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T H E O F F I C I A L P U B L I C AT I O N O F C O M M U N I C AT I O N C O U N C I L

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BELOthe C E N T E R for N E W M E D I APHOTO BY CALEB FOX

The Belo Center for New Media opened its doors to the College of Communication this semester as the college’s new home.

The $54.8 million Belo Center encompasses five stories and 120,000 square feet. Belo will

provide students access to a multimedia newsroom, a 300-seat auditorium and a 75-seat presentation room among various state of the art classrooms, lounge areas and a café on the ground floor.

During the dedication ceremony for the Belo Center on Nov. 1, College of Communication dean Roderick Hart said the creation of the Belo Center is a milestone and represents a new age of media the college has embraced.

“The purpose of this building is to advance the work of the faculty and students who call it home,” Hart said. “The Belo Center for New Media will house bold people asking bold questions.”

Hart said the answers to developing questions of innovation and technology related to consumption of information will arise in the Belo Center.

The Belo Center, designed by the Lawrence Group, is the newest addition to the three-building communication complex completed in 1974 to serve only 1,000 students.

Since then the college has grown to include more than 4,700 students – overcrowding the communication

complex and causing 40 percent of communication classes to be taught in other buildings across campus.

The Belo Center will remedy this problem and create a learning environment for students just across the street from the Jesse H. Jones communication complex.

At the main entrance of the building is the Student Leadership Suite. Hart said the suite is his attempt to honor Belo’s first investors.

“Our first supporters were the students of this college,” Hart said. “We engaged the rest of our undergraduates in a larger conversation resulting in their willingness to devote a small a portion of their tuition to the construction of this building.”

Hart said students donated $65 per student per year and will eventually contribute $4 million to Belo’s construction.

“That’s why you see my homage to them when you step across the threshold of this building,” he said.

Berkley Knas, Public Relations alumna, also attended the dedication ceremony and said the Belo Center is the answer to long-time student concerns related to the Jesse H. Jones communication complex.

“As students, we recognized the importance of having a building that fosters an environment of learning, community and informed engagement,” Knas said.

“This building will afford generations of students the opportunity to connect, engage and be immersed in an environment of learning about the convergence of new media.”

Knas worked with Hart in raising support for the Belo Center, and helped create the class gift initiative. The College of Communication class of 2007, of which Knas was part of, donated the front doors of Belo.

College administration, the School of Journalism and the Department of Advertising and Public Relations are all housed in the Belo Center.

Building A of the Jesse H. Jones Communication Center, or the CMA, is currently being renovated and houses the Department of Communication Sciences & Disorders, the Department of Communication Studies and the Department of Radio-TV-Film.

The College of Communication’s Office of Student Affairs, including student advising and career services, also moved into the Belo Center.

Belo also houses KUT Public Media Studios including a glass-walled studio and an outdoor stage and lawn.

The Belo Center was named after Alfred Horatio Belo, the original owner of The Dallas Morning News. The Belo Foundation donated $12 million to the new building.

sTOrY BY ALEXA UrA

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6 | JOURNALISM CURRICULUM

Austin video director and producer Jeff Javier, professionally known as Jeff Vash, found his calling randomly and in a way most students only dream of.

A fine arts and design major at The University of Texas at Austin, it was only after taking a class on digital time art that he realized he had a passion for and a talent in filming and producing videos.

For his final project in his second digital time art class, Javier was required to do a film project.

He decided to make a music video for the song “About You” by XXYYXX, the work of a producer named Marcel Everett from Orlando. When the video was finished, he reached out to Everett via social media to show him his work.

Within minutes, Everett asked Javier for permission to make his project the official music video. This was the start

of a promising career.Soon after producing the “About You” video, Javier

entered and was accepted into the Vegas Cine Fest, an international film and music video festival. While he did not win, he was accepted into the festival, an excellent starting point for a young filmmaker. Recently, Javier was also accepted into the International Film Festival for Cinematic Arts in Los Angeles, CA.

He continues to move farther in the world of filmmaking. There always seems to be a big idea he is working on or new shots he’s editing. He’s been working hard, and it’s really paying off.

For aspiring directors and filmmakers, Javier wants to give a few words of advice. He says to always “stay true to yourself. Your best work will come forth when you have that individual passion behind it.”

sTOrY BY COUrTNEY UrsErY

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J E F F V A S H

“Journalists these days are expected to be multi-taskers”

Wanda Cash, director for the School of Journalism

Teachers, students experiment with new journalism curriculum

I n an effort to produce more versatile journalism students, the School of Journalism has reformatted the journalism curriculum, which became

effective in the fall 2012 semester.According to Wanda Cash, the associate

director for the School of Journalism, the most prominent change is the combination of the previous reporting courses, J315 and J320, into one new reporting course, J310.

Five experienced professors with different journalism backgrounds, including print, multimedia, broadcast and magazine, teach the class of 120 students, who then split into five individual lab groups.

“We thought that we would bring in faculty who had experience in different types of journalism that way the students would benefit from the experience and hear diverse perspectives on how to tell stories,” Cash said.

The new curriculum calls for three professors to teach another new class, J311 Reporting: Images, but instead of a large lecture section and individual labs, the class is formatted in three learning modules.

According to Dennis Darling, one of the J311 professors, students rotate between learning

photo skills for five weeks, then video and graphic design.

“The J311 class is a Whitman’s sampler of journalism, like you know those sort of boxes where you get varieties in, and if you find one [where] you like just that thing, you have to taste them all, or at least poke them,” Darling said. “So this is a poking class, where you take a little bit of video, still photography, and graphics.”

Cash said that so far the feedback for J310 has been mostly positive, but not as positive for J311. Students believe that they are not getting as much out of the class because five weeks is not enough time to learn each module.

“I don’t think that 5 weeks is quite long enough, but maybe half a semester for each thing would be a saner way,” Darling said. You have three somewhat varied things that you’ve got all kinds of basic information in such a short amount of time, and I’m just not sure how much is going to sink in.”

According to Darling, another problem is that the new catalog forces upperclassmen into basics after they already took more advanced classes.

Although he understands that there is not enough staff for two classes--one for the older students and one for the new--he believes it seems like a punishment or a waste of time and tuition dollars for students who planned their degree according to the old curriculum, especially those in their last semester.

Reihaneh Hajibeigi, a junior majoring in journalism, believes the multiple teaching styles are beneficial because it gives a wider range of opinion, but the time commitment is a disadvantage.

“If I was freshman, I might not be so lucky balancing time,” she said. “I have taken J315 on the old curriculum, so a lot of it is repeated, but for me - it is just more needed practice. I understand when some of my classmates critique the repetition of the lessons we learn, but for the new students they wouldn’t have this repetition.”

Darling agrees that the problem will eventually cure itself when all the students who are caught between curricula graduate, but the professors will have a better grasp of the program after this semester.

Cash said the reason for the new curriculum is to the reflect changes in the industry.

“Journalists these days are expected to be multi-taskers and to be able to tell stories across various platforms,” she said. “So what we wanted to do is to get them broad experience in covering stories, no matter what the media.”

In the old curriculum, students could major in specific types of journalism, like photojournalism, through a self-contained program, but the new curriculum gives a broader exposure to different types of journalism.

According to Darling, the new curriculum allows students to be more marketable with different skill sets for potential employers.

“It may not tell you as much what you want to do, but it gives you a big hint of what you don’t want to do,” Darling said. “So it’s going to whet your appetite for something you may not know you’re interested in. I don’t know who you are, but you better find something more than what you think you’re interested in because you’re going to have to wear more hats than you used to.”

sTOrY BY JUHiE MOdi

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COMM SCHOOL S W E E T H E A RT S

Nick Brody and Lesley Caldwell started dating in the Winter of

2003. Here is the couple today.

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You may not know that the College of Communication is actually quite a romantic place. So romantic, in fact, that

assistant instructor Nick Brody and his wife, Lesley Caldwell, a technical services librarian, actually met while in school and on Communication Council. If you didn’t have reason to join before, you certainly do now: find your true love!

Communication Council had the chance to ask the couple a bit about first impressions and dating in college.

How did you meet? How was the Comm School a part of that?

NB: We met in Zilker Park at the Comm Council Spring retreat. We were both on the SIAC committee. We didn’t become friends or start dating immediately, but we were both pretty involved in Comm Council so we became good friends.

What did you think of Lesley at first?

NB: I remember thinking she had a lot of opinions, which was cool with me since I also have a lot of opinions. I also remember liking her taste in movies and music. She was also clearly smarter than me, and I thought it would be a good idea to date up.

What did you think of Nick at first?

LC: Like many freshmen, Nick had really bad hair. I thought he was very smart in regards to everything but hairstyling.

Did you date through all of your time in college?

NB: No. We started dating in the Winter of 2003, although I had incessantly pestered her to date me for about six months. Persistence pays off!

LC: No, we started dating around OU Weekend of my senior year. We were friends beforehand, and we were both

on Comm Council Exec my senior year/ Nick’s junior year. Fun fact: our wedding ushers and attendants were the other four members of 2003-2004 Exec (Kevin Anderle, Andria Balman Elliott, Scott Helsinger, and Maricela Pena).

What advice would you have for couples who meet and date through college?

NB: I didn’t come to college expecting to necessarily meet my future wife, but it just worked out that way. I would say to just be open to any possibility.

LC: This goes for all things college: don’t take yourself too seriously. Also, “I can’t date him. He’s my friend,” is a bogus excuse. My father kept trying to tell me that ultimately you want to be married to your friend, but I was like, “Dad, you know nothing about life.”

Nick and Lesley during their Comm Council years.

PATRICk WHITEADVERTISING

COURTNEY JENSENCOMMUNICATION STUDIES

So what did you major in at UT? What do you do now?

I was an Advertising major at UT, specifically within the Texas Media track. Fast forward to today - I work as a strategist at Carat, an ad agency here in New York City.How was the job search process?

The job search process can seem grueling and ruthless, especially if you pay attention to all the news reports about unemployment - but I promise you there are tons of jobs out there! The search can be confusing with all the different companies and organizations out there - it takes time and research to find a company that really fits with you. I always went into my searches with the mindset of: company culture first, business second, salary third.What have you been using from your time at UT in your new job...academic or otherwise?

Honestly, the thing I find myself pulling out more and more is my

southern hospitality here in the Big Apple. You might think that’s so cliche, but it goes an incredibly long way and sets you apart from the humdrum of other coworkers. Besides my Texas roots, the invaluable skills the advertising program taught me over the years help me every day.What is your advice for starting out at a job/being the new person?

Remember being a freshman and you were all “I’m so awesome because I just came out of senior year in high school where I was the coolest kid ever”? Don’t do any of that.In all sincerity, the “real world” and whatever company/organization you find yourself at as an intern or after graduation is in fact filled with normal people - not demigods - who were once in your shoes! Be yourself, don’t forget that it’s a good thing to ask questions, and always remember your Texas charm - seriously, try and squeeze as many “y’all”s in as possible.

So what did you major in at UT? What do you do now?

I majored in Political Communication but am now teaching 4th grade in inner city Miami through Teach for America.What have you been using from your time at UT in your new job...academic or otherwise?

I have used a ton of what I learned in college in my teaching job. Even though the fields of education and communication seem unrelated, they are actually quite similar. I am responsible for delivering lessons in a clear manner so that students will understand them. Communicating and relationship building is key, and my undergraduate degree prepared me in this way. Also, the value of hard work and time management that I learned in college have been crucial in my everyday work.

What is your advice for getting the most out of college for kind of “real world” job stuff? How can students maximize there college experience?

My advice for current undergrads is to take advantage of as many opportunities as possible. I never thought I would want to be a teacher, but I began tutoring in East Austin for extra credit in one of my classes one semester. This led me to see the injustices that exist in education and made me want to get involved in a hands on way. I hope to one day incorporate my classroom experience with my communication background to work in reforming systems of oppression that exist in the US. Without branching out, I never would have known that this is what I wanted to do! Also enjoy college (especially UT) as much as possible. Real life is hard.

sTOrY BY sArAH-GrACE sWEENEY& CArOLiNE sPrAGUE

BIANCA kRAUSEJOURNALISM

BLAkE MAYPUBLIC RELATIONS

BLAkE MEIERRTF

So what did you major in at UT? What do you do now?

I majored in journalism at UT and now I work as a graphic designer at the Mod Studio - a small design boutique near campus.How was the job search process?

Relatively smooth - I began seriously searching for jobs in Austin in April, but I ended up applying to just two positions. There were very few design positions available, so I essentially ambushed every listing as soon as I saw it.What is your advice for getting the most out of college for kind of “real world” job stuff? How can students maximize their college experience?

I can’t stress enough the importance of experiencing an array of internships/jobs that are related to whatever you want to work in. Those extracurriculars are what will make your college experience unique and set you apart from the crowd.

What is your advice for job searching? What about for starting out at a job/being the new person?

The best advice I can give is you have to realize you’re not going to land your dream job as soon as you graduate - and that’s ok! From my perspective, a dream job is something that will come later once you’re well-experience in some field - it’s something to work up to. And as far as being the new person - you’re going to make (probably) a lot of mistakes at first - but everything has a learning curve. Be professional and find a job that makes you happy.

Can you describe your job?

I work in sales, so I basically do cold calling and lead generation. You have your good days and bad days. I haven’t made a sale yet, but Monday was a good day because I got close to making one. What advice can you give to students?

Start looking for a job early. Decide where you want to live first. Stay positive. Don’t doubt yourself. You’ll be surprised, you’ll start to realize there’s so much more than being in school. Don’t be scared of the change, though. You’ll have not as much free time, but at the end of the day you can go home and chill and just be awesome.

What have been some of the biggest surprises going into the workforce?

It’s awesome because I can buy things I want now. Have you discovered Amazon yet? If not, don’t do it because I spend all of my money there. I have my eye on these Sperry loafers now. I don’t have time to myself, but I have money to spend. I never got to finish Lost.

Describe your job.

I am a casting editor for a game show called Let’s Ask America. I edit all of the auditions together to be pitched to the executives. I work on a team of 12 people and we have processed around 1000 videos to find the 700 or so contestants that will be on our first season.

What are you using from school for your job?

I did not know anything about Final Cut before I got to the RTF department at UT. Now I use Final Cut for everything I do here, without the intro classes I would probably not know a lot more of the technical aspects that are required for my job, as opposed to “teaching myself.”

What advice can you give to students?

No one comes out of college and gets their dream job. I want to work in reality television, so I will use this experience to further my goals and

step in the right direction later. This job has been invaluable because I have learned all about what is required from a casting department and who are good contestants and who are absolutely terrible.

What have been some of the biggest surprises going into the workforce?There is a level of perfection that is required from the top down to be successful in the entertainment industry. Being on the lower end of the totem pole, you will probably be putting in the longest hours with the lowest pay, however everyone around you has done the same thing years ago. Hollywood is much like a fraternity that has rules and initiation procedures, you just have to pay those dues. However these people that you get close to will help you find job 2, 3, and 4, etc. Relationships and work ethic are the most important things to being successful here.