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Produced by Barrett Dennison and Americo Capodagli

The Island of Capri offers a wonderland of sight and sound. Photos by Mac McKerral

The group used two private boats to get back to Capri from Sorrento.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

June 15, 2009

Contact Information:

Jim LeTourneau

jim.letourneau@wku.edu

Mac McKerral

mac.mckerral@wku.edu

Students spend five days on island

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. —Ten students from Western Kentucky University’s School of Journalism & Broadcasting spent three weeks in Italy producing news articles, videos, photographs and multimedia packages.

 The first five days found the students in Capri, an Island paradise at one time reserved for the most powerful Romans, the emperors.

 The students worked on stories on the island’s history, contemporary island transportation, the legendary “Blue Grotto,” a family with a vineyard used to produce their own wine and an ironworker, who produces an array of gates found on the island.

 In between working on projects, the students toured Capri, visited the island’s beaches, shopped, took boat rides around the island and ate at the best restaurants. Students also made a daytrip to Pompeii and Mount Vesuvius from Capri.

 Angela Oliver, a news-editorial journalism major and a participant in the study abroad trip, said she enjoyed Capri, especially an unplanned boat ride from Sorrento to Capri.

 “It was very majestic,” Oliver said.  “Not very many people can say they had a boat ride across the Mediterranean. And I think it was better because it wasn’t supposed to happen.”

Students planned to take the ferry back from Sorrento to Capri. But the carrier changed the schedule without notice, and the group arrived at the dock with no way to get back. Professor Jim LeTourneau found two captains of private boats who agreed to shuttle the group back. The students enjoyed the boat ride even more than the ferry ride to Sorrento.

 In Capri, the group stayed at three bed and breakfasts: Il Tramonto, Il Groppolo, and Villa la Rugiada.  Oliver, stayed at Villa la Rigiada, and enjoyed the bed and breakfast.

 “The hosts helped make the trip enjoyable for me,” she said.  “They gave us everything we needed and were extremely nice and helpful.”

The 10 students participating in the student abroad trip are: Americo Capodagli, broadcasting; Jan Diehm, photojournalism; Lee Cox, broadcasting; Barrett Dennison, broadcasting; Laurel Mallory, broadcasting; Joshua Moore, news-editorial journalism; Melanie Niemann, broadcasting; Oliver; Lindsay Peters, broadcasting; and Jessica VanWinkle, public relations.

 To follow the students and professors and view their projects, visit sjbstudentmedia.com/italy.

 Western Kentucky University, located in Bowling Green, Ky., serves approximately 20,000 students. WKU prepares students to be productive, engaged, and socially responsible citizens and leaders of society.  The university offers a variety of bachelor’s degrees and more than 88 majors and 57 minors.  Students can receive associate’s and master’s degrees. WKU also provides extracurricular activities for all students.  To learn more about WKU, visit www.wku.edu.

CONTACT INFO                                                                        FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Jim LeTourneau                                                                        June 15, 2009

james.letourneau@wku.edu

Mac McKerral

mac.mckerral@wku.edu

 Participants Enjoy Diversion from Rome

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. – Students studying abroad in Italy spent Saturday, June 13, in Florence soaking up the history of the city that came into existence during the reign of Julius Caesar.

Ten students from Western Kentucky University’s School of Journalism & Broadcasting have been in Italy since May 26.  They spent five days in Capri and conclude the trip Tuesday after two weeks in Rome.

The daytrip to Florence provided a nice break from Rome and a chance to see the beauty of a city that served as the power base of the Medici family for more 300 years.

Students spent the day exploring the city, shopping at a variety of Italian leather stores and sightseeing and reporting on Italian leather-making.

Students explored the churches of Florence and saw Michelangelo’s “David” sculpture.

“Seeing Michelangelo’s “David” was a once in a lifetime experience,” said Jessica VanWinkle, a public relations major.  “I wish we could have stayed longer, though.” 

The 10 students participating in the student abroad trip are: Americo Capodagli, broadcasting; Jan Diehm, photojournalism; Lee Cox, broadcasting; Dennison, broadcasting; Laurel Mallory, broadcasting; Josh Moore, news-editorial journalism; Melanie Niemann, broadcasting; Angela Oliver, news-editorial journalism; Lindsay Peters, broadcasting; and VanWinkle.

Jim LeTourneau, a broadcasting professor at WKU, and Mac McKerral, a news-editorial journalism professor at WKU, are accompanying the students on the trip and are in charge of their projects.

To follow the group’s trip and see their work, logon to: sjbstudentmedia.com/italy.

Western Kentucky University, located in Bowling Green, Ky., serves approximately 20,000 students. WKU prepares students to be productive, engaged, and socially responsible citizens and leaders of society.  The university offers a variety of bachelor’s degrees and more than 88 majors and 57 minors.  Students can receive associate’s and master’s degrees. WKU also provides extracurricular activities for all students.  To learn more about WKU, visit www.wku.edu.

Earthquakes, looters and Roman leaders seeking construction material have taken their toll on the Coliseum but an extensive rehab is under way. Photos by Mac McKerral.

WKU students Barrett Dennison, left, Lindsay Peters, Jan Diehm, Josh Moore, Jessica VanWinkle, Angela Oliver, Americo Capodagli and Melanie Niemann at the Coliseum in Rome, Italy.

                                                                                                 CONTACT INFO:

                                                                                                Jim LeTourneau

                                                                                                Jim.letourneau@wku.edu

                                                                                                Mac McKerral

                                                                                                Mac.mckerral@wku.edu

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

June 10, 2009

LAST WEEK OF STUDY ABROAD TRIP BEGINS 

Students tour Coliseum, Forum and Palatine

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. – Students from Western Kentucky University on Monday began the final week of a study abroad trip to Italy.

The 10 students from WKU’s School of Journalism and Broadcasting traveled to Italy May 26 and spent the first five days in Capri before heading to Rome.

On Monday, June 8, students toured the Coliseum, the Forum and the ruins of the Palatine.  Students participated in a guided tour and learned about the start of the Roman Empire and its most noted venue, the Coliseum.

Roman’s gathered there to watch a range of spectacles including gladiator battles, sea battles, the Olympics and more. The tour guide said that the design of the Coliseum made it possible for 50,000 spectators to exit the multi-tiered structure in 10 minutes. The Coliseum shows ended for the most part about 530 A.D. Earthquakes and using parts of it for other construction projects took its toll on the Coliseum, but as is the case throughout Rome, rehabilitation efforts are under way.

Students viewed Julius Caesar’s grave and learned stories about life in the early days of the empire such as the arranged marriage of Emperor Augustus.

Jan Diehm, a photojournalism major and one of the participants on the study abroad trip, said the Coliseum made up her favorite part of the day.

“Seeing the Coliseum is like putting a name with a face,” Diehm said. “Everyone has heard about it, but actually seeing it is a completely different experience.”

The none students participating in the student abroad trip along with Diehm are: Americo Capodagli, broadcasting; Lee Cox, broadcasting; Barrett Dennison, broadcasting; Laurel Mallory, broadcasting; Josh Moore, news-editorial journalism; Melanie Niemann, broadcasting; Angela Oliver, news-editorial journalism; Lindsay Peters, broadcasting; and Jessica VanWinkle, public relations.

Jim LeTourneau, a broadcasting professor at WKU, and Mac McKerral, a news-editorial journalism professor at WKU, are accompanying the students on the trip and supervise their reporting projects online at: sjbstudentmedia.com/italy.

To follow the group’s trip and see their work, logon to: sjbstudentmedia.com/italy.

Western Kentucky University, located in Bowling Green, Ky., serves approximately 20,000 students. WKU prepares students to be productive, engaged, and socially responsible citizens and leaders of society.  The university offers a variety of bachelor’s degrees and more than 88 majors and 57 minors.  Students can receive associate’s and master’s degrees. WKU also provides extracurricular activities for all students.  To learn more about WKU, visit www.wku.edu.

Produced by Americo Capodagli and Barrett Dennison.