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MSLCE Out in the World – Letter from the MSLCE Faculty Director

By Pablo Boczkowski

A core element of the educational philosophy that provides the framework for the MSLCE program is the integration of theory and practice. During the fall, winter, and spring quarters, this manifests in the steady stream of industry speakers, the regular site visits to creative sector organizations, the emphasis on practical applications of concepts learned in the classroom, and the weeklong trek to Los Angeles and New York during spring break. (more…)

MSLCE Student Begins Internship at Dance Company

By Hayley Bullock

A small but forceful dance company, BodyStories: Teresa Fellion Dance, seems to be a great fit for an internship for me this summer.

I came into the MSLCE program with the desire to better understand dance companies in hopes that I could find ways to improve their business models. This opportunity will provide me with relevant knowledge and experience in starting and growing a dance company. By working across functions on a team with passionate and driven individuals, I hope to increase my knowledge of marketing, managing, and fundraising for a dance company. (more…)

MSLCE Student Begins Internship at Shedd Aquarium

By Seth Zimmerman

The John G. Shedd Aquarium opened its doors on May 30, 1930. That’s 4,492 weeks…and I have been there three of them.

It is easy to see how this institution has not only survived over the last 86 years, but thrived. The people who work there, in every department, are the best at what they do. They embody the Shedd’s mission statement to connect you to the living world, inspiring you to make a difference. Basically, this is not a job for them. My goal is to help out in any way that I can and maybe learn a thing or two about Public Relations, Shedd Adventures, and nonprofit management. (more…)

Distribution Disruption: How Tugg Is Changing the Relationship Between Filmmakers and Their Audiences

By Laura Hess

Engage. Empower. Entertain.

This is the mission of Tugg, an innovative crowdsourcing platform for cinema-on-demand film distribution. Founded in 2011, Tugg’s business model encompasses theatrical, non-theatrical, and educational licensing sales and strategic distribution for narrative and documentary films. (more…)

MSLCE Applies New Business Savvy to Marketing Internship

By Dan Li

Looking for an internship that fit what I was interested in was hard, so I am glad to be part of Savvo Digital Sommelier Solution’s marketing team.

Savvo is a digital marketing company focused on promoting wine brands with a digital and physical presence in the retail environment. They have created digital kiosks (more…)

MSLCE Professors Head to Japan for ICA16

Hiroshima Peace Memorial, in Japan.

By Jacob L. Nelson

Two MSLCE professors recently joined thousands of others in Japan for the 66th Annual Conference of the International Communications Association (ICA).

Northwestern professors James Webster and Aymar Jean Christian were two of about 3,000 attendees who made the long trip to Fukuoka, Japan for the five-day meeting of academics and industry professionals focused on the study of communication, held June 9-13. The conference presented just over 2,000 papers throughout the course of about 700 sessions, offering attendees the opportunity to learn about the latest and most fascinating research in the field. (more…)

MSLCE Professor Building an App to Give and Get Feedback

Today, we continue our feature where we ask an MSLCE professor three questions about the creative field they work in. Below is a conversation with Gail BergerAssistant Professor of Instruction at Kellogg, McCormick, and the School of Education and Social Policy, about building apps, giving and getting feedback, and becoming an effective team leader.

Can you briefly describe the app you’re developing, and who you think will find it most useful?

The app that I am developing, iEvolve360, is a tool that will help people easily provide and obtain feedback from each other. It is useful for anyone who is looking to grow and improve and can be used in academic and corporate contexts. By making it simple and straightforward to give and request feedback on a regular basis, teams and companies can create a “culture of feedback.” In other words, the stigma and fear often associated with constructive feedback will be removed, and instead people will truly view feedback as an opportunity to grow and develop. (more…)

Globalization Course Gets Students Thinking About Emerging Cultural Hubs

By Scotty Stieber

When discussing globalization, often the idea of cultures crossing borders and oceans comes to mind. Claudio Benzecry’s “Culture and Globalization” course took that basic framework and extended it far beyond traditional modes of thinking to discuss how to globalize the creative class. How are cities, both large and small, changing as a result of globalization? How are those changes implemented and then packaged by tourism bureaus and commercial developers to attract young creative minds to emerging neighborhoods, cities and regions? (more…)

The Art and Science of the Pitch

By Laura Hess

“Who were you, before you were told who you are?”

Our fellow MSLCE classmate looked up at us and then back down at the little reed of paper. “Who were you, before you were told who you are,” she repeated quietly. Silence.

This was our first class together in Laverne McKinnon’s “Pitching Creative Projects” course. (more…)