Cuyler Dunn explains the work he and Abbie Clements, right, put into the interactive maps they created about human trafficking Aug. 22 at the Dole Institute. The two of them and Kenna McNally, center, were among ten KU students who took part in the journalism boot camp at the Center for Strategic & International Studies in Washington, D.C., in March. | Photo courtesy of Professor of the Practice Stephen Wolgast. 

Describing their reporting on corruption and human trafficking in Thailand, Cuyler Dunn, Kenna McNally and Abbie Clements explain how they did their reporting during a presentation at the Dole Institute on Aug. 22. Seven other KU students participated in the week-long journalism boot camp at the Center for Strategic & International Studies in Washington, D.C., during spring break. Their work is online here. During the Dole event, Stephen Wolgast, professor of the practice of journalism, announced that KU had been invited to return to CSIS for another journalism boot camp. 

Fall 2025 Student Success Series: This week’s session, Study Skills, is for students who want to explore how to best facilitate their own learning. Topics will range from learning what “learning” is, dispelling common learning myths, concrete study skills and insight into memory. Join us this Wednesday, September 3, from 4-5 p.m. in the Clarkson Gallery, first floor Stauffer-Flint Hall. 

Next week’s session, "Time Management," is for any student who wants to improve their ability to manage multiple priorities and balance their time. Topics will range from using planners and academic calendars effectively, behavioral and lifestyle modification, and intentional planning to help you achieve your goals.

The full workshop schedule is listed below, and each will take place in the Clarkson Gallery in Stauffer-Flint Hall:

Do you want to enhance your financial knowledge and skills, learn how to manage your money, and make informed financial decisions? Jayhawk Finances provides coaching, workshops and information to help KU students with their financial well-being. You can schedule a coaching session with a Peer Financial Coach (PFC) to get one-on-one financial coaching and discuss a wide range of topics, such as budgeting, credit cards, saving, and debt management. You can also check out their workshop schedule here. The next workshop, Budgeting 101, is on Sept. 8 at 3:30 p.m.  

Schedule time with an Academic Advisor: If you’d like to speak with an advisor, come to 117 Stauffer-Flint between 12:30-4 p.m. Monday-Friday. We are here to help.

JMC Alumna Natalie Sitek speaks with students in the Clarkson Gallery last Thursday. | Photo by Evan Riggs

Alumna Natalie Sitek visited the JMC School last Thursday and spoke to students during an informal meet-and-greet, JMC 552, JMC 620, JMC 210 and in Media Crossroads. Natalie is the social media manager at Deadline Hollywood in LA and offered valuable insights for students considering a career in entertainment journalism.

Guest speakers Katie Glover (left) and Kyle Bollig (right) spoke to JMC 575 last week. | Photo courtesy of Lauri Bollig. 

JMC 575 (Sports Message Strategies) hosted a pair of guest speakers from the University of Nebraska. KU graduate Kyle Bollig, associate director of leadership gifts, and Katie Glover, assistant director of the annual fund, spoke to the class about how the development department collaborates with marketing and communications to achieve specific messaging to target audiences. 

The Agency is accepting applications for this semester! The Agency is a student-run advertising agency that provides hands-on experience with real clients in account management, copywriting, production, media planning, media arts, PR and strategy. Applications are open until Sept. 5. Apply now.

The Alliance for Women in Media Foundation (AWM Foundation) Scholarship Program has a new scholarship opportunity, The AWM Foundation & NCTA – The Internet and Television Association Scholarship. The chosen student will receive a scholarship to their educational institution for $10,000 and a ticket to attend the Gracies Leadership Awards in New York City on Nov. 18. The deadline to apply is Sept. 26. Check out more details and apply here. 

Assistant Professor Melissa Greene-Blye is part of a TEDx speaker series event at the KU Edwards Campus this Friday. This event is open to the public. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit the TEDxKUEdwards website. 

Assistant Professor Sarah Cavanah and Director of Professional Graduate Studies Michelle Keller facilitated a working group of Army personnel assigned to one of 16 Army journals focused on marketing and building awareness of their titles. The meeting was at Fort Leavenworth, Aug. 19. The JMC School also welcomed four Harding Fellows to the on-campus Master’s Degree program earlier this summer.

Assistant Professor of the Practice Rebekka Schlichting is a panelist in “Community Conversation: Moments of Truth,” at the National WWI Museum in Kansas City on Sept. 10. She is on a panel with other journalists and media experts who will explore the key moments that shaped today’s media landscape and what comes next for news and information. Register to attend here.

Assistant Professor Melissa Greene-Blye’s research on groundbreaking Indigenous broadcast journalist Jeanie Greene (Inupiat) has been published online with Taylor & Francis and will appear in an upcoming issue of Journalism History. The research was co-authored by Natalie Pursche, a May 2025 JMC graduate, as part of her work as an undergraduate research assistant. Read more here. 

Professor Teri Finneman discussed her book, "Reviving Rural News," with the Future of Local News Steering Committee in North Dakota.

PRSSA Club set for first meeting of semester: Tuesday, September 10, at 5:30 p.m. in room 303. We’ll kick things off with introductions, followed by a guest speaker presentation.

Business communicators event set for Sept. 10: Students interested in business communications and connecting with professionals are invited to join the Kansas City chapter of the International Association of Business Communicators. KCIABC offers various educational and networking opportunities. Students receive discounts on memberships and are eligible for free tickets to the annual Business Communicators Summit. The KCIABC’s next event is 12-1 p.m., Sept. 10 at Strang Hall, 7313 W. 80th Street, in Overland Park. It focuses on LinkedIn profile optimization. More information can be found here. 

Internship and student jobs

Job opportunities

Learn basics of Adobe Premiere Pro: Join Heather in STF 204 from 11-12 on Friday, Sept. 5. You can bring your own clips, OR some will be provided. If you don't have Premiere on your laptop, stop and grab one from the Resource Center. Can't make it? Check out all of our tutorials here.

Make sure you have joined the Virtual JBar. We are online and ready to help when you are off campus! 

JMC alumna Caitlin Doornbos (right) pictured with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. | Photo courtesy of Doornbos' Facebook page. 

Caitlin Doornbos spoke to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in a wide-ranging, hour-long interview in Kyiv earlier this summer. Read the full story here.

Orlin Wagner will be inducted into the Missouri Photojournalism Hall of Fame. Read more. 

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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