TMU 8(5), March 29, 2011

Chicago documentary screening. Dean Gail F. Baker, writer of the award-winning documentary DuSable to Obama: Chicago’s Black Metropolis brings her team to Omaha for a Communication Week screening April 26 at Aksarben Cinema.  Following a 5:30 p.m. reception and 6:30 p.m. screening, Baker will be joined by producers Barbara Allen and Dan Andries from WTTW for a panel discussion. The film captures the story of Chicago’s African-American community through about 40 interviews with politicians, business leaders, artists, scholars and others. Kellita Smith of The Bernie Mack Show narrated the program, which was previously screened at DePaul University (See photo right courtesy DePaul Newsroom).  The documentary was selected by PBS to be shown across the nation in February.  It features archival footage, rare images, re-enactments and an original score by renowned jazz trumpeter Orbert Davis. The 90-minute film received Best Documentary at the International Black Film Festival of Nashville in 2010, the Chicago Defender’s Newsmaker Award, and an invitation to compete in the 22^nd annual Pan-African Film and TV Festival.

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Next issue: Award-winning Maverick Speech team, UNO Forensics at Nationals

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Leonard earns UNO teaching award.  Assistant Professor Lynnette Leonard is one of two faculty members recognized with the 2011 UNO Excellence in Teaching Award. Leonard is co-founder of the North Omaha Media Alliance (NOMA), which pairs UNO Communication students as mentors to area high school students. NOMA meets throughout the academic year to work on media projects. Leonard  also has pioneered in her teaching and research using the Second Life computer environment in instructional settings. She will be recognized April 7 at UNO’s Honors Week breakfast.

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Omaha Press Club show raises scholarship funds. Omaha Press Club President Chris Allen and alumnus John Prescott wrote and helped perform a successful annual show March 26.  Allen and alumnus Howard K. Marcus are shown in the photograph performing a Beach Boys song (Marcus' mother Joan K. Marcus, a former Omaha University journalism student, is the photographer).  Alumnus Matt Tompkins also appeared in the show, which roasts local politicians and public figures. Funds raised support journalism scholarships at UNO, UNL and Creighton. 

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Graduate student award recipient presents findings. Elton S. Carter Thesis Award winner Charley Reed presented his research findings at a campus reception in March. UNO Graduate Dean Deborah Smith-Howell hosted the event (photograph courtesy B. J. Reed). Reed's thesis, "Agents of Chaos: An Analysis of the Poster Campaign for 'The Dark Knight' as an Example of Corporate Culture Jamming" was judged by internal and external reviewers in campus-wide competition. Assistant Professor Adam Tyma, Reed's thesis adviser said: "Reed has presented an uncanny way to connect various methodological and theoretical perspectives in a way that complement each other AND add to the overall understanding of his focus of analysis."

Excellence in action. Undergraduate broadcasting major Tyler Barton had a Fall 2010 class project from the Inside Art program selected by NET to air statewide in the April Nebraska Stories program.  Instructor Gary Repair says the story featured an Omaha graffiti artist.  The show will premier Sunday, April 10 at 9 p.m. *** Professor Mike Sherer was featured in a recent SouthwestIowaNews.com article and on the front page of the Council Bluffs Nonpareil. *** Visiting scholar from China Jiankang Zhang has published two articles in Chinese Radio and Television Journal, one of the top three journals in the field there, during his first six months at UNO. The articles are on overseas influence of reporting on the Shanghai World's Fair and media capacity. He returned to China for two weeks before the second half of his Omaha stay, which concludes in September. *** Professor Bruce Johansen had a letter published in USA Today. He responded to what he termed a "wildly misleading" critique of campus collective bargaining. 

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The Omaha News covered the UNO athletics storyin the March 17 broadcast

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Events and photos.  

Dave Ogden, a baseball scholar, visited Werner Park

Maverick Speech held a spaghetti 

fundraiser at the Community Playhouse

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March

30 - Night Before Nationals, Eppley Auditorium, 6-8 p.m.

31 - NOMA, CPACS Commons, 4 p.m.

April

1 -  Lambda Pi Eta Induction, MBSC, 8:30 a.m.

2 - Dart Center Panel, Creighton University, 8 a.m.

5-6 - UNO Research and Creative Fair, MBSC

7 - Honors Breakfast, MBSC, 7 a.m., and Convocation, Strauss, 4 p.m. 

9 - Regional PRSSA, Mammel Hall, TBA

14 - High School Media Conference, MBSC 10 a.m. - 3 p.m.

25 - Communication Week: Advertising presentations, ASH 112, 3-4:15 p.m.

26 - PRSSA presentations, MBSC Chancellor's Room, 4-6 p.m.; and DuSable to Obama screening, Aksarben Cinema, 5:30 p.m.

27 - Advertising presentations, ASH 112, 3-4:15 p.m.
28 - Alumni Panel, MBSC Dodge A and B, 1-2:15 p.m.; 56th Annual Communication Awards Banquet, Thompson Alumni Center, 6-9 p.m.

29 - Omaha Press Club Scholarship Dinner, OPC, 5-9 p.m.

May

6 - Commencement Breakfast, Alumni Center, 9 a.m., and UNO Commencement, Civic Auditorium 2-4:30 p.m.