Al Tompkins, a member of the New Century Journalism program’s Advisory Board, kicked off the Spring 2008 NCJ Speakers’ Series Monday morning with a talk titled “If Everybody has YouTube, Why Do We Need Journalism?”A veteran journalist himself and the former news director for local station WSMV-TV Ch. 4, Tompkins now serves as the Group Leader for Broadcasting/Online at The Poynter Institute, an internationally recognized school for journalists, future journalists and teachers of journalists. He is also the author of Aim for the Heart: A Guide for TV Producers and Reporters, which is being used by more than 70 universities as their main broadcast writing textbook.
Tompkins began with an interactive conversation of the value of journalism over blogging and social networking sites, illustrating his points with a number of examples of how investigative journalism has changed the way individuals view world events. Highlighting news photos from Somalia, Vietnam and 9/11, Tompkins focused on how journalists can go where others won’t in order to give voice to the voiceless and hold the powerful accountable. “The primary purpose of journalism I believe is to provide citizens with information so they can be self-governing.”
In addition to news with international impact, Tompkins showed how journalists act as watchdogs on a local level with stories on everything from mechanics charging for work that was never done to a mattress salesman selling used merchandise as new products. Concluding with a recitation of the First Amendment, Tompkins noted, “Journalism is so important that it’s the only constitutionally protected profession. I don’t much care how we deliver it… the act of journalism is at the core of democracy.”
Tompkins has trained more than 9,000 local television news producers, reporters, photojournalists and managers in his One-Day Storytelling Workshops in 37 states. During his two and a half decades as a journalist, he has won The National Emmy, The Peabody Award (group award), the Japan Prize, The American Bar Association’s Silver Gavel for Court Reporting, seven National Headliner Awards, two Iris Awards and the Robert F. Kennedy Award for international reporting.
Tompkins Offers Insights on Value of Journalism in a YouTube World
Three Students in February Final of Ideablob.com Contest
Three of the eight finalists in this month’s ideablob.com competition for the best new business idea are Belmont students offering up social ventures: Noah Curran, Janice Dotti and Megan Lopez. Ideablob.com is where entrepreneurs and small business owners can share and grow their business ideas–and have a chance to win $10,000 towards fulfilling them.
Noah Curran’s Turning Actions into Good is a web-based non-profit charity which revolves around the kindness of strangers. The concept allows anyone to participate in a charity, regardless of financial status.
Janice Dotti wants to create a completely fair trade, completely organic coffeehouse that sponsors social justice causes while taking care of the environment. She will also only use fair trade sugar, tea and cocoa as well as educate consumers on how their buying habits affect the working poor in developing countries.
Megan Lopez presents an idea to create an informational website about how to raise a child naturally. Organic Baby will be a tool for parents to use as a community blog, as well as a resource to buy organic clothing and bedding merchandise and to research the benefits of healthy organic foods, etc.
For more information and to vote, click here.
McCrickard Presents Article, Wins Award
Matthew McCrickard, Associate Registrar, was recipient of the Margaret Ruthven Perry Distinguished Journalism Award during the recent Southern Association of College Registrars and Admissions Officers (SACRAO) conference. McCrickard presented his award-winning article, “Adapting Solution-Focused Advising: Effective Communication Strategies for Registrars” to the 2008 SACRAO conference attendees. He discussed successful strategies used at Belmont which further enhance students’ academic progression and completion of degree.
Titans Linebacker Speaks to Belmont Student-Athletes
Titans linebacker David Thornton was the guest speaker at an annual alcohol and drug awareness seminar held by Belmont University’s Athletic Department for student-athletes on Feb. 20. Thornton addressed more than 200 student-athletes on the importance of good decision making and the impact of decisions on both their athletic and personal lives.
Thornton shared his personal journey, describing his upbringing and his long and arduous road from a non-recruited walk-on for the University of North Carolina football team to NFL stardom. Thornton said that having to earn his way onto the team and earn the respect from his teammates and coaches through hard work taught him the value of perseverance.
For more on this story, click here.
Burchett, Spring Present at Conference in San Diego
Matt Burchett, Director of New Student & Parent Programs, and Dr. Ken Spring, Assistant Professor of Sociology, recently presented at the National Conference for the First Experience and Students in Transition in San Francisco, California. Their presentation, titled “Seemingly Unrelated Experiences: Integrating the First Year and Institutional Leaders,” highlighted the partnership between New Student Programs in the Dean of Students Office and the First Year Seminar in creating seamless learning experiences for new students at Belmont University. The conference is hosted annually by the National Institute for the First Year Experience and Students in Transition.
Lee and Ageleke Zapis Sponsor First Endowed Songwriting Scholarship
Belmont University announced today that Lee Zapis, president of Zapis Capital Group, and his wife Ageleke will offer the first fully funded endowed scholarship in the new Songwriting Major being offered through the Curb College of Entertainment and Music Business. The couple’s $25,000 gift will be used to establish an endowed fund to be known as the “Leon and Ageleke Zapis Songwriters Scholarship.” Scholarship recipients will be determined annually based on a review process by the Curb College in consultation with Belmont Student Financial Services.
Lee Zapis said, “I’ve always admired the power of a great song and the songwriters who write them. My hope is that this scholarship will help a young person fulfill their dreams of becoming a professional songwriter. I’d also like to acknowledge Roger Murrah and the Board of Directors of the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame Foundation who inspired me to give this scholarship.”
Dr. Bo Thomas, Belmont’s Vice President of University Advancement, said, “This first fully endowed scholarship for Belmont’s new songwriting major adds more energy to our premier Entertainment and Music Business program. Scholarships like the Zapis scholarship will help make aspiring songwriters’ dreams come true here at Belmont in the songwriting capital of the world. We are so grateful to Lee and Ageleke.”
Country Music’s Biggest Artists Scheduled to Appear at ‘2008 CMT Awards’
Country music’s biggest stars will rock the Curb Event Center at Belmont University when the show premieres live on Mon., April 14 at 7 p.m. Central on CMT and CMT.com. CMT recently announced that father/daughter duo Billy Ray Cyrus and Miley Cyrus will host the “CMT Music Awards” and offer a special performance. Other previously announced performers for the evening include chart-toppers Alan Jackson, Brad Paisley, Carrie Underwood, Sugarland, Taylor Swift and Toby Keith, with more artists to be announced soon.
CMT’s seventh annual awards show honors country music’s elite for the year’s most outstanding music videos and performances and continues to be the genre’s only fan-voted awards. Tickets to the “2008 CMT Music Awards” go on sale Sat., Feb. 23 at 10 a.m. Central and are available at all Ticketmaster outlets, by phone at 615-255-9600, and online at CMT.com and ticketmaster.com. Belmont University students will be eligible for a ticket discount, and additional information can be found online at CMT.com.
Fan voting for the “2008 CMT Music Awards” is currently underway and continues through Feb. 25, only at CMT.com. On Thurs., March 6, CMT will announce the four finalists in each of the 13 categories, except Video of the Year. Fans can then vote online at CMT.com through Fri., April 11 to determine the winners. The final nominees for Video of the Year will be announced at the beginning of the live show, and fans can vote at CMT.com throughout the live broadcast (ET/CT only) to determine the night’s big winner.
Dansby Earns Second A-Sun Player of the Week Honor
In leading his team to two key road victories this past week, Belmont Basketball junior Shane Dansby (Pegram, Tenn.) has been named Atlantic Sun Conference Player of the Week. The 6-4 swingman averaged 22.0 points and 9.0 rebounds per game on a sparkling 68 percent shooting from the floor as the Bruins won at East Tennessee State Feb. 14 and at USC Upstate Feb. 16.
Dansby tied his career-high with 28 points on 12-for-15 shooting and added eight rebounds in the 87-75 win at ETSU Thursday – the Bruins’ ninth consecutive win at the Memorial Center. He followed that up with his fourth career double-double of 16 points and 10 rebounds in a come-from-behind victory at USC Upstate two days later.
Dansby ranks among the league leaders in five statistical categories: 5th in field goal percentage (.526), 11th in defensive rebounding (4.00), 12th in rebounding (6.1), 15th in offensive rebounding (2.13), and 15th in scoring (14.3 ppg). Dansby joins East Tennessee State’s Kevin Tiggs as the only players to receive multiple weekly awards this year.
Pharmacy Faculty Published, Involved in Testing
Dr. Elinor Chumney, Assistant Dean of the Belmont School of Pharmacy, has recently published a manuscript in the current Journal of Pharmaceutical Technology with colleagues at the South Carolina College of Pharmacy. The article titled “Preadmission Predictors of Graduating Grade Point Average in a Professional Pharmacy Program” evaluates which criteria act as predictors of academic success in a pharmacy program, thereby providing valuable tools in the student admissions process.
Dr. Cathy Turner, Assistant Professor and Director of the Pharmacy School’s Drug Information Services, recently published the inaugural edition of INQUIRY a publication of the Belmont University Drug Information Center. This newsletter is part of the School of Pharmacy’s vision to serve as a “…resource for training and supporting competent, compassionate practitioners with a passion for life-long professional improvement.” Newsletter articles will include new drug summaries, clinical trial reviews, consumer product updates and faculty contributions. The newsletter will be published routinely and distributed to all college of health sciences faculty. Suggestions for improvements and faculty contributions are welcome.
In addition, Dr. Steven Stodghill, Associate Professor and Director of Assessment of the Belmont University School of Pharmacy, is currently serving as the lead beta tester for the OutcomesRx Pharmacy Student Assessment Program developed by RxInsider Inc. of West Warrick, Rhode Island. The program was developed exclusively for schools of pharmacy. OutcomesRx allows for detailed student and institutional outcomes management and assessment.
Cornwall Quoted in U.S. News and World Report
Jeff Cornwall, director of the Center for Entrepreneurship, was recently quoted in a U.S. News and World Report story titled “Entrepreneurs Might Not Rise to Stimulus Bait.” Click here to read the story.
