Graduate Research Forum Meeting Nov. 5

Many thanks to the following graduate students who presented their media history research papers at the meeting:

Kaylene Armstrong: "Making It Personal: Reporter/source relationships in the 1985 Lafferty brothers trials"

Jim Coll: “Tackling General Nat: Newspaper Coverage of the Integration of Southern Miss Football”

Jessica Wallace: “Opening the Floodgates of Hate and Hell: Local press coverage and its effects on the Mack Charles Parker lynching case”

Jessica (left) was also interviewed by Dana Gower (right) from the Lamar Times about her research project.

Online Journal of Rural Research and Policy

Much recent mass media research has focused on the impact of new technology to the dissemination of information in urban areas, specifically the long-term viability of major news organizations. Less research as dealt with the long-term viability of small, rural news groups, such as town newspapers and regional broadcast radio and television networks. In addition, a similar pattern has emerged regarding the spread of broadband into and between large cities. Less has looked at the "last several miles" issue in rural areas.

The Online Journal of Rural Research and Policy, now nearing its fifth year of publication, seeks research and policy papers addressing the impact of new media on news organizations in rural areas, especially in the Great Plains. The research may be in the form of traditional quantitative academic work, or may employ qualitative methods or essay/policy formats. They may include issues of impact, for example, or historical trends. Or, they may focus on one rural news operation's approach new media. All approaches and methods are welcome.

The deadline for submissions is April 1, 2010. Authors should use the "For Authors" link on the right side of the OJRRP homepage for information on how to submit an article. Any questions can be directed to Dr. Tom Gould atthpgould@gmail.com. The Online Journal of Rural Research and Policy can be found at http://www.ojrrp.org/

Sharee passed dissertation defense!

Sharee Broussard (left) successfully defended her dissertation this morning. Her dissertation, titled "Source-Message-Receiver in Integrated Marketing Communication: A Study of U.S. Institutional Advancement," was directed by Dr. Fei Xue (right). Congratulations!

AJHA Conference Awards

Congratulations to Dr. Dave Davies (left) and his PhD students at the American Journalism Historians Association conference. Jason Peterson won AJHA award for best paper on minorities topic. Pam Parry (right) won two AJHA awards (honorable mention) for Best Student paper and best paper on a topic in women's history. More information about the conference: http://ajhaonline.org/

A new doctor is in the house!

Congratulations to Dr. Mary Green, who successfully defended her dissertation this morning. Her dissertation, "Journalism Students, Web 2.0 and Digital Divide," was directed by Dr. Kim LeDuff.

Ford Foundation Diversity Fellowships

Ford Foundation Diversity Fellowships are designed to increase the diversity of the nation’s college and university faculties by increasing their ethnic and racial diversity, to maximize the educational benefits of diversity, and to increase the number of professors who can and will use diversity as a resource for enriching the education of all students.

Eligibility to apply for a Ford fellowship is limited to:

All citizens or nationals of the United States regardless of race, national origin, religion, gender, age, disability, or sexual orientation,
Individuals with evidence of superior academic achievement (such as grade point average, class rank, honors or other designations),
Individuals committed to a career in teaching and research at the college or university level.

More details here: http://sites.nationalacademies.org/pga/fordfellowships/

Master's Comps is today!

Master's students have to take a 6-hour exam after they finish their course work. Today is the happy day!