The work and legacy of Glen M. Broom, School of Journalism & Media Studies professor emeritus, was honored on Feb. 22, when San Diego State University announced a campaign to raise funds to launch a professional center for public relations in his honor. (more…)

A paper written by JMS faculty member Noah Arceneaux received an “Outstanding Faculty Paper” award at the 2012 conference of the American Journalism Historians Association (AJHA), held in Raleigh, N.C., in mid-October.

Dr. Arceneaux based his manuscript, “Wireless newspapers: Remote publishing on islands and ships, 1899-1913,” on original archival research. The paper documents the use of wireless telegraphy by newspapers more than a hundred years ago, a time when wireless was truly “new media.” Using terminology very similar to that used today, the publishers of the wireless newspapers boasted that they could be delivered anywhere, at any time, and that the new technology was a great miracle of science.

The Public Relations Society of America has named San Diego State University Associate Professor Bey-Ling Sha as its 2012 Outstanding Educator of the Year.

Sha teaches graduate and undergraduate classes in the School of Journalism & Media Studies, including Principles of Public Relations, the first core public relations class within the specialization.

After earning her Ph.D. from the University of Maryland, Sha worked as a practitioner, serving as a public affairs officer with the U.S. Census Bureau. Subsequently, she served as visiting faculty at the University of Maryland and the American University of Paris. In 2004, Sha joined the faculty at SDSU.

“SDSU has had a strong public relations program for decades, not only in the research done by our faculty, but also in the relationships built with our students and alumni,” said Sha, who received her award at the organization’s 2012 International Conference in San Francisco on Oct. 16. “I really got a head start compared to public relations faculty at other universities.”

Two other SDSU professors have been named Outstanding Educators by PRSA — Glen Broom in 1991 and David Dozier in 2008.

For her teaching, Sha won the 2007 Outstanding Faculty Award from SDSU and the 2004 Outstanding Faculty Award from the University of Maryland. However, teaching the next generation of PR professionals is not the only part of the job she enjoys.

“I genuinely believe in the value of research-based and theory-driven practice,” Sha said. “Being a professor gives me the chance not only to teach, but also to do research and develop public relations theory.”

Sha’s primary area of research combines theories of mathematical physics with public relations scholarship. Her other research areas include cultural identity, international public relations, activism and gender.

Sha’s scholarly work has been published in “Journal of Public Relations Research,” “Public Relations Review,” “Public Relations Journal,” “Journalism & Mass Communication Quarterly,” and “Journal of Promotion Management,” as well as various book chapters.

Sha also joined Glen Broom as the co-author of the 11th edition of “Effective Public Relations,” a textbook that has been popular worldwide since it was first introduced in 1952.

Post by Nicole Lee, JMS graduate student. Photo by Rosanna Fiske.

Although Sandra Coronilla had known for a few days, it wasn’t until 11:44 a.m. on July 5 that it became real.

The Society of Professional Journalists posted a tweet to its 11,800-plus followers: “Congrats to @SandraCoronilla for winning this year’s Robert D.G. Lewis First Amendment Award!”

Almost immediately, congratulatory notes began to flood in from across the country. (more…)

Carrie O’Connell, a graduate student in the School of Journalism & Media Studies, presented a paper at the 2012 Student Research Symposium on the use of social media during the uprisings in Egypt.

The paper, titled, “Network theory and political revolution: A case study of the role of social media in the diffusion of political revolution in Egypt,” was among the hundreds of student research presentations during the symposium, held on the SDSU campus on March 9-10.

O’Connell’s study used a social-network analysis of key trending topics of Twitter to examine the impact of social media on the month-long political protests in Egypt in 2011. The central research question focused on an emerging concern in social activism, which seeks to determine whether pervasive social media have any real-world effects. The study charted the virtual connections between users and how information spreads through new media platforms and analyzed the correlation between the rise and influence of new media and political engagement of the various publics involved.

O’Connell’s preliminary findings supported similar research of online networks, indicating that online communities that have roots in or can translate to actual communities enjoy the best chances for social efficacy. O’Connell will continue her study throughout the summer and complete her thesis in the fall.

The San Diego Press Club announced the winners in its 38^th Annual Excellence in Journalism Awards competition, including several recent alumni as well as current students and faculty from the School of Journalism & Media Studies. (more…)