school of media and journalism
![Photo of Steve Wright](https://www-s3-live.kent.edu/s3fs-root/s3fs-public/styles/1_5_2_thumbnail/public/article/SteveWrightWeb_0.jpg?VersionId=EjGFAoTREWy8.XKre6dBs05xvj4GNnIU&h=e6f36a9c&itok=Ww8dm7G5)
When I walked into Taylor Hall as an 18-year-old freshman in 1983, I had no idea that the foundation for my professional and personal life would take place there.
While earning a bachelor鈥檚 degree in Journalism in 1987, I was a section editor at the Daily 抖M女仆r 鈥 in a newsroom packed with future journalism giants whose achievements are too numerous to mention.
![Mary Jo Spletzer, '10, alumni spotlight, Public Relations Manager, Atlantis Resorts Dubai](https://www-s3-live.kent.edu/s3fs-root/s3fs-public/styles/1_5_2_thumbnail/public/article/Cheryl%20Ann%20Lambert%2C%20Ph.D._0.jpg?VersionId=1uMxAgujArIhTrLylJR9z2Ao_F4.8pdA&h=e6f36a9c&itok=fvKuIfzP)
A degree from 抖M女仆鈥檚 School of Media and Journalism can lead to opportunities to work across fields and businesses 鈥 and all over the world. Alumna Mary Jo Spletzer, 鈥10, has used what she learned as a public relations major to make her mark at Atlantis Resorts in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
![Ashley Slivinske, Tom Jennings, Gracia Lu](https://www-s3-live.kent.edu/s3fs-root/s3fs-public/styles/1_5_2_thumbnail/public/article/Jennings_Story_0.jpg?VersionId=rRMuMGxRpxbnDMvcT7uBnqQLbTFYIOdo&h=e6f36a9c&itok=_-tsLiVr)
Alumnus Tom Jennings never forgot about his starting moments at Kent State, and when he began thinking about how he wanted to give back, he thought to himself: "The best thing I can do for 抖M女仆 is find those most deserving who would like a shot in this type of industry.鈥
![Jeff Johnson headshot. Text reads: Jeff Johnson, 09, Alumni Spotlight, Senior Producer, MSNBC](https://www-s3-live.kent.edu/s3fs-root/s3fs-public/styles/1_5_2_thumbnail/public/article/Jeff-JohnsonWeb.png?VersionId=j1ekwSHw.fAehT6O0NC9BHKAc9Y9Qa2i&h=e6f36a9c&itok=xTdaInAY)
![Meghan Caprez Disney Headshot 2022](https://www-s3-live.kent.edu/s3fs-root/s3fs-public/styles/1_5_2_thumbnail/public/article/Meghan-New.jpg?VersionId=PUE4GXtzwkyiU1OgHiME6etU0qgRaBN5&h=e6f36a9c&itok=Aubpsnso)
Beyond the magical experiences guests have at Walt Disney World every day, there鈥檚 a communications and public affairs team spreading the magic all over the world. 抖M女仆 alumna Meghan Caprez, B.S. 鈥15, M.A. 鈥17, is part of that team.
![Cheryl Ann Lambert (left), Michele Ewing (right)](https://www-s3-live.kent.edu/s3fs-root/s3fs-public/styles/1_5_2_thumbnail/public/article/LambertEwing_0.jpg?VersionId=hsMbgwtmczkqrYBH9bu7.rxpxgkoRaaa&h=e6f36a9c&itok=nYbG3Yr8)
Public Relations faculty members Professor Michele Ewing and Associate Professor Cheryl Ann Lambert, Ph.D. sought out the insider perspective from practitioners who have successfully steered organizations through fake news crises. Here's a summary of what they found.
![Students at Ad Week](https://www-s3-live.kent.edu/s3fs-root/s3fs-public/styles/1_5_2_thumbnail/public/article/AdWeekNYC-1_1.jpg?VersionId=fHnphY.L7SanGcj840QpxSq2sUAtGztG&h=e6f36a9c&itok=0JMTxi0m)
Five CCI students recently attended New York City鈥檚 Advertising Week, the first time the School of Media and Journalism sent students on a learning experience outside the university since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.
![Visiting Journalist in front of Franklin Hall](https://www-s3-live.kent.edu/s3fs-root/s3fs-public/styles/1_5_2_thumbnail/public/article/ruslanas%20toned-web.jpg?VersionId=Pe5eM2vJqydUY9.DDlIbAhOXgGn59tBL&h=ec98a0f6&itok=48wwuczO)
Since the collapse of the USSR in the 1990s, Russia has launched several misinformation campaigns to regain lost satellite countries, specifically in the Baltic regions. Journalists such as Ruslanas 滨谤啪颈办别惫颈膷颈耻蝉 stand at the front to combat these campaigns to preserve democracy and his country鈥檚 independence.
He recently visited 抖M女仆's School of Media and Journalism.
![Emily Metzgar photo with Jargon overlay](https://www-s3-live.kent.edu/s3fs-root/s3fs-public/styles/1_5_2_thumbnail/public/academic-group/metzgar5_0.jpg?VersionId=_W1PToQKWiyHqpeoRcX33Alzn5SaYbwG&h=e16b5344&itok=cfLCOKte)
It wasn鈥檛 long after I joined the School of Media and Journalism (MDJ) in July 2020 that I started hearing stories about Jargon and fielding questions about when the next issue would appear. I quickly learned a lot about Jargon鈥檚 importance to alumni, faculty, friends and others.
![Collage of Bobby Makar photos](https://www-s3-live.kent.edu/s3fs-root/s3fs-public/styles/1_5_2_thumbnail/public/article/Screen%20Shot%202021-10-12%20at%2012.14.22%20PM%20copy_7.jpg?VersionId=HWdt5ml2FfuH7ISevQLLyXGww1dQVIGp&h=e6f36a9c&itok=fKdzAIUo)
Alumnus Bobby Makar was a passionate filmmaker and adjunct instructor who encouraged his students and helped them develop their work every step of the way.