By Jennifer Funk
In January the mass media
department began preparation to
implement its first Mass Media Day.
Faculty are eager to bring high school
students on campus to showcase
all that the department has to offer
incoming students.
This event is scheduled to take
place March 25, 2016, and will focus
on targeting high school sophomores
and juniors interested in the media
field.
The tentative plan for the day
would include an opening welcome
from University President Jerry Farley
and Kathy Menzie, along with campus
tours, lunch, rotating workshops and a
panel discussion with alumni.
This event will be a recruitment
tool, as well as a learning opportunity
for mass media students. Professor
Maria Stover gave her Advanced
Media Lab students the chance to
become involved in the construction of
Mass Media Day.
“The entire event will be
organized and run by mass
media students, so it is in
essence a great case study in
event planning,” said Stover.
Seniors Jennifer Funk and Sage
Hermanson decided to tackle the
planning as their project for the
class. They have created a tentative
schedule, contacted surrounding
high schools counselors, designed a
logo, had a class create a flier design,
researched advertising opportunities,
chose what promotional materials
attendees will receive and created a
# M M D AY 2 0 1 6
Students Plan Mass Media Day ‘16
Photo by Regina Cassell
Seniors Jennifer Funk and Sage Hermanson created a blueprint in advanced
media lab for the department’s first Mass Media Day, which will be open to
high school students Spring 2016.
social media campaign schedule.
It has proven to be a challenging
but rewarding experience for the
students involved.
“I want to be able to showcase
that, yes, we actually can show you
and teach you how to be successful in
Topeka... It’s that ability to say that
I’ve put all of my skills together to
create this thing and this is how it is
suppose to work,” said Hermanson.
Before attending Washburn
Hermanson was unaware that
Washburn offered journalism in their
mass media program. This is one of
the reasons that Hermanson is excited
to showcase what Washburn has to
offer.
High schools in the surrounding
area will be able to connect with
Washburn mass media faculty. This
will increase the awareness of the
multiple emphases the mass media
department offers.
“On the day of the event, we
expect our students to become
the ambassadors for the mass
media program,” said Stover.
In the fall semester, there will
be two or three students selected
to continue Funk and Hermanson’s
work. They each are hoping that Mass
Media day continues to be an event on
campus to educate future students.
Please contact the department if you would be willing to join us on Media Day 2016.
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