On August 11, 2012 the Department of Journalism and Media Studies hosted a reception as part of the Association for Journalism and Mass Communication annual convention. The convention took place in Chicago, IL and celebrated AEJMC's Centennial.

This was the department's first reception in some years, and a toast was held to thank John Pavlik for his years of service as Department Chair, to welcome Jack Bratich as new Department Chair, and to announce the new Digital Media track of the MCIS program. The reception was held at the Doubletree Magnificent Mile Hotel's pool deck area.