Media Week 2025

The School of Communication's 13th annual Media Week will connect our undergraduate and graduate students with professionals in Advertising, Multimedia Journalism, Digital Video Production, Public Relations, Communication Studies, and Communication Management. Below is the schedule of events and the list of speakers.

PLEASE NOTE: Most of the Media Week events are embedded in courses, which may be full, so please contact the teacher (who is the event moderator) of the particular event if you want to attend. They can tell you if they have room for you. The Media Week events open to all students are: "Lunch with the Professionals" and "Alumni Reception" on Wednesday, "Alumni Panel" on Thursday, and "Social Media Expo Jax" on Friday. See below for details about these events, some of which require registration.

Monday, October 20

9 to 10:15 a.m., Bldg. 14D, Room 2001: What's Next for PR Majors?

Public relations professionals will discuss AI, social media, and what you need to know in the PR industry.

• Jason Mudd, CEO, Axia Public Relations
• Mellisa Soehono, Senior PR Account Executive, High Reason

Moderator: Dr. Stephynie Perkins, Associate Professor of Public Relations and Graduate Director

10:30 to 11:45 a.m., Bldg. 14D, Room 1015. Batter Up: A Primer on Pitching to Clients

Conversation and advice on how to sell clients on strategy, how to deal with an unhappy client, and how to add small touches to make presentations pop.

• Tyler Holder, Vice President of Strategic Communication for High Reason 
• Jason Pratt, Prattify marketing and advertising agency, and former communications specialist at Mayo Clinic and production specialist at the Florida Times-Union
• Kevin Dunkin, Producer, Kennetic Productions, Inc.

Moderator: Dr. Rachel Riggs Achorn, Assistant Professor of Public Relations

Noon to 1:15 p.m. Bldg. 14D, Room 2001: Relationships Across Communication Concentrations

A discussion about the commonalities and differences among communication fields (advertising, digital video production, journalism, public relations). When and how do the various fields work together? When may they be at odds? What are the best ways to engage diverse audiences?

• Jason Mudd, CEO, Axia Public Relations
• Stacey Steiner, Director of Brand Activation, Prattify    
• Michelle Thibodeau, WOKV Afternoon Anchor

Moderator: Dr. Sydney Brammer, Assistant Professor of Mass Communication

Noon to 1:15 p.m., Bldg. 14D, Room 1013: Building a Demo Reel for My First Digital Video Production Job

Digital video production professionals will discuss the "I need experience, but I don't have any yet" dilemma.

• Kevin Dunkin, Producer, Kennetic Productions, Inc.
• Matthew Head, Senior Multimedia Producer, Mayo Clinic

Moderator: Dr. David Deeley, Associate Instructor of Multimedia Journalism and Production

6 to 8 p.m., Bldg. 14D, Room 1011: Meet the Digital Media + AI Innovation Lab

Dr. Sydney Brammer and Dr. Rachel Riggs Achorn will give a tour and demonstration of the equipment that is part of the School of Communication's new Digital Media + AI Innovation Lab.

Tuesday, October 21

10:50 to 12:05 p.m. Bldg. 14D, Room 2001: How do Journalists Separate Fact from Fiction?

Journalists will discuss the role of the media in an age in which facts are in constant dispute.

• Kristine Bellino, Vice President, News and Information Programming, Curtis Media, and News Director of WOKV
• Mike McCormick, former group news director, Sinclair Broadcast Group
• Steve Smith, former reporter and meteorologist, First Coast News 

Moderator: Dr. Brian Thornton, Professor of Multimedia Journalism

12:15 to 1:30 p.m. Bldg. 14D, Room 1013: From Classroom to TV Newsroom

Broadcast journalists will discuss what it is like to start out in TV news as a reporter, producer, or videographer.

• Mike McCormick, former group news director, Sinclair Broadcast Group
• Angela Spears, former anchor and reporter for First Coast News

Moderator: Dr. Nataliya Roman, Associate Professor of Multimedia Journalism

12:15 to 1:30 p.m. Bldg. 14D, Room 1016: How Generative AI is Used in Communication Professions

Communication professionals in various fields will show the degree to which AI dominates the workplace.

• Lianna Norman, General Assignment Reporter, Palm Beach Post and USA Today Network
• Jason Pratt, Prattify marketing and advertising agency, and former communications specialist at Mayo Clinic and production specialist at the Florida Times-Union

Moderator: Dr. Roy Christopher, Instructor of Communication Studies

1:40 to 2:55 p.m., Bldg. 14D, Room 1015: The Use of SEO, Google Trends, and AI in Journalism Today

Journalists will answer the question "How do we use these tools to improve coverage?"

• Janes Cannon, Editor in Chief, Jacksonville Business Journal
• Lianna Norman, General Assignment Reporter, Palm Beach Post and USA Today Network
• Paul Runnestrand, Executive Editor, Florida Times-Union

Moderator: Tricia Booker, Instructor of Multimedia Journalism

Wednesday, October 22

10:30 to 11:45 a.m. Bldg. 14D, Room 1015: Stand Out in Public Relations

PR professionals will discuss building an online presence, portfolio, and resume to get noticed.

• Maria Coppola, CEO, Coppola Public Relations
• Donia Crime, VP of Corporate Communications, Landstar Systems, Inc.
• Lanette Hart, Principal, Hart & Associates LLC

Moderator: Dr. Rachel Riggs Achorn, Assistant Professor of Public Relations

12 to 1 p.m., Osprey Cafe (1st floor of Building 16/Osprey Commons): Lunch with the Professionals

Professionals and students will be matched by area of interest to have lunch together at UNF's cafeteria as part of an informal networking experience. Everyone pays for themselves at the cafeteria ($15). Here's a map to the Osprey Cafe.

• Daniel Burstein, Senior Director of Content & Marketing, MarketingSherpa and MECLABS
• David Clark, Executive Director, Downtown Ecumenical Services Council
• Maria Coppola, CEO, Coppola Public Relations
• Donia Crime, VP of Corporate Communications, Landstar Systems, Inc.
• Rachel Harris, Co-Founder, Social Beans Creative Agency
• Jud Heussler, Director of Programming & Branding, WAPE and WEZI
• Vikki Mioduszewski, Communications Manager, Wolfson Children's Hospital
• Carter Mudgett, Reporter, Jacksonville Business Journal
• Marsha Oliver, Vice President, Community & Inclusion, PGA Tour, The PLAYERS Championship
• Kerry Schicker, Senior Director, Global Corporate Communications, FIS Global
• Omesh Somaru, VP/General Manager of Action News Jax 
• Stacey Steiner, Director of Brand Activation, Prattify
• Tom Szaroleta, Entertainment Writer, Florida Times-Union
• Michelle Thibodeau, WOKV Afternoon Anchor
• David Zuckerman, former owner of Easy Edit Video

Student Registration for Lunch with Professionals: SIGN UP

PLEASE NOTE: When you sign up, you MUST say in the comments section which professional you want to have lunch with. Otherwise, you will be randomly assigned a professional on the day of the lunch. 

1:30 to 2:45 p.m., Bldg. 14D, Room 1013: Digital Advertising, Digital Ad Buying and Programmatic

Courtney Killen, Director of Programmatic Partnerships at Good Karma Brands, showcases the fastest growing form of ad spend.

Moderator: Dee Colvin, Associate Instructor of Advertising and Design

1:30 to 2:45 p.m., Bldg. 51, Room 1102. Craft Stories that Matter: Creative Social Media Tactics and Brand Storytelling

PR professionals will share tips on telling immersive brand stories and measuring with metrics.

• Daniel Burstein, Senior Director of Content & Marketing, MarketingSherpa and MECLABS
• Rachel Harris, Co-Founder, Social Beans Creative Agency
• Stacey Steiner, Director of Brand Activation, Prattify

Moderator: Dr. Rachel Riggs Achorn, Assistant Professor of Public Relations

1:30 to 2:30 p.m., Spinnaker Media office in the Student Union: Professional Journalists Meet Spinnaker Journalists 

Professionals will tour Spinnaker Media facilities and visit with Spinnaker staff to offer professional insights and answer questions.

• Kristine Bellino, Vice President, News and Information Programming, Curtis Media, and News Director of WOKV
• Catherine Cavallo, Multimedia Director, Jacksonville Sharks
• Lianna Norman, General Assignment Reporter, Palm Beach Post and USA Today Network
• Michelle Thibodeau, WOKV Afternoon Anchor

Moderator: Amanda Cox, Director of Spinnaker Media

3 to 4:15 p.m. Bldg. 14D, Room 1011: The Future of Multimedia Journalism

Journalism professionals will answer these questions: "What's next, where are the jobs, and how do I get one!"

• Robert Brown, News Director, WJXT Channel 4
• Ashley Hall-Greer, Recruiting Manager/Talen Acquisition, Cox Media Group

Moderator: Dr. David Deeley, Associate Instructor of Multimedia Journalism and Production

6 to 8 p.m. – Alumni reception. Location: Mellow Mushroom-Town Center. 

Reminiscing and networking with alumni, current students, and faculty.     
Location: 9734 Deer Lake Ct., Ste 1, Jacksonville, FL 32246. Map to Mellow Mushroom.

Thursday, October 23

10:30 to 11:45 a.m., Bldg. 14D, Room 2014: Alumni Panel

How UNF prepares its graduates for the workforce. Alumni will describe their positions and offer advice on how students should make the most of their UNF experience. Q&A will follow.

• Toni Boudreaux, Director of Operations, The Brumos Collection
• Catherine Cavallo, Multimedia Director, Jacksonville Sharks
• Jenn Kjellman, President, JSK Marketing, LLC
• Karen Philllips, Managing Director of Operations, The Tebow Group
• Jason Pratt, Prattify marketing and advertising agency, and former communications specialist at Mayo Clinic and production specialist at the Florida Times-Union
• Marcel Robinson, Sports Reporter, Action News Jax

Moderator: Dr. John Parmelee, Director of the School of Communication

Student Registration for Alumni Panel: SIGN UP

12:15 to 1:30 p.m., Action News JAX office. Behind the Scenes: Tour of Action News JAX, a Local TV Station 

Dr. Nataliya Roman's JOU 3342-Multimedia Storytelling students will tour the Action News JAX (CBS 47 and Fox 30) facilities with its News Director, Jason Balthazar.

1:40 to 2:55 p.m., Bldg. 14D, Room 1015: Multitasking in Journalism

Discussion of the many aspects of a journalist's job, such as taking videos, promoting their stories, and talking coherently about them on radio and TV.

• Jason Pratt, Prattify marketing and advertising agency, and former communications specialist at Mayo Clinic and production specialist at the Florida Times-Union

Moderator: Tricia Booker, Instructor of Multimedia Journalism

6 to 8 p.m., Bldg. 14D, Room 1015. AI is Wet Cement: An Unprecedented Challenge and Opportunity as You Start Your Career

Discussion of how AI impacts advertising, journalism, production, and public relations.

• Daniel Burstein, Senior Director of Content and Marketing, MarketingSherpa and MECLABS Institute

Moderator: Dr. Chunsik Lee, Associate Professor of Public Relations

Friday, October 24

Social Media Expo Jax
9 a.m. to 1 p.m., Adam W. Herbert University Center 
12000 Alumni Drive, Jacksonville, FL 32224

The event is designed to promote the exchange of information, ideas, insights, and innovations among professionals in social media, digital marketing, communication, and more. This experience focuses on strategy, skills, and best practices across the social media and digital industries through a series of lectures, workshops, panels, and networking opportunities. 

For more information about speakers and ticket information, go to the Social Media Expo Jax website.