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January 2011
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Meet the New Faculty of 2010, in Their Own WordsThese 11 Faculty Bring Real-World Experience and Real-Life ExcitementBy Brian JarvisMaster's Student The Fall 2010 semester brought 11 new full-time faculty members to the Missouri journalism family. With 86 professors spanning convergence journalism, print and digital news, radio-television journalism, magazine journalism, photojournalism and strategic communication, Missouri has the largest faculty of any journalism school in the nation. Nearly all of the newcomers are stepping in front of classrooms for the first time. Quite a few cut their teeth as Missouri undergraduates. And a couple of them were named to prestigious chairs prior to their arrival.
Professor, Radio-Television Journalism Curtis B. Hurley Chair in Public Affairs Journalism "I'm very honored to become part of such a vibrant School of Journalism. This position presents a marvelous opportunity to study public affairs journalism at a time of tremendous change. As the 2010 elections demonstrated, digital media are having a profound impact on how policymakers and journalists communicate with the public. The Hurley Chair can explore that and other trends in public affairs journalism by convening experts, commenting on media issues and connecting the School of Journalism's research with the Washington journalism community."
Assistant Professor, Strategic Communication Teaching Strategic Design and Visuals "Having worked as an art director and a creative director, I hope to bring that experience to the students and give them a good litmus test for the professional climate. The biggest challenge is gauging the level of knowledge students already have and then applying the appropriate amount of challenge to their work so it pushes them without overwhelming them. I know friends who are still piecemealing their own work, so I want to get students ready and aware and help them navigate the waters of that environment."
Assistant Professor, Radio-Television Journalism Managing Editor, KOMU-TV "When I left KOMU and MU in 1999, I felt better prepared for a career in television news than college graduates from other universities. I learned to report, shoot, edit and anchor for a network affiliate using the most up-to-date technology. Although that technology has changed in the last 11 years, the method hasn't. I always hoped to transition from reporting to teaching, and I couldn't be more thrilled to be back in the KOMU newsroom, working with the student reporters and producers. I might be a little rusty on some of the new technology, but my recent experience in the field allows me to relate to the students and give them guidance as they prepare for their own post-college careers."
Professor, Print and Digital News Houston Harte Chair "This is the best journalism school in the world, and it's an honor to be a part of it. Our industry has been rocked by change, and that change will only continue. The only way for our industry to survive is through innovation. There's so much innovation going on here now. The School clearly is focused on change, not just to stay abreast of the industry's needs but also to play a leading role in helping the industry into the future. What hasn't changed here is the emphasis on standards. There's still an expectation of excellence. And the Missouri Method - learning by doing the work - is more relevant and important than ever."
Assistant Professor, Photojournalism Director of Photography, Columbia Missourian "I'm pushing students to be very creative but also very respectful of the story and of the news. We instill the truthfulness and the honesty, and that's what we ride on - to do that in a fun environment, to embrace visual storytelling and all the pain and love that goes with that. I feel the energy, passion and camaraderie of the students, and we have open conversations about the photos, negotiating coverage and working as a team. I cannot believe how much fun this is!"
Professor, Convergence Journalism Lee Hills Chair in Free Press Studies "One of the smartest decisions I made was to come here for my schooling. Ever since I graduated, I've stayed involved one way or another. I think the future of journalism resides in our students and will be determined by our students. Because they're not as prone to reading newspapers or using traditional media, they come with a different perspective on news and how to market it. What Newsy has done - journalism collaborating with social marketing - I'd like to do with Global Journalist, which has gone from a radio show to a full-convergence digital show. The mission of the Lee Hills Chair is to make sure the public, wherever they are, appreciate a free press. If people don't support or demand it, we won't have it."
Assistant Professor, Strategic Communication Director of Media, Research and Operations, Mojo Ad "By far what I like best about the School is the enthusiasm and the smarts of the students. The caliber of work that we do for Mojo Ad each semester is akin to any agency that I've been a part of. To be part of that process and help guide and mentor is truly an honor. As media are changing so rapidly, I hope to be that bridge between their academic work and their professional life and to keep them abreast of the latest trends." Rhonda Prast, MA '81 Assistant Professor, Magazine Journalism Teaching Magazines across Platforms and Assistant Teaching Magazine Staff "I came back because I wanted a fresh start, to come to a place with a positive vision of moving forward where I could learn as well as teach. We're training students to prepare for the future. Knowing how to manage online content is almost a requisite for jobs now, and those jobs want the skill sets of five or six different people. A friend of mine from the Minneapolis Star-Tribune took a buyout and then couldn't get another job because she doesn't have the Web experience. I'll be working with students to increase the amount of innovative content on the Web and eventually to produce an iPad application for Vox." Steve Rice Assistant Professor, Convergence Journalism Teaching Fundamentals of Multimedia
Assistant Professor, Convergence Journalism Teaching Convergence Reporting "When this position came open, it felt like a natural fit and my opportunity to give back to the next generation of journalists. I'm of the philosophy that we all had people help us throughout our careers to give us that leg up, and I'm excited to be able to do that. I'm enjoying seeing those moments when students ask the tough questions and get them answered, develop the confidence to ask those questions and see that the people they're interviewing are taking them seriously and prepared to answer them. I always said, 'If you come here, they give you all the resources in the world to make it in this industry.' To have people here think I've used those resources well enough to come back and teach them to the next generation is truly a dream come true." Mark Swanson, BJ '92 Assistant Professor, Strategic Communication Teaching Strategic Writing "When folks learn I took Steve Kopcha's old gig, they all say, 'You have big shoes to fill!' Luckily, I have big feet."
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