Newsroom Archive

The School of Journalism and Mass Communication is proud to showcase a video produced  by students in the digital production class taught by David Nolan. Our Hometown Heroes is a documentary that reveals first-hand experiences about the integration of Texas State University.

Elan Tavor graduated from the SJMC with a degree in Public Relations in 2001. Now a home builder with The Tavor Company and real estate broker with John Daugherty Realtors,

Isamar Terrazas graduated from the SJMC Electronic Media sequence in 2014. Terrazas is now employed with NBC Universal/Telemundo 40 in McAllen, TX as a Field Producer and Assignments News Editor. 

James McNeal graduated from the SJMC Electronic Media Sequence in 2010 and is now the Digital Account Executive KXAN/LIN Digital in Austin! We are proud to recognize McNeal as an SJMC alum who is now applying the skills from the program in the Austin market. Congrats, James!

Lauren Lee graduated from the SJMC with a degree in public relations in 2004. Sincethen, Lee has become involved in Corporate Media Relations at Dell Inc. in Round Rock.

Join us in congratulating SJMC graduate, Meagan Stokes, on obtaining a position as News Producer at KWKT-TV in Waco, Texas! Meagan graduated from Texas State in May with a degree in Electronic Media, taking with her the tools, knowledge, and confidence to succeed in the industry.

Tiffany young is a recent 2016 graduate from our Public Relations sequence in the SJMC. While at Texas State, Young served in multiple student organizations, including Student Government, Student Organizations Council, Cat Camp, and Student Foundation.

Students in Editing for Clear Communication, instructed by Elizabeth Clark, submitted impressive content for their final projects. Students used Storify, a social networking site that gives the user the ability to create visually appealing stories through other platforms, such as Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, to complete their assignment chronicling the evolution of mass media.

Everyone has at least one person in his or her life who is gifted with the passion for daily horoscope readings. Whether they're conveniently found online or in your favorite lifestyle magazine, most people take the readings with a grain of salt. But others take them as a way of life, following each line as closely as you would follow instructions when assembling a piece of IKEA furniture.

SJMC undergraduate Pablo Mejia contributed this excellent piece for his final project in Photojournalism course instructed by Anna Mazurek. Mejia showcases the artistic talents of "The Man in the Mirror," Texas State University bus driver, Kim Gardner. Texas State University students fill the maroon bus from both sides.

Last Tuesday, October 6th, was News Engagement Day, an initiative started last year by the president of the Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication aimed at getting young adults to pay more attention to the news. Assistant Professor of Journalism & Mass Communication, Kelly Kaufhold led this year's initiative by standing outside the LBJ center and playing "News Engagement Cash Cab," a game show that asked students current events questions.

Story by SJMC Study Abroad graduate student, Aisling Niestroy:Twenty-nine inspired students. Three encouraging faculty members. Two historic countries. One unforgettable experience. The School of Journalism and Mass Communication sponsored a Study Abroad trip to London and Paris in June, and SJMC graduate assistant Aisling Niestroy shared what she learned during her time abroad.

The National Student Advertising Competition (NSAC) team won the Judges Special Award for Best Promotion at the American Advertising Federation (AAF) 10th District Convention, held April 10 – 13 in Tulsa, Okla…

PRSSA’s Gala was a hit! Over 100 people came out. Seniors Paige Vaughn and Gregory Tate received the Mass Communication Leader of the Year awards…

We would like to take a moment to congratulate the winners of the CBI National Student Production Awards Competition 2016, which were honored during the College Broadcasters, Inc. National Student Electronic Media Convention…

Check out the gallery below to catch the highlights of Friday's annual SJMC Spring Awards Ceremony! Thank you to all who attended and congratulations to all of our outstanding students!

Breanna Andrea Salinas (B.S. in Public Relations, Texas State University) chose a concentration in Digital Media in SJMC graduate school because the growth of technology, social media and "all things digital" has always excited her."During my program, not only did I get to learn from brilliant professors like Dr. Royal, Dr. Rao, Dr. Higgins-Joyce and Dr. Grimes," she said. “But I was also able to work under them like Dr. Ngondo, Dale Blasingame, and Jon Zmikly.”

It hasn’t been long since Carissa Kelley Conteh was a master’s student at the School of Journalism and Mass Communication at Texas State. But now, she is one of the 32 communication experts recognized by Ad 2 Dallas…

The School of Journalism and Mass Communication and McCoy College of Business is proud to announce that Texas State’s 2017 AAF-NSAC team has placed third at the AAF District 10 Convention and Student Competition…

Each year, a selection committee of faculty and students combs through applications for Texas State instructors deserving of honorary mention. One of the most prestigious awards, presented by President Trauth, is fittingly coined the ‘Presidential Award,’ which can be awarded for outstanding performance in teaching, scholarship, or service…

By Alexandra White, Mass Communication Graduate Student The School of Journalism and Mass Communication hosted the first ever PhDigital Bootcamp May 14-20 in the Media Innovation Lab. This program, funded by the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, recruited mass communication doctoral students and early career faculty from across the country to improve their digital skills and prepare them to lead innovative curriculum.

We were so proud on Tuesday to honor many of our top students at the 2018 SJMC Awards Ceremony. Quita Culpepper of KVUE joined us as our first-ever Michael S. “Mike” George Lecture Speaker…

We are incredibly proud of our students who joined us for the 2019 SJMC Awards Ceremony last Tuesday, May 7. Our Top 10% of students (academically) were inducted into Kappa Tau Alpha, a college honors society that recognizes academic excellence and promotes scholarship…

The Texas State University 2020 American Advertising Federation National Advertising Student Competition (NSAC) Team will advance to the national competition for the first time since 2010…

We are in our third week of the 2018 & 2019 school year, and we couldn’t be more excited to get the ball rolling! We would like to provide you with some tips to get your semester going and create best practices to ensure you have the best semester possible: Make sure you have all your textbooks At this point, you should have already gotten your textbooks. But journalists are seasoned procrastinators, right?

The Graduate College once again held a conference for graduate student to showcase their studies and projects. Held on Nov.15-16, it was the Eighth Annual International Conference for Graduate Student Research at Texas State University. Mass Communication graduate students presented their research and plan for furthering their research questions and studies.

The Graduate College at Texas State University hosted a conference for graduate student to showcase their research on Nov. 7-8. SJMC graduate students shared their research about Hurricane Harvey media coverage, relief efforts, immigration, the 2016 election and political interactions on social media by college students.

 http://youtu.be/zLGqqqVO7I4 With only two newscasts into the semester, Drs. Tim England and Ray Niekamp stand proud of their students who write, report and produce the weekly news program Bobcat Update, after Thursday's program went off without a hitch. England said that in his 20 years of teaching, he's never seen a showcase-worthy report this early in the term.

by Pat Baldwin: "It is always great to see our future entrepreneurs bringing new ideas to the table," said Skeeter Miller, owner and president of The County Line Inc. That table also was laden with barbecue March 3 when graduate students from MC 5326, Seminar in Strategic Communication, met with Miller and the Austin-based barbecue company's director of special events Vanessa Tobias.

By: Olivia Garcia -- Kayla Urbanovsky scrolled through her Facebook feed on Feb. 17, 2013 and that evening, she noticed many statuses about a disturbance in her hometown of West, TX. A fertilizer plant had exploded, claiming 15 lives and damaging over 300 homes. Urbanovsky’s elementary and high school were destroyed, and luckily, her family and home were safe from the explosion. On the one-year anniversary of the tragedy, she remembers how her hometown’s resilience changed her life.“West is now known as the small town in Texas that exploded,” Urbanovsky said.

We are proud to announce the Accrediting Council on Education in Journalism and Mass Communication (ACEJMC) has voted to reaccredit the undergraduate program at Texas State University’s School of Journalism and Mass Communication…

Dorothy Patterson, advertising senior, was on the team that placed second for creating an integrated communications campaign in eight hours for client MJWJ Global Radio Network at the 2013 American Advertising Federation (AAF)-Houston Student Competition and Conference held November 1 – 2.

The Ad Club at Texas State visited San Francisco for its annual agency tour the week of January 8 – 14. Faculty Advisor Emmeline Aguirre Olson accompanied 21 members on the trip. The unusually rainy weather made the trip to the City by the Bay longer than expected with an extended layover in Denver an unplanned stop in Orange County.

By Paola Esquivel-Oliveros, Journalism seniorP_e22@txstate.eduTexas State University’s Advertising Club is taking a new approach by creating workshops to prepare members for their careers. Ad Club Dalia Hernandez said she plans to attend the workshops in order get an inside perspective on how her career will look like in the future.

The Texas State Ad Club recently made a monumental trip to NYC to explore prestigious advertising agencies, experience city life and enjoy an unending buffet of street food. Junior and VP of Programs Kristopher Garza organized the trip for 32 officers and members from Jan. 7 to 11. Students toured advertising agencies McGarryBowen, Droga5, Y&R, Poke, Deutsch, Inc. and McCann. They also visited Tumblr and The New York Times…

Story by Dalia Moreno. Roger Allen found an interest in radio at an early age. His parents usually had a pop or country station playing in the background during car rides, and in their home in Memphis, Tennessee. Allen recalls listening to Rick Dees, a radio personality on WMPS-AM and later at WHBQ-AM, “He was funny, used a lot of character voices, and unique skits on his show. He made listening a fun experience.”

Growing up both playing and watching her younger sister play sports, senior public relations major Alexandra Pernice of Plano always had a passion for athletics. Today, she is able to combine her love of sports with her educational concentration by serving as an intern for USA Wrestling in Colorado Springs, Colo. Interning with USOCUSA Wrestling, a non-governing body with the United State Olympic Committee, enlisted Pernice to work as its communications intern.

From valet attendant to co-founder of a digital marketing agency, Kevin Quintero is the definition of an innovated entrepreneur. Tenoch Labs is the brain child of two roommates who didn’t want to work under anyone besides themselves and knew that containing their creative minds would be selfish. With his “If anyone can do it, I can do it better” mentality, Quintero has manifested the perfect amount of perseverance to become a successful entrepreneur.

Since graduating in 2006 with a double major in mass communications--emphasis on electronic media--and Spanish, Rita Garcia has been busy being promoted and receiving awards…

It's always exciting to see SJMC alums in the national spotlight, and last Tuesday was doubly so. Alumnae Quita Culpepper and Eileen Gonzalez both had short cameos on ABC's new show, "Killer Women" which is based and filmed in Central Texas.

The School of Journalism and Mass Communication is honored to feature Southwest Texas State alumna Heloise on Tuesday, March 21 from 5:30 - 7:30 p.m. in the Performing Arts Center Recital Hall.A 1974 graduate, she earned a Bachelor of Science in Education with a double major in Business Administration and Mathematics along with a teacher's certificate.

by Luis Federico. Lisa Martin was wearing an SWT James Avery charm bracelet while working a shift at H.E.B. Then a customer got in her line who would change her life. Larry Carlson, senior lecturer at Texas State, approached Martin and asked if she was a student at the university.“Well, I’m going to be,” Martin said. Not knowing what she wanted to study, Martin accepted Carlson’s invitation to visit the university’s mass communication department.

SJMC grad alumna Melinda Urbina says that working for the NCI's Multicultural and International Communications branch in Rockville, MD, promises to be filled with interesting and valuable learning experiences…

The song was called “Lost and Found,” and alumnus Randy Rogers performed it for the first time over a decade ago while still in school. He exemplifies the idea that talent, drive and a good heart can take you places you never imagined…

Sonia Díaz, BA 2006, joined Balsera Communications, an award-winning US Hispanic public relations and public affairs agency in Miami, Florida, in July 2011 as a Senior Account Executive…

At their SXSWi Core Conversation on Tuesday, SJMC alumnae Maira Garcia and Anna Tauzin talked about the importance of personal branding in today's social media-driven world…

Mike Emery likes homework. His life and career have evolved over the years thanks to his commitment to always working, learning, and staying busy…

By Alexandra White, Mass Communication Graduate Student Claudia Escobar attended Texas State from 2011 until 2015, when she graduated with her Bachelor of Arts in Mass Communication, with a focus in Public Relations. Since she was in high school, she knew she wanted to go to Texas State for its beautiful campus and small town feel. 

By Alexandra White, Mass Communication Graduate Student Dylan Lochridge-Fletcher is a recent Texas State Mass Communication graduate. She attended Texas State for undergrad from the Fall of 2012 to the Spring of 2016, majoring in Mass Communication and minoring in Art & Design. She was in the Mass Communication Master's program from the Summer of 2016 until she graduated in the Fall of 2017. 

By Alexandra White, Mass Communication Graduate Student Austin native Ishmael Johnson attended Texas State University from 2010 to 2014 as a Journalism major. He decided to be a bobcat, originally for the university's McCoy Business School and its proximity to Austin, but it didn't take long before he decided to make the switch to Old Main. Since graduating, Johnson has been heavily involved in journalism, both in San Marcos and other cities.

By Alexandra White, Mass Communication Graduate Student Kelli Bechtol graduated from Texas State in 2017 with a Bachelor of Science in Mass Communication with a focus in Electronic Media. She also minored in theatre with a focus in production. She is currently living in Austin, Texas, working as an assistant editor for Megalomedia on a TLC reality TV show called "My 600 lb Life," and “My 600 lb Life, Where They Are Now.”

Meghan Bates graduated from Texas State in December of 2015, double majoring in Public Relations and Spanish. She chose to go to Texas State because the campus felt just as down-to-earth and caring as her close-knit hometown in northeast Texas. Since graduating, she has been able to travel to China and South America to visit her friends and mentor.

McKenzie Smith grew up in New Braunfels, Texas, where weekly trips to the local waterpark, Schlitterbahn, were her favorite activity. As a teen, she spent her summers working as a lifeguard for the park, but eventually she knew she wanted to do more for the company. After graduating high school, she decided to pursue a degree in public relations at Texas State University.

Each year a selection committee comprised of faculty and students comb through applications for instructors at Texas State deserving of honorary mention. One of the most prestigious awards, presented by President Trauth, is fittingly coined the ‘Presidential Award’ and can be awarded for outstanding performance in teaching, scholarship, or service.

By Shannon Bailie: Mindy Green, a public relations alumna, interned for the Office of University Marketing at Texas State University last spring as a student social media worker. Mindy gained valuable PR experience through a variety of duties including: managing the content for Texas State’s social media sites (Twitter, Facebook and Instagram), writing for the Texas State blog and editing marketing materials. “I love[d] it,” said Green.

By Mark A. Alvarez IINEW YORK — Seeking to make a mark in the world capital of media, Bobcat Promotions, Texas State University’s student-run public relations firm, took its fourth annual trip to New York City this past January. Twelve young practitioners were given the opportunity to broaden their PR perspectives by engaging in numerous professionals at top PR firms, museums and the United Nations.

In the spirit of giving (and earning an A), some SJMC students are asking students, faculty and staff to literally give from their hearts this season. Students in Grace Capwell's PR Campaigns class are hosting a student-run blood drive on Tuesday Dec. 1  from 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. in the LBJ Student Center (room 3-15.1).

by Cheyenne Meyer: Robert “Bob” Metcalfe, the inventor of Ethernet and Professor of Innovation at the University of Texas at Austin, visited Texas State University’s Digital Entrepreneurship class on Weds, Feb. 11. Metcalfe was the second speaker in the series sponsored by the School of Journalism Mass Communication, designed to bring distinguished entrepreneurs to the school to discuss communication and business with mass media students. 

Bobcat Promotions, the student-run public relations firm through the School of Journalism and Mass Communication, held its first reunion at Saltgrass Steakhouse. The event also welcomed back alumni participation in the National Bateman Case Study Competition.Tracie Wrape, who currently works at Luling Oil & Gas and participated in Bateman, said the reunion was “a wonderful idea.” She said she was proud to see continued success of public relations graduates in the marketplace.“I know the reunion is going to get bigger each year and I look forward in getting involved in promoting it.”

By Gabriella Carrizales, Journalism seniorGac78@txstate.eduBobcat Promotions wants to make an impact on the community by raising money for natural disaster victims.The first Bobcat Promotions Charity event is April 4 at Aquabrew Restaurant and Brewery, San Marcos.The event will feature bands, and the proceeds will go to a family or small group of people affected by a disaster. Bobcat Promotions has not yet decided specifically where the proceeds from this event will go.

SAN MARCOS, Texas — Members of Bobcat Promotions (BPR), the student-run media strategies firm at Texas State University, will be returning to New York Jan. 7–13, 2018, for its 4th Annual Professional Development Tour. The trip provides BPR members and select others the opportunity to learn from other professionals in the industry.

by Chuck Kaufman: Senior executives and staff members with Bobcat Promotions recently returned from the group’s first professional development tour to New York City. They returned to Texas enriched with industry knowledge from the world’s media capital and fun experiences that took advantage of both their senses and pocketbooks.

By Jennifer Alvord. NEW YORK — A trip to New York City means more than finding 99-cent pizza, $30 drinks, tickets to a Broadway show, walking across the Brooklyn Bridge and tipping a Disney character in Times Square for a selfie. Those were mere sideshows to the main event of the Second Annual Bobcat Promotions Professional Development trip to the Big Apple. 

Jason Britsch refers to himself as the “one-man band ” at KOSA CBS 7 in Odessa, covering everything from city council to wildfires…

Michael Justin “Burnie” Burns visited Texas State University’s School of Journalism and Mass Communication as the seventh and final speaker of the Digital Entrepreneurship Speaker Series on Weds, April 22. Burns is the co-creator of the internet video series “Red vs. Blue” and co-founder of the production company Rooster Teeth. Digital media professor Jon Zmikly began the Q&A-style discussion by asking Burns to give a history of his career in digital production.

Professor Jenny Buschhorn was awarded the 2019 Educator of the Year by the Austin chapter of the American Advertising Federation.  She is the Advertising Program coordinator and Assistant Professor of Practice in the School of Journalism and Mass Communication. 

SJMC students Zac Covey, Tyler Gaudin, Ryan Gonzalez and Emily Liberto met with Round Rock Express play-by-play announcer Mike Capps Tuesday at Dell Diamond as part of Larry Carlson's MC 1100 Careers In Writing class.

“West Nile Watch,” a public health video co-produced by Carole Barasch and Jonathan Uhl, received first place in the public health category from the Texas Association of Telecommunications Officers and Advisers. Barasch also wrote and narrated the piece…

Daniel Carter and Kym Fox have been named fellows of the Translational Health Research Center for their work with Texas Community Health News (TCHN). Carter and Fox explained the mission of TCHN at a Health and Resilience Research Network Meeting entitled “Disseminating Research: From Publication to the Public” in late September…

Join Assistant Director Harry Bowers for his special series, Chalk Talk, geared toward SJMC students. All events will begin at 2:00 p.m. in Old Main 320.March 25All about the SJMC: From admission to graduation and all the stops in between.

All events will begin at 3:30 p.m. in Old Main 320.September 14All about the SJMC: From admission to graduation and all the stops in between. Overview: Designed for PACE students and other students concerning a major in the SJMC to learn about entrance requirements, matriculation to full-major status, majors, and academic and co-curricular opportunities in the SJMC.

Posted by SJMC Professor Cindy Royal:Whenever I am traveling, I love to be able to check in with former students to see how they are doing. This month, I was in Washington, D.C. for the conference of the Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication. While on the east coast, I also made plans to head up to New York City for a few days to see some friends and say hi to a few of our SJMC alumni.

Eraldo “Dino” Chiecchi was featured on the front page of the The University Star in a feature story about his book Josue: A Young Man’s Life Lost to Suicide. Reporter Haley Velasco (photo credit) interviewed several people for her article, including Gaby Lucero, Josue’s mother who praised Chiecchi’s efforts keeping her son’s memory alive…

SJMC Senior Lecturer Beth Clark has been elected for a two-year term as regional director for Region V of the Garden Writers Association, an international nonprofit that provides leadership and opportunities for education, career development and interactions among professionals in the field of garden communications.

We proudly announce that the University Star is a College Media Association Pinnacle Awards Finalist…

Ms. Polanco is the first recipient of the Mary Rose Brown Endowed Scholarship.  She is a freshman Electronic Media major from Roma, Texas…

There are many monuments and tributes scattered all across the United States commemorating both Texas State alumnus, President Lyndon B Johnson and Dr Martin Luther King, Jr, but the one here in San Marcos, Texas, is especially notable – it is situated at what is believed to be the only intersection in the entire country where two streets bearing the name of these two great men, meet.

Dr. Cindy Royal traverses Europe, works with journalists, attends ICA:As a college professor, I often get to attend academic conferences, which can take place at many locales around the globe. This summer, I chose to attend the International Communication Association (ICA) conference in London. Since I was going to travel so far, I decided to make a trip out of it, both personal and professional.

By: Jennifer Alvord. Texas State alumna Dee Kapila spoke to Fundamentals of Digital and Online Media students on Wednesday about the importance of constantly learning new skills in a digital career. Kapila graduated from the University of Texas with an undergraduate degree in advertising. 

Fasten Your Seat Belt for New Texas State Round Rock Course. This is your ticket:  a new travel journalism course offers no-fail formulas for successful travel writing and photography.  Get on board and register now for the new fall 2014 course at Texas State Round Rock campus.

by Becky Larson: Maira Garcia is a senior staff editor at the New York Times. She works to organize, strategize and push content for the paper's homepage, NYTimes.com. Interviewed by digital media graduate student Jordon Brown and speaking to what felt like a hometown crowd, Garcia, who is a Texas State graduate, returned to the university this past week as the most recent speaker in the SJMC's Digital Entrepreneurship Series.

Story by: Wesley HigginsTexas Tribune’s Becca Aaronson kicked off the third annual Digital Media Entrepreneur Speaker Series with a discussion with Texas State students and faculty on Jan. 29.Aaronson is the Texas Tribune’s Product Manager and is also a founding member of the nonprofit news site's interactive data and visuals team. Aaronson spoke to a group of graduate and undergraduate students about the digital side of reporting and how to prepare for a newsroom like the Texas Tribune’s.

The speaker series in Cindy Royal’s Digital Media Innovation Capstone course included several alumni of the program this semester. Digital Media Innovation graduates Julia Pinto (’17), Luis Seijo (’18 ) and Anne Cox ( ’20), who work in web content and sales operations roles for South By Southwest, spoke with students on March 28 about the large-scale music, film and technology event…

Part I: As the fall semester begins, we would like to commemorate the fifth anniversary of launching the Digital Media Innovation (DMI) undergraduate degree. On August 4, 2016, the program received final approval from the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board and launched into Fall 2016 with two students. Since then, the program has grown to an enrollment of more than 300, with several hundred students having graduated with the degree.

Digital Media Innovation major Felicia Quichocho is the recipient of the Texas Tribune Engineering Fellowship, the first engineering fellowship offered by the non-profit news organization…

Congrats to Dr. Amber Hinsley for her recently published article “Examining the Theory of Motivated Information Management (TMIM) in the COVID-19 Pandemic.”…

In Saturday's SXSW Interactive panel "Disrupting J School with Digital Culture", SJMC's Dr. Cindy Royal explained how academic institutions can be more nimble by developing a culture of innovation. Joined by University of Southern California Annenberg's Robert Hernandez, the session started with an introduction to digital culture, then discussed how innovation is happening at each of their respective schools, and ended by providing advice for other academics seeking to introduce digital concepts and topics into curriculum.

Congratulations to Dr. Ali Forbes for being selected as a Kopenhaver Center Fellow at the 2022 Association of Education in Journalism and Mass Communication Convention in Detroit, Michigan…

Faculty Spotlight: Dr. Laurie Fluker, written by Chioma Nwosu:Associate Dean of the College of Fine Arts and Communication and an Associate Professor of the School of Journalism and Mass Communication, Dr. Fluker has a passion for her job and says she falls in love with it more and more every-day. It radiates through her teaching and her attitude toward her students. I was a student of Dr. Fluker's last semester, and her Intro to Mass Communication course is said to be difficult.

Dr. Nandini Bhalla published a co-authored paper titled “A two-path model of the impact of LGBTQ+ diversity CSR levels on public response” in Public Relations Review, a top PR journal with a high impact factor…

Please join us in congratulating Dr. Dave Nolan, who has just been awarded the National Press Photographers Association Robin F. Garland Educator Award!…

SJMC Associate Professor Tim England was honored with the Keith P. Sanders Outstanding Service Award by Kappa Tau Alpha and the Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication on Friday, August 9, 2013 in Washington, D.C.

The 2017 Presidential Inauguration was one for the books. As protestors, supporters, heads-of-state and average citizens filled the Capitol building and its grounds on Jan. 20, members of the University Star joined their ranks to cover the big event. Editor-in-chief Emily Sharp attended both the presidential inauguration and the Women’s March, while also covering the Texas State Strutters’ performance for the school newspaper. Sharp sat down with us and shared her experience in Washington, D.C. and attending these historical events.

The Texas Managing Editors, an organization of the state’s newspaper editors and other journalists, awarded Associate Professor of Practice Eraldo “Dino” Chiecchi with its Jack Douglas Award – the group’s highest honor – at its annual convention in Galveston on April 15…

You never know where an opportunity may lead you. For Chuck Kaufman, one opportunity, eight years ago, led him to become a well-loved senior lecturer at Texas State’s School of Journalism and Mass Communication…

by Becky Larson: Starting Out...Vianna Davila, when looking at her path to a career in journalism, said, “You never know, so put yourself out there.”A native of San Antonio, Davila studied English at Rice University in Houston as an undergraduate. Her introduction to journalism came between her junior and senior years when she got a summer job at one of the San Antonio Express-News’ community papers.“

Mass Comm major Shawna Guilianelli sat down with SJMC professor Bruce Smith to hear his perspective on students, teaching and his traveling adventures. Take a look!

Professor Dave Nolan's passion is photography. He was a military photographer before a faculty member at Texas State. Check out this short photo story on his work, career and life. Dr. Nolan teaches visual communication classes, visual storytelling and media design for the School of Journalism and Mass Communication.

What brought you to the SJMC at Texas State University? I was brought to SJMC to teach media law. In addition to teaching, I also serve as an assistant director in the School of Journalism & Mass Communication…

By: Lindsey Holderby. At the peak of his dream job, a drunk driver brought this sports broadcaster's career to a screeching halt. Larry Carlson, SJMC Senior Lecturer, was driving home after a post-game radio interview when a drunk driver crossed the IH-35 median and hit him head-on. Along with a broken jaw, nose, ribs, and femur, his most crucial asset to his career was taken from him – one of his vocal chords had been paralyzed.

Faculty Member Name:  Pat Baldwin. SJMC Concentration: Public RelationsBackground:  I grew up and graduated from high school in Houston. I’ve worked as a journalist in Houston (Houston Business Journal), Austin (Austin Business Journal), Dallas (Dallas Times Herald, Dallas Morning News and Private Clubs Magazine) and Orlando (Golf for Women Magazine).

By Brenda Brantley: As Leah Keyworth prepares to graduate from Texas State University, she is certain of one thing – a future in nonprofits. When Keyworth was six years old, her father was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS). More than 2.5 million people worldwide suffer from MS and there is currently no known cure.

You may have seen this SJMC student wandering the halls of Old Main throughout the semester, or perhaps sitting beside you in class. Or just maybe you have checked out the website Geeks of Color to peruse the latest coverage of the ‘geek’ world. Well, this summer, Dorian Parks has traded the hills of San Marcos for Los Angeles and the halls of Old Main for the entertainment giant, STARZ.The Television Academy Foundation’s Internship Program provides 50 undergraduate and graduate students with internships in various media production fields.

Organization Name: Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA)Recent events: Bobcat build, Hays county CROP walk, Hill and Knowlton Workshop, Puntos De Vista

SJMC student Victoria Morin created this fantastic piece on Boxing Kings Gym in San Marcos, TX for her final project in Anna Mazurek's Photojournalism course. Check out the slideshow and her story below!

Reissig Media began with a model Compag computer with Microsoft Paint and games. Mass Communication junior, Ryan Reissig, started capturing memories with his brother and their Polariod cameras.  Reissig Media is a product of the dynamic duo simply doing the things they love. 

With a love for drones, web design and technology, Digital Media graduate student Sara Shields is constantly looking for new, innovative ways to tell a story. That's what led her to her newest endeavor: graduation video "e-nouncements." 

Journalism junior Zahra Farah's upcoming summer will be eventful. She has earned a spot in the prestigious Chips Quinn Scholar Internship and will intern at the Kentucky Courier-Journal…

The SJMC’s own photojournalism course instructed by Anna Mazurek has produced some remarkable content! Photojournalism student, Kambiz Shabankare, created this incredible feature story on the Battleship Texas BB-35 and San Jacinto Historic Site volunteer, Charles Smith. Check out his photos and story below!

Center for the Study of Latino Media and Markets Director Federico Subervi makes the case for news literacy in bicultural classrooms.

This summer, the School of Journalism and Mass Communication will host 23 doctoral students and faculty in the 2022 PhDigital Online program…

This May, the School of Journalism and Mass Communication will welcome 20 doctoral students and early career faculty to the third PhDigital Bootcamp. The following fellows have been selected -- out of 67 applications -- for the program:

The SJMC is very pleased to be taking part in the Fifth International Research Conference for Graduate Students on Nov. 6 and Nov. 7 at the LBJSC Ballroom. Many of our mass communication graduate students are participating in the event, so please come and watch them present their research papers.

Film Screening: Parrhesia Oct 09, 6:30PM - 8:30PM    LBJ Student Center (LBJ); Teaching Theater, 4th FloorA documentary that Texas State lecturer Salwa Khan has been working on for the past year and half is going to be shown as part of the university Common Experience this Thursday.

Part II: Last week we kicked off our commemoration of five years of the Digital Media innovation (DMI) program by highlighting some of our successful alumni. We continue showcasing alumni this week, but first let’s take a look back at the origin of the program. What eventually became the DMI degree began with a few faculty sharing ideas for their dream degree on a collaborative document.

Many SJMC alumni will remember Shelley Holmes, who was the Administrative Assistant in the School of Journalism & Mass Communication for 11 years.

Nikki Rowling, founder of the Austin Music Foundation and the consulting firm Titan Music Group, stopped by the School of Journalism and Mass Communication’s Digital Entrepreneurship Speaker Series on Weds, March 11 to talk music, data and business with the mass comm students. The Q&A style discussion was led by SJMC associate professor Cindy Royal.

Freelance journalist chronicles life with quads:by Myriann HardenAmber Bell gave birth to quadruplets last year, and yet she still has time to run her own freelance writing business in Houston.“The pregnancy was one of the most difficult things I have ever done or will ever do,” said the 27-year-old Bell.Bell, who grew up in Irving outside of Dallas, went to community college at 15 to get her associate’s degree. Then she decided she wanted to go to Texas State University-San Marcos to study journalism.“I always liked writing ever since I was really little,” said Bell.Professor Susan Weill said she really enjoyed having Bell in her journalism classes.

Freshmen in the MC Learning Community toured and met with staff at GSD&M and the Austin Office of Weber-Shandwick Worldwide on February 22. At GSD&M students toured each department at the full-service agency and also learned about the creation of the campaign for one of GSD&M's newest clients Radio Shack.

An Article by Alex Almeraz. Texas State Alum and now Journalism Lecturer, Mike McIlvain, is passionate about his job and is a great example of how to use trying times as motivation. The Early Years: Mike attended Southwest Texas State back in the late 70’s and graduated in 1978. He first discovered his interest for Journalism and teaching back in high school. Before he entered college, Mike got a job as a General Office Worker for the Houston Texans of the World Football League.

Just two years after graduating from the SJMC at Texas State University, Isamar Terrazas has already paved a solid foundation for her career in broadcast journalism. Terrazas is now working for KTLM Telemundo 40, as both the Assignments New Editor and as a Field Producer.

We’re proud to announce SJMC’s own Jordan Gass-Pooré has been awarded one of two $1,500 annual scholarships from the Bess Whitehead Scott Scholarship Fund…

Have you met SJMC's own Prisca Ngondo? Professor Ngondo teaches in the public relations sequence in the School of Journalism and Mass Communication, and she sat down with us this week to tell us a few things her students and colleagues might know about her. For this faulty spotlight, we thought it would be fun to find out what she likes to do when she's not busy grading papers and more.

SJMC Senior Lecturer and Assistant Director Gilbert Martinez is known by many students for his life-questioning lectures and incomparable humor. But few are aware of what Martinez has been missing for the past 21 years of his life, or to be more precise, whom. Martinez spent his summer preparing to present research to scholars in Okinawa, Japan which happens to be the birthplace of his mother.

Nick Whitaker, Media Outreach Manager at Google, spoke about strategies, trends and directions in data and information and tools that Google News Lab uses to help journalists and entrepreneurs change the future of media by organizing the world’s information and making it universally accessible and useful during 2016 Mass Comm Week.“This is a unique moment in the history of news,” Whitaker said as he opened the Wednesday afternoon session of Mass Comm Week on October 27, 2016.

]The much touted Google Glass has arrived at Texas State! The School of Journalism and Mass Communications acquired a pair earlier last month and since then, faculty have been learning to use it themselves and introducing it to their various classes.“I showed the Glass in my undergrad Web Design & Publishing class and my graduate level Advanced Online Media Design class. The students were excited about it!” said Dr Jacie Yang.

By Kalie Souknary: As a grad student and teaching assistant, Kate Dudley knows what it means to work hard. After assisting Senior Lecturers Beth Clark and Jon Zmikly this past fall and helping organize her second Mass Communication Week, she has recently begun work in Ohio as the Public Relations/Event Coordinator for the Girl Scouts of North East Ohio.

Story by Sean Smith During the first week of August, I had the tremendous opportunity to travel to Chicago and attend the second annual Wordcamp for Publishers Conference at Northwestern’s Pritzker School of Law. This smaller spinoff of the larger Wordcamp conferences focused specifically on the newsroom application of WordPress and how it can be used as a powerful publishing tool.

SJMC graduate student Becky Larson is a finalist in the Online Journalism Awards (OJA). This prestigious competition recognizes excellence in online journalism through awards from professional and student categories. During the Spring semester, Becky’s LoudAustin project was developed in Dr. Cindy Royal’s Advanced Online Media: Coding and Data Skills course…

Where Am I Wearing: A Global Tour to the Countries, Factories, and People that Make Our Clothes is a book by Kelsey Timmerman that was the inspiration for this documentary which is a production of the spring 2013 Documentaries for Digital Media class in the School of Journalism & Mass Communication. The book was part of the Texas State University 2012-2013 Common Experience program, A Global Odyssey: Exploring Our Connections to the Changing World.

By: Niloofar Torabi -- Life can bring us challenges and hardships, but who other than Stephania Ortega is better to take on the tasks? Born on Dec. 1, 1991, in Monterrey, Mexico, Ortega worked her way from the bottom up to achieve lifelong goals, traveling all over the globe in hopes of gaining more hands-on experience.

The Texas State University Athletics Department is showing off its sparkling, brand-new football locker room – and asked for the help of the School of Journalism and Mass Communication to do so. Athletics contacted the SJMC to assist with 360-degree photos and videos to highlight the new facility on social media.

Dr. Cindy Royal teamed up with Amy Schmitz Weiss of San Diego State to try to answer the question: How can j-schools prep students for the world they're headed into?

by Hannah Holder Mass Communication Week has been around at Texas State’s School of Journalism and Mass Communication for the past 29 years, starting back in 1990. SJMC Lecturer Nicole Hengst has been the main coordinator for the weeklong event for the past three years. About the event, Hengst said, “Mass Comm Week is a good opportunity for SJMC to make good connections with the professional world and have those professionals come here where students are comfortable.”

Samuel Cromley, a 2003 Texas State University graduate, works a packed 7-day-a-week dream job as an Assistant Video director for the Dallas Cowboys…

Join us next Friday, Oct. 9 at 1 p.m. in Old Main 320 for our first information session about the 2016 London-Paris study abroad opportunity. The program includes class meetings on campus in Summer II before the 12-day media and cultural immersion trip to two of the world’s top capital cities, from July 18-July 29.Students will receive six credit hours and choose from Strategic Communication, Travel Writing, International Communication, International Advertising/ PR Issues or an Independent study.

On Friday Nov. 10, members of the SJMC Innovation Club traveled outside the walls of Old Main to tour Dell Technologies in Round Rock, TX. Led by faculty advisor Jon Zmikly, the club visited former club member, and Digital Media Innovation (DMI) alum Jonathan Campbell, who now works as a software engineer at the tech company…

Texas State students participating in the graduate-level International Communications class, a hybrid class made up of International Studies and Mass Communication grad students, presented their research at the Southeast Asia Conference last week. Working in teams, the students singled out particular events, countries and media outlets in order to examine the complex communications landscape in Southeast Asia.

In her "Be A Bobcat" interview, International Studies honor student Hylary Ahrendt recognizes Dr. Sandy Rao for sharing her expertise and support.

We interviewed Beth Clark, a senior lecturer at Texas State, on her involvement with Mass Comm Week.

Jenifer Glenn came to Mass Communication Week on Wednesday to present the panel "Event Planning." An SJMC Advertising/PR Alumna, she started her own company, Tenant Link Inc./Let’s Party!, in 1996 and gave students tips on how to impress seasoned professionals…

Twice during the spring semester, the Journalism and Mass Communication Living-Learning Community traveled to media-related companies for tours and real-world advice from media professionals. The field trips catered to each realm of mass communication: public relations, advertising, electronic media, digital media innovation, and journalism.

Help SJMC's Dr. Kelly Kaufhold celebrate News Engagement Day on Tuesday, Oct. 4 with a "Cash Cab" from 12-1 p.m. outside the LBJ Student Center. Students who answer his current events questions correctly can have a chance to win some fabulous prizes.

Texas State University PRSSA will be hosting the PRSSA 2018 Regional Conference, "Deep in the Heart PR", Feb. 9-10, in San Marcos, Texas. We invite you to join students from across the region for an evening welcome mixer, guest speaker sessions, discussion panels, professional development sessions, and a special evening social in downtown San Marcos.

In a new book, “Roll On,” 2007 Texas State graduate Fred Afflerbach used his personal experience as a truck driver to pay homage to the trucker drivers of old, who only felt comfortable while on the move…

Associate Professor of Practice Eraldo “Dino” Chiecchi read from and signed his book “Josue: A Young Man’s Life Lost to Suicide” at an event in El Paso, Texas, on Feb. 3. More than 70 people attended Chiecchi’s presentation at La Fe Cultural and Technology Center…

The Texas State chapter of Kappa Tau Alpha welcomed 60 new members — 53 undergraduates and seven graduate students — at its induction ceremony on April 24…

Dr. Kelly Kaufhold presented research at the annual meeting of the Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication in Detroit on Saturday, August 6…

By Shelly Smith, Journalism seniorss1941@txstate.eduIn February, more than 100 students from universities in Texas, Oklahoma and Louisiana came together at Texas State for the first time to hear 17 speakers emphasize the importance of public relations in the workplace. Attendees laughed, cried and networked all weekend. It was all because four SJMC students began planning this event in the summer. PRSSA’s Regional Conference “Deep in the Heart” took place February 9-10. 

By: Jennifer Alvord. Texas State alumnus George Kiel III spoke to students during The Digital Media Entrepreneurship Speaker Series about his career at NiceKicks.com and non-profit organization Kiel Colon Cancer Foundation. Kiel graduated from Texas State University in 2008 with a degree in journalism and was extremely involved during his time here. While taking 19 hours his senior year, Kiel wrote for the University Star, played basketball for the university and interned for the FOX affiliate in Austin.

Story by: Michelle Moreno Kirk Bohls is the definition of an award-winning sports writer. If you want to quantify it, look at his national accolades, his 2019 selection as Texas Sports Writer of the Year for the fourth time, his ten appearances on the Austin Chronicle’s “Best Of Austin” list and the nearly five decades of experience writing for the Austin American-Statesman. When he walks into a room, like he did one recent spring day while visiting Larry Carlson’s Sports as News class on Texas State’s campus, his polished and confident demeanor is overwhelming.

Kookmin University serves approximately 15,000 students in Seoul, a city of 10 million residents, in South Korea, a nation that would fit several times within the boundaries of the state of Texas…

  Exciting changes to campus media are underway this summer at Texas State. KTSW 89.9-FM and campus newspaper The University Star are moving in to the Trinity building together. This construction commenced at the end of the spring semester 2016 and is scheduled to be done by the beginning of the fall semester. In KTSW's former space will soon be a computer lab, teaching lab, student lounge area and a "maker space" for the SJMC's digital efforts.

We’re proud to announce KTSW 89.9 has five finalists in the College Broadcasters, Inc. National Student Production Awards!..

On Saturday, KTSW 89.9 was recognized as a finalist in two categories at the College Broadcasters Inc. National Student Electronic Media Convention in San Antonio…

We’re proud to announce that KTSW 89.9-FM is a finalist in two categories for the College Broadcasters, Inc. National Student Production Awards…

KTSW 89.9 received 8 awards at the 2021 Virtual Texas Intercollegiate Press Association Convention, including top honors in 4 contests…

KTSW 89.9 received 8 awards at the 2021 Virtual Texas Intercollegiate Press Association Convention, including top honors in 4 contests. Current and former radio station staff members were recognized for their work in the following categories:

Six Texas State students from senior lecturer Larry Carlson's Sports as News course and the KTSW Sports Dept. staff took a field trip to the home of the five-time NBA champion San Antonio Spurs, the AT&T Center, on Wednesday, March 30, just prior to San Antonio's game against the New Orleans Pelicans. Mike Kickirillo, Director of Broadcasting for the Spurs and a 1988 graduate, hosted the group with a tour of the newly refurbished arena's camera set-up and the broadcast crew's truck.

KTSW-FM 89.9, the official radio station of Texas State University, will soon say goodbye to its long time Station Manager, Tara Pohlmeyer. As Station Manager, Pohlmeyer oversees the day to day operations of the entire student-run radio station, with 15 different departments reporting directly to her."It's definitely bittersweet," Pohlmeyer said.

The KTSW-FM 89.9 team brought home 5 awards from the 2013 TIPA in Dallas…

KTSW-FM 89.9 will be hosting its first "How to be a Victorious Voter" event this month. On October 30, House District 51 State Representative Jason Isaac and Texas State political science professor Doctor Jayce Farmer will speak at Texas State University on the subject of voting.

Dane Phillips spends most of the year 9,000 miles away from San Marcos but keeps the education and invaluable lessons he learned at Texas State University close to his heart…

By John Hernandez, Journalism seniorjeh153@txstate.edu Nathalie Cohetero is more than a 2017 SJMC alumna and the newly minted editorial intern at Community Impact: She’s a blueprint for job-seeking students. “Never stop. Never take a break. Because once you do that, you kind of forget everything you’ve learned. It’s kind of like learning a language. You got to just keep practicing every day or you will forget,” Cohetero said about honing the skills she acquired in journalism school before her May 2017 graduation.Cohetero’s success is a testament to the power of due diligence and constant refinement of how she presents herself.

Polish your resume. Dress respectably. The SJMC Internship and Career Fair will be held 1 to 4 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 30 in the LBJ Ballroom.

The Texas State School of Journalism and Mass Communication will again partner with the Texas Association of Broadcasters for the Mass Communication Career Fair from 12:30-3:30 p.m. on March 5 in the LBJ Student Center Ballroom…

Mark another successful Mass Comm Fair down in the books. More than 45 employers and 350 students attended the fair on Halloween…

School of Journalism and Mass Communication Professor and Graduate Advisor Sandy Rao writes about Zurich and shares some family history in her latest travel article. Read her Zurich travel feature in the San Antonio Express News.

Mark your calendars for Mass Comm Week 2017!Coming up next month, the SJMC will host its annual Mass Communication Week from Oct. 16 to 19. It’s your chance to meet a very wide range of panels and speakers from different companies and organizations that will all bring something new, different and interesting to our students.

We're so excited to announce that Evan Smith, Robert Kolker, Ann Stevens (’72), and Denise Malan will be among the speakers for Mass Comm Week 2013 taking place Oct. 21-25. Speakers will discuss careers and opportunities within the industry.Evan Smith, editor-in-chief and CEO of The Texas Tribune will speak on Monday, Oct. 21. The Texas Tribune is a nonprofit, non-partisan online news organization that focuses on Texas politics and public policy.

The SJMC will host its annual Mass Communication Week from Oct. 21 to 25. Open to the public, the event brings professionals to campus to discuss issues, trends and careers in mass media. Mass Comm Week kicks off Monday, Oct. 21, with a Student Organization Open House from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

On Thursday, Cassandra Harrison, Tracy Hinson, and Francisco Garcia came to the LBJ Student Center to talk to Ad/PR students about what to expect as a professional in the field…

Dr. Susan Weill is launching a new TRACS-based club for SJMC students! The club has no dues or fees and focuses on how the mass media interprets the world, especially through movies, television programs and documentaries.

The School of Journalism and Mass Communication has add a new addition to the program. Starting this fall, students will be able to receive a BS in Digital Media Innovation.

Daniel Carter is one of our newest faculty members in the School of Journalism and Mass Communication. As an assistant professor of Digital Media, Daniel is teaching Web Design and Publishing and Online Media Design this semester.Daniel grew up in Dickinson, Texas, which is a fairly small city about 40 miles southeast of Houston. 

Lecturer Laura Krantz is the new director at the University Star, the Texas State University student newspaper. Originally from Houston, Laura moved to Albuquerque as a junior in high school and later attended The University of New Mexico where she graduated with degrees in English and Journalism.

Shawna White is one of our newest lecturers in School of Journalism and Mass Communication here at Texas State University. Shawna is from Texas and has spent most of her adult life in San Marcos and Austin. She received my B.A. in Psychology and M.A. in Mass Communication from Texas State.

With the goal of “letting small voices be heard”, a group of Texas State University undergraduate students has teamed up with SJMC lecturer Holly Wise to create The Megaphone. This online publication was created as part of the undergraduate multimedia journalism elective course, and serves as a voice for local groups looking to bring about social change in the community.

Have you ever thought about supporting a SJMC student financially? A newly endowed scholarship in memory of Mike George at Texas State University could be your chance to do just that. About Mike George: After graduating from [then] Southwest Texas State, George worked in front of the camera and eventually became a news director at the NBC affiliate in Las Vegas.

There’s an app for that — KTSW. Dan Schumacher reports that listeners can tune into KTSW on iPhone using the Texas State app that was introduced in June…

Texas State School of Journalism and Mass Communication students will head to Bastrop State Park next weekend as part of a Mobile Storytelling in the Park course. Professor Dale Blasingame is teaching the course with 19 students enrolled. They'll be spending a weekend in the park while producing social video content for Snapchat, YouTube, Facebook and Instagram that Texas Parks and Wildlife can use to encourage other young people to visit Texas state parks.

Dr. Alexander Muk, lead author of the research paper Cultural Influence on Young Consumers’ Intentions to Become Brand Page Fans: Individualism versus Collectivism has won the best paper award in the cross-cultural and global marketing track at the coming 2013 Society for Marketing Advances annual conference…

After many months of preparation and planning, the SJMC is proud to announce the Digital Media Innovation & Mass Communication major has been approved by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board. Now that it’s official, students can declare the major!

This spring, the School of Journalism and Mass Communication will be offering new classes which will range from one hour to three hours worth of credit. The classes will include: MC 1100D - Digital Entrepreneurship MC 4376F - Strategic Communication in the UK and France MC 4382U - Advanced Social Media and Analytics MC 4382V - Mobile Media and Development1100D Digital Entrepreneurship This course will explore innovation and creativity associated with digital entrepreneurship.

If you've been checking in with this blog or if you follow the department, or any of its faculty, on social media - chances are you have heard about the prestigious lineup of speakers visiting Texas State's School of Journalism and Mass Communication. The third voice, following Bob Metcalfe and Rodney Gibbs, to join the heavy-hitting series is The Texas Tribune's co-founder, CEO and editor-in-chief, Evan Smith.

Despite the disheartening statistics behind Millennials and their involvement with current news, Dr. Kelly Kaufhold spent News Engagement Day (Tuesday, Oct. 4) proving otherwise. Once again, Kaufhold did an amazing job last week engaging students in the best way possible.

February was an unconventional month for SJMC students who wanted to get out of the classroom and into the "wild". On the first Saturday of February, senior lecturer Jon Zmikly took his Digital Tools: 360 Video & Virtual Reality course to the Meadow's Center for Water and the Environment on the campus of Texas State University-San Marcos. This one-credit "Digital Dash" hybrid course revolved around immersive storytelling and giving students hands-on experience with virtual and augmented reality.

The NPPA Advanced Storytelling Workshop is a week-long event, April 3-8, held at Texas State University that brings together top professionals in the television and newspaper industry from throughout the world.

Old Main gets much needed facelift: If you haven't noticed the massive frames of scaffolding lining the walls of Old Main or the giant white tubes pumping assisted AC into its windows, perhaps you've heard the sounds of jackhammers from across campus.

School of Journalism and Mass Communication Professor and Director Judy Oskam gave a presentation as part Broadcast Education Association's Ignite session at the World Journalism Education Congress on July 5, 2013 in Mechelen, Belgium.

We are very saddened to learn that 1987 AAF presenter and SJMC alumna Kara Meyer passed away on Thursday…

Every semester, students in Fundamentals of Digital and Online Media (FDOM), are required to create a blog and to post regularly. WordPress, Twitter and YouTube are three of the technologies students use. The choice of topic is left up to the student and each semester, we see a variety of topics, such as travel, food, diet, fashion, pets, sports, music and movies.

This May, the School of Journalism and Mass Communication will welcome 20 doctoral students and early career faculty for a week on the Texas State campus exploring the emerging role of the digital scholar-educator. The following participants have been selected -- out of 85 applications -- for the program:

This May, the School of Journalism and Mass Communication will welcome 20 doctoral students and early career faculty to the second PhDigital Bootcamp. The following participants have been selected -- out of 71 applications -- for the program:

Peabody Award-winning video journalist Whitney Shefte of The Washington Post visited the Texas State University School of Journalism and Mass Communication on Weds, April 1. The Q&A discussion was facilitated by Dr. David Nolan, professor of visual communication at Texas State, as part of the Digital Entrepreneurship Speaker Series.

The School of Journalism and Mass Communication was proud to honor our students last week at our Student Awards Ceremony held in Old Main.

SAN MARCOS — Four teams of public relations campaigns students will present a check of about $6,000 to the American Widow Project. The students in Chuck Kaufman’s class produced four strategic events from San Marcos to Killeen to reach this total. Taryn Davis, founding CEO of the nonprofit organization, said, “I’m absolutely floored by the results of these incredible events. No matter how much they raised, it was an honor for the class just to think of doing this for the widows.”

 Tuesday afternoon, the top two teams from Jennifer Scharlach's Public Relations Campaigns class presented their ideas to the executive development team at the Salvation Army Austin Command. 

Dr. Prisca Ngondo, Dr. Vanessa Higgins Joyce, and Assistant Professor of Practice Jennifer Scharlach received the Health Research Accelerator Award through the Translational Health Research Center at Texas State University in May…

Congratulations to PR major Raquel Gonzales for earning a PRSA Certificate in Principles of Public Relations. This new entry-level program awards a certificate to candidates who pass a professional, knowledge-based, qualifying exam. Texas State University is the only public university in Texas to support this designation, which proves a command of the basic principles in the PR field.

The School of Journalism and Mass Communication was proud to see PR major Matthew Clark highlighted in a "Be A Bobcat" feature for Texas State University.

On Tuesday, a team of public relations students gained some real-world experience by presenting their final projects to SWBC, a diversified financial services company, in San Antonio.

By Hannah Holder As data and analytics continues to develop in the rapidly growing media world, so does the need for it to be taught in the classroom. Texas State’s School of Journalism and Mass Communication professor of practice Dale Blasingame has published his very own chapter in a BEA Electronic Media Research Series to help students learn more about data and analytics, among other media tools.

SJMC students Micah Bustos and Alexandra Walker interviewed Professor Tom Grimes about his recent USA Today op-ed regarding the Sandy Hook Elementary shooting in Newtown, CT. Grimes provided his insights on the tragedy and discussed some of his research on media violence…

The Texas State Chapter of the Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA) has organized an evening to celebrate faculty and students’ passion for communication. The Mass Communication Autumn Gala will take place in the LBJ Student Center Ballroom on Nov. 20 from 8 p.m. to midnight. This first-ever event is meant to foster networks between the mass communication fields and increase interdisciplinary collaborations on projects and strong professional relationships.

PRSSA's Gala was a hit! Over 100 people came out. Seniors Paige Vaughn and Gregory Tate received the Mass Communication Leader of the Year awards.

On Friday, March 24, Texas State Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA) members traveled to Dallas to gain sports public relations (PR) knowledge through speaking with the Dallas Cowboys, the Texas Rangers and the Dallas Mavericks’ communication teams. PRSSA Faculty Adviser Paul Villagran coordinated the trip to give members the opportunity to network and learn from PR professionals, with hopes to begin traveling to different places every spring semester.

We want to congratulate PR student Alex Hartman on being selected as a Public Relations Student Society of America National Gold Key Award recipient…

Food writer Laura Longero Holman has found that writing about what you know can be a recipe for career success. Holman’s story did not lead straight from the heart of Texas to Nevada, but she found true joy in what she did in the end. A 2004 journalism graduate…

By Chuck Kaufman, SJMC Internship and Career Development Coordinator. A record 412 students attended the SJMC Internship and Career Fair Wednesday, Oct. 30, in the LBJ Ballroom, once again impressing employers from 38 companies and many others.

University President Denise Trauth recently announced the 2013 honorees for the Presidential Awards for Excellence in Teaching, Excellence in Scholarly/Creative Activities, Excellence in Service, and the Presidential Seminar Award. These awards are given annually to faculty members who have demonstrated outstanding teaching, scholarship, or service performance…

Texas State University Associate Professor Cindy Royal is one of twelve U.S. journalists and innovators who was awarded John S. Knight Journalism Fellowships at Stanford University for the 2013-14 academic year…

The Scripps Howard Foundation has announced that Texas State University School of Journalism and Mass Communication Associate Professor Cindy Royal was named Journalism and Mass Communication Teacher of the Year…

This past Saturday, the Running with the Graduate Deans organization participated in the 2015 Country Roads 10k. Texas State was well represented with a sea of maroon by seven graduate students who ran with the deans, including SJMC graduate student Cheyenne Meyer. Not only did Meyer participate, but she was the overall female champion in the 10k race, which is the equivalent to 6.2 miles.

Mass Communication Week (#mcweek) is a few days away, and the SJMC is very excited for this year’s event! The week long conference brings in a wide variety of speakers and panelists, such as Google, Dieste, Univision, and GSD&M, all of which should be of interest to our mass communication students.

Over 70 scholars, media professionals and graduate students in the field of mass communication are expected to attend the Fourth International Spanish-Language and Latino-Oriented Media Conference, which is slated for February 21 -23 at Texas State University-San Marcos… 

A Fragile Trust will be shown Monday at 6:30 p.m. in Alkek 250 to kick off Mass Comm Week, followed by a Q&A with director Samantha Grant. A FRAGILE TRUST tells the shocking story of Jayson Blair, the most infamous serial plagiarist of our time, and how he unleashed the massive scandal that rocked the New York Times and the entire world of journalism.

In the summer of 2018, senior lecturer and SJMC assistant director Gilbert Martinez explored the great wonders of Japan. He spent a month in Nagoya taking intermediate Japanese with Texas State students in Dr. Moriuchi’s study abroad program. And now, a year later, he is preparing to lead a team of his own to Tokyo and Kyoto in June of 2019.

SJMC alum Jesse Heiman has made quite a name for himself as “Hollywood’s Favorite Extra.” His resume boasts appearances in more than 100 commercials, popular television shows such as “Chuck” and “Monk,” and feature films including “Old School,” “American Pie 2,” and “The Social Network,” to name a few…

The Popeyes chicken sandwich has been causing quite the uproar lately, from customers waiting in obnoxiously long lines, to employees trying to get hold of the favored savory meal. To no surprise (for us, at least) a SJMC advertising alumna helped create the appealing packaging for the popular chicken sandwich.

SJMC alumna Jennifer Walsh visited Texas State University on Friday morning as a guest speaker in an Intro to Public Relations class. Walsh, who is currently Head of Communications at Covestro, highlighted the importance of writing, personal branding and crisis management as a public relations professional. Walsh, a former journalism major, said she never imagined she would be working in PR.

SJMC alumna Anna Tauzin (Journalism, 2008) was recently promoted to Chief Revenue and Innovation Officer for the Texas Restaurant Association (TRA). She was formerly Vice President, Marketing and Innovation for the business association. The TRA supports the $66 billion Texas restaurant industry that spans more than 48,000 locations and 1.3 million jobs throughout the state.

We'd like to give a shout-out to Karen Garza, a fomer SJMC student and member of El Centro's Center for the Study of Latino Media & Markets, for her recent article published on HispanicAd.com.

Amidst changes and disruptions caused by the coronavirus pandemic, Dr. Cindy Royal has embarked on a series of Zoom interviews with SJMC alumni to discuss their work-from-home strategies and the approaches taken by each of their companies. They also provide tips and suggestions for others finding themselves working from home and for those job hunting in these uncertain times.

At its February 18, 2016 meeting, the Texas State University System Board of Regents approved a new degree in Digital Media Innovation (DMI) in the School of Journalism and Mass Communication.  The new degree, which is scheduled to launch in Fall 2016, is pending final approval by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board in May.

Last week, Oct. 5-7, a group of SJMC students and faculty had the opportunity to attend SXSW Eco in Austin. In its fifth year as an annual offshoot of SXSW, the three-day conference covered a variety of eco-conscious topics. From the future of food production to using memes to raise climate awareness, Texas State professors and students dove head first into a realm where the world’s problems are being solved through creative.

by Hannah Holder While most students took a month-long break from classes after the 2019 winter semester, others dug in deeper by taking a course and gaining more professional experience. As part of Study in America, the SJMC offered two one-credit courses in advertising and public relations to New York City - the world's media capital.

This fall, SJMC offered its first Digital Short Course Series. These one-credit-hour courses are meant to provide students with an introduction to cutting-edge, digital topics. Students may take one, two or all three courses in a semester. This semester, the topics were Digital Media Ethics (taught by Jon Zmikly), Drones and Sensors (taught by Cindy Royal and Dale Blasingame) and Coding Workshop (taught by Cindy Royal).

School of Journalism and Mass Communication Graduate School alumna Kiana Fitzgerald will be leaving Texas next month for Washington, D.C. to begin a digital music internship with NPR. She’ll be assisting in the production of radio-to-web and web only stories for the music website.

Nikole Smith and June Leal are more than just the typical Texas State SJMC graduate students; these two jet-setters can now claim to be international scholars specializing in Korean popular culture. Nikole and June were able to merge their love for traveling and scholarship by collaborating on a research project, titled #OppaNoticeMe: The Influence of and Idol Instagram Account on Sasaeng Behavior, and presenting their research in Seoul, South Korea this past semester.

Graduate students from the School of Journalism and Mass Communication will attend the South by Southwest (SXSW) Interactive Festival March 9-17 during spring break. SXTXState.com, now in its 11th year and with its largest group with 10 participants, allows students to experience many concepts that are explored in other classes. Participants apply for the course and are competitively selected.This year's participants are: Steffanie Agnew, Nicole Avalos, Megan Boyle, Emily Burns, Annabel Fidler, Paloma Gray, Nicole Jones, Logan Self, Sean Smith and Alexandra White.Led by Dr. Cindy Royal, director of the Media Innovation Lab, the project allows for students to communicate with big thinkers in media and technology.

Check out this new edition: Two of Texas State’s SJMC graduates have been selected to contribute to the magazine ‘Hello Mr.’ as part of a residency called ‘The Issues.’ Ernesto Macias and Colby Anderson are 24-year-old graduates from the SJMC, now both dedicated to their creation, ‘BRUNCHCLUB’, an editorial that focuses on the quest for truth, culture, and diversity within the LGBTQ community.

It’s an exciting time to work in media, and SJMC recent graduates have moved into roles that demonstrate the vast career options available across professional fields. Recent graduates from our Master of Arts in Mass Communication concentration in Digital Media include Sean Smith, Frontend Developer for Gatehouse Media; Alexandra White, Digital Marketing Specialist for Texas Restaurant Association (TRA); Nicole Jones, Active Channels Specialist at Google and Steffanie Agnew, Digital Marketing Specialist in the Division of Information Technology at Texas State.

Researchers in the School of Journalism and Mass Communication have received a $448,800 award to help the State of Texas connect with rural and low-income Medicare beneficiaries who might be eligible for additional assistance…

Faculty and staff in the School of Journalism and Mass Communication took home several awards at Thursday’s College of Fine Arts and Communication Convocation, hosted by Dean Timothy Mottet in the JCM Building…

The Texas State University School of Journalism and Mass Communication launched its first-ever Mentor Session Series this week with an opportunity to talk to students from two Austin high schools. SJMC faculty members Kym Fox, an associate professor of practice in journalism, and Dale Blasingame, a digital media lecturer, spoke to journalism and computer science students from Akins and Bowie high schools Thursday evening.

This past June, Texas State University was notified that six of its faculty members were awarded a scholarship under the Fulbright Program. As a joint program with the U.S. Department of State and J. William Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board, only 1,200 faculty members and other scholars from different disciplines receive full funding to conduct research and teach in various countries around the world. Among the winners was the SJMC's own journalism senior lecturer Holly Wise, who is now teaching journalism at Mount Carmel College, an all-woman secondary education institution, in Bangalore, India. 

The School of Journalism and Mass Communication is proud to be hosting a study abroad class during the summer of 2014 in the United Kingdom! Spearheaded by Drs. Sandhya Rao and Bruce Smith, the class will travel to London, Edinburgh and Cardiff.What You Will LearnThe program's theme is 'Global media in the United Kingdom.' The program includes class meetings on campus and online before and after the 10-12 day cultural and media immersion trip to three capital cities of the UK.

The Ad Club meets every other Tuesday at 7 pm in Old Main 234…

Texas State University Associate Professor Cindy Royal is one of twelve U.S. journalists and innovators to have been awarded John S. Knight Journalism Fellowships at Stanford University for the 2013-14 academic year.“This group of U.S. Knight Fellows is easily the most diversified ever, with fellows coming from daily newspapers, online publications, tech companies and even an academic institution,” said Knight Fellowships Director James Bettinger.

The School of Journalism and Mass Communication is pleased to announce that they are the recipients of a $150,000 investment from the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation to renew the PhDigital Bootcamp for two years. The PhDigital Bootcamp prepares mass communication doctoral students and early career faculty to become digital scholar-educators and lead curriculum innovation. 

Applications are now being accepted for the first Ph.Digital Bootcamp in the School of Journalism and Mass Communication at Texas State University, supported by a $75,000 grant from the  John S. and James L. Knight Foundation. audience analysis and emerging technologies... data analytics... digital strategy... fluency in HTML5, CSS3, JavaScript... media entrepreneurship... mobile applications... experience with social media – These are all phrases included in position descriptions for tenure-track faculty on the job advertisement section of the Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication (AEJMC) website.

The Accrediting Council on Education in Journalism and Mass Communication (ACEJMC) unanimously voted to re-accredit the Texas State University School of Journalism and Mass Communication on May 1, 2015, at its national meeting in Phoenix, AZ. The School’s undergraduate program was found to comply with all nine standards…

Texas State University School of Journalism and Mass Communication public relations senior, Rosa Ambriz, was recently elected to the 2018-2019 Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA) National Committee as Vice President of External Affairs.

Olivia Williams is one busy Bobcat. In addition to her studies, the senior advertising major from Flower Mound, TX works evenings as a waitress at Texas Roadhouse, participates in sorority activities in Delta Zeta and interns at the GSD&M advertising agency in Austin.

Graduation is soon approaching, and we couldn’t be more excited for our graduating students. After countless semesters and hard work, we caught up with a few students to elaborate on their journey thus far. Undergraduate seniors Joshua Mends and Luis Seijo will be graduating with degrees in Digital Media and Innovation, while two of our tremendous graduate students graduating this fall are Alexandra White, majoring in Mass Communications with a concentration in digital media, and Janel Lee, with a concentration in strategic communication.

By. Alana Zamora, public relations senioramz24@txstate.eduTexas State University’s Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA) Chapter received the Outstanding Scholarly Program award at the Boko Awards ceremony on April 11, 2018. This award honors one student organization best-promoting academics and scholarship among its members and/or the Texas State community through a series, program, project, or event dedicated to the university and/or San Marcos community.

It’s not uncommon to apply for graduate school to buy some time while figuring out how to navigate the career market, figuring out where you fit in. It is, however, rather uncommon that a masters graduate and his band of over five years ends up signing a deal with a record label just weeks after the spring commencement.

By: Colin Ashby. Alexandria Horton is one student who has used her performing arts experience into landing her dream job. Horton is currently a junior at Texas State University majoring in mass communication-public relations with a minor in media studies.

Graduate student Joshua Morrison, will be representing Texas State and SJMC at this year's National Communication Association's 101st Annual Conference. The conference will take place Nov. 19 - 22 in Las Vegas, Nevada. This is Morrison's second time to present at the conference and will be presenting two papers -- one in the Performance Studies Division and the other in Rhetorical and Communication Theory Division.

by Becky Larson: At peace on the river "I knew I could make it great because I'm passionate about it." Senior Kelsie Frommel shared this thought while discussing her Fall semester Web Publishing final project, in which she used a GoPro camera and a drone to capture dramatic footage of the San Marcos river.

The Online News Association (ONA) conference took place in Austin Sept. 13-15. This was the first time the event was held in Austin, and the School of Journalism and Mass Communication at Texas State was out in full force, with 29 faculty and students attending. Every year since 2000, ONA has brought together the most progressive professionals to discuss emerging media topics.

By Jessica Knight Students and faculty from the School of Journalism and Mass Communication will attend the South by Southwest (SXSW) Conference and Festival March 8-17, covering and participating in the event in a range of capacities.This is the 12th year that graduate students have covered SXSW at SXTXState.com.

Professor Kym Fox and two SJMC students attended Excellence in Journalism 2017, the national conference of the Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ), National Association of Hispanic Journalists (NAHJ), the Radio Television Digital News Association (RTDNA) and the Native American Journalists Association (NAJA), in Anaheim, California this month.

South by Southwest—the annual, 10-day event that brings creatives from all over the world to Austin—returned to an in-person event this year, and SJMC students were there to help conference organizers cover it…

In mass communication, it has become increasingly important to see social media, such as Twitter, as a way to engage with communities outside people's individual social spheres. And that's exactly what students have done in Senior Lecturer Jon Zmikly's Fundamentals of Digital and Online Media class.

By Dale Blasingame. A group of 16 School of Journalism and Mass Communication students spent the weekend of Feb. 27-28 outdoors – in the name of mobile storytelling. The students were part of the first-ever Mobile Storytelling in the Park course, taught by Dale Blasingame in coordination with Texas Parks and Wildlife. 

by Cheyenne Meyer: Fans of the San Antonio Spurs basketball team know the excitement of attending a game. Between the loud crowds, the pumped-up music, and simply seeing their favorite players in action is an experience fans sitting anywhere in the arena just don't want to miss.

This past week, Fundamentals of Digital and Online Media (FDOM) students participated in a Twitter Scavenger Hunt.  FDOM uses Twitter as its main form of class communication. The objective of this particular assignment was to help students get comfortable with different Twitter features as well as utilizing social media to promote their own personal brand.

The 2021 version of South By Southwest (SXSW), the annual technology, film and music conference held in Austin, was unlike any other SXSW before it – and a team of students from the School of Journalism and Mass Communication was there to help SXSW cover everything that happened. For the fourth year, nearly 20 SJMC students worked with SXSW’s marketing department to be the eyes and ears of the event.

Jameson Dunn and Hector Montemayor Perez from the School of Journalism and Mass Communication earned an Award of Excellence from the Broadcast Educators Association for their documentary, Coahuiltecans…

The following post is the last of a four-part series regarding the SJMC's 2017 study abroad trip to London and Rome, contributed by graduate student, Joshua Morrison. Be sure to check out the previous three articles if you haven't already!

The following four-part series regarding the SJMC's Study Abroad program to London and Rome was contributed by SJMC graduate student, Joshua Morrison. Check back each day this week for coverage of events that took place in Europe this June. The School of Journalism and Mass Communication’s London/Europe summer study abroad program just wrapped up its fourth annual trip, and brought back its fourth group of forever-changed students.

The following article is the third of a four-part series contributed by SJMC graduate student, Joshua Morrison. Check back tomorrow for the conclusion, or make your way down the page to see what opportunities London had to offer the students.

The following article is the second of a four-part series contributed by SJMC graduate student, Joshua Morrison. Stay tuned each day his week for more about the European trip or scroll down to check out yesterday's post if you missed it!

Electronic media students are preparing this week for the return of Bobcat Update, the SJMC's weekly television newscast. This year marks the highest number of students enrolled in the program, with over 80 students participating in the making and airing of the show.

We would like to welcome Dr. Enrique P. Becerra as Interim Director of the Center for the Study of Latino Media and Markets (El Centro) in the School of Journalism and Mass Communication. Dr. Becerra is an Associate Professor of Marketing at McCoy College of Business Administration.

  Each semester we welcome new students into the School of Journalism and Mass Communications, this year being no different. This Fall, however, you’ll also be seeing some new faces throughout the faculty. We’d like to take a moment to introduce you to some of them.

By Alexandra White, Mass Communication Graduate Student The SJMC's Study in America trip was from May 31 - June 12, 2018. On this trip, faulty members Kym Fox and Dale Blasingame take a group of students across state lines to put their journalism skills to use in national and state parks. They visited the Grand Canyon, Palo Duro Canyon State Park, Caprock Canyons State Park, Zion National Park, Mesa Verde National Park, and many others.

By Alexandra White, Mass Communication Graduate StudentOn June 22, the SJMC Study in America group held a final showcase in Old Main to show their friends and families the mini documentaries and stories they created while on their Study in America trip. Study in America has become an extremely popular class to take for students studying at Texas State.

By Annabel Fidler, graduate studenta_f314@txstate.eduA few days before spring break, I attended Social Media Week Austin, held by Best Practice Media. In its second year, the groundbreaking media industry conference included innovative professionals/leaders in digital marketing and social media promotions.

By Shannon Sampson, Journalism major SAN MARCOS -- Solutions Journalism is a tool for journalists to change the way that audiences absorb news by incorporating solutions into stories. Texas State University lecturer for the School of Journalism and Mass Communication Holly Wise has dedicated her work to Solutions Journalism and has even influenced her students to pursue this method themselves. Wise said that Solutions Journalism is like a “breath of fresh air” to what some associate with typical writing and reporting.

A three-day documentary festival slated three Thursdays in October-- the 3rd, 10th and 24th,  will share the vital experiences of the people who live or have lived in the Southwest region of Texas.The documentary festival is an excellent opportunity for all students and members of the community to witness the experiences captured in images,  filmed and produced by young talent, who have set their eyes and heart on the Southwest region of the Lone Star State.

The Society of Professional Journalists will recognize five student-journalists from the University Star at the historic Hilton Hotel in Fort Worth on March 18 and 19 for its Region 8 Mark of Excellence convention…

Nineteen SJMC students visited San Antonio on Tuesday, April 2, for a gameday tour of the Spurs' television truck and broadcast set-up in the AT&T Center. The field trip is one of the annual rites of spring for Larry Carlson's sports media class. The entire class made the trip and was joined by KTSW sports staffers who were enrolled in last fall's class. Students were hosted by Mike Kickirillo, the Spurs' Director of Broadcasting and a 1988 Texas State alumnus. 

The two newest interns for the San Antonio Spurs this season are continuing in the path of Texas State students who have interned with the organization for more than a quarter-century, when Mike Kickirillo ('88) was hired as the Spurs' broadcast producer. Kickirillo is now the longtime Director of Broadcasting for the NBA franchise and has hired two Bobcat students as paid interns for the 2019-2020 school year.

What brought you to the SJMC at Texas State University? I started out as a student in the program and also worked as a student worker for the SJMC. When I graduated, an academic advisor position became available, so I applied for it and was offered the job…

Featured Alumni: We sat down with Statesman Editor and SJMC alumna Debbie Hiott to discuss her days at the University Star, the steps she has taken to become editor of the Austin American-Statesman, and she gave students some advice on today's media climate.

On November 24, Assistant Director Harry Bowers met with Marianne Odem, Chair of the Media Communication Department at San Antonio College (SAC), and members of her faculty. The goal of the meeting was to review changes to both schools’ institutional core and program curricula, and to review and develop strategies to maximize opportunities for two-year college students planning to transfer to Texas State.

It's scholarship season, and the Austin Community Foundation has recently announced the Stuart Long Memorial Scholarships for Aspiring Journalists for the 2014-2015 academic year.

The School of Journalism and Mass Communication honored its brightest and best students at Tuesday's 2017 Awards Ceremony in Old Main…

Congratulations to the University Star Staff, KTSW, and the Texas State of Change organization for being selected to receive the Region 8 Mark of Excellence Awards! The actual place awarded will be announced at the awards ceremony, during the Region 8 Spring Conference. The conference occurs May 3-4 in San Antonio, Texas, at the downtown Marriott Plaza…

The School of Journalism & Mass Communication congratulates students who competed in the 2014 Texas Intercollegiate Press Association Convention (TIPA). Students' media organizations, The University Star, KTSW 89.9 FM, and Bobcat Update, submitted productions, articles, and recordings against college media organizations from around Texas. Below is a list of awards given to each organization…

Current and former staff members of Texas State student media organizations are invited to attend a student media reunion on May 4th.This is first reunion of its kind at Texas State that includes the University Star and KTSW.

The University Star, KTSW and Bobcat Update students recently won multiple awards during the Texas Intercollegiate Press Association (TIPA) annual conference held from March 21-24, 2018…

The Society of Professional Journalists awarded the Texas State Society of Professional Journalists an award for Student Organization of the Month…

Organization Name: Latino Communication Association (LCA) Recent events: LATISM 2013 Conference - New York

Each semester, SJMC students create many projects during the semester. These projects give students the chance to demonstrate and practice everything they have learned in their curriculum, as well as apply their own skills. Below is a sample of some of the best work from the classes offered here in the School of Journalism and Mass Communication.

Sarah McGriff has received the $5,000 Abe Veron Award scholarship from the Broadcast Educators Association.   Sarah, originally from New Sharon, Iowa, is a junior at Texas State University majoring in Music Performance with a minor in Mass Communication…

Student Spotlight, Kolten Parker:

Meet Paige Vaughn, the social media administrator for the School of Journalism & Mass Communication's 2014 study abroad trip to the United Kingdom. Paige, a public relations major, is a Texas State University Ambassador, Bobcat Promotions volunteer, and much more.Paige first heard about the study abroad trip through one of the school's information sessions conducted throughout the Fall and Spring semesters.

Theater kid-turned film enthusiast, Russell Reed has spent the last three years exploring his love for filmmaking and finding like-minded individuals in the process. This electronic media major is not only a self-taught filmmaker, but he also exemplifies authentic passion in a sometimes discouraging field. Only a sophomore, Reed demonstrates a great amount of dedication to his craft and doesn’t mind sharing his knowledge with others.

As a SJMC graduate student, Venezuelan-born Sergio Carvajal-Leoni, won a campus-wide award for his thesis, the Graduate College’s Outstanding Master’s Thesis Award in Digital Scholarship…

Featured Work: Student Free Speech and Free Press Blog: Gilbert Martinez's spring Free Speech and Free Press honors class has done an outstanding job contributing to a class blog, “Free Speech and Free Press Around the World.”

Eleven students from the MC4357D Sports Media class visited San Antonio's AT&T Center (April 12th) for a fieldtrip with the San Antonio Spurs broadcast crew.

Eleven SJMC students participated in a drone workshop on Friday, Nov. 18, capturing beautiful footage of our beloved Old Main. The hands-on demonstration was led by electronic media alum and freelance drone pilot Ben Kailing, who taught students how to shoot FPV (first-person point of view) videography. Using special goggles, students saw from the perspective of the drone itself…

We would like to congratulate students from the School of Journalism and Mass Communications who were among the scholarship recipients at last week’s Stelos Alliance Awards Banquet…

Students attended the National Broadcasting Society (NBS) regional conference at UT-Arlington on November 2 & 3, 2012. Texas State student Lane Lewis won First-Place awards for Sports Program and Sports Package and honorable mentions for Sports Program Audio and Sports Package Audio. Amber Anderson won third place in the Drama Program, Chelsea Kelley won an honorable mention for the Feature Package, and Jessi MacCall won an honorable mention for Hard News…

Three Texas State University journalism students received awards from the Texas Auto Writers Association’s Harold Gunn Scholarship for Journalism at the organization’s annual Truck Rodeo near San Antonio on October 19, 2012. “These scholarships are TAWA’s greatest contribution and my proudest moment,” Gunn said…

Study Abroad in London & Paris! Information Session on October 13 at 3:30 p.m. in OM 320The School of Journalism and Mass Communication will sponsor another summer study abroad program in summer 2015. We will be going to London and Paris from June 8-19, 2015.

By Alexandra White, Mass Communication Graduate Student The following article is one of three posts written for Dr. Rao's International Communication class during the students' study abroad trip to Europe: While studying abroad in London, United Kingdom and Geneva, Switzerland I experienced many new people, places and things.

By Alexandra White, Mass Communication Graduate Student The following article is one of three posts written for Dr. Rao's International Communication class during the students' study abroad trip to Europe: The most interesting experiences I had on this study abroad trip to London and Geneva was when we when to the United Nations in Geneva, Switzerland. 

By Alexandra White, Mass Communication Graduate Student The following article is one of three posts written for Dr. Rao's International Communication class during the students' study abroad trip to Europe: Taking the tube everywhere was the biggest and most interesting cultural experience I had while studying abroad. I’ve never been anywhere in the United States where public transportation was as integral to society as it is in London especially.

By Mikayla Jendrusch, Journalism seniorMbj37@txstate.eduFor students wanting course credit and a change of scenery, Texas State University offers the chance to combine camping and hiking with journalism and mobile storytelling, in locations like the Grand Canyon and Zion National Park. The Study-in-America parks program is the first Study-in-America offering hosted by the School of Journalism and Mass Communication. 

Dr. Mary Ann Stutts gave a tearful goodbye to SJMC faculty, staff and students at our annual Student Awards Ceremony held in Old Main last Friday…

Welcome back, Bobcats! The well-anticipated Summer '16 classes are now underway. We hope these past three weeks of summer vacation have given everyone a well needed break to come back refreshed and ready to start classes again.

In 2009, the multimedia website sxtxstate.com, set up by Mass Communication graduate students in the New Media concentration to cover the annual international South By Southwest Interactive Festival in Austin, won 2nd place in the Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication’s Best of the Web Awards for Journalism…

Story by SJMC Study Abroad graduate student, AJ Arreguin: The British Broadcasting Corporation is one of the most recognizable, highly creditable news organizations in the world. From local to worldwide news coverage, the BBC brings the highest quality of news from journalists that reach outlets such as radio, television and social media.

By Leslie Warren: For journalism junior Taylor Tompkins, the School of Journalism and Mass Communication (SJMC) has been invaluable to her success.“ Opportunities offered through The University Star and SJMC have provided me with real-life tools,” Tompkins said. “No other school could have prepared me as thoroughly as SJMC has.”Tompkins is currently an editorial intern at Texas Monthly magazine in downtown Austin and news editor at The University Star at Texas State University.

By: Jennifer Alvord. Texas State alumnus Christopher Henry has recently landed a job at Edelman, the largest public relations firm in the world, in New York City. Henry is a part of the public affairs team and works with clients such as Microsoft, McGraw Hill Financial and the Ontario Ministry of Economic Development (MEDEI).

By Alise Lyles: "What do you want to be when you grow up?" was never a difficult question for Texas State alum (2012) Kevin Rawls. “All I knew was that I wanted to merge the two things I enjoyed most into a career: sports and mass communication," said Rawls.

Texas State is excited to announce the student members of its National Student Advertising Competition (NSAC) Team. NSAC is the premier college advertising competition that provides more than 2,000 college students the real-world experience of creating a strategic advertising/marketing/media campaign for a corporate client.

The Public Relations Department in the School of Journalism and Mass Communication at Texas State University has selected its 2016 PRSSA Bateman National Case Study Competition team. The will begin planning its campaign for client the Student Veterans of America. SVA is working in partnership with the Plank Center for Leadership in Public Relations and Edelman. Team members are seniors Tammy Garman, Jericka Desire Christianna King, Kelsey Heitzmann and Jaelyn Lyles. 

Texas State students scooped up numerous awards from the Texas Intercollegiate Press Association…

The Texas State University Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA) Robert Glaves Chapter has earned the Pacesetter Chapter Recognition by the PRSSA’s National Committee. The Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA) National Committee evaluates the performance of PRSSA Chapters and awards this recognition to chapters that set the pace nationally, given their level of involvement, leadership and impact. The Pacesetter recognizes a Chapter’s success in the areas of membership, national participation and Chapter development.

The San Antonio Association of Hispanic Journalists (SAAHJ) is pleased to award $30,000 in scholarships to 13 deserving Bexar County students pursuing careers in communications and journalism this year at its 16th Annual Scholarship and Awards Gala, held at San Antonio’s Marriott Rivercenter, 101 Bowie Street, on Friday, August 8th, 2014…

We're proud of Andrew's hard work and dedication to the School of Journalism and Mass Communication, and we wish him the best.

The Texas State University  “Feria Del Mariachi” festival turns 15 with international entertainment performers featured at the final concert on April 26 at 7:30 p.m. in the San Marcos Embassy Suites ballroom. The final concert tops off a week of events, from April 21 to 27, including  mariachi music concerts, education and competition among visiting high school mariachi bands.

We’re proud to announce Texas State University placed first in the 2023 District 10 American Advertising Federation’s (AAF) National Student Advertising Competition (NSAC), which took place in Austin, Texas, last week. District 10 includes schools in Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, and Louisiana…
 

CORPUS CHRISTI – The University Star staff members and contributors won multiple awards during the Texas Intercollegiate Press Association (TIPA) annual conference March 14-16.The Texas Intercollegiate Press Association (TIPA) is the oldest collegiate media organization in the country. It consists of 77 public and private two-year colleges and four-year universities in Texas that teach journalism or have existing or planned student publications.

by Cheyenne Meyer: The third guest to visit the School of Journalism and Mass Communication’s Digital Entrepreneurship Speaker series was Evan Smith. Smith, the Chief Executive Officer, Editor-in-Chief, and Co-Founder of the digital news source The Texas Tribune visited Old Main on Weds, Feb. 25 to encourage students to endeavor into journalism, tech innovation and entrepreneurship.

Congratulations to our exceptional students for the following recognitions…

Many Texas State University students in the School of Journalism and Mass Communication, as well as students from other undergraduate universities, will be graduating within the year. Preparing to graduate can be exciting but also very overwhelming. For students who do not have a post-graduate job secured, entering the real world can seem scary, as graduates are expected to make big, life-altering decisions for their futures in just a short amount of time.

Each May, the School of Journalism and Mass Communication hosts the SJMC Student Awards to recognize outstanding students…

by Cheyenne Meyer: Kicking off Texas State's new Digital Media Entrepreneurship Speaker Series was Rodney Gibbs, Chief Innovation Officer at the digital newspaper The Texas Tribune. The series, offered to both undergraduate and graduate students in the School of Journalism and Mass Communication, brings important media figures to Old Main to share experiences in media and ideas for media innovation with the students.

Trisha Espinoza remembers the time she sold everything and went into debt. She had one goal in mind—to be a leader in the communication industry. After all, as she put it, Espinoza did not want to put in all this hard work and sit behind a desk. Espinoza obviously reached her goal relating her journey to communication students Oct. 19 as a during a question and answer session in conjunction with Mass Communication Week.

Last week, alum and former Fundamentals of Digital Media (FDOM) Grad Assistant Randy Estevanes took over our Twitter account. He showed us and our followers what it's like to work at a digital marketing firm.

The halls of the Overton Hotel and Conference Center in Lubbock roared with the cheers and cries of Team 104 as Texas State University won First Place at the district level of the National Student Advertising Competition…

Two Texas State University faculty members, Debra Price and Jennifer Scharlach, have joined the board of directors for Austin’s PRSA chapter. As assistant professors of practice in the School of Journalism and Mass Communication, they bring their vast knowledge in the field of public relations to the table…

We are proud to announce that Saliyah M. Parker, a dedicated student at Texas State University, has been awarded the prestigious Julie Tereshchuk Need-Based Scholarship by Women Communicators of Austin (WCA)…

Zaria Jackson – named one of America’s Most Promising Multicultural Students – found her calling while attending the School of Journalism and Mass Communication...

If you haven't already heard, the School of Journalism and Mass Communication is offering a hybrid study abroad program to the United Kingdom during the 2014 summer.

Texas State University's own student newspaper, The University Star, was chosen as one of 10 universities to participate in Global News Relay 2015, an annual newscast coordinated by the University of Salford, UK.

The University Star won 24 awards at the Texas Intercollegiate Press Association annual conference for work published in 2020…

We want to congratulate the University Star staff members and contributors who won 15 awards from the Texas Intercollegiate Press Association (TIPA) during the spring convention March 23-25…

The Association for Women in Communications has a meeting this Thursday, March 28th at 6:30 p.m. in Old Main Room 201. Our speaker for the meeting is Lauren Appa…

The last SPJ meeting of the semester will feature Neice Bell, publisher of the New Braunfels Herald-Zeitung. Don't miss this opportunity to connect with local professionals!…

KTSW 89.9 will present a sports symposium from 1:00-8:00 p.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 21, 2013.  The sports symposium will coincide with the orientation and training of the KTSW sports staff for the fall 2013 broadcast season.

By Kelly Newton, Journalism seniorkpn3@txstate.edu A new virtual reality class at Texas State was born out of a passion for storytelling. Jon Zmikly designed it as a way for students to learn a fun, innovative way to share stories that go beyond traditional media. “It came out of an excitement for the platform, as well as an excitement for storytelling and new forms of (it),” Zmikly said.

SJMC students have been helping spread these stories since 2023, when Associate Professor of Practice Dino Chiecchi took a group of four students to interview three of the families in Uvalde. This year, Chiecchi chose a group of seven undergraduate students and two graduate students to take a second trip to Uvalde on March 22 and 23…  

On Friday, Oct. 28, senior lecturer Jon Zmikly led virtual reality demonstrations for high schoolers at the 15th annual Texas State AITP IT Symposium. The event occurred in the new ballroom in the LBJ Student Center on Texas State University’s San Marcos campus…

Texas State University School of Journalism and Mass Communication Senior Lecturer and PR Sequence Coordinator Olga Mayoral Wilson, APR, was inducted into the PRSA College of Fellows on Oct. 11 during the PRSA 2014 International Conference in Washington, DC…

Mark your calendars for KTSW's 20th anniversary celebration and birthday party! Since April 15, 1992, that joyous day when KTSW 89.9FM first aired, the radio station has been going strong with great music and campus programming…

The Media Innovation Lab is pleased to announce the appointment of Jon Zmikly as Assistant Director. Zmikly has taught in the School of Journalism and Mass Communication since 2009 and is an alumni of the School’s graduate program.