Augusta University Department of Communication

12/31/2020

The Department of Communication at Augusta University's Pamplin College hopes you have had a joyful, healthy, and restful winter break. Happy New Year to you all. We are looking forward to going into 2021 with you. Go Jaguars!

12/14/2020

St. Julian Cox (below) was one of 26 Communication majors who graduated from AU on Dec. 11. Earning summa cm laude honors among COMM graduating seniors were Rachel V. Culling and Brett Swain; magna cm laude went to Grace Adams and Casey Combs; and cm laude to Cameron Miller and Bri Stanley Saunders. Congratulations to all of our new alums. Way to go! And good luck in all of your future endeavors.

12/12/2020

Taylor Ferguson (R) receives her diploma from Augusta University at Fall Commencement exercises at James Brown Arena. AU President Brooks Keel congratulates Ferguson, who majored in Communication. Congratulations! (photo by David W. Bulla)

12/11/2020

Rachel Culling will graduate with her degree in Communication from Augusta University today. Rachel says: "Here at Augusta University, I’ve grown immensely as a professional, performer, writer and leader. I’ve developed strengths and skills I didn’t know I was capable of. But the best part of the experience was the community. To the professors and peers that I’ve had the pleasure and privilege to work alongside: Thank you!"

12/09/2020

12/02/2020

Communication professors at Augusta University receive research awards from Civil War conference

https://jagwire.augusta.edu/communication-professors-at-augusta-university-receive-research-awards-from-civil-war-conference/

Debra van Tuyll and David Bulla, professors of communication at Augusta University, were named recipients of national research awards at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga’s 28th Annual Symposium on the 19th Century Press, the Civil War and Free Expression.

11/24/2020

Let Your Future Live

Here is the third winner from the PSA competition this fall from the Georgia Cancer Center. This PSA, titled "Let Your Future Live," is by Augusta University Communication student Lexie Wolfgong. The competition was organized by the Georgia Cancer Center and the AU Audiovisual Media Production class, taught by Arthur Takahashi. A panel of judges with expertise in communication, video production, public relations and public health selected this PSA as the winner of the"Storytelling & Storyline Originality" category:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7xOod64Aj6s&feature=youtu.be

This PSA was produced by Lexie Wolfgong for an experiential learning competition organized by the Georgia Cancer Center and the COMM 3030 - Audiovisual Media...

11/20/2020

Here is a poster about media literacy from the COMM 2010A class with Rachel Balducci this semester. The posters are currently on display in the Allgood Hall East corridor (the side where the Communication professors' offices are). If you are on campus, come take a look.

11/11/2020

Happy Veterans Day to all who have served. The Dept. of Communication at Augusta University thanks you for your service to the nation.

11/09/2020

Don't Take Life for Granted

Here is another of the Georgia Cancer Center PSA award winners. Mary Cashin, a Communication senior, made this video titled "Don't Take Like for Granted." Mary's PSA was the winner of the "Storytelling & Storyline Originality" category. The competition was organized by the Georgia Cancer Center and the COMM 3030 (Audiovisual Media Production) course. Congratulations, Mary:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xkwIklQUDlY&feature=youtu.be

This PSA was produced by Mary Cashin for an experiential learning competition organized by the Georgia Cancer Center and the COMM 3030 - Audiovisual Media Pr...

11/02/2020

It Wasn't Worth It

Sam Turner's "It Wasn't Worth It" was the best overall video in the PSA video competition organized by the Georgia Cancer Center and the Audiovisual Media Production course at Augusta University. A panel of judges with expertise in communication, video production, public relations and public health selected this PSA as the best of the group. Congratulations Sam, who is a senior. Here is the video: category.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ta-CnNX-s3k&feature=youtu.be

This PSA was produced by Sam Turner for an experiential learning competition organized by the Georgia Cancer Center and the COMM 3030 - Audiovisual Media Pro...

11/01/2020

Augusta Cards Three Top Ten Finishes at PBC Preview

Congratulations to COMM major Carlos Rodriguez for his top-10 finish at the North Georgia Invite on Saturday:

https://aug.prestosports.com/sports/mxc/2020-21/releases/20201101f356vr?fbclid=IwAR0QA7DS6oyNhzZ0Ws_A8_U55K007ncwkrw0Oe8ALnRhv1ecsBOY6zFFyE0

Augusta Cards Three Top Ten Finishes at PBC Preview

10/29/2020

The Research Report podcast: Season 1, Episode 1. Professor David Bulla talks with Professor Debbie van Tuyll about her latest book, "Politics, Culture, and the Irish American Press
1784–1963" from Syracuse University Press. Dr. van Tuyll won the Sidney Kobre Lifetime Achievement Award from the American Journalism Historians Association in 2019: https://ia601407.us.archive.org/11/items/the-research-report-s-1-e-1-dvt-draft/The_Research_Report_S1_E1_DVT_Draft.mp3 (

10/26/2020

In his podcast "Think on This," Dr. Will Bryant talks to folks in the Augusta community about their lives and their worlds. Here is Season 2, Episode 3 of the show, a production of the Augusta University Department of Communication. Lauren Salsman is the producer:

https://soundcloud.com/augusta-university/think-on-this-season-2-episode-3

10/13/2020

MY SITE

Kim Vickers is a recent graduate of the Communication program at Augusta University. Here was the E-portfolio that she completed in our Capstone Seminar. Kim now works at WJBF TV as a reporter: https://kimvickers.weebly.com

MY SITE

10/05/2020

On the latest episode of "Think on This," Dr. Will Bryant interviews Trish Elsie, who is a high energy professional with successful experience in municipal government programming and non-profit management, development and fundraising. She is specialized in community and economic development, disaster relief, project management and residential construction. Trish graduated from the United Nations-mandated, University for Peace in Costa Rica in June 2018 with her Master's degree in Responsible Management and Sustainable Economic Development. Here is the link:

https://soundcloud.com/augusta-university/think-on-this-season-2-episode-2

09/17/2020

Listen: Alum April Henry King shares her artistic journey, major shuttle update announced on 'In the Wild' podcast

https://jagwire.augusta.edu/listen-alum-april-henry-king-shares-her-artistic-journey-major-shuttle-update-announced-on-in-the-wild-podcast/

This week’s QuickJag episode features Augusta University alumna April Henry King, a communication graduate turned artist after realizing her love and talent for painting.

09/17/2020

09/14/2020

Dr. Will Bryant opens up Season 2 of "Think on This." Here is the podcast: https://soundcloud.com/augusta-university/think-on-this-season-1-episode-7

08/28/2020

Hannah D'Arco, a senior Communication major and TV lab assistant at Augusta University, shows off her cool face mask on the last Friday in August. She made it herself.

08/22/2020

Fall break eliminated; Thanksgiving break extended

https://aubellringer.wordpress.com/2020/08/21/fall-break-eliminated-thanksgiving-break-extended/

Screenshot taken of email sent to students. By Haley Knight |Editor-in-Chief Augusta University administration has sent an email stating that students will no longer be receiving fall break in Fall…

08/20/2020

Here is an E-portfolio from recent Augusta University Communication graduate Mary Will Showman:

https://mwshowman.weebly.com

08/11/2020

Congratulations to Josh Epps, who just graduated from Augusta University with a degree in Communication. Way to go, Josh! He says the plan is to move to Aiken and he hopes to land a job at SRS. More importantly, "I’ll be getting married in May and my fiancée may start pursuing a medical related graduate degree with AU in Fall 2021." Good luck, Josh.

08/07/2020

The faculty and staff of the Augusta University Department of Communication commend Principal Gabe Carmona of North Paulding High School for his decision to withdraw the suspension of two students who had posted pictures of packed hallways and maskless students to their social media accounts. We remain concerned, however, about the dangerous precedent Carmona set with his original decision to punish any negative comments or revealing photos that students post about the school or its opening procedures this fall. Such threats have a chilling effect on free speech, which is essential to support American self-government and democracy.

We also commend Hannah Watters and her classmate for their service to their community. While neither is a professional journalist, their actions are those of the ever-growing number of citizen journalists whose coverage of their communities in blogs and on social media is helping to fill in the gaps caused by the loss of so many local newspapers in the past decades.

The two students were exercising rights United States Supreme Court recognized as long ago as 1969 (Tinker v. Des Moines): that students do not shed their First Amendment Rights when they cross the threshold into school. Though the Court gave school officials some control over content of student publications in 1988, that is not what happened in the North Paulding case. Watters and her classmate published their pictures in their personal social media accounts. Further, Principal Carmona’s decision only to punish negative comments is capricious and discriminatory. Students who post positive statements or photographs are seemingly exempt from punishment, despite a school rule that prohibits use of cell phones or posting to social media on school grounds.

The students were providing information about an issue of extreme public interest—the safety of students as they return to school. Watters’s picture showing a school hallway over-crowded with mostly mask-less students provided important intelligence about the school to the community. This was especially important given that several members of the school football team have tested positive for the corona virus, as has at least one staff member.

More than 2,000 students are enrolled at North Paulding County High School. Each of those students has a First Amendment right to comment on the conditions of the school, including conditions that effect the health and safety of those who work and study there. Local school officials, as well as those at the state and federal levels, should pledge themselves to protecting, not violating, students’ rights to freedom of expression.

Department of Communication
Augusta University
Augusta, Ga.

08/07/2020

Why Major in Communication with Professor Amber Routh

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LknRCbIjeB4

08/06/2020

Dr. Kim Davies, interim dean of Pamplin College at Augusta (center, top row), kicks off the Fall 2020 Semester with her first college-wide faculty meeting as dean.

08/04/2020

Congratulations to Whitney Webster, who has just graduated from Augusta University with a degree in Communication. Here Whitney is on Whale Rock in Columbia County on the Savannah River. She says: "I love going on adventures local and out of town. Travelling is very important to me. Experience over everything!" Good luck, Whitney.

07/30/2020

Loey Hudson

Our students make E-portfolios of their work during their years at Augusta University. Here is one from recent graduate Loey Hudson:

https://lhudsonportfolio.wordpress.com

Loey is currently a student at Augusta University working towards her degree in communication. She enjoys all aspects in the field, and specializes in writing, graphic design, public relations, and event coordinating. Loey has lived in the CSRA area since 2015. She graduated from Augusta Christian S...

07/24/2020

In the center, that's our alumnus Leeroy Francis Jr., who now works at TNT in Atlanta doing digital sports operations.

07/22/2020

JagNation's Karleigh King: 'Hands down, the students' are her favorite thing at AU

Here is a Q&A story about Augusta University Communication alumna Karleigh King:

https://jagwire.augusta.edu/jagnations-karleigh-king-hands-down-the-students-are-her-favorite-thing-at-au/

A closer look at JagNation's Karleigh King.

07/09/2020

Certificates in Media Production and Public Relations offered this fall at Augusta University

https://jagwire.augusta.edu/certificates-in-media-production-and-public-relations-offered-this-fall-at-augusta-university/

By offering two new certificates in Media Production and Public Relations this fall, Augusta University is hoping to strengthen communication students' resumes and give them an edge in a competitive job market.

07/08/2020

Communication's new certificates, starting in Fall 2020.

07/05/2020

The summer student journalists working on the Bell Ringer produced the single best month in the history of the student newspaper's online site in June. Congratulations to Jenna Ingalls, Emily Garcia, Carlos Rodriguez, Brett Swain and Hannah Joslin, as well as editor in chief Haley Knight and adviser Dylan Wilson.

06/09/2020

Kim Vickers, who graduated from Augusta University with a degree in communication two weeks back, works as a reporter for WJBF TV in Augusta. Here she is covering a recent protest in downtown Augusta. (photo by Dylan Wilson)

06/01/2020

The lead story in the Augusta Chronicle today is co-authored by Augusta University Communication alumnus Will Cheney. He also covered the Atlanta protests for USA Today. Here is a link to the online edition of the story:

https://www.augustachronicle.com/news/20200530/augusta-demonstrators-promote-peace-over-violence-in-marches-for-racial-justice