On May 5, 2021, Professor Jack Bratich inaugurated 23 new Kappa Tau Alpha (KTA) inductees for 2020 and 2021. KTA is the undergraduate JMS honor society, where membership is earned through excellence in academic work and is open to seniors in the top 10% of the class. Even though the ceremony was held over Zoom, the socialization was fun and substantial.

 

Bratich said, "While there are challenges hosting a ceremony via zoom, I felt that students really enjoyed the informal aspects: we started with breakout rooms to encourage small group socializing and we ended with an open conversation where we heard from students about their post-graduate plans. We also had light-hearted moments when Chenjerai Kumanyika showed us some zoom filters and backgrounds."

 

In the first 15 years of its existence, KTA members were dealing with key developments in the world of journalism and media: how to navigate the balance of facts with sensationalist stories, the rise of government propaganda during World War I, a widespread and deadly influenza pandemic, and the emergence of the persuasion industries, including newly institutionalized sectors of advertising and public relations. Over a century later, media makers face similar challenges. KTA initiates, with a pledged commitment to Knowledge, Truth, and Accuracy, are needed to face and transform these conditions. 

 

Congrats to the newest KTA members!

2020

Jaime Corter [2020 Cohort President]

Lauren Boone

Jacqueline Goldblatt

Natalie Francisco

Alexander Lewis

Kexin Luo

Tinah Ogalo

Aparna Ragupathi

Kassandra Scheese

Jade Stepeney

Abigail Urban

 

2021

Chloe Tai [2021 Cohort President]

Aimee Carey   

Mary Connelly

Jack Delle Cava

Matthew Hahn

Daniel Han                

Samantha Marshak

Veronica Meliksetian 

Tarana Parekh

Melanie Raush           

Madeleine Smith

Katie Sun

Image: Courtesy of Jack Bratich