Michael Schultz (center) is pictured with his cousin, Joel Herman (right), last Friday. The duo visited Stauffer-Flint Hall to view Schultz's photo exhibit on the second floor. | Photo by Evan Riggs. 

Photographer Michael Schultz visited the JMC School last Friday to view his photos, which are displayed in the hallway on the second floor of Stauffer-Flint Hall. Schultz, a KU JMC School alumnus, is a veteran photographer, videographer, editor and animator whose career has taken him from municipal cable access pioneer to South African documentarian to commercial producer. Over a 40-year career, his work has earned recognition from the International Association of Fire Fighters to the Telly Awards, while his lens has captured everything from city council meetings to Antarctic penguin colonies.

Senior award application now open: Each spring semester, the School of Journalism and Mass Communications distributes several student awards. For this application, students must be graduating in the 2026 calendar year with a bachelor’s degree in Journalism and Mass Communications. If this applies to you:

Students: We want to hear from you and learn more about your experience in the SJMC. Complete this survey to help us build more programs and a supportive community for all our students. All responses are anonymous and will not be used beyond SJMC administration. Participation is voluntary. You can access the survey here. If you have any questions or concerns about this survey, please contact:
Impact Advisor Himée Kamatuka, Impact Advisor hkamatuka@ku.edu
Assistant Professor Sarah Cavanah, sarahcavanah@ku.edu. 

Scholarships available for the KC IABC summit: Scholarships are available for students to attend the Kansas City International Association of Business Communicators Summit on Feb. 26 at the KU Edwards Campus, 12600 Quivira Road. One of the region's largest gatherings for communications and marketing professionals, the summit offers opportunities to learn, network and engage with some of Kansas City's top experts. The deadline to apply for the scholarship is Sunday, Feb. 15. More information.

High school students listen to a presentation at last Friday's event. | Photo by Maya Smith. 

To celebrate National Girls and Women in Sports Day, the KU School of Journalism and Mass Communications hosted a group of high school students last Friday. The event featured a faculty panel, an interactive lecture, a student panel with Jolie Brown, Virginia Haas and Val Montanez moderated by Emily Sutter and an opportunity for students to watch a live taping of Playmakers.

JMC School alum Nate Bukaty visited with students in JMC 330 (Sports media in the 21st Century) about sports broadcasting, the World Cup and his advice as they pursue their future career. Bukaty is a soccer commentator for MLS Season Pass on Apple TV. 

Join JMC 201 for a movie night featuring “Good Night, and Good Luck,” at 6:30 p.m. in Stauffer-Flint Hall, room 100.

Nate Bukaty is pictured speaking to JMC 330. Photo courtesy of Elizabeth Cox.

JMC students at Just Food. | Photo courtesy of Teri Finneman. 

Students in Professor Teri Finneman's JMC 534 (Diversity in Media) class toured Just Food on Friday. The class will work on communication strategies related to the Cruising Cupboard to reach more people in rural areas.

JMC Career Fair set for March 5: Students from freshmen to graduate levels are invited to the KU Journalism and Mass Communications Career Fair on Thursday, March 5, at Stauffer-Flint Hall. As of today, 15 organizations have committed to attending the event, scheduled for 10 a.m.-3 p.m. A photographer will be available between 11 a.m.-2 p.m. to take professional headshots for students. View the list of companies scheduled to attend. A “How to Get the Most Out of the Career Fair Experience” discussion, followed by "Elevating Your Portfolio for Your Dream Career" workshop, is set for noon-1 p.m., Thursday, Feb. 26, at the Clarkson Gallery. For more information, contact Steve Rottinghaus, career and outreach coordinator, at steve_rottinghaus@ku.edu.

Grant available for International Study and Research: The AEJMC Public Relations Division is now accepting applications for the Susanne A. Roschwalb Grant for International Study and Research. This $1,000 award supports undergraduate and graduate students in PR or mass communication programs whose work examines public relations in internationalcontexts and how the field interacts with society outside the United States. The deadline to apply is May 1. Apply here.

Congratulations to all of our JMC students who earned University of Kansas honor roll distinction for the fall 2025 semester! View the full list of JMC School students and KU students. 

Assistant Professor Elizabeth Cox co-authored a paper, “In the Lineup or on the Bench? Searching for PR in Sports Management Master’s Programs,” that was published in the Journal of Public Relations Education. Betsy Emmons from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln co-authored the paper with Cox.

Assistant professor Judy Watts and her collaborator at Wichita State University recently published "Harvesting easter eggs: An exploratory study of enjoying transnarrative media" in PLOS One. The study explores how audiences define "easter eggs" in media and the psychological mechanisms that contribute to enjoyment from finding hidden references in entertainment. Read more.

Resource Center hosting Valentine's Bowl event: Join Resource Center student workers and staff on Feb. 12 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. for the event! It will feature football/Valentine’s bingo, a photobooth, a Valentine's card station, prizes, snacks and a cookie decorating station.

Career & Internship Expo on Feb. 11: Nearly 150 organizations will be attending the Career & Internship Expo at the Kansas Union on Wednesday. University students from freshmen to the graduate level are welcome to attend between 1 and 4 p.m. More information on the employers is available.

KU PRSSA meeting on Wednesday: The first KU PRSSA meeting of the spring semester will be 6 p.m., Wednesday, Feb. 11, in the Clarkson Gallery. Mimi Meredith, the director of communications, marketing, and community relations at Lawrence Memorial Hospital, will speak about her career and provide advice to students preparing for their professional careers.

The Science and Persuasion Research Group is meeting Thursday, February 12 in Stauffer-Flint Hall 119 from 2:30-3:30 p.m. Graduate and undergraduate students interested in research examining persuasion in the context of the environment or health-related topics found in mass media are encouraged to attend.

Internship and student jobs

Job opportunities

Evelyn Burns, Ph.D., has published her first scholarly article, "A U.S. Army Leadership Requirements Model Reflection of Bucky Barnes and Yelena Belova in Marvel’s 'Thunderbolts,'" in the Army Civilian Professional Journal. Dr. Burns received her Ph.D. from the School in 2025 and teaches leadership courses for the Army Management Staff College.

Alumni Job Updates

Scott Reinardy
Interim Dean

Mugur Geana
Interim Associate Dean
Research & Faculty Development

Lisa McLendon
Interim Associate Dean
Student Success

Calendar

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

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