The School of Journalism & Media Studies at San Diego State University has opened a state-of-the-art digital media lab for its students.

The new learning space is part of the School’s strategic initiative to further both the School’s and the University’s reputation as the region’s leading innovator in digital and social media education and training. (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.

Six JMS faculty members made research presentations at the 95th annual conference of the Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication (AEJMC). The conference was Aug. 9-12 in Chicago.

David Dozier, Rebecca Nee, Bey-Ling Sha, Amy Schmitz Weiss, Hongmei Shen and Tim Wulfemeyer participated in the conference, which marked the 100th anniversary of the organization.

Here is a list of the JMS faculty presentations: (more…)

A group of enterprising journalism students worked together with a group of computer science students in spring 2012 to produce an innovative digital media product called “AzteCast.”

AzteCast is a free mobile news app that provides information about campus events to faculty, staff and students at SDSU. The application allows for members of the campus community to contribute to the product, making it a collaborative news experience. (more…)

The School of Journalism & Media Studies will offer a new university-wide course in digital media literacy beginning fall semester 2012.

JMS 296, an experimental topics course whose formal title is Social Media in the Digital Age, is part of the School’s strategic initiative to further both the School’s and the University’s reputation as the region’s established leader in digital and social media education and training. (more…)