NASHVILLE, Tenn.(TSU News Service) – Tennessee State University mass communication students got a special treat in Los Angeles recently when they visited the home of music legend Lionel Richie.
The students were in L.A. as part of their Extreme Spring Break trip. Joining the students was Joe Richie, who serves as Director of the Center for Media Arts and Production, which is housed within the Department of Communications. Joe Richie and Lionel Richie are first cousins.
Joe Richie (right) and cousin Lionel. (Submitted photo)
Lionel
Richie talked to the students about the media business and how to make the most
of their talents and gifts, according to Dr. Tameka Winston, department chair
and associate professor.
“Our students had an amazing time during their immersive learning experience,” she said.
As
part of Extreme Spring Break, students earn course credit for the week-long experience
that provides them with actual hands on learning in the fields of journalism, film
and Television, and Marketing/PR.
The
students also get one-on-one time with industry professionals, diversity
officers, internship coordinators, and hiring managers.
Winston
said she hopes the students will have the same success as those who have
graduated from the department.
Spencer
Glover, a 2012 TSU graduate, took home the Emmy editing/program during the 33rd
Annual Midsouth Regional Emmy Awards on Feb. 16. He was awarded for his work on
“The Passion for Music,” a production for Yamaha Entertainment Group.
“We
are so excited when our students and faculty are awarded for their hard work
and excelling in their profession,” said Winston.
Also
at the awards ceremony, Airielle Vincent, an assistant professor of mass
communications, won her second Emmy as weekend newscast producer with Fox 17.
She was recognized for a story on a church shooting.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (TSU News Service) – The Department
of Communications at Tennessee State University was well represented at the
33rd Annual Midsouth Regional Emmy Awards on Feb. 16.
A professor and a
former student walked away with Emmys for their work in news and entertainment.
Prof. Airielle Vincent
Airielle Vincent, an assistant professor of mass communications, won her second Emmy as weekend newscast producer with FOX 17. She was recognized for a story on church shooting.
Spencer Glover, who graduated from TSU in 2012 with a bachelor’s degree in mass communications, took home the Emmy for editing/program. He was awarded for his work on “The Passion for Music,” a production for Yamaha Entertainment Group.
“We are so excited
when our students and faculty are awarded for their hard work and excelling in
their profession,” said Dr. Tameka Winston, department chair and associate
professor. “It is our desire to see them graduate, follow their dreams and be
recognized on such a prestigious level.”
The Emmy Awards,
organized by the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences, recognizes
excellence in television for news and documentary, sports, daytime
entertainment, daytime creative arts and entertainment, public and community
service, and technology and engineering.
Spencer Glover
Cara Anthony, a
2010 TSU graduate, who works for “The Belleville News Democrat,” was also
nominated in 2018 for a Mid-America Emmy. Her Emmy nomination was the first in
the News-Democrat’s 160-year history.
Winning at the
Emmys is not new to the TSU Department of Communications. In 2012, Assistant
Professor Erik Werner won for promotional producing.
“The department is
dedicated to producing award-winning industry professionals and employing
top-notch leaders in the field,” said Professor Karen D. Russell, mass
communications coordinator and professor of multimedia journalism. “We are
very proud of our outstanding alumni and professors.”
Tennessee State University 3500 John Merritt Boulevard Nashville, Tennessee 37209 615.963.5331
About Tennessee State University
With more than 7,000 students, Tennessee State University is
Nashville’s only public university, and is a comprehensive, urban,
co-educational, land-grant university offering 38 bachelor’s degree
programs, 24 master’s degree programs and seven doctoral degrees. TSU
has earned a top 20 ranking for Historically Black Colleges and
Universities according to U.S. News and World Report, and rated as one
of the top universities in the country by Washington Monthly for social
mobility, research and community service. Founded in 1912, Tennessee
State University celebrated 100 years in Nashville during 2012. Visit
the University online at tnstate.edu.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (TSU News Service) – TSU’s Career Development Center Tuesday held a student career showcase for mass communications and music majors in the Performing Arts Center.
Representatives from 13 media, marketing and entertainment companies set up booths, received resumes, conducted on-the-spot interviews and answered students’ questions about internships and employment opportunities.
Steve Burbank, local Comcast Spotlight sales manager, talks TSU graduating senior Alexis Thorton at the student career showcase. (Photo by Jamal Coleman, Career Development Center)
Alexis Thorton, a graduating senior, who came ready with a resume and application, said she was “really glad” to attend a fair on campus just for mass communications majors.
“Usually when we have a career fair on campus not many students come out from our department because it doesn’t feel like it is designed for us,” said Thorton, of Memphis. “This makes us feel like they care because as a graduating senior, this improves my chances for a job.”
Thorton, who interviewed with at least two companies, may just be one of the lucky ones among nearly 80 students at Tuesday’s career showcase to land a job as a result of the program.
Steve Burbank, local sales manager for Comcast Spotlight, came ready to hire a graduating senior.
TSU mass communications major Stefanie Avilla, right, talks to local TV Channel 4 representative Don Downs about employment opportunities. (Photo by Jamal Coleman, Career Development Center)
“We are looking for the right candidate to hire as an associate sales account executive,” Burbank said. “We are looking for someone to join our world-class media sales organization with a growth mindset who has an eye toward enhancing their sales acumen.”
He said the successful candidate will receive 12-months hands-on training, mentoring, learning assessment and product knowledge, as well as an eight-week corporate on-board training in Philadelphia, Denver and Atlanta.
Tina Reed, associate director of TSU’s Career Development Center, said unlike job fairs, the mass communications career showcase was designed to showcase students to potential employers.
“This was also intended to let them (students) know what type of opportunities they have in terms of entertainment, media and music,” said Reed. “We have some very good students here and some great companies. We just want to match them up and get them connected.”
Dr. Tameka Winston is the interim chair of the Department of Communications. She likes the idea of a career showcase dedicated specifically to mass communications, music and other liberal arts majors.
“Our students are among the best; they work very hard and they are always looking for internships and things of that nature,” Winston said. “We hope that this will be very beneficial to them especially going into the summer month.”
Among some of the other major companies and institutions at the career showcase were the Tennessee Association of Broadcasters, local TV Channels 2 and 4, and Sony Music.
Department of Media Relations
Tennessee State University
3500 John Merritt Boulevard
Nashville, Tennessee 37209
615.963.5331
About Tennessee State University
With more than 8,000 students, Tennessee State University is Nashville’s only public university, and is a comprehensive, urban, co-educational, land-grant university offering 38 bachelor’s degree programs, 25 master’s degree programs and seven doctoral degrees. TSU has earned a top 20 ranking for Historically Black Colleges and Universities according to U.S. News and World Report, and rated as one of the top universities in the country by Washington Monthly for social mobility, research and community service. Founded in 1912, Tennessee State University celebrated 100 years in Nashville during 2012. Visit the University online at tnstate.edu.
The Tennessean, Tennessee State University and other organizations have partnered to create a new scholarship in the name of the late Getahn Ward that will benefit aspiring journalists at TSU.
Ward, a business reporter at the Tennessean since 1998, who was known for his real estate scoops, deep sources and bulldog approach, died on Dec. 9 after a brief illness. Ward, an active community leader, was also a longtime adjunct professor at TSU and a proud alum of the university. He was 45.
Ward, who previously worked at the Nashville Banner before it closed in 1997, had a passion for teaching students and advocating for black journalists.
The new scholarship is the first endowed scholarship in the history of TSU’s Department of Communications.
“At a time when our majors are working multiple jobs to offset the cost of a college education, this will go a long way in helping some of our best and brightest students,” said Tameka Winston, who chairs the TSU Department of Communications. “This scholarship represents a man who devoted much of his life to the field of journalism and to the education and success of students at Tennessee State University.”
The goal of organizers is to raise $25,000, which would be the minimum required to establish an annual scholarship in perpetuity.
The financial value of the scholarship will be determined by how much money is raised. If the goal of $25,000 is reached, the scholarship would be $1,000 per student annually. It would increase if more money is raised.
Winston said the department is also finalizing plans to honor Ward in a way that will give him “permanent recognition” within the department and university.
“He was one of the kindest individuals that I’ve ever met and the news of his passing is heartbreaking,” Winston said. “Getahn was a stellar professor and the department will never be able to replace him.”
Tennessee State University
3500 John Merritt Boulevard
Nashville, Tennessee 37209
615.963.5331
About Tennessee State University
With more than 8,000 students, Tennessee State University is Nashville’s only public university, and is a comprehensive, urban, co-educational, land-grant university offering 38 bachelor’s degree programs, 25 master’s degree programs and seven doctoral degrees. TSU has earned a top 20 ranking for Historically Black Colleges and Universities according to U.S. News and World Report, and rated as one of the top universities in the country by Washington Monthly for social mobility, research and community service. Founded in 1912, Tennessee State University celebrated 100 years in Nashville during 2012. Visit the University online at tnstate.edu.
NASHVILLE, Tenn.(TSU News Service) — Dr. Tameka Winston, interim chair of Tennessee State’s Communications Department, recently received the 2017 ATHENA Young Professional Leadership Award.
The Nashville ATHENA Awards and Scholarship Program announced its 2017 award recipients last month at OZ Arts Nashville. Mayor Megan Barry was a special guest at the event, which also recognized eight students who received $17,000 in scholarships.
The Nashville Athena Award Program recognizes professional women for their business success, community service and encouragement of other women.
Winston was chosen from among 25 nominees selected this year by Middle Tennessee organizations and associations. The nominees were under the age 40 and making significant contributions in the Nashville community. Winston was nominated by Women in Higher Education in Tennessee.
An author and Sirius XM radio show host, Winston uses her platforms to serve as a mentor to, advocate for and inspire students and young adults in Nashville and nationally. She also received the 2017 Nashville Business Journal’s Women of Influence Award earlier this year.
Department of Media Relations
Tennessee State University
3500 John Merritt Boulevard
Nashville, Tennessee 37209
615.963.5331
About Tennessee State University
With more than 9,000 students, Tennessee State University is Nashville’s only public university, and is a comprehensive, urban, co-educational, land-grant university offering 38 undergraduate, 25 graduate and seven doctoral programs. TSU has earned a top 20 ranking for Historically Black Colleges and Universities according to U.S. News and World Report, and rated as one of the top universities in the country by Washington Monthly for social mobility, research and community service. Founded in 1912, Tennessee State University celebrated 100 years in Nashville during 2012. Visit the University online at tnstate.edu.
