The Bologna Project

 

The Project and Academic Credit

Students will have a two part focus; International PR and Marketing and Exploring the World of Public Relations

Exploring the World of Public Relations will provides an overview and exploration into the key elements of designing and implementing a global PR campaign. Students will partner with local merchants and artists in the city of Bologna to bring unique features and stories of the region to life. Students will design and launch a multi-faceted campaign during the program, as well as complete a highlight reel to showcase key aspects of their campaign. Course will be focused on PR but also include social media, graphic design and video editing.

In International PR and Marketing, students will be capitalizing on Bologna's location in Italy, to explore the concept of Public Relations on a global scale. Students will have the opportunity to learn from working PR professionals from around the world to understand the key factors and challenges in designing and executing an international PR campaign. The course will feature guest lectures, field trips and a 2 night excursion to Milan. Course will be focused on PR but also include social media, graphic design and video editing.

Instruction will come from a combination of traditional classroom teachings and field experience, with the program's overall goal to be one centered in experiential learning. Lectures will be from ieiMedia faculty and outside industry professionals from around the world. 

Students have the option to earn six(6) credits of upper-division journalism elective for The Bologna Project.  The credits will be issued by the University of Jamestown, and we will work with you so they are easily transferable to your university. Transfer credit ultimately depends on a student's home university. The cost is $150/credit - the academic credit is $900 for The Bologna Project (See the FACT SHEET at the top of the page for Program Cost).

Academic Credit

Academic credits can be earned for this ieiMedia Project. Requesting course credit is optional. This course offers an option to earn six credits of an upper-division journalism elective.  The cost for academic credit is $150/credit. Students choosing this option must indicate so in their application. After applying, student will find procedures in our Student Portal to request academic credit through our school of record, University of Jamestown. NOTE: Students on a quarter system will be able to transfer as eight credits at no additional fee.  Transfer credit ultimately depends on a student's home university. Please check with your university for procedures to follow when transferring credits to your institution.

Equipment

Students should bring their own laptop computers and mobile phones, as well as digital or video cameras and audio recorders if they have them.

Students

The project is open to English-speaking college students and recent graduates from any school. Students from many universities have participated in past ieiMedia projects, including: American University, Arizona State University, Baylor University, California State University Fullerton, California State University Long Beach, Carleton University, Columbia University, Colorado State University, Florida Atlantic University, Georgia College and State University, Georgetown University, Humboldt State University, Indiana University, Iowa State University, Ithaca College, James Madison University, Louisiana State University, New York University, Rider University, Rutgers University, Ryerson University, San Diego State University, San Francisco State University, State University of New York at New Paltz, Syracuse University, Temple University, Truman State University, UCLA, University of Arizona, University of British Columbia, University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, University of Wisconsin-Madison, University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh, Kennesaw State University, University of Florida, University of Illinois, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, University of Northern Iowa, University of Southern California, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Virginia Tech, Wesleyan University, and Washington and Lee University. We’ve also had students participate from countries such as Canada, China, Japan, Morocco, the United Kingdom, Puerto Rico, Trinidad, and more.

 

Graduate Students

Graduate students are also invited to apply. We’d be happy to talk with you about supervising an independent project that would qualify for graduate credit at your school — or to offer this experience as a graduate internship.

 

 

Our faculty come from leading universities and news organizations. In 2025 our faculty will likely include:

PROGRAM DIRECTOR

Kathryn Lancioni is lecturer in the School of Communication and Information at Rutgers University. She is an award-winning, internationally recognized expert in the field of communications and was recently named as one of PR News' "People of the Year." Her expertise lies in the intersection of communication, technology, and society. Ms. Lancioni has a unique appreciation and understanding of its dynamic landscape working as a journalist, public relations executive, communications strategist, and college professor. She has worked for some of the world’s leading PR agencies and with numerous global corporations, and in 2006 she launched Presenting Perfection, a communications consultancy. Ms. Lancioni has served on the faculty of Fairleigh Dickinson University, Montclair State University, Seton Hall University, St. John Fisher College, and William Paterson University, has guest lectured at various universities, and has been the featured speaker at many international conferences. She is the author of three books, a regular contributor to Medium, and a member of The Forbes Business Council.

FACULTY

(Subject to enrollments/budget)

Jane McManus is an author, academic and sports writer. 

Her book The Fast Track: Inside the Surging Business of Women's Sports details the progress and reluctance in women's sports and media. She also guest-edited The Year's Best Sports Writing 2024 and teaches at New York University. She was the Executive Director of the Seton Hall Center for Sports Media, and the Director of the Marist College Center for Sports Communication.

McManus spent nearly 10 years at ESPN, covering the NFL and as a columnist for espnW. She hosted two radio shows, including The Trifecta with Kate Fagan and Sarah Spain, and was a frequent analyst for SportsCenter, The Sports Reporters, and Outside the Lines among other ESPN shows. Prior to that, McManus covered everything from high schools to the US Open for The Journal News in Westchester, NY, and her work has appeared in Deadspin, The New York Daily News, Newsday, The New York Times, USA Today, The Independent of London and other outlets. She has appeared as a guest on Good Morning America, CNN and NPR’s Morning Edition.

She received a BA in the Liberal Arts from St. John’s College in Annapolis Md. and a Masters in Journalism from Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism, where she taught sports journalism for over a decade.

While she was covering the New York Jets for ESPN, McManus played roller derby.

View complete faculty biographies on our Bologna Faculty Page.

 

Application Deadline Details

Our final application deadline for Summer 2025 projects is February 15, 2025. Applications submitted after the deadline will be accepted on a rolling basis dependent on project capacity. 

Submitting your application by the priority deadline means you will be accepted to a priority spot on the project of your choosing, as well as secure additional time to prepare for payment deadlines and scholarship and financial aid opportunities.  

If you do not have the necessary access to submit your application by the deadline, please reach out to admissions@ieimedia.com to speak with an advisor.

Location Map