Present: Amy Ahlersmeyer, Brian Hayes, David Knott, Mark Kornmann, Sarah Maisto, Gene Policinski, Michael Price (via phone conference), Charlotte Shepperd, Lesley Stedman, Marilyn Weaver, and Diane Williams.

 Guests: Katrina Petre, Graduate Assistant, Journalism Department

President Sarah Maisto called the meeting to order at 9:35 a.m.  She asked for corrections or additions to the minutes of the September 7, 2002 meeting.  Gene Policinski moved to accept the minutes as presented.  Mark Kornmann seconded, and they were approved by voice vote.

Business

Regional Alumni Events—Reports were given as follows:

Student Media Alumni Reunion, June 21, 2003, Alumni Center—Brian Hayes reported that a letter was sent to former editors of the student publications requesting their assistance and input.  It was reported that two have responded.  The committee has discussed theme ideas for the day and determined a basic agenda.  There will be a cash bar reception at 5:00 p.m., an informal dinner at 6:00 p.m.  Dinner will be followed by music, games, and activities.  Other activities discussed were campus and Art Journalism Building tours and a journalism open house in the afternoon.  The event will be publicized in the Spring 2003 issue of the Phoenix, the Ball State Alumnus, and a mailing will be sent to journalism student media alumni.  Lodging has been contracted with Signature Inn.  Katrina Petre, journalism graduate assistant, will assist with logistics for the event.  The committee will meet briefly following the board meeting.

Chicago Event—Weaver reported that August 9, 2003 is possible date for the event.  An afternoon Architecture Cruise tour (group rate of $10 per person) is available.  The event could also include a reception and/or dinner.  Mark Kornmann mentioned that the event could also be an activity centered around a Cubs game at Wrigley Field August 2, 16, or 30.  The Cubs are playing Los Angeles on Saturday, August 16 at 3:05 p.m.  There was discussion about the possibility of doing both activities for the event.  Shepperd and Weaver will make contacts in the Chicago area for assistance, and Kornmann will check on costs for a game package.  Following discussion, Shepperd recommended the board to give the committee authority to make decisions for the event.  The committee will meet briefly following the board meeting.

Journalism Alumni Awards—Shepperd distributed biographical summaries of award nominees recommended by the awards committee.  Following discussion Amy Ahlersmeyer made a motion to recommend Attila Schillinger, MA95, as the recipient for the Outstanding Young Alumni Award.  The motion was seconded by Gene Policinski and approved by voice vote.  Lesley Stedman made a motion to recommend Karen Garloch,’73, as the recipient for the Journalism Alumni Award.  The motion was seconded by Brian Hayes and approved by voice vote.  Michael Price made a motion to recommend Jan Clark, ’63MA70, to be inducted into the Journalism Hall of Fame.  Weaver asked the board to continue to search for prestigious nominees.

A call for nominations is published in Phoenix and also on the Web.  It was reported that there are currently 1,233 journalism alumni e-mail addresses and that a PUSH e-mail may be sent for nominations.

Department Update

Marilyn Weaver reported that the iComm grant continues to provide resources for progress.  Money has been made available for faculty professional development and the curriculum is expanding, to include a minor in iCommunication.

A new graduate program has been approved.  Digital storytelling, technically a telecommunications degree program but also involving journalism, will train students how to communicate the news story using digital technology.

The Center for Media Design will open soon in a space adjacent to journalism.  The Center is patterned after the Chicago Tribune technology space.

A considerable amount of iComm money is going to the Digital News Project, which includes convergence of departments and technology.  Several position vacancies have been filled, including a managing editor, and the goal is that the project will be fully operating by this fall.

The department has applied for a Knight grant.  The hope is that money may come to provide start-up funding for a chair in the department, part of $1.5 million Knight is devoting to faculty funding over the next three years.  The organization is funding a number of scholastic projects and Ball State will likely receive money, at least, for a center from the Knight foundation.

In other items, Weaver said that several experts will be on campus this spring as professionals-in-residence and will bring a range of expertise to the students.  Also, Ball State is scheduled as the first stop on the “Road Trip” agenda of “Freedom Sings,” a program produced by the Freedom Forum and including a multi-media show.

The Foundation accounts for journalism are showing strong balances. Michael Smith has made a substantial contribution of art, to be used in the journalism area.

The department is in the process of searching for a faculty member in advertising and a person to teach the news-editorial sequence and be faculty advisor to the Daily News.  Steven Quinn has been hired as convergence educator.

The board was reminded to submit photos for the departmental Web site.

Alumni Council Update

Amy Ahlersmeyer reported that the Council had met September 14, 2002 on campus.  Among highlights were the board-of-trustee report, stating that freshman tuition would be increased $1,000 to help offset the state’s financial shortfall.

Ed Shipley, executive director of the Ball State Alumni Association, pointed out that the Association had staffed 153 events to date during this calendar year, including assisting with President Brownell’s 17-city Building Better Communities tour.  The staff is changing.  Russ Lawrence, Andrea Deer, and Angela Parker had left and Shipley said that replacements would be sought.

There is a new group in the Association.  Cardinal Football Alliance became an active society January 1, 2003.

Ahlersmeyer, who served at her last Council meeting as journalism representative last September, noted that the Council will meet February 8 and Jim Grim will represent journalism.

Other Business

Journalism Alumni Board Membership—Shepperd reported there are three at-large positions open on the board and that Layne Cameron, ’89, and Heather Yost, ’99, are interested.   Shepperd will research Williams’ information.  Michael Price made a motion to approve Cameron and Yost as members of the board.  Cameron will serve a term ending December 31, 2004 and Yost will serve a four-year term ending December 31, 2006.  Shepperd will move forward to fill the remaining position.

Future Meetings

Journalism Awards Luncheon, Wednesday, April 2, 2003, Student Center, Cardinal Hall.  Board meeting following in SC Founders Room, 3rd floor.

Saturday, June 21, 2003, 9:30 a.m., Alumni Center Board Room, preceding Student Media Alumni Reunion.

There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 11:35 a.m.