by Patricia Gaston

Kansas quarterback Isaiah Marshall attempts to evade a defender during Kansas' game against Arizona State in London on Sept. 19, 2026. | Photo by Wyeth Cooper / The University Daily Kansan

It was all hands on deck on game day. Wyeth Cooper photographed the action from the sideline, while Daniel Schmidt and Ella Boozer wrote articles for the University Daily Kansan. The coverage extended to social media, where Charlotte James, Melaina Hesterlee and Juan Reyes shared updates and interviews before, during and after the game. Every student played a role in delivering comprehensive coverage throughout the week. Although the Jayhawks fell to Arizona State on Saturday, the trip was a resounding success for these aspiring journalists and communications professionals.

See some of the content they created over the week on the JMC school's Instagram page.

Melaina Hesterlee reports during pre-game warm-ups at Wembley Stadium

Students from Wiesbaden, Germany introduce themselves to JMC 420. | Photo by Kaden Milner

Professor Angie Hendershot's JMC 420 class had a group of special visitors Tuesday. Six students from RheinMain University in Wiesbaden, Germany, sat in on the course. Working alongside KU students, they analyzed Nike and Skechers case studies and applied their insights to a social media campaign for the course client, the Career Center.

Students attend the "College Hacks: The Hidden Curriculum" workshop. | Photo by Kaden Milner

A group of mostly freshmen attended the IYKYK: Student Success Series workshop, "College Hacks: The Hidden Curriculum" Wednesday. They learned about the ins and outs of college life, academic expectations and campus resources. The Student Success Series returns Sept. 30 with "Connecting for Career Success." The workshop will offer tips on building a resume, writing a cover letter and nailing an interview.

History of Journalism class practices writing with a quill pen. | Photo by Teri Finneman

Professor Teri Finneman's History of Journalism class stepped back in time with the help of John McEwan from KU's Institute for Digital Research in the Humanities. Students learned what it was like to write during the quill pen era, practicing with the same type of writing instrument used by authors for centuries. The hands-on activity gave students a better appreciation for how dramatically the writing and publishing process has evolved.

KU Ad Club students posing with Starlight digital marketing manager Colin Bennett | Photo by Sydney Povitz

Wednesday, Ad Club students heard from Colin Bennett, digital marketing manager at Starlight. He shared his career journey, what his current role looks like, and advice for students entering the workforce. The meeting wrapped up with a Q&A covering all things entertainment industry, nonprofits, and the marketing landscape in 2026. Interested in joining Ad Club? Anyone is welcome. You can join the GroupMe here. Ad Club's next meeting is Wednesday, Sept. 30, at 6 p.m. in the Resource Center.

Jammie Johnson - Graduate Program Coordinator

Jammie Johnson, JMC graduate program coordinator, has been appointed to fill an unexpired term on the Kansas City Kansas Community College Board of Trustees. Johnson will serve on the governing board for one of the region's largest community colleges.

Heather Lawrenz, JSchool Tech program director and senior digital media trainer in the school, has been selected by Adobe to serve as a leader in its Higher Education Faculty Community. She will lead a national network of educators who collaborate and share best practices for teaching with Adobe's creative and digital tools.

Faculty members can bring JSchoolTech directly into the classroom this semester. Heather Lawrenz is available to visit classes for hands-on Adobe training, technology demonstrations and customized support tailored to course needs. Faculty interested in scheduling a fall class visit should do so by Sept. 28.

Heather Lawrenz - JSchool Tech Program Director

JMC sophomores who are proud of their accomplishments during their first year at KU have a chance to be recognized by a national honor society. The KU Mortar Board is accepting applications for its Freshman Award. To qualify, applicants must have completed their freshman year at KU, be enrolled as a sophomore and have a GPA of 3.0 or higher. Winners will be recognized at a KU women's basketball game on Dec. 3. The deadline to apply is Sunday, Oct. 18.

Female students pursuing careers in media and communications are encouraged to apply for the Alliance for Women in Media (AWM) Foundation and NCTA Scholarship, which awards a $10,000 scholarship and national recognition for an original creative project. Undergraduate and graduate students can submit work such as a digital short, video, animation or multimedia project for consideration. The winning entry may be featured through AWM Foundation and NCTA media channels, and the recipient will receive a ticket to attend the Gracies Leadership Awards in New York City. Students interested in journalism, broadcasting, digital media, advertising, production, creative design and related fields are eligible to apply. Applications are due Sept. 25. Visit the AWM Foundation website for more information and application details.

The Resource Center is hiring a Checkout & Operational Associate. They are looking for a student with camera, video and audio equipment knowledge who enjoys helping others. You’ll assist with equipment checkout, prepare and organize gear, answer basic equipment questions, and support Resource Center operations. Interested? Apply here.

Hours for Digital Learning and Operations 

JBar (get project and portfolio help)

Monday - Thursday 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.

Friday 10 a.m. - 1 p.m.

Operations (checkout)

Monday - Thursday 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.

Friday 10 a.m. - 3 p.m.

Technical (classroom and device maintenance)

Monday - Thursday 11 a.m. - 1 p.m., 3-5 p.m.

Friday 1-4 p.m.

Hannah and the Hawks, a podcast produced by the University Daily Kansan, released its third episode Sunday. The weekly show is hosted by Hannah Hernandez and produced by Penelope Waggoner. Each episode covers the Kansan's top stories and features conversations with students, alumni, professors and other members of the KU community. This week's guest was Kansas alumna and professional volleyball player Ryan White, who discussed her volleyball career and time at KU. Listen to Hannah and the Hawks on Spotify, Apple Podcasts or YouTube, and follow the show on social media.

Hannah and the Hawks podcast host Hannah Hernandez (left) and producer Penelope Waggoner (right) | Photo provided by Hannah Hernandez

Congratulations to JMC senior Molly Stover-Brown, who was recently hired as the new marketing assistant for KU Theatre and Dance. In her role, she will help create and distribute marketing materials for the department's productions and events. One of the department's upcoming performances is Songs for a New World, an Off-Broadway musical that explores the pivotal moments that shape people's lives and decisions. Visit the KU Events Calendar for performance dates and ticket information.

2026 Grant for Innovative News Audience & Engagement Research awardees: (left to right) Steve Bien-Aimé, University of Kansas; Haiyan Jia, Lehigh University; Alyssa Appelman, University of Kansas; Paula M. Poindexter, Creator and Funder, AEJMC-NED Grant for Innovative Research on the News Audience & News Engagement. (Not Pictured: Mu Wu, California State University, Los Angeles)

JMC professors Steve Bien-Aimé and Alyssa Appelman were among four researchers who received the 2026 Grant for Innovative News Audience & News Engagement Research. Along with Haiyan Jia of Lehigh University and Mu Wu of California State University, they earned the $3,000 grant from the Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication for their proposed study, “Revealing AI’s Role in News Engagement Through Media-Use Diaries.” The project aims to better understand how audiences incorporate AI into their daily information habits and whether AI is complementing traditional news consumption or emerging as a primary source of news.

Teri Finneman - JMC Professor

Professor Teri Finneman is relaunching the Journalism History podcast. Finneman originally launched the show in 2018 and produced it for six years and 150 episodes before going on hiatus. The show returns Oct. 1 with an interview with George Condon Jr., historian for the White House Correspondents Association. J-School alumna Cami Koons is serving as audio editor for what will be a monthly show. Journalism History is available on Apple Podcasts and Spotify with transcripts available here.

JMC Alumnus Deric Gilliard receives the Outstanding Book Award at the National Association of Black Journalists 2026 National Convention: (left to right) Deric Gillard, Retired Public Affairs Advisor; Bonnie Davis, NABJ Author's Showcase Event Coordinator; Vincent McGraw, Report for America Regional Manager.

Deric Gilliard received the Outstanding Book Award at the National Association of Black Journalists' 2026 national convention in Atlanta in August. Gilliard worked as a public affairs adviser at the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services for the last five presidents and won the award for his book "The Longest Four Years of My Life."

Emma Brumm is a sales development representative at Adobe.

Jackson Engle is a junior copywriter at Razorfish in Chicago.

Bella Line is a multimedia journalist for FOX4 in Kansas City.

Jessica Moore is a Project Manager 1 in communications for Garmin.

Students and donors will gather Wednesday from 4-5 p.m. at the Burge Union for the 2026 Scholarship Recognition Ceremony. More than 260 students will receive scholarships from the School this year. The School also will present its inaugural Rising Star Award at the ceremony. The award recognizes alumni who, within 10 years of graduation, have demonstrated significant professional achievement and leadership while making a positive impact on their communities and alma mater. The event is by invitation only and requires an RSVP to attend.

Students interested in careers connected to public relations are welcome to attend the first KU Public Relations Student Society of America meeting of the fall semester from 6 to 7 p.m., Wednesday, Sept. 23, at the Clarkson Gallery. The guest speaker is Tess Koppelman, a voiceover talent for Tess K Voiceovers, communications consultant and Emmy award winner. Pizza will be provided.

More than a dozen JMC alumni will return to Stauffer-Flint Hall on Thursday for Hail to Thee, JMC, a day of networking, career conversations and professional development opportunities for students. Alumni will visit classes throughout the day to share insights from their careers, discuss their time at KU and offer advice to current students. From 9 to 10:30 a.m., alumni will be available in the Resource Center for resume and portfolio reviews and networking. Students are also invited to join the alumni for lunch from 11:45 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Clarkson Gallery, followed by interactive games and additional networking opportunities from 1 to 2:30 p.m.

The alumni participants include Brianna Mears Belcher (MERGE), Alexandra Brown (MBB), Sydney Clark (KSNT-TV), McKenzi Davis (Burns & McDonnell), Nicole Dolan (Kansas City Ballet), Aiden Droge (Kansas Athletics), Taylor Kauffman (KMBC), Jackson Kurtz (KMBC/KCWE), Andrew Lind (WIBW-TV), Claire Olmsted (KU Endowment), Adam Scherzer (VML), Abby Stuke (Nabholz Corporation) and Samuel Valdez (VML).

Professor Michelle Keller will host a webinar on AI as part of the Professional Edge Seminar Series. The one-hour webinar, titled AI Without the Hype: Practical Ways Artificial Intelligence Can Make Everyday Life Easier, will teach participants how to identify practical everyday uses for AI, write more effective prompts and recognize when AI can and cannot be trusted. The webinar will be held Sept. 29 at 11 a.m. Reserve a spot online.

Michelle Keller - Director of Professional Graduate Studies

Jobs

Internships and student jobs

• Sept 23: Scholarship ceremony, 4-5 p.m., Burge Union, Forum C

• Sept 23: PR Student Society of America meeting, 6-7 p.m., Clarkson Gallery

• Sept. 24: Hail to Thee, JMC, all day, Stauffer-Flint Hall and Dole Center

• Oct. 8: Career Fair, 10 a.m.-3 p.m., Stauffer-Flint Hall

• Oct. 23: Faculty and Staff meeting, 1-2:30 p.m., Clarkson Gallery

• Nov. 4: Student Success Series - Budgeting 101, noon-12:50 p.m., Clarkson Gallery

Next Monday Memo

• September 28

William Allen White School of Journalism & Mass Communications
journalism.ku.edu

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