AMES, Iowa – Meredith Corporation (NYSE: MDP), a leading media and marketing services company headquartered in Des Moines, has extended its partnership agreement with Iowa State University for another five years.
The $500,000 commitment benefits the Greenlee School of Journalism and Communication through continued support of its [Meredith Apprentice Program](/internships/meredith-apprentice-program/), a Meredith professional in residence and the Meredith Integrated Media Suite.
“Meredith’s relationship with Iowa State’s Greenlee School has been a national model for business/academic partnerships, and we are very excited about our new five-year, $500,000 extension,” said Art Slusark, Meredith’s Vice President of Corporate Communications and Government Relations.
Meredith (www.meredith.com) has been committed to service journalism for 115 years. Its National Media Group reaches more than 110 million unduplicated women every month, including nearly 75 percent of U.S. Millennial women. Meredith creates and distributes content across platforms in consumer interest areas such as food, home, parenthood and health through well-known brands such as Better Homes and Gardens, Allrecipes, Parents, Shape and EatingWell.
Now entering its 14th year, the apprentice program allows ten talented students from the Greenlee School and the College of Design to experience the fast-paced world of publishing alongside seasoned professionals in yearlong editorial, design and digital apprenticeships. Students spend a whole academic year working 15-20 hours a week at Meredith’s Des Moines office.
In addition to invaluable experience and unprecedented access, apprentices receive an hourly wage and academic credit as they contribute work to well-known Meredith brands. Meredith can then recruit from a pool of specifically-trained students who can seamlessly transition into their roles within the company.
“The Greenlee students are extremely talented, hard-working and motivated, and bring valuable contributions and insights to Meredith,” Slusark said. “We are proud to provide these students with a head start on their careers, and 40 percent of our ISU apprentices in the last five years have secured full-time positions at Meredith. That’s a great win-win-win for Meredith, ISU and most importantly the Greenlee grads.”
Since its inception, 95 Iowa State students have participated in the Meredith Apprentice Program. In the last five years, 13 Iowa State apprentices have been hired at Meredith, while many others have gone on to work in publishing at other media outlets such as Buzzfeed, Men’s Health and This Old House.
“The enthusiasm and work examples of the Meredith apprentices is outstanding,” said Angela Powers, Greenlee School director. “We have the best students to continue this partnership in a meaningful way that benefits our school and the Meredith Corporation.”
In her role as Meredith professional in residence, [Deb Gibson]() serves as the on-campus liaison, pairing apprentices with Meredith opportunities and ensuring success by staying in close contact with them and their supervisors. A senior lecturer in the Greenlee School, she also cultivates a steady stream of viable candidates for the program.
“I’m thrilled that so many more of our students are going to get the opportunity to learn from professionals who will not only teach them the ways of corporate America but can mentor them and offer them first-year professional opportunities,” Gibson said.
The renewal also makes possible continued upgrades of the Meredith Integrated Media Suite, a computer lab and adjacent conference rooms located in Hamilton Hall that provides all students with access to cutting-edge media technology.
“Our world-class faculty provide students with the skills they need to produce professional publications, and the Meredith Media Suite is where they put their skills to good use,” Powers said. “It’s the busiest lab in the school, in use at all times of the day and night.”
In 2013, the Iowa State University Foundation awarded Meredith the Order of the Knoll Corporation and Foundation Award, recognizing Meredith’s significant leadership giving, dedicated and long-term service and assistance to students and faculty through recruitment opportunities and research programs.
“We really appreciate the relationship with Meredith which has already benefited so many students and will now continue to benefit many more,” said Beate Schmittmann, dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.
Founded in 1905, the Greenlee School of Journalism and Communication at Iowa State University is the oldest journalism program in the state and one of the longest continuously accredited programs in the country. The school prepares leaders in advertising, journalism and mass communication and public relations. Alumni have won five Pulitzer Prizes, and the school’s faculty includes one Pulitzer Prize winner.
CONTACTS
ISU Media Contact: Angela Powers, Director, Greenlee School of Journalism and Communication, 515-294-4342, powers@iastate.edu
Meredith Media Contact: Art Slusark, Vice President of Corporate Communications and Government Relations, 515-284-3404, art.slusark@meredith.com