BEA2025: Full Schedule

BEA2025
Welcome to the BEA2025 convention program! All BEA sessions and events take place at the Las Vegas Convention Center’s West Hall, 3rd floor.

To create a schedule, please Log In or Sign Up on the upper right corner of the screen. Users can create their own profile and build schedules. Please use the menu on the right side of the page to search and filter for sessions by Interest Division, Session Type, Student Interest or Special Event - and then add them to your schedule.
Keep checking back for event registration, speaker announcements, and more details. Need answers ASAP? Reach out to our event planning team at help@BEAweb.org for info and more.

Keep checking back for event registration, speaker announcements, and more details. Need answers ASAP? Reach out to our event planning team at help@BEAweb.org for info and more.

10:15am PDT

Partnering with Athletics: Experiential Learning from Broadcasting to Branding

Saturday April 5, 2025 10:15am - 11:15am PDT

W306

In an era where sports broadcasting plays a pivotal role in the media, this panel explores the intersection of college athletics and television and radio production. We will present specific experiential learning opportunities tied to student media and course curriculum with a deeper look at partnership models. We discuss areas of specialty including television and radio broadcasting, public relations, branding and promotions. Through our examples and experiences we examine how hands-on learning bridges the gap between the classroom and the fast-paced demands of real-world television and radio production.

Moderator: James Lohrey, Shippensburg University
Panelists: Elizabeth Oppe, West Virginia University; Joe Brackman, University of Cincinnati; Chris Shofner, Bethel University; Geoffrey Thompson, University of Florida

Moderators

James Lohrey

Assistant Professor, Shippensburg University

Speakers

Elizabeth Oppe

Teaching Associate Professor, West Virginia University

Joe Brackman

Assistant Professor, University of Cincinnati

Geoffrey Thompson

Assoc Director - Sports Journalism & Communications, University of Florida

Chris Shofner

Saturday April 5, 2025 10:15am - 11:15am PDT
W306

Sports, Teaching Techniques/Tips & Educational Programs | BEA, Teaching Techniques/Tips & Educational Programs

11:30am PDT

What I Wish I Knew Before Entering The Business

Saturday April 5, 2025 11:30am - 12:30pm PDT

W308

This panel would discuss what we wish we would have known before getting into the media business. This can give those who are looking to get into the business a look behind the curtain while deciding if this business is something they want to pursue.
Moderaotr: Steve Stilwell, Liberty University
Panelists: Amy E. Bonebright, Liberty University
Jen Smith, University of Kentucky
David M. Lubbers, Drake University

Moderators

Steve Stilwell

Liberty University

Speakers

Jen Smith

assistant professor, University of Kentucky

I am a recovering sportswriter who worked for the Lexington Herald-Leader in various positions for more than 20 years, including copy editor, designer, news and sports reporter. While working in the sports department for most of my career, I covered everything from high school sports... Read More →

David Lubbers

Drake University

Amy Bonebright

Saturday April 5, 2025 11:30am - 12:30pm PDT
W308

News, Industry Issues & Updates | Sports, Industry Issues & Updates | BEA, Industry Issues & Updates | Student Track, Industry Issues & Updates

12:45pm PDT

When Sports Media Research Went Mainstream: Reflections on a Career While Sports Programming Became Dominant

Saturday April 5, 2025 12:45pm - 1:45pm PDT

W309

Join our 2025 Lifetime Achievement in Scholarship recipient for this year's podium session.

Speakers

Andrew C. Billings

University of Alabama

Saturday April 5, 2025 12:45pm - 1:45pm PDT
W309

Sports, Research

2:00pm PDT

Sports Podcasting: Current and Future

Saturday April 5, 2025 2:00pm - 3:00pm PDT

W304

Since the advent of the podcast 20 years ago, sports podcasting has grown exponentially. Today, sports podcast styles range from traditional journalistic sports reporting to talk radio to shows focused on interviews, sports and society, or even sports gambling. This panel will discuss the state of the sports podcast industry, including preparing students in traditional broadcast and radio programs for the unique affordances of the podcast platform.
Moderator: Lindsey A. Sherrill, University of North Alabama
Panelists: David Allen Nelson, University of Central Oklahoma; Steve Stilwell, Liberty University; Rich Johnson, Arizona State University

Moderators

Lindsey A. Sherrill

Assistant Professor, University of North Alabama

Speakers

David Nelson

Professor, KZUC-FM Faculty Advisor, University of Central Oklahoma

David Nelson worked 10 years in the broadcast industry in Oklahoma and Texas as an on-air personality, currently a Professor and KCUZ-FM Faculty Advisor.

Steve Stilwell

Liberty University

Rich Johnson

Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication, Arizona State University

Saturday April 5, 2025 2:00pm - 3:00pm PDT
W304

Sports, Industry Issues & Updates | Radio & Audio Media, Industry Issues & Updates | BEA, Industry Issues & Updates | Student Track, Industry Issues & Updates

3:15pm PDT

Sports Division - Top Research Presentations

Saturday April 5, 2025 3:15pm - 4:15pm PDT

W304

Moderator: Nick Artman, Slippery Rock University
Debut Paper Competition
Debut 1st Place Paper: Winning Can('t) Take Care of Everything: An Analysis of Sluka's Departure Decision; Bumsoo Park, University of Nevada Las Vegas; Nathan Alexander Towery, Jackson State University; Samuel David Hakim, Clemson University; Nicholas Richard Buzzelli, High Point University
Open Paper Competition
Open 1st Place Paper: Local Television News Directors’ Opinions on the Sports Segment; Kevin Hull, University of South Carolina; Timothy Mirabito, Syracuse University; John Collett, Gonzaga University
Open 2nd Place Paper: Mega Sporting Event Content Choice: Predictors of Viewing Various Content during the Paris Olympics; Tang Tang, Kent State University; Roger Cooper, Ohio University
Open 3rd Place Paper: Facing social justice in sports: Improving empathy and storytelling skills in undergraduate education; Adam J. Kuban, Ball State University

Moderators

Nick Artman

Associate Professor, Slippery Rock University

Speakers

Adam J. Kuban

Professor, Ball State University

Professor — reporting & writing, documentary storytelling, sports, science/sustainability, community engagement, (critical) service learning, project-based curriculum

Timothy Mirabito

Syracuse University

John Collett

Gonzaga University

Roger Cooper

Ohio University

Kevin Hull

University of South Carolina

Nicholas Buzzelli

Samuel Hakim

Bumsoo Park

Nathan Towery

Saturday April 5, 2025 3:15pm - 4:15pm PDT
W304

Sports, Research/Theory | BEA, Research/Theory

4:30pm PDT

Esports on Campus: Building a Toolbelt for Competitive Video Gaming Broadcasting

Saturday April 5, 2025 4:30pm - 5:30pm PDT

W304

As of 2023, more than 450 college campuses have varsity-recognized Esports teams. This growth has also brought about a new opportunity for students to connect their love of gaming with broadcasting skills. This panel will discuss the basic techniques, tools, and tips related to building and broadcasting Esports production. After 2 years as the Pitt State Esports broadcast team, PSU students share their experiences and struggles working in a rapidly evolving industry.
Moderator: Barth Cox, Pittsburg State University
Panelists: Joe McGrath, Pittsburg State University
Drake Miller

Moderators

Barth Cox

Assistant Professor, Pittsburg State University

Speakers

Joe McGrath

Pittsburg State University

Drake Miller

Saturday April 5, 2025 4:30pm - 5:30pm PDT
W304

Sports, Industry Issues & Updates | Interactive Media & Emerging Technologies, Industry Issues & Updates | BEA, Industry Issues & Updates | Student Track, Industry Issues & Updates

10:15am PDT

Does it Count? How Different Colleges and Universities Acknowledge Sports Creative Work in the Promotion Process

Sunday April 6, 2025 10:15am - 11:15am PDT

W311

The use of creative work in the promotion process can vary at different colleges and universities. This panel highlights successful ways that creative work has been acknowledged by different institutions, including updates to tenure and promotion guidelines.
Moderator: Chris Bacon, Middle Tennessee State University

Moderators

Chris Bacon

Middle Tennessee State University

Sunday April 6, 2025 10:15am - 11:15am PDT
W311

Sports, Teaching Techniques/Tips & Educational Programs | BEA, Teaching Techniques/Tips & Educational Programs

2:00pm PDT

Redefining the Game: The Influence of Generative AI on College Sports Broadcasting

Sunday April 6, 2025 2:00pm - 3:00pm PDT

W309

This panel will explore the transformative impact of Generative AI on college sports broadcasting, discussing both the opportunities, challenges and ethical implications it presents. The conversation also will examine the role of university leadership, particularly how administration can support and guide the program to ensure its success and sustainability in the rapidly evolving landscape of sports media.
Moderator: Jodeane Brownlee, University of Nebraska-Omaha
Panelists: Lance Liguez, University of Texas - Arlington; Suzy Smith, Ball State University; Michael Hilt, University of Nebraska-Omaha

Moderators

Jodeane Brownlee

Lecturer, University of Nebraska-Omaha

Speakers

Lance Liguez

Faculty Advisor, University of Texas - Arlington

Suzy Smith

Associate Professor, Ball State University

Michael Hilt

Dean -- College of Communication, Fine Arts and Media, University of Nebraska-Omaha

Sunday April 6, 2025 2:00pm - 3:00pm PDT
W309

Sports, Teaching Techniques/Tips & Educational Programs | BEA, Teaching Techniques/Tips & Educational Programs

3:15pm PDT

Exploration, Analysis and Curriculum of the Athletic Entity as Media Property

Sunday April 6, 2025 3:15pm - 4:15pm PDT

W305

In today’s hyper-connected, attention-centric world, collegiate and professional athletics programs aren’t just competing on the field, they’re behaving as full-blown media companies. This workshop will explore the strategies driving fan engagement, from live event experiences to second-screen interactions, streaming platforms, and subscription models. We’ll look at how programs are monetizing content and driving e-commerce, and explore how social media has become the front line for capturing attention and driving revenue. This workshop is for those who would like to better understand how modern technology and original content is transforming fans into superfans putting athletics programs at the forefront of media production, creative content and distribution. Attendees will learn how to integrate the most current trends of sports content connectivity with existing broadcast, film, media and distribution curriculum.
Workshop leaders: Michael Clarke, Professor of Practice, Advanced Media Management, Newhouse School, Syracuse University
Jordan Kligerman, Assistant Professor, Newhouse Sports Media Center, Newhouse School, Syracuse University

Moderators

Jordan Kligerman

Visiting Asst. Professor, Syracuse University

Jordan Kligerman is in his third year as a Visiting Assistant Teaching Professor in the department of Television, Radio and Film within the Newhouse Sports Media Center as part of the Newhouse School at Syracuse University. In his current role, Kligerman teaches Sports Documentary... Read More →

Speakers

Michael Clarke

Sunday April 6, 2025 3:15pm - 4:15pm PDT
W305

Sports, Demonstration/Workshop | BEA, Demonstration/Workshop

4:30pm PDT

Creating Sport Specific Study Abroad Programs for Your Institution

Sunday April 6, 2025 4:30pm - 5:30pm PDT

W305

This panel will explore the transformative impact of study abroad programs tailored for college students in sports and sports media. We will highlight how international experiences enhance cultural competence, expand professional networks, and offer unique industry insights. Attendees will gain a deeper understanding of how these opportunities can elevate students' careers and contribute to a more global perspective in sports and media.
Moderator: Eric Esterline, University of Florida
Panelists: Roxane Coche, Associate Professor and Department Chair, Media Production, Management and Technology - College of Journalism and Communications, University of Florida
Eric Esterline, Senior Lecturer and Director of Sports Journalism and Communication - College of Journalism and Communications, University of Florida
Chris Lawlor, Co-Founder and CEO, Learn International

Moderators

Eric Esterline

Senior Lecturer, University of Florida

Speakers

Roxane Coche

University of Florida

Chris Lawlor

Learn International

Sunday April 6, 2025 4:30pm - 5:30pm PDT
W305

Sports, Teaching Techniques/Tips & Educational Programs | International, Teaching Techniques/Tips & Educational Programs | BEA, Teaching Techniques/Tips & Educational Programs

9:00am PDT

Streaming the Old with the New: Convergence Culture in Today’s Sports Media

Monday April 7, 2025 9:00am - 10:00am PDT

W304

Building on their foundation and looking to the future, this panel seeks to examine the sports media industry’s adaptation to media convergence. The phrase media convergence refers to the blending of legacy and modern media to create a new or different product (Jenkins, 2006). Today’s media landscape merges traditional formats, such as radio and television, with new media, such as social media and streaming platforms. This convergence culture creates challenges and opportunities to reach a further divided audience. This discussion will focus on how different sports and/or different networks alter their strategy to maintain relevance in today’s culture. Moreover, this panel will explore the potential implications of media convergence for producers, broadcasters, reporters, and audiences.
Moderator: Nick Artman, Slippery Rock University
Panelists: Nick Artman, Slippery Rock University; Geoffrey Thompson, University of Florida; Matthew Harmon, Monmouth University; Kyle J. Miller, Northwest Missouri State University

Moderators

Nick Artman

Associate Professor, Slippery Rock University

Speakers

Geoffrey Thompson

Assoc Director - Sports Journalism & Communications, University of Florida

Matthew Harmon

Specialist Professor, Monmouth University

Kyle Miller

Monday April 7, 2025 9:00am - 10:00am PDT
W304

Sports, Industry Issues & Updates | BEA, Industry Issues & Updates

10:15am PDT

Level Up: How Educators Can Win the Game with Virtual Production

Monday April 7, 2025 10:15am - 11:15am PDT

W301

Virtual production (VP) has become the new gold standard in professional video creation. To attract students and prepare them for working in 21st century media, educational institutions face pressure to upgrade their production facilities and update their curriculums. Digital natives are savvy. They know to excel in a competitive job market they need hands-on, immersive learning on the latest and greatest tools. And educators and administrators realize they must balance both operations and the budget.

In this case study, Ball State University, ARwall and Absen share steps they took to update and upgrade BSU’s facility and curriculum by installing a virtual production system. They’ll share how to:
• build a state-of-the art VP studio without breaking the bank
• revise curriculums to reflect the industry’s transition to VP
• follow best practices for training future professionals on VP
• promote VP to your school’s competitive advantage as a credible, future-facing leader
• create new revenue streams and enhance reputation using a VP 'studio back-lot'

Speakers
Rene Amador, CEO, Arwall

Alex Kartman, Director of Sports Production, Ball State Sports Link, Associate Lecturer of Media, Video Production, Sports Media

Kobe Xiao, Director of Sales, AbsenLive (Live&Love), Absen

Speakers

Kobe Xiao

AbsenLive

Alex Kartman

Director of Sports Production, Ball State University

Rene Amador

CEO, AR Wall

Rene Amador is Co-Founder and CEO of ARwall and Executive Producer at ARwall Productions. Among the top XR tech and Virtual Production (VP) evangelists in Hollywood, he and the company have received numerous awards, including recognition from CES, the Emmy’s and SXSW. Amador designed... Read More →

Monday April 7, 2025 10:15am - 11:15am PDT
W301

BEA, Demonstration/Workshop | News, Demonstration/Workshop | Interactive Media & Emerging Technologies, Demonstration/Workshop | Student Track, Demonstration/Workshop | Production Aesthetics & Criticism, Demonstration/Workshop | Curriculum Assessment & Administration, Demonstration/Workshop | Sports, Demonstration/Workshop

10:15am PDT

Teaching Sports Documentary Filmmaking: The challenges, successes and opportunities in an exploding sub-genre.

Monday April 7, 2025 10:15am - 11:15am PDT

W305

Sports documentary filmmaking continues to capture large audiences across many platforms. Films, defined in many ways, are being produced and screened globally for an expanding audience. The panel looks to gather faculty/filmmakers who are working in the sub-genre and investigate how students can develop their creative voices working at a convergent point of art and sport. Panelists will share their experiences, both hits and misses, with creating compelling films in the classroom. Issues, trends and critical concepts regarding the past, present and future thoughts of sports documentary filmmaking will also be discussed.
Moderator: Jordan Mark Kligerman, Syracuse University
Panelists: Karen Bullis, Austin Peay State University; Geoffrey Thompson, University of Florida

Moderators

Jordan Kligerman

Visiting Asst. Professor, Syracuse University

Speakers

Karen Bullis

Austin Peay State University

Geoffrey Thompson

Assoc Director - Sports Journalism & Communications, University of Florida

Monday April 7, 2025 10:15am - 11:15am PDT
W305

Sports, Teaching Techniques/Tips & Educational Programs | BEA, Teaching Techniques/Tips & Educational Programs

11:30am PDT

Scholar-to-Scholar Digital Poster Session - Interactive Media & Emerging Technologies, News, Radio & Audio Media and Sports

Monday April 7, 2025 11:30am - 12:30pm PDT

BEA Exhibit Hall W322-W327

News Division
Comparison Study of Broadcast Journalism Curriculum and News Reporter/Anchor Job Posts; Kevin Hull, University of South Carolina; Minhee Choi, Texas Tech University

From Ukraine to Gaza: Watching One War Displace Another on the U.S. Cable News Agenda; Kenneth Richard Blake, Middle Tennessee State University School of Journalism and Strategic Media; Jun Zhang, Middle Tennessee State University; Jason Bernard Reineke, Middle Tennessee State University

Radio & Audio Media Division
State of commercial radio post-COVID-19: Optimism in the face of continuous industry evolution; Kyle J. Miller, Northwest Missouri State University; Christina C. Smith, Georgia College

Local Podcasts Should Not Be Overlooked: An Interview with Matt Peiken, Host and Creator of The Overlook Podcast; Chad Whittle; Georgia College & State University

Aliens on the Radio: From Science Fiction to Contested Facts in the Early Years of Paranormal Radio, 1947-1972; William Evans; University of Alabama

Sports Division
Image Repair Differences between Human and AI-generated Messaging: The Case of the Chicago White Sox; Kevin Meyer, Illinois State University; Peter Smuddle, Illinois State University; Joseph R. Blaney, Illinois State University; Stephen Hunt, Illinois State University; Lance Lippert, Illinois State University; Megan Hopper, Illinois State University & Roy Magnuson, Illinois State University

More than “sitting on their backside?” A visual framing analysis of Esports podcasts; Rich Johnson, Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication, Arizona State University; Ryan Broussard; Lindsey A. Sherrill, University of North Alabama; Marcus Funk, Sam Houston State University

Interactive Media & Emerging Technologies Division
Beyond the Viewer: Exploring the Effects of Parasocial Relationships on Twitch Livestreamers; Ashley Adamian, Valdosta State University & Kisun Kim, Columbus State University

Moderators

Michael Bruce

Dept. Chair, Associate Professor & Interim Director of Digital Media Center, University of Alabama

Transplanted Sooner teaching Sports Media in Bama

Speakers

Kisun Kim

Columbus State University

Joe Blaney

Professor, Illinois State University

Radio/Audio MediaSports CommunicationImage Restoration

Lindsey A. Sherrill

Assistant Professor, University of North Alabama

Kyle J. Miller

Assistant Professor, Northwest Missouri State University

I'm an assistant professor at the Northwest Missouri State University School of Communication and Mass Media. I teach media writing, broadcasting/digital, sports media and media literacy courses. I also oversee our Mass Media program's Senior Seminar course and Professional Advisory... Read More →

Chad Whittle

Assistant Professor of Communication, Georgia College & State University

Kevin Hull

University of South Carolina

Kenneth Blake

Minhee Choi

Jun Zhang

Monday April 7, 2025 11:30am - 12:30pm PDT
BEA Exhibit Hall W322-W327

News, Research/Theory | Sports, Research/Theory | BEA, Research/Theory

3:00pm PDT

Sports Broadcasting Program Showcase

Monday April 7, 2025 3:00pm - 4:00pm PDT

W308

This session will feature panelists from several universities that teach sports broadcasting. Some universities have full-fledged sports majors, while other colleges include sports activities as part of a general broadcast major. The panelists will highlight their programs, including how students, staff, and faculty are involved in the process. Student production excerpts will be shared with the audience. The programming may come from sports segments in radio or television newscasts, weekly shows, or specials. The program carriers vary from campus closed-circuit systems to community cable channels and public broadcasting stations. Issues to be discussed will include the balancing act of producing quality programming and providing students with a positive learning experience at the same time, the sometimes-challenging relationship between academics and the Athletic Department, and the ongoing budget battle.
Moderator: Kenneth A. Fischer, University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Panelists: Andrew Smith, Kansas State University; William R. Davie, University of Louisiana at Lafayette; Anjelica Trinone, West Virginia University

Moderators

Kenneth A. Fischer

Assistant Professor of Practice, University of Nebraska-Lincoln

Ken Fischer is an Assistant Professor of Practice at the University of Nebraska. He worked in the broadcasting industry for more than two decades. His career included work in public broadcasting, commercial production, and cable television. In the early 1980s, he served as Assistant... Read More →

Speakers

William R. Davie

Professor, University of Louisiana at Lafayette

Dr. William R. (Bill) Davie holds a professorship from the Louisiana Board of Regents and is the Mass Communication/Broadcasting Coordinator for the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. He has authored and coauthored research papers, journal articles, and books on electronic media... Read More →

Andrew Smith

News Director/Assistant Director AQ Miller School of Media and Communication, Kansas State University

Anjelica Trinone

West Virginia University

Monday April 7, 2025 3:00pm - 4:00pm PDT
W308

Sports, Teaching Techniques/Tips & Educational Programs | BEA, Teaching Techniques/Tips & Educational Programs

4:15pm PDT

The Rapid Evolution of Sport-Based Social Media

Monday April 7, 2025 4:15pm - 5:15pm PDT

W308

The combination of sport and social media is both powerful and persistent. New platforms on which we interact enable the ability for fans, athletes, teams, leagues, and media organizations to exist on a playing field that is far more “level,” in terms of reach, instantaneity, and impact, than even a decade ago. Each of these presentations will speak to various correlates that occur between and among sport and social media and will present work related to the upcoming 2025 Routledge Handbook for Sport & Social Media.
Moderator: Andrew C. Billings, University of Alabama
Panelists: Athlete-oriented social media; Leigh Moscowitz, University of Kentucky & Kevin Hull, University of South Carolina
Fan-oriented social media; Nicholas Bowman, Syracuse University
Media-entity oriented social media; Galen Clavio, Indiana University
Team-oriented social media; Shannon Scovel, University of Tennessee

Moderators

Andrew C. Billings

University of Alabama

Speakers

Nicholas David Bowman

Associate Professor, Syracuse University

Leigh Moscowitz

University of South Carolina

Kevin Hull

University of South Carolina

Galen Clavio

Sports Media Program Director, Indiana University Bloomington

Galen Clavio is the current Director of Undergraduate Studies for the Media School, and serves as both an Associate Professor of Sports Media and the Director of the National Sports Journalism Center at Indiana University. Galen also serves as the head of the Sports Media program... Read More →

Monday April 7, 2025 4:15pm - 5:15pm PDT
W308

Sports, Research/Theory | BEA, Research/Theory