As part of Ball State University's award-winning College of Communication, Information, and Media, Byte is a student-run, multimedia coalition operating out of Ball State University's Unified Media Lab. Byte is dedicated to providing the best in entertainment and pop culture-related content. Byte achieves this excellence in the form of regularly produced news, reviews, features, graphics, podcasts, and videos. Many members of the Byte staff have received awards from the Columbia Scholastic Press Association's Gold Circle awards for individual podcasts, reviews, graphics, features, and opinion pieces. Byte was also a recipient of the CSPA's 2019 Silver Crown Award and CSPA's 2020 Gold Crown Award in the Digital General Magazine category.
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Willow Emig is a junior double majoring in Sociology: Diversity and Women’s & Gender Studies with minors in American Sign Language and African American Studies. Willow is currently Byte’s Editor in Chief, and they are also involved in the social media and reviews/features sections. Their favorite parts of Byte are the strong community and the opportunity to learn valuable new skills. Outside of Byte, Willow assists in editing the journal Teaching Sociology and works as a student secretary for the Political Science Department. Their hobbies include reading, writing, drawing, listening/playing music, and watching movies/TV. After graduation, Willow plans to attend law school with the hope of becoming a civil rights lawyer.
Mason Mundy is a junior Media with a concentration in production and Aquatics double major. Mason is currently Byte’s Managing Editor. His favorite part of Byte is the community built here and the diversity in people and interests. Outside of Byte, Mason is the president of the water polo club at Ball State, the assistant high school and middle school swim coach for Burris Laboratory Schools. He also does commission advertising work for local businesses. His hobbies include swimming, pop music, trading card games, and video games. After graduation, Mason hopes to work on a film set.
Sam Jasionowski is a senior media major with a concentration in film and media studies and minors in journalistic storytelling and strategic communications. Sam is currently Byte’s lead copy editor, but also writes for the reviews and features section of Byte. Outside of Byte, Sam is involved with Her Campus and Housing and Residence Life. Sam’s favorite part about Byte is editing other writers' articles to gain a new perspective on other corners of the pop culture world. After graduation, Sam plans to work in entertainment journalism.
Ashton Weir is currently a sophomore Animation Production student, with a minor in Media Production. Their favorite part of Byte is the community and all the things they never would've learned without Byte. Outside of Byte, they are Vice President of Ball State Spectrum and does freelance social media and digital illustration work. Their hobbies include reading, listening to music, tabletop games and 3D Modeling. After graduation, they hope to freelance full time and work in 3D Modeling or Animation.
Ian Case is a senior Media Production major with a minor in Film and Screenwriting. He also contributes to some of Byte's videos content and hosts the Second Input podcast. Outside of Byte, Ian is an avid fan of television, film, gaming, and indie/alternative music. After graduation, he plans to work in videography, audio production, or screenwriting.
Ian Fraser is a sophomore majoring in media production with a minor in studio art. Ian is Byte's videos editor and plays Crantz and Timuth on Bard to be Wild, Byte's DnD podcast, as well as occasionally cohosting Quicksave, a pop culture podcast. His favorite parts of Byte are the strong community and the opportunity to discuss pop culture topics. Outside of Byte, Ian's hobbies include watching movies, playing video games, and listening to and producing electronic music. After graduation, Ian plans to be a filmmaker.
Chris Dawson is a Sophomore in Media Production, with a minor in Creative Writing and Digital Design. Chris has been the Podcast Editor for Byte since Spring 2025. Their favorite things about Byte are the community, and all the projects they get to do. Chris also writes and hosts the D&D podcast Bard To Be Wild. Outside of Byte, Chris enjoys writing, gaming (with around 340 games on Steam), buying Transformers, and reading. After graduation Chris hopes to work in the movie or TV industry.
