…

                                                                 Journalism and
                                                            Mass Communication
Department of Journalism and Mass Communication
COLLEGE OF ARTS AND SCIENCES



key strengths                                                       DEGREES OFFERED
· The JMC department is nationally accredited by the                · Bachelor of Science
  Accrediting Council on Education in Journalism and Mass
  Communication. ACU is the only university affiliated with         majors available
  the Churches of Christ to earn this credential, one of only       · Integrated marketing communication
  seven in Texas, one of only five church-affiliated universities   · Journalism (tracks in print, broadcast or photojournalism)
  nationwide and the only program among member schools              · Electronic media (tracks in visual communication
  of the Council of Christian Colleges and Universities.              or digital media)
· Graduate and law school students who have completed               · Advertising/graphic design (interdisciplinary with art)
  their baccalaureate work in the department universally have
  been very successful.                                             career opportunities
· The department was an early adopter, beginning in 1978,           · Journalism (reporters, copy editors, graphic journalists,
  of computer applications to media fields and has been a             Web, online journalists, photojournalists, announcers,
  leader in developing convergence curriculum. In January             videographers, producers, video editors)
  2008, the department returns to the Don H. Morris                 · Integrated marketing communications (agencies, graphic
  Center after a major renovation including a converged               designers, copy writers, sales, media buyers, media sales
  media newsroom housing operations for print, online and             persons, marketing and positions in health services,
  broadcast news media.                                               education, corporations, military, foreign service, and all
· Message focused, technology driven and committed                    levels of government)
  to convergence, the JMC curriculum is designed not                · Electronic media (Web site management, media
  only to prepare graduates for their first job, but to make          development, film industry production, corporate
  them flexible, mobile and prepared for the rapidly                  multi-media)
  changing media environments of the future. Faculty seek           · Other (university teachers, film-related careers,
  to balance theory and practice in every course and to               lawyers, researchers)
  engage their students in the learning that takes place in
                                                                    student opportunities
  and out of the classroom.
                                                                    Nationally-affiliated Organizations
· Every student is required to participate in an internship;        · Ad Club (American Advertising Federation student chapter)
  the faculty believes internships are doors to entry level         · Kappa Tau Alpha (national JMC honor society chapter)
  jobs and is active in helping to arrange internships and          · Public Relations Student Society of America (student chapter)
                                                                    · Society of Professional Journalists (student chapter)
  entry level jobs.                                                 · National Broadcasting Society
· The network of ACU JMC alumni helps to place graduates
                                                                    Student Media
  in good entry-level positions. Interns and new graduates          · KACU-FM (affiliated with National Public Radio and
  are impressing employers with their intelligence,                   Associated Press)
  problem-solving abilities, hands-on experience and                · KXN-TV7 (LPTV channel)
                                                                    · Optimist (twice weekly student newspaper)
  ethical performance.                                              · OptimistOnline (online news))
                                                                    · Prickly Pear (DVD and print yearbook)
                                                                    Events
                                                                    · Gutenberg Dinner (Homecoming dinner honoring alumni
                                                                      for distinguished professional achievements)
                                                                    · Kappa Tau Alpha Initiation (induction of new scholars
                                                                      and Abilene honorary member)
                                                                    · Spring Fling (honoring graduating seniors and outstanding
                                                                      student academic and media performance)
                                                                    · Senior Sanctuary (time of blessing and celebration with
                                                                      graduating seniors)
Off-campus Study and Research Opportunities                              Pro-Tools Digital Audio Workstation, and the Radio
· Internships -- summer, fall and spring (recently in cities such
  as Washington, D.C.; Los Angeles, Calif.; Nashville, Tenn.;
                                                                         Works traffic system. It broadcasts 24 hours per day
  Boston, Mass.; Dallas; San Antonio; Abilene; Lubbock; Fort             worldwide on the Internet using RealPlayer at
  Worth; Houston; Oklahoma City, Okla.; Leesburg, Fla.;                  www.kacu.org.
  Burbank, Calif.; Honolulu, Hawaii.)                                  · KXN-TV; KXN-TV, channel 7, is a LPTV station
· Study Abroad Program in summers
· Part-time employment in Abilene media, agencies                        broadcasting to the Abilene area. KXN is carried on
  and institutions                                                       Suddenlink Cable in the Abilene area. KXN has Sony
Scholarships                                                             DXC30 digital studio cameras, a Rush Works Video
· Lydia Clark Heston Photojournalism Scholarship ­ recipient             Automation system and has a six-station Final Cut Pro
  must be a junior or senior, have a 2.5 GPA, and be a Prickly           Editing Lab and two advanced Avid editing suites. The
  Pear or Optimist photographer.
· Bradley and Corliss Hudson Englert Scholarship ­ recipient             studio has recently been upgraded with Brightline
  selected by a faculty committee based on need, academic                flourscent lighting and a new ETC Express digital
  achievement, character and potential for professional                  control console. KXN is affiliated with Annenberg
  achievement.
· ACT/SAT Academic Scholarships                                          educational television 24 hours per day.
                                                                       · Optimist: The lab broadsheet newspaper is
Please consult with your admissions counselor for details on
these and other scholarships available to you.                           paginated and produced camera-ready with assistance
Awards
                                                                         of InDesign, Illustrator and Adobe Photoshop on
· Wendell H. Bedichek Award is presented each spring to the              Macintosh G-5s and PowerBooks and a 1200 dpi
  most valuable staff member of the student newspaper, The               laser printer.
  Optimist. The award was established by Bedichek, who was             · Prickly Pear: The yearbook is equipped with
  editor of the paper in 1921-24.
· Lowell G. Perry Award memorializes the late founder of                 Macintosh G-3s and software to produce digital spreads
  the broadcasting program, who was killed in a plane crash              for Taylor Publishing Co. of Dallas, Texas.
  while searching for a site for a Christian short wave radio
  station. The award is presented annually to a broadcasting        distinguished ALUMNI
  student who measures up to the principles modeled and
                                                                    Alumni listed here are recipients of the Gutenberg Award
  taught by Perry.
                                                                    for distinguished professional achievement with the title
· Vonda K. Dietz Award is a memorial to the editor of the
                                                                    appropriate at the time the award was presented
  1989 Prickly Pear, who died in an auto accident a few days
  before the book was completed. The award is presented
                                                                    Lane Cubstead, class of 1956; USIS, Washington, D.C.
  annually to the most valuable yearbook staffer.
                                                                    Jimmy Parsons, class of 1964; Houston Light and Power
· Horizons Award is presented annually to recognize
                                                                    Bob Armistead, class of 1962; journalist, educator
  outstanding design work on the Prickly Pear.
                                                                    Dr. Ed Bailey, class of 1967; educator, lawyer, religious RTV,
· Clarion Award is presented every year to the top graduate
                                                                       Nashville, Tenn.
  who plans a career in public relations. This award is funded
                                                                    Mike Blanton, class of 1976; owner, Reunion Records,
  by Elise Mitchell ('83).
                                                                       Nashville, Tenn.
                                                                    Max Lucado, class of 1983; minister and author,
facilities                                                             San Antonio, Texas.
   The three-story Don H. Morris Center includes the                Wayne Gurley, class of 1975; owner, Gurley & Associates,
                                                                       Nashville, Tenn.
Coffee Communication Hall, which is the home of the                 Regina Whiting Burns, class of 1983; director of promotions
media, classrooms, labs and offices of the department.                 and community relations, Sossaman, Bateman, McCuddy
   State-of-the-art broadcasting equipment and 60-plus                 Advertising, Memphis, Tenn.
                                                                    Gary Thornton, class of 1972; attorney, Small, Craig &
networked Apple iMacs and G-5s, which are replaced on a                Werkenthin, Austin, Texas.
three-year rotation, provide the faculty and students with          David Leeson, class of 1978; photojournalist, The Dallas
current technology for use in offices, media offices, labs and         Morning News, Pulitzer Prize finalist, Dallas, Texas.
the new newsroom. Students have access to the university's          Kent Hunter, class of 1979; executive design director and
                                                                       principal, Frankfurt Balkind Partners, New York, N.Y.
high-speed internet connection and to: Adobe's most                 Lance Barrow, class of 1981; Emmy-winning producer, CBS
recent CS (InDesign, Illustrator and Photoshop), Digital               Sports, New York, N.Y.
Darkroom, Microsoft Office, Authorware, Flash,                      Nelson Coates, class of 1984; production designer, Emmy
                                                                       nominee, Los Angeles, Calif.
Dreamweaver, Adobe Premiere and other applications;                 Elise Smith Mitchell, class of 1983; APR, director
a 300-font type library; and electronic catalog of Abilene             of development marketing for Promus Hotels,
and other libraries.                                                   The Promus Co. Inc.
                                                                    David Ramsey, class of 1981; sports writer, Syracuse (N.Y.)
   · KACU-FM: KACU/Abilene Public Radio is a                           Herald-Journal
     33,000-watt National Public Radio station serving West         Mark Cullum, class of 1985; editorial cartoonist, Birmingham
     Texas. It is affiliated with NPR and the Associated Press         News; creator of "Walnut Cove," King Features; and
     as well as American Public Media, Public Radio                    syndicated cartoonist, Copley
                                                                    Perry Flippin, class of 1965; manager of news services,
     International and the BBC. KACU features a fully                  Donrey Media, Fort Smith, Ark.
     digital Audio Vault computerized operations system, a          Alan Miller, class of 1975; regional public affairs manager,
                                                                       State Farm Insurance Companies, Greeley, Colo.
Kelly Tolson, class of 1983; executive director, Tennessee 2000,   Marcia Prior Miller, class of 1970; associate professor and
   Nashville, Tenn.                                                  Meredith Apprenticeship Professor, Greenlee School of
Kevin Gwin, class of 1986; public relations specialist, Nissan,      Journalism and Mass Communication, Iowa State University,
   Nashville, Tenn.                                                  Ames, Iowa
Karen Hughes Strong, class of 1973; associate executive            Harold Straughn, class of 1961; developer of Life Spiral
   director, Texas Association of School Boards, Austin, Texas.      Communications, Oklahoma City, Okla.
Laura Burt Michew, class of 1981; vice president, children's       James Batts, class of 1964; senior writer-editor, American
   products, Word Publishing, Dallas, Texas.                         Heart Association, Dallas, Texas.
Dr. Bob Woodroof, class of 1974; APR, associate professor of       Serene Goh, class of 1994; IN editor, Straits Times, Singapore.
   public relations, Pepperdine University, Malibu, Calif.         Ron Hadfield, class of 1979; assistant vice president for
Susan Tunnell Rovegno, class of 1975; regional marketing             university communication, ACU, Abilene, Texas.
   director, USA Today, Phoenix, Ariz.                             Byron Harrell, class of 1988; program/operations director,
Robert Nutt, class of 1980; vice president and creative              WDVD & WDRQ, Detroit, Mich.
   director, Zachry Associates, Abilene, Texas.                    Pamela Ham, class of 1985; anchor-reporter,
Dr. Mark Shifflet, class of 1983; senior research associate,         KWES NewsWest 9, Midland, Texas.
   Center for Journalism Resources, Rutgers University, New        Wen Ho "Steve" Lin, class of 1986; president and CEO,
   Brunswick, N.J.                                                   Gray Global Group, Singapore
Cecilia Hufstedler Morgan, class of 1974; attorney,                Greg Staley, class of 1992; communications manager, Travel
   Dallas, Texas.                                                    Industry Association of America, Washington, D.C.
Brent Magers, class of 1976; CEO/administrator, Harris
   Regional Hospital, Cleburne, Texas.                             recent graduates
Bonnie Curtis, class of 1988; associate producer, "Saving          Shelby Coates, class of 2007, reporter, KRBC-TV,
   Private Ryan," Los Angeles, Calif.                                 Abilene, Texas.
David Himes, class of 1971; executive vice president/COO,          Gary Rhodes, class of 2006, staff photographer,
   the AB&C Group, Inc.                                               Midland Reporter-Telegram, Midland, Texas
Steve Green, class of 1977; president, Upwords Inc.                Sarah Carlson, class of 2006; copy editor,
   San Antonio, Texas.                                                Abilene Reporter-News, Abilene, Texas.
Doug Ferguson, class of 1983; chief golf writer,                   Jonathan Smith, class of 2006, page designer,
   The Associated Press, Jacksonville, Fla.                           Corpus Christi Caller Times, Corpus Christi, Texas.
Les Hunter, class of 1986; producer, Pacific Data Images,          April Ward, class of 2006, law student, Harvard Law School,
   Palo Alto, Calif.                                                  Cambridge, Mass.
Martin Perry, class of 1983; production manager, Phillips          Lori Bredemeyer, class of 2005; assistant news editor,
   Productions, Denton, Texas.                                        Redding Record Searchlight, Redding, Calif.
Doug Mendenhall, class of 1982; graphics editor, Huntsville        Taylor Hemness, class of 2004, anchor, KTRE-TV
   Times, Huntsville, Ala.                                            Lufkin/Nacogdoches, Lufkin, Texas.
Yvette Moore-Turner, class of 1980; managing editor,               Brady Lane, class of 2004, multimedia journalist,
   Response, New York, N.Y.                                           Experimental Aircraft Association, Oshkosh, Wis.
Grant Rampy, class of 1987; correspondent, Tribune                 Paul Anthony, class of 2004; general assignments reporter,
   Broadcasting, Washington, D.C.                                     San Angelo Standard Times, San Angelo, Texas.
Dr. Marilyn Roberts, class of 1981; associate professor of         Ronni Gregoire, class of 2003; casting travel coordinator,
   advertising, University of Florida, Gainsville, Fla.               Bunim/Murray, Los Angeles, Calif.
Grant Boone, class of 1991; sports director, The Golf Channel,     Brooks Larr, class of 2002; Thompson Murray advertising;
   Orlando, Fla.                                                      Fayetteville, Ark.
Gary Foster, class of 1979; post-production director,              Jessica Smith, class of 2002; Ph.D. student, The University of
   Bill Young Productions, Sugar Land, Texas.                         North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, N.C.
Amber Lavender, class of 1983; director of business affairs,       Ryan McNeill, class of 2002, associate producer, "Deadliest
   Weiden & Kennedy, Portland, Ore.                                   Catch," Discovery Channel, Hollywood, Calif.
Mark Carver, class of 1984; owner, Mark Carver Designs,            Marjon Zabihi, class of 2004, public relations manager,
   Nashville, Tenn.                                                   Nieman-Marcus, Dallas, Texas.
Greg Easterly, class of 1983; news director, WJA-TV,               Jaci Schneider, class of 2006, copy editor/project coordinator,
   Cleveland, Ohio.                                                   David C. Cook Publishers, Colorado Springs, Colo.
Barbie Mayben, class of 1982; public affairs leader,               Valerie Morby, class of 2006, assistant vice president
   operations, Dow Chemical Company, Midland, Mich.                   SporTyler, Tyler (Texas) Chamber of Commerce
Brown Bannister, class of 1975; music producer,
   Brentwood, Tenn.                                                   Students and student media annually compete in state,
Kenneth Pybus, class of 1989; editor, Nashville Business           regional and national intercollegiate championships in
   Journal, Nashville, Tenn.                                       advertising, broadcasting, reporting, copy editing, design,
Lelia Santiago Holmes, class of 1987; vice president and           cartooning, photography, public relations, and yearbooks
   co-founder, DQ Advertising Group, San Francisco, Calif.         against the largest universities in the Southwestern Journalism
Col. Monte Brock, class of 1984; commander, 389th Fighter          Congress, Society of Professional Journalists, Public Relations
   Squadron, Mountain Home AFB, Idaho                              Student Society of America, Texas Intercollegiate Press
Loren Halifax, class of 1991; news anchor and reporter,            Association and the prestigious Hearst Foundation Awards.
   WDAF-TV, Kansas City, Mo.                                       Total awards received since the mid-80s now number in the
Craig Smith, class of 1984; president, World Bible Translation     thousands with hundreds of first place, Best of Show and
   Center, Fort Worth, Texas.                                      Sweepstakes recognitions.
Wendell Edwards, class of 1992; general assignments                   The Optimist, the ACU student newspaper, has been rated
   reporter, KHOU-TV, Houston, Texas.                              All-American every year since 1975 by the Associated Collegiate
                                                                   Press ­ 28 consecutive years. The yearbook, Prickly Pear, and
                                                                   the video yearbook, Visions, also have been All-American
                                                                   several times.
faculty achievements
                                                                    About the Department
· Faculty members are engaged in consulting for universities,
  advertising agencies, religious publishing companies,             Cheryl Bacon, Ed.D., APR, Chair
  corporations, non-profit organizations, political candidates,     Department of Journalism and Mass Communication
  newspapers, and radio and TV stations.                            301 Don H. Morris Center
· Faculty members have been named teacher of the year               ACU Box 27892, Abilene, Texas 79699-7892
  for the university, and the College of Professional Studies       325-674-2296 · Fax: 325-674-2139
  at ACU, and have been honored for mentoring and                   cheryl.bacon@jmc.acu.edu
  lifetime achievement by the College of Arts and Sciences.         www.acu.edu/jmc
  Faculty members are recognized nationally and                     About ACU and Admissions
  internationally as authorities in advertising, media ethics,
  public relations, religious journalism, First Amendment           Abilene Christian University Admissions Office
  history and photography.                                          800-460-6228
· Students and faculty have provided presidential and board         info@admissions.acu.edu
  leadership for state and regional organizations including         www.acu.edu
  the Southwestern Journalism Congress, Southwest
  Education Council for Education in Journalism and Mass
  Communication, Rocky Mountain Collegiate Media
  Association, Society of Professional Journalists, Texas
  Intercollegiate Press Association, Texas Intercollegiate Press
  Association Advisors, American Advertising Federation,
  and American Journalism Historians Association.

FACULTY
Cheryl M. Bacon, Ed.D., professor, chair; B.A., Abilene
   Christian University, 1976; M.A., ACU, 1979; Ed.D., Texas
   Tech University, 1991; APR, Public Relations Society of
   America, 1993.
John Best, part-time instructor, director of broadcast
   operations; B.F.A., Hardin-Simmons University, 1973;
   M.A., Abilene Christian University, 2000.
Larry Bradshaw, Ph.D., professor emeritus; B.A., Abilene
   Christian University, 1965; M.A., The University of Arizona,
   1966; Ph.D., Southern Illinois University, 1970.
Joyce Haley, instructor; B.S., Pepperdine University, 1981;
   M.S., Abilene Christian University. 2003
Dave Hogan, instructor, director of integrated marketing
   communication program, faculty adviser of the PRSSA
   chapter; B.A., University of Memphis, 1975; M.A., The Ohio
   State University, 1978.
Susan Lewis, instructor; B.A., Abilene Christian University,
   1993; M.A., ACU, 1997; Ed.D. candidate, Pepperdine
   University, current.
Charles H. Marler, Ph.D., professor emeritus; B.A., Abilene
   Christian University, 1955; M.A., ACU, 1968; Ph.D., University
   of Missouri, 1974.
Kenneth Pybus, J.D., assistant professor, faculty adviser of
   The Optimist; B.S., Abilene Christian University, 1989; J.D.
   Baylor University School of Law, 1992.
George Saltsman, part-time instructor, ACU director of
   educational technology; B.S., Abilene Christian University,
   1990; M.S., ACU, 1994.
Cade White, instructor, faculty adviser of the Prickly Pear;
   B.A., Abilene Christian University, 1990; M.A., ACU, 1998.




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