Media Academy is a premier annual event of the Webster University School of Communications and
our industry partners held in the Spring semester. This year's event will take place
March 5-6.
Spend your summer learning from working professionals!
Monday, June 10 through Friday, June 14, Sverdrup Complex: Basics of animation and
game design.
Monday, June 24 through Friday, June 28, Sverdrup Complex: Basics of sound production
and film, TV and video production.
Webster offers four different week-long summer camps for ages 14-18 and all skill
levels are invited. All School of Communications summer camps will take place in the
newly renovated state-of-the-art Sverdrup complex. Housing on campus is available!
Media Academy is a premier annual event of the Webster University School of Communications
and our industry partners held in the Spring semester. Media Academy 2024 is sponsored
by Absen and includes two days of presentations, workshops, panel discussions and
networking opportunities with senior executives from national media companies including
Epic Games, Lion Forge, Canon, K Period Media, and more.
3–5 p.m., Panel Discussion: The Social Mission and Business Operations of Public Service and
Non-Profit Media, SV123
5–6 p.m., Networking Reception, Sverdrup Hall
Wednesday, March 6
9 a.m.–12:50 p.m., Workshops
9–9:50 a.m., UEFN: The Unreal Editor For Fortnite, and Transmedia Storytelling, with Jamie Hurcomb, SV117
9–9:50 a.m., IYKYK: Landing Your First Job In Marketing, Advertising, Digital, Creative, or PR, with Melinda Love, SV112
10–10:50 a.m., How To Be A Human-Centric Company in A Tech Explosion: Kyosei, Canon's Corporate Philosophy,
and Technology, with Paul T. Murphy, SV121
10–10:50 a.m., The AI Transformation of Storytelling, with Andrew Finlayson, SV117
10–10:50 a.m., Crafting Influence: A Blueprint For Success In Today's Digital Landscape, with Justin Michael, SV112
11–11:50 a.m., Virtual Cinema Production: A Demonstration and Discussion, with School of Communications faculty and students, SV129
11–11:50 a.m., Revolutionizing Animation, with Carl Reed, SV121
11–11:50 a.m., The Litigation Won’t Be Artificial: Intellectual Property Risks in Use of Artificial
Intelligence, with Mark Sableman, SV117
12–12:50 p.m., The Art and Business of Filmmaking: An Open Q&A, with Kimberly Steward, SV123
1–3 p.m., Student Showcase, Boylan West Atrium
Amy Shaw, Nine PBS
Andrew Finlayson, SmithGeiger Group
Brant Houston, University of Illinois
Cara Anthony, KFF Health News
Carl Reed, Composition Media
Cat Neville, Explore St. Louis
Jamie Hurcomb, Epic Games
Justin Michael, @TwoDapperDads
Kimberly Steward, K Period Media
Mark Sableman, Thompson Coburn, LLP
Melinda Love, M Consulting Group
Paul T. Murphy, Canon Solutions America
Tina Pamintuan, St. Louis Public Radio
School of Communications faculty and students, Webster University
The Student Showcase features nominated students from all majors in the School of
Communications displaying their most accomplished portfolios and projects including
video games, photos, films, recordings and more. Communications professionals, alumni,
staff and faculty are invited to attend for the opportunity to network and offer career-related
feedback for students.
It is open-house style, so attendees can stop by for just 15 minutes, or stay the
whole time.
The 2024 Student Showcase will be held Wednesday, March 6, 1-3 p.m. in the Boylan West Atrium in the Sverdrup Building
Jamie Hurcomb
Unreal Engine Academic Advisor at Epic Games
UEFN, the Unreal Editor for Fortnite, and Transmedia Storytelling
The recently released Unreal Editor Fortnite (UEFN) not only enables game developers
to create and publish their own Fortnite Islands, it also opens up a world of opportunity
for cross-platform narrative storytelling. In this session, we will explore how UEFN
is being used in industry to craft vibrant, immersive narratives across the media
and entertainment landscape, and discover how you can begin learning UEFN today.
Presenter Bio: Jamie Hurcomb is an academic advisor on the Unreal Engine Education Team for Epic
Games, working with media and entertainment programs across North America. She is
passionate about helping students, faculty and practitioners realize their creative
potential using real-time workflows. Jamie is also an instructor in the RTA School
of Media at Toronto Metropolitan University and an experienced documentary filmmaker,
producer and film editor.
Melinda Love
Consultant at M Consulting Group
IYKYK: Landing Your First Job in Marketing, Advertising, Digital, Creative or Public
Relations
Landing an entry-level position can be trickier than it used to be — especially with
the advent of AI. Agency Matchmaker and Talent Scout Melinda Love will share the three
most important things to finding that first stepping stone into the market. This is
not your basic workshop on resume writing, portfolios or LinkedIn. She’ll share three
stories on how entry-level talent have found positions in St. Louis — and how what
they learned can benefit you. Attendees will receive a promo code to download an e-book
(for free) and learn of a few important events to attend this Spring. This not-to-miss
workshop is relevant for anyone looking to get into a marketing, advertising, digital,
creative or PR agency.
Presenter Bio: With a background in visual communications, Melinda Love has spent her career on
the agency side of the business. She has played key roles with creative, account and
operations in three types of agencies: a start-up in DC, a large, global agency, and
a highly specialized boutique. Melinda is now running her own consulting business,
M Consulting Group, where she is known for connecting people, agencies and brands
for assignments, full-time positions or large-scale contracts across the country.
Paul T. Murphy
Vice President, Major Accounts and Vertical Markets at Canon Solutions America, Inc.
How to be a Human-Centric Company in a Tech Explosion: Kyosei, Canon’s Corporate Philosophy
and Technology
VP for Major Accounts and Vertical Markets, Paul Murphy will review how Canon’s corporate
philosophy of Kyosei helps them engage communities for meaningful relationships and
mutual benefit, while also a world-leading technology firm. He will review new developments
in Canon technology in the areas of machine learning, language libraries and human
factors, high speed processing, visual computing and imaging, facial recognition,
and artificial intelligence.
Presenter Bio: With 45 years of industry-related business experience, Paul T. Murphy has worked for
Canon Solutions America since July 1987 and effective July 2016 is responsible for
the development and growth in key markets healthcare, government, education, legal
and Fortune 1000 corporations as vice president, major accounts and vertical markets.
The position includes an intercompany discipline to strengthen the insight and knowledge
amongst Canon companies, subsidiaries and divisions.
Andrew Finlayson
EVP of Digital and AI Strategies at Smith Geiger
The AI Transformation Of Storytelling
Could you soon create a feature-length movie or a video that looks just like a network
news report — using generative AI? The speed of new AI technology is powering new
ways to tell all types of stories that could lead to everyone being a movie maker
or looking like a newscast from anywhere in the world. Never before seen entertainment
or politically disruptive disinformation — soon all of it will be generated by just
typing a few prompts into a keyboard. Attend this session and see what is being created
today and what AI-generated video stories could soon appear on your TV, computer and
mobile screens.
Crafting Influence: A Blueprint for Success in Today's Digital Landscape
Embark on a transformative journey into the realm of digital influence with this comprehensive
workshop. Explore the dynamic world of influencers and learn essential strategies,
from defining your niche and building a compelling personal brand to crafting engaging
content and navigating the intricacies of monetization. Join us for invaluable insights
and practical strategies that will empower you to thrive in today's competitive influencer
landscape.
Presenter Bio: Meet Justin Michael, the visionary brand owner and content creator for @TwoDapperDads.
With an unwavering commitment to authenticity, Justin and his husband Chris have catapulted
their platform from a hobby into a multiple six-figure business, captivating audiences
with the heartwarming narrative of two dads navigating the journey of raising three
children born through IVF and surrogacy. Boasting a robust LGBTQ+ following, Two Dapper
Dads is not just a brand; it's a movement that collaborates seamlessly with both local
and global brands. Two Dapper Dads’ impact extends far and wide, having worked with
industry giants like Walmart, Gerber, Kraft Heinz, Bayer and Netflix. Currently serving
as the 2024 National Brand Ambassadors for Huggies and Pull-ups, Justin and Chris
Michael and Two Dapper Dads continue to redefine the narrative, showcasing the power
of connection, unity and shared experiences through their dynamic journey of parenthood.
School of Communications Faculty and Students
Faculty and students at Webster University
Virtual Cinema Production: A Demonstration and Discussion
Join Webster University School of Communications faculty and students in a demonstration
of the first virtual cinema system in the region and a discussion of how we are using
the system in our curriculum and the opportunities it is opening for our students.
Join Carl Reed for a comprehensive session that examines the evolving landscape of
animation, highlighting current practices and future innovations that stand to benefit
creators, buyers, broadcasters and fans alike.
Presenter Bio: Carl is a writer, director, and Academy award-winning producer who has been in media
creation for over 20 years, serving as a co-founder of Lion Forge Comics and Lion
Forge Animation and as founder of Composition Media, where he currently serves as
CEO.
Mark Sableman
Partner at Thompson Coburn, LLP
The Litigation Won’t be Artificial: Intellectual Property Risks in Use of Artificial
Intelligence
Generative AI tools raise many intellectual property law concerns. Does the creation
or use of AI tools infringe existing copyrights? Who owns the intellectual property
rights to works that you create using AI? How should legal considerations inform your
use of AI tools? And how can you protect your own creative work from improper exploitation?
Presenter Bio: Mark Sableman is a lawyer and former journalist. He is a partner at Thompson Coburn
LLP in St. Louis, where his law practice focuses on intellectual property, media and
information technology law. He has taught Media Law at Webster and serves on the School
of Communications’ advisory board.
Kimberly Steward
Principal and Managing Member at K Period Media
The Art and Business of Filmmaking: An Open Q&A
An open Q&A with Academy Award-nominated producer, entrepreneur and philanthropist
Kimberly Steward. Kimberly will share her thoughts and answer questions from the audience
on the business of film production, the producer’s role, her approach to identifying
and developing stories and the intersection of entertainment and philanthropy. She
will also discuss the launch of her Foundation and her work with the Entertainment
Industry Foundation, the Sundance Institute, the Academy Museum and more.
Presenter Bio: Kimberly Steward is an Academy Award-nominated producer, entrepreneur and philanthropist.
In 2013, Kimberly formed the media company K Period Media (KPM), with the goal of
producing quality content that would launch the careers of the next generation of
talent on both sides of the camera. In 2016, Steward and KPM produced the critically
acclaimed film, Manchester By The Sea. The film was nominated for six Academy Awards®
making Steward the second black woman, after Oprah Winfrey, to be nominated for a
Best Picture Academy Award. Manchester By The Sea went on to win Oscars for Best Original
Screenplay (Kenneth Lonergan) and Best Actor (Casey Affleck).
Communications Careers Week
Monday, Oct. 9–Friday, Oct. 13
During the Fall semester, the School of Communications brings in industry leaders
representing a cross-section of organizations, from nonprofit journalism to full-service
entertainment production companies. With a combination of presentations, workshops,
networking sessions, panel discussions and an internship expo, Webster students can
jump-start their own communications career.
This event is open to all School of Communications students of Webster University.
There will be a variety of Internship Program partners ready to share information
and discuss internship opportunities for spring and summer. Whether you are a freshman,
sophomore, junior or senior, the Internship Expo is an excellent opportunity to gather
internship information. Seniors and juniors can find out about available internships
and more. Sophomores and freshmen can chat with internship partners about classes
or experience needed for internships. The expo will provide an opportunity for students
to speak with employers. Students actively seeking internships and students wanting
to connect for future opportunities are encouraged to attend.
Tour the School of Communications
The School of Communications loves showing off the Sverdrup Building! Contact socsuccess@webster.edu to inquire about a tour. Note: Prospective students interested in attending Webster University should schedule
a full campus tour through the Admissions department.