BEA2025

In our digitally connected world, universities often remain isolated. This panel explores how three institutions bridge this divide through innovative cross-cultural collaborations. We'll examine projects uniting students across cities and countries to create documentaries and curate film exhibitions. From U.S.-India and U.S.-Hong Kong partnerships to regional film festivals and environmental justice documentaries, these initiatives leverage technology to foster global perspectives and civic engagement. Join us to discover how these projects are reshaping inter-university collaboration and student learning in media education.
Moderator: Milton A. Santiago, Syracuse University
Panelists: Chris Strobel, Northern Kentucky University
David P. Burns, Salisbury University
Milton A. Santiago, Syracuse University
Andrew Sharma, Salisbury University

This panel explores current best practices in student video and multimedia equipment practices, processes, and procedures, focusing on efficient management and equitable access. Attendees will gain insights into balancing technology adoption with institutional policies, ensuring students receive timely and fair access to resources.
Moderator: James McNab, Greenlee School of Journalism and Communication - Iowa State University
Panelists: Kate Allred, Pittsburg State University; Thomas Kenny, Molloy University; Suzy Smith, Ball State University; David Stephenson, School of Journalism and Media, Univ. of Kentucky; Dustin Sullivan, Arkansas State University

This panel will explore media courses and productions incorporating live elements and/or streaming on a tight budget. Panelists will present the classes they teach and how they include live broadcasting/streaming with little to no resources. It will provide the attendees with inspiration and ideas on how they can best incorporate these aspects into their own classes.
Moderator: Kate Allred, Pittsburg State University
Panelists: Michael Tucker, University of West Georgia; Carey L. Higgins-Dobney, University of Kentucky; Matthew Thomas Binford, Western Carolina University; Steve Stilwell, Liberty University; Brian E. Mitchell, Saint Xavier High School

There are many things to consider when making a documentary: gear, crew members, who to interview, what to capture and eventually, how to edit hours of footage into a final cohesive and powerful film. With the added complexity of traveling overseas, it is a difficult but rewarding endeavor for any filmmaker. In this panel, we will discuss our approach to producing each of our individual short documentaries that were filmed in Korea and Vietnam and the challenges that we overcame along the way. Moderator: Hien Dinh, Dell Technologies
Panelists: Changhee Chun, University of Texas - Arlington; Joseph Balderas, University of Texas Arlington; Hien Dinh, Dell Technologies

Mastering the Two M’s will explore actionable strategies to build a supportive culture and develop innovative collaborations and programming that will ensure your station remains a vibrant hub of campus engagement. You’ll also explore effective approaches to boost and sustain your budget, including creative fundraising initiatives and strategic partnerships with academic departments, local businesses and community organizations.
Moderator: Linda Burkley, Susquehanna University
Panelist: Dawn Marie Benfer, Susquehanna University

The 2024 election cycle was arguably one of the longest — and strangest — in United States history. The two major party candidates seemed to be locked in 244 days before the general election, and a potentially viable third party candidate emerged, the son of a political dynasty. But the following weeks saw events both serious — an assassination attempt, the withdrawal of the incumbent president from the race, questions about the viability of specific policy proposals from each candidate — and, frankly, weird — a candidate doing a YouTube video with a former sitcom star where he admitted staging a wreck between a bear carcass and a bicycle in Central Park, persistent false rumors of a vice presidential candidate’s lewd behavior with a couch, a presidential debate that devolved into a spat about who had the better golf handicap. Even the use of the word “weird” has become politicized.

How do students learn to cover these events, especially in a political landscape that is often marked by contentious discourse? And how do students learn to engage in critical thinking skills to be able to extract facts from political hyperbole?
Moderator: Kathleen M. Ryan, University of Colorado Boulder, Colorado
Participants:
Nicole Clarity, Hofstra University; Clarity’s students won a 2023 Murrow award for their midterm election coverage.
Jay DeDapper, Marist Poll, Marist University; DeDapper leads the poll’s public education efforts, including outreach for student journalists about poll literacy.
Antonio Mora, University of Miami; Mora will discuss strategies to develop and implement successful election night coverage.
Leighton C. Peterson, Miami University; Peterson helps faculty and students navigate a landscape that privileges vocational preparation over critical thinking skills, often in a political environment that attempts to stifle robust political discourse.

As the BEA celebrates its 70th anniversary, we find ourselves at a critical juncture in the landscape of media education and representation. This panel seeks to commemorate the leadership, and the strides they made in fostering diversity within broadcast education while addressing the contemporary challenges faced by organizations committed to multicultural representation. In an era where diversity initiatives are increasingly under scrutiny, this panel will explore the vital role of BEA, particularly the Multicultural Division in promoting inclusive practices, amplifying underrepresented voices, and preparing the next generation of media professionals to navigate an ever-evolving, diverse media landscape.
Moderator: Marquita Smith, University of Mississippi
Panelists: Dhyana Ziegler, Former Chair and Founding Member of the Diversity Committee/Multicultural Division
Dwight M. Ellis, Bowie State University and former Vice President of NAB
Phylis West Johnson, San Jose State University, and former Chair of the Paper Competition and Founding Member of the Diversity Committee/Multicultural Division
Jennifer Woodard, Middle Tennessee State University and Current Chair of the Multicultural Division

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

This panel explores the use of participatory digital media production as a vehicle to empower students, both communication and non-communication majors, to amplify voices, actively engage in the storytelling process, and address meaningful issues within their own communities.

Researchers regularly demonstrate the efficacy of narratives to facilitate engagement, self-identity, collaboration, and persuasion. One of the pressing issues in communication and media production courses, particularly for non-communication students, is to develop foundational knowledge and concurrently develop self- and community expression.

Panelists will present on four student-focused participatory digital media initiatives representing different communities, cross-discipline and cross-university collaborations, and the integration of different media technology (visual, podcast/audio, print/web, interactive, virtual reality).
Moderator: Aaron Atkins, Weber State University
Panelists: Franklyn Charles, Slippery Rock University; Camilo Perez, Regis University; Ashton Marra, West Virginia University

This annual panel provides the opportunity for student writers to pitch their films, television shows, or other dramatic media forms to professional screenwriters. The students receive feedback on their scripts and their pitches. This session is part one of a two-parter with the same writers; it is followed immediately by their second panel, “Media Writers Q&A Session.”
Moderator: Raymond Dennis Seymour Anderson, University of Guam
Panelists: Rosanne M. Welch, Stephens College
Jon L. Vandergriff, Cal State Fullerton
David Morgasen, California State University, Fullerton

This annual panel provides the opportunity for attendees to hear real-world stories about writing professionally in the entertainment industry. Q&A allows attendees to gain inside perspectives on the challenges and successes of writing in “Hollywood.” This session is part two of a two-parter with the same writers; it is preceded immediately by their first panel, “Media Writers Pitch Session.”
Moderator: Edward J. Fink, California State University - Fullerton
Panelists: Rosanne M. Welch, Stephens College
Jon L. Vandergriff, Cal State Fullerton
David Morgasen, California State University, Fullerton

A panel of students offers their voices on their importance to college radio. Hear about the new and different perspectives college students provide, including their experiences in college radio. Listen to how they encourage others to speak up/out when they see their peers doing the same. They will discuss the challenges of running a station and working with their peers. Lastly, hear the truths they want their leaders to know.
Moderator: Shawn Andrew Isaacs, University of West Georgia
Panelists: Jett Bradley Nelson, University of Texas-Arlington
Ayana Ware, University of West Georgia
Julian Bryant, University of West Georgia

Journalists need to be good storytellers at heart, but that starts with being able to identify a good story and then figure out how to tell it effectively. From large intro classes to reporting classes to capstone classes, students seem to struggle with the idea of what makes a good story. This panel will feature a variety of ideas for teaching students how to identify good stories in their communities, develop them and then present them in a compelling way.
Moderator: Jen Smith, University of Kentucky
Panelists: Jen Smith, University of Kentucky
Karen Russell, Tennessee State University
Boriana Treadwell, University of Miami
Lauren Bavis, Syracuse University
David Stephenson, University of Kentucky

This is a session exclusively for the RAB Student Scholars.