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100 YEARS \ 1921-2021100 YEARS \ 1921-2021Faculty Highlights 20202019 James Foley Medill Medal for CourageAwarded to New York Times Reporter Azam Ahmedfor coverage of gang murder across Latin America.Steven ThrasherJeremy GilbertThe Ford Foundation awardedAssistant Professor Steven Thrasher,the inaugural Daniel H. Renbergchair of social justice in reporting,a 75,000 Creativity and FreeExpression grant to be spent betweennow and the end of 2021. The grantwill support Thrasher’s interdisciplinaryresearch and the study of the waysviruses come into contact with certaindemographics. Furthermore, Thrasher will study how viruses—in collusion with racism, nationalism, homo/transphobia andableism—affect certain communities. The Ford Creative andFree Expression grants prioritize artist-driven projects andorganizations that include deep and meaningful engagementwith communities.Jeremy Gilbert (BSJ00, MSJ00),director of strategic initiatives at TheWashington Post, is the new KnightChair in Digital Media Strategy atMedill. At The Post, Gilbert directeda lab dedicated to experimentalstorytelling that aimed to createunique digital products and stories. In2016, he built The Post’s first artificialintelligence storytelling system, calledHeliograf, which used machine-generated text to expandelections and Olympics coverage.Arionne NettlesJournalism Lecturer ArionneNettles (MSJ16) received one of sixfellowships awarded by InvestigativeReporters & Editors (IRE) to educatorsof color to participate in IRE’s firstOnline Data Bootcamp for EducatorsJuly 28-Aug. 1 at the University ofArizona, thanks to the generosityof the Lumina Foundation and theNewhouse School of Public Communications, SyracuseUniversity. At Medill, Nettles’ focus is on digital storytellingand she is responsible for Medill’s publishing platform, MedillReports.Kalyani ChadhaKalyani Chadha is joining Medill fromthe University of Maryland as anassociate professor of journalism.Kalyani’s research focuses onissues of media globalization andthe implications of new mediatechnologies with a particularemphasis on the journalism landscapein India. Her work has appeared inleading journals such as Media, Culture and Society, theJournal of Broadcast and Electronic Media, and Global Mediaand Communication and Convergence.6 \ FALL 2020Former Medill Dean Ken Bode was the first Knight Chairat Medill when it was established as the Knight Chair inBroadcasting in 1999 by the Knight Foundation. The focus ofthe chair was later changed, and, in 2009, Medill ProfessorOwen Youngman was named Knight Chair in Digital MediaStrategy—a position that he held until his retirement earlierthis year.Danielle Robinson BellDanielle Robinson Bell (BSJ99) joinedMedill as an assistant professor inIMC. Her career has included seniormanagement roles at several of theworld’s most respected advertisingagencies. In those roles, RobinsonBell worked alongside billion-dollarbrands such as Tide, Gillette, Visa andVerizon Wireless to create integratedmarketing campaigns for various consumer segments acrossgeneral market, multicultural and millennial audiences. In2015, Robinson Bell launched Pen and Voice, Inc., a writing andmessaging practice for businesses, brands, and executives.Bell also holds an MBA from Kellogg.Patti WolterHelen Gurley Brown MagazineProfessor Patti Wolter (BSJ89, MSJ90)has been named by the provostas a Charles Deering McCormickDistinguished Professor of Instruction.This honor is awarded annuallyto a group of faculty members inrecognition of their extraordinaryteaching and service to the University.AZAM AHMED, New York Times bureauchief for Mexico, Central America andthe Caribbean, has won the JamesFoley Medill Medal for Courage inJournalism for his investigation of gangmurder across Latin America. In hisseries “Kill, or Be Killed: Latin America’sHomicide Crisis,” Ahmed chronicled therampant and unchecked gang violencein the region.“No one deserves this recognitionmore than Azam,” said New York TimesInternational Managing Editor GregWinter. “He has put himself on thefrontlines for years, from Afghanistan toHonduras, to document the lives of theworld’s most vulnerable people. He doesso with compassion, exceptional insightand compelling narratives that drawreaders in and remind them, in the mostintimate ways, of what people aroundthe world confront on a daily basis.”In Mexico and Honduras, Ahmedwitnessed shootouts and cartel killings.In Brazil, he tracked down policeofficers who were membersof illegal death squads andpersuaded them not just totalk, but also to confess tomurders and other crimes.After nine members ofa Mormon family werekilled in remote Mexicanmountains, Ahmed traveledto the scene and discoveredevidence that had been overlooked,including spent shell casings and achild’s shoe, to create a more accuratepicture of what had happened thanwhat the authorities presented.“Year after year as I read the entries,I think the stories can’t get any moreharrowing; the world can’t get anymore dangerous for journalists,” saidfounding judge and Medill Professorskilled journalist,” said co-judge BrettPulley (MSJ87), Bloomberg’s Atlantabureau chief and Medill Board ofAdvisers member. “In story after story, hedemonstrates a willingness to venture intosociety’s heart of darkness to illuminatethe places and people who are integral tosome of the globe’s most vexing issuesand confounding and violent occurrences.His body of work stood tall above a fieldof entries that in their own right weretremendously impressive, important andpowerful.”New York Times reporter Azam AhmedEmeritus Donna Leff (BSJ70, MSJ71).“But there seems to be no end to theviolence for the subjects and perilfor the reporters telling their stories.What stood out in Azam’s work wasthe riveting, graceful language and thevivid narrative in a deep portfoliothat embraced the whole ofhis domain–Mexico, CentralAmerica and the Caribbean.”Ahmed spent 17 monthsinterviewing one of Mexico’sdeadliest hired killers whoworked for the cartels. Ahmedexposed closely guarded secretsof the underworld, including anassassin training camp. In Honduras, helived inside gang territory for weeks. InSan Pedro Sula, Honduras, one of thedeadliest cities in the world, Ahmedchronicled the siege of a neighborhoodwith vivid descriptions of shootouts,gang incursions and last-minute pleasto stop the killing.“Much in the spirit of James Foleyhimself, Azam is a daring, gifted and“As I read one arresting story after thenext from Azam’s impressive portfolio,I could hardly believe this was the workof a single journalist,” said co-judgeand Medill assistant professor CeciRodgers (MSJ81). “Through his detailedreporting and his access to the innerworkings of the drug gangs in LatinAmerica, Azam opens a world to readersin a way that contextualizes the horrorsdriving migrants to the U.S. border to seekasylum. Beautifully crafted narrativesand compelling characters draw us in andmake us care.”Honorable MentionThis year’s honorable mention alsowon high praise from the judges. In“Outsourcing Migration,” Associated Pressreporters Maggie Michael, Lori Hinnantand Renata Brito exposed the devastatingeffects of restrictive European and U.S.immigration policies that have resultedin asylum-seekers being sent back toMexico, Guatemala, Honduras and ElSalvador—the very countries many ofthem are fleeing. The year-long project,funded in part by a grant from the PulitzerCenter on Crisis Reporting, documentedthe abuse of people fleeing violence, andthe benefits gained by mafia, militia andeven the Libyan coast guard, which waspaid by the EU to warehouse migrants. nWWW.MEDILL.NORTHWESTERN.EDU \ 7

100 YEARS \ 1921-2021100 YEARS \ 1921-2021Update:Integrated Marketing CommunicationsOur evolving curriculum helps studentslearn to blend data and creativity to buildstrong brands in the digital age.MEDILL’S INTEGRATED MARKETINGCOMMUNICATIONS (IMC) programs aredeeply rooted at Northwestern, datingback as far as 1909 when advertisinginstruction was first offered throughthe School of Commerce, before NUpresident and advertising pioneer WalterDill Scott established the Medill Schoolof Journalism.Since Medill’s founding in 1921, IMCeducation at Medill has continuedto evolve and expand. The Master ofScience in Advertising degree, foundedin the late 60s, shifted to a focus ondirect marketing in the 80s. In 1991, thestudy of IMC was firmly established atMedill, and the program has continuedto grow from a full-time master’sprogram to include part-time and onlinestudy for working professionals and anIMC undergraduate certificate programthat enrolls nearly 350 NU studentsfrom every school.IMC Full Time Master’s ProgramToday’s Medill IMC curricula includesone-of-a-kind opportunities that rangefrom immersive courses in Chile andLondon to a fourth-quarter summerimmersion program where studentteams work with companies to solvemarketing challenges of strategicimportance. The popular GlobalPerspectives class combines courseworkwith a two-week internationalexperience in Asia. In the past,students have visited leading local andmultinational companies in cities suchas Shanghai, Beijing, Tokyo, Singaporeand Seoul. IMC students in this programcan also apply to spend their finalquarter in San Francisco to expand8 \ FALL 2020IMC Thought LeadersIn 2019, the IMC faculty launched anidea-sharing initiative on LinkedIntitled Northwestern Medill IMC –Thought Leaders. This online communityfeaturing IMC faculty, alumni andguest speakers is a place for experts toshare their insights into the marketingcommunications industry and the keysto success in the field. In the spring of2020, the Medill IMC faculty expandedthe IMC Thought Leaders scope with thelaunch of “IMC in a Changing World,” aseries of COVID-19-focused LinkedInarticles authored by faculty. Topicsranged from how to create strategicmessaging during a time of crisis tothoughts on the future of E-Commerceand brick-and-mortar retail. While thefirst set of articles focused squarely onmarketers adapting to the COVID crisis,subsequent articles focused more onplanning for the future.“We launched the ‘IMC in a ChangingWorld’ series when we observed thatthe COVID-19 situation had forcedconsumers to change the way theymake decisions and access brands,products and services,” explainsViswanathan. “Since IMC’s mantra iscustomer centricity, we asked faculty toIMC students taking the Global Perspectives - Brand Innovation course traveled to Chilefor a five-day trip that combines company visits – and sightseeing.write articles that would help marketersrespond in ways that respected thecurrent situation of the customer.”Spiegel Research CenterIMC alumni and students at a marketing trends panel event in San Francisco during animmersion course in 2019.their knowledge about the convergenceof marketing, communications andtechnology in this innovation hub.IMC ProfessionalMaster’s ProgramIn fall 2020, Medill merged its part-timeand online IMC graduate programs intoa revamped IMC Professional Master’sprogram to provide even more flexibilityfor working professionals. The programallows students to take classes online orin person at Medill’s downtown Chicagocampus or combine both methods ofstudy. The program will offer immersivefive-day courses specifically tailored forworking professionals in San Francisco,London, Chile and Asia.“Flexibility is so important for workingprofessionals who want to advance theircareers or embark on a new path,” saysIMC Associate Dean Vijay Viswanathan.“IMC Professional allows students totake classes in a format and at a pacethat recognizes their busy and fulllives. At the same time, our cuttingedge program helps students learnboth the art and science of marketingcommunications that employers want.We’re the only program at a Top 10university like this.” The IMC Professionalprogram welcomed its first students inSeptember 2020.“Our cutting-edge programshelp students learn boththe art and science ofmarketing communicationsthat employers want. We’rethe only program like thisat a top-10 university.”Vijay Viswanathan,IMC associate deanand associate professorThe Spiegel Research Center (SRC)continues to grow at Medill. The focus ofthe SRC is to do evidence-based, datadriven analysis to prove the relationshipbetween customer engagement andpurchase behavior. Past research hasincluded proving the financial impactof consumer behavior in social media,mobile devices and customer reviewsusing evidence that shows which typesof customer engagement with media andbrands results in financial performance.Currently, researchers at SRC arecollaborating with the Local NewsInitiative (see page 29) to analyzeanonymous data about readers and theirengagement with news content andmedia services. The student researchersfrom SRC are helping to identify whichbehaviors—reading particular types ofarticles, purchasing a digital subscription,clicking on an advertisement or calling acustomer service center—lead to certainfinancial outcomes for the media outlets.They also are studying behavior acrossdifferent devices and media platforms.Preparing for the FutureThe core principle of customer centricityi.e., understanding the deep underlyingmotivations for observed behaviors andrespecting the differences that existbetween customers, has never been moreimportant. The marketing and marketingcommunication functions are undergoingsignificant changes in the way they areorganized and relevant measures ofsuccess are identified. At Medill IMC,students and faculty will work togetherto create new ways for brands to connectwith their customers with empathy, buildtrust with various stakeholders and deliverlongterm value. nWWW.MEDILL.NORTHWESTERN.EDU \ 9

100 YEARS \ 1921-2021CAMPUS SPOTLIGHTMEDILL BY THE NUMBERSMedill By the 260,000NorthwesternalumniLocations: 5Evanston,Illinois;5Chicago;Locations:Alumni Clubs: 6Chicago;Bay Area;New6England;AlumniClubs:Washington, D.C.; San FranciscoEvanston,andQatar Illinois; Chicago;Washington, D.C.; San Francisco andQatarUndergraduate JournalismClass of 2020Undergraduate JournalismNew York; Southern California;Chicago; Bay Area; NewWashington, D.C.England; New York; SouthernCalifornia; Washington, D.C.Undergraduate Integrated MarketingCommunications CertificateGraduate JournalismClassStudents:159 of 2020Class of 12620202020 s represented: 6TotalgraduatesStudents:126 since programlaunched in 2009: 1,290States represented:Doublemajor, minor32or certificate: 86%Traveledabroadduring theirtime atCountriesrepresented:6Northwestern: 68%Double major, minor or certificate: 86%GraduateJournalismTraveledabroadduring their time atClass of68%2020Northwestern:Average Age: 24Graduate Integrated MarketingCommunications - Full-TimeStatesrepresented:Classof 2020 25Students: 111Countries represented: 11Average age: 24States represented: 15Countries represented: 9Students: 126Graduate Integrated MarketingAverage age: 24Communications- Full-TimeClass of 2020States represented: 25Countries represented: 11Students: 111Graduate Integrated - ProfessionalCommunicationsProfessional2019-2020 School Year2019-2020 School YearStudents:103103Students:Average Age: 24Averageage:3434AverageAge:States represented: 15States represented: 22States represented:22 7Countriesrepresented:10 \ FALL 2020Countriesrepresented: 9Countries represented: 7Medill students work in the collaborative space at 303 E. Wacker.Creativeworking spaceand a 2020expansion fuelinnovativeprograms andmore events.STEPS FROM THE MAGNIFICENT MILEand 13 miles south of Northwestern’sEvanston campus, Medill’s Chicagolocation at 303 E. Wacker givesgraduate journalism and IMCProfessional students a downtown basethat’s close to the action.Medill Chicago’s downtown space wasdesigned with a tech startup feel inmind, with large open spaces designedto promote collaboration and innovation.Smart classrooms are adaptable usingretractable walls. A state-of-the artbroadcast studio overlooking theChicago River and Navy Pier providesa place for broadcast students to gettrained on the best equipment andbuild their portfolios.Four years after moving to the EastWacker location, Medill has expandedacross the hall to offer additionalteaching and event space. Knownas the Skyline Suite, this flexibleadditional space includes four staffoffices, two conference rooms anda collaboration space, which canbe transformed into two separateclassrooms or serve as one eventspace that can accommodate up to200 people.MEDILL INCHICAGOWWW.MEDILL.NORTHWESTERN.EDU \ 11

100 YEARS \ 1921-2021CAMPUS SPOTLIGHT“It’s essential to be near the news when ithappens,” says Arionne Nettles (MSJ16),lecturer and publisher of Medill Reports.“Medill MSJ reporters are valued as a newssource so it’s important for us to be inChicago to promote and support it.”Every quarter students in beat reporting,multimedia, video and magazine canproduce work for Medill Reports. Theyreport on beats including business; artsand culture; health, environment andscience; public affairs; social justice;sports; and more.“Medill Chicago gives students theopportunity to produce work thatmimics the work they’re going to do in anewsroom,” Nettles says.Exclusive to Chicago, students can applyto be a Medill Reports Chicago Fellow.Each cohort has two fellows who assist inthe publishing process and specialize ina specific area of interest such as copyediting, social media, visual or digital.Fellows have greater access than theirpeers to the publishing platform, whichhas allowed Medill Reports to publishcontent more frequently.Medill alumnae panelists at a MedillWomen in Marketing panel in theChicago space. From left: Karen Entriken(IMC19), Tiffani Saxton (IMC14), Elisa AllSchmitz (MSJ95), Melissa Ben-Yoseph(IMC00) and Heidi Barker (BSJ91).Not much is attached to the groundhere. The space’s modular designtransforms depending on the class’needs for the quarter.“We move things around to make thespace tailored-fit for that class, thatquarter,” says Rafie Fields, director ofoperations at Medill Chicago. “The spacenever quite looks the same quarter toquarter.”The IMC Professional program studentswho are taking in-person classes usethe space in the evenings – and Medilleven springs for dinner since most ofthe students come straight from work.Medill IMC also uses the event spaceregularly for guest lectures and eventssuch as the now-annual Women inMarketing panel that’s held in the winter.The Chicago space is outfitted formultipurpose journalism. Students canwhiz from the broadcast studio to workon their reels to a team room, whichdoubles as a conference room, to workon a group project. Medill’s open-12 \ FALL 2020style workspace allows for seamlesscollaboration.MSJ students take nearly all of theircourses in Chicago, and Northwesternruns a free shuttle from Evanston todowntown with various stops along theroute for student commuters.“The students really benefit frombeing in their own collective cohort inthe beautiful downtown space,” saysCeci Rodgers, assistant professor anddirector of global journalism learning.“You walk in and it feels like its owneducational space.”The location puts students in proximityto the events unfolding in downtown asthey cover stories for Medill Reports.They’re at the center of the actiongaining real-world reporting experiencecovering Chicago’s neighborhoods,government agencies, nonprofits andmore.“It’s less of a top down experience andmore collaborative for students, whichis how some of the newer newsroomsfunction,” Rodgers says. “It allows studentsthe freedom to try a variety of roles.”Medill’s innovativeworkspace inChicago, hometo the graduatejournalism andIMC Professionalprograms.MSJ students occupy t

WWW.MEDILL.NORTHWESTERN.EDU \ 1 ALUMNI MAGAZINE \ FALL 2020 \ ISSUE 102 UPDATES AND . INNOVATION. MEDILL. MORE, FROM: CHICAGO. WASHINGTON, D.C. . Medill's new home puts journalism students even closer to the action. 17 / SAN FRANCISCO. Students explore tech, digital media and more in Medill's west .