J-school welcomes second MATC cohort
The UNC journalism school's Master of Arts in Technology and Communication welcomed its second cohort to campus for orientation Aug. 2-3. The 20 students enrolled in the MATC begin their studies online Aug. 21. They will return to Carroll Hall in May for a weeklong summer residency.
During orientation, students interacted with classmates, faculty and staff in various sessions designed to introduce students to expectations and responsibilities of the program as well as technology used in online courses. J-school faculty member Daniel Kreiss lead a discussion about the relationship between democracy, technology and political institutions in relation to his newly published book, "Taking Our Country Back: The Crafting of Networked Politics from Howard Dean to Barack Obama," the summer reading choice for incoming MATC students. A panel of current MATC students talked with new students about balancing coursework with family and work life.
"Spending time with faculty and students was very worthwhile," said 2012 MATC student Marina Calabrese. "I now have a sense of each individual's personality and interests."
Fellow student Alanna Brock agreed. "I very much enjoyed the social opportunities with my cohort and feel connections were established to get us comfortable with working online together," she said.
Now in its second year, the MATC is an online master’s aimed at working professionals that focuses on interactive media, the Internet, digital economics and other issues reshaping journalism and mass communication in the 21st century. Applications for fall 2013 admission will be accepted through Jan. 8. Learn more at matc.jomc.unc.edu.
Photo by York Wilson
Front row, left to right: David DeFranza, assistant editor, Discovery Communications; Cat Angst, multimedia specialist, Duke University; Laura Worthington, marketing manager, StepLeader; Meredith Hunt, manager, internal communications for mergers & acquisitions, Deloitte Services; Sarah VanderWalde, organization change strategy consultant, IBM; Danielle Passingham, marketing communications manager, Burt's Bees; Derek Hillenbrand, executive producer, News 14 Carolina.
Second row, left to right: Michelle Clark, former director of publications, NCSU Libraries; Candace Doby, marketing strategist, Chipotle Mexican Grill; Ashlie White, government liaison, N.C. Orthotics & Prosthetics Trade Association; Tessa McSwain, assistant director of communications, admissions, University of Colorado Boulder; Heather Newberry, strategic accounts manager, McKesson Patient Relationship Solutions; Gareth Gwyn, talent strategist, Quintiles.
Third row, left to right: Marina Calabrese, director of communications, Medical Mutual Insurance; Alanna Brock, communications associate, TrueBridge Capital Partners; Jason Whitley, creative lead for educational technology, UNC School of Pharmacy; Steve Jamroz, sales support consultant, Kelly Services.
Top row, left to right: Bill Ammerman, director of sales and marketing, WRAL.com; Ben Donnelly, operations manager, WSNC 90.5 FM (Winston-Salem State University); Brian Lange, product director, consumer marketing, GlaxoSmithKline.