2021 Communique

FOR ALUMNI AND FRIENDS OF THE UM SCHOOL OF JOURNALISM | VOLUME 65, 2021
INS IDE
VOLUME 65 | 2021
DIRECTOR’S MESSAGE
HELLO FROM Don Anderson Hall and a Director Denise
smoke-filled Missoula Valley. Last year at Dowling hosts
this time, we were in the midst of the pan- the J-School’s
virtual graduation
demic and holding on for dear life. I’m hap-
celebration on
py to report the faculty, staff and students April 30, 2021,
of your J-School have weathered the storm from her office
and come out whole. Well, mostly. in Don Anderson
I’m not going to sugar coat it; it was a Hall.
rough year. We pieced instruction togeth-
er as we went along, offering remote
and blended and all in-person courses.
Students and faculty rotated in and out of
the different attendance methods as they
contracted COVID or were close contacts 17
and had to quarantine. None of it was
ideal, but I’m incredibly proud of the way
we worked together to make the most of
the situation.
Fall T. Anthony Pollner Distinguished
Professor Tammy Kim proved remarkably
resilient and creative. She found ways to The Montana Media Lab was on a low We’ve had some coming and going
engage with her class and the Montana simmer for most of the past academic year this year. Development officer Gita Saedi
Kaimin while fully masked and distanced. but was out in force this summer. Four stu- Kiely left us for another opportunity. And
When it came time to deliver her commu- dents and recent alums took to the road Montana Media Lab Founding Director
nity lecture, we partnered with the televi- in June, spending a week in four different Anne Bailey welcomed baby girl Vivienne
16 14
sion students to create a live-streamed, communities. The student teachers gave and stepped away from her position with
(photos, clockwise from left: Jeremy Lurgio, Bruce Ely, Paul Queneau)
interactive session unlike any previous instruction in media literacy, worked with us. We wish them the best in their new
Pollner lecture. high schoolers on a storytelling project, adventures and we are taking this oppor-
The documentary film class was not to and made community presentations of tunity to think big about the future of the COVER STORY 15 Study abroad stays stateside, MORE NEWS
be denied a chance to produce a feature their work at week’s end. Media Lab and development. and updates from the grad program
film. Students found a topic that would The pandemic brought an unexpected We’ve just wrapped up a fantastic 4 “Covering COVID-19 is trauma reporting.” 26 Alumni obituaries
keep them outdoors so they could follow benefit in our ability to hire adjunct profes- summer camp for high school students. 16 Native News, Documentary
and Radio-TV class updates 28 Updates from alums
pandemic protocol and still tell a compel- sors to teach from afar. We had the great They came from as far away as Portland IN THIS ISSUE
ling story. Their work, “Weathering the good fortune of hiring alumnus Nathan and Pittsburgh, and Montana was well 17 Showcase of recent work by 34 Honoring our donors
Storm,” explores the business of fly-fishing Rott of NPR to teach our advanced audio represented with students from Miles 6 Q&A with Dean Laurie Baefsky, photo-J alums
in the state and COVID’s impact on the course in the spring. Nate was able to be City, Joliet, Whitefish, Missoula and Great College of the Arts & Media
20 Faculty updates
industry. Other courses and capstones in Missoula for part of the semester, but Falls. The students produced stories, 7 An interesting year for Pollners
found complicated and creative ways to also taught remotely as he returned to his photographs and designs considering E. Tammy Kim and Geoff McGhee 22 Favorite professors of the past
keep on keepin’ on. home base in Los Angeles or continued the future of the media. I think you’ll report back
8 Past Pollners tell us what they’re up to
Dean Laurie Baefsky joined us in January. his reporting around the West. We also enjoy seeing what they accomplished in 25 Student awards and the latest
She has been working hard to get to know engaged Kate Gammon, a Los Ange- this issue. 14 J-School resumes summer camp. from our Media Lab
the School of Journalism and the three les-based independent journalist covering We would not have made it through this Also: student election coverage
other schools in the college. She’s also had science and the environment, and Mallory crazy year without your ongoing support
an abrupt introduction to the budget chal- Pickett, a freelance journalist for the New and your cheerleading from afar. While we
lenges facing UM and a crash course in the Yorker, The Guardian and Slate, to teach expect to be back to business as usual
Montana Legislature. You can meet Laurie our graduate-level journalism seminar. this fall, the pandemic continues to rage
in Communiqué’s pages this year. We again hosted many of our annual and we are keeping a constant watch in Volume 65, 2021 Send news and Class Notes to: Contact us:
The J-School sent students to cover the events virtually, like our High School case our plans need to change. We’re Published for Alumni and Friends Communiqué Email: [email protected]
67th Montana Legislature. Austin Amestoy Journalism Day, Job and Internship Fair, ready to roll with it.
Editor: Paul Queneau ’02 UM School of Journalism Online: jour.umt.edu
and James Bradley were witness to one Dean Stone Awards and Journalism Com- We hope you’re well and managing
Design: Allison Bye ’14 Don Anderson Hall
of the most contentious sessions in recent mencement. Since we’d been through through this ongoing upheaval. Please be @umjschool
Missoula, MT 59812
memory. You can read about what they this once before we had the hang of it. in touch. UM School of Journalism © 2021 #montanajournalism, #learnbydoing
406-243-4001
learned and what took away from the Although I have to say I really hope this
hard work of political reporting in these will be the last time we’re forced to take Denise Dowling
fractious times on page 14. all our events online. It’s just not the same. Director of the School of Journalism COVER PHOTO: As part of his work as chief photographer for the Portland (Maine) Press Herald, Gregory Rec ’96 took this
image of Bryce Barnes adjusting the nozzle on a snow-making machine at the Sunday River ski resort in Newry, Maine, this past
January. To see more photos from Rec and other alums, turn to page 17.
2 | UM SCHOOL OF JOURNALISM UM SCHOOL OF JOURNALISM | 3

Native Americans make up just under 7% dramatic scenes she described into a comic have continued working if I had to keep
of Montana’s population, yet they account book format delivered on NPR’s website. commuting.”
for 16% of the deaths. She eventually had to “Dealing with the virus—it’s like you’re For me, spending more time with family
quit attending funerals “or else we would be trying to rake in a windstorm,” the nurse was the true bright spot of the pandemic.
at a funeral every day,” Brien said. told Rott. And for journalists covering the But even the happiest moments were tinged
Many of us compartmentalized the grief pandemic, the windstorm feels familiar. with sadness and angst. I tried to channel
to get our story filed, then broke afterward. I CBS’s Oliver was taking things on one that energy into relaying pertinent infor-
remember having to read one script six times day at a time. “It has been emotionally mation. I became fixated on the virus and
before I could get through it without crying. draining. When you’re reporting on it every the daily case numbers in Montana, which
“It’s just robotic,” Brien said. “And that day there’s no escape. I definitely think the declined, thankfully, in early 2021 with the
takes some of the humanity out of it. But at buildup over time has taken a toll.” first available COVID-19 vaccine appoint-
a certain point, you can’t afford to have too Add George Floyd’s murder, Missing and ments in Missoula.
ABOVE, FROM LEFT Big Horn County News much humanity for your own sake.” Murdered Indigenous People, a presiden- I finally had news to share that brought
General Manager and Editor Luella Brien ’06 The multitude of unknowns didn’t help. tial election cycle topped off with insurrec- hope, albeit with a dose of initial frustra-
(second from left) with her family; Newsy’s Montana So much of what we normally cover has an tion—all accompanied by a constant under- tion as clinics filled up faster than concert
REPORTING THE
Reporter Maritsa Georgiou ’07; and Ryan Divish expiration date—an investigation, a verdict, current of misinformation and accusations seats. People were desperate to get that jab
’01, who covers the Mariners for the Seattle Times.
(photos: left, Jade WalksAlong; right, Dean Rutz) a season-ending event. But there’s no clear of fear mongering. An entire field of trained in the arm, knowing it could mean the lit-
PANDEMIC
timeline of how long we will be writing eral difference between life and death. So I
about PCR tests, variants and (thankfully) “It has been did what I could to help, signing people up
the vaccines. and sending alerts with each new clinic an-
“I think [my reporting] early on was the emotionally draining. nouncement. It soon became a daily Twitter
hardest with all the suffering and people dy- When you’re thread. Missoula County now has the high-
ing,” said CBS News’ Meg (Basinger) Oliver est vaccination rate in the state.
’93, who covered one of the nation’s first
reporting on it every “From a professional standpoint, I’m
hotspots in New Rochelle, New York. “It was day there’s no escape. hoping it gets back to normal a little bit
overwhelming to try and make sense of it all, I definitely think more. We’re seeing signs of it,” Divish said.
let alone cover it under a deadline when the “I think also [the pandemic] helped me re-
headlines were constantly changing.” the buildup over time alize that you can’t live your entire life just
Divish said he faced opposite challenges. has taken a toll.” to do the job, that if you don’t have a life
He was covering spring training in Arizona outside the job you won’t be very good at the
— Meg Oliver ’93, CBS News
as baseball shut down. “I’ve never been more correspondent, on reporting job in the first place.”
C
uncertain about my job in my life, and that’s “I’m so excited to travel for work, I’m so ex-
“
during COVID
Alums went OVERING COVID-19 is trauma
reporting.”
than statistics. They were our family mem-
bers, our friends, ourselves.
saying a lot for the journalism business.” His
past experiences kept him innovative. At
cited to see people, but I’m also not really en-
tirely ready to get out of my hole,” Rott said.
to great lengths I’ll never forget reading those Brien contracted COVID-19 in April one point he had staffers write about their The news cycle once again has room
words in an article advising news 2020. So too Ryan Divish ’01, who covers favorite sports books to fill space. professionals became stuck in an endless for topics like cicadas, as we ourselves are
to tell the stories managers to check on their reporters. They the Mariners for the Seattle Times. He tested “What I learned [in my early days] in game of journalism whack-a-mole. emerging from our holes. But the pandemic
of COVID-19,
turned me into a puddle on the couch. I was positive in his hometown of Havre, Mon- Montana was you had to be willing to adapt “To be honest, I feel like I’m treading wa- is far from over, it seems, and for many of us,
coming off the most exhausting and traumat- tana, where he rode out part of the pandemic. and adjust on a moment’s notice,” Divish ter most days trying to juggle it all,” said it will take years to process how document-
setting grief ic year of my career working as an anchor at
NBC Montana where, among many stories,
“Don’t ever get COVID and be stuck
in quarantine in your childhood house with
said. “When you’re coming up through the
journalism ranks and you’re at smaller news-
Oliver.
But we collectively pushed through,
ing this episode in history has affected us.
But we’re ready to write the next chapter.
and fear aside I covered the removal of USPS boxes before your parents who also have COVID,” Divish papers, you’re asked to do all that stuff.” working to convey this massive, evolving
the 2020 election when most of the state laughed. “It is not something I recommend.” For Rott, his creative shift at NPR came beast that affected every person watching, Maritsa Georgiou ’07 just accepted a new po-
BY MARITSA GEORGIOU ’07 would be voting by mail. I also reported on National Public Radio’s Nathan Rott ’09 when he and colleague Ryan Kellman listening and reading. We leaned on each sition as a Montana-based national reporter
COVID’s heavy toll on Montanans. thinks he had it, too. After he returned to Los broke NPR’s traditional storytelling mold other, and in many cases, camaraderie re- for Newsy, after years as an anchor at NBC
Big Horn County News general manager Angeles from covering the devastating Aus- to convey the soul-crushing toll on medical placed competitiveness. Montana. There she earned the 2021 Walter
Luella Brien ’06 can relate. “I’ve been through tralian bushfires in March 2020, he became providers as tensions ran high about mask It also provided opportunities most of us Cronkite Award for Excellence in Television
traumatic grief. I’ve lost friends to car acci- very ill, but the hospital didn’t have enough mandates. never thought possible. Remote work al- Political Journalism for her coverage of the
dents or alcoholism or just random tragedies. tests to confirm it. “This nurse that I had talked to for an- lowed Divish and Rott to leave their respec- USPS collection-box removal before the 2020
But this unrelenting death after death after Few experienced it like Brien, though, who other story was expressing frustration and tive cities to return to Montana for a time. election when a majority of Montana voted by
death—it will mess you up,” she told me in grew up in Big Horn County. During Mon- basically just despair about it. And so I did “Working from home has been my sav- mail. This year, she interviewed Dr. Anthony
a candid (if therapeutic) phone conversation. tana’s peak, it had the highest infection rate an hour-and-a-half long interview with her ing grace since our children were all remote Fauci, Dr. Deborah Birx and Dr. Robert Red-
“You want to try to articulate it.” in the state, and she estimates she knew about about her whole day,” Rott said. But instead for more than 13 months,” Oliver said. “My field while working from home for the entire
The pandemic beat was both personal and 50 people who died from the virus, including of sticking to the traditional radio format, heart goes out to all the women who had to pandemic, allowing her to spend more (and
relentless as COVID numbers became more many relatives. he worked with an illustrator to convert the leave their careers. There is no way I could much needed) time with her family.

What drew you to apply for the forms of new media, immersive
position of dean at the College
of the Arts and Media at the
technologies, and visual/aural
explorations. Environmental and
Pollner Professorship carries on in COVID
University of Montana? sustainability studies is another
entry point that bridges beyond
I fell in love with Montana WHAT A YEAR for our Pollner Profes-
the college.
decades ago after traveling to sors to join us at The University of Mon-
Big Sky right out of college for tana.
UM has suffered a steep
a music festival with the New E. Tammy Kim came on board in the
decline in enrollment over the
World Symphony. In the early
past decade and so has the fall semester of 2020 and had to teach her
2000s my husband and I visited
Journalism School. How goes class fully masked and distanced from her
Missoula for the first time, and I
that battle? students.
remember there was still quite
a lot of snow even though it In looking at the data, it’s pretty As the T. Anthony Pollner Distin-
was early May. It was beautiful. clear our reduction in budget is guished Professor for fall 2020, she
Between the magic of the local tethered largely to our reduc- helped advise the Kaimin and taught a
Big Sky Brewing Co. and the tion in student enrollment. This seminar on labor reporting titled “The
carousel, I fell hard for Missoula last year suffering through a American Worker.” Tammy’s lecture to
and for the State of Montana. pandemic and a semi-shuttered the community was an interactive live-
The position itself is a great fit campus further hurt enrollment
streamed event from the Don Oliver Tele-
for me with the blending of the numbers. The School of Jour-
School of Journalism with Visual nalism has begun to reverse this
vision Studios in Don Anderson Hall. In
and Performing Arts. It is both trend by investing strategically reflecting on her time at UM, Tammy
similar to my work at CU Denver in staff dedicated to enrollment, wrote, “Every day, in the classroom and
Dean Laurie Baefsky with her the Kaimin office, the UM students as-
and reminiscent of my time at recruitment and retention. In fall
dog Trigger near Missoula.
University of Michigan. I love 2020, they welcomed in their tonished me. The articles they read, the
the blend of strong foundational largest first-year class in years, music they listened to, the recipes they
arts and media training with the and in spring 2021, the J-School tried; their desire to be good. They made
potential for new future-forward retained more than 90% of its cold calls and arranged socially distanced
pathways in new media, film and students, far outstripping nation-
interviews. They did legal research and ABOVE Fall 2020 Pollner Professor Tammy Kim (left) with
journalism. Having community al averages. This is a model we
access points through the Mon- are investing in and amplifying
turned ethical questions over and over J-School Professor Emerita Carol Van Valkenburg (center)
Dean Laurie Baefsky tana Media Lab, the Montana

Museum of Art and Culture, and
across the college. Neatly put:
this is my top priority as dean.
in their heads. They wanted to know the
far beyond, but felt proud of where they
and Director Denise Dowling. AT RIGHT: Spring 2021 Pollner
Professor Geoff McGhee.
COLLEGE OF THE ARTS & MEDIA Montana Repertory Theatre were from. Despite the limits of pandem-
are huge assets both for our The School of Journalism exist- ic life (talking through masks, a truncated Geoff is an infographics and multimedia
LAURIE BAEFSKY joined the University of Mon- students and for being a cultural ed for more than a century as semester, no beautiful seminar room, no journalist whose work spans the mass me-
tana in January 2021 as the first permanent dean resource in Missoula. a college in its own right, with late-night drinks after putting the Kaimin dia and academic worlds. He is a veteran
of the new College of the Arts and Media. Baefsky its own dean and a seat at the to bed), they gave me four months of joy.” NEXT POLLNERS of The New York Times, ABC News and
Where do you see opportunity academic officers’ table until
worked for nearly 20 years to build and direct arts Tammy is a freelance magazine report- FALL 2021: Jan Winburn, France’s Le Monde, and spent nine years
for collaboration between the the merger in 2019. This shift
and culture programs in the academic, nonprofit and er, a contributing opinion writer at The who spent 25 years editing working at Stanford University creating
School of Journalism and the in independence and identity
government sectors. New York Times, and a co-host of the at CNN, the Atlanta Journal- original journalism, interactive graphics
other schools in CAM (Music, has been a hard pill to swallow
Previously, she was associate dean of research & “Time to Say Goodbye” podcast, based Constitution and the and dashboards exploring contemporary
Theater & Dance, Visual & for many alumni. What would
strategic partnerships at University of Colorado Den- in Brooklyn, New York. Her work has Baltimore Sun. and historical topics around the North
Media Arts)? you say to them?
ver’s College of Arts & Media, executive director of appeared in outlets including The New SPRING 2022: Daniella American West. In addition to working
Students are creating some Dear Journalism School alumni:
ArtsEngine and Alliance for the Arts in Research Uni- Yorker, The New York Times Magazine, Zalcman, an award-winning with such clients as Schema Design, The
amazing content, feeding into thank you. One of the reasons
versities (a2ru) based at the University of Michigan, The New York Review of Books, Colum- photojournalist, grantee Committee to Protect Journalists and the
the growing media industry this position appealed to me is
grants manager with the Utah Division of Arts and bia Journalism Review, and The Nation. of the Pulitzer Center on Oxford University Press, Geoff serves as
in Montana and leading our because of your school and the
Museums, and established the USU ArtsBridge pro- She previously worked on the editorial Crisis Reporting and the the visuals editor for the Water Desk at
emerging experience economy rich tradition and reputation you
National Geographic Society,
gram at Utah State University. regionally and in some cases na- created. staff of The New Yorker and as a nation- the University of Colorado and the Asso-
and founder of Women
Trained as a classical flutist and music educator, she tionally. The Montana Media Lab, CAM is at an amazing moment al features writer at Al Jazeera America. ciate Editor of “…& the West,” a digital
Photograph.
holds degrees in flute performance from Stony Brook with the adjacent TV studios, is of reinvention: Creating a new Before becoming a journalist, Tammy was publication covering western environmen-
University, University of Michigan, and California poised to serve as a profession- college identity; establishing a a legal-services attorney and adjunct pro- tal and public health issues. In 2009-10,
al training ground and explor- shared culture that is inclusive
State University, Fullerton. She has appeared with the fessor. Geoff was a Knight Fellow at Stanford
atory space for this work, and of all arts and media. To have
Minnesota Orchestra, Utah Symphony, was a 15-year is a natural touchpoint to bring a school of journalism woven
Geoff McGhee joined us as the spring a lot of teaching and learning into the researching data visualization, which re-
member of the Virginia Symphony, and founding fel- together the college around into the ethos of the arts gives Pollner professor and contracted COVID mostly remote classes. Geoff’s class was sulted in the widely-cited video documen-
low with the New World Symphony. We recently sat communication and creativity— me hope for the future and the on his move from Seattle to Missoula. entitled “The Infographic Story,” and stu- tary “Journalism in the Age of Data.” In
down with her for a Q&A to help introduce her to through both documentary, nar- nation. This is a rare and won- It was a rough start to the semester, but dents learned how to find, visualize, pro- 2015-16 he was the lead writer on Nation-
J-School alums: rative and realism, as well as all derful moment. Geoff and his students managed to cram duce and report data-driven features. al Geographic’s “Data Points” blog.

we had an amazing object lesson with tailings from the nation’s largest super-
Pollner Professors
Hurricane Katrina and its horrific af- fund site were deposited. Their work was
termath, and the role that local report- published in the Missoulian.
ers for the New Orleans Post-Crescent After his Pollner he returned to the Bal-
and citizen journalist bloggers played timore Sun, then in 2008 moved over to
in telling the story of a dramatically work at the Lexington (Kentucky) Leader,
WHERE ARE THEY NOW?

altered landscape. where he stayed until 2000. He retired
My Pollner lecture focused on my from newspapers and turned his atten-
own experiences hosting blogs for tion to writing a daily blog, Ohmidog!,
independent journalists on the ground about his canine companions and issues
THE J-SCHOOL has now hosted 27 Pollner professors since this endowed professorship started in 2001. We reached in Iraq while working at CNN in involving man’s best friend. In 2010, he
the run-up to the U.S. occupation published his first book, “Dog, Inc.: The
out to past Pollners to report on what they’ve been up to. Here is what we heard back from those who responded.
of Baghdad in the Iraq War in early Uncanny Story of Cloning Man’s Best
2003, as the traditional media was HENRIETTE LÖWISCH Friend,” followed by a podcast, “Travels
stepping in and curtailing even their FALL 2006 With Ace,” which recounted his year-long
form. And I enjoyed hanging around favorite memory—there were so many. freelancers’ blogging activity as a com- Course: Foreign Correspondence cross-country road trip with his dog. That
and teaching some classes in subsequent The faculty retreat was pretty great. We petitive threat. I spent the past year guiding Deutsche led to an appearance on “Nightline.”
years, including a favorite on “how to debated issues during the day and played In the time since that amazing au- Journalistenschule in Munich through He kept blogging until just before his
start a publication” that helped produce poker at night. Bob McGiffert had a tumn in Montana, I moved to Brook- the pandemic. Students masked up death.
at least one major entrepreneurial success. nightmare that there was a squirrel in lyn and jumped into working in digital for video journalism and magazine
I’ll forever be grateful for all that the his bedroom. Or maybe that was real? I media with both feet, first for Condé production courses, while reporting, MARYANNE MCNELLIS
Pollner professorship made possible, and rely on others for a fact-check. I think I Nast for two years in a posting for the podcasting and design all moved FALL 2008
look forward to staying in touch with the treasure most the long lasting friendships digital agency Razorfish, working on online. Science journalism instruction Course: Follow the Money
lovely family it has created. forged in just a few months. And I have websites that incorporated interactivity got a boost, thanks to COVID, as did
always felt honored Jessie McQuillan, one and audience participation, Style.com newsletter, community and Instagram
TOM CHEATHAM of my students, became the first director (at the time, incorporating the site for projects. Some, like #coronasolutions,
FALL 2002 of the Montana Innocence Project. I Vogue), MensStyle.com (incorporating were reported internationally, in the
Course: War Correspondence returned to Chicago and worked for the GQ), and Flip.com (a user-generated tradition of the foreign correspondence
JONATHAN WEBER I’m now retired in Durango, Colorado. Chicago Tribune until 2008. I visited lookbook site for teenagers, associated course I taught as a Pollner prof in
SPRING 2002 As the second Pollner, my highlight of Montana many times on reporting and with Teen Vogue). I also worked on a 2006. The connections I made at UM
Course: Globalization that semester was getting to know my fishing trips. In 2009, I took a research new magazine and digital financial site have lasted over the decades: Shane
and the Press students, their challenges and aspira- position at the Northern California In- for Condé called Portfolio.com (before McMillan, a former Montana Kaimin
The Pollner professorship was life-chang- tions. I’m still in touch with some of nocence Project at Santa Clara University the 2008 crash, when it died). One staffer, is now a regular teacher and
ing for me in many ways, starting with them almost 20 years later. Law School. Since 2012, I have been of the most enjoyable projects I got project leader at Germany’s premier
the fact that I met my wife in Missoula After the Pollner, I eased out of senior researcher for the National Registry to work on during my six years at Ra- journalism school.
and stayed for eight great years. I started television news with NBC and began a of Exonerations, an online database of zorfish was on the team for Disney that
a media website called New West, an second career in photojournalism. My nearly 3,000 wrongful convictions in the did a major redesign of ESPN.com, JOHN WOESTENDIEK
early adventure in online journalism, most rewarding assignments in that U.S. since 1989. The Registry is a joint which won two Webby awards. FALL 2007
and later went on to do several more realm were undercover reporting and project of Michigan and Michigan State After that, I jumped to client-side, Course: Superfund CHRIS JONES
Dumping Ground FALL 2009
startups. I just started a new job as photography in Myanmar for Radio law schools and the University of Califor- working in Pharma, Fintech and cloud
editor-in-chief of Here/Say Media in San Free Asia. This was during the military nia Irvine Newkirk Center on Science & computing for clinical drug trials. Editor’s Note: We’re sad to report that Course: Narrative Non-fiction
Francisco. Before that I was the global dictatorship that gave way to Aung Society. During my time at the Registry, I About three years ago, I landed as a John died at age 66 on June 24, 2020, in I was honored to be the Pollner Profes-
technology editor for Reuters News, San Suu Kyi in 2011. Now, sadly, the have written more than 2,000 narratives VP at JPMorgan Chase, where I work Winston-Salem, North Carolina. He is sor in the fall of 2009. I can’t remember
which I had the privilege of doing from military there is back in control, having detailing wrongful convictions of men on user experiences for cloud com- our first Pollner Professor to have passed exactly what my course was called, but it
Singapore for several years—a fascinat- deposed her on Feb. 1. and women from every state in the U.S. puting, technology infrastructure, and on since the program began. was about writing narrative journalism.
ing immersion in all things Asia—until now, communications strategy and us- He died in hospice following complica- My favorite memory is when the Kaimin
the pandemic chased us back to San MAURICE POSSLEY NANCY SZOKAN ability for an AI and machine learning tions from a stroke, and following health kids stood up strong against the feloni-
Francisco. FALL 2003 FALL 2004 modernization team of data scientists struggles with heart and kidney failure. ous football team and won. Makes me
I have many great memories of hanging Course: Investigative Reporting Course: Opinion Journalism and engineers. Before his Pollner professorship in emotional to think about to this day.
and Criminal Justice
out in the old Kaimin office, meeting and I love thinking about how to 2007, he won a Pulitzer for his investiga- Since 2009, I continued to write for
working with students who are friends I was a Pollner while I was a criminal CHRISTINE BOESE explain the black box inner workings tive reporting at the Philadelphia Inquir- magazines, including Esquire, until 2016
to this day. The Pollner lecture was also justice reporter for the Chicago Tribune. FALL 2005 of deep learning and natural language er that exonerated and freed a Delaware or so, and now I work mostly as a screen-
a highlight. It was the first time I had My course was about causes of wrongful Course: Blogs and the Media processing in a layperson’s terms, County man convicted of murder. writer. My first series, “Away,” was on
really told the story of the rise and fall of convictions, and my students investigated My course was on blogging and the using words, infographics and other While he was a Pollner, his students Netflix last year, starring Hilary Swank.
the Industry Standard in proper narrative an actual case. It is impossible to pick a citizen journalism movement. That fall interactive tools. examined a small Montana town where I also have a book about creativity, “The

Eye Test,” coming out in early 2022. just returned from my first in-the-field with IREX years earlier, as a media training Pollner adventure that fall. After simple things, like when she suddenly Initiative, and alumni magazine.
I live in Port Hope, Ontario, with my reporting trip in more than a year (see er in Azerbaijan, and helped build this hoovering up every Flathead cherry saw the work done by the unnoticed Favorite memory of time on campus:
partner and two boys. Charley was four photo below). My husband (J-School link with SPJ Rio Grande here in New within devouring distance, I settled in little word “said,” as in: “The governor’s Taking up mountain biking, heading
when we were in Missoula, and he still alum Jerry Redfern ’01) and I spent the Mexico when the opportunity arose. with a class of kickass students. Our spokesman said there was no truth out for backpacking and camping in the
talks about the “Emmy M”—the big M past year reporting remotely and bring- Several local newsrooms hosted a group topic was “Training the Professional to the allegation that…” Or when he Rattlesnake right out the front door of
on the mountain. We loved every minute ing our first feature-length documentary of Georgians when they visited in August Observer.” As the kids learned how to learned that we don’t really use…in my condo (a lovely nest enjoyed through
in Montana, and we’ll be returning this film to its final stages of post-production. 2019. We look forward to the day when interview thoughtfully and absorb the news stories. I so clearly remember a the years by many Pollner profs).
fall for Kevin Van Valkenburg’s wedding. “Eternal Harvest,” based on our 2013 such trips are possible again. detail and dialogue around them to few of our students in that instant when
Can’t wait! book, reveals the devastating effects of build scene, I relished my own observer they glimpsed a couple of decades in a KEVIN VAN VALKENBURG
unexploded ordnance in Laos remain- status as teacher, watching them grow calling that is quite noble and crazy fun FALL 2015
ELI SASLOW ing since the U.S. bombings during the more confident in their craft and getting and liked what they saw. As a teacher it Course: Sports Writing
FALL 2010 Vietnam War. Between 1964 and 1973, the chance to experience the world from was really something to think you might I think about my magical semester as
Course: Newswriting U.S. forces dumped more than 4 billion the perspective of a generation that be a reassuring little voice in their ear in the Pollner Professor at least once a
I’ve spent the last year continuing to pounds of explosives on Laos, making refused to be easily defined. My favorite tough times, like when a mistake gets day. Watching students read—and fall
report for The Washington Post and it the most heavily bombed country memories—other than making my into print. I probably should have tried in love with pieces of writing that I’d
writing a book that comes out this fall per person in history. An estimated 80 nature-loving students read harrowing teaching sooner. introduced them to was as rewarding
(“Voices from the Pandemic”) and a million bombs remain in the soil today, narratives about outdoor adventures My wife is joining me in retirement as any professional experience I’ve ever
movie that was released over the summer threatening millions of civilians. After gone terribly wrong—were outside the this year after 50 years as a lawyer. So we had. I have a playlist of songs we used
(“Four Good Days”). But mostly what six years of work, the film is nearly done classroom. I had a standing offer to treat may be in that cool-looking black van in my class to talk about the perfect
I’m up to is trying to replicate our won- (just needs color and sound correction), my students to breakfast one-on-one, parked nearby, maybe even in Montana. details of storytelling, and in my mind,
derful Missoula life in Portland, Oregon, and we’ve started submitting to film festi- and spent many cozy mornings plotting I do still have a few ideas for writing those songs will always feel like they
where we live now with our three chil- vals. Stay tuned, as we will soon release a out career paths or story structures at projects though. Don’t we always? were that fall’s soundtrack, whether it
dren. That means lots of camping trips new trailer and more! The Shack, soaking up their insights was the lyrics of Jason Isbell, Carly Si-
in the mountains, hikes and breweries— COVID really shifted our work HANK STUEVER as I shared mine. The camaraderie of mon, Warren Zevon, Kendrick Lamar,
although I still can’t find anything that (and also sent me on a potential new FALL 2012 the J-School faculty carried beyond Johnny Cash or Taylor Swift. That year
stacks up to Cold Smoke. book project, about elder care), but we Course: Popular Culture Anderson Hall to the sticky floors of made me a better writer, better father
Journalism
are eager to resume regular in-person The Union Club and the welcoming and better mentor. Telling my students
KAREN COATES reporting! And travels! Shortly before I stepped down as the Washington Post’s kitchens of newfound friends who fed stories about T. Anthony Pollner, who
FALL 2011 everything shut down, we had the for- TV critic at the end of 2020, after 11 me but wisely kept their Flathead cher- was a friend and classmate of mine
Course: The Savvy Journalist tunate opportunity to visit Georgia (the years in that beat and God only knows ries out of sight. when I attended the University of
It’s hard to believe a decade has passed country) as part of an IREX international how many TV shows watched and Since the fellowship, I’ve returned to Montana, helped me feel like his ambi-
since my Pollner days! I write to you now exchange, which links journalists in the reviewed. I’m still at the Post, going ghostwriting memoirs and still enjoy tion and humor and curiosity could live
from my home in New Mexico, having U.S. with those in Georgia. I had worked on 22 years—now senior editor for mentoring young journalists. on forever.
Style, working with writers and editors I’m still writing for ESPN, coming
to elevate the daily feature section’s WILLIAM GLABERSON up on 10 years with the company. I’ve
mix of culture and politics. I also still FALL 2014 done a little bit of everything there,
occasionally write, but very much enjoy Course: Covering the Courts writing stories both long and short, and
editing—parts of which remind me I am writing from my campervan from RON REASON I’ve been blessed to work with hundreds
of the fun I had teaching during my an oceanfront cycling paradise where it SPRING 2015 of brilliant, creative, driven people. I’ve
Pollner semester. I still live in down- turns out it is easy to forget about email. Course: Design and Disruption been to multiple Super Bowls, a dozen
town Washington, still with my partner A year or two after my wonderful What I’ve been up to: My time in golf majors, the NBA Finals and the
Michael, and am sorry yet somehow semester in Missoula I fully embraced Missoula and enjoyment of wilderness World Series, traveled overseas multiple
relieved to report no major news in the retirement, went backpacking with my prompted a permanent move from times and made friends with a group of
last nine years, certainly none from the kids in Glacier during two summers, Chicago to Portland, Oregon, where co-workers who now feel like an exten-
last year or so, which is a good thing. I’m learned some new stuff, bought a cam- I’ve continued my consulting work sion of my family. I’m currently part of
delighted by the continued success of pervan in time for the arrival of (three!) with news media organizations and our investigative unit, working on big
the Pollner professorship and the range grandchildren and generally decided journalism programs. Most recently, projects that appear both in print and
of talent it draws. not working had its advantages. So my I traveled to Mumbai and Kerala to on television, but I still occasionally
honors and humiliations from 30 years conduct workshops in visual and mobile pitch in with event coverage or writing
TAMARA JONES in news will just have to stand. storytelling strategies for 50 journalists narrative essays. This year, I took my
FALL 2013 My top memories of the journalism from India’s largest newsrooms. I’ve also daughter to the U.S. gymnastics trials
Course: Training school experience were those fairly helped Northwestern University’s Medill to see Simone Biles and wrote about
the Professional Observer frequent moments when you could see a School with its marketing and outreach the experience for ESPN.com, a story
Karen Coates on her first field reporting trip in more than a year, doing an archaeology story I packed up my car and drove from student realize there could be a place for efforts for the last three years, focusing that is one of my favorite pieces I’ve
at White Sands National Park. (photo: J-School alum (and Coates’ husband) Jerry Redfern ’01) D.C. to Missoula in 2013 for my amaz- her in our business. Sometimes it was on its master’s programs, Local News ever published.

In 2017, fellow UM grad Matt I’m now writing fiction in addition to Zoom of course), and also tuned up my in the redwoods. In my time since UM,
Thompson invited me, on behalf of the my other work, and busy penning a video editing skills by producing ser- I’ve been doing work for ACLU Mag-
U.S. State Department, to speak about novella set in California. vices and “virtual choir” pieces for my azine, ESPN and The New Yorker. But
freedom of the press in Latvia, where church. And this year, I got vaccinated, mostly I’ve been making sourdough,
he was serving as the Cultural Affairs ANNE BAILEY so perhaps one day soon I can get back playing with my cat and documenting
Officer in Riga. Afterward, we shared SPRING 2017 to Missoula. pandemic life with a vintage Polaroid
a drink and toasted the happy accident Course: Video Across Platforms SX-70. During my time in Missoula, I
that led two ex-Grizzly football players I taught Short-Form Video Storytelling didn’t realize that the extreme weather
to become journalism majors who then as a Pollner professor. After years of and blizzardy isolation would be such
ended up promoting democracy around working and teaching across the country good training for the months to come!
the world. It’s not something we ever and the globe, it was exciting to return
could have imagined during late nights to the place where I earned my master’s
working on The Kaimin. to work with the next generation of
I live in Baltimore, Maryland, with journalists. I remember watching my
my wife, Tiffany Sanchez, and our three students’ final videos at the end of the
daughters, Sophia, Molly and Keegan. semester and feeling so proud that they
had stepped outside the traditional jour-
SALLY STAPLETON nalism box to tell stories more creatively.
SPRING 2015 A lot has happened in the four years
Course: Advanced Multimedia since. I had my daughter Noor in the
Storytelling fall of 2017, launched the Montana
I have quite a few great memories from Media Lab at the J-School in 2018, got BEN MONTGOMERY
such an ultra-talented class, but I loved pregnant during the pandemic in 2020 FALL 2018
that we were able to pull off a Roxy The- and had my second daughter Vivienne Course: Investigative Storytelling
ater presentation of our final multimedia in March 2021. Since then, I’ve been My favorite memory: The Kaimin staff
projects with community members and learning how to juggle two kids plus planned a game night in the office, so LEAH SOTTILE Chris Johns (center left) at Wild Horse Island on Flathead Lake, where he went to assist Tommy
FALL 2019 Martino ’14 (left) and Jiakai Lou ’20 (center right) who were there shooting a video on Douglas
the subjects of the stories in the audience. work and producing a podcast about be- I showed up on campus at 7 p.m. with Emlen, UM Division of Biological Sciences professor and author of “Animal Weapons.”
Since Missoula: In 2016, I joined the ing a Single Mom By Choice (SMBC) five board games I bought at Target, plus Course: Narrative Journalism
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette as its photo that might be done by the time my kids a two-gallon tub of Cheeseballs, some Since teaching as a Pollner, I’ve re-
director and was named managing editor are in college, if I’m lucky. salami sticks and a few other assorted leased the podcast “Two Minutes Past Zoom immediately after spring break. students, Tommy Martino and Jiakai
eight months later. The staff was recog- snacks, ready to have an old-fashioned Nine” with BBC Radio 4, documented My class had students scattered from Lou, for a “Grizzlies In the Wild”
nized for its coverage of the Tree of Life CHERYL CARPENTER good time. To my chagrin, someone had the rise of a new far right movement Portland to Milwaukee to Missoula, but video about Dr. Douglas Emlen, UM
synagogue massacre with a 2019 Pulitzer FALL 2017 changed the date and failed to tell the for The New York Times Magazine, everyone remained engaged, energetic biological sciences professor and author
Prize in Breaking News Reporting. Course: Leaked Documents- Pollner professor. I shamed them thor- and continued to chronicle the unique and eager to learn. And the Kaimin did of “Animal Weapons.” It illustrates one
Ethics and Practice
Following that, I was asked to return oughly on Slack with a selfie of me and tensions and complexities of the West not miss a beat, having the same kind of of the many reasons my family made
to The Associated Press to launch a new my games standing outside the shuttered as a correspondent for High Country positive can-do attitude. The challenges Montana our home.
department, a global religion team. The DEBORAH POTTER newspaper office. They turned the selfie News. I’m currently writing my first COVID-19 presented brought out the
public announcement noted that part SPRING 2018 into an illustration for the mock front book and making a new podcast. best in our students. E. TAMMY KIM
of the reason I got the job was due to Course: Journalism page of my walk-away Kaimin. Whenever I have a bad day, I think Being a Pollner Professor convinced FALL 2020
and Public Trust Course: Covering Labor
my ability to “produce and present great In the few years since, I finished a about the time a J-School student my family and me that Missoula is the
multi-format content for readers around It’s hard to believe it’s been three years book I’d started working on during my chased me down in the hallway to best place to live. Elizabeth, our three and Workers
the world.” since I had the privilege of teaching a time there, “A Shot In The Moonlight,” talk about journalism ethics, and how dogs and I are settled in the upper As spring comes to New York City,
fantastic group of students about the my fourth, published in January 2021. fulfilling it was to see firsthand that Rattlesnake neighborhood and appreci- I’ve been thinking about the snowy
MELISSA MCCOY challenge of restoring trust in jour- I’ve also been writing a daily newslet- though the industry continues to shift ate being part of a vibrant, thoughtful backyard dinner (of delicious Kamoon
FALL 2016 nalism. I loved my time in Missoula, ter for the new media company Axios, and evolve, the UM continues to pro- community. The Pollner opportunity Arabian) that the students and I shared
Course: Reporting and Writing including the hours spent at the Kaimin called Axios Tampa Bay, and trying to duce reporters committed to truth. also made me realize how much I enjoy not so long ago, on Beverly Street.
Sensitive Topics and at the breweries in town, which I keep up with the successes of my Mon- teaching. With my Pollner and Zoom Since my return to the East Coast, I’ve
I’ve continued my work with the blame for the 10 extra pounds I came tana journalism students. CHRIS JOHNS experience in hand, I am now teaching resumed full-speed freelance journalism
J-School by representing the program home with. SPRING 2020 Photojournalism and Environmental and podcasting, and am working on a
as a lecturer and recruiter at California Since then, I’ve stayed busy training PRESTON GANNAWAY Course: Conservation Journalism at Oregon State University, book proposal while teaching at a local
SPRING 2019 Photojournalism
community college events throughout journalists. I helped the Solutions Jour- my alma mater. university. Miss you all very much!
the state. I also work as a writing coach, nalism Network spread its work into Course: Intimacy I had the honor of being the Spring Above is a photograph taken this
and Longform Journalism
writer and trainer for Cal Poly Pomona local television newsrooms, traveling all 2020 Pollner Professor. My favorite past summer on top of Hungry Horse GEOFF MCGHEE
University. From 2017 to 2019 I was a over the U.S. in 2019. This past year, I I’ve spent most of the last year hunkered memory is how resilient our students Island at Flathead Lake. I went there SPRING 2021
full-time caregiver for my parents, and trained journalists all over the world (on down at my Northern California cabin were when we pivoted to teaching by to assist a pair of star UM journalism Course: The Infographics Story

C L ASSE S & STUD EN T PR OJ ECTS
Students cover turbulent elections, legislature Study abroad class Grad program keeps making waves
makes best of bad THE GRADUATE PROGRAM in environmental science and natural
resource journalism awarded degrees in May to six graduates: Mary
WHILE THE PRESIDENTIAL RACE Austin Amestoy
grabbed national attention, a capstone photographs the
67th Montana
year for world travel Auld, Katie Hill, Anthony Pavkovich, Kylie Mohr, Hannah Welzbacker
and Peter Zimmerman. Members of the so-called “COVID cohort” spent
class of juniors and seniors covered Mon- Legislature, one much of their time in the two-year program studying remotely and do-
tana’s statewide elections last year. Profes- of two J-School IT HAS NOT BEEN an easy two years for the ing journalism under extremely challenging circumstances. Yet despite
sors Lee Banville and Dennis Swibold’s stu- students that moved students who planned to travel abroad with the those obstacles, the group completed strong graduate projects and
dents followed the twists in the campaigns, to Helena in January J-School as reporters. A 2020 trip to Northern
to cover what turned
portfolios of work based on deep original reporting.
which ended in Republican control of the out to be one of the Ireland fell victim to COVID-19, so many of The graduates are already finding success away from the university.
governorship, all statewide elected offices most contentious the same students re-enrolled this spring. Auld worked with the Montana Media Lab on a summer news literacy
and both houses of Legislature for the first sessions in recent But with a clear possibility travel would not program for Montana Native high school students. Hill is an assistant
time in 16 years. history. Their be back by May 2021, students did what so editor at MeatEater, an outdoors media conglomerate based in Boze-
reporting provided man. Mohr accepted an internship at High Country News. Welzbacker
Students profiled Montana’s federal and essential coverage many of us did and moved their work virtual.
is a reporter covering agriculture and the environment at the Times-
statewide contests and ballot issues. They to news outlets In February, they began holding class ses-
News in Twin Falls, Idaho.
fact-checked debates for MontanaPBS. On across the state. sions with experts in the troubles that have THE ANNUAL CROWN OF THE CONTINENT PROJECT, which pairs
Election Day, students scattered across the dogged the UK region for decades, as well as two students with professional journalist mentors to work on in-depth
state to record exit interviews with voters political and legal experts in Brexit and the projects, led to two strong publications in professional media outlets this
for an online website that added voices to publications around the state during each access and cracking down on voter access. European Union. They soon began develop- year. Kylie Mohr’s project, which documented the conflict surrounding
the expert post-election analysis. biennial meeting of the Legislature. But my favorites were the issues outside ing their own stories reported via Zoom and the routing of the Pacific Northwest Trail through Montana’s Yaak Valley,
In January, two students in the elections “Between Zoom sessions and the dis- the limelight, like expanding tax credits phone about everything from abortion policy was published by National Geographic’s website. Hannah Welzbacker’s
class packed their bags and moved to Hele- tancing and masking mandates that were in for film productions and stripping pro- in the region to Irish language schools in Prot- project on scientific efforts to count bird populations was published in
na to cover the 67th Montana Legislature. place for the first few months, it was hard tections for landowners who live near estant East Belfast to the impact of Brexit on Cool Green Science, the conservation blog of The Nature Conservancy.
The Crown of the Continent dinner went virtual this year due to
Junior Austin Amestoy writes: to meet lawmakers and build the trusting gravel pits. businesses and farmers.
COVID-19. Graduate students made their pitches to a panel of pro-
“I had the pleasure of joining fellow stu- relationships that all good Capitol report- “The experience offered great challenges While the pandemic layered on the chal- fessional judges that included Rachael Bale, an executive editor at
dent James Bradley and adjunct professor ers value. Luckily, James and I had a huge and even greater rewards for a pair of stu- lenges, students had in Brexit a story both National Geographic; Chris Johns, former editor-in-chief at National
Courtney Cowgill as a member of the UM support team to help us find our way, both dent journalists. James and I walked into complex and deeply human. When Great Brit- Geographic; and Breanna McCabe, a producer at Montana PBS. This
Legislative News Service, a program spon- around the maze-like Capitol and the com- the Capitol on January 4 bright-eyed and ain officially left the European Union at the year’s winners are Bowman Leigh and Sierra Cistone. They are working
sored by the Montana Newspaper Associ- plex issues being debated inside. overwhelmed, and left April 29 with a li- end of 2020 it triggered a wave of changes and with mentors Kate Gammon and Mallory Pickett, both freelance science
ation, the Montana Broadcasters Associa- “I reported stories on the passage of brary of reporting to be proud of, and a uncertainty. Our reporters were able to talk to journalists based in California.
tion and the Greater Montana Foundation hotly debated bills restricting the rights ‘rolodex’ stuffed with connections and op- everyday residents of Northern Ireland as well This fall, a cohort of eight students will begin the graduate pro-
that provides print and radio coverage to of transgender youth, limiting abortion portunities.” as experts about what was happening in real gram. As always, they’re an eclectic mix from around the country
with backgrounds ranging from scientists and professional journalists
time. They also met remotely with dozens of
to organic farmers and a musician. Program director Nadia White is
residents of the region in hopes it would serve away on sabbatical until January, and professor Joe Eaton is serving
as pre-reporting for the trip in May 2021. as interim director.
COVID, of course, had other plans. When
J-School resumes and they put all their coverage together
carefully and in context.
One of the campers summed it up nicely
when she wrote that her favorite part was
word came down in early March that this
year’s trip would also be canceled, students Sarah Mosquera (left) and
Bowman Leigh are both
summer camp In other words, they practiced the kind
of journalism we hope they will use to
“spending time with smart people!”
That same student, Helena Brown of
didn’t give up. They finished reporting their
stories, then created a new website to feature
busy earning master’s
degrees in Environmental
for high schoolers shape the future of journalism themselves. Billings, was one whose definition of jour- their articles and that of future internation- Science and Natural
Resource Journalism.
What’s more is they had some fun doing nalism at the end of camp helped us know al trips. The site, Montana Journalism Abroad
WHEN 35 HIGH SCHOOL students it. We promised them at the start of the we’d hit the mark we’d set when we first (journalismabroad.jour.umt.edu), launched in
showed up on the University of Montana camp that one of the things they would started planning this camp: May and includes stories, interactive timelines
campus for the first day of journalism sum- learn, in addition to the role of journalism in “Journalism is giving a voice to those and multimedia maps.
mer camp in July, they immediately went democracy and the importance of journal- who need it,” she wrote. The reporters even had a bit of fun photo-
on assignment. ism in informing and connecting communi- Also spot-on was fellow Billings high shopping themselves into locations around
And we didn’t give them an easy assign- ties, is just how fun it is to spend your time schooler Hank Jagodzinski’s comment on Northern Ireland for website illustrations.
ment. They were tasked with spending talking to people about stuff that matters. the role of local journalism (which he cov- But not to be deterred, the International Re-
three days covering one big—and compli- When we asked students at the end of ered as his story during the week): porting class plans to give it another go in May
cated—topic: the future of journalism. the week what the best part of camp was “Journalism is the central component of 2022, traveling to Belfast and Londonderry
They pitched story ideas based on what for them, overwhelmingly they said it was in keeping local communities together to report in the immediate aftermath of elec-
matters to their communities, they asked all the time spent making friends and con- through stories. Without it, we are merely tions. Like this year, they will first use Zoom,
the hard questions, they kept their minds necting with their camp counselors, profes- individuals in the same area, not a commu- then hit the ground with a deep understanding
open, they sought different perspectives sors and professional journalists. nity,” he wrote. of the region, its politics and culture.

C L ASSE S & STUD EN T PR OJ ECTS
IN FOCUS
N EW PH OTO SELECTION S F ROM A LU M N I PH OTOJO UR NALISTS

Native News students investigate
how tribes spent COVID funding GENERATION AFTER GENERATION, the J-School has produced some of the most talented and capable
photojournalists the world over. That tradition lives on, as you’ll see in this selection of images submitted
THE NATIVE NEWS Honors Project tribe tried and failed to create a tribal-run
published its 30th edition in 2021, “Vi- police department. by alums. Under the guidance of professors Keith Graham and Jeremy Lurgio, and back to Patty Reksten
tal Relief,” partnering with the Missoulian Although Zambon and Swant-Johnson and beyond, our photojournalists leave the J-School as ready reporters who often ascend to the top
to investigate how tribes spent more than couldn’t track down exactly how much cash
$200 million in federal Coronavirus Aid, was sunk into the police force, they found
of the profession. We are proud of the work they do, and proud to share it here.
Relief and Economic Security Act funds. the tribe purchased about 30 new vehicles;
Student reporters found that tribes re- two shipping containers meant to be used
ceived anywhere from $14 million to $25 as holding cells; and spent $2.5 million to
Bruce Ely took this shot of
million each. purchase a former museum building with- the Portland Trail Blazers
Tribes directed the money to various out an appraisal. celebrating their win over
projects and programs, including repair- The police force shut down after just five the Dallas Mavericks on
March 19, 2021.
ing a long-leaking sewage lagoon in Frazer, months, still with many unanswered ques-
which had hindered infrastructure and eco- tions, including whether the tribe had the
nomic growth for two decades; the com- authority to create a law enforcement agen-
plexities of homelessness on the Flathead cy at all. The reporting team researched
reservation, an epidemic that bears no tell- the federal Indian Self Determination Act,
tale signs; and efforts by the newly federally which tribes must navigate before they can
recognized Little Shell Tribe of Chippewa take over vital public services from the fed-
Indians to build a new Indian Health Ser- eral government like schools, hospitals and
vice facility in Great Falls. law enforcement.
However, one story quickly caught wide- Both reporters say there are still many
spread attention. “Insecure: The rise and fall mysteries surrounding the Crow Nation
of the Crow Nation Police” focused on the Police that will keep this story relevant for
TOP Scott Gion, Lame Deer’s assistant five-month tenure of a tribal police depart- some time.
principal, walks with a student to her first ment. As both tribal and federal officials “Vital Relief ” published on May 30 and
class of the day after she picked up her
breakfast. ABOVE The cover of the 2021
evaded questions, reporter Nikki Zambon was inserted into Lee newspapers across the
issue. (photos, from top: Hazel Cramer, and photojournalist Olivia Swant-Johnson state. It’s also online at nativenews.jour.
Sarah Mosquera) found detailed accounts of how the Crow umt.edu.
Audio-video classes tered this dynamic industry in spring 2020,

and when the state reopened, record num-
students delivered live news broadcasts to
KBGA College Radio. By doing several
tee up productions bers of residents and nonresidents flocked jobs at once they managed to stay distanced
to Montana rivers and lakes and created from each other and their guests. News an-
STUDENTS FOUND WAYS TO report challenges for management. chors wrote the news, ran the control room
and produce meaningful multimedia con- The 27-minute documentary, “Weath- board and rolled tape while reading the
tent using video, audio, television and radio ering the Storm,” aired on MontanaPBS newscast live at 5 p.m. weekdays.
while keeping safe in the pandemic. in May, and online at: montanapbs.org/ The same distancing happened in the
Students in Jeremy Lurgio’s Advanced programs/weatheringthestorm, and was spring semester’s intermediate television
Video Storytelling course spread out funded by the Greater Montana Founda- course. Students doubled up on duties,
across Montana to report on COVID-19’s tion. The project earned awards including working simultaneously as director/techni-
impact on the state’s thriving fly fishing 13th in the Hearst Journalism Awards team cal director, audio/prompter operator and
industry. They waded in rivers with fish- multimedia competition and 4th place in camera op/floor manager. The crew pulled BRUCE ELY | CLASS OF 1998
ermen and conservationists, floated with Hearst’s digital news/enterprise multimedia off a couple of superb live-streamed produc- After graduating from UM, Ely spent time working at newspapers with stops at the Evansville (Indiana)
fisheries biologists and fishing guides, and story category, awarded to Hazel Cramer. tions including the College of the Arts and Courier & Press and The Oregonian. He is currently a staff photographer for the Portland Trail Blazers. “My
learned to fly drones over the Blackfoot Students in audio courses used boom Media’s “Odyssey of the Stars” in March, approach to sports photography has always been to look for the storytelling moments away from the ball.
and Bitterroot Rivers. poles, phone recorders and video confer- and an eSports showcase featuring members This season provided some very unique moments as the team and fans learned to navigate the complica-
Fly fishing plays a key role in Montana’s encing to safely report from the field. Pro- of UM’s popular and growing Griz eSports tions of working through the COVID pandemic.”
tourism industry. COVID-19 largely shut- fessor Denise Dowling’s intermediate audio team as their final project in April.

Greg Rec photographed this RACHEL LEATHE | CLASS OF 2014
technician at a COVID testing
site in Portland, Maine, as Leathe is a staff photographer at The Bozeman Daily Chronicle where
she prepared to test another she covers everything from wildfires to rodeos. She says her favorite
person on March 16, 2021. thing about working at a daily newspaper is the incredible variety of
people she is privileged to meet and photograph.
GREGORY REC | CLASS OF 1996 Rachel Leathe photographed 25-year-

old John Birkholz from Laramie,
Rec was hired at the Portland (Maine) Press Herald after graduation, and over the past 24 years he’s covered Wyoming, as he gave the nod to open
the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks in New York City, been twice embedded with Maine Army National Guard the gate during the Bucking Horse Sale
troops in Iraq, reported on the impact of Hurricane Katrina in Louisiana and the 2010 earthquake in Haiti. In Rodeo on May 15, 2021, in Miles City.
2004, Rec was named Journalist of the Year with columnist Bill Nemitz by the Maine Press Association for
their work in Iraq. In 2007, he received the Master Photographer award from the New England Society of
Newspaper Editors. In 2011, Rec became Chief Photographer at the Press Herald.

FACULTY NOT ES
UPDATES FROM FACULTY AND STAFF Jeremy Lurgio

walks on a
suspension bridge
while hiking with
Associate Professor JULE BANVILLE demic, he reported multiple stories on his family on the
Hooker Valley trail
was awarded a sabbatical for the 2020- the impact to America’s nursing homes, in Aoraki Mount
21 academic year. She spent it reporting, whose residents account for about one- Cook National
pitching and producing a multi-episode third of the country’s deaths from the Park. In Fall 2017
audio narrative centered on a crime virus. The work included a cover story and Spring 2018,
Lurgio was on
against a child in Billings in 1987. The in AARP Bulletin in December that sabbatical in
case has important legal implications, details how decades of failed policy left New Zealand. He
both in Montana and nationally, and the country’s nursing homes particu- hopes to lead a
the project will air as a widely available larly vulnerable to the pandemic. He student journalism
trip there in the
podcast. In addition, Jule edited “Covid is currently developing a new class on next few years.
Solutions,” a series for Yellowstone the portrayal of war correspondents in
Public Radio and Montana Public Hollywood, which he will teach in fall.
Radio about lasting recovery efforts in
Montana, spurred by the pandemic. Her Associate Professor RAY FANNING
students’ work also aired on YPR and also serves as the associate director
MTPR as “Project Little Shell,” a series for the School of Journalism and just
of 18 stories about federal recognition of finished a three-year term on UM’s
the Little Shell Tribe of Chippewa and General Education Committee. This
what that means after an effort that took fall, he will begin representing the
more than 130 years. The project and College of the Arts and Media on the
several Little Shell stories were named Faculty Senate. During the summer
winners and finalists in the Society of break, he shot video for a MontanaPBS
Professional Journalists Mark of Excel- documentary on architect A.J. Gib-
lence Awards. Jule was awarded a merit son. Gibson designed and built many
recognition by UM, her third, based iconic buildings in western Montana, chaired, for the second year, the General diate Photojournalism and continued COVID vaccines statewide in collabo-
on these recent collaborations with the including UM’s University Hall and the Education Committee and was an active to co-teach the Native News Honors ration with Kaiser Health News and the
state’s public radio stations. Missoula County Courthouse. member of the new General Education Project with Professor Jason Begay. The Montana Free Press.
Ad Hoc committee. two professors mentored students who
Professor LEE BANVILLE added a Professor KEITH GRAHAM’s Begin- produced the 30th annual print and Associate Professor NADIA WHITE
new project to his work at the J-School, ning Visual Journalism students created Associate Professor JEREMY LURGIO online edition. is working on issues related to climate
joining the American Communities some outstanding video soundbite received a merit award for the creative change news in rural communities
Project to report on so-called “Deaths packages both semesters—even though work he produced over the past two Professor DENNIS SWIBOLD learned during the second half of her sab-
of Despair,” a concept that measures they were restricted on what they could years. This included documentary film some new tricks while teaching classes batical. She informed that work in
the health of regions by monitoring do because of COVID-19. In the fall work as well as an immersive report- last year both in person and remote- June and July by leading a group of
avoidable deaths from drug overdoses, FROM TOP Jule Banville’s sabbatical project semester, his Advanced Photojournal- ing project about water quality in the ly. “I was amazed once again at how students on a month-long, 700-mile
suicides and alcohol-related deaths. As is an audio narrative titled, “An Absurd ism/Multimedia class brought innova- Whanganui River in New Zealand, the inspiring and adaptable our students bicycle tour from Billings to Whitefish.
part of the project he analyzed 20 years Result.” Joe Eaton, meanwhile, is interim tive pandemic-related projects including first river in the world to be granted are,” he said. The year’s highlights The course, run by the Wild Rockies
director of the grad program during Nadia
of death records from Montana to better student perspectives on mask wearing, personhood. He says the highlight of included the Covering Elections course Field Institute, considers issues related
White’s sabbatical.
understand how the pandemic affected how musicians kept creating during his teaching was mentoring students he co-teaches with Professor Lee to energy production and climate
places in the state. The reporting was challenging times for performers, and in Advanced Video Storytelling as they Banville. Despite the pandemic, their change impacts and mitigation. The
featured on the American Communities well as other election-related issues in what it was like for a young teacher in researched, filmed, edited and produced students proved especially creative in class toured oil refineries, coal mines,
Project site as well the Daily Montanan tribal communities. Begay also spent the one of Montana’s one-room schools. a 27-minute documentary about the covering state campaigns for a network wind farms and solar homes, and met
and Montana Public Radio. He also year advising the Montana Kaimin. In Spring allowed his Freelance Photogra- impacts of COVID-19 on the fly fish- of Montana news organizations. In with farmers, ranchers, small business
continues to be an often-cited expert on addition to teaching, he also managed phy class to venture outside producing ing industry. The film aired in May on addition to teaching required courses owners and policy makers to better un-
Montana politics and the media. to buy a house, get married and wel- sunset portraits, lighting objects and MontanaPBS. Hazel Cramer’s chapter in writing, reporting and media ethics, derstand the changing nature of energy
come a foster child to his family during buildings at night, adventure sports on a fishing guide garnered 4th place in he also taught off-campus groups to production, public policy and the im-
Associate Professor JASON BEGAY the pandemic. portraits, fashion, fine art and travel the Digital News/Enterprise Multimedia sift real news from disinformation. His pacts of climate change on Montanans.
was invited to sit on a panel of ex- projects. Keith started shooting a photo Story category at the Hearst Journalism audiences ranged from Montana high She completed leadership coaching and
perts earlier this year entitled “Why it Associate Professor JOE EATON is documentary on Crossing Montana and Awards, while the film’s website took school teachers to a remote class of training coursework through the Teleos
Matters: The Native Vote in Montana,” serving as interim director of the grad- began research on another documen- 13th in the Team Multimedia com- Chinese graduate students in Beijing. Coach Development Program and
where he discussed the barriers facing uate program while Nadia White is on tary project—the 150th anniversary petition. Professor Lurgio also taught He also recruited and oversaw students continues to work toward a certificate
Native American voters in the state as sabbatical. During the COVID-19 pan- of livestock brands in Montana. Keith Beginning Photojournalism, Interme- who reported on the availability of in executive coaching.

Favorite
Journalism remains close to my heart, semester at Western Kentucky Univer-
however. Towson University’s graduate sity in 2013 where I was photojournal-
degree in professional writing offers all ist-in-residence.
sorts of courses that can lead to careers, My husband, Jim Dopp, and I
Professors
from technical writing to creative writ- moved to the Oregon coast in 2016.
ing to what we call “journalistic writing” We now live in Manzanita, Oregon,
(a long and bureaucratic tale lies behind where I grow vegetables and flowers. I
that sobriquet). I teach courses in the have been teaching picture editing at
latter, naturally. Since 2019, I’ve also the Mountain Workshop in Kentucky
served as director for the program. for years, but because of COVID we
OF THE PAST Though I’ve been asked to offer a

favorite memory from my time at UM,
I’ll politely decline. All such involve
didn’t descend on a Kentucky town
last year.
Our two grown boys live in the Seattle
students, and though this may seem a area. We have a mountain view but miss
cop-out (and maybe it is), I’m unwilling the mountains of Montana, and I will
to consider one student memory above always miss teaching and learning from
Ever wonder what past J-School profs all others. Here, though, is a moment the great students and faculty at UM.
are doing these days? We asked some of personal infamy. You might recall
Ray Ekness now serves as the director of the University of Montana Broadcast Media Center that
beloved former faculty to fill us in. it if you were a student in a particular
houses Montana Public Radio and MontanaPBS-Missoula.
RAY EKNESS
Current Events class. RTV PROFESSOR, 2000-2016
Every semester (and summers), I I’m now serving as the director of the
played lunch-hour basketball on Tues- establish Montana’s Amber Alert program, As for what retirement is supposed University of Montana Broadcast Media
days and Thursdays at the gym now helping transition from analog to digital to be about, I still scuba-dive and had Center that houses Montana Public
BILL KNOWLES page tome will be complete and on the called The Peak out at Blue Mountain. television and working to write and pass three underwater photos selected last year Radio and MontanaPBS-Missoula.
RTV PROFESSOR, 1986-2006 market in time for Christmas this year. Those Tuesday and Thursday hours were the first-of-its-kind “truth in political for an ‘Ocean Art’ exhibit. I play guitar Over the past year, I’ve lead public
I still live in Missoula with my wife, Sha- One more thing: I’m now 86, and sacred, and I never scheduled a class to advertising” law. with the Washington Old Time Fiddlers radio and television teams through the
ron Weaver-Knowles, who remains one received a print of this photo (at left), I conflict with them. That was why I was I retired again in 2014, and Helen and Association, and the ukulele with a group pandemic while continuing to produce
of Montana’s leading think from a former student. My short- surprised one day to have a front-desk I began exploring places to move. One called OPUS—Olympic Peninsula Uku- television programs like “Backroads
piano teachers. term memory is so bad I can’t remember clerk come onto the court saying that trip put us on the north end of Washing- lele Strummers. It’s lots of fun. Helen and of Montana” and “Live From Home:
After retirement who sent it! I had a phone call from the journalism ton’s Olympic Peninsula in the little town I also help a local winery with the grape A MontanaPBS Home Video Music
I served a Fulbright school. On the other end was my wife, of Sequim, where we ended up. crush, bottling and labeling of wine. Special.”
assignment to Jordan MICHAEL DOWNS Sheri Venema, a fellow prof, who said in Local officials don’t like to admit it, As for my favorite J-School memory, I also assisted the MontanaPBS crew
in academic year VISITING ASSISTANT PRINT a steely you-have-screwed-it-up-this-time but this is mostly a retirement commu- there are so many. The easy answer would on their coverage of the COVID-19
2007-08, teaching PROFESSOR/ADJUNCT, 2000-2007 voice: “A classroom full of students have nity where the standard question is not be fundraising for the PARTV building, pandemic, debates and elections. I’m
both at the University When I left the J-School, it was to take been waiting a half hour for their final “Where do you work?” but “Where do getting it designed and open on budget. happy that the BMC continues to host
of Jordan and Petra University in Am- a job teaching creative writing, in large exam.” Fifteen minutes later, wearing a you volunteer?” With 6,000 nonprof- But honestly my fondest memories are of UM J-School students as interns in
man. The message from my Fulbright part so I could devote sweaty T-shirt and shorts, with Rec Spec its in our area, there is no shortage of toiling away in the old Journalism build- both television and radio.
administrator was, “Don’t go to Iraq.” more of my attention goggles dangling on my neck, I arrived. opportunities. Helen and I bartend for ing (now Stone Hall) where facilities were
I didn’t. I did visit Al Jazeera’s state-of- to literary writing and The students, bless them, applauded. local community theater productions outdated, equipment antiquated and, SHARON BARRETT
the-art headquarters in Qatar. less to city council where I’m program photographer. We without any kind of cooling, we had to PRINT PROFESSOR, 1981-2007
I spent 2012 to 2017 producing meetings. GREGORY MACDONALD also cook and serve at local functions, start television labs at 6 a.m. on weekends I’ve now been retired for 14 years. Yikes,
webcasts for a Bozeman continuing It worked. Teaching RTV PROFESSOR, 1974-2000 but our biggest commitment is the New in the spring because by 11, equipment that means I’ve been retired about half
education company, Western CPE, creative writing has In 2000, after 26 years of teaching, I Dungeness Light Station Association, a would overheat and shut down. That as long as I worked!
owned by a close friend. It was there I made me a more pro- decided to retire. But three months later I nonprofit that maintains the 167-year-old made for a lot of nice afternoon picnics. I spent the first few
was reunited with former student Cinda ductive writer. I’ve since published my was recruited to be President and CEO of lighthouse on the Dungeness Spit. It’s a It’s also where students overcame the years close to full time
Davis, who worked for that firm for second and third books and co-wrote the Montana Broad- 365-day-a-year operation that, despite severe limitations we had on equipment in the saddle, riding
several years. a fourth, working in both fiction and casters Association, being an 11-mile hike (round-trip), sees and facilities, and produced some fine and competing in area
The University of Montana Press nonfiction. My latest—a novel about where I spent the next more than 10,000 visitors a year. Even programs and news stories. hunter-jumper shows.
already has 547 pages—30 chapters— the dentist credited with inventing gen- 14 years representing during COVID we’ve had volunteers Hope you are all well. I write short stories
of the radio section of my marathon eral anesthesia—has been optioned by Montana’s over-the-air on site 24 hours a day for security and and get some of them
struggle at book authorship, “We Pause an Italian film company that has made broadcasters in the state maintenance. As association president, I PATTY REKSTEN published. I spend a
for Station Identification: Montana’s shows for HBO. And this September, Legislature, Congress used my know-how from years of grant PHOTO PROFESSOR, 1984-1998 lot of time involved in activities that
Broadcasting Pioneers.” Five of the eight I’ll be off to Poland as a Fulbright and before the FCC. hunting and writing at UM, and we’re After working as director of photog- require speaking and listening and read-
remaining chapters, on television, are scholar to write fiction based on Polish That included working with the Attorney one of the few organizations that suffered raphy at The Oregonian from 1998 ing in Spanish. My husband, Dick, who
written. My promise is that my 750- folktales. (More at michael-downs.net) General and Department of Justice to no net loss during the pandemic. to 2010, I left there and taught for a retired from the economics department

THE L ATEST
Later this month I will be on the oth-

er side of a camera for an Idaho Public
tance marriage for a semester when my
husband and aforementioned professor
Student work
Television documentary about Caxton Michael Downs moved to Baltimore garners more
Press. I was asked to revisit the Minido- for a teaching job. The long-distance
ka site and talk about my book. thing wasn’t for us. In Maryland, I was national awards
It brings me joy to hear from and a journalism professor at Anne Arundel
reconnect with former students. And Community College for seven years JOURNALISM UNDERGRADS and grad-
I am happy to write recommendation until retiring in 2015. Since then I’ve uate students did not disappoint in this year’s
letters for those that I know. done a bit of freelancing—a few stories college journalism contests. The work they pro-
A few memorable encounters with for the Washington Post and for a small- duced in the pandemic caught the attention of
former UM students include singing er local paper. I’ve also turned my hand judges in national and regional competitions.
with Keiji Fujimoto and Alli Kwesell to literary essays. And traveling! In 2017 The University of Montana School of Jour-
at a Tokyo karaoke club awhile back, Michael and I bicycled through the nalism boasted three national champions this
seeing Russel Daniels’ documentary mountains of Poland, visiting medieval year in The Society of Professional Journalists
work in the magazine of the National castles and testing our legs over 109 Mark of Excellence Awards. A special catego-
Museum of the American Indian, and miles in three days. That same summer, ry was created for this contest year honoring
After Sheri Venema left UM to be with visiting with Tim Kupsick and Meghan we canoed for five days in Minnesota’s outstanding work in covering COVID-19. The
her husband Michael Downs, she taught Brown after a Boise State University Boundary Waters Canoe Area. 2020 Native News Honors Project was the na-
journalism in Maryland for seven years
presentation just before the pandemic My favorite memories of the J-School tional winner with its “Quarantine and Coro-
before retiring in 2015.
shutdown. include the summer Grizzly Journalism navirus in Montana’s Indian Country.”
The Media Lab hit the road this summer teaching middle and high schools media literacy
I will try to follow the advice of Rob- Camp, which brought high schoolers Also taking top honors at the national level
and digital storytelling using audio and video to create documentaries and podcasts.
at UM also in 2007, and I have traveled ert Frank and end with this: “The eye from around the state to live on campus were Quinn Corcoran in online/digital news
frequently—mostly to Europe and Latin should learn to listen before it looks.” for a week. We hired J-School students videography for his investigative piece on the
America. And Colorado, where family
lives, including two granddaughters. I CAROL VAN VALKENBURG
to chaperone the dorms; they might’ve
had more fun than the high-schoolers.
enrollment troubles at UM. Jiakai Lou also
earned top national honors for his online/dig-
Media Lab tours Montana, teaching
hear often from former students, and PRINT PROFESSOR, 1982-2011 Another favorite is the Spring 2006 ital feature video for his piece entitled, “Meat news literacy and digital storytelling
such contacts are always welcome. I’ve spent the years since my retirement Feature Writing class, which dove into for the Mind.”
focusing primarily on grandkids and commemorating the 10th anniver- Graduate student Mary Auld was a finalist THE J-SCHOOL’S Montana Media Lab moved to a blend of in-person and
TERESA TAMURA golf. I visit Eamon, Connor, Molly, sary of the arrest of Unabomber Ted in the national competition (top three) for her online instruction for much of the past year. Director Anne Bailey created
PHOTO PROFESSOR, 2002-2007 Keegan and Sophie often, and play golf Kaczynski in nearby Lincoln. Students audio work as part of a podcast project on the several remote or socially distanced workshops focused on improving writing,
William Albert Allard, a former Nation- as frequently as my back and knees will interviewed Lincoln residents, talked Little Shell tribe of Montana. Mary’s radio re- talking to the media and creating podcasts. Professional journalists, profes-
al Geographic staff photographer, said: allow. My handicap has dipped to the to FBI officials and tracked down the port, Project Little Shell: Questioning Blood sors, communication experts and community members took advantage of the
“What’s really important is to simplify.” single digits but is always threatened missing Unabomber cabin. One wrote Quantum earned the nod in the Radio News opportunity to learn from renowned instructors remotely.
I may be taking his quote out of con- by regular blowups. My husband, Fred, to Kaczynski in his supermax prison Reporting category. This summer, the Media Lab took our news literacy and community en-
text but I’m down to using an iPhone and I spend winters near the ocean and in Colorado—and got a reply! The In the SPJ’s regional contest, J-School stu- gagement project on the road. Four current or former J-School students led
12 Pro and a wooden pinhole camera have traveled regularly to Baltimore and result was a 56-page magazine written, dents earned 15 first-place honors and nine the charge to bring lessons and project work to four middle and high schools
equipped with a 4x5 film back. Denver to see our grandkids’ parents photographed and designed by J-School finalist awards. around the state. Humanities Montana is helping support this work teaching
After I left UM, I completed my (Kevin and Tiffany and Kristin and students. I’m honored to have worked UM ended the Hearst Journalism Awards young people how to distinguish real news from fake news, fact check and
personal photo project about Idaho’s Terence) and have fit in trips to Kenya, with them. season with outstanding finishes in both look for biases. The students then share what they’ve learned with the greater
Minidoka War Relocation Center, now Tanzania, Spain, France and Greece, I was also in awe of the dozen photojournalism and multimedia. J-School community. The K-12 students also embark on a digital storytelling project,
known as Minidoka National Historic with plans to soon explore more of students who signed up for a 2004 students and team projects took 4th place in working with audio or video to create documentaries and podcasts.
Site. It was a long process because I Northern Ireland and Scotland. My winter-session course, The Veterans photojournalism and 10th place in multime- The teaching team spent each week of June in Box Elder, Hays-Lodgepole,
used film, made prints, scanned the free time in the last half-dozen years has History Project. Our mission was to dia based on strong showings in the monthly Heart Butte and Polson.
images, then designed a book dummy been devoted to editing oral histories for find veterans in the Missoula area and competitions. “(Students) learned to write effective interview questions, conduct authen-
while writing the text. My book was the K. Ross Toole Archives at the Man- tell their stories. We had three weeks to Hazel Cramer placed 4th in the multimedia/ tic interviews and use professional audio equipment,” said Hays-Lodgepole
published by Caxton Press in 2013. A sfield Library, which is a pure delight. research, tape interviews, write stories enterprise category and 12th in news/feature English teacher Natacha Messerly Doney about the workshop. “I am so
second printing will be released later Retirement cannot be beat, but after and build a web page. We had one pho- photojournalism. Sara Diggins was a photo- thankful for this amazing opportunity and incredibly proud of our students
this year. almost a decade, I still dearly miss those tographer and one videographer. Those journalism semi-finalist for the second year in for trying really hard on the podcast they worked together to make.”
Some of my Minidoka photos are Kaimin kids! stories are now all online at the Library a row based on her 8th place finish in news/ The Media Lab at the J-School is close to completion of the Jane Jeffers Ry-
included in a permanent display in the of Congress. feature photojournalism and 12th place in pic- bus Pioneering Women Wall, paying tribute to outstanding Montana women
National Park Service’s recently opened SHERI VENEMA The J-School has always produced ture story. in journalism and named for the first female ASUM student body president.
visitor center, and some are part of an VISITING PRINT PROFESSOR, students who do great work. What I see “Weathering the Storm,” a documentary Another alumna, Amber Bushnell, is designing and producing the art instal-
educational slideshow that I narrat- 1992-2007 as I follow the school from afar is that film produced by students in Jeremy Lurgio’s lation that will pay tribute to Jeffers and alumni who have made an impact on
ed for Wassmuth Center for Human I left the J-School at the end of the Fall the tradition of excellence continues. course, earned 13th place in the multimedia the media and journalism world. We hope it will be in place and ready to be
Rights in Boise. Idaho. 2007 semester after trying a long-dis- Bravo! digital news/enterprise story competition. seen by visitors at Homecoming 2022.

OBI TUA RIE S
MERRILYN (WENTZ) ROBERTS ’46 ZENA BETH MCGLASHAN ’61 died Les was instrumental in the creation of career at the Missoulian, where she was the world lost the king of quick, witty a kind word for everyone she met. She
died of complications from a stroke on at age 81 on June 22, 2021. Zena was the Bigfork Summer Playhouse and was a general assignment reporter, police one-liners.” is survived by her 13-year-old son Alex
March 14, 2021. Born in Missoula, she known for her indomitable spirit and founder and artistic beat reporter, educa- Steve had a photographic memory and husband Doug of Schaumburg,
was an editor of the Montana Kaimin her loud and proud director of the West tion reporter, society for sports statistics and trivia. He raised Illinois. She leaves behind her grieving
and an active member of the Delta Gam- championing of Butte. Coast Ensemble The- editor, feature writer a baseball-loving son, Austin, a high mother Miriam, sister Tito, nephew
ma Sorority at UM, where Merry met a Zena moved to Butte atre, one of the most and editor, and city school and college baseball standout. Gavin and countless friends touched by
“handsome flyboy” and husband-to-be as a second grader and acclaimed 99-seat the- editor. She started He also umpired for the Gallatin Coun- her giving spirit.
Jack Roberts. They moved to Bozeman graduated from Butte aters in Los Angeles. the “Newspaper in ty Softball League. Madie worked as a producer at
in 1946, where Merry gave birth to the High. She earned a Les was born in Education” program, After earning his B.A. from the KPAX-TV in Missoula in the early
first of 10 children and Jack finished his B.A. in Journalism at Kalispell and graduat- which she oversaw J-School he wrote short stories, poetry 2000s and then at several television
degree. His job with Conoco sent their UM in 1961 where she ed from Flathead County High School. from 1982 to 2002, created the youth and four unpublished novels. He also stations in the Chicago area. In 2014,
family around Montana and the Mid- was a member of the Kappa Alpha Theta At UM he earned degrees in Journalism pages, the Midway Dispatch and the reported for the Mukilteo, Washington, she took a job with the West Chicago
west. They settled in Billings and Merry sorority. and Theater, went on a USO tour and children’s drawings featured on the newspaper, earned a law degree from School District where she found her
stayed busy with volunteer work and the During a long and varied journalism worked as an actor at the fledgling Big- weather page. She carried a camera the University of Puget Sound and true calling, working with children.
Delta Gamma organization. career, Zena worked at the Montana fork Playhouse in the summers. everywhere and took many excellent practiced law in Washington before Madie loved Montana and returned
After 52 years of marriage, Jack died Standard in Butte, The Daily Interlake After graduation he headed for LA to photos for the paper. moving back to Montana where he as often as she could, always with son
in 1998. Merry is survived by eight chil- in Kalispell, The Missourian, Aspen Il- pursue acting. Known as Les Hanson Lynn moved to Missoula from Cali- worked in sales and construction. Alex in tow. She wanted him to love
dren, their spouses, 20 grandchildren, lustrated News, the Albuquerque Journal to the theatrical world, he brought fornia when she was 11. A horsewoman Steve is survived by his son Austin Montana as much as she did and she
23 great-grandchildren and countless and the Santa Monica Evening Outlook. more than 200 productions to the West from a young age, she rode all over the and siblings Jeff, Bill, Jim and Mary stayed in touch with her Montana
friends who will miss her dearly. She earned her M.A. in Mass Commu- Coast Ensemble Theatre, earning major Rattlesnake and occasionally to the Anne who encourage those who re- family through the years. She loved
nication from California State University, awards and premiering thought-pro- downtown Missoula library. She also member Steve to think of him the next with her whole heart and will be sorely
DONNA MAE FANNING BRYGG- Northridge, where she taught as well. She voking plays and musicals. Les also had an incredible green thumb and a time you wear a Hawaiian shirt. missed.
MAN ’48 died in Fairfield, California, went on to get her doctorate from the worked for Joan Rivers, cooking and “Snow White” way with animals. An educational account has been
at age 93 on August 30, 2020. Born in University of Iowa in 1978, and worked helping out as she entertained. Lynn always related well to young JANELLE ELIZABETH PATTER- established for Madie’s son, Alex. Con-
Butte in 1927, she graduated from Girls’ as a journalism professor at State College, Les is survived by his brother, Monty. people and was active in the Treasure SON ’86 died unexpectedly in her tact Denise Dowling at the J-School if
Central High School in 1944, then the University of North Dakota and State Spelling Bee, St. Paul Lutheran Missoula home on June 5, 2021. She you’re interested in making a contribu-
went to UM and the J-School where the University of Texas at El Paso before NORMA SANDBERG (HOBER) Church, Target Range School, Big Sky was 60. tion.
she made life-long friends. Donna was a moving back to Butte in 1988. MASON ’66 died of Alzheimer’s High School, 4-H, the Five Valleys Janelle was born in Missoula and
proud Grizzly and a member of Kappa She published “The M&M in Butte, disease on December 8, 2020. She Reading Council and Habitat for raised on the family ranch west of The lovely, creative and talented MIRA
Alpha Theta and Sigma Delta Chi. After Montana and Other Faces: Photog- grew up in Missoula and attended the Humanity. She remained engaged with town. She learned early how to drive CHRISTINE REMIEN ’06 died on
graduation she worked at an advertising raphy by Harley E. Straus” and wrote J-School, graduating with honors and UM throughout her life, serving a jour- a tractor and loved her 4H animals. October 29, 2020, after a long struggle
agency in San Francisco and met Roy feature stories for the Butte Weekly. In making lifelong friends in the Delta nalism honor society for women, the Janelle graduated from Hellgate High with mental health. She was born in
Bryggman. The two married in 1953 2010 she published “Buried in Butte,” Gamma Sorority. Matrix Honor Table and the Friends School in 1979 and earned a B.A. in Missoula in 1979, attended Sentinel
and raised four children in Salinas. after years of researching and writing, But her favorite experience was UM’s of the Maureen and Mike Mansfield Journalism and a minor in Political High School and later graduated with
Donna leaves behind daughter Jan then “The Watchman’s Daughter,” an Semester at Sea, traveling the world Library board. Science from UM in 1986. a degree in Radio-Television from the
Chard, sons Mark and Terry, brother afterword in the 2019 printing of “The on water and learning about different Lynn met her husband Bill Schwanke She worked at a New Mexico news- J-School.
Ward Fanning and 11 grandchildren. Biography of F. Augustus Heinze: Cop- countries, cultures and peoples. A at the J-School, whom she married in paper before being diagnosed with a She went on to study at the Universi-
Roy died in 2015. The two had been per King at War.” proud journalist, she wrote for the Mis- 1968, the same year she graduated. She mental illness and returning to Missou- ty of the Arts-London and received her
married for 61 years. As one of Zena’s close friends said, soulian after graduation and worked at is survived by her husband of 52 years, la for care and family support. Janelle master’s from Central Saint Martin’s.
“She was a feisty and funny loyal friend UM’s athletic department. their four children, five grandchildren, was a lifelong member of the First Mira wrote remarkable poetry and
JACK SEIGLE M.A. ’56 died at age 91 who looked fabulous in baseball hats, Norma raised three sons with Terry three sisters, numerous cousins and Baptist Church and volunteered at the prose, was an accomplished photogra-
on March 19, 2021. was dedicated to social issues, was Hober and was a devoted stepmother to countless dear friends. Her family Missoula Food Bank and the Western pher and was working on illustrations
Jack earned his M.A. in journalism an amazing historical researcher, was the daughters of her second husband, writes she was “everyone’s favorite Montana Clinic’s mental health center. for a children’s book at the time of her
at the University of Montana and later generous and put her money where her William Mason. She is survived by sons something,” with tremendous courage death. She traveled the world exten-
taught in the graduate program in jour- mouth was, had incredible knowledge of Todd, Brett and Jeff Hober; stepdaugh- and a deep love of life. Lynn died on MADIE BELTRAN HATFIELD ’01 sively and intrepidly, making friends
nalism and public affairs at The Ameri- antiques, and was patient enough to get ters Kathryn Mason Vanderput and November 3, 2020, from complications perished during childbirth on August 6, wherever she went.
can University in Washington D.C. for orchids to bloom again. She was the best Pam Mason Foster; siblings, grandchil- of Huntington’s Chorea. 2021 along with her She will be remembered by her fam-
more than 30 years. friend anyone could ask for.” dren and many devoted friends. baby William Na- ily and friends for her beautiful smile,
Prior to that, he was editor of the Zena is survived by her husband, STEPHEN ROBERT HANSEN ’80 than “Nate” Hatfield. laughter, sense of humor, her many
Wolf Point Herald News and of the Michael Gamble; her children Grant MARGARET LYNN STETLER died in Bozeman on April 21, 2021, Madie graduated in talents and unrealized potential. Mira’s
South Dakota Union Farmer. McGlashan and Meg Guenin; and SCHWANKE ’68 will be remembered from a ruptured aorta. Radio-Television and family writes their “troubled Mira…is
Jack is survived by his wife of 63 many friends. for her love of life and ability to relate Born in 1957 in San Jose, California, is fondly remembered at peace and free at last.”
years, Margaret Vallejo Seigle; son Paul; to everyone she met. he was the third of six children and the by classmates and pro- Mira is survived by her parents Dr.
daughter Susan Washo and grandchil- LESTER HANKINSON ’65 died on Starting as a copy editor while still peacemaker and jester of the family. fessors as someone full Jack and Anne Remien of Missoula, sis-
dren Blythe and Jack Washo. June 9, 2021, in Los Angeles, at age 78. in high school, Lynn had a 44-year His family writes, “With his passing, of life and love with a ready laugh and ter Erin and brother Dr. John Remien.

C L A SS NOT E S
THE LATEST FROM ALUMS fiction faculty of Bennington College’s

low-residency MFA program in writing.
on the “Pioneer Women in Montana advertising agency and public relations MICHAEL PANTALIONE ’75 retired
1950s Media” wall, slated for unveiling in the firm, political consulting and manage- in January after coaching soccer for the
Montana Media Lab next fall. ment, and as a television news director last 32 years at Yavapai College in Arizo-
GARY A. SORENSEN ’57 reported and on-air personality. na. In the history of men’s intercollegiate
in from Missoula, where he’s lived since MARK MILLER ’67 is awaiting soccer, he is the all-time leader among
1993. He swings past the J-School from publication of his sixth book next year, J.F. PURCELL ’72 says COVID-19 coaches at any level in winning percent-
time to time and says it continues to “Rediscovering Wonderland,” about affected the amount of volunteering he age (90%) and the only coach to average
provide top new blood for a challenging early travel to Yellowstone Park. The did in the past year, but he has still been over 20 wins per season.
industry that is changing all the time. work explores the Washburn Expedition able to further the work of fellow UM
“At my age the slogan is ‘stay active.’ So that brought the area to wide attention Graduate Gary Israel. Purcell has sup- DON OYLEAR ’75 writes, “While
I do,” he says. “I have been retired for and was instrumental in establishing the ported Israel’s foundation to remember mostly retired, I recently completed my
more than 30 years and spent 30 years in park 150 years ago. It follows his books the artwork and philanthropy of Israel’s first book. It’s commercial fiction. “The
the Army doing a lot of public relations.” “Sidesaddles and Geysers: Women’s mother. He is also a donor and sup- Marco Polo Alliance” is a fast-paced
Adventures in Yellowstone Park” (2020) porter of arts-related organizations like action adventure and a murder mystery
and “Encounters in Yellowstone: The GLOW and DREAMS in and around with just enough thriller aspects, a little
1960s Nez Perce Summer of 1877” (2019). Wilmington, North Carolina. romance, infused humor and a spice of
believable future technology. Now I’m
Shane Bishop ’86 covered his third Olympics this summer in Tokyo, producing features for NBC’s
JUDITH BLAKELY MORGAN ’60 CARL GIDLUND ’67 worked his way RICHARD BANGS ’73 retired in 2010 searching for an agent. Query letters.
Sports desk. He’s been a producer for NBC News and Dateline for 27 years.
continues writing and editing on special through the university as a smokejump- and has since self-published a trilogy of Lots of query letters.”
projects linked to her service as Trustee er, graduating in 1967 with both a sci-fi novels. The most recent, “For-
Emerita of the University of California B.A. and M.A. in journalism. He spent gotten: A Stepping Stone to the Stars,” KYLE ALBERT ’84 writes that wife FRANK FIELD ’86 combined his love
San Diego’s Foundation Board, whose five years in the Army Special Forc- published in February 2020, won second 1980s Judi traced her Scottish ancestry to of running, fly fishing and storytelling
campus rises within sight of her home es, including a year in Vietnam, then place in the 2020 Colorado Independent Robert the Bruce, William Wallace and in a freelance print story published in
in La Jolla. During COVID-19 quaran- transferred to the Air Force and retired Publishers Association EVVY Awards. JAMES BRUGGERS ’81 marked three Sir Roger Kirkpatrick. When the crown the Seattle Times and Big Sky Journal.
tine, she used Zoom to interview UCSD as a lieutenant colonel. Carl worked as His other books are “Forsaken: Search- years in May as a staff reporter for Inside of Scotland was up for grabs, Bruce and Frank connected with a group that runs
scholarship applicants. She also is active a spokesman for numerous government ing for God’s Fingerprints” and “Forgiv- Climate News, a national nonprofit Red Common met in a church to decide across the Bob Marshall Wilderness
on the San Diego Library Foundation agencies, including the Office of Emer- en: Finding a Path Home.” Richard lives newsroom covering climate, energy and which of them would reign. Bruce came each year and went along on the adven-
board, with 36 branches. In 1995, she gency Preparedness (now FEMA), and in Littleton, Colorado, with wife Susan the environment, after 31 years in news- out of the church and said his adversary ture to lift his spirits in the pandemic,
co-authored the biography “Dr. Seuss the Department of Health, Education Bangs ’71. These days he spends most papers. In 2020, Bruggers’ work won was wounded but still alive, so Roger be a good dad and set a meaningful
& Mr. Geisel” with her husband, Neil. and Welfare. He also wrote for several of his time volunteering for a non-profit first place in the Society of Environmen- whipped out his dirk and said “I’ll example for his kids. Frank says the
Twenty-five years later, she remains the newspapers including the Anchorage land trust, riding his bicycle and pro- tal Journalists’ small market beat report- make sure,” and went in and finished Times, “…let me keep the copyright (I
go-to authority on the life and work of Times, Spokesman-Review and Tundra moting his books. ing category. At Inside Climate News, the job, for which he was knighted. The dunno if it was an accident, but when
Ted Geisel/Dr. Seuss, who was a friend Drums, and he freelanced for many he most often covers the Southeast, and Kirkpatrick family crest consists of a they sent the agreement, I signed and
and neighbor in La Jolla. When news magazines. Carl and wife Sally are retired MARJE BENNETTS ’73 is retiring has partnered with news organizations bloody dagger and “I’ll Make Sure” in didn’t say anything!). Because I had the
breaks about Seuss’ life or books, Judith and living in Coeur d’Alene. They have from her career as a hotel general man- as diverse as NPR, the Weather Chan- Gaelic. On a tour of Scotland in 2018, copyright, I was also able to sell the
has filed interviews with the BBC, two daughters, living in Virginia and ager and public relations expert. After nel, WMFE public radio in Orlando, Kyle and Judi found that the place story to Montana’s own Big Sky Journal.
Washington Post, the New York Times, Florida. 45+ years she is returning from Southern newspapers in Tennessee and Kentucky, where that historic moment happened I’m super-proud that they took the
National Public Radio and TV. Now California and moving back to Great and just this spring, The Seattle Times. is now a parking lot with a plaque. Kyle story because this is a magazine that has
mostly retired as a reporter, she spent Falls in the fall of 2021. She is looking He recalls writing his first stories for the continues to write and edit all manner published words by people like William
30 years as a freelance travel writer for 1970s forward to being close to family and Montana Kaimin on typewriters and of marketing and advertising materials Kittredge.” Frank remains a communi-
newspapers and magazines, including friends, and doing some volunteer work. covering a controversy over the spraying in all media for clients nationwide in a cations manager for T-Mobile and lives
National Geographic and Travel & KEN DUNHAM ’70 retired in June She says she will miss the beach but is of herbicides on the Oval. He lives in virtual freelance environment under the in Seattle.
Leisure. She returned from the Ama- 2020 after serving as executive director excited to take the next step in life by Louisville with his wife, Christine Brug- guise of Copy Chef, Inc.
zon River in January 2020, before the of the West Coast Lumber & Building returning to her native Montana. gers, the deputy director of the Society JUDI BLAZE ’87 just published her
pandemic halted travel in March. It’s the Material Association since 2006. In of Environmental Journalists. SHANE BISHOP ’86 just returned 5th book, “Riding in the Backseat with
longest her passport has gone unstamped 2017, Dunham wrote “The Legacy of DEIRDRE MCNAMER ’73 published from working for NBC Sports at the my Brother.”
since 1961, when she left for Argentina Lumber,” a history book that tells the her fifth novel, “Aviary,” in April of this SUSIE REBER ORR ’81 has a weekly Summer Olympic Games in Tokyo.
on a graduate fellowship from the Inter- story of the lumber industry in America, year. McNamer retired from the Uni- show on Missoula Community Radio, It was his third Olympics working for DAVID PLEASANT ’87 is in his 32nd
American Press Assn. A keen supporter from colonial times to the present, with versity of Montana English department “Susie Q Till 2,” which focuses on NBC’s Sports desk, a rapid response news year at KPAX-TV in Missoula. He says
of the J-School, she looks forward to the a particular focus on the rich lumber last year, after 25 years teaching creative community issues with local interviews unit that also produces features during he still loves his work every day, adding
re-launching of the Montana Journalism history in California. His prior experi- writing at both the undergraduate and of policy makers, politicians and other the Games. He’s been a producer for that “We have a new grandson, so life
Abroad program. Judith will be featured ence included ownership of a regional graduate levels. Currently, she’s on the Missoula movers and shakers. NBC News and Dateline for 27 years. is good.”

C L A SS NOT E S
NICK EHLI ’88 resigned in December al genealogist. A case study she wrote in the mountains of Utah homeschool- thology in Ithaca, New York. Daniel ’01 co-wrote Tester’s recent memoir,
from the Bozeman Daily Chronicle about her great-great grandmother, ing my kids and snowboarding.” joined the newly formed Center for “Grounded: A Senator’s Lessons on Win-
after 20 years, the last 14 as its editor. Hannah Roe, has been chosen for pub- Conservation Media and is currently ning Back Rural America.” Ecco Press,
He teaches in the Honors College at lication in the summer issue of Min- URI FARKAS ’98 serves as the Deputy working with partners around the world an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers, ALUMNI SURVEY
Montana State in Bozeman. nesota Genealogist, a quarterly journal Athletic Director for Northern Arizona focusing on media that shines a light on published “Grounded” in 2020. Murphy Help students find their
of the Minnesota Genealogical Society. University, overseeing all external aspects major environmental issues at a regional is now pursuing a full-time writing career path and help the School of
JYL HOYT MA ’88 says hello from Julie married George Parisot in June of of the athletic department, including and global scale. Daniel spent his time and has just co-written a second book Journalism make informed
Boise, Idaho. After graduating with a 2020 and lives in Helena. communications. Uri looks forward to in Washington contributing to National that will be published this October. decisions about curriculum,
master’s in journalism, she joined Boise welcoming the Griz to town when the Geographic, PBS’s Frontline, Nature recruiting and more by
State University Public Radio as special JILL MURRAY FERRIS ’93 has written athletic teams visit Flagstaff. and Nova, Red Bull Media House, NATE SCHWEBER ’01 has written his taking a quick alumni
projects director, a position she held a cookbook titled “Cheers to 50 Years! Upworthy.com, as well as HHMI’s first book-length work of narrative non- survey on our website.
until retiring in December 2009. “I am Women That Inspire Me & The Recipes TOM MULLEN ’98 says he uses his Tangled Bank Studios. He is especially fiction. “This America of Ours: Bernard
Visit jour.umt.edu/alumni/
so grateful to Montana Public Radio for They Inspire.” Her husband Chad was journalism muscles every day as senior di- thankful to UM professor Bill Knowles and Avis DeVoto and the Forgotten Fight
alumni_survey.php or go to
10 wonderful years prior to graduate the photographer for the book. That grew rector of content based in Santa Monica, and professional instructors Terry to Save the Wild” features scenes at UM jour.umt.edu and follow the
school and altogether for more than 30 into a cooking show called “Jill’s Inspira- California, for Fair, an auto marketplace. Conrad, Ray Ekness and Gus Chambers and in Missoula, he writes. HarperCollins “Alumni” tab at the top of
incredibly rewarding years as a public tion Kitchen” now available to more than He is a creative content and commu- for passing on their knowledge and for is scheduled to publish in July 2022. the page.
radio journalist.” 35 million households on the RCN and nications professional with more than their mentorship while finding his way
LVTV networks, on Roku at You Too 15 years of experience in brand devel- at UM. “Cornell has nothing on you ANNIE WARREN ’04 is the commu-
KEVIN MCRAE ’88 and Beth Mc- America (YTA), and locally on KULR-8 opment, corporate marketing/editorial, folks. My UM education gave me a leg nications manager at Mid-Columbia
Laughlin ’90 live in Helena, where they in the Billings area. Jill and Chad also journalism and public relations. In up in every professional situation I’ve Libraries serving southeastern Wash- Innocence Files” and the Amazon Prime
work in state government and raised own the 307 Bar, Grill & Casino in August 2021, a feature film Tom wrote ever encountered.” ington. From 2015-2019, Annie served film, “All In: The Fight for Democra-
their two kids. Daughters Clara and Columbus, Montana, and Jill contin- with brother Tim, “Vacation Friends,” as the chair of the library’s community cy,” about voter suppression and Stacey
Eliza both attend UM. Beth is the chief ues to sell medical devices for Olympus debuted on Hulu. SARAH (SCHMID) STEVENSON partnership group, the Tri-Cities Latino Abrams’ work in Georgia. Upcoming
administrative officer of Montana’s America. Jill and Chad’s son Max is 11. ’98 recently accepted a position doing Community Network. She led special releases include a film following Mayor
judicial branch. Kevin is a deputy com- SONJA (LEE) NOWAKOWSKI ’98 political communications work for projects including the video series “Inspir- Pete’s historic presidential campaign on
missioner in the Office of the Commis- THOMAS NYBO ’95 writes from the was recently named the administrator of Moonsail North, a public relations firm ing Latinos / Latinos inspiradores.” The Amazon Prime and a Jacques Cousteau
sioner of Higher Education. Democratic Republic of the Congo, the Air, Energy and Mining Division at co-located in Michigan and California. project was a bronze winner in the 40th film for National Geographic.
“I’ve been working mainly in the DR the Montana Department of Environ- Previously, she spent almost a decade Annual Telly Awards social video series:
MICHELLE WILLITS ’88 of Oregon, Congo for the past three years, cover- mental Quality. Nowakowski previously serving as the editor of Xconomy De- culture & lifestyle category. KRISTINE PAULSEN ’06 continues to
Wisconsin, recently was promoted to ing Ebola, civil unrest and now child led the Office of Research and Policy troit, an online publication covering the run a photography business in Missoula
publisher at the Credit Union National miners digging for the cobalt used in Analysis at the Montana Legislature. business of technology and innovation. JOE FRIEDRICHS ’05 is the news while simultaneously working remotely
Association, the trade association for all our phones and laptops. Also doing Stevenson lives with her husband Chris director at WTIP, North Shore Commu- as a senior technical writer for Webflow,
of America’s credit unions. She develops a project for the Dian Fossey Gorilla DANIEL SHEIRE ’98 left a 20+ year and cat Chico on the northwest coast of nity Radio in Grand Marais, Minnesota, a progressive company that empowers
publishing strategies for Credit Union Fund on critically endangered Grauer’s career in the Washington D.C. area to Lake Michigan. and the founder and producer of the people to design websites without code.
Magazine’s print and digital content, gorillas in the Congo. I spent the winter take a job at the Cornell Lab of Orni- WTIP Boundary Waters Podcast. In
news website, podcast, and award-win- 2020, the podcast won a regional Edward STAN PILLMAN ’06 was recently hired
ning newsletter for credit union boards. 2000s R. Murrow Award in the “Best Podcast” as the VP Of Digital Operations for
Julie Walker
“Journalism grads should know that ’91 earned a category. Joe is also the author of the MediaCo, which operates the iconic radio
there are many industries that need Genealogical SAM DEWITT ’01 continues his work book, “Her Island: The Story of Quet- brands HOT 97 and WBLS in New York
storytellers,” she says. “I started out Research Certificate for Compassion & Choices to expand ico’s Longest Serving Interior Ranger,” City. Stan says he’s still wearing flip-flops
in newspapers, and now I’m at a trade from Boston end-of-life choices for terminally ill published in November 2020 by 10,000 in the winter, still playing hockey and still
University and is
association sharing stories about the busy working on a patients. In a year that was very active Lakes Publishing in Minneapolis. fly-fishing. GO GRIZ!
passion credit unions have for their career transition to legislatively, he led a team that passed
members. For me, more enjoyable than be a professional the Elizabeth Whitefield End of Life KATHERINE SATHER ’05 is a pro- MARITSA GEORGIOU ’07 just accept-
Holloran’s public affairs class. Kid- genealogist. She Options Act in New Mexico, which was gram manager at Microsoft focusing on ed a new position as a Montana-based
married George
ding…sort of.” Parisot in June 2020 signed into law in April and will go into content experiences in search engines. national reporter for Newsy, after years as
and lives in Helena. effect in June. As of this writing, he is still She and her husband have two children, an anchor at NBC Montana. There she
working on passing similar legislation and their family splits their time between earned the 2021 Walter Cronkite Award
1990s in the state of Nevada. He lives in a “forti- Whitefish and Seattle. for Excellence in Television Political
fied compound” in East Denver with his Journalism for her coverage of USPS
JULIE WALKER ’91 has earned a wife Rebecca, two daughters Winnie and ELYSE HUGHES ’06 was recently collection boxes being removed before
Genealogical Research Certificate from Vivian, and dog Missoula. promoted to Executive in Charge of Pro- the landmark 2020 election in which a
Boston University. She’s in the process duction at Story Syndicate in Brooklyn, majority of the state would be voting by
of completing additional education to As Senator Jon Tester’s former chief of New York. Prior to the promotion, Elyse mail. She also interviewed Dr. Anthony
make a career transition to a profession- staff (2017-2019), AARON MURPHY line-produced the Netflix series “The Fauci, Dr. Deborah Birx and Dr. Robert

C L A SS NOT E S
Redfield while working from home for Newscast award for their coverage of old son, Ellis, who asks for the sports the past year as a creative producer,
the entire pandemic, allowing her to downtown Seattle rioting in 2020. section every morning. “Incarceration Nations: A Global
spend more (and much needed) time Docuseries,” was featured at the Tribeca
with her family. CARLI KRUEGER ’13 teaches digital Film Festival in June. Four of 10 total
2010s design as an adjunct professor at Arizona episodes in the series were screened in
LINDSAY GJERDE ’07 is currently a State University’s Cronkite School of the section titled “Tribeca Now.”
production manager running concerts ANDREW DUSEK ’10 is starting a Journalism. She says she’s also furthering
for Live Nation throughout the Midwest. new role as a Press and Public Outreach her career as a designer in the multifam- BENJAMIN ALVA POLLEY ’17 mar-
On occasion she gets her camera out and Officer at the U.S. Agency for Interna- ily industry. On the side, Carli designs ried fellow journalist Cassidy Randall
shoots the shows. tional Development (USAID) within curriculum books that teach kindergar- and this summer will move back to
the Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance. ten through 8th graders STEM concepts Missoula and continue his freelance
JEREMY POOL ’07 left the Washing- Andrew currently serves as a Senior through sport. work. Polley’s work has been published
ton Huskies where he was the Director Information Officer for USAID, where in Popular Science, Esquire, Field &
of Football Technology for nearly four he has worked since 2018. In this role, LILIAN LANGSTON ’13 works as Stream, Sierra, Mountain, Earth Island
years. This year he returned to the Jack- Andrew has provided regular reporting a freelance field producer for reality Journal and other publications.
sonville Jaguars as Director of Football on complex humanitarian emergencies television programs airing on HGTV,
Systems. Pool writes he’s back to “where and sudden onset disasters in Colom- DIY, A&E, Discovery and Fox Business. KATY SPENCE ’18 started a new job
it all began” for him; he was the Assis- bia, Jordan, Kenya, Nigeria, Sudan and Lilian is also a licensed Realtor in Mon- in January as the Communications &
tant Video Director with the Jags from South Sudan. Prior to joining USAID, tana’s Flathead Valley. Engagement Director of the Montana
2007-2017. he served as the on-the-record spokes- Environmental Information Center.
Andrew Dusek ’10 is starting a new role as a Press and Public Outreach Officer at the U.S. Agency
man for the Office of the UN High JESSICA MURRI ’13 is a training con-
for International Development (USAID) within the Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance.
MARNEÉ BANKS ’09 started a new Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) sultant with Sit Means Sit Dog Training ASHLEY NERBOVIG ’18 says she is a
job as Vice President of Communications in Myanmar from 2016 to 2017. in Portland, Oregon. She says she uses pen for hire in Mountain, Central and
at Global Strategy Group, a public affairs the interviewing skills she gained at UM qualities on 19th century Nantucket CARLY VESTER ’16 is producing out- Pacific time. Flag her down at anerbo-
and research firm based in New York and ALISON SCHEEL ’10 moved from Las to talk to dog owners about their pups, whale ships and as a writer for a scientif- doors-focused documentaries full-time [email protected].
Washington D.C. Following her time as Vegas to Texas and is the Key Account their challenges and hopes. Jessica has ic journal about national climate change with her production company Vester
spokesperson for Senator Tester and Chief Manager for creative agency The Hive. earned the company’s top sales awards policy. He still leads trail crews and is Media. Her first full-length documenta- MARTI LIECHTY ’19 is enrolled in
Communications Officer at the Theodore Alison represents liquor brands by curat- year after year and credits her success to currently in Wrangell St. Elias National ry, “700 Feet Down,” premiered on Am- UM’s joint JD-MBA program and
Roosevelt Conservation Partnership, she ing events and securing menu features. her journalism education. Park restoring airstrips with chainsaws azon, Apple and on-demand channels in expects to graduate in 2023.
will now be leading communications Previously, she lived in Las Vegas for six and shovels. July. The film chronicles the collapse of
campaigns for multiple corporate and years pursuing performance and gig life. CONOR BALLANTYNE ’14 was able the Tacoma Narrows Bridge, “Galloping In May, SKYLAR RISPENS ’19 left
nonprofit organizations. to work remotely for the NFL Network TIM BLODGETT ’15 started his career Gertie,” through intrepid divers explor- her job as a breaking news and educa-
ANNA KRATZ ’12 worked as a digital and moved back home to Missoula as a video journalist at KHQ-TV in ing a reef of wreckage and witnesses of tion reporter at the Great Falls Tribune
When ALLY (WELLER) DAVIS ’09 producer at Helena’s KTVH before from Los Angeles this past year. Conor Spokane. Five years later, he is now the bridge’s collapse. to cross the divide and cover educa-
isn’t chasing her 3-year-old twin boys, she moving to St. Peter’s Health where she is worked for NFL Network for seven reporting for KFMB in San Diego. This tion at the Missoulian. Skylar says
is working in marketing, event planning a scheduler. Anna got married in 2019 seasons and recently resigned to create a summer Tim was nominated for his first After more than two years of reporting she’s eager to continue her passionate
(mostly weddings) and making promo and she and her husband bought their digital textile print studio with his fian- local Emmy for his reporting on the for IFLScience, MADISON DAP- reporting on the K-12 education beat
videos for businesses and families. first home. cée opening in Missoula in 2021. death of Kobe Bryant in Los Angeles. CEVICH ’17 has returned to the Rocky and expand into higher education
Mountains. She is now based in Missou- reporting.
In 2020, NATALIE NEUMANN ’09 MARCUS CHEBUL ’13 has recently KENDRA COUSINEAU ’14 worked at ASHLEY STIDHAM ’15 has worked la working remotely as a (mostly) science
finished her Master of Science in Social been promoted to production man- the Sheridan (Wyoming) Press after grad- in marketing and communications jobs reporter for the fact-checking website
Work from the University of Texas at ager at Warm Springs Productions, a uation, but then returned to Missoula to since graduation. She will make a “huge Snopes. Madison will also be returning
Austin and Master of Public Health television production company based in work in tourism. Kendra recently landed career change” this fall by pursuing an to the E/V Nautilus, a deep-sea research
from UTHealth Science Center. She Missoula. Marcus has been working with her dream job as a digital marketing/ MFA in Interior Architecture. vessel that explores the world’s oceans
missed the mountains so much that she WSP since 2017, producing various communications specialist with Project to seek out new discoveries in the fields
moved to Colorado, and this year started un-scripted programs including History Healing Water Fly Fishing, Inc., and will MICHAEL WRIGHT ’15 became the of geology, biology, maritime history, NEWS UPDATES
working for the Colorado State Employee Channel’s long-running series, “Moun- be moving to Alabama this fall. Managing Editor of the Bozeman Daily archaeology and chemistry. She’ll spend Shoot us an email and
Assistance Program providing therapy for tain Men,” and on Animal Planet’s first Chronicle, replacing fellow J-School two months at sea working as a com- let your classmates know
state government employees. season of “Louisiana Law.” CHARLIE EBBERS MA ’14 regu- alumnus Nick Ehli. munications lead to explore and map what’s up in your world.
larly contributes to the gear and travel the seafloor from southern California to
JORDAN TREECE ’09 recently won BROOKS JOHNSON ’13 is a reporter content in Outside magazine and loves MICAH DREW ’16 attended graduate Hawaii and back again. [email protected]
32 Campus Drive
his 4th Northwest Regional Emmy with the Star Tribune’s Duluth bureau, chasing conservation features for Bugle school in an “entirely unrelated field.”
Don Anderson Hall
Award for his work with KING5 which was rebooted in 2019 as the paper magazine. He worked as a researcher on One year ago, Micah signed on with SYDNEY MACDONALD ’17 writes
Missoula, MT 59812
television in Seattle. Treece was part of expanded its footprint across Minnesota. a Montana cold case, an editor and writ- the Flathead Beacon to report from the that the multi-part mini documenta-
the team that won the Best Morning Brooks and wife Caitlin have a 2-year- er on a case study dissecting leadership “beautiful Flathead Valley.” ry series she’s been working on over

S U PPORT ING S UCCES S
Thank you to our donors!

John and Teresa Kafentzis Montana Newspaper James and Jeanne Rolph Pat Syskowski
Foundation Inc.
Frank Kamlowsky Tom and Pam Rybus Keila Szpaller
Judith Blakely Morgan Sage Accounting Gordon and Brandie Terpe
Brian and Lisa Keller
AS THE NEW director of development for the J-School (and a ’98 UM J-School grad), I want to thank you for Shane and Geri Morger
Patricia Kennedy Joseph Sample Shannon Thomas
your support of this fantastic program. Your financial support allows our students to thrive. Donations to the
Journalism Unrestricted Fund allow the J-School the flexibility to direct funds where they are needed most. Verna Kessner Douglas and Patsi Morton John Saul Mark and Barbara Thompson
In the past year this fund has provided emergency tuition assistance to students. Faculty and staff have Sally Moskol
Michael Kiely Jeremy Sauter and Rebecca Michael Thompson
received support to help smooth the challenges of teaching during the pandemic. In prior years it has
Milo Moucha Jasmine
allowed our students to attend award ceremonies and conferences around the country. Gita Saedi and Jason Kiely Jill Thompson Black
Like many of you, my experience as a student in the School of Journalism was life changing. My class- Theresa Murphy Berma Saxton
Douglas Kienitz (USN, Ret.) Alice Thorpe
room experiences, exposure to professional journalists working in the field and opportunities to take part in Brett and Jessie Schandelson
experiential learning all helped shape who I am today. Personally, I support the J-School for these reasons. Stephanie Kind Kim Neill Norma Tirrell
I want to ensure that current and future students have similar life-changing experiences that help launch Robert Newlin Scripps Howard Foundation
Shannon Kinsella Judith Tritz
them into meaningful careers. BETH COGSWELL Charles Schwab & Company
I hope you will consider a gift to the Journalism Unrestricted Fund. I look forward to meeting you in per- Arthur Klemm William and Robin Nichols Eric Troyer
son. Thank you so much for your support! Roy and Eloise Nollkamper Amberlee Schwanke
Robert and Janet Koostra John Twaddell
—Beth Cogswell Donald and Rose Schwennesen
Jack Krout Seanna O’Sullivan Hines Daniel and Valerie Valdez
Hoover Ogata Susan Sharon
James LaCorte Margaret Vallejo Seigle
John and Polly Shinner
The following individuals and Timothy and Moraine Byrne Frank Dugan and Tanya Reid Newell and Kaye Gough Francine Lange Baylee Oligmiller Fred and Carol Van Valkenburg
organizations contributed to Sinclair Broadcast Group, Inc.
Moraine Byrne Associates Ken and Janelle Dunham Orville and Vera Grasdock Laura Lantz Kate Oliver Kate Walker
the UM School of Journalism Dana Smith
between May 1, 2020 and Glen and Marilyn Cameron John Eaton and Danelle Reisch The Greater Montana Robert Lazich Donald and Karen Olson Frank Walsh
April 30, 2021 Foundation H. Smith
Frederick and Ellen Caruso Richard Ecke Lee Procurement Solutions Co. Julie Omelchuck Annie Warren
Christa Handford Gary and Hazel Sorensen
Vanessa Ceravolo Raymond Ekness and Pattie Crystal Ligori Karen Oset Jane Weaver
John Adams
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Howard Arnett
John and Hadley Ferguson Jeffrey Stevens
Matthew Cooper The Hearst Foundations Linda Lynch Rick Phillips and Beth Cogswell Martin Perry and Barbara
Steve and Jane Baldock
Fidelity Charitable Gift Fund Sara Stidham Williams Perry
Thomas and Lisa Cordingley Steven Helmbrecht Mario and Kristy Madden William Phippen
Marneé Banks
Lonie Stimac Richard and Paula Wilmot
Cordingley Foundation Frank Field Jerry Holloron William Platt and Paula
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DelBonis-Platt Kathleen Stone Richard and Joan Wohlgenant
Mary Cottor Jonni Fischer Jana Hood
Carla Beck Darrel and Esther Mast
Estate of Ben R Pollner Colette Stroia Wilbur and Elizabeth Wood
John and Ellen Counihan Peter Flintoff Brian Hood
James Beyer Brian McGiffert
Maurice Possley Roman Stubbs Michael and Betsy Wood
Emile Cowdery Kevin Foley Roger Hopkins
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J.F. and Francine Purcell Eileen Sullivan P.J. Wright
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Michael Billings and Patricia Edward and Stephanie
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Haffey Cowles Montana Media Thomas Foor and Peggy Kuhr Humanities Montana McLoughlin Paul Queneau
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Erik Cushman Arthur J. Gallagher Foundation Merrill Lynch, Pierce, J. Bart Rayniak
Gary Boe Leilah Isaacson
Cinda Davis Fenner & Smith Inc.
Mollie Bond Les Gapay Kimberly Reed
Dayton Foundation
Suzanne Ives
Lee and Donna Metcalf HELP SUPPORT THE
Bonnie Bowler Trenton Gary Mark and Carolyn Reynolds
Depository, Inc. Janus Henderson Investors Charitable Trust FUTURE OF JOURNALISM
Dorothy Bradley Sheila Gary Samuel Richards
Samuel Dean Kristina Jeske-Miller Microsoft Corporation Donor support plays a major role in fostering
Bart Brazier Matt Gibson and Emily Brock Chris and Emily Richardson the success of our journalism students.
Michael Dennison and Susan Charles Johnson Kelley Moen
Janet Brown O’Connell Michael Beltz and Dori Gilels and Patricia Hunt Kate Ripley Please consider making a tax-deductible
Montana Broadcasters
Larry and Lysandra Bruce Raymond Dominick Kevin and Rebecca Giles Peter Johnson Association Kenneth Robertson donation to the UM School of Journalism.
Visit jour.umt.edu/alumni/giving.php.
Kelly Buechler Diana and Thomas Dowling Shane Gillette Cory Johnson Montana Community Foundation Rocky Mountain Interiors, Inc.
Robin Bulman Mark and Marilyn Dues David Glass KECI TV Montana Free Press Teddy and Marcie Roe

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FOR ALUMNI AND FRIENDS OF THE UM SCHOOL OF JOURNALISM | VOLUME 65, 2021

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Dean Laurie Baefsky tana Media Lab, the Montana

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WHERE ARE THEY NOW?

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N EW PH OTO SELECTION S F ROM A LU M N I PH OTOJO UR NALISTS

Audio-video classes tered this dynamic industry in spring 2020,

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GREGORY REC | CLASS OF 1996 Rachel Leathe photographed 25-year-

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UPDATES FROM FACULTY AND STAFF Jeremy Lurgio

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OF THE PAST Though I’ve been asked to offer a

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Later this month I will be on the oth-

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THE LATEST FROM ALUMS fiction faculty of Bennington College’s

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Thank you to our donors!

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