October 2021 College News

1 Assistant Professor Dr. Nandini Bhalla 2 Dr. Amber Hinsley (Top Right) presenting her paper at the International Symposium on Online Journalism in a virtual research panel 3 Dr. Judy Oskam, featured speaker for the 4-year anniversary of 1 Million Cups event 10 | October | College News JOURNALISM AND MASS COMMUNICATION Advertising, Digital Media Innovation, Electronic Media , Mass Communication, Journalism, & Public Relations FACULTY ACCOLADES Dr. Nandini Bhalla [1] presented her frst-authored teaching abstract at PRSA Educators Academy on Friday, Oct. 22, in Florida. Te topic was "Eco-Tourism Campaigns as a Framework for Global PR Course." Real Border: 100 Questions and Answers About the U.S.- Mexico Frontera , a book edited by newly hired associate professor of practice Eraldo “Dino” Chiecchi [5] has been awarded an honorable mention by the International Latino Book Awards. Chiecchi edited the book written by UTEP students under his guidance in a special topics class. Chiecchi also served as photo editor for the book, available in English and Spanish as an e-book, and as a paperback on Amazon. Dr. Amber Hinsley presented her paper "Cued up: How audience demographics infuence reliance on news cues, confrmation bias and confdence in identifying misinformation" at the International Symposium on Online Journalism in a research panel that was held virtually. [2] Te paper was published in the conference's peer-viewed journal. Hinsley also is part of an interdisciplinary research team that recently had two research articles accepted by the journal Health Communication : "Interpersonal Communication Infuence on Health-Protective Behaviors Amid the COVID-19 Crisis" and "Harnessing an Integrated Health Communication (IHC) Framework for Campaigns: A Case of Prescription Drug Decision Making Health Communication." Dr. Judy Oskam was a featured speaker for the 4-year anniversary of 1 Million Cups Round Rock on Oct. 6, 2021. [3] 1 Million Cups is an event designed to educate, engage and accelerate early-stage startups. Oskam recently completed the Round Rock Chamber of Commerce’s 2021 Entrepreneurship program. Senior lecturer and MILab Assistant Director Jon Zmikly and members of the Innovation Club held several virtual reality workshops [4 & 5] for the 2021 Texas State AITP IT Symposium on Friday, Oct. 8. Te annual symposium, hosted by the Department of Computer Information Systems & Quantitative Methods, invites high schoolers from around the area to participate in sessions and competitions focused on the future of computer and information systems. Students lined up at the VR table to play immersive games and experience 360° stories. SCHOOL ACCOLADES Mass Comm Week 2021 speakers [6] and panels focused on a theme “NEXT” in media. Organizers and faculty hosted 24 ofcial sessions with more than 38 individual speakers, 20 of these speakers were SJMC alumni. Speakers joined classes both in person and online via zoom. Te event continued SJMC’s partnership with the Vidal M. Treviño high school in Laredo, Texas as part of the D.D. Hachar Visiting Hispanic Media Professionals program. Tis program connects Hispanic media professionals with students from the school to inspire them to seek careers in media and mass communication. Professional photographer and SJMC alum Albert Suárez was the 2021 Hachar featured speaker. Mass Comm Week 2021 was coordinated by Graduate Instructional Assistant Jaelyn Ashford and student intern Ashley Stowers, as well as the fall 2021 media practicum class. Multiple pre-recorded sessions and panels are available to view in our “on-demand” section of our website at www. txstatemcweek.com. Te University Star was named a national College Media Association Pinnacle Awards online fnalist in the category for Best Breaking News Coverage for its winter storm coverage. Judges also named Jaden Edison and Brianna Benitez as fnalists for Best Multi- Media Breaking News Coverage for their coverage of a house fre near campus. Te University Star also received recognition as a design fnalist for Best Online Infographic for its Black history at TXST timeline. Additionally, Leanne Castro received a writing fnalist designation for Best General News Story for her look at how TXST anthropologists work to identify the remains of migrants. Finalists will receive a plaque and winners will be announced at the National College Media Virtual Convention beginning October 15. 4 Members of the Innovation Club at the 2021 Texas State AITP IT Symposium 5 Assistant Director Jon Zmikly (Right) at the 2021 Texas State AITP IT Symposium 6 Mass Comm Week '21 Speakers Cailey Craig, Katie Stone, and Ashleigh Doan (Left to Right) College of Fine Arts and Communication | 11