Former Page 1 and planning editor for Milwaukee Journal, creator and publisher of American Journalism Review / NewsLink website and independent strategic planning consultant to more than 350 news organizations worldwide. Current editor and publisher of three weekly newspapers in Kansas, including Marion County Record, which won a record 45 awards and was named the state’s best mid-size non-daily for both news and advertising in 2018. Former Pulitzer nominee for coverage of computer hackers. Five times honored for directing teams of students in producing multimedia projects named best in the nation.
Member and subcommittee chair for Senate Committee on Educational Policy and campus Council on Learning Outcome Assessment. Member, Senate Admissions Committee. Chair, College of Media Courses and Curricula Committee. Former associate dean for academic affairs and administration.
Research and Creative Endeavor
Continued work as a professional journalist focuses on exploring and showcasing enterprising content selection and presentation strategies that increase rates of audience engagement and habituation and, therefore, marketability of news.
Get to know some of our College of Media students! Hailey Kotowski is a Class of 2026 advertising major.
What excited you about majoring in advertising? What really excited me was the versatility of the field. I liked the idea that I could do almost anything with the major. When I first got to Illinois I was undeclared and I had a variety of interests, so I wanted a path that wouldn’t limit me to just one industry. Taking ADV 150: Introduction to Advertising my freshman year really influenced my decision to major in advertising, along with my involvement in the American Advertising Federation. My classes and being part of AAF helped me explore the advertising field and encouraged me to major in it.
Which RSOs have you found most valuable for advertising students? The first RSO I have found most valuable for advertising students is the American Advertising Federation at Illinois. AAF is a great club for advertising students to get hands-on experience, learn new skill sets, and gain knowledgeable insight into the advertising world. AAF is a good RSO to join if you want to get to know other students in the advertising major; it is a good way to make connections and to put yourself out there and to explore different opportunities and career options within advertising. Another RSO I found most valuable was Her Campus, an Illinois organization that provides an online hub for women by providing content that is both a resource and a source of entertainment, highlighting campus news, events, campus photos, fashion and lifestyle content specifically tailored for women in Illinois. Staff members will gain journalism, marketing, publicity, and digital media experience. These RSOs are great for gaining those advertising skills and getting hands-on experiences.
What advice would you give to new students in media? I would advise new students to take advantage of as many opportunities as they can. You never know where something might lead, so it’s important to stay open and be proactive. Networking is also huge so don’t be afraid to put yourself out there and build those relationships with your professors and advisors—you never know what opportunities they can provide. The more people you know and the more visible you are, the better positioned you’ll be. It really comes down to confidence and initiative; if you know you’re qualified for something, go for it. Also joining RSOs that tie into your interests is very important; you can learn so many things from them and RSOs help you explore different interests you may have. So don’t feel like you have to join an RSO that is all about advertising; you can join a journalism club or a film club. Keep your interests and options open. The same goes for media classes. Just because you’re an advertising student doesn’t mean you have to limit yourself to just advertising classes.
What advice would you give to current advertising students who are looking to network? My biggest piece of advice would be to be yourself. It sounds simple, but staying true to who you are makes a huge difference. Don’t be shy or scared to put yourself out there—just go for it. Confidence is also key. You have to believe in yourself and trust that you belong here. Even if something feels intimidating at first, having the confidence to try can lead to really meaningful opportunities and personal growth. It is also really important to take advantage of any opportunities that come your way; you never know where those opportunities may lead you. Joining RSOs is also super important in college and getting involved on campus is the best way to meet new people, build skills, and to find your place in the community.
Get to know some of our College of Media students! Bo Ravanh is a Class of 2026 media and cinema studies major.
What inspired you to choose media and cinema studies as your major, and how did you decide that College of Media was the right fit for you? I believe cinema is something magical. A film can bring so much good into the world. To me, that’s what the art of filmmaking is about—creating these little worlds and putting them on screen. They can change minds, shift perspectives, and leave a lasting impact. That belief is what pulled me in. The power of cinema is something I take seriously, and I would say never underestimate it. What drew me to this major was not just the subject itself but also the community. The College of Media is a place full of people who care about media and storytelling the way I do. So, choosing the media and cinema studies major felt like the right step to build on that interest and take it further.
How have opportunities at the College of Media or involvement in student organizations helped you grow in media and cinema studies? Through my media and cinema studies courses, I have built a strong understanding of both the technical aspects of filmmaking and the art and subtext that gives a story emotional resonance with the audience. The MACS courses helped me to understand how people interpret and respond to films, including myself.
I have also been able to apply what I learn in the classroom. I joined the Illini Film and Video RSO as an opportunity to explore filmmaking in a more hands-on setting. It gave me practical experience in content production and film analysis, and it was a great way to collaborate and build connections with a community of student filmmakers who have inspired me to keep learning.
What course within the College of Media have you enjoy or would like to recommend to other students? If I had to choose a favorite, I’d say MACS 320: Popular Culture. It’s primarily taught by Dr. Josh Heuman, who is a fantastic professor. The class covers a lot of interesting topics and helped me see how popular media affects not just us as individuals, but the world around us. I think that kind of perspective is really valuable for students who are interested in pursuing a career in content creation.
Looking back, what personal or academic achievement are you most proud of, and what is the most useful skill you gained from your time at College of Media? I’d say one of my biggest personal achievements in college was making a 40-minute short film with a friend. It was an adventure story called The Heart of Daphne, and we didn’t make it for a class. It came entirely from our own motivation and love for filmmaking. Looking back, I don’t think we could have pulled it off without everything we’d learned here. We even hosted a big premiere, and a lot of people showed up to watch. It was such a fun and meaningful experience; it might be my favorite memory from college and definitely something I’m proud of.
What advice would you give to other incoming students? One piece of advice I’d give is to trust your own voice. In college, especially within the filmmaking community, you’ll come across a lot of opinions about how things should be done. That actually turned out to be one of the biggest challenges for me. For a while, I felt like I had to follow a certain way of doing things to be seen as successful.
What helped me move past that was going back to the reason I started making movies in the first place. When I was a kid, I picked up a [camcorder] and started filming just for the fun of it. There were no rules, no expectations, just creativity and excitement. Remembering that helped me realize that filmmaking isn’t just about following rules. It’s about passion, creativity, and finding your own rhythm. It’s about exploring your own ideas and creating something that feels true to you. So, my advice is to stay curious and learn, because there is a lot to take in here. But also hold on to your perspective. Use what you learn to shape your own style. That is how you grow, and that is what makes you unique as a creator.
Get to know some of our College of Media students! Aaron Anastos is a Class of 2026 dual degree student majoring in journalism and anthropology.
What made you choose journalism at Illinois? My older siblings went to Illinois, so I was already familiar with the campus. I started off as an undeclared major but by getting involved in The Daily Illini and UI7 Newsroom, I started to realize how much I enjoyed storytelling. Illinois has such a strong journalism program that I ended up declaring my major in journalism.
What student organizations have you joined? Since my freshman year, I’ve been an opinions writer for The Daily Illini and a feature reporter for UI7 Newsroom. During my time at The Daily Illini, I served as assistant opinions editor from 2023-2024. In the UI7 Newsroom, I have my own segment called, “Aaron Anywhere.” If you get involved, you slowly start to get to know everybody and build connections.
What classes have you enjoyed the most? I was lucky enough to take JOUR 205: History of American Journalism with Stephanie Craft, professor of journalism and associate dean for academic affairs, my freshman year. Dr. Craft is a very passionate professor and has a great knowledge of journalism. It gave me a really deep appreciation for the course. Another class that stands out is JOUR 217: Content Producing for UI7. It was like a boot camp for broadcasters and in that class, I learned I wanted to get involved with journalism. It also helped me make friendships that I still have today.
You were awarded the Ebert Fellow role for 2024-2025. What has this experience been like? I get the opportunity to work with Michael Phillips, a film critic for the Chicago Tribune. He mentors us on writing different pieces, such as film reviews and film criticisms. We get feedback from him and get different experiences within the film industry. We recently went to the True/False Film Festival to cover the event, and it was a really cool experience. We also hold screenings every month, curating certain films through the Ebert Center. The most recent one we did was Dog Day Afternoon.
Do you have any advice for incoming College of Media students? Do not be afraid to get involved and get out of your comfort zone. Some of the most impactful experiences I’ve had in journalism have been ones that have gotten me completely out of my comfort zone. Also, know that we have a very tight-knit community in journalism. We all have each other’s backs.
The honorary degree award recognizes individuals who have shown exemplary, extraordinary, and distinguished contributions to knowledge and creativity in a specific field, or sustained activity of uncommon merit.
The Charles H. Sandage Department of Advertising was the key sponsor of Burrell’s honorary degree, with three additional departments supporting his nomination, including the Department of African American Studies, the Marketing Group in the Department of Business Administration, and the Department of Communication.
Jason P. Chambers, professor of advertising and associate dean for access and engagement at the College of Media, describes Burrell as his “favorite person in the history of the [advertising] industry.”
Tom Burrell is unquestionably a pioneer in the field of advertising. He helped to normalize the image of African Americans in advertising.
Jason P. Chambers
Advertising Professor and Author of Advertising Revolutionary: The Life and Work of Tom Burrell
“He started in advertising at a time in which the number of African Americans operating in a professional capacity could have been measured in the dozens,” Chambers said. “He is one of the people who is singularly responsible for helping to get African Americans on TV.”
Burrell’s career, first as a copywriter and then as an agency owner of the Burrell Communications Group, spans more than 40 years. He created an approach to advertising, “positive realism,” that is still utilized today in the field.
Burrell has been elected to the American Advertising Federation Hall of Fame, one of the industry’s highest honors. He also received the Albert Lasker Award for Lifetime Achievement in Advertising and the Missouri Honor Medal for Distinguished Service in Journalism. In 2017, he became the first African American creative elected to the One Club Creative Hall of Fame.
Despite the many challenges he faced throughout his career, Chambers said Burrell provided an opening into advertising for African Americans who likely otherwise would not have found one, giving them a place to learn the business, to develop as professionals, and to be themselves.
“Tom Burrell is unquestionably a pioneer in the field of advertising,” Chambers said. “He helped to normalize the image of African Americans in advertising.”
The Sandage Department of Advertising will host a luncheon for students and faculty to meet Burrell while he is on campus.
Get to know some of our College of Media Students! Nathan Gonzalez is a class of 2027 journalism major.
Why did you choose journalism at the University of Illinois? When my mom gave me my first camera, I became interested in videography and editing. In high school we had a sports broadcasting program where we’d livestream all the different games and give weekly news updates. I also gained experience in print journalism in high school through our art magazine and that piqued my interest in storytelling and how I could use different channels to tell stories. When I applied here, I saw a lot of potential in what Illinois built with their journalism program. As a first-generation college student, I didn’t have much guidance, and having the administration and faculty here being so kind and helpful has allowed me to be a stronger journalist. Had I gone to a different program, I am not sure I would been offered these experiences to become the journalist I am today. They’ve really helped me navigate what the field is, what journalism is, what broadcasting and television is, and I feel like now I’m more confident about all that.
How has being here helped you narrow down the sector of journalism you hope to go into in the future? I knew I wanted to do broadcasting, and I’ve always had a love for television. Growing up I was homeschooled and didn’t have an iPad or an iPhone, so my connection to the outside world came from watching broadcast news on television. The TV stations and the anchors were the ones who taught me about the world around me.
When the newly remodeled Richmond Studio reopened during my freshman year, I wandered around there and told Ken Erdey, the technical coordinator for Richmond Studio, I wanted to get involved. That experience further reassured me that broadcast was the right fit. I love every aspect of the newsroom, and I feel that it really helped me become a stronger journalist.
Which class at the College of Media have you found the most valuable so far? I would say the most valuable class I’ve taken is JOUR 400: Newsroom Experience. This class offers a lot of different opportunities. This was my first time getting hands-on experience with studio cameras. I learned how to write a package and how to use it to tell a visual story. I recently was nominated for a Crystal Pillar from the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences for college students. A lot of what I learned in this class went into developing that package that got me that honorable mention.
What professional experiences will you be doing this summer? As a White House Correspondents’ Association scholar, I was invited to the White House where I met and questioned White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt on the administration’s relationship with the media. Under this program, I’ll be mentored by Jose Del Pino, international White House correspondent. This summer, I’ll also be interning at Fox News in Washington, D.C., as an assignment desk intern!
Can you talk about your recent research trip to Africa? We went to Freetown in Sierra Leone, West Africa. We were filming a documentary on period poverty. It is a very impoverished country and period products are very expensive, so girls experience mental shame due to the lack of education about what goes on.
I had never been out of the continent, let alone travel on my own, but for some reason I just thought to myself, why not? As a journalist, my job is to be, as the department likes to say, curious and fearless. So, I just said why not? Why can’t I? I feel that’s what really compelled me.
Is there a professor or faculty member at the College of Media that you’re inspired by? Someone who I’m extremely grateful for is Kenneth Erdey. He supervises the university newsroom and was one of the first people I met at Meet Media (a welcome week activity for College of Media students where they get the chance to meet their future classmates and professors). I went up to him and asked him how to become a producer. We talked for about an hour that day and, to sum it up, he told me to go to the newsroom and keep showing up. From there he’s helped me with my writing, taught me how to sharpen my work, given me advice on interviews, worked through my packages with me, and offered critiques where I needed them. He’s always ready and willing to give any advice he can. He’s always been there to give me reassurance that mess-ups happen, and that college is the perfect place to make them. He also gave me my first job and has helped me carve out my career path. I love all my professors and they’re all very talented and have helped me very much. But Ken has been there since my freshman year and I’m very grateful for that.
What advice would you give to an undergraduate student within the College of Media majoring in journalism? I would say to be honest with yourself. I live and breathe what I do because I love what I do. It’ll completely open your world. Journalism will make you connect with people in ways that you would’ve never thought of and connect with people you could’ve never imagined. I would’ve never imagined being in Africa interviewing a young girl about her struggles and challenges. It is truly an eye-opening field. Get ready because it will truly change you.
“Both awards are contested greatly by surrounding schools and programs. Their accomplishments with wins, even nominations, are truly resume builders,” said Kenneth Erdey, journalism instructor and technical coordinator for Richmond Studio, where UI7 broadcasts take place.
NATAS Mid-America EmmyAwards
Best Non-Fiction Longform – A.I. Uncovered: Produced by Piper Pascarella and journalism students from JOUR 445: Advanced Television Reporting last fall—including Hannah Lonergan, Kaitlyn Devitt, Maggie Knutte, Layli Nazarova, Daniel Branand, Ashley Gilbert, Rylee Jones, Jessie Cleverly, and Anna Koh—this UI7 special report looked at how artificial intelligence is reshaping our world.
Watch the segment:
Best Sports Program – Power Play: Produced by journalism students John Shay and Andrew Burkey, this pre-game sports show delivered insightful and engaging coverage of Illinois Hockey. Mazie Gierat (journalism), Peter Hanson (English major, journalism minor), and Caleb Noble (BS ’24, journalism) also played key roles in the show’s production.
Watch the segment:
Honorable Mention, Photography – Illini Boxing Club: Nathan Gonzalez (journalism) earned well-deserved recognition in the photography category for his work covering the Illini Boxing Club for Good Morning Illini.
SINBA Awards
The Illinois News Broadcasters Association announced the winners in the 2025 Student Awards, including several students from the UI7 Newsroom. These student broadcasters were honored Saturday, April 26, during the INBA Spring Convention in Bloomington.
The journalism student winners and their programs include:
First Place in Outstanding Hard Television Program – UI7 Presents Decision 2024: Piper Pascarella, Maggie Knutte, and Hannah Lonergan
First Place in Outstanding Sports Television Program – Illini Sports Night: Emily Richie and John Shay
Second Place in Outstanding Soft Television Program – Good Morning Illini: Hannah Lonergan, Mallory Miller, and Caroline Tadla
Nancy Benson, professor emerita of journalism, died on April 21, 2025. She was 72 years old.
In 1996, she was hired as a visiting professor in the Department of Journalism and became an assistant professor in 1997. She was promoted to associate professor in 2003 and to full professor in 2014. Before retiring in 2019, she served as interim head of the Department of Journalism.
During her 40-year career in broadcast journalism at various television and radio stations across the Midwest, including morning drive anchor and reporter at WMAQ radio in Chicago, Benson won numerous awards for reporting.
The highlight of her teaching career was developing an international reporting course. After a term of teaching about a particular country, she traveled with her students to that country. There, they would research and produce stories about issues that otherwise had been ignored. Nancy took students to Peru, China, Romania, Italy, and Turkey.
Get to know some of our College of Media students! Brendan Gallian is a Class of 2027 journalism major.
Why did you choose journalism at Illinois? After visiting other schools and learning more about the College of Media, I realized Illinois offered opportunities and experiences I wouldn’t find elsewhere, and I became more excited about what Illinois had to offer. I’m grateful I decided to attend, as it opened doors I didn’t expect when I first started my college search.
What drew you to journalism as a major? I’ve always loved sports. I played baseball growing up, collected sports cards, and I’m a huge White Sox fan. Journalism has given me a way to stay connected to the world of sports. Sports reporting allows me to combine my love of writing with the energy and excitement of the games. Once I got into feature writing, it became even more meaningful. Instead of focusing on scores and stats, I realized how much I enjoyed telling human stories, capturing the moments and people that don’t always get the spotlight.
How have your experiences outside the classroom shaped your journalism skills? Joining The Daily Illini has been one of the most essential parts of my experience at Illinois. I started as a sportswriter in Fall of 2023, covering cross country, track and field, and later, hockey. Writing two weekly stories and covering previews and recaps pushed me out of my comfort zone. I learned how to move beyond box scores and find the bigger story, like when I wrote about a soccer player scoring his first goal in front of his family. Telling stories like that showed me how much I enjoy feature writing and finding the human side of sports. Now, as the sports editor, I manage the entire sports section. I assign beats, edit articles, run weekly meetings, and make sure we maintain high-quality reporting. It’s a leadership role that taught me to be organized, work with different writers, and step up when needed.
Outside of The Daily Illini, I interned at Illinois Public Media (WILL), where I produced audio features, including a story about farmers installing wetlands to support local biodiversity. These hands-on experiences gave me a real-world understanding of journalism, helping me to become well-versed in conducting interviews and creating stories that matter.
What is one of your favorite stories you’ve written? One of my favorite stories was about a hockey player who scored his first goal in front of his family. Rather than writing a standard recap, I focused on the personal significance of the moment for the player. That experience reinforced how much I enjoy human-interest storytelling. I also appreciated covering smaller community events, like a local model train show. These stories allow me to highlight moments that may otherwise go unnoticed. They reminded me that journalism is not solely about significant headlines but about capturing meaningful human experiences.
What are your career goals after graduation? My long-term goal is to cover the Chicago White Sox for a professional publication. Although fewer journalists currently cover the team full-time, I want to help fill that gap and tell important stories about the organization. I plan to continue writing human-interest features and sports stories, focusing on the people behind the headlines. Whether I work for a traditional media outlet, a niche publication, or even a museum or historical organization, I want to keep telling meaningful stories.
What advice would you give to incoming journalism students? Believe in yourself and stay committed, even when it gets difficult. Journalism is competitive, and self-doubt is normal, but persistence is key. Try everything, join student media groups, pursue internships, and take different classes because you won’t know what you genuinely enjoy until you explore. Building relationships with professors and peers is also crucial, and the College of Media has many people dedicated to helping students succeed. Most importantly, remember that journalism is about passion. If you love storytelling, that will carry you through the challenges.
Update May 29, 2025: Congratulations to the students who presented “Uman Tok: Tailoring Hope, Renewing Futures in Sierra Leone” for receiving an award for Outstanding Oral Presentation at the Undergraduate Research Symposium from theOffice of Undergraduate Research! Some of these students previously won an award in 2024 for Outstanding Exhibit on this same research topic, which they continued work on in 2025.
Updated April 28, 2025
Students from all four majors in the College of Media participated in the annual University of Illinois Undergraduate Research Week, held April 20-26.
The Undergraduate Research Symposium, the signature event held on Thursday, April 24, at the Illini Union, features presentations, posters, and performances from students across campus.
Below is a list of Media student presentations as well as acknowledgements of Media graduate students and faculty who have mentored students presenting at Undergraduate Research Week.
Oral Panel
Health Modalities
“Evaluating the Persuasiveness of LLM-based Chatbots in Health Communication”
Tuesday, April 22, 4-6 p.m., Illini Union Rooms A, B, C, and South Lounge
“Salesperson-Product Matching Recommender System”
Alexia Rendon, Junior, Computer Science + Advertising, COM
“Understanding High school Students’ Experiences in a Culturally Responsive Computing Program”
Skyla Jin, Freshman, Computer Science + Advertising, COM
“Virtual Reality Game for Interactive Motion Planning”
Grace He, Junior, Computer Science + Advertising, COM
Omosefe Edomwande, Freshman, Computer Science, ENG
Undergraduate Research Apprenticeship Program
The Undergraduate Research Apprenticeship Program offers undergraduate students with little or no research experience the opportunity to work with graduate students and postdoctoral scholars on their research projects, explore the culture and process of research, and build on their existing abilities within a community of scholars.
Nina Issel, Sophomore, Journalism (COM)
Media Research Mentors
Doctoral student Veranika Paltaratskaya (above right), Institute of Communications Research, was the research mentor for Alina Huang, sophomore in communication and psychology (LAS), who presented “Understanding Consumer Interactions with Product Transparency Apps (PTAs) Using the Persuasion Knowledge Model” as part of the Social Science & Human Behavior poster presentations.
Doctoral student Alice Ji (above right), Institute of Communications Research, was the research mentor for Ayushi Maskey, junior in statistics + computer science (LAS), who presented “The Effect of Message Fatigue on Attention to Mental Health Messages” as part of the Heath & Wellness poster presentations.
Kevin Wise, professor of advertising, was the research mentor for Pushti Vora, junior in brain and cognitive sciences (LAS) who presented “The Impact of Mindless Scrolling on Dopamine Regulation and its Parallels to Gambling Addiction” as part of the Social Science & Human Behavior poster presentations.
