Media Production

Class of 2024: William W. White Honorees

Anonymous — Wed, 01 May 2024 23:17:34 +0000

Class of 2024: William W. White Honorees Anonymous (not verified) Wed, 05/01/2024 - 17:17

William W. White Outstanding Seniors are chosen by department faculty to recognize academic merit, professional achievement and service to the college. The Outstanding Graduate award honors the CMCI student with the highest overall GPA in his or her graduating class.

White, a Boulder native, graduated from CU’s School of Journalism in 1933. He was a reporter in Boulder, Denver and New York before becoming the foreign editor of Time from the early 1940s through the mid-1950s, based in London, Brazil and Montreal. At the advice of his friend Edward R. Murrow, who told him “it doesn’t matter what you do, what matters is that you do it where you want to live,” White returned to Boulder, where he started the White and White public relations firm. White and his wife, Connie, established this endowment in 1998.

Meet our graduates and read their stories.

Andrew Schwartz: College of Media, Communication and Information

Andrew's advice to students is to try everything and talk to as many people as you can—especially outside your major. That way, you'll broaden your perspective.

When it comes to impact and being able to make something I’m proud of, a big part of that is being able to make technology for the people to use it, and make things that people enjoy using and improve their lives. Info places a big emphasis on that."

Lisa An: Department of Critical Media Practice

Lisa started her CU career as a computer science major before switching to media production. She said this was one of the best decisions she ever made because through the program, she discovered a passion for photography.

"I learned that keeping your work to yourself because of the fear of not being good enough does no good. If you share your work and receive feedback, you are able to improve your craft and obtain opportunities you otherwise never would have been able to.

Elijah Boykoff: Department of Information Science

Going into college, Elijah's goals for himself were to learn as much as he could and make it to the finish line. He says he's made good on those goals, and this award is an exciting bonus.

Your professors are people just like you. Get to know them—if you are able to resonate with your professors on a deeper level, you will be much more enriched by the knowledge they have to share."

Bianca Perez: Departments of Communication, Media Studies

Bianca is the first CMCI graduate to win outstanding student honors from two different majors. She's now off to a prestigious Ph.D. program.

"What I have is like a wish coming true. You can work very hard and that can still not be enough, and I’ve seen that happen to people around me my whole life.

Sujei Perla Martinez: Department of Advertising, Public Relations and Media Design

For Sujei, a first-generation college student, graduating means she's carving a new path for her family.

My community helped foster a place for self-discovery and encouraged me to be unapologetically myself while helping me grow within my values and beliefs."

Nic Tamayo: Department of Journalism

Nic's CMCI experience in three words: fulfilling, inspired, treasured.

"I will take with me the connections I’ve been able to make with people from so many corners of life. They’ve taught me lessons that I may never have learned without their friendship and mentorship.

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Outstanding senior: Lisa An

Anonymous — Wed, 01 May 2024 22:39:07 +0000

Outstanding senior: Lisa An Anonymous (not verified) Wed, 05/01/2024 - 16:39

By Iris Serrano
Photos by Kimberly Coffin (CritMedia, StratComm’18)

“Unpredictable” is how Lisa An describes her college experience.

“I learned that keeping your work to yourself because of the fear of not being good enough does no good. If you share your work and receive feedback, you are able to improve your craft and obtain opportunities you otherwise never would have been able to.”
Lisa An

She felt pressured to pursue a computer science major, in preparation for a technical career path, but realized it wasn’t her calling. Eventually, she came across media production and enjoyed the creative freedom that came with it.

“It ended up being one of the best decisions I made,” An said. “I often struggle to find the right words to describe what I'm feeling. With photography, I’m able to create something where the emotion I pour into the piece can speak for itself.”

She carried her curiosity and love for creativity and completed a second major in Art Practices with minors in Art History and Sociology. Now she’s graduating as the William W. White Outstanding Senior for the Department of Critical Media Practices. The White awards are chosen by CMCI faculty and honor students for their academic accomplishments, professional achievements and service to the college.

The award didn’t come without hard work and effort. An has completed countless projects for her media production classes, but the one that stood out most was a book she made compiling her photography and design work. It was, she said, “rewarding to see my creation come to life physically, as well as being a part of the entire process of creating something.”

She has also completed an internship at the Boulder Museum of Contemporary Art, which she said gave her a clearer picture of what to expect in the field after graduation.

Her path may not have been linear, but she said that journey helped her surround herself with friends who guided her on the way.
“One thing I’ll miss is the sense of community and support I received from my professors and peers. I could feel that they all genuinely cared for my success and pushed me to produce work that I could be proud of,” An said.

The outstanding senior in the Department of Critical Media Practices, Lisa said her winding path helped her meet mentors and friends that set her up to succeed.

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Student Work Gallery: Spring 2024

Anonymous — Tue, 27 Feb 2024 21:26:40 +0000

Student Work Gallery: Spring 2024 Anonymous (not verified) Tue, 02/27/2024 - 14:26

CMCI students from all departments develop their portfolios through classes, competitions, internships and more.

Here we have collected a variety of student work that highlights their personal and professional passions explored during their academic careers at ��Ҵ�ý�ƽ��.

View the work

Students across CMCI find ways to bring together their personal interests and academic pursuits. Since the college’s founding, we have showcased this diverse collection of student work.

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Student Work Gallery: Fall 2023

Anonymous — Wed, 01 Nov 2023 20:22:36 +0000

Student Work Gallery: Fall 2023 Anonymous (not verified) Wed, 11/01/2023 - 14:22

What's the catch?

There’s no getting back the one that got away, but a prototype app designed by a group of recent graduates could help anglers identify the fish they do catch.

COAI (for Colorado A.I.; pronounced “koi”) Fish, designed by Kendall Fronabarger, Ken Vue and Emerson Swan (all InfoSci’23), is especially aimed at those new to the sport who are curious about the fish they’re catching in Colorado’s waters. The app uses a modified machine learning tool that matches photos uploaded by users to a registry of Colorado species built by the students.

Art as activism

CMCI students are encouraged to use their creativity in building projects that allow them to interpret or reflect upon the challenges facing society. Mixed-media work in the last year has focused on topics such as the climate crisis, the plight of refugees and the struggle for gender equality.

Sharing student perspectives

Students across CMCI find ways to bring together their personal interests and academic pursuits. Since the college’s founding, we have regularly showcased this diverse collection of student work.

See more student projects or submit your work for gallery consideration →

Students across CMCI find ways to bring together their personal interests and academic pursuits. Since the college’s founding, we have showcased this diverse collection of student work.

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CMCI goes to Washington

Anonymous — Fri, 22 Sep 2023 19:21:11 +0000

CMCI goes to Washington Anonymous (not verified) Fri, 09/22/2023 - 13:21

By Hannah Stewart (Comm’19)

It’s an early Wednesday morning in July, yet it seems most of Washington, D.C., has already been up for hours.

Riders swarm the Metro on their way to work. Above ground, everyone from power brokers to power couples crowd local coffee shops while runners squeeze in a jog.

Amid the bustle, four students from ��Ҵ�ý�ƽ�� are headed to their internships, where they are responsible for public relations at The Hill, covering news in real time and managing sound at a multimedia festival.

“This is such a great program because you get professional experience,” said Reede Ottenstein (CritMedia’23). “You’ll feel so much better when you graduate, and you’ll have a better idea of what you want to do.”

Through the support of CMCI in D.C.—a semester-long study abroad-style program in Washington—Ottenstein landed an internship with Capital Fringe. This multiday, multimedia festival was particularly enticing since she focused on sound design as a CMCI student. She even had the chance to work with the audio engineers for the performances.

“In my classes, I was learning sound and audio,” Ottenstein said. “Now that I’ve interned with this festival, I will get to take what I learned and put it in a real-world context.”

Students in this program earn both class and internship credit during a semester or summer session in Washington. In addition to learning from guest speakers—many of whom are program alumni and media professionals—students have the chance to explore the city, both on assignment and for personal enrichment. Along the way, they discover new passions and opportunities for growth while forming close bonds as peers.

“Washington, D.C., is an incredible place to spend a semester,” said Lori Bergen, CMCI founding dean. “The communications, media and information landscape is a laboratory for new ideas about how to inform, influence and inspire people.”

CMCI students on their D.C. experiences

"The Hill has been very eye-opening and has shown me what the real world of PR looks like. Connecting with people is something that really holds true to me.

Michael Bass
Intern, The Hill

“You get to experience a new American city and learn from great professors.

Jenna Gainsboro
Intern, D.C. Witness

CMCI’s partner in delivering the program, the Washington Media Institute, encourages students to develop new skills through practical learning in the field.

For instance, media studies junior Jenna Gainsboro tried her hand at court reporting. An illness in Gainsboro’s youth led to seemingly endless days reading and watching television, inspiring her to pursue a career  in media. She spent a previous semester writing for a fashion magazine, but with this new opportunity, she wanted something different.

“They pitched me this internship with D.C. Witness in a social justice kind of way,” Gainsboro said. “I appreciate how individualized it is. They really work with you to find  an internship that will give you the experience you need.”

“The fact that internships are hand-selected for our students gives them an advantage in getting settled in this exciting city and building professional and personal relationships that will last a lifetime.
—Dean Lori Bergen

That feature helps the program stand out among other experiential-learning opportunities.

As part of the application process, staff from WMI interview students to assess their career goals, then identify ideal internships for each student. WMI staff also use their Washington networks to bring in guest lecturers and instructors for classes.

“I know that every time I come to class, we’re going to be doing something that might be challenging in the moment, but is still helpful and a good experience for my growth,” said senior Tessa Stigler, a journalism student who interned at Voice of America.

After graduation, she hopes to be a multimedia journalist. Although she’s had an “overwhelmingly positive experience” in her classes in Boulder, she said this program has helped her see new aspects of the media.

“It’s interesting to see how different everybody’s internships are, and the different skills they’re focusing on,” Stigler said. “CMCI in D.C. encourages you to get career minded, feel set up to graduate and know that you can get something afterward.”

CMCI in D.C. is open to all CMCI majors and minors.

This unique, immersive experience allows students to develop skills directly related to their career aspirations, and includes a customized internship tailored to each participant’s career aspirations. Students may apply to be part of the program in any semester.

Learn more and apply

CMCI in D.C. is helping students discover new passions and grow—personally and professionally—as they prepare for careers in media.

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Identity Through Art

Anonymous — Wed, 26 Oct 2022 06:22:33 +0000

Identity Through Art Anonymous (not verified) Wed, 10/26/2022 - 00:22

By Hannah Stewart (Comm’19)
Art by Jamie Chihuan

As a child, Jamie Chihuan would go to his grandmother’s house and see paintings of brightly colored desert landscapes and other Incan art. Years later, a high school art class helped him realize he wanted to create paintings of his own.

“The projects we did helped me focus my creativity,” he said. “I thought, ‘What if I become an artist or graphic designer?’”

Chihuan now explores his interest in visual arts by incorporating it into his collegiate studies and internships. Eventually, he hopes to use these experiences to build a creative agency.

Since coming to ��Ҵ�ý�ƽ��, Chihuan has created a niche for himself as a strategic communication major minoring in media production. As a multimedia artist, he enjoys finding ways to incorporate his art—largely inspired by his Latino identity and other personal experiences—into professional settings.

“When I first started, I found it very hard as a 19-year-old Mexican kid. People never took me seriously,” he said.

Chihuan explores everything from painting to videography, and his surrealist paintings attract the most attention. In spring 2022, his artwork was displayed at the Museum of Boulder’s Voces Vivas exhibit, which showcases the stories of early Boulder County Latino families.

“Jamie’s painting is intriguing,” community curator Linda Arroyo-Holstrom said. “I embrace the idea that we all have sacred knowledge within us. The painting is like an embrace to our reciprocal relationship with nature and ‘homelands.’”

As a student, Chihuan’s love of art has blossomed into a love of visual communication. Following his passion, Chihuan searched for internship opportunities focused on visual production.

“I really wanted to get into somewhere where I could start doing content creation,” he said.

In March, he began a six-month internship with cybersecurity company Palo Alto Networks. He received daily assignments to interview colleagues and create videos for internal teams like sales and marketing. One video he loved creating was a multimedia documentary incorporating animation, footage and archival material.

“I am able to take the documentary practices I have learned at CU and apply them to my process at Palo Alto Networks,” Chihuan said.

Chihuan also applies his training in graphic design and media production to his own passion projects. He sells his art online through a website he calls A Deal in Hell, its name inspired by Dante Alighieri’s The Divine Comedy. He plans to grow this company into a creative agency capable of producing a variety of work.

As a Latino in the art and media world, Chihuan has experienced and overcome doubts, but through his work as a content creator, he has found new ways to apply his artistic skills. As he heads toward graduation and his own career, he hopes to inspire others to pursue their own creative passions.

Strategic communication major Jamie Chihuan loves visual communication. Through his art and internship with Palo Alto Networks, he explores these skills while balancing an art career and blossoming business venture.

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Sharing the Love

Anonymous — Fri, 10 Sep 2021 20:02:38 +0000

Sharing the Love Anonymous (not verified) Fri, 09/10/2021 - 14:02

Meet Denver's Most Remarkable Woman, CMCI student Angel Mollel. After moving from a male-dominated village in Tanzania to the U.S. in 2012, Mollel launched the foundation 1 Love to improve the livelihood of Maasai people and empower women and girls to pursue their dreams. Now a sophomore studying media production, she uses visual storytelling to share her mission and culture.

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In the Loop

Anonymous — Wed, 04 Aug 2021 22:20:58 +0000

In the Loop Anonymous (not verified) Wed, 08/04/2021 - 16:20

By Kimberly Coffin (CritMedia, StratComm'18)

The ICA Loop is a theoretical concept linking (I) information overload, (C) cyberchondria and the (A) attention economy together using relational evidence between the information seekers and COVID-related media.”
Taylor Passios, media production major

The theory is designed to provide comfort to people while helping them recognize their patterns.

The living room was hot, dark, foggy and anxiety inducing. Graffiti covered the mirrors and caution tape stretched across the room.

For media production major Taylor Passios, this nightmare was her reality––one that she created in visceral detail as part of her senior honors thesis project.

A self-proclaimed hypochondriac, Passios conducted extensive research searching for an academic theory naming the anxiety-inducing loop people experience when they Google mundane health symptoms, only to find that the results lead them to believe that they are seriously ill. Without an existing theory to work with, Passios created her own, coining it, the "ICA Loop.”

“The ICA Loop is a theoretical concept linking (I) information overload, (C) cyberchondria and the (A) attention economy together using relational evidence between the information seekers and COVID-related media,” Passios says, adding that the theory is designed to provide comfort to people while helping them recognize their patterns.

Passios has vivid memories of early-life events that spurred her own hypochondria, she says.

In one instance, she recalls, after eating something she was allergic to, her mom ran into the room saying, “Oh my God, we've got to stab you with an EpiPen.” Later in life, she was diagnosed with several different illnesses, which exacerbated her anxiety around health concerns.

“Even if I get the slightest, you know, just like a symptom that no one would think anything of, I hold onto it and I'll start panicking,” she says.

Visitors enter the ICA Loop installation via the Information Overload room, where news articles cover the walls and video clips of pandemic news coverage play on repeat. This room represents the over saturation of both accurate news and misinformation.

Next is the Cyberchondria room, where guests spin the Wheel of Fate, guided by a host played by Passios' roommate. As visitors spin the wheel to land on one of its worst-case scenarios, a video of various symptom-based Google searches projects in the background.

Finally, guests enter the Attention Economy room, where they are handed a shopping list of items to search for. Rather than checking out with money, visitors must Google questions found on each item's price tag. Ultimately, their attention serves as ICA Loop currency.

For visitors, the only way to exit the ICA Loop was by turning off all technology. An actor guarded the top of the stairs to ensure that only those who didn’t buy into the loop were able to leave.

During COVID, Passios noticed that this pattern was exacerbated on a global scale––with people searching for answers in a sea of both information and misinformation posted online.

“Everyone around me, they’re acting the same way I have my entire life,” she says.

In addition to writing her thesis, she wanted to give others a physical sense of this online reality.

Unable to find public space during the pandemic, she turned her own apartment into “a physical interactive installation that represents the theory of the ICA Loop,” she says. To create the installation, Passios removed all of the furniture from the top floor of her apartment, including from her and her roommate’s bedrooms.

The installation was divided into three separate rooms, each designed as an interactive environment that would leave visitors feeling uneasy and anxious. Passios used elements like lighting, heat and a fog machine to evoke a unique emotional response in each of the rooms participants were led through. She even allowed participants to gargle an herb that would change their sense of taste, replicating a symptom of COVID.

“I am taking my personal sanctuary space and turning it into my worst nightmare and living with it,” she says.

Ultimately, Passios says, creating the installation helped her come to terms with who she was.

“I guess that maybe in making the physical installation, I exited the loop myself.”

For her honor's thesis, media production major Taylor Passios turned her apartment into an immersive exhibit to illuminate the role of online information overload in COVID-related hypochondria.

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Back From the Past

Anonymous — Thu, 23 Jul 2020 04:23:24 +0000

Back From the Past Anonymous (not verified) Wed, 07/22/2020 - 22:23

Lauren Irwin (Jour)

Their task? Take advantage of 2020 technology to reanimate the objects for an assignment in their Introduction to Extended Realities course.

Using a process called photogrammetry, they take more than 100 photos of each chosen object, stitch the images together with modeling software, and produce 3D models that can be integrated into virtual and augmented reality experiences.

The museum is considering a number of options for the resulting products.

“They can either use them for research––democratizing the research by sending them to remote scientists who wouldn’t have access to the actual artifacts––or for outreach and education,” says Jason Gnerre, CMCI’s media specialist who created the class. “For the latter use, they can embed the model on their website and create their own augmented reality app for showcasing the items.”

The new course has gained so much interest, Gnerre says, that the Department of Critical Media Practices is introducing a new immersive media concentration in fall 2020.

Julie Merten, a junior studying Media Production, said the project allowed her to bridge her interests in art and technology, and helped her develop a more versatile, and marketable, skill set in emerging media.

“I think VR/AR is an essential part of the future of media,” she says. “We are already seeing it taking off in day-to-day interactions, such as Snapchat/Instagram filters, mobile apps like Pokemon Go and beyond.”

Media Production students cluster around a table in ��Ҵ�ý�ƽ�� Museum of Natural History as Emily Braker, the museum’s collections manager, reveals their subjects: a snake in a jar, taxidermied birds, a series of skulls and an array of other specimens dating back to the early 1900s. Their task? Take advantage of 2020 technology to reanimate the objects for an assignment in their Introduction to Extended Realities course.

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