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Esports has transformed online gaming into a spectator sport — and a projects the industry will be worth $3.5 billion by 2025.

Students in the School of Media and Journalism recently received recognition from two prestigious student journalism competitions: The Hearst Journalism Awards and the Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ) Mark of Excellence Awards.

The argument for studying journalism has never been stronger. Just a quick glance at the news makes the case. We’re training students who will graduate equipped with strong writing skills – still the number one most important skill set according to all employers with whom I interact; technical skills to communicate using whatever equipment, software and tools are available; and the ethical decision-making skills necessary to function in a world where decisions are rarely cut and dry.

For recent journalism graduates, the COVID-19 pandemic has shaped their entry into the news industry. Young MDJ alumni have focused much of their professional careers on the pandemic, mostly with a Northeast Ohio angle — not just on case numbers or other statistics, but also on the effects on the economy, businesses and the healthcare industry.

Kent State alumnus Mike Jackson, innovator and marketing communications executive, is joining Kent State’s School of Media and Journalism as a professional-in-residence this spring. He is teaching two classes and will serve as adviser to the student organization Franklin Advertising.