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Welcome back everyone!
My name is Tiana Smith. I am a sophomore mass media student with a concentration in advertising and public relations.
Braden Burcham, Rebekah McIntosh and I worked hard to put this newsletter together, and I hope it brings each reader joy. In this issue, you will find stories about our mass media alumni whose careers have brought them back to Washburn University. Each of these alumni is extremely talented and represents the true spirit of Washburn and mass media.
I am looking forward to seeing our students work this semester. Even though the WIFI Film Festival isn’t until April, submissions are currently open for any filmmakers out there. Our advertising and public relations students will also soon be heading to Spark KC to learn from advertising industry professionals.
Make sure to mark your calendars for our annual Homecoming tailgate Oct. 28.
I would like to thank our readers for their continued support of the mass media department. It is because of you that we get to do what we love. We are endlessly thankful for our opportunity to learn from this department.
I hope all our students have a productive semester, and all our supporters have a wonderful fall!
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Editor's Note: This is part one of our mass media grads at Washburn series.
Our current list includes 20 mass media graduates working across campus in the School of Nursing, the iCard Office, Washburn Athletics, the School of Law, KTWU, the Leadership Institute, Washburn Public Relations, the Ichabod Shop, Enrollment Management and the Washburn Alumni Association and Foundation.
If you earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in mass media and work at Washburn or WU Tech, we would love to hear from you.
Reach us at massmedia@washburn.edu.
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From student to stalwart: meet the alumnae making waves in the heart of Washburn's PR Department
by Zachary Stephens with reporting by Shelby Munoz
In the ever-evolving world of higher education, some stories come full circle, and today, we have the privilege of introducing you to two exceptional alumnae who have done just that.
Joy Bailes, and Ellie Walker both work for the Washburn University Public Relations Department. Their tale is a testament to the enduring connection between our alumni and our institution, where the influence of those around them during their student years has flourished into vibrant careers right here on campus.
Bailes, 00’, worked for Payless’ corporate office where she focused on marketing and internal communications, and Security Benefit where she focused again on marketing and internal communications. A friend close to hers saw a position open at Washburn and encouraged Bailes to apply.
“I kind of pondered about it and talked to my husband about it and prayed about it. I really felt led to do this,” Bailes said. “I left the interview, and I was like-- I really think I would like this job.”
Soon afterward, Bailes accepted a position as the assistant director of Public Relations at Washburn. One reason she decided to come back was the culture and environment Washburn provides for its students and staff members.
“You hear people talk about how Washburn is so instrumental in their lives because they stay in contact with professors after they graduate, and that is so true,” Bailes said. “You become friends with these people because they actually really do care.”
Driven by her love for this institution, Bailes is not just an alumna who has found her way back; she’s a storyteller on a mission. With talent and love for discovering the stories and inspirations that make our students and staff members unique, she shows enthusiasm for her job and a true desire to tell everyone’s story.
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Washburn is not just defined by her professional role but by a profound sense of belonging.
Her decision to work for Washburn was significantly influenced by the unwavering support and mentorship of three exceptional professors who recognized her potential and encouraged her to apply for a position at the Washburn public relations office as a Public Relations Specialist focusing on the main Washburn social media accounts (including the Instagram accounts geared toward students), assisting in press releases, monitoring campus and off campus news, and setting up interviews.
Walker appreciated a lot of the opportunities she had as a student at Washburn and worked for the Washburn Student Media office for over 2 years before graduating.
This involvement led to several professors at Washburn getting to know her quite well, including Regina Cassell and Kristen Grimmer, who encouraged her to apply for an open position at the public relations office.
“I really like the environment,” said Walker. “I like the culture here at Washburn. The professors in the department were always willing to help.”
Walker also talked about the support of some of her friends that she met back when she was a student at Washburn Tech and how it influenced her experience when she moved to Washburn with them later.
“I am still close with the students I met at Washburn Tech. Terry Ralston, Grace Lindman, Glorianna Noland and Christina Noland advanced to Washburn University with me. The support from my friends and the dedication of the professors in the mass media department are the reason I had such a great experience here,” said Walker.
Washburn University's dynamic culture remains a model of excellence, not just in the academic field but also as a supportive environment for its employees.
The experiences of both Bailes and Walker demonstrate the significant influence of our university's philosophy, which fosters a work environment that values commitment, personal development and a strong feeling of community.
We are reminded that at Washburn, our culture is not just a backdrop; it is the basis upon which remarkable careers and lifelong connections are established as we celebrate their triumphs and the broader achievements of our alumni.
We anticipate hearing more success stories that confirm our dedication to quality and the tenacity that characterizes our cherished institution.
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photo by Tiana Smith
Josh Rouse, Ernie Webb III, Drew Dickes and Travis Perry put their collective talents to use recruiting the next generation of Washburn graduates.
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Alumni team focuses on future Ichabods
by Tiana Smith with reporting by Connor Doel
Beginning a career in the media world can be daunting, but it can be a lot easier with a mentor like Ernie Webb, '98, who wants to share his passion with others.
Webb has known for a while that he would have a career in the media field. He started writing in high school, and his passion for sports journalism followed soon after.
“My first college I went to was Kansas State, and the first thing they did was have newspaper people out there selling subscriptions,” said Webb. “I bought one for the Kansas City Star and Topeka Capital-Journal, and I read the sports sections every day.”
Seeing his passion for sports, Webb's mentor, Kurt Kessinger, offered him a job writing the sports section of “The Osage County Herald-Chronicle.” With complete creative freedom in this role, Webb’s passion for media grew dramatically.
This experience would lead him to his current position as director of strategic enrollment management, marketing and communications for Washburn University.
In this position, Webb assists admissions staff and works on a wide range of projects, like Washburn television advertisements and Washburn’s new virtual tour.
Webb leads a team that includes three other mass media graduates, Travis Perry, '09, Josh Rouse, '12, and Drew Dickes, '19.
Webb says he finds value in hiring these graduates because he sees talented individuals emerge from the mass media program each year.
“Ernie has exemplified a lot of good things to me,” said Perry. “He has shown me how to be a leader who gets things done, while still caring about the people who work for him.”
Webb provides his employees with an environment where they can put the skills they learned earning their degrees to use.
“I've only been here about a year now, and I've had a lot of opportunities to step up and take on a lot more responsibilities than I thought I'd be able to,” said Rouse. “He's really kind of given me that go-ahead to take initiative and do things, and really grow as a professional.”
The group works well together under Webb’s mentorship, with Perry and Rouse both describing working together as mass media graduates as “comfortable.”
“We've all been through the trenches of professional journalism in one form or another,” said Perry. “It has its high peaks, and it has its low valleys, and we share a lot of camaraderie in being able to appreciate those things.”
Webb’s team works together to advertise Washburn to prospective students. With Webb overseeing all marketing efforts, his employees write the emails and mail the letters needed to bring students in.
“Ernie is among the best that Washburn has to offer. He is a product of the university, and he gives back to it every single day with his entire heart.”
From learning from his mentor, to now mentoring others, it's safe to say Ernie Webb is working to ensure students enroll at Washburn for many years to come.
| | | | Alumni play vital role at KTWU | |
Wanda Hinton
by Gabrielle Van Sickle
edited by Rebekah McIntosh
Growing up in Holton, Kansas, Wanda Hinton, '14, has loved TV, movies and music ever since she was young.
“It was just something that my parents instilled in me. We went to the movie theater all the time, we went to the drive-in all the time, and my dad loved to sing,” Hinton said.
Hinton is currently the assistant to the general manager at KTWU, the PBS station located on Washburn's campus.
With such a strong background in media, TV and movies, Hinton knew this was something she wanted to be a part of in her future.
Hinton began her new adventure at KTWU in 2009 and is now part of the station's major events that take place on and off campus. It keeps her busy.
“I am one of the producers for the Holiday Vespers Concert. If you have ever been over at White Concert Hall during the Vespers time, I’m the person who coordinates the stage decor,” Hinton said.
That is one of the many events she gets to be a part of and even take the lead. Hinton explains how she enjoys staying busy and not being able to just sit at her desk for long periods of time.
“If I'm not busy or doing something then the day just drags on,” Hinton said.
Feeling accomplished and being satisfied with the day is Hinton’s main goal every day at KTWU.
Her fellow employees have explained how much of an impact she has made at KTWU.
Janet Radziejeski is the administrative assistant at KTWU and often works alongside Hinton.
“She runs this place,” said Radziejeski, “She has a knowledge base that no one else can touch. I don’t know what we would do without her, seriously.”
Hinton has taken the initiative to stay current with technology and make updates as necessary.
“I love my position, and people are so good here,” Hinton said.
The station has immense goals for its future and employees. They are branching more into streaming services and making the adjustments necessary to keep running.
KTWU won its first Public Media Award with its production “Poetry Out Loud” at the 55th Annual Public Media Awards Gala Sept. 10, 2023, at the 2023 NETA Conference and CPB Public Media Thought Leader Forum held in Grand Rapids, Michigan. The one-hour KTWU production featured the Kansas state competition of the national program, achieved the award in the Performing Arts Content Category, Division Two.
| Photos courtesy of Wanda Hinton and Lyall Ford. | |  | |
Lyall Ford
by Rebekah McIntosh
with reporting by Connor Doel
Lyall Ford, ’02, currently works for Washburn University’s news outlet, KTWU Public Television, where he is a producer and director for its various shows.
“I work on all our local programming initiatives,” said Ford. “We have three regular shows that we do here.”
These shows include “Inspire,” “Working Capital,” and “IGI.” Each of these are powerful programs that cover women’s special interests, impactful businesses and business start-ups. These programs also include various political and environmental problems.
Ford's student journey began in the television studio in Henderson Hall, where he took all of Mass Media production and writing classes.
“One of the classes was a production class where you produced a weekly show called the Washburn Edition, and at the time it went out to the Washburn cable channel WUCT,” said Ford.
“We would produce live every Thursday night, which was a great experience because we had to produce packages for it. We had anchors, a camera operator, everything you would have had in a regular news show.”
Ford explained he had been interested in broadcasting since high school.
“I was from Garden City, Kansas, and our high school had a pretty cool broadcasting program,” said Ford. “We had a daily news show that would go out to the TVs at the high school, and that’s where my interest started.”
Ford’s advice to Mass Media students is to talk to your adviser frequently, be involved, and take internships.
Ford himself didn’t wait until he had a job to start making videos, but he started right away to build a portfolio that helped companies know his capabilities.
“I was involved with Mass Media clubs,” said Ford. “Networking with other students was very useful, but you should also network with different industries so you can have mentors and good relationships that you can build on where you are actually making something.”
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Alumna moves into the new law building
by Trevor McCollum
As the Washburn School of Law settles into its new building, Karli Davis, '06, continues her work as the director of marketing communications.
Karli Davis attended Washburn University from 2003-2006, where she received a bachelors in mass media and a minor in English. She was involved in Washburn Student Publications, Society for Collegiate Journalists, Mortar Board, Phi kappa Phi, and Washburn University public relations. She received her masters degree from Minnesota State and worked in higher education before returning to Washburn in 2015.
Davis accomplished many things before arriving back at Washburn and continues to make changes working for the new law school.
“I worked at Eastern Oklahoma State College and the University of Missouri Kansas City Law, and while I was there I was part of launching both brand guidelines and new websites. While at Washburn Law, I was the director during the COVID lockdowns, and I was able to create online programming (game nights, murder mystery parties, scavenger hunts, happy hours, and guest speakers) to keep our alumni engaged,” said Davis.
Even though she took time away from Washburn to grow professionally, Davis always knew she wanted to return.
"I knew I wanted to have a career in higher education, and during every move after my graduate program, I worked to find jobs in education," said Davis. "Once we moved closer to Topeka again, I knew I wanted to come back to Washburn because of the people, environment, and overall institution goals. I have been here for eight years, and still enjoy coming to work every day and seeing all the great things going on around me."
Robert J.Dole Hall is the new home to Washburn law students. Davis is continuing to work on her professional goals in the new setting.
“We have a few big projects I would like to accomplish in the next few years," Davis said. "This includes a new website, an internal communications site, a multi-channel marketing plan for recruitment, and evaluating our current social media plan and brand guidelines."
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Graduates fill spots in WU Athletics
By Jeremy Ford
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College isn’t always about grabbing your degree and running. Topeka native Kyle Manthe, ’22 has found an opportunity to continue developing his career at Washburn.
As a senior sports editor within Washburn Student Media, Manthe did not realize he was getting a trial run at a future job when he covered a staggering number of athletic events as a reporter.
From there he began to build his writing and photography connections with Washburn Athletics and started an internship following graduation while also working as a freelance contributor for Top Sports News.
Shortly after his internship ended, Manthe learned that his current position, assistant director of athletic communications, was going to be open.
"I liked being around Washburn, and I liked my time in Student Media, which allowed me to learn a whole new skill set. It was an easy choice to come back to Washburn," said Manthe.
In his new role, Manthe helps support Washburn's 14 varsity sports in a variety of ways. From game administration and stats to photos and social media, Manthe works to keep the media and the general public informed about Washburn athletics.
“It’s nice to feel a little bit more secure and settled in. My summers have been full of uncertainty, and I was never sure what I wanted to do. So far I have enjoyed it here, and don’t think I will leave anytime soon.”
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Logan Schmidt, ’22, is currently pursing a master's degree in sports administration from Northwest Missouri State University.
After graduating, Schmidt was officially hired as the assistant business/ticket manager for athletic budgeting and team fundraising.
Schmidt jump-started his career by completing an internship with the Kansas City Monarchs baseball organization.
“This was my start in sports, I had a great opportunity to work in a professional sports setting,” Schmidt said. “I was able to create good connections within Washburn, which allowed me to get the position I have now,” Schmidt said.
“I have been able to use my mass media degree through event promotions,” Schmidt said. “I have developed all the relationships and opportunities I have been able to here with this opportunity.”
In the fall 2023 Mass Media Messenger, readers can find out how two mass media sisters are finding their way on the volleyball court.
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Find out what our alumni are up to. Reminder: We no longer print the Mass Media Messenger, but our entire archived magazine collection is available online for everyone to view.
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Staff Box
Editor-in-Chief: Tiana Smith
2023 Advanced Professional Media Class: Braden Burcham, Jeremy Ford,
Ashley Heavner, Trevor McCollum, Rebekah McIntosh, Drew Olson, Taylor Romanchek, Tiana Smith, Zachary Stephens and Serina Weathers.
Faculty Adviser: Regina Cassell
Mass Media Faculty Editors: Kristen Grimmer, Maria Stover, Matt Nyquist, Sam Finch
The Mass Media Newsletter is created during the fall and spring semesters by Washburn University students in MM 403 Advanced Professional Media Writing and is emailed to anyone who would like to subscribe.
Sharing is encouraged.
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The Department of Mass Media
Henderson Learning Center, Room 316
(785) 670-1836
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