Kent State University - School of Journalism and Mass Communication

College sports thrive on recruiting the top athletes in the country. The same can be said of the School of Journalism and Mass Communication.

Since moving to Franklin Hall, it has been productive to show off the new look of journalism at Kent State to high school students and their parents.

Professor Barb Hipsman, who is heavily involved in recruiting students for the school, knows that getting and keeping good students is vital to the future of the school.

"I think our recruitment numbers are up significantly," says Hipsman. "About a year ago I started helping out with a university committee [to recruit students]. I've been dealing with this stuff for 20 years. Everybody was doing different things, and the question becomes what is efficient."

Hipsman, and some other JMC faculty, spend a lot of time on the phone talking to prospective students and their parents.

One thing that has become an important part of recruiting students -- and their parents -- is tours of the new facilities in Franklin Hall. Several times a week Hipsman and others show off the converged newsroom, the Hirsch lab, the Gannett Collaborative room, the First Energy auditorium, and the digital studio and control room.

"Parents are not only concerned about costs but I think that the parents are very concerned whether the kids are getting the bang for the buck. Hands on experience and a great facility, they love that."

The school also emphasizes to prospective freshmen that they may participate in student media during their first year in the program. That is not the case at other competing universities.
(See related story below)

The new student media newsroom at Kent State is a popular place with high school students we are recruiting.

One aspect of recruiting students that has changed is that students will no longer have to enroll as pre-journalism majors. Now they can declare as the major of their choice from the start. (And their acceptance letters from the school are hand signed, not stamped, a more personal touch.)

Just like an athlete might be swayed by a university's sparkling new stadium or field house, so does a journalism student react to the cutting edge facility in Franklin Hall and the possibility of working in student media as a freshman.

Those are the things that lure them to Kent JMC, says Hipsman.

"I thank them and shake their hands.  It's the wow factor. If you see Franklin Hall, you're pretty much here," she says.

By James Buechele for the Co-Lab

Read more about Franklin Hall

Visit the converged student media Web site

Return to JMC front page

Nate Edwards got involved with student media as a freshman.

In a big way.

Through his persistent efforts, Black Squirrel Radio -- for which Edwards works -- convinced University president, Lester Lefton, to appear on the station for a 60-minute interview and call-in program.

It was one of the highlights of Edwards' still-young career.

Kent JMC students have ample opportunities to get involved with the award winning student media of JMC, including the Daily Kent Stater, Black Squirrel Radio, TV2, the Burr and KentNewsNet.com. And, they don't have to wait until they are finished with their freshman years.

JMC faculty members encourage all students to get involved in student media. The experiences, combined with classroom instruction, create a solid resume.

Edwards also was able to cover the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony in Cleveland -- from the red carpet. Based on contacts he made there, he was able to arrange a BSR interview with the president of the Hall of Fame, Terry Stewart.

The freshman experience has been productive for Edwards and others.

"It's a great resume builder," Edwards said.

PRSSA reaches prospective students through social media

Some Kent JMC students also are getting the word out to prospective students through Facebook and other social media.

Freshman Nate Edwards says one of the things that drew him the Kent JMC was the ability to get involved with student media right away.

Michele Ewing, associate professor, says it's more likely that high school students will "socialize with the seniors [students] than faculty via Facebook."

The student chapter of Public Relations Society of America also uses blogs and social media to communicate with members and non-members about their meetings. These student leaders also communicate with prospective students.

By Sijan Baral for the Co-Lab

Visit student media converged Web site

Listen to BSR interviews with KSU's President Lester Lefton and the Rock Hall's president