September_CollegeNews24

JOURNALISM AND MASS COMMUNICATION Advertising, Digital Media Innovation, Electronic Media , Mass Communication, Journalism, & Public Relations FACULTY ACCOLADES Nandini Bhalla attended the 2024 AEJMC as an elected member of the Standing Committee on Teaching (SCT), and had the honor of presenting in two sessions: 1. Nandini presented in a high-density session, "Teaching Experts Are In: Preparing Educators for Teaching the Next Generation." Her Topic was “Teaching Culturally Diverse Students." 2. Nandini presented a co-authored study, "What Universities Want: The State of the Journalism & Mass Communication Academic Job Market." She was also a discussant for a refereed research paper session, "Representation and Voice —The Future of Democracy: Media Research on South Asia and Its Diaspora Worldwide Part II," South Asia Communication Association (SACA), AEJMC, Philadelphia. [1] Larry Carlson is now an advisor to Cotton Bowl Historian Charlie Fiss, helping to provide nominees for induction into the Cotton Bowl Hall of Fame. Carlson is senior writer and podcaster for The History of Longhorn Sports (texaslsn.org ) and again covered Southeastern Conference (SEC) Media Days in July. He is a member of the Football Writers Association of America. The Austin American-Statesman newspaper and the Texas Standard statewide radio program featured SJMC students and their work, covering developments in the Robb Elementary School mass shooting in Uvalde. Nine students interviewed, videotaped, photographed and wrote about a number of families who’ve had to deal with the aftermath of the tragedy two years ago that took the lives of 19 fourth-graders and two teachers. The American- Statesman ran a number of stories in their May 26 edition in the Sunday Plus section. The Texas Standard aired 10 of the students’ stories over the same period commemorating the anniversary of the May 24, 2022 shooting. This is the second year SJMC students went to and wrote about Uvalde’s mass shooting. Last year, four students were part 10 | September | College News 1 2 3 of the project; nine participated this year. The coverage was coordinated by Associate Professor of Practice Eraldo “Dino” Chiecchi. Michel M. Haigh was appointed to the Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication (AEJMC) Presidential Task Force on Undergraduate Research and Engagement. She will be working with the seven-member task force through the 2024-2025 academic year. Celia Ruiz from Port Neches-Groves High School took this photo of two classmates during the UIL/ILPC summer journalism workshop, hosted by SJMC in June. The workshop included sessions on photography, video, and news writing. It was the first time in UIL's history that the organization presented the workshop at Texas State. [2] In June, more than 150 high school students attended the UIL/ILPC summer journalism workshop—which was held at Texas State for the first time in its history. Students chose to specialize in one aspect of their storytelling during their time at TXST, such as photography, videography, or advanced writing. The camp used all of the classroom spaces in Old Main, as well as spaces in Centennial Hall and Hines Academic Center. Special thanks to SJMC employees Zaq Collins for coordinating all of the technology, Dino Chiecchi for being the on-site coordinator during the workshop days, and Jessica James gave the closing ceremony keynote. Also thanks to SJMC office staff Stephanie Bandy and Angie Sambrano for their guidance! Amber Hinsley was the SJMC coordinator for the workshop. For two weeks this summer, nearly 200 high school students and teachers attended the Texas Debate Collective summer institute—also held at Texas State for the first time in the organization's history. Students met in small group sessions to develop and refine their competitive debate skills. SJMC supported the event as a member of the College of Fine Arts and Communication, as TDC could not have come to campus without a sponsoring unit. Amber Hinsley was the SJMC coordinator for the institute. At the end of the camp, TDC presented SJMC with a framed and signed photograph of the attendees and organizers. Amber Hinsley helped lead a preconference workshop for doctoral candidates and early career faculty at the annual Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication in Philadelphia in August. Hinsley also was invited to speak on a panel at the conference, sharing SJMC's involvement in the initial planning for a presidential debate at Texas State and how our programs pivoted to contribute to civic engagement and awareness initiatives across campus and for student media. Cindy Royal is a Co-PI on the $2.6M National Science Foundation grant STEM-CLEAR: Creating Contextualized Learning Pathways across Academic and Cultural Boundaries awarded June 2024. Led by PI Apan Qasem in the Computer Science department, this 5-year initiative is designed to introduce STEM education across disciplines at TXST. The Digital Media Innovation degree program, which Royal launched in 2016, inspired the project’s direction. From the proposal, “The DMI program is an example of results that can be achieved when students study technology in meaningful context with relevant curriculum and support. The program will be a template for building the new STEM concentrations in STEM-X disciplines that will support the sustainability of this project.” STUDENT ACCOLADES The Texas State Student Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ) attended the Texas Tribune Festival, Sept. 5 to Sept. 7 in Austin. The Texas State Student Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ) won five out of seven $2000 scholarships awarded from the SPJ San Antonio Pro Chapter. Students were honored at a dinner in San Antonio on Wednesday, June 5. [3] The University Star is a finalist for six College Media Association Pinnacle Awards this year! Winners will be announced at the National College Media Convention in October. 1. Best Website Front Page 2. Best Infographic (Meagan Walters) 3. Best Email Newsletter (Start With The Star) 4. Best Column (Carson Weaver) 5. Sports Best Game Story (James Horton) 6. Best Breaking News Story (Nichaela Shaheen) The University Star is also a finalist for the following Associated Collegiate Press Pacemaker award: Design of the Year 1. Informational Graphic – Meagan Walters , Party Safety College of Fine Arts and Communication | 11 Nandini Bhalla attended the 2024 AEJMC as an elected member of the Standing Committee on Teaching (SCT) Celia Ruiz snaps a photo of two classmates at the UIL/ILPC summer journalism workshop at Texas State Cara Cervenka, Alexander Tawiah and Madelin Morales awarded scholarships from the SPJ San Antonio Pro Chapter