Communications Fellows embark on media tour in Atlanta

Twenty-four students met with communications professionals and alumni, receiving a behind-the-scenes look at the operations of several media organizations.

The School of Communications first-year Fellows traveled to Atlanta at the end of October to network with and learn from media professionals and alumni.

During their fall 2016 Atlanta trip, the first-year Communications Fellows broke into two groups during the morning of Oct. 28, visiting Atlanta Magazine (pictured) and CNN. Photo courtesy of David Bockino
​Twenty-four students, along with David Bockino, assistant professor and Communications Fellows program director, and Gerald Gibson, assistant professor, met with executives and staff members at CNN, Atlanta Magazine, MSLGROUP Public Relations and WPBA-TV (PBA30), one of two PBS-member stations in the Atlanta metropolitan area.

The Atlanta trip was designed to provide the first-year Fellows with a greater awareness of career opportunities and the various paths of study open to them. Among the highlights was attending a broadcast of “Morning Express with Robin Meade” at CNN Atlanta.

Communications Fellows watch as Robin Meade, lead news anchor for HLN's morning show “Morning Express with Robin Meade,” films her Oct. 28 broadcast. Photo courtesy of Gerald Gibson
​Ben Kaiser ’91, manager of distribution for CNN NewSource, coordinated the CNN visit and also arranged for the Fellows to meet with Jack Womack, senior vice president CNN Worldwide and parent of Elon alumna Jacque Smith ’12, a senior producer for news video at CNN Digital. Additionally, the Fellows spoke with Ben Naughton ’14, who is a cross platform associate producer.

Perry Patterson, PBA30’s TV production manager and parent of senior Communications Fellow Caroline Patterson ’17, arranged the group’s visit to the public broadcasting station.

Following their media tours, the Fellows also visited The King Center, the official memorial dedicated to the advancement of the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Established in 1968 by Coretta Scott King, King’s widow, the center commemorates the life and actions of one of America’s greatest civil rights activists.