ByLines Briefs

Greg Moore, editor of The Denver Post, visited the Campus Press and talked to students at a brown bag lunch in May.

Former master's student Jim Sheeler wins Pulitzer

Rocky Mountain News reporter Jim Sheeler, a master's student at the School in the early 1990s, won the Pulitzer for feature writing for a series called "Final Salute." Todd Heisler, Rocky Mountain News photographer, won a Pulitzer for photography for the same series. denver.rockymountainnews.com/news/finalSalute/

School creates certificate in international media

The undergraduate certificate is offered jointly by the International Affairs Program, College of Arts and Sciences, and the School of Journalism and Mass Communication to a maximum of 20 students with a 3.25 overall GPA.

The certificate is designed to open doors to international specializations for students in journalism, and introduce International Affairs students to media careers. The next application deadline is Feb. 15 for fall 2007. More information at www.colorado.edu/journalism/globalmedia/imc/

Westword again picks KVCU as top station

CU Student Radio 1190 KVCU-AM won Westword's designation as "Best Local Radio Station" in the Denver area this spring – for the fifth consecutive year. Said Westword, "This is a commercial-free oasis in a desert of radio mediocrity." Mike Flanagan is the general manager of the station. Netcasts can be heard at www.radio1190.org.

SJMC program admits high school seniors

Working with the CU Admissions Office, Steve Jones, Jeanne Meyer-Brown and Dean Paul Voakes have undertaken a modest experiment for next fall: direct admission to the School for a small number of outstanding high school seniors. These candidates have been flagged by admissions because of their interest in SJMC and media work, their predicted CU GPA of at least 3.3 and their outstanding SAT or ACT scores.

CNN International producer and SJMC adjunct instructor Jim Schiffman attends the School's reception for journalists participating in CU's annual Conference on World Affairs.

"We expect that these unusually high standards will yield only about 20-25 first-years," Voakes said. They will also meet once a month next year for a non-credit seminar with the dean. "This inducement has already had a positive impact on our ability to compete for the top students." Voakes said.

To each out-of-state student the School has identified for direct admission, the chancellor has offered a new $15,000 scholarship. Of the 20 high school students who have committed to the School already, about one in three are from outside Colorado, and one in four are students of color.

The School admitted 166 sophomores and juniors for fall, accepting 64 percent of the applicants. The average overall GPA was 3.2 and in journalism classes, 3.4.

'Ads a2b' class created for non-ad majors

Advertising a2b is a new non-credit intensive Maymester program designed by the advertising faculty to provide a professionally oriented, real-world program to non-Advertising majors.

The class will feature top-of-the-line guest teachers from around the country in addition to some SJMC faculty members. Fifty students have signed up and more are on a waiting list. The program is funded by tuition and may lead the School to create similar intensive short courses in this model that will create revenue and provide outreach, according to Dean Paul Voakes. More information is available at: www.colorado.edu/ContinuingEducation/adsa2b/.

Photo-j students place sixth in Hearst contest

The SJMC won sixth place and a photojournalism medallion in the Hearst Journalism Awards Program for 2006 competition for work submitted by December graduates Matt Nager ('05) and Jacob Pritchard ('05). Pritchard placed third and Nager eight in the picture story and series competition in December. Nager placed fourth in the category of sports and news. Both are eligible to submit additional photos for the semi-final judging this June.

Leo Burnett's $10,000 for ad creative program

Kara Taylor, vice president of creative recruitment at the Leo Burnett advertising agency, headquartered in Chicago, recently presented the School with an award of $10,000. The money is to be used for scholarships as well as equipment and activities that will enrich the school's creative program.

Only two universities were chosen by Leo Burnett to receive awards this year.