Scripps August in Review: Tips from students, history from faculty, engagement from alumni, and more

Scripps College of Communication assistant professor Ken Klein provides a recap of August for Scripps alumni.

Proud History

Professor Emeritus Terry Eiler (School of Visual Communication) published a tribute to VisCom co-founder Chuck Scott (1924-2015), timed to Scott’s date of birth: Aug. 18 in Grayville, Ill.

“Happy Birthday Chuck Scott… a genius from small-town America, a Navy-trained photographer and teacher from Grayville, Ill., who helped us see the big picture,” said Eiler in commentary published Aug. 21 by the Gannett paper in Evansville, Ind. The prescient Scott helped transform news layouts, arguing that photos/images/graphs are just as important as text. 

Professor Aimee Edmondson (E.W. Scripps School of Journalism) is president of the American Journalism Historians Association. In her president’s column posted Aug. 15, Edmondson recalled that author David McCullough (1933-2022) was Ohio University’s bicentennial commencement speaker in 2004. Preparation for that speech led to McCullough’s late-in-life book “The Pioneers,” published in 2019.

“The life and achievements of McCullough show us that curiosity leads to actual discovery, coexists with courtesy, and it must be life-long, not just for children,” said Edmondson.

McCullough’s funeral service was held Aug. 16 in West Tisbury, Mass. Thank you, Scripps alumna Mary Beth Bardin in Dallas, BSJ’77, for the reminder about McCullough’s 2004 commencement speech.

Scripps tips

In Raleigh, N.C., Kyle Henn (’22 School of Media Arts and Studies) explains how he got his job at Spectrum News TV. His reel stood out, he says, thanks to on-campus experience at ESPN3 and internships through the OHIO-in-LA program.

Henn and Scripps peers in Denver, Richmond, Va., and Wilmington, Del., shared advice on how to land internships and get experience. The chatty tips blog posted Aug. 26 was prepared by Scripps senior Rory Ball (’23, BSJ). Next from Rory: a Scripps alum at On3 Sports will explain how college athletes can now earn an income on their name and likeness.

Awards/honors

Scripps students were nominated in multiple categories for Ohio Valley Emmy Awards, including their work to produce long-running WOUB sports programs Gridiron Glory and Hardwood Heroes. Emmy winners will be announced Sept. 18.

Scripps alumni were honored Aug. 27 by the Ohio Society of Professional Journalists. Marin Cook (’22, VisCom) was there to photograph winners.

Ohio University alumni honored included Evan Millward (’11 BSJ) of WCPO Cincinnati, Susan Tebben of Ohio Capital Journal (’09BSJ/’19 Master-Media Studies) and Micaela Marshall (’18 BSJ) of Spectrum News.

On the road

Alyssa Cruz (’25, BSJ) helped plan a panel at the Aug. 3-7 convention of National Association of Black Journalists/National Association of Hispanic Journalists in Las Vegas.

E.W. Scripps School of Journalism Director Dr. Eddith Dashiell attended along with Scripps alumni Ethan Sands (’21, BSJ), Enid Doggett (BSJ) and more.

High traffic on social

Top social media shares in August included:

• #WhatCanUDo with a journalism degree? 
• Earl Hopkins (’19 BSJ) is culture writer in Austin
• Eileen Sheil (’90 BSJ) is healthcare communications executive, Ohio University national trustee
• Scripps-in-DC interns meet with alumni
• Tribute to Chuck Scott
• Scripps alum Natalia Burke Garcia (’22 Specialized Studies) joins Disney Imagineering as intern
• Scripps alum Dan Sewell (’77 BSJ) came out of retirement to write a political column for the Cincinnati Enquirer
• College Emmy nominations 
• Carly Leatherwood (’96BSJ) is interim chief of staff to Ohio University President Hugh Sherman
• Scripps senior Joe Collins got five internships