BEA2025

Do screenwriters need life rights when writing a story based on real events? What if they change significant details? What happens if life rights aren’t available at the time? Navigating these complexities can be challenging for creatives trying to focus on what matters most… telling a great story.

This panel will explore these issues from both a creative and legal perspective. First, Assistant Professor Benjamin S. Frahm, who teaches screenwriting at Syracuse University’s S.I. Newhouse School and wrote the script "48 Hours in Vegas," will share his experience. His script was optioned by Michael Jordan and his son, Jeffrey Jordan, but later faced life rights complications involving other characters. Next, we’ll hear from Associate Professor Imraan Farukhi, a Communication Law expert at Syracuse University, who will provide insights from the legal side.

Moderator: Benjamin S. Frahm, Syracuse University
Panelists: Imraan Farukhi, Syracuse University
J. Christopher Hamilton, SyracuseUniversity

This panel will explore and discuss storytelling that potentially defies the usual clear-cut cause and effect use of linear time, space and plot. We attempt to define non-linearity and to examine different frames that can help students and colleagues engage with this more nuanced approach to narrative structure.
This is being proposed as a multi-year / phased discussion of non-linear story telling –
Phase 1 (2025) - this current panel is an introductory consideration of structural framing.
Phase 2 (2026) - considers the appeal, utility and marketability of non-linear narratives.
Phase 3 (2027) - looks more specifically at how to help students film a nonlinear short.

Moderator: Jason E. Brown, Valdosta State University
Rising Action in Reverse: Narratives Out of Order; Gregory Carl Bray, SUNY - New Paltz
Watching in tandem: Parallel Action as a Frame for Non-Linear Storytelling; Raymond Dennis Seymour Anderson, University of Guam
The End is Near: Energizing Narratives by Starting at the Finish Line; Jonathan A Mason, Rowan University
Respondent: Jason E. Brown, Valdosta State University

Good Morning Indian Country (GMIC) is an award-winning Native student-led weekly Native news program produced collaboratively by students from Haskell Indian Nations University and journalism students at the University of Kansas. MMJs turn local packages weekly, covering events and issues of interest to the local Indigenous community, as well as interviewing guests in studio about issues and events from all across Indian Country.
Moderator: Melissa Greene-Blye, University of Kansas
Proposed panelists:
Shia Blackcloud, GMIC Producer/Haskell Student
Allison Levering, GMIC Anchor/Haskell Student
Victor Organista, GMIC Live Reporter/Haskell Student
Ryn Drummond, GMIC Producer/KU Student
Mily Favilla, GMIC MMJ/KU Student

In this workshop we’ll discuss the importance of pre-production from a practical perspective. What is required of a producer and production team before a single frame is shot? We’ll address best practices and techniques used on contemporary film and television sets as well as discuss common pitfalls incurred by new filmmakers and how to avoid them. These tips and tricks will provide workforce readiness for graduating film students and a great entry point into producing for new film students looking to shoot their first short.

Moderators: Jocelyn B. Millana, Missouri State University
Rowena Pedrena, University of Arkansas

Altogether, we must equip the next generation to prioritize their well-being and lead with empathy, fostering a culture where they care for themselves and their teams.

This panel is a call to action for educators and industry professionals to rethink how we prepare future leaders. By equipping them with the skills to manage diverse teams and prioritize mental health, we can develop broadcast leaders who are resilient, inclusive, and ready to meet the complex demands of today's media landscape. This session will feature insights from top industry professionals and provide the latest trends, tools, and practices to bring real-world relevance into the classroom.

Why This Matters Now: As the media industry continues to evolve rapidly, it is more critical than ever that broadcast leaders are equipped not only with technical skills but also with empathy and cultural competence to manage diverse newsrooms and support their teams' mental health. This panel offers a unique opportunity to learn from leading professionals who will share actionable strategies to transform teaching and leadership approaches, ensuring that students are ready to thrive in today's challenging and multicultural media environment.

Including this panel in the BEA Convention is essential to advancing the conversation around multiculturalism, mental health, and leadership in journalism. This is not just about preparing students for careers in media—it's about preparing them to lead with compassion, integrity, and resilience in an increasingly complex and diverse world.
Moderator: Kortni Alston Lemon, Gardner-Webb University
Panelists: Ken Lemon, National Association of Black Journalists, President
Dedrick Russell, WBTV
Karen Ladley, Carter Center for the Rosalynn Carter Mental Health Journalism & Mental Health Parity Collaborative
Marie Torres, TV News Spectrum Networks, Raleigh and NABJ Wellness Task Force

Journalism has historically approached sensitive topics with a detached, fact-driven lens, often overlooking the human element at the core of these stories. As research reveals the unintended harm this can cause — especially to individuals and communities affected by trauma — the profession is shifting toward trauma-informed and empathy-based practices. This panel will equip journalism instructors with practical strategies to teach students how to approach difficult subjects, such as addiction, with greater sensitivity and care in bother reporting practices and writing styles, while empowering sources to have more agency in their stories. Participants will gain insights into balancing these empathetic approaches with the core journalistic principles of independence and truth-seeking, preparing the next generation of journalists for a more ethical and humane future in reporting.
Moderator: Ashton Marra, West Virginia University
Panelists: Franklyn Charles, Slippery Rock University; Aaron Atkins, Weber State University; Elise De Los Santos, Northwestern University

Media has long been a powerful force in shaping public perceptions of African Americans, often reinforcing stereotypes or, conversely, providing more authentic and empowering portrayals. With Generation Z emerging as a media-savvy and socially conscious generation, their response to these representations is shaping both public discourse and media trends.

This panel will explore the dual role media plays in influencing perceptions of African Americans and how Generation Z, with its heightened awareness of social justice and representation, is responding to these portrayals. From news and social media to entertainment platforms, this discussion will focus on the evolving expectations of young audiences, their demand for more nuanced and authentic depictions, and how media creators can meet these expectations while challenging harmful stereotypes.

The panel will examine key questions, such as: How do media portrayals of African Americans impact Generation Z’s understanding of race and identity? What role does social media activism play in shaping media representation? And how are media professionals responding to the changing demands of this generation?
Moderator: Braxton Wardell Laster, University of Mississippi
Panelist: Larry Miller, Lane College

This panel explores strategies and pathways for BIPOC and queer women to assert their presence, advocate for inclusivity, and navigate the journey toward finding a voice and claiming space in the TV, film, and news media industries, both behind and in front of the camera. Additionally, this study seeks to illuminate how BIPOC and queer women negotiate visibility, authenticity, and agency in a white male-dominated field where their voices are often marginalized.
Moderator: Conci Nelson, Missouri State University
Panelists: Morgan Butler, Lindenwood University; JOCELYN B MILLANA, Missouri State University; Rowena Pedrena, University of Arkansas

For students and those advising students, this panel creates conversation about how best to build skills in college that lead to success in media careers. Broadcast experts and media consultants will invite audience interaction and give guidance about how to groom your grit to imagine, implement, and attain your goals.
Moderator: Marjorie Yambor, Dalton State College
Panelists: Pat Bryson, Bryson Broadcasting International
Meg Dowdy, Townsquare Media
Valerie Geller, Geller Media International
Gary Reid, WKAR AM/FM/TV

In a fast-paced, viral-driven media landscape, how can journalism educators prepare students to create engaging content on platforms like TikTok while upholding the principles of ethical reporting? This panel will dive into innovative approaches for integrating TikTok and other social media tools into journalism curricula for both news and sports classrooms. Educators will share techniques for teaching students how to craft accurate but creative news and sports coverage that resonates with digital audiences, while also addressing the challenges of maintaining journalistic standards in a rapidly evolving media world. Moderator: Chuck Scatterday, West Virginia University

How are your news students using social media? What platforms are student journalists using to promote their college radio and tv stations? Do they have a social media manager or someone dedicated to social media? These panelists will share what has and what has not worked at their student-run stations for promoting news shows, show content and/or news around the campus and community.
Moderator: Robin Cecala, Point Park University
Panelists: Brian Rackham, Northern Arizona University
Stephanie Anderson, University of South Florida

This panel promises lively debate regarding academe’s role in checking authoritarian assaults on media, based largely on the recent book by Mascaro and the late William E. Porter (Assault on the Media: The Nixon Years, Updated with Analysis of 21st Century Threats to Democracy, 2024). Panelists will update media law & policy, antitrust and regulatory issues, applied history, and the debate over cultural studies as a critique of power.

Moderator: Ralph Beliveau, University of Oklahoma
Amy Sindik, Central Michigan University; Considers a half century of post-Nixon media law, including the Pentagon Papers impact on journalism, modern [secret] prior restraint, confidentiality as a currency of power, and teaching media law amidst attacks on journalism.
Stuart Brotman, University of Tennessee, Knoxville; Assesses antitrust and regulatory issues in terms of helping or hurting the press, the FCC vs. the Office of Telecommunications Policy, and First Amendment freedoms in light of new communication and surveillance technologies.
Tom Mascaro, Bowling Green State University; Proposes “applied history” by journal editors and working groups to take stock of battles between authoritarians and journalism advocacy, as both journalists and college faculty members are under siege.
Ralph Beliveau, University of Oklahoma and Tom Mascaro; Concludes the session by sharing their years-long debate over cultural studies as a “check” on power or an anemic self-serving “critique.” It is no longer enough to “right” or “smart” as academics; it’s time to be more proactive. M

Narratives that broadcast television is in peril have been a part of industry and popular discourse since cable television, VCRS and video games became popular in the 1980s. Yet here we are in 2024, and, despite the deterministic narrative that old television is giving way to new television, broadcast networks not only persist but are a significant part of the streaming television ecosystem. This panel presents the following histories to better understand how network television has shifted its industrial strategies and practices in order to adapt to the digital age.
Moderator: Eleanor Patterson, Auburn University
Stripping Leno at 10 pm: The Challenges of Linear TV Scheduling in an Era of Online Abundance; Noah Arceneaux, San Diego State University
Bridging the Brand: Disney’s Use of Cartoon Blocks to Build their Brand in Broadcast and Extend it into the Digital Age; Kyra Hunting, University of Kentucky
Musical Narration and Memory: The Use of Commercial Music on Twentieth Century Period Pieces on Network Television; Anne Frances MacLennan, York University
From Analog Dollars to Digital Pennies: iTunes, Ad Dollars and Debates over Electronic Sell Through; Eleanor Patterson, Auburn University

This panel explores how the global streaming landscape markets stories to the world and its effect on multinational audiences. It seeks insight into how the international streaming industry provides outlets for smaller and emerging markets to have a global impact with programs such as Squid Game, Narcos, and Borgen. It also examines how U.S.-generated content reshapes international culture through a complex multinational streaming market.
Moderator: Michael Sinclair, Regent University
Panelists: Allen Babiarz-Lira, Vol State Community College/Regent University; Ines Petrovic Garcia, Volunteer State/Regent University

Navigating the ever-changing gauntlet of radio frequency engineering, government regulations, funding, and programming issues to build a new station holds many surprises. The panel considers the multitude of challenges and differences between building out a student non-commercial and a public radio station. Among the topics discussed include working with university administration, funding, design and build out, and successfully branding and launching a station.
Moderator: Matthew Thomas Binford, Western Carolina University
Panelists: Norm Medoff, Professor Emeritus, Northern Arizona University; Working with Administration and project funding
Don Connelly, Professor of Communication, 95.3 WWCU, Western Carolina University; Transmitter site selection, prep, and tower erection.
Nick Altman, Associate Professor of Strategic Communication and Media, WSRU FM, Slippery Rock University; Branding, programming, and launching a station.