MARK THE DATE:

APRIL 16, 2016

THE 2016 MASS MEDIA BANQUET

STUDENTS AND THEIR

FAMILIES INVITED TO
ATTEND

Apeiron XIV

April 29, 2016

Demonstrate your skills in research,
scholarship, creative activities
and community engagement in a
professional atmosphere. All disciplines
are invited.
Registration opens February 25th and closes
March 31st. Find registration form and additional
information in the Student Academics tab in
MyWashburn.

2016 Mass Media

Volume 27

Messenger

P A R I S

Mass Media students travel to Paris to learn about international media systems
By Sophie ONeill
A handful of students from the mass
media department travelled to Paris in
March to learn about the differences in
media practices and culture between
America and France. The students were
in Paris to participate in the annual
International Media Seminar, where
universities from all over America meet to
attend sessions that gain insight into how
various international media organizations
operate and compare American media
perspectives to those of their international
counterparts.
Dr. Lee Huebner, professor of media
and public affairs at George Washington
University, organizes the International
Media Seminar with the assistance of his
wife, Berna. Huebner was publisher of the
International Herald Tribune from 1979 to
1993, and interim president of American
University in Paris from 1995 to 1996.
The idea is to let students get a sense

of the communications media world

from a different point of view, which can
sometimes be surprisingly different from
our own base. It helps us appreciate our
own media systems, and we can also learn
things that can help us improve our own
communication practices, Huebner said.
The students met with a range of media
talents, such as famous novelist and
scriptwriter for the film The Shining,
Diane Johnson. According to mass media
student Jessica Herrera, they also met
with a former assistant editor from The
International New York Times.
I got to hear from a lot of people
who are working directly with media,
and they had some great advice. We were
very lucky to have heard from so many
influential and involved people, Herrera
said.
The students also saw a number of
tourist attractions during their time in

Paris, including the Luvre, the Eiffel

Tower, Notre Dame church, Versailles
Gardens and the Art De Triumph.
It was amazing to see these famous
attractions with your own eyes. We all got
to see these amazing places and meet so
many interesting people. It was a once in a
lifetime experience, Herrera said.
After spending a week observing
French culture, the mass media students
and teachers became aware of some of the
many cultural differences between their
two countries.
Media and culture in France is
different. French people like to argue
about anything, and they like to talk about
politics. During our first day in the city, we
saw politicians campaigning in the local
market, Mass Media Professor Maria
Stover said.
The students also noted the cultural
adjustments they made during their trip.

I got to hear from alot of people who are working directly with media and they had some great advice. We
are very lucky to have heard from so many influential
and involved peolple.
Jessica Herrera

As Americans, it was difficult,

sometimes, to remember to be respectful
of the culture and stay somewhat more
toned down in regards to ones character.
It was a very humbling experience to be in
another country other than your own, and I
have much greater respect for immigrants
who choose to live in foreign country,
Herrera said.
Washburn students have been one of
numerous universities taking part in the
seminar.
As part of a study abroad program that

was approved by the iHouse, Washburn is

one of several participating universities,
including Missouri Southern State
University, Northwestern University,
George Washington University and Trinity
College, who have been taking part in this
weeklong seminar since 1996, Stover said.
Students can also take International
Media Systems a class through the
mass media department to complement
the experience and count toward college
credits.

Above: Students enjoying a lecture at the Marshall Center.

Background: The Eiffell Tower.

Class Notes

John Anderson, 2007, worked at Aviva USA from 2008 to 2014. He is currently a
Se2 Business Analyst. He will be getting married in July 2016. (Derek)
Mikki Burcher, 2010, is working as a digital marketing coordinator at Hy-Vee. Fast
Forward Member of the Year, 2015. (Fahad)
Elizabeth Burgett, 2015, has a job as a marketing campaign specialist at NetStandard. She is currently engaged to be married in October 2016. (Derek)
Robert Burkett, 2012, is currently working as a general assignment reporter for the
lola Register, a daily newspaper based in Southeastern Kansas. (Myles)
Jordan Carr, 2014, working as a Marketing Assistant at Kansas City Credit Union.
(Lauren)
Tara Dimick, 2015, is a owner at E2 Communications, Inc. Publishing Company of
TK Business Magazine. (Myles)
Lauren (Eckert) Edelman, 2011, serves as the associate director of the Leadership Institute at Washburn. Her and her husband, Kyle, welcomed their daughter,
Logan Elizabeth, into the family in October 2015. (Amy)
Ian Edwards, 2013, is working as a manager of client services at Brightergy. (Fahad)
Jaime (Ditch) Hackman, 2011, is an aggregate sales rep for Hamm, Inc. She lives
with her husband Luke in Topeka. (Michael)
Valerie (Caviglia) Gough, 2010, and her husband, Jacob, welcomed their first
child, Gwendolyn Gough, on Nov. 1, 2015. Valerie works as the social media manager in Marketing Communications at Indiana UniversityPurdue University Fort
Wayne and lives in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Amy)
Sarah Farlee, 2008, is working as a PR/Marketing specialist at LJEC/Kaw Valley
Electric Cooperative Alliance. (Fahad)
Karl Fundenberger, 2008, is the director of Bicycle Operations for Topeka Metro.
He manages the bike share system for the city. (Fahad)
Angie (Marquart) Grau, 2009, is an account manager at Advisors Excel Creative.
She is also an adjunct lecturer at Washburn University, teaching Marketing Concepts BU-927-GA. (Derek)
Kate Hampson, 2011, is a business development & finance manager at Arsenal
Colorado, which is a youth soccer club in Fort Collins, Colorado. (Myles)
Sydney Hansen, 2015, is currently working as a wedding event coordinator and
marketing public relation specialist at Kansas Expocentre. (Myles)

Megan (Barfield) Hash, 2012, was a news anchor at KOFO 1220 Country radio station in Ottawa, Kansas until
her first son, Wyatt, was born in June 2015. She runs marketing and public relations for the oil-well company
she, her husband and his in-laws started three years ago. (Fahad)
Haley Heincker, 2014, is a marketing coordinator for Ameristar Hotel and Casino in Kansas City. (Derek)
Jessica Herrera, 2014, is working as an associate editor at the Florists Review Enterprises. (Fahad)
Matthew Kelly, 2013, is an associate editor at Florists Review Enterprises. (Myles)
Richard Kelly, 2013, is a recruiter for Key Staffing and a freelance sports writer for the Topeka Capital-Journal.
(Terry Richardson)
Melissa Kershner May, 2012, is the director of communications and events at the Kansas Motor Carriers Association. She expects to take on the operations manager position later this year. (Fahad)
Lacey Kinder, 2008, is an administrative assistant and marketing assistant for Easter Seals Capper Foundation. (Derek)
Jordan Kinderknecht, 2011, just had a baby, Kinley Rae Kinderknecht, born August, 2015. She still works as an
anchor/reporter at WOWT 6 News in Omaha, Nebraska. (Fahad)
Josh King, 2010, is a program coordinator of election technology at Wyandotte County Election Office. (Myles)

Misty Kruger, 2007, is the director of communications for Topeka Public Schools. (Derek)
Jillian Lira, 2011, in March of last year took a break from publisher digital marketing and started working as a
creative recruiter. In September, she now works as a digital account specialist for the Denver Post. She recently moved to a suburb of Denver and was blessed to be an aunt last year to her niece Taytum. (Amy)
Ben Mack, 2015, got married in May 2015 and bought a house in Overland Park in August 2015. He has a job
with Farmers Insurance as a claim representative in Olathe. (Fahad)
Nathan Miller, 2008, is an assistant professor of communications studies at Cosumnes River College in Sacramento, California. (Derek)
Ivan Moya, 2015, is a member of the Jesuit Volunteer Corps, a nationwide non-profit that gave him the opportunity to dedicate a year of professional work service to underserved communities in San Antonio. He is the
director of social services, manages a food pantry and offers other forms of financial assistance. (Amy)
Ronnie Murphy, 2004, is a copywriter & brand specialist at Bajillion Agency. (Myles)
Shalyn (Marsh) Murphy, 2009, had a baby boy in May 2015, Elliot Owen Murphy. She just left her job of seven
years, vice president of marketing and communications at Visit Topeka Inc., to be home with her son. She is
now doing freelance marketing and consulting work. (Amy)
Diego Morales, 2014, left Kansas to move back to Paraguay. There, he started his own sign-creation business,
creating anything from small advertising signs to billboards. His company recently broke into the car industry.
(Amy)