Royal Awarded Knight Journalism Fellowship At Stanford

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.

“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. “This wide range of backgrounds and specialties reflects the variety and depth of expertise and commitment journalism needs right now.”

They will join eight international fellows who were announced earlier this month. The Knight Fellowships champion innovation, entrepreneurship, and leadership in journalism by helping fellows pursue their ideas to improve the quality of news and information that reaches the public. Fellows also participate fully in the intellectual life of Stanford University, through academic classes, lectures and symposiums, and individual research.

“I feel that journalism and mass communication have a unique opportunity to develop technology skills and perspectives in a wider audience, including females and minorities,” said Texas State University Associate Professor Cindy Royal. “We will continue to communicate and share through a range of technology platforms, representing the future of media.”

The 2013-14 fellows will explore proposals that touch on many aspects of journalism. For her innovation project, Dr. Royal will be working to advance her knowledge of data visualization and programming related to communication and develop a platform to provide advanced technology training to the journalism profession.