Arabic Language Program Builds on Success

Graduate Maggie Day hired at Al Arab network; Orion Wilcox earns honors

May 8, 2013 By

OXFORD, Miss. – The University of Mississippi’s Arabic language program is seeing success among both its graduates and current students.

Maggie Day, a 2012 graduate, is heading to Bahrain as a producer for Bloomberg TV. She will produce content as part of the Al Arab network, which is completely in Arabic. Day, who was a member of the Sally McDonnell Barksdale Honors College, earned a bachelor of arts in broadcast journalism and a bachelor of arts in political science, as well as a minor in Arabic.
Read the story …

Filed Under: Apps-Students, College of Liberal Arts, News Releases, Sally McDonnell Barksdale Honors College, School of Journalism, Student News

Chief Product Officer of Forbes Media to Visit UM

Lewis D'Vorkin plans to discuss digital publishing platform in April 10 lecture

April 10, 2013 By
Lewis D'Vorkin

Lewis D'Vorkin

OXFORD, Miss. – One of Lewis D’Vorkin’s daily habits is to scan the 60 framed magazine covers lining the marble staircase of the Forbes office in New York City.

The covers, which date back to October 2010, feature the no-nonsense, people-centric design recognized as the Forbes brand.The brand is clear, simple and unwavering, said D’Vorkin, chief product officer of Forbes Media. It is also the driving force in the rapid growth and development of Forbes.com.Read the story …

Filed Under: Overby Center for Southern Journalism and Politics, School of Journalism

Overby Center Event to Reflect on Medgar Evers’ Career

Myrlie Evers-Williams headlines panel to commemorate 50th anniversary of husband's death

April 3, 2013 By
Myrlie Evers-Williams

Myrlie Evers-Williams will speak at the Overby Center for Southern Journalism and Politics, Friday, April 5 at 5 p.m. Photo by Nathan Latil/UM Communications

OXFORD, Miss. – Myrlie Evers-Williams, widow of civil rights leader Medgar Evers, will join two other prominent Mississippians to discuss her late husband’s life and career at 5 p.m. Friday (April 5) in the Overby Center for Southern Journalism and Politics at the University of Mississippi.

Evers-Williams rose to fame herself as a civil rights champion and national chair of the NAACP in the years following her husband’s assassination outside their home in Jackson 50 years ago.

“Medgar Evers’ Legacy” will be held in the Overby Center Auditorium. The event is free and open to the public, and a reception will follow in the building’s lobby.Read the story …

Filed Under: Apps-Top News, News Releases, Overby Center for Southern Journalism and Politics

New Speaker Endowment Honors Mississippi Journalist

Buddy Bynum Speaker Series will provide learning opportunities for UM journalism students

March 25, 2013 By

OXFORD, Miss. – Gifts to a new University of Mississippi fund are being used to honor the life of the late James L. “Buddy” Bynum, a leading journalist, and his enthusiasm for communication, learning and the university.

The Buddy Bynum Speaker Series Endowment was established with an initial donation by Dr. Richard B. and Nancy Harrelson Akin of Hazlehurst and is open to contributions from others.Read the story …

Filed Under: News Releases, School of Journalism, University of Mississippi Foundation

Biloxi Native Tackles England in Academics, With Plans to Travel, Experience Other Cultures

March 14, 2013 By

University of Mississippi sophomore Hannah Parker of Biloxi visits prehistoric Stonehenge, one of the most famous sites in the world. Parker is studying this semester in the U.K., earning academic credit on her Ole Miss scholarships, including support from the Sally McDonnell Barksdale Honors College.

OXFORD, Miss. – For University of Mississippi student Hannah Parker of Biloxi, this spring semester is turning out to be much more than the usual college routine.

The sophomore marketing communications major is studying at the University of Leicester in England, with plans to return to the Oxford campus in August.

“Studying abroad has forced me to let go of any reservations I may have and learn to adapt,” Parker said. “I have met people from at least a dozen countries and gained so much perspective from conversations. Having spent several months abroad and learning to adjust to every type of situation, I know I will come back home with much more confidence in myself and also a better appreciation for Ole Miss.”Read the story …

Filed Under: News Releases, Sally McDonnell Barksdale Honors College, School of Journalism

UM Students Win First Place in Crisis Communications

Public relations team brings home top award from the Southeastern Journalism Student On-Site Competition

March 13, 2013 By
A team of University of Mississippi public relations students brought home the top prize in a Southeastern student competition that required working on-site. Pictured, left to right, are the students' PR teacher, Robin Street, lecturer in journalism and public relations, and team members Jane Lloyd Brown, Frances Allison and Alyssa Randolph.

A team of University of Mississippi public relations students brought home the top prize in a Southeastern student competition that required working on-site. Pictured, left to right, are the students' PR teacher, Robin Street, lecturer in journalism and public relations, and team members Jane Lloyd Brown, Frances Allison and Alyssa Randolph.

OXFORD, Miss. – A team of three University of Mississippi public relations students from the Meek School of Journalism and New Media won first place in an on-site competition Feb. 22 at the Southeastern Journalism Conference.

During the competition at Union University in Jackson, Tenn., seniors Frances Allison of Birmingham, Ala., Jane Lloyd Brown of Baton Rouge, La., and Alyssa Randolph of Knoxville, Tenn., were supplied details of a hypothetical hostage situation. They had just 90 minutes to develop a crisis communications plan for the scenario.Read the story …

Filed Under: Apps-Students, Featured News, News Releases, School of Journalism, Student News Tagged With:

Sharyn Alfonsi Named Commencement Speaker for Journalism School

Alumna lands dream job 60 Minutes

February 28, 2013 By
Sharyn Alfonsi

Sharyn Alfonsi

OXFORD, Miss. – The first few months of 2013 seem to be pretty packed in terms of career highlights for veteran news correspondent Sharyn Alfonsi.

So far, the 1994 University of Mississippi graduate has landed her dream job as a contributor for Showtime’s “60 Minutes Sports” and was chosen to deliver the keynote address at the 2013 graduation ceremony of the Meek School of Journalism and New Media, slated for May 11.

While Alfonsi said she is honored to return this spring to Ole Miss, she wonders if it’s a mistake.

“I honestly haven’t gotten over the shock of the request. I still think a mistake has been made,” Alfonsi said with a laugh. “But I will admit that I am beyond honored, and even thrilled, that my alma mater wants me to come back as a guest speaker.”

Alfonsi is the school’s third commencement speaker, following in the footsteps of 2012 speaker Andy Lack, former NBC News president and CEO of Bloomberg’s multimedia group.

Read the story …

Filed Under: Commencement 2013, News Releases, School of Journalism Tagged With:

Congressional Candidates to Debate Thursday at UM

… Overby Center hosting only debate for First District race

October 23, 2012 By

OXFORD, Miss – The only debate in the race between Republican U.S. Rep. Alan Nunnelee and Democratic challenger Brad Morris for Mississippi’s First District congressional seat will take place at 5 p.m. Thursday (Oct. 25) in the Overby Center Auditorium at the University of Mississippi.

The hourlong debate is co-sponsored by the university’s Overby Center for Southern Journalism and Politics and Lott Leadership Institute. The event is free and open to the public, and visitors will have an opportunity to meet the candidates at a reception to follow in the Overby Center lobby.

The candidates will field questions from a panel of journalists. Under the format agreed upon by both sides, the candidates will have a chance to deal with each issue that is raised, and back-and-forth exchanges will be encouraged. The panel will include Emily Le Coz of the Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal, Jonathan Scott of the Oxford Eagle, Jennifer Nassar of the Daily Mississippian and Sandra Knispel of Mississippi Public Broadcasting.

“We are delighted that the two candidates for the U.S. House have agreed to hold their only debate here, and we are looking forward to a free exchange on the issues,” said Overby Fellow Bill Rose, who will moderate the debate. “These debates are becoming a tradition at the Overby Center.”

Since its inception in 2007, the center has hosted four debates in First District congressional races. It also staged a debate in the runoff between the two candidates for the Democratic nomination for governor in 2011.

Nunnelee, 54, wrested the congressional seat from Democrat Travis Childers two years ago. Nunnelee spent seven years in the Mississippi Senate, where he chaired the Appropriations Committee and was an ally of Gov. Haley Barbour.

Morris, 37, an Oxford attorney and owner of a small in-home care business, served as Childers’ campaign manager and was his chief of staff in Congress.

Mississippi’s First District takes up almost the top third of the state, excluding the Delta. It sprawls from DeSoto County all the way to the Alabama state line.

(staff report)

Filed Under: Campus Briefs, School of Journalism

Magazine Leaders Converge at UM to Discuss the Future of Media

… Experts discuss reinventing the printed word for a digital age

October 23, 2012 By

OXFORD, Miss. – Print journalism is alive and kicking and not going anywhere, according to “Mr. Magazine” Samir Husni, director of the Magazine Innovation Center at the University of Mississippi.

Husni is not the only print leader advising future journalists to never underestimate the power of print in a digital age. More than 30 top industry leaders will gather Tuesday (Oct. 23) at UM’s Meek School of Journalism and New Media for the Act III Experience, a conference that is free and open to the public.

“At the advent of the digital age, many mourned the death of print,” said Husni, also a professor of journalism. “But, despite what you may have heard, reports of the ‘death of print’ have been greatly exaggerated. This week, more than 30 power speakers are converging on Oxford for three days of magazines, music and Mississippi.”

The ACT Experience is the only gathering of media thought leaders that focuses on about the growth potential of print in a digital age.

Magazine and print leaders joining Husni to discuss solutions for today’s publishing problems include Jennifer Bergin, vice president of marketing for Brown Printing Co.; Michael and Teresa Capuzzo, co-publishers of Mountain Home magazine; Scott Coopwood, publisher of Delta Magazine; Christine French Cully, editor-in-chief of Highlights for Children magazine; Ali Ghanbarian, publisher and editor-in-chief of SOMA magazine; Michael Gross, owner and president of Paragon Media Inc.; Sid Holt, executive director of the American Society of Magazine Editors; Jamie Pallot, executive director for multimedia projects at Vanity Fair; Jeramy Pritchett, co-founder of Buildfold magazine; Sanne Visser, publisher of Sanoma Media in the Netherlands; and Dick Waterman, legendary photographer and journalist.

For more information on ACT II visit http://www.mrmagazine.com/act/.

Filed Under: Faculty and Staff News, Inside Ole Miss, News Releases, School of Journalism

New York Times Senior Editor Wins 2012 Silver Em

Crystal Springs native honored with prestigious award

October 5, 2012 By

Greg Brock. Photo by Steve Crowley/The New York Times.

OXFORD, Miss. – The New York Times has a history of hiring Southern journalists. It’s a relationship that began in the 1960s during the civil rights era with Mississippi native Turner Catledge, who became the paper’s first executive editor, and continues today with Greg Brock, senior editor for standards for the past six years.

Brock, a native of Crystal Springs, will accept the 2012 Sam Talbert Silver Em Award on Thursday (Oct. 11) from the University of Mississippi Meek School of Journalism and New Media. Once again, Brock is following in the footsteps of Catledge, who won the prestigious award in 1959.

“We Southerners have quite a rich history with the Times,” Brock said. “Turner was without a doubt a bigwig here, but there’s also John Herber and Bill Kovoch and others who went on to become award-winning reporters.”

Brock, a 1975 Ole Miss graduate, began his journalism career with an internship at The Palm Beach Post.”I was definitely a country boy back then,” said Brock, 59. “I was more worried about my accent than my skills because Ole Miss had prepared me well.”

Brock moved to North Carolina from West Palm Beach, Fla., and worked seven years at the Charlotte Observer. In 1984, he found his way to The Washington Post, where he worked for nine years, holding a number of editing posts, including front-page news editor, before joining The New York Times in 1995.

Will Norton, dean of the Ole Miss journalism school, remembers Brock as a student journalist.Read the story …

Filed Under: News Releases, School of Journalism Tagged With:
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