CCI News & Events Center
![Community members with Santa](https://www-s3-live.kent.edu/s3fs-root/s3fs-public/styles/1_5_2_thumbnail/public/article/ClarkKents_0.jpg?VersionId=knxJLT55NYsZm4q9ghfBzBJOOcy7QV0R&h=e6f36a9c&itok=emNcCNry)
Kent State students envision a new way for newsrooms to connect with audiences: a two-way text-messaging communication channel. The idea is part of the Reynolds Journalism Institute’s 2020-21 Student Innovation competition.
![Students in masks with rocks](https://www-s3-live.kent.edu/s3fs-root/s3fs-public/styles/1_5_2_thumbnail/public/article/bateman-web_0.jpg?VersionId=CneoCEhyddniHvRPXHpXJxslfMjspxNt&h=e6f36a9c&itok=yfl7I5fa)
Kent State public relations students are participating in a campaign and competition to educate their peers about civility this spring.
![Kent State senior Gianna DaPra in the TV2 Studio](https://www-s3-live.kent.edu/s3fs-root/s3fs-public/styles/1_5_2_thumbnail/public/article/dapra-g-tv2_0.jpg?VersionId=pSVbkXXnFkNWB0qcNr50DbwSb3zELPCH&h=e6f36a9c&itok=sPZJ1pxk)
The Hearst Journalism Awards — widely known as the Pulitzer Prizes of Collegiate Journalism — recently recognized Kent State senior Gianna DaPra in the nation’s top 10 for television features.
![Portrait of Stephanie Danes Smith](https://www-s3-live.kent.edu/s3fs-root/s3fs-public/styles/1_5_2_thumbnail/public/article/sds%201500x600%20%281%29_2.jpg?VersionId=57CpUPgubyJUZ4u9WfM8X53HqObYZ875&h=e6f36a9c&itok=nHP-_gio)
This reflection is by Stephanie Danes Smith, an Associate Professor in the College of Communication and Information. Before she began sharing her passion and vast knowledge of communication with Kent State students, she spent 27 years working for the U.S. Federal government, 25 of them with the CIA.
![Photo of Jill Golden (left) and Carrie Kandes (right)](https://www-s3-live.kent.edu/s3fs-root/s3fs-public/styles/1_5_2_thumbnail/public/article/PRSSA%20Award%20Banner_1.jpg?VersionId=t0PJDjCB_QwRH4XAVPr.t0jzAhmCrLRm&h=e6f36a9c&itok=YI8xyosr)
Kent State’s Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA Kent) Chapter, along with two School of Media and Journalism (MDJ) alumnae, earned national recognition at the 2020 PRSSA Annual International Conference. Public relations alumna Jill Golden, won the highest individual award, the National Gold Key award, and alumna Carrie Kandes, APR, earned the Teahan Professional Adviser award.
![](https://www-s3-live.kent.edu/s3fs-root/s3fs-public/file/kent_state_media_placeholder_0.jpg)
The School of Media and Journalism at Kent State University is saddened at the unexpected death of our alumnus, adjunct instructor and friend Bobby Makar.
![Designs by students in Graphic Design 2 (left to right: Emily Hooper, Leah Bailey, Paige Brown, Emily Oiler) Student posters - Get Out The Vote](https://www-s3-live.kent.edu/s3fs-root/s3fs-public/styles/1_5_2_thumbnail/public/article/AIGA-vCD_1.jpg?VersionId=pdMlZGwMiMCQRBqztxPL3cC.FSvqgR76&h=e6f36a9c&itok=NhmOoN2c)
This fall, Kent State students took part in a nationwide effort to increase voting participation through design.
![Brenna Parker interacts with a child while working for When We All Vote](https://www-s3-live.kent.edu/s3fs-root/s3fs-public/styles/1_5_2_thumbnail/public/article/brenna5_0.jpg?VersionId=6ut5rLwDEGBT.YBK1arBzZN8SExqm1kg&h=e6f36a9c&itok=ZxDowUQZ)
Kent State alumna Brenna Parker grew up in a household that talked about important issues of the day, so it’s no surprise that her young career has been rooted in politics and civic engagement. As the nation votes leading up to the historic 2020 election on Nov. 3, Parker has taken on the role of Web and Facebook Strategist for Biden for President, sharing the former Vice President and Democratic nominee for President’s message with millions of voters online.
![Sarah Matthews poses outside of Air Force One. She sometimes travels with the president in her role as Deputy Press Secretary.](https://www-s3-live.kent.edu/s3fs-root/s3fs-public/styles/1_5_2_thumbnail/public/article/IMG_7826_Facetune_28-06-2020-12-42-43-1500x500-web_0.jpg?VersionId=NCqiuon9FBehxOrq6QDT7vFk.dsyoAd3&h=4f75e055&itok=cSzTbhs2)
From Kent State to the White House, Sarah Matthews has been in the middle of the country's political scene since earning her degree in Public Relations in 2017. What she's learned along the way can help today's students better prepare for the careers that await.
![Sue Zake at Graduation ceremony with students](https://www-s3-live.kent.edu/s3fs-root/s3fs-public/styles/1_5_2_thumbnail/public/article/SZaward_0.jpg?VersionId=pAPJh2ItF8UG_4QFnLm18EFxbG_QNqtk&h=e6f36a9c&itok=qYNaUL36)
Susan Kirkman Zake, an associate professor in the School of Media and Journalism at Kent State University, was selected as the recipient of the 2020 Distinguished Adviser Award, Four-Year Multimedia, from the College Media Association (C