Busy time in November

What a fantastic two weeks in the J-School.

Our two visiting journalists from Mexico, Martha Trejo and Rene Sanchez, spent two days in Detroit visiting editors at The Detroit News, the Detroit Free Press, Automotive News and Bloomberg News. They got a first hand look at covering business from these varying perspectives. Our host the News was Mark Truby, at the Freep Joe Grimm, at Automotive News, Ed Lapham and at Bloomberg Jeff Bennett.

Last week, they went to Chicago to visit the Tribune and its editors, the Chicago Board of Trade and had an architectural tour of the Chicago financial district. This was all arranged by Journalism Professional Advisory Council (JPAC) member Meg O’Brien, Associate Business editor at the Tribune.

In the midst of this, Darcy Greene and Karl Gude put together an amazing new brochure to promote the J-School and recruit students. It is fantastic and a real credit to these two faculty members. Karl pulled an all nighter to get the brochure ready for the printer. And he isn’t a student!

Last Friday, the JPAC met, and except for the 40 minute building evacuation when smoke was detected in the basement, we had a terrific exchange. JPAC members enthusiastically supported the direction into online.

Then, for me it was off to Nashville to join faculty member Cheryl Pell at the Journalism Education Association meeting. Cheryl is well known by virtually the who’s who of JEA. She is clearly respected, liked and admired. Fifth year student and future teacher Sara Beth O’Connor was honored for her potential and I received a Friend of Scholastic Journalism Award. We stayed at the Gaylord Opryland Resort—what a place!

Remember--deadline for the $4,000 Howell Essay Contest is this Friday, November 17.