Monday Memo June 19

The Monday Memo is distributed monthly during the summer. The next Monday Memo will be July 17.

LAST WEEK'S HIGHLIGHT

Stauffer-Flint busy with summer workshops

Last week, high school students filled Stauffer-Flint Hall for the Native Storytelling Workshop and the Jayhawk Media Workshop. The Native Storytelling Workshop (top photo) introduced Native American high school students from across the country to the field of journalism, and they explored ways that storytelling skills offer opportunities to give back to Native communities. Students attended a presentation by Ryan RedCorn, filmmaker, photographer and screenwriter on "Reservation Dogs." RedCorn did an impromptu meet and greet with the students after his presentation. The workshop was in partnership with Native American Journalists Association and Haskell Indian Nations University and was led by Assistant Professor Melissa Greene-Blye (Miami Tribe of Oklahoma) and Assistant Professor Rebekka Schlichting (Ioway Tribe of Kansas and Nebraska). Read a story about the workshop from The Lawrence Times.

More than 100 high school students registered for the five-day Jayhawk Media Workshop (second photo). Instructors from local high schools and KU faculty led sessions ranging from multimedia journalism to yearbook design. During the workshop days, students attended classes in Stauffer-Flint and toured campus landmarks. In the evenings, students worked on projects, played sand volleyball and indoor soccer and experimented in a photo studio. The camp was hosted by director Eric Thomas and assistant director Kerry Navinskey.

▮ See a photo gallery here.

▮ Watch a video here.

INSIDE THE SCHOOL

From left, KU alumna Ellen Kuwana, University Daily Kansan director Nick Jungman, J-School student Elizabeth Walters, Bremner Center director Lisa McLendon, J-School faculty member Gerri Berendzen and J-School student Cate Manning attended the annual conference of ACES: The Society for Editing in March in Columbus, Ohio. The conference drew more than 500 editors for three days of training and networking.

Associate Professor Genelle Belmas will serve on a committee to plan and coordinate programming around the 2023-2024 KU Common Book, “Parable of the Sower” by Octavia E. Butler.

Ribbon-cutting ceremony celebrates grand opening of Kansas Media Hall of Fame

A ribbon-cutting ceremony May 19 celebrated the new Kansas Media Hall of Fame at Stauffer-Flint Hall. The interactive display features inductees in the Kansas Newspaper Hall of Fame, Kansas Broadcasters Hall of Fame and Kansas Photojournalism Hall of Fame. Festivities began with a social and remarks at the Jayhawk Welcome Center and Adams Alumni Center before the ribbon cutting at Stauffer-Flint. Read more from the Kansas Association of Broadcasters.

RESEARCH, PUBLICATIONS & PRESENTATIONS

Lisa McLendon spoke recently to two community groups about language. On June 6, she made her fourth appearance at KU Mini College, presenting on “Why English Spelling Is Such a Train Wreck,” and on June 8, she was invited to lecture at Bishop Spencer Place in Kansas City, Missouri, where she discussed why “Everything You Learned about Grammar Is (Probably) Wrong.”

An interview with Matt Tidwell, assistant dean for graduate and professional studies, was featured in a chapter of "Inclusive Internal Communications: Pathways, Practices, and Perspectives to Enhance Clarity, Build Connections and Gain Commitment for Organizational Success" by Aniisu Verghese, Ph.D.

Stephen Wolgast, Knight Chair of Audience & Community Engagement in News, spoke at the Kansas Press Association’s annual convention, discussing his research into audience data. It looks at journalists who cover K–12 education in Kansas and how they use digital tools and show-leather reporting to determine who reads their reporting and why. The convention was held in Mulvane on June 9 and 10.

Doctoral student Rim H. Chaif has two extended abstracts accepted for presentation at the 2023 AEJMC conference. The first paper titled "Reforming the Reformers: Shaping pro-democratic attitudes and beliefs through discussions of online violence against women" is the result of Chaif's collaboration with Assistant Professor Chris Etheridge. The second paper titled "How does the Algerian LGBTQIA+ community use Facebook groups to navigate their sexual identities?" is Chaif's first solo manuscript, which looks at Algerian LGBTQIA+ individuals' use of closed Facebook groups for community support and self-expression.

STUDENT NEWS & OPPORTUNITIES

Senior Shamaria Massenberg was featured in this University of Kansas video.

Jobtest.org is offering a $1,000 scholarship to a student so they can continue to educate themselves and explore potential careers that align with their goals and bring them lifetime fulfillment. Deadline to apply is July 1. Learn more.

The Ensō Superfoods' Wellness Warriors Scholarship is a $500 annual scholarship that’s open to all students who are intentional about managing their personal wellness. The deadline to apply is July 1. Learn more.

Students at any education level with any GPA are eligible to apply for the Taylor Swift 1989 Scholarship. Submit an essay on “What is your favorite song on Taylor Swift’s ‘1989’ album and why?” Learn more here.

The law firm of Whittel & Melton is donating a $1,215 college scholarship to commemorate the signing of the Magna Carta, which was signed in 1215 in England as a way to make peace between an unpopular king and a group of barons. Learn more about how to apply.

Sophomore Kara Lyons from Highlands Ranch, Colorado, served as one of four public address announcers at the Colorado High School State Track & Field Championships in Denver, May 18-20. Lyons played basketball and ran track in high school and is currently on the varsity rowing team at KU. She also calls Jayhawk basketball games for KJHK and is a member of The Playmakers crew.