vol. 29, no. 1 - FAll 2014

SouthernCommunicatorA PublicAtion of the School of JournAliSm And communicAtion

Inside:Page 4

Students Attend 25th SAC Convention

Page 3

Student Volunteers at Navajo

Reservation

Students Re-Design TV Studio

By Myron Madden

The School of Journalism and Communication (SJC) and the School of Visual Art and Design (SVAD) were approved to add a new blended B.S. degree in public relations and graphic design. It will be offered beginning in Fall 2015. This degree has been talked about for several years according to Linda Crumley, the SJC dean. “We had in mind a particular kind of student as we worked together to determine which courses were most necessary,” Crumley said. For several months Crumley met with Randy Craven, dean of the SVAD, and other faculty members to craft the best possible blend of public relations and graphic design. “If this degree had been offered my freshman or sophomore year, I definitely would have been interested in it,” said Melissa Guth, senior mass communication/advertising major. In the past few years, several stu-dents have tried to create their own blend of public relations and graphic design by double majoring in each sep-arately. Senior Shana Michalek plans to graduate with her B.S. in public rela-

tions and an A.S. in graphic design. “Both of these areas certainly complement each other and will make new grads even more well-rounded,” Michalek said. The new blended program should shave off nearly a semester compared to double majoring. “Public relations professionals who are also skilled in graphic design are in high demand,” Crumley said. “According to [Professor Lorraine] Ball, several interns have had supervi-sors who have been surprised, relieved, and delighted to find that they have multiple talents.”

Dual Degree Approved in PR and Graphic DesignBy ashley rich

The department has already cre-ated a hybrid degree between public relations and business administration, which saved students 18 to 19 course hours. “The SJC thinks it is important to listen to what employers and students are saying is needed,” Crumley said. “The new blended degree in public relations and graphic design offers a good base in both areas, with the potential of graduates serving more broadly in the work world.”

Ashley Rich is a junior broadcast journalism and public relations major.

Nine students and three profes-sors represented Southern’s School of Journalism and Communication at the 25th annual Society of Adventist Communicators (SAC) Convention in Jacksonville, Fla., Oct. 16-18.

With the closing of the Review and Herald Publishing Association, the Adventist church is in a transitional pe-riod that could redefine its approach to

publishing. Students were able to weigh in on topics such as the operations of the Pacific Press Publishing Association, new marketing strategies for the new age and publication on digital plat-forms. Linda Crumley, dean of the School of Journalism and Communication, said, “This [was] a good place to con-nect with other people who are a part

Continued on page 2

Page 3Page 2

Kendall Rittenour Wins Student of the Year in Fla.By Jessica anzai

Student Volunteers at Native American Reservation

Kendall Rittenour, junior mass communication/photography major, was awarded Student of the Year for his excellence in communication at the Society of Adventist Communicators (SAC) Conference in Jacksonville, Fla. Stephen Ruf, associate profes-sor in the School of Journalism and Communication, nominated him. “If I could choose one person to fulfill a tough photo or video assign-ment, it would be Kendall,” Ruf wrote in his nomination. “He has a genu-ine desire to communicate how the Seventh-day Adventist Church is help-ing alleviate pain and suffering.” Rittenour obtained an internship at Loma Linda University last summer in its office of enrollment. He was able to create promotional videos for the School of Public Health, along with

other short videos that were sent out to various Adventist universities and high schools. “The internship gave me great ex-perience working with real clients and managing projects from the start to fin-ish,” Rittenour said. Rittenour’s Loma Linda promo-tional video won Best in Class in the category of Student Videography at the SAC conference this October. Rittenour picked up photography at the age of 16. He recently started doing portrait photography, but for the past five years his favorite style has been landscape. “I love to travel and go to different places,” Rittenour said. “I like going to National Parks to explore and hike.” In the fall of 2013 he won first place for Outdoor Photography’s “Focus on Nature” contest, a competition that attracted hundreds of submissions.

Rittenour’s skill in photography led him to video production. In the past two years, Rittenour has shot promotional videos in Guatemala for Amazing Facts and has worked with Water for Life, an organization that drills wells to get clean water. Earlier this spring Rittenour worked with Quiet Hour Ministries in Costa Rica, shooting an episode for its video series “Missions Today,” showing the different outreach and health programs the ministry was doing there. This semester, he is leading a small film team for Strawberry Festival, a documentary project covering the stu-dents’ entire year at Southern. Rittenour said he hopes to pursue video production in television after he graduates.

Jessica Anzai is a senior public relations ma-jor.

By elizaBeth caMps months as a volunteer on the Navajo Reservation in the southwest United States.

“I had heard several stories about the reservation, and it kept sticking at the back of my mind,” Janetzko said.

Janetzko helped revive a magazine titled Southwest Native News that would help keep the public informed on the mission work within the reservation.

“They were excited to use my tal-ents,” Janetzko said. The magazine had ceased distribution a few years before, and now they called on Janetzko to re-vive the publication. He was respon-sible for writing 10 articles on the dif-ferent ministries and mission locations.

After his arrival, Janetzko was sent on a week-and-a-half adventure where he was able to travel all over Arizona, New Mexico, and Utah. He visited the different mission locations on the res-ervation to search for stories to write for the magazine.

Through these travels he was able

to see a large majority of the reserva-tion—an area about the size of West Virginia, explained Janetzko.

“The magazine was then distributed to the four Seventh-day Adventist con-ferences that are a part of the Navajo Nation reservation including Arizona, Nevada-Utah, Rocky Mountain, and Texico,” Janetzko explained. Receiving such coverage (reaching approximately 21,000 homes) was a first for the maga-zine.

Janetzko was also given the oppor-tunity to help out with the VBS pro-gram for four weeks. Looking back, he said he is grateful to have had this ex-perience.

“It was a fantastic way for me to use my communication skills to raise awareness about the largely neglected Navajo people and what the Seventh-day Adventist Church is doing to help.”

Elizabeth Camps is a senior mass communi-cation/writing-editing major.

Chris Janetzko, senior mass commu-nication/advertising major, spent two

Hello! Dr. Rumsey has decided to re-turn full-time to his first love, teach-ing, so I am the new dean of SJC. It is exciting to try out a new role in the school where I have en-

joyed being a professor for the past 10 years. With our strong faculty, innova-tive students, and solid programs, I am honored to serve.

One of the best parts of being a dean is getting to know more students. With that in mind, every few weeks small groups of students sign up for “Dean’s Beans.” I grew up in New Mexico, and beans were our family comfort food. I invite students to share thoughts and dreams over a plate of home-cooked beans and talk about what is happening and what we envision for SJC. Several students wish for a mentor-ing connection from alumni, even if it is only a “Mentor for a Day.”

If you are willing to let a student shadow you at work for a few hours and to talk with them about your job and their goals, please let me know at lindacrumley@southern.edu or contact Janita Herod at jrherod@southern.edu or 423-236-2330. One of us will be glad to connect you. Students also want to learn and grow, and your interest and help can be vital in inspiring or shaping someone’s career. Thank you in advance!

Undergraduate research is a hall-mark of a quality education and an im-portant part of being a Christian schol-ar attuned to what the Lord is willing to reveal at this time (Deut. 29:29).

Research opens the door for stu-dents to enter the scholarly conversa-tion, and our students are engaged! Every year students present at the Undergraduate Honors Conference of the Southern States Communication Association. Although the SJC tries to help with the cost of the trip, we sorely need long-term funding to ensure that each student whose work is accepted has the opportunity to attend the conference and present. Conferences illuminate the fun and usefulness of research as students network with other researchers and en-counter new thoughts. We expect student presentations to increase now that we have fully func-tioning Public Relations (PRSSA) and Honors (Lambda Pi Eta—Kappa Psi) chapters on campus. Dr. Pam Harris’ Mass Media Law and Ethics class is now required to in-clude a legal research project as well. So many things to learn and share! Please encourage our student research-ers in their efforts. As the new dean, I look forward to listening and dreaming with SJC stu-dents and faculty—and with you! If you have an idea or suggestion that I should hear, please email or make a time when we can talk. I’m listening!

A Note From the New Dean to Alumni and ParentsBy linda cruMley

Chris Janetzko on the Navajo Reservation. Photo contributed by Chris Janetzko.

of the conversation, hear what they think, and realize the places where thinking needs to change with the changing times.” Many students took advantage of the opportunity to network with pro-fessionals in the communication field. Students and faculty were able to hone their skills by attending work-shops led by prominent figures. Two guest speakers were Alva James-Johnson, an award-winning journalist with 30 years of professional writing experience, and Jim Lake, an advertiser who has worked with the Chicago Cubs and Sears. “My favorite was the photography workshop,” said Debbie Hall, junior mass communication/photography major. “I was able to learn from three different people who had different ex-periences and styles.” “Going to the convention allowed me to network with people I wouldn’t have had the chance to meet other-wise,” said Melissa Guth, senior mass communication/advertising major. Every year, contributions are given by the Southern Union Conference to ensure that Southern students have the opportunity to network.

“We believe in our students,”

Steven Norman, editor of the Southern Tidings and communication director for the Southern Union Conference, said. “We believe the future of com-munication for our church is with our students, so we want to be able to give them every opportunity to be placed [in jobs].” SAC is an organization that allows Seventh-day Adventists in the field of communication to socialize, network, and learn from each other. Myron Madden is a junior journalism and English major.

Danielle Allen, Ashley Rich and Debbie Hall (left to right) sing hymns during song service at the SAC Sabbath School on Oct. 18. Photo by Stephen Ruf.

25th SAC Convention in Jacksonville, Fla.Continued from page 1

Dean Crumley

The TV studio, home to a weekly student newscast called SAU News, re-ceived a makeover earlier this semester.

Georgia Standish, senior broadcast journalism major, came up with the idea after working on setdesign at her summer internship in Loma Linda.

Standish collaborated with Kendall Rittenour, senior mass communication major, and set the plan in motion.

The first step was deciding what di-rection to take the new design.

“We just looked up other TV sta-tions,” says Rittenour. “I looked at tons of different sets and then decided we’d do the Southern colors.”

The vision for the new set incorpo-rated Southern’s colors as well as other design elements prominent on campus.

“We also wanted the iconic col-

umns and brick buildings to be repre-sented so the backdrops are pictures of Wright Hall and [Florida Hospital Hall],” Standish said.

After coming up with a design, Rittenour created a computer mock-up.

“Kendall is a Photoshop genius,” said Standish, “So he actually mocked up something and that helped us visu-alize it and make sure it was what we wanted.”

The two then presented the idea to Stephen Ruf, associate professor, and he was able to come up with a budget to help them.

Page 4 Page 5

Students Lead Out in TV Studio RedesignBy Julia Bonney

to finish updating the studio, citing a new desk and carpet as upgrades they would like to have. As for now, they are happy with the change.

“I think it makes it look more professional, a little more modern,” Rittenour said.

“[Before], we could have been anywhere doing a newscast, but now, all you have to do is take one look at the set, and you know you’re at Southern,” Ruf said.

Julia Bonney is a sophomore mass communi-cation/writing-editing major.

Once given the go-ahead, Standish and Rittenour spent their Fridays and evenings working in the studio. The job involved more than just buying paint and covering the walls, Ruf said.

“First, they brought paint samples and test strips into the studio and looked at them not only under the lights, but also on camera. They [evaluated] which color tones looked better on camera.”

The current redesign was completed in time for Southern to begin filming SAU News and other student produc-tions.

Both Standish and Rittenour are hoping future students will take initiative

Natasha Mirilov and Ben Lowery prepare for the latest episode of “SAU News” in the newly designed studio.

Georgia Standish (left) and Kendall Rittenour (right) paint the TV studio located in the School of Journalism and Communication. Photos by Stephen Ruf.

Southern’s TV Studio Through the Years

2013

2012

2010

2009

2002

2005

Professor Lynelle Ellis, left, teaches Timothy Brass and Clementson Supriyadi studio make-up techniques on George Nelson, center, for the multi-camera producation class.

Page 6 Page 7

Courtney Herod, ’09, joined the Carolina Conference of Seventh-day Adventists as the as-sociate director of communications on Oct. 22, 2014. Herod had two internships in this office after graduating with his B.S. in mass communication, emphasis in photography. Currently, he is almost done with his MBA in marketing and will be finish-ing his master’s degree in the spring of 2015.

Rob York, ’03, who graduated from Southern with a B.S. in mass communication, has completed a master’s degree in Asian Studies at the University of Hawaii (UHM) at Manoa in Honolulu.

York, 34, who spent four years editing and report-ing for The Korea Herald in Seoul, wrote his master’s thesis on the South Korean presidential politics and its impact on regulation of the nation’s family-owned conglomerates. He finished with a 4.0 GPA.

York will continue at UHM in the coming fall, beginning work on a Ph.D, in the Department of History. He is chief editor of news and features for NKnews.org, a news site monitoring North Korea.

Name: Glenn Wilkins

Major: Mass Comm - New Media (B.S.)

Hometown: Apopka, Florida

Name: Stephanie Roberts

Minor: Intercultural Communication

Hometown: Sentani, Papua Indonesia

Name:Natasha Mirilov

Major: Journalism - Broadcasting (B.A.)

Hometown: Nicosia, Cyprus

UpdatesAlumni

December

Hometown:Richmond, Virginia

Name: Nathan Graham

Major: Media Technology (A.S.)

Hometown: Ooltewah, Tennessee

Name: Elizabeth Camps

Major: Mass Comm-Writing/Editing (B.S.)

Name: Melissa Guth

Major: Mass Comm-Advertising (B.S.)

Hometown: Silver Spring, Maryland

Name: Keith King

Major: Mass Comm-Advertising (B.S.)

Hometown: Calhoun, Georgia

Name: Maurice Fider

Major: Public Relations (B.S.)

Hometown: Snellville, Georgia

Name: Joshua Maloon

Major: Comm Studies - Intercultural (B.A.)

Name: Emily Banks

Hometown: Scottsdale, Arizona

Major: Mass Comm- Advertising (B.S.)

Name: Courtney Cantrell

PHOTOS COURTESY OF SOUTHERN MEMORIESGraduates

Major: Communication Studies (B.A.)

Hometown: Columbus, Ohio

Hometown:Silver Spring, Maryland

A publication of the School of Journalism and Communication

Facu

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Lorraine BallDavid Barasoain

Linda Crumley, deanLynelle Ellis

Tara HargroveRyan HarrellPam HarrisJohn Keyes

Kendra Stanton LeeAndy NashSam Nkana

Stephen RufGreg RumseyJames Seward

Billy Weeks

School of Journalism and CommunicationSouthern Adventist University P.O. Box 370Collegedale, TN 37315

Vol. 29, No.1 southern.edu/journalism Fall 2014

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SouthernCommunicator

Moriah Arterberry, Erica King, Jessica Anzai, and Arthur Harper stand in a hallway of Neyland Stadium at the University of Tennessee. Photo contributed by Jessica Anzai.

By avery McKinney

Page 8

Students in Southern’s PRSSA gained a lot of connec-tions within the state of Tennessee by attending PR Day in Knoxville on Nov. 7. Many of the connections were in the music and sports industries.

“A lot of diverse people were there in many differ-ent fields, so we weren’t tailored to one specific type of PR,” said Jessica Anzai, senior public relations major. “We were able to see a huge variety of what you can do with PR.”

Lorraine Ball, associate professor in the School of Journalism and Communication and PRSSA faculty advi-sor, said that the event featured three different panels of PR professionals whose jobs ranged from the Nashville music industry to the Knoxville airport to the public school system.

“It was very structured, and there was a lot of variety, which was great,” Ball said.

PRSSA Attends PR Day at University of Tennessee, Knoxville