The Daily Illini’s Christine Kim has an article about MSNBC President Rick Kaplan visiting the University of Illinois…

President of MSNBC Rick Kaplan is to visit the University to work with journalism students from Monday until Wednesday.

He will specifically work with the Television Journalism II class with their newsbreak projects that will air on UI7. He also will speak at Dean of the College of Communications Ron Yates’ Reporting I lecture, focusing on what’s next for cable and network news and how MSNBC is covering news in Iraq. Kaplan will also hold one-on-one discussions with graduate students and seniors in broadcasting.

“He manages to contact lots of students by guest lecturing or talking with other classes,” Yates said. “He’s one of the most creative people in the broadcast news, and we feel very fortunate to have this kind of relationship with him, and more than anything else, a great opportunity for our students.”

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Since the mid-’90s, Kaplan comes to the University once or twice a year to work with students, providing them with knowledge, opportunities and internships.

“It was his idea to do this, and we’re glad that he does,” said Lynn Holley, academic programs coordinator of the College of Communications. “It benefits (the students) immensely. They get to hear from a man who is successful in every aspect of his career, and it’s best to hear from someone successful because they have the key to be successful and the motivation he can pass to students.”

Last summer, 17 students interned at MSNBC with the help and opportunity from Kaplan. Nick Janes, junior in Communications, is majoring in broadcast journalism and discovered the internship opportunity through a friend, which led to the experience of working at MSNBC. He is also in the Television Journalism II class where he will have the chance to work with Kaplan.