Faculty Speaker Bureau Directory

DR. SAM SWAN

Title: The Changing face of television news in Eastern Europe

This program traces the changes in many Eastern European countries following the break-up of the Soviet Union. The conversion from governments to provide media has resulted in free market economies and a move toward a free press. Examples of how American media and trainers have changed TV News in the region will be shown.

Title: Journalism Education in the Middle East

This program focuses on the $1 million grant UT has to change journalism education in Jordan. Two universities in Jordan will be examined along with their approach to journalism education.

 

DR. CATHERINE A. LUTHER

Title: Sugar and Spice, and Everything Nice EVEN in sports Coverage: Representations of female athletes in the mass media.

In this presentation Dr. Luther discusses how female athletes are represented in media coverage of women's sports. She contrasts those representations with how male athletes have been typically depicted in sports. (Appropriate for grades 7-12 and general audiences; illustrated using a laptop and LCD projector).

 

DR. BARBARA MOORE

Title: The Golden Days of Radio: 1920-1950.

A nostalgic trip to the past when The Lone Ranger fought for justice. George Burns tried to understand Gracie, and Edward R. Murrow described World War II. You will see the roots of your favorite current TV programs and learn how radio made the change to the Top 40 format. Appropriate for a general audience.

Title: The Golden Age of Television: The 1950s.

Back to the days of gentle situation comedies, hard-hitting dramas, and the ever-entertaining sport of wrestling. We'll also explore the controversial issues: quiz show scandals, blacklisting of creative people, and the rise of violent programming. Appropriate for a general audience.

Title: How Network Programmers Make Those Crazy Decisions.

A look at how networks decide which program to add and which program to drop and when to schedule them. Answers questions like: Who creates the programs? Who pays for the programs? How is the success measured? Appropriate for a general audience.

 

DR. MARK LITTMANN

Dr. Mark Littmann is the Hill Chair of Excellence Professor in Science, Technology, and Medical Writing. He writes books about astronomy. He is available to speak on science writing/journalism topics and also science/astronomy topics.

Science Writing and Journalism Presentations

Title: Science Writing as Great Literature

Some writers make science not only clear but as thrilling as the best novels. How do they do that? This presentation is an audience-participating reading and discussion. (Adaptable for any age group from high school through senior adults and for any interest group from literary societies to scientific professional societies. This presentation can easily be expanded to a half-day or a full-day session for teachers or students, especially if computers are available for exercises).

Title: The Last Question

A reading (and discussion, if desired) of the stunning short story by Isaac Asimov about the future of the universe (Appropriate for all ages from 12 and above).

Title: A Christmas Memory

A reading (and discussion, if desired) of the moving short story by Truman Capote about his growing up in the South, particularly appropriate for Christmas time. (Appropriate for all ages from 12 and above).

Popular Science Presentations

Title: Springtime of the Universe

A time-lapse journey through the cosmos from the beginning to end. (Appropriate for all ages from 8 and above. Uses slides or laptop computer + digital projector).

Title: Children of the Stars

The birth and death of stars, leading to the realization that we are made of stardust. (Appropriate for all ages from 8 and above. Uses slides or laptop computer and digital projector).

Title: Life Beyond the Earth

A hundred billion other galaxies, each with a hundred billion stars or more. How many of those stars have planets like Earth where intelligent life exists? Can we make contact with them? (Appropriate for all ages and above. Uses slides or laptop computer and digital projector).

Title: New Worlds Beyond Pluto

What Pluto and a thousand newly discovered small planets tell us about how the solar system formed and evolved. (Appropriate for all ages from 8 and above, use laptop computer + digital projector).

Title: Maya Math

The Maya of Mexico and Central America were so advanced more than a thousand years ago that they could predict eclipses of the Sun. In this program, students learn about the Maya and experiment with their unusual counting system, based on the number 20. In these delightful experiments, students come to understand the concepts of mathematics better. (A participatory program for school children from grades 3 through 8. Uses slides or laptop computer + digital projector)

DR. MARK HARMON

Dr. Mark D. Harmon teaches courses in broadcast news, radio/TV andsociety, communication theory, and our introduction to broadcastingclass. He has worked as a TV news producer, radio reporter, and host of a radio news interview program. He is a former congressional candidate and current Knox CountyCommissioner, and has several projects in the works concerningpolitical communication.

Title: Media Ethics

This is highly interactive presentation and excercise in which the audience has to make some of the same difficult ethical choices facing newsroom workers.

Title: Sorting through conflicting claims of media bias

Books and popular press articles scream claims of media bias, but the research data tell a different, more detailed, and more interesting picture of the intersection of mass media and political/partisan machinations.

Title: Television news and public affairs

A scatching review of the few strengths and many weaknesses of broadcast news in helping people understand and participate in public life, everything from local zoning to national campaigns. Dr. Harmon has been involved in many aspects of this issue. He has been a television news producer, radio talk host, newspaper columnist, and most recently a Knox County Commissioner.

 

DR. LISA FALL

Dr. Lisa Fall is an associate professor in the school of Advertising and Public Relations in the College of Communication and Information.Her area specialty is public relations/marketing communication and promotion as it relates to the travel/tourism/hospitality in industry. Her secondary area of specialty is public relations pedagogy.

Title: PR Lite: What is Public Relation and Why it is Relevant to Your Organization?

This topics will include a brief introduction to public relations as a management function and its various roles in the market place. Using Public Relations RACE model (Research, Action plan, Communication, Evaluation), Dr. Fall will address organizational issue/problems and opportunities in Public Relations today.

Title: Understanding the Why Behind the Buy: Using Consumer Behavior Research to Ramp Up Your Communication Programs"

This session will give a brief discussion on how research, especially the consumer behavior research, assists in developing communication goals and objectives that impacts organizations. It includes an overview the mainstream research/evaluation communication methods, including surveys, in-depth interviews & communication audits.

Title: Learning 101: A Short 'How to' Presentation on Survey Design.

This sesion will introduce you to survey research and its importance in the marketplace . It will also explain how to develop a survey.

 

DR. MICHAEL J. PALENCHAR

Title: Playing Tough Defense and Smart Offense through Issues Management and Public Relations

This topic will introduce you to issues management that helps organizations to develop foresight and understanding of the public policy environment as well as providing a reasonable framework to work with key stakeholders.

Title: Helping your Organization Prepare for a Crisis through Strategic Crisis Communication Planning

This topic will discuss crisis communication research, planning, execution and evaluation. This presentation can focus on what constitutes a crisis, crisis communication strategy and planning, media relations, and general discussions on leadership and organizational culture as fundamental components to crisis communication.

Title: Risk Communication - Adding value to Society

This session will engage a dialogue on the concept of risk communication, transparency building trust through community outreach and collaborative decision making.The presentation will include risk communication campaign formation and implementation, which are fundamental communication guideliness for good organizations communication.

Title: Community right to know requirements within risk communication