The Mass Communications Department will feature some of its own at this year’s annual Mass Communications Day celebration, slated for Wednesday, April 16 at the JSU e-Center. Communications professionals from national, local and independently-owned media outlets will lead forums and interactive workshops that will run from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. A luncheon is scheduled for 11:30 a.m.

Three JSU alumni will return to Jackson to kick-off the event with a panel session on convergence. They are: Sherri Williams, a staff writer for The Columbus (Ohio) Dispatch. Williams started her career as a journalist nine years ago at the Jackson, Miss., bureau of The Associated Press.

Demarco Morgan, weekend anchor/reporter for WTVJ-TV in Miami, Fla., landed his first reporting job at

WJTV in Jackson, Miss. Since then, he has been honored with several Associated Press and

broadcasting awards.

Continued on page 6. . .

TheLedeA Newsletter for Students and Alumni of the JSU Mass Communications Department • Spring 2008

Jimmy E. Gates doesn’t mind getting up each morning and heading into work because for over two decades he has been doing what he loves: writing. Gates, a 1981 graduate of Jackson State University’s Department of Mass Communications, is the chief court writer for The Clarion-Ledger. He says his passion for writing and reading started as a little boy. “I always had an interest in news and what was going on,” he says. His interest peaked during the Civil Rights era when the media captured and aired much of the violence and hatred of that time. “The press brought a lot of things to light,” herecalls. Gates followed that “light” and has never looked back. Prior to covering courts, Gates was the first Minority Affairs reporter for The Jackson DailyNews, an afternoon paper, which merged with The Clarion Ledger in 1989. He has also spent time as a county reporter. Now a veteran writer, Gates says, “There’s nothing better than being able to inform the public.” And that is just what he does. During his career, Gates has covered capital murder cases as well as high-profile criminal and civil court cases.

Along the way, he has also witnessed several executions, and interviewed the likes of Coretta

Scott King and Jesse Jackson. More recently, he covered the Elicia Hughes murder trial, one of themost talked about cases of 2007. (Initially convicted of killing her husband, Hughes, then a Jackson schoolteacher, was found innocent on retrial; the case garnered national attention.) Gates’ writing has earnedhim state and national journalism awards. In 2002, he was inducted into the National Association of Black Journalists Regional IV Hall of Fame. He admits that sitting in court everyday can sometimes get a little boring; but he says all the human emotion is intriguing. Still, there is pressure everyday to turn out the best story possible. “I don’t see myself staying as a reporter into my 60s,”he says. “I have considered going into management because I believe I would have something to offer to the younger generation of journalists. If I don’t go into management, I think I would like to become an entrepreneur. “After all these years, I still love reporting because each day is different. You can be sitting at your desk with little to do and at a moment’s notice, a big story breaks, or through your digging, you uncover the big story. That keeps me motivated each and everyday.” As a veteran in this business, he has plenty of advice for future graduates. Gates says he can’t stress enough the importance of internships. He encourages every student to get under someone’s wings. “Someone in the business that you can shadow,” he explains. “Do as much as you can while you’re there; and if you know someone in the field from the Department, don’t be afraid; call them up.” Gates says he receives calls from students from time to time; and he is eager to help students, especially those from his alma mater. “The one thing I have always tried to be as a journalist is a person who encourages younger journalists,” he says. “We need them, especially journalists of color, to carry the torch. Journalists play a vital role in society by keeping the public informed. Without an informed public, society suffers!” Gates and wife Pattie will celebrate their 21st anniversary in June; they have a 16-year-olddaughter, April.

Gates: Young Journalists Needed to Carry TorchBy Jeanese Kimes, MC Senior

April 14 - May 2 Early Registration

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Please Reach Out and HelpPlease consider making a financial contribution to the Jackson State University Department of Mass Communications. Many of the students in the Department need financial assistance for tuition, books and pre-professional activities. Your gift will help our Department maintain accreditation and continue to provide an outstanding education for aspiring media professionals. You can specify that funds be used to:

Provide scholarships and books for studentsPurchase additional materials for the Mass Communications Resource CenterAssist in purchasing production equipment and suppliesFund registration fees for professional conferences and workshops

Make your tax-deductible check payable to Jackson State University-Department of Mass Communications and mail to:

Dr. Dwight E. Brooks, Professor and Chair Department of Mass CommunicationsJackson State UniversityPost Office Box 18590Jackson, MS 39217-0990

The Lede is published by the Jackson State University Department of Mass Communications, Jackson, Mississippi. Please submit information about student achievements or alumni news to: andrea.w.dilworth@jsums.edu.

Dwight E. Brooks Professor and ChairAndrea Dilworth Faculty EditorPaula T. Wingard Student Staff WriterDominque Howse Student Staff Writer Alexandra Castellanos Student Staff WriterJeanese Kimes Student Staff Writer Ashley Caples Student Staff WriterShermeika Thornton Student Staff Writer

Department of Mass Communications FacultyDwight E. Brooks Li-Jing ChangAndrea Dilworth Joseph Clive EnosYulian Li Aworuwa OlorundareSunny Smith Teresa Taylor

Department of Mass Communications Adjunct FacultyGail Brown Riva BrownTara Douglas Elaina JacksonChristopher Gauthier Dathan Thigpen

Department of Mass Communications StaffAly Ash Regina Clay Quicksilver Creative, Inc. Layout and Design ServicesIris Barnes ‘97 Production EditorJayson Dillon Graphic Designer

Department of Mass CommunicationsJackson State UniversityPost Office Box 18590Jackson, MS 39217-0990Phone: (601) 979-2151Fax: (601) 979-5800

jsumasscom@jsums.eduwww.jsums.edu/~jsumasscomm

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TheLede

Mass Communications Department1400 J R Lynch Street - P.O. Box 18590Jackson, MS 39217-0990

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PAIDJackson, MS

Permit No. 290

Robert Carter didn’t travel the route of most broadcast production students aspiring for careers in radio. Although he did receive formal training at Jackson State University’s radio station, WJSU, he kept an open mind as to where that preparation would eventually lead him. “When I got to JSU, I knew I wanted to do something that had to do with music,” the 2000 alumnus remembers. “WJSU was influential in me finding my way.” As graduation day approached, Carter said he had no concrete plans. But while volunteering as a disc jockey at WJSU-FM 88.5, he was discovered by a National Public Radio (NPR) recruiter who offered him a unique opportunity to do two internships. The first internship was with NPR’s online music show “All Songs Considered.” “I interviewed artists as well as researched them. I encountered all types of music from polka to country western,” he said. The second internship, with NPR’s “Talk of the Nation,” exposed him to a different side of the business: talk radio. “I organized emails and prepared artists and guests for the green room.” Seven years later, Carter is still with NPR. But now as a Digital Media Specialist, he has reinvented himself. “I’m an internet producer. I cut and edit shows for internet viewers,” he explained. “JSU taught me how to survive. Leaving St. Louis, it was my first time away from home. So when I got to D.C., I could better adjust to the culture shock.” In addition to working at NPR, the St. Louis native continues to DJ in the D.C. area. Carter also co-operates two independent businesses: Point Blank DJ and True School Corporation. “Point Blank DJ produces and compiles mix tapes and provides DJ services,” Carter said. “True School Corporation is partnered with six other guys, one who is a famous producer, 9th Wonder. We travel around the country primarily serving 25-35 year olds demographically.” Carter has a devotion to JSU. He references academic and life lessons he acquired as a student at his alma mater. “I come back for homecoming every year. The campus is amazing now. It’s almost a different school. I’m jealous of you all.”

DJ Disperses Dynamic Delights in D.C. By Paula T. Wingard, English/MC Graduate

M C Day 2008Continued from page 1.

Kelly Jackson, owner of Golden Shepherd

Alliance (GSA), a New York-based marketing

and public relations firm. Her past and

present client list includes MTV news

correspondent Sway Calloway, legendary DJ

Jazzy Joyce, rapper Sole’ and book author

and producer Nelson George.

For more information about Mass Communications Day activities, contact Andrea Dilworth, faculty coordinator, at andrea.w.dilworth@jsums.edu or 601-979-2873.

MC DAY 2008

K. Lipsey: Physical Reflection of MusicBy Dominque Howse, MC Senior

Kevin Lipsey is not the first Jackson State University alum to embrace the art of opportunity, but the soul-inspired maestro has pulled enough tricks out of his bag to create a “shock and ahh” reaction from any audience searching for quality music inspired by honesty and soul. At the top of the year, Lipsey, aka “K. Lipsey” to the music industry, joined Birmingham Entertainment as a marketing and new media manager. With a background in artist development, online promotions and media, the 2005 magna cum laude graduate packed his bags and moved on to a new phase in his life’s cycle. Regardless of his physical placement, Lipsey’s home lies within his passion. “Music is my life,” the Canton, Miss., native says, with passion in his voice. “Every time I wake up and every time I go to sleep, that’s what I’m thinking about.” It is a good thing that he loves music, because the 27-year-old, who now lives in Hollywood, Calif., is responsible for

managing music-publishing divisions, working worldwide digital distributions, launching new artists and looking for new ways to approach marketing and promotions. Before his most recent move, Lipsey (who minored in marketing) spent a year at Anytime Records in Los Angeles, where he managed project budgets up to $500,000, integrated mobile and online marketing and administered marketing approaches that ensured consistency within those markets. On the personal front, Lipsey is working on his own solo project, “The Treatment,” which embodies the sounds of R&B and Soul, with a twist of southern flavor. He is a singer who flushes music out of his system that reflects hip-hop, soul, gospel and blues, creating a musical “gumbo.” The coffee-colored brother from the South is taking his life’s experiences, which include time served in the Air Force, and producing extraordinary songs (considered neo soul by some) that embody the struggles of small-town Mississippi, while pushing the industry’s door. He uses that motivation to write, manage, sing and produce for himself, all while marketing other acts throughout the Southwest. He juggles his career and those of others in tight, rhythmic rotation. Inspired by Curtis Mayfield, Babyface and Sade, Lipsey has also worn the hat of music video director for gospel hits

including Eddie Ruth Bradford’s “You Held On Even When I Let Go” and Ernest J. Lee & Spirit of David’s “Don’t Quit.” In his past life, Lipsey played the role of product manager and audio engineer at Malaco Music Group in Jackson, where he began working as a student. The day he walked across the stage to receive his JSU diploma, all he could think was: “Time to get the ball rolling.” That same ball has ended up in courts and games that Lipsey could have never imagined. He is credited on over 25 nationally released projects, which include Stellar, Grammy, and Billboard awards and nominations. “Regardless if I’m working with someone on the up-and-coming or writing and producing with some of the hottest artists out, music makes me feel better,” he says. After his nomination for the 2006 Jackson Music Awards’ “Best Single of the Year” for his role as writer/producer of Floyd Taylor’s “We’re Going Stepping,” Lipsey’s beats cannot be missed.

‘Potential for Greatness’ is HereBy Donna Ladd, Advisory Council MemberEditor-in-Chief, Jackson Free Press

At The Jackson Free Press’ “Best of Jackson” bash in January, the Jackson State University Sonic Boom drum line marched straight into the packed Mississippi Museum of Art, making the hundreds of partiers get out of their way. Many in the crowd had never seen them—imagine—but they knew they were watching a group of young people at the top

of their game, dedicated musicians and performers who worked hard at their craft, role models who know they can be the best. The crowd was in awe. I see this same potential in our Mass Communications Department. The students bring a combination of skill and experience to their study of the craft of journalism. Whether print or broadcast, they have such stories to tell and the empathy to tell them beautifully. Every time I walk into Blackburn Hall to talk to student groups or attend a Mass Communications Advisory Council meeting, I feel the potential for greatness all around me. I know that the journalism that can result from a JSU education can be the best. (Of course, my star reporter Adam Lynch is a JSU graduate. So, I really know it). The Department of Mass Communications has vibrant days ahead. The Department is headed by a chair, Dr. Dwight Brooks, who has the energy and vision to make this

program known internationally for the stories you can produce. Our students are reporting and writing in Mississippi—which has long been the source of just about anything that has mattered in American culture. They can take their experiences and build toward greatness by using them to inform their reportage. As a native Mississippian from an uneducated family (my mother could not read or write), I urge you to join us to help our grads be among the top journalists who ever trained in Mississippi—to send them the message that they can win national reporting and writing awards (as JSU grads are helping my paper do). To get there, all of us must believe in our students and in our Department. As advisory council members and/or alums, we can all help them set high standards for themselves, by sharing our experiences and mentoring students whenever possible. And, finally, I would argue, we can help them learn to give in order to get. The best journalists I know excel at their craft because they teach others, not because they compete for the best story (OK, we do that, too). All of them have good mentors, and they mentor—the “each one teach one” tradition. I urge each of you to both mentor current students and to help them, and our instructors, spread the “each one teach one” tradition to local high school students. Please volunteer to help area high school journalists through the new Jackson Area High School Press Association (JAHSPA) that our department is implementing in an attempt to assist area schools with training and resources. Just talk to Dr. Sunny Smith (sunny.c.smith@jsums.edu) to find out ways you can get involved.

Her mot to and favor i te scripture is, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” - Phil 4:13

With God, her dreams have come true. “Fon” James, better known as Fontreia Strong during her days at Jackson State University, visited her alma mater on October 26, for a book signing of her first Christian fiction novel, “Back and Forth.” “It was great,” she said. “I got a chance to see so many old faces that were at JSU when I attended school there.” Old college friends, faculty, and current students showed up to support James at the book signing, held in the Campus Union bookstore. “Back and Forth” is a fiction novel about college experiences between four friends, set on the campus of JSU. Part of its message relays the trials of a young Christian woman trying to stay faithful throughout the obstacles placed in her way.

“Readers will relate to the characters in this novel if they’ve ever gone back and forth on their commitment to God or anything,” she said. “There are many fiction books targeting teens, but not a lot of African-American books specifically for our young adults ages 17-24, which creates cause for them to read adult fiction,” James explained. “This book and the forthcoming books from my “On the Yard” series will hopefully minimize that gap – a gap that I felt personally when I was in college.”

James targets college-age students with “Back and Forth” in hopes of helping them remain committed to God and staying on the right track.

“The novel was created to educate, entertain, give hope and bless each reader whose hands touch it,” she said. “I wrote this book because I feel there are many young adults out there who want to live right, but they just can’t seem to stay committed because of the elements around them.”

James enjoys Christian fiction writing because she believes in its message; she is therefore committed to creating more stories of triumph for the masses.The 1999 Jackson State graduate and Jackson, Miss., native began her journalism career at The Blue and White Flash and has worked for The Clarion-Ledger and WJMI Radio. Her journalistic works have also appeared in The Houston Chronicle, Contra Costa Times , and The Cleveland Plain-Dealer.

James and husband Donté now live in Houston, Texas, where she works as a senior marketing consultant for AIG. She is responsible for providing nationwide marketing and sales support for the insurance company’s Accident and Health Division. James is also an active member of The Fort Bend Church of Sugarland, Texas, and Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. Having sold 41 books at the campus signing, the self-published author said she was honored to be hosted by the bookstore.

“I had actually written it down in my notebook during the novel writing process, that I wanted to have a book signing during homecoming and lo and behold, look what happened. My dreams came true. JSU has always supported me from day one and had my ‘back’ when I stepped foot on the campus as a student in August of 1995 during band camp and when I graduated in May 1999. The overwhelming support I received during my book signing shows that JSU continues to support my ‘forth’ as well. I am a true blue JSU tiger; and I love being a part of the alumni family!”

James is working on her next novel in the “On the Yard” series, the sequel to “Back and Forth.” She is also the author of “A Mother, Her Son, and THE Father,” a short story featured in the anthology, “The Triumph of My Soul.” “Back and Forth” is available for purchase at the JSU Bookstore, online book retailers, and anywhere books are sold. For more information, check out James’ website: www.fonjames.com.

A l u m n a LaunchesDebut NovelBy Ashley Caples, MC Senior

We’re on the Move

I am proud to announce that the Mass Communications Department will officially relocate all of our offices and labs to the JSU e-Center, 1230 Raymond Road, just a few minutes away from themain Jackson State University campus. We plan to complete the move over the summer so we can begin the Fall 2008 semester in our new home. Let me address the obvious question: “Why move the Department to the e-Center?”

There have been discussions over the past several years about relocating the Department. Clearly, the aging Blackburn Language Arts Building is no longer capable of housing the various human and physical resources needed for our Department.

Last April, Jannette L. Dates, dean of Howard University’s John H. Johnson School of Communications and vice president of the Accrediting Council for Education in Journalism and Mass Communications (ACEJMC), conducted a two-day, pre-accreditation site visit on our campus. She recommended an immediate relocation of the entire department to the e-Center. In addition to citing some of the building’s deficiencies, Dates identified the e-Center as a location “where students can obtain the kind of experiences in the fields they are attempting to enter that will allow them to be competitive.” JSU President Ronald Mason Jr. and Velvelyn Foster, provost and vice president for Academic and Student Affairs support this recommendation.

We are in the process of conducting our self-study in preparation for our ACEJMC re-accreditation and site team visit in February 2009. If the Department is to remain compliant with ACEJMC’s Standard 7--Resources, Facilities and Equipment, it is imperative that we are housed in the e-Center.

In preparing for our relocation, we are renewing our partnership with TV23 to take advantage of the station’s studios and labs. JSU’s public radio station (WJSU) will also move to the e-Center soon. Because our department has many students interested and involved in radio, we need to meet their interests and involvement.

The e-Center also houses potential partners such as the JSU Office of Information Management, Digital Productions, Integrity Online and the Trent Lott Geospatial and Visualization Center. As we restructure and redesign our program along the lines of converging digital communications technologies, online journalism, and integrated marketing communications, we plan to develop initiatives that combine the resources of these communications-related firms. Coordinating such endeavors also will allow us to fulfill our professional and public service obligations—another standard in our upcoming re-accreditation.

Our alumni are also crucial to affirmation of our accreditation. The Department’s effective communication with alumni serves as one important indicator of our ability to fulfill our responsibility to our community, the greater public and of course, you! There are many reasons why you should care about our relocation. First, our home is your home-it always will be no matter where it is located. Second, we want you to visit us—during homecoming, reunions and other activities. And third, we can certainly use your support as we transition to a new era. Our students will benefit from your financial contributions, learning resources, time and knowledge. I promise we will use your assistance wisely. But we cannot succeed without your help. In conclusion, most of our students are understandably concerned about transportation to and from campus to the e-Center. President Mason has assured me that with the recent purchase of new buses and a revamped shuttle system, students will be able to attend classes at both locations in a timely manner. Of course there will be some hurdles for everyone as we make the transition. I urge your patience and support.

Let me be the first to welcome you to our Annual Mass Communications Day, Wednesday April 16th, at the Mississippi e-Center at JSU!

Dwight E. Brooks, ChairDwight E. Brooks, Chair

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