Unit 2 | DEV College of Media

Take 5 with Media Alumni: Alex Hedlund

May 15, 2026

Los Angeles-based film and television producer Alex Hedlund (BS ’05, media studies; MS ’06, journalism) knew he wanted to make movies at a young age. When he was just 10 years old, he wrote a letter to Stephen King’s publisher seeking the famed author’s autograph. Hedlund still has his signed copy of Needful Things to this day.

Hedlund has three major projects set to premiere this year, including a 10-episode remake of Cape Fear for Apple TV starring Javier Bardem and Amy Adams; a feature adaptation of Verity starring Anne Hathaway, Dakota Johnson, and Josh Hartnett; and the independent horror film River.

Learn more about this College of Media alum who has empowered writers and directors for the last two decades, and find out which film or TV show he will champion next.

1. What first drew you to filmmaking and production, and how did that evolve into your current role today?

Ever since I was a kid, I told people, “I want to make movies,” before I even knew what that meant or how that would even be possible. All I knew is that I craved escapism through movies, TV, novels, and video games, and for my 10th birthday, I only wanted one thing—Stephen King’s autograph. I wrote a letter to his publisher with this request and received a hard copy of Needful Things signed by the man himself! (I still have and cherish it.) That moment subconsciously unlocked something for me that became a big part of my career, which is identifying uncompromising stories and reaching out to connect with world-class storytellers. As a career producer, I’m constantly looking to empower writers and directors who have a story to tell.

2. What do you consider your biggest career accomplishment? Is there one project that has felt especially meaningful to you?

I’m celebrating 20 years in Los Angeles this year, so I consider my survival in this industry a tremendous accomplishment as a baseline. Project-wise, 2026 is a very meaningful year for me with the premiere of three projects I produced (all of which are seven long years in the making!). The first is a 10-episode series reimagining of Cape Fear for Apple TV in June that stars Javier Bardem and Amy Adams. As a fan of the novel and having seen the Martin Scorsese film as a child (long before I should have!), being a producer on this one was a full-circle moment for me. I also have a feature adaptation of Colleen Hoover’s best-selling erotic thriller Verity that drops in theaters October 2. The film stars Anne Hathaway, Dakota Johnson, and Josh Hartnett, all of whom are fantastic in the film and incredible to work with personally. That’s a big-budget studio film, whereas my next film River is a low-budget indie debut from a writer-director that I discovered and championed. The horror film will premiere this fall, and I couldn’t be prouder.

3. In addition to two degrees at Illinois, you then earned your MFA in the producers program at UCLA. What advice would you give to students who want to break into directing or production but don’t know where to start?

I used to say you absolutely need to move to Los Angeles, though I don’t believe that’s essential anymore. YouTube, MasterClass, Zoom, and social media has democratized everything so you can make a lot of connections and gain knowledge that way. If you want to be a director, you can now shoot a film on your iPhone and upload it online for the world to see. Just create something and get it out there! Or try to get an entry-level job on set or intern at a production company. No matter what, check your ego at the door and be unabashed about your desire for mentorship.

4. The media landscape is constantly changing—how do you keep your work both current and true to your vision?

I always internalize that the only certainty in entertainment is uncertainty, and not to stress about external factors that I cannot control. What I can control though is my taste and what I want to see. If I’m not first in line for a film on its opening night, I know that I’m not the right producer to advocate for it. I think it’s a huge mistake to try and “chase the market” or pursue something for cynical, surface-level reasons—for me, it has to be love at first sight. I need to lose sleep thinking about a project. I’m constantly gut-checking myself to see if this is something my 10-year-old self would have wanted to see—and most likely have to beg my parents to let me see it!

5. What’s one dream project you’d love to direct or produce in the future?

Too many to name, though one of my “white whales” I actually just set up as a feature at Netflix! It’s an adaptation of an award-winning graphic novel called Torso by the brilliant artists Brian Michael Bendis and Marc Andreyko. It’s a true story about Elliott Ness hunting America’s first serial killer in the 1930s. You might say it’s The Untouchables meets Zodiac. [It’s an] incredible, stranger-than-fiction story that was first published decades ago and I’ve been tracking it ever since. I always thought it would make an amazing film, so I’m pinching myself that I was finally able to get my arms around it and hopefully champion it into finally getting made!

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CU-CitizenAccess team wins two Lisagor Awards

May 14, 2026

CU-CitizenAccess, a community online news and information project overseen by Professor Brant Houston, the Knight Chair in Investigative and Enterprise Reporting in the Department of Journalism, was part of a team that won two Lisagor Awards for exemplary journalism from the Chicago Headline Club on May 8.

The team received both “Best Reporting on Race and Diversity” and “Best Reporting on Crime and Justice” in the student category for their submission titled “At Illinois public universities, campus cops pull over Black drivers at higher rates.”

The student team included Maia McDonald, Nicole Jeanine Johnson, Khadija Ahmed, Isabelle Senechal, Amilia Estrada; Investigative Project on Race and Equity, Chicago Public Media, WBEZ, Chicago Sun-Times, CU-CitizenAccess, Saluki Local Reporting Lab, and The Daily Egyptian.

University of Illinois students who contributed to the project through CU-CitizenAccess included Molly Hughes (MS ’25, journalism), Jordan Butler (BS ’25, journalism), and Courtney Dillon (BS ’25, journalism; BA ’25, LAS).

“Managing editor Dylan Tiger (BS ’19, journalism; MS ’20, iSchool) did an excellent job wrangling difficult data and interviews with local officials and helping to coordinate our part,” said Houston. “It was a great experience for students to be involved in the collaboration.”

CU-CitizenAccess is devoted to investigative and enterprise coverage of social, justice, and economic issues in east central Illinois.

The Lisagor Award entries were judged by an impartial Society of Professional Journalists chapter outside Illinois.

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Media alum Jordyn Poulter named to Athletics Hall of Fame Class of 2026

May 8, 2026

Jordyn Poulter (BS ’18, media and cinema studies) is among eight legendary athletes named to the University of Illinois Athletics Hall of Fame Class of 2026 by the Division of Intercollegiate Athletics.

Poulter, a two-time Olympian, along with seven other elite Illini athletes, will be honored at the Hall of Fame Gala and Induction Ceremony on Friday, Sept. 11, at State Farm Center.

Poulter helped lead the United States to Olympic Gold at the 2020 Tokyo Games and Silver at the 2024 Paris Games, while being named “Best Setter” at the 2020 Games.

She earned All-America honors three times at Illinois, including First-Team honors as a senior in 2018 when Poulter led the Illini to the NCAA National Semifinals. She ranked second nationally with 1,521 assists in 2018, when she was named the AVCA Northeast Region Player of the Year.

The Illinois Athletics Hall of Fame began in 2017 and now has 162 total members, with representatives from each current varsity sport. University of Illinois varsity athletics started with baseball in 1879 and now has 21 teams competing at the NCAA Division I level.

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Rikkie Gunawan

Get to know some of our College of Media students! Rikkie Gunawan is a class of 2027 journalism major.

What excites you most about being a journalism major at the University of Illinois?

The most exciting part is how many opportunities there are as a journalism major. Students can get involved in The Daily Illini, WPGU 107.1, UI7 Newsroom, and even Illinois Public Media. Since it’s a small college, you end up getting to know other journalism students and your professors. I like that and the fact that I’ve gotten to meet several of the upperclassmen in journalism and connect with others who have similar interests as myself, which has made my time here at Illinois a great experience.

What sets the journalism program here apart from other schools?

After doing lots of research on schools, I decided to apply to Illinois because their journalism program is versatile. Illinois is inclusive and offers more options of paths to take in the industry. I originally only wanted to do print, but after taking some of the more broadcast-focused classes offered here, I realized broadcast could be pretty fun as well and I could also see a future in that area.

How early on did you realize journalism was the general career path you wanted to take?

My older sister was working for my high school’s newspaper, and they were in need of graphic artists. She knew I liked drawing and encouraged me to join the newspaper team, so I was involved for all four years.

In the beginning I knew I liked writing and drawing, but I didn’t know much about newspaper writing, or really journalism in general. I ended up taking a journalism course in high school and became an editor for the newspaper, and the intersection between reporting and visuals was really fascinating to me. I know a lot of people take in information visually, so that aspect of journalism always really interested me.

What goals have you already accomplished or hope to accomplish at Illinois?

I had this really cool opportunity last year to do an independent study with associate professor of journalism Charles “Stretch” Ledford. He did a global documentary trip to Sierra Leone, West Africa. Although I didn’t go on the trip, I was able to work alongside him to produce a comic for it.

I adapted the story they had already shot into a comic form that focused on the topic of period poverty. Professor Ledford sent me pictures of girls from Sierra Leone holding my comic, and it was just one of the coolest things I’ve been able to do.

What advice would you give to incoming freshmen?

It’s important to put yourself out there. There are so many opportunities at this school to take advantage of. At the same time, don’t always say yes to everything, as it’s very important to set those boundaries and figure out how to manage your time and prioritize what you really want to do. Some things just come your way and it’s important to take the chance.

—Interview by Jaedynn Clark, New Voices Intern

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Rawan El-Bawab

Get to know some of our College of Media students! Rawan El-Bawab is a Class of 2026 CS + advertising major.

What led you to your decision to major in CS + advertising?

In high school, I really enjoyed math and statistics, but I was also very interested in psychology. When I was applying to Illinois, I came across the CS + advertising major. It immediately stood out because I had never seen a program that combined both sides of my interests so well. Even though I only had surface-level experience with computer science, I knew I enjoyed puzzles and logical thinking, so coding felt like a natural next step. I decided to take a chance on it, and it ended up being exactly what I was looking for.

How does combining computer science and advertising shape your perspective or skill set?

We live in a world that’s increasingly digital and driven by technology, so having a computer science background is incredibly valuable. What makes this major unique, though, is the addition of advertising. It pushes you to think beyond just the technical side and really consider people—their behaviors, preferences, and how they interact with products and platforms. That perspective is useful in any field. Understanding concepts like market research and branding gives you a broader view of how businesses operate. Knowing how to code is one thing, but if you don’t know how to connect it to people, it can only go so far. This major really helps you bridge that gap and develop a more well-rounded skill set.

What has been your most impactful or defining experience during your time in the College of Media?

My experience in AAF, the American Advertising Federation, has been one of the most defining parts of my time here. It played a huge role in helping me find both community and confidence. At the end of my freshman year, I applied for an executive position just to see what would happen. I ended up being offered a presidential role for one of the agencies, On the House. I hadn’t originally applied for a position that high because I didn’t think I was qualified, but the previous executive members encouraged me and saw potential in me. It was definitely challenging at first, and there was a lot to learn, but over time I grew into the role and ended up loving it. I stayed in that position throughout my sophomore year, and then in my junior year, I became president of Midnight Oil, an application-based agency with more experienced members. Through those roles, I discovered how much I enjoy working with people, mentoring others, and creating a supportive team environment. That experience pushed me out of my comfort zone and helped me grow as both a leader and a collaborator.

Do you have any advice for students trying to attain internships?

It helps to identify companies you’re interested in and keep an eye on their websites, because a lot of it comes down to timing. The more you apply, the better your chances. At the same time, it’s easy to get overwhelmed, especially when it feels like everyone around you is doing the same thing. One thing I’ve learned is that it’s okay if you don’t land an internship right away. There are so many valuable opportunities on campus that can help you build skills and experience in meaningful ways. Looking back, I wish I had been a little kinder to myself during that process. Not having an internship immediately isn’t a reflection of your potential, and it won’t make or break your future career. Keep going, and don’t be too hard on yourself.

What are your career plans after graduating from Illinois, and how has the College of Media helped prepare you for them?

After graduating, I’ll be starting a role in tech sales, which I’m really excited about because it combines both the technical and advertising sides of my major. The College of Media has been a strong support system throughout my time here. My advisor, Megan Tucker Zwilling, played a huge role in that. She was always encouraging and genuinely invested in what I was doing. At times when I took on too much, she helped me step back and find a better balance. Having that kind of support made a big difference. She was always there to answer my questions and help me think through decisions, and that guidance really helped me navigate my path and feel more confident moving forward.

What advice do you have for incoming CS + advertising students?

My biggest advice is to get involved in RSOs. RSOs give you the flexibility to explore different interests in a low-pressure environment, whether you stay for a semester or longer. They’re a great way to gain hands-on experience and figure out what you actually enjoy. For me, being involved in AAF helped me realize that I liked the technical side of my major, but didn’t necessarily want to work at a traditional ad agency. Through internships, I also learned that I didn’t want to focus solely on software engineering. Those experiences helped me narrow down what I was looking for and eventually led me to a role that combines both areas. This major gives you a lot of flexibility because the skills are transferable across different industries. Take advantage of that! Try new things, step outside your comfort zone, and stay open to different paths.

—Interview by Alexa Camacho Villicana, New Voices Intern

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Karys Boeriu

Get to know some of our College of Media students! Karys Boeriu is a Class of 2028 advertising major.

What made you choose the College of Media at Illinois?

Initially, I was drawn here because of the tight-knit community in the College of Media, but we’re part of such a huge university. There are so many people who you can meet and many opportunities that the college and the university offer. The College of Media is one of the smaller colleges, and as a result, you get to connect with the faculty and your peers. Just stepping into the College of Media, you immediately feel support, but not just academically. The support goes beyond academics—everyone genuinely wants to see you thrive as an individual. Also, the college is structured in a way to make students feel comfortable and heard, while offering a wide variety of different options and tailoring them towards each student individually.

What Media classes and professors have stuck out to you so far?

One class that comes to mind is ADV 290: Experiential Branding, taught by lecturer Penne Heede. In class, we did experiential branding work focusing on putting together creative trade shows and pop-up experiences. Heede’s class really helped bring in an industry perspective to what I knew about advertising. Also, Heede was extremely knowledgeable as she provided us all with good advice on how to get into the advertising industry.

Another class was ADV 222: Copywriting with senior lecturer Shahar Meron. He’s an exceptional lecturer, and he instilled in me the passion that I have for copywriting.

What different Registered Student Organizations (RSOs) are you a part of on campus?

A huge one for me is the American Advertising Federation (AAF). I’ve loved AAF so far. I’ve been part of two agencies in AAF—NSAC (National Student Advertising Competition) and Midnight Oil, AAF’s full-service local client agency. Recently this year, I’ve joined the executive board as well, which I’ve been super grateful for and felt privileged to be a part of. AAF has been a really huge and important part of my life so far on campus. I’m also a student ambassador for the College of Media, which means I help with different admissions events around campus. Working for the College of Media has been really rewarding for me in the sense that I get to give back to the incoming College of Media family.

What’s your favorite media related project you’ve worked on?

Being part of NSAC has brought so many fun projects. We get a brief every year from a Fortune 500 company, and what we’ll do is essentially devise an entire campaign and then compete regionally or nationally by presenting the campaign we made. One of the clients that we had last year was AT&T, and our whole campaign was about helping AT&T show Gen Z that they can discover life around them and see beyond the screen. We played into the idea of fostering better in-person connections with people. I think that’s a good example of why I got into advertising too, because I wanted to use the power of language and understanding people to do something greater than myself.

If you could talk to yourself as a freshman, what advice would you give?

I would say trust that you have made the right decision for yourself, and that every single thing that comes after will fall exactly into the places it’s supposed to. That’s how I’ve felt ever since I got here, that everything is clicking and falling into place. I think it really started with just saying yes to being admitted into the College of Media, and a ripple effect happened—everything just sort of turned out the way it was supposed to. I just genuinely think the College of Media is incredible, and I think my peers are a true testament to that. The fact that it’s a small community within a big university, which allows you to foster relationships with passionate, curious people, is a big part of the reason why.

—Interview by Izzy Phillips, New Voices Intern

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Nick Roacho

Get to know some of our College of Media students! Nick Roacho is a Class of 2027 media and cinema studies major.

Why did you choose to major in media and cinema studies (MACS)? How did you decide that the College of Media was the right fit for you?

In the College of Media, I chose to specialize more in film criticism because of the world-renowned film critic [and University of Illinois College of Media alum] Roger Ebert. Movies are something I’ve always loved since I was a kid, and it became almost like a hobby for me. The MACS program has given me the opportunity to bring those interests together, by combining the study of film theory with hands-on experience in video production.

Tell me about your time at Illini Film and Video (IFV)?

I joined IFV in my freshman year and later became an executive member. We meet weekly and either do a workshop or a small lecture on parts of the filmmaking process and host guest speakers from Champaign. We also host students who give presentations on their filmmaking experience. IFV even hosted a 48-hour film challenge in which members write and edit a film in two days, which is then presented during an award ceremony.

Currently, I am the president of IFV, and what has really helped me grow as a MACS student is knowing how to meet people. I wouldn’t be where I am without meeting different people in IFV and making connections aside from filmmaking. This RSO allows you to meet other people from the same field, whom you might even run into and work with in the future.

Are there any achievements you are most proud of from your time at the College of Media?

Last year in Fall 2025, as part of MACS 260: Film Production, I co-directed a short film with friends titled Milk Run, which was selected and screened at the Illinois Student Film Festival to a live audience. Experiencing viewers’ reaction in real time, specifically, during the moments we had written jokes, was an incredibly rewarding experience. It has by far been one of the most memorable experiences here at Illinois, but also a great learning experience by creating a short film.

What are you involved in that has helped you build different skills?

I am the operations director for WPGU, the alternative student radio station. I have been able to work on delegating and setting priorities for the station while working with others to create the best radio station in town. This hands-on experience has allowed me to build my leadership skills both in my personal and professional life as it relates to the film projects I am working on.

I am also the president of Illini Watchers, where we watch and review films every week. Since I want to focus on film criticism, it was a welcoming experience to help run these discussions and be able to criticize or praise scenes with constructive criticism when it felt vulnerable.

What advice would you give to other incoming students majoring in media and cinema studies?

I would say to meet other people and take advantage of the time away from home. Something I appreciate about the College of Media is that it’s small. You have to get out of your shell and just speak to others because you never know where it’s going to end up.

—Interview by Paulina Alvarez, New Voices Intern

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Francisco Albarran

Get to know some of our College of Media students! Francisco Albarran is a Class of 2026 media and cinema studies major.

Why did you choose to major in media and cinema studies (MACS), and how did you decide that it was the right fit for you?

During the lockdown in 2020, I really got into watching movies and TV shows. I fell in love with the concept of putting my ideas onto the big screen, but I was also really inspired by [University of Illinois College of Media alum] Roger Ebert and his history with film reviews. When I started school here at Illinois, I knew it was the right fit since the college really felt like a village with everyone in MACS helping and learning alongside each other.

Talk about your internship at Flyover Film Studios.

During one of my MACS classes, we took a field trip to Flyover with senior lecturer Victor Font, where we toured the studio and learned about the internship, which was available in the fall semester. I got to meet the founders Sarah Sharp and Rob Stern, who talked about Flyover and the internship program they offered. I was one of the first recipients of the internship, which was really exciting.

That summer and fall, I worked on films like Chili Finger, Moses the Black, and even The Bear. I typically worked in construction for the movie sets, as a driver for cast members, or as a production assistant. Each day on set felt like a different adventure. It was an amazing experience to have celebrities give words of encouragement and advice on filmmaking. While working on these sets, I got to meet a lot of the cast members, including Bryan Cranston, Wiz Khalifa, and Deontay Wilder.

Are there any other opportunities at the College of Media that helped you grow in media and cinema studies?

Currently, I am in the process of starring, writing, and directing a Mexican immigrant boxing film titled Where You Land. This film was a huge step out of my comfort zone, and I was incredibly nervous to start, but I hope I can send my message to other young Mexican immigrants. It’s a great opportunity to be able to work on something I’m passionate about, and get to do things I’ve never done before, like acting.

What course within the College of Media would you recommend to other students?

I would highly recommend both MACS 480: Advanced Filmmaking and MACS 481: Advanced Filmmaking Studio. Since the College of Media is small, I had a community of film students who were just as passionate as me. At first, I didn’t get involved, but getting to know other students in these courses helped me learn from so many new people.

What advice would you give to incoming students majoring in MACS?

If I could go back to my freshman year, I would tell myself to start putting out work early, such as submitting projects to film festivals. It’s such a great benefit to do as a freshman compared to doing it later. Some other things I would encourage incoming students to do is to get out of their comfort zone and believe in themselves because there is no such thing as failing, only experiencing and learning for later on. As a student in class, or in a film studio, you will learn something new every day—from something or someone you would never expect to learn from—which is the beauty of the filmmaking process.

—Interview by Paulina Alvarez, New Voices Intern

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Ella Yoder

Get to know some of our College of Media students! Ella Yoder is a Class of 2027 media and cinema studies major.

What made you choose the media and cinema studies (MACS) major?

During my search for universities, the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign stuck out quickly, specifically, the media and cinema studies (MACS) major. MACS allows its students to engage with film production as soon as freshman year, while other universities I was looking at set a limit for production courses to juniors and seniors. Personally, I knew I had a desire to learn about films and wanted a university that would give me hands-on learning opportunities that I could take advantage of the minute I got to campus. I am so happy that I found the College of Media because of the standards they set for their students with the required engagement that offers a holistic view of the film and cinema industry.

How did you first get interested in your major?

As a kid I always enjoyed making little movie projects. I was the type of person who spent their free time making up funny stories and filming them as a movie rather than going outside. This interest in producing movies only grew as I got older. Starting off as a child with a vision, to now, being a junior in college, I have begun working as a production assistant at a local production studio to continue my passion for filmmaking. While I am on set for these larger productions, I am reflecting on my younger self who had no idea the College of Media was waiting for me to pick up that camera.

What College of Media resources have you found helpful in navigating college?

A resource I will forever promote is the Media Technology Center. There are so many similar offices on campus. The College of Media has their own dedicated unit that is open to students in Media courses in the college to rent out different required items. The range of available equipment may vary per location, but typically there will always be microphones, tripods, lighting, and even green screens ready to be used! The rentable equipment has been particularly useful for me when trying to work on my class projects. With the easy-to-use check-in and check-out system, I truly recommend more students to utilize this resource.

Are there any professors who have been critical to your academics?

Even before the start of my first year, I knew that the professors of media and cinema studies in the College of Media were going to be beyond helpful to my future. This is because I reached out to a few instructors during the summer ahead of my first classes—and there were quite a few who responded with a desire to meet with me and explain the major and all that encompasses studying as a MACS major. This brief introduction into the friendly environment of the faculty stuck with me as I proceeded throughout my time at the University of Illinois.

—Interview by Evita Zimmerman, New Voices Intern

Journalism and advertising students amplify female head porters’ stories through global course experience in Ghana

April 29, 2026 | Giuliana Means, Communications Intern

Through the course “Globally Focused Advanced Documentary Filmmaking,” five journalism students and three advertising students explored the lives of female head porters, called kayayei, in a faculty-led trip to Accra, Ghana, over spring break.

Group of journalism students and faculty in Ghana

“I know from my experience that traveling and working abroad, especially in Africa, can be an inflection point in one’s life and globally contextualize values,” said Charles “Stretch” Ledford, associate professor of journalism, who has visited more than 55 countries throughout his career. “It was incredibly gratifying to be in a position to provide students this kind of opportunity.”

The course focuses on the labor of the kayayei, young women and girls—some barely in their teens—who migrate from Ghana’s rural north to the country’s urban centers, primarily Accra and Kumasi, in search of work. That work consists of carrying loads that can exceed their own body weight through the city’s sprawling markets, earning the equivalent of less than a dollar per load while exposing themselves to exploitation, musculoskeletal injury, chronic anxiety and depression, and other health and wellness risks.

Focusing on Accra’s Kantamanto used clothing market, the class is producing a documentary focusing on three narratives about kayayei who work there: a day in the life of Sahada Shehabu, a 22-year-old kayayoo; the risks of the work, described by Muhammad Salifu, founder and director of the Kayayei Youth Association; and the role the kayayei play within the market’s economy, explained by Edward Atobrah, deputy general secretary of the Ghana Used Clothing Dealers Association.

You’re dealing with something that has a real impact, and you’re seeing change happen and immersing yourself in a community that you may not have had an opportunity to [otherwise visit].

Tomi Dugbo

Senior in Advertising

The journalism students will also create a 360º-immersive video, photo essays, an audio segment, and social-media friendly short vertical videos. They are sharing their initial work at the campus Undergraduate Research Symposium on Thursday, April 30, in a poster presentation titled “They Want to Go Home: Ghana’s Kayayei.”

Kaitlyn Devitt, a senior in journalism who worked primarily on the documentary film and 360º-immersive video, says the team worked an average of six hours a day over seven shooting days in three locations.

Devitt wants to pursue international journalism after she graduates, especially after this project, because of how rewarding it was.

“This project was perfect to get my feet wet,” Devitt said. “The topic itself was interesting because these women are my age, and who’s to say this couldn’t be me if I hadn’t had the privilege of growing up in America?”

During the trip, the advertising students worked with the Kayayei Youth Association to amplify their mission. They also communicated the journalism students’ reporting processes on social media and documented their experience through a blog site.

“This experience taught me the importance of collaboration where you’re not only working with advertising students, but journalism students,” said Tomi Dugbo, a senior in advertising. “You’re dealing with something that has a real impact, and you’re seeing change happen and immersing yourself in a community that you may not have had an opportunity to [otherwise visit].”

Advertising students with Marisa Peacock outside Innova DDB Ghana

Advertising students also spent time visiting global ad agencies, such as Innova DDB and Ogilvy Africa Ghana, to analyze cross-cultural campaign approaches. They also plan to develop strategic communications campaigns for partner NGOs.

For all the students, it was their first time producing journalism and strategic communications in a foreign country.

“Don’t let perfection be the enemy of good,” advised Marisa Peacock, senior lecturer of advertising. “There’s always time to refine, edit, and evolve it, but you can’t let the perfect shot stand in the way of getting the work done.”

With only a week to conduct interviews, collect footage, and produce the strategic communications deliverables, the team persevered in an environment that demanded that they adapt quickly.

Adelyn Mui, a senior in journalism, dove headfirst into the project to capture an authentic representation of the women’s stories and overcome the challenges of not having the connections she does when reporting on campus.

“Doing global journalism taught me a lot about journalism in general because those same skills I learned in Ghana, I can apply here locally on campus; they were just amplified since I was in a different country,” Mui said.

Students from Fourah Bay College in Sierra Leone and the University of Media, Arts and Communication in Ghana were partners in the project under the umbrella of the Illinois Partnership for African Women’s Health Narratives, spearheaded by Ledford. It is a continuation of his 2023 collaboration with Dr. Francis Sowa, Dean of Faculty of Communication, Media and Information Studies at Fourah Bay College, and new collaborator, Dr. Stephen Tindi, a lecturer at University of Media, Arts and Communication in Accra.

Alison Davis, senior lecturer of journalism, said the Illinois students naturally fell into the role of technological mentors for their West African peers.

“Students from the other countries were able to pick up our equipment and run with it; that’s the collaboration I like to see,” Davis said. “People are not that much different. You get a group of college students together, and they’re all similar. I love that.”

This course continues a broad focus on global women’s health narratives. Ledford and Davis have previously led students to report on local solutions to period poverty in Sierra Leone.

Next year, Ledford hopes to continue the story with reporting in Ghana’s Northern Region, examining how climate change may be accelerating the “push” of young women from Ghana’s rural and relatively poor north to work as kayayei in the country’s more developed south.

See more photos

Major funding was provided by the University of Illinois through the BRIDGE Program, Vision 2030 Global Strategy Implementation Grant, Campus Research Board, Illinois Global Institute, Department of Journalism, the College of Media, and the Karin and Folke Dovring Endowment Fund, with additional support from Lisle International and Sony Electronics.

Photos by and courtesy of Charles “Stretch” Ledford and Marisa Peacock.

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