Communications Fellows embark on media tour in Atlanta

During the two-day trip, 29 students visited with communications professionals and Elon University alumni, receiving a behind-the-scenes look at the operations of several prominent organizations, including CNN, Jackson Spalding and the Atlanta Falcons.

The School of Communications first-year Fellows traveled to Atlanta during the last weekend of October to network with and learn from professionals currently working in the communications and sport industries. In fact, at several stops on the media tour, the students encountered and visited with Elon alumni.

<p>Assistant Professor David Bockino (left) and a group of Communications Fellows gather together while touring cable news outlet CNN in Atlanta. Photos courtesy of Bockino.</p>

In all, 29 first-year students visited the Atlanta metropolitan area on Oct. 26-27 and were accompanied by Assistant Professor David Bockino, Associate Professor Hal Walker and Associate Director of Corporate and Employer Relations Stephanie Bourland. Senior Fellow Lindsey Case ’19 also traveled with the students.

During their first day in Atlanta, the students divided into three groups, visiting Mercedes-Benz Stadium, home of the Atlanta Falcons and Atlanta United FC, Jackson Spalding, a marketing communications agency, and CNN.

The Elon contingent gathers for a group photo while on set at the Turner Broadcasting Techwood Campus.
At all three stops, the groups visited with Elon alumni. Rachel Zaleznik ’16, who currently serves as a community relations programs assistant with the Atlanta Falcons, welcomed a group of students interested in the sport industry. At Jackson Spalding, Jennifer Tucci ’09, G’12, an event lead and project manager, visited with students to discuss strategic communications. Lastly, students interested in journalism toured cable news outlet CNN and met with Ben Kaiser ’91, manager of distribution for CNN NewSource.

During their tour of SunTrust Park, home of the Atlanta Braves stadium, the Fellows took a group photo near the field. That&rsquo;s Will Goldy &rsquo;22 on top of the dugout.&nbsp;
In the afternoon, the students reunited to tour the Turner Broadcasting Techwood Campus, checking out the “Inside the NBA” and NBA TV sets and speaking with campus recruiters.

The following day the trip concluded with a behind-the-scenes tour of SunTrust Park, the Atlanta Braves stadium.

 “Every year, we see more and more Elon School of Communications alums working at some of the biggest sport and media companies in Atlanta. And they couldn’t be more welcoming to our first-year Fellows during our annual trip down to the city,” said Bockino, who serves as the Communications Fellows program director.

This fall, the Communications Fellows program expanded to 30 students. Twenty-four students are majoring in the traditional communications programs such as journalism, strategic communications, cinema and television arts, communication design and media analytics. The final six Fellows are sport management majors; it is the first time students interested in the sport industry have been included in the Fellows program. For more information, visit the school’s Fellows website.