“My speed networking experience was extremely valuable. I left feeling confident and encouraged after participating in so many great conversations,” said Sarah Hager, a fourth-year student in the journalism program. “I am not interested in pursuing a career in traditional print journalism, and many of the conversations I had left me with new ideas of jobs that could suit my passions.”

SJMC students enrolled in the Event Management Certificate's Sustainable Events course took a field trip to visit the Iowa City Landfill. The class met with Iowa City’s Recycling Coordinator, Jane Wilch, who showed the students the landfill and taught them valuable lessons about sustainability.

Kelly Q. Anderson (B.A. 2003) was named Director of Promotions for the famed Off-Campus Writers' Workshop, the oldest, continuously running writing workshop in the country. She is a Chicago-based writer and former newspaper columnist specializing in creative nonfiction, poetry, and flash.

SJMC students Sammy Sommerfeld and Jack McFarland launch podcast during the Covid-19 pandemic. Over the course of a year they interviewed many notable guests as well as current Iowa Hawkeye athletes.

Fernando Pizarro graduated from the School of Journalism and Mass Communication with a master’s degree in Journalism in 1993. Since his time as SJMC, Pizarro has gone on to become an Emmy award-winning and nominated journalist. 

Rebecca Morin graduated from the School of Journalism and Mass Communication in 2016. Since then, she has worked as a breaking news reporter for Politico and is currently a White House reporter for USA Today. 

Taylor Mathis graduated from the School of Journalism and Mass Communication in 2015, earning her bachelor’s degree in Journalism and Sports Studies. Since then, Mathis has used skills and connections forged at Iowa to help her in several different career paths.

On August 17 and 31, Associate Professor Rachel Young released her two latest installments of work. This research builds off a previous interest in cyberbullying and online risk. For this research, Young worked with former or current students. Young views this as very positive and is a telling sign of how SJMC pushes students to collaborate on research projects.

Nominations for the University of Iowa's School of Journalism and Mass Communication (SJMC) Distinguished Service Award are being accepted through October 15, 2021.