Communication Studies Newsletter—Dec. 2006
Telly and Cine Award Winner Receives Emmy Nomination
What started initially as a class project in Dr. Keith Weber’s 401 Communication Studies class, eventually resulted, years later, in an award-winning, Emmy-nominated Public Service Announcement (PSA). The PSA was for organ donation. One might wonder how a course project in Morgantown, West Virginia led to Dr. Weber being a finalist for an Emmy award in New York City, but once you know what students learn in their Communication Studies courses at West Virginia University, everything becomes clear.
During COMM 401 several springs ago, students learned about the Theory of Reasoned Action, which suggests that people’s behaviors are determined by their attitude toward the behaviors. The class then discussed what they had heard about organ donation and decided to assess those thoughts in a message experiment. The manipulated message did not stress why itâ??s important to sign a donorâ??s card, but instead addressed the misconceptions people have about organ donation.
“It’s all about audience analysis. We need to ask ourselves why the people we are trying to persuade are reluctant to sign donor cards,” Dr. Weber said. He recalls an organ procurement organization saying to him, “Why didn’t we ever think about doing it like this?”
Dr. Weber applied for a grant from the Department of Health Resources and Services Administration and was awarded $178,000 to further investigate effective messages involving organ donation. The title of his grant was “Social and Behavioral Interventions to Increase Organ and Tissue Donation.”
Dr. Weber contracted with Banyan Communications to produce a commercial based on his specific message. Banyan contacted him when they finished filming the PSA. They believed that not only did they have a PSA that could be used in the study, but possibly a PSA that could receive greater recognition. With Dr. Weber’s agreement, Banyan proceeded to submit the PSA for several awards. By last summer, the PSA had received two Telly awards and a Cine award. Then he received the telephone call about the Emmy nomination.
The Emmy Award ceremony took place at the top of Rockefeller Center in the Rainbow room in New York City. Although the PSA did not win, Dr. Weber focused on how an idea from a course project had led to this award ceremony. As he looked around the room at all the other nominees’ tables, Dr. Weber recalled thinking how funny it was that they were full of individuals from billion dollar advertising and public relations companies while his table consisted of familiar faces.
“Winning would have been great, but I was very impressed with the PSA on homelessness that won the award,” stated Dr. Weber graciously. “And I hear a WVU alum was part of the team that created the winning PSA, so Let’s Go Mountaineers!”
“This isn’t what we do; it was an experiment that became these other things,” Dr. Weber said. “For me the coolest part was the whole process. It started in my classroom.”
Two Times is Twice as Much Fun!
The Second Annual Cream Your
Communication Instructor Fundraiser
The WVU Chapter of Lamda Pi Eta, the National Communication Association’s Honor Society, held its second-annual Cream Your Communication Instructor. For one dollar, students, or colleagues, could throw a whipped cream pie at one of their favorite teachers.
The event was held just across the street from the Mountainlair and attracted both excited participants and giggling observers. Even new faculty members and doctoral student instructors got in on the action.
“Being a part of Cream Your COMM Instructor was a blast!” said Dr. Megan Dillow, the newest faculty member in the Department of Communication Studies. “My only regret is that I didn’t get MORE pies thrown at me! I just didn’t get my fill of whipped cream! It was a fun way to raise money for a great cause, and I look forward to doing it again next year.”
The event was very successful and raised $210 that went in part to hosting a Halloween party for children who attend the Shack, an after-school program.
“This was our second year to hold this unique fundraiser, and it was a huge success,” said Dr. Maria Brann, faculty advisor. “We more than doubled our profits from last year.â??
Not only was the event a success in terms of the money raised but also because of the camaraderie it provided.
“This is a fun event that brings together students, faculty, and community members,” Brann said. “Local organizations donated the supplies so that all of the money raised would be profit. And local community members and alumni helped donate money to the event as they had fun participating in different Homecoming celebrations including throwing pies at COMM instructors.”
“If only we could get Dr. Myers to volunteer to be a target for 15 minutes next year, I am sure we would double our donations in 2007!” Brann concluded.
Internship Q & A with Graduating Seniors
Justin Knapp and Dan Mozes
In this internship Q & A, Justin Knapp and Dan Mozes talked about their internship with Mountaineer Sports Network, which they completed during the past summer. Justin and Dan are Communication Studies majors graduating in December of 2006. They are also members of the West Virginia Football team, which aided them in finding the internship.
Q: What was your internship?
A: Our internship was with MSN (Mountaineer Sports Network).
Q: When did you complete the internship?
A: It was completed in the summer of 2006.
Q: What were some of the responsibilities for your position at MSN?
A: During the internship we had to carry and set up equipment at various locations. We had to shoot film and then edit the film.
Q: What was the toughest aspect about the internship at MSN?
A: Since it was during the summer, MSN does not have a lot of activities going on as they do for the rest of the year. We did not get as much experience as we had hoped we would. Also, we had to juggle the internship and football practice during the summer so our schedule was very busy.
Q: What was most rewarding about the internship?
A: We made our own highlight reel from various football films and it will be shown on Mountaineer Magazine for the bowl game show.
Q: Would you recommend this internship to other students?
A: Yes, we would recommend it to students who love sports and are interested in a career in television.
Q: Would you do anything differently?
A: Spend more time shooting and editing film. We spent a lot of time learning and not enough time actually using the equipment.
Q: When will you both be graduating?
A: We both will be graduating in December of 2006.
Q: Congratulations.
Lambda Pi Eta Hosts Halloween Party at the Shack
Lambda Pi Eta has been busy this semester planning community activities. Recently the student organization held a Halloween party for children at the Shack, an after-school program for elementary through high school students.
“One of the great things about being a part of Lambda Pi Eta is doing community service and being involved in the community,” said Meagan Birmingham, a junior Communication Studies major and member of Lambda Pi Eta. “There is a very strong positive feeling that is associated with community volunteering and the Halloween party was no exception. The volunteers had a great time, and the kids had a blast!”
The party was complete with Halloween games and activities such as bobbing for apples, mummy wrap, face painting, and pin the nose on the witch.
“I thought the party was a success overall,” said Jay Mason, a senior Communication Studies major and vice president of Lambda Pi Eta. “The kids had a lot of fun and so did the volunteers. I know I had a blast doing the mummy wrapping station. It was just a great experience all around.”
Not only did Lambda Pi Eta members plan the party and participate in the fun activities, but the group also provided the children with treat bags at the end of the program and sent them home gleaming happy (and full of sugar)!
Everyone was excited about the party and what it meant to the children. “Seeing the smiles on those kids faces for lighting up their lives are the types of experiences I’m going to remember after graduating college,” said Douglas Fidler, a senior Communication Studies major and president of Lambda Pi Eta.
