I’m an award-winning journalist, educator and media leader with more than four decades of experience spanning broadcast news, academia, and professional training. Now a professor emeritus at the Missouri School of Journalism, I have worked to build a career at the intersection of storytelling, innovation, and journalism education.
At Mizzou, I spent more than 24 years as news director at KOMU-TV, the unique university-owned NBC affiliate. I led a newsroom staffed by students, earning numerous Emmy and Edward R. Murrow awards while redefining how experiential learning operates in broadcast journalism. I always emphasized ethical reporting, innovation, and real-world accountability.
I also played a central role in shaping the school’s nationally recognized documentary journalism program. As founding director of the Jonathan B. Murray Center for Documentary Journalism, I designed curriculum, built production facilities, and mentored students whose work has appeared in film festivals across the country. I also served as Director of Aerial Journalism for the Reynolds Journalism Institute, teaching students to fly and helping pioneer the integration of drone technology into reporting and storytelling.
I’m holding a camera in this picture because that’s where my journalism career began. After graduating from Mizzou in 1981, I worked as a TV photojournalist at WESH-TV in Orlando, Florida. I shot stories, edited, ran the live truck and thoroughly enjoyed traveling the streets of Central Florida. I eventually moved to a position on the assignment desk, managing coverage for the whole operation—including coverage of the Challenger disaster in January of 1986.
I earned my Ph.D. in political science from the University of Missouri, where my research examined audience perceptions of media bias. I also hold a master’s degree in political science from Mizzou and a bachelor of journalism degree from the Missouri School of Journalism. My academic work and professional practice have consistently focused on improving journalistic standards, advancing documentary storytelling, and adapting newsrooms to technological change.
I’m active with connections to journalism and the media industry on a number of fronts. I still serve the Missouri School of Journalism as its main liaison for recruiters from broadcast companies looking to hire Mizzou graduates. I also work as the Director of Partnerships for Rolli, as a Fulbright Specialist focused on journalism training and as a consultant and trainer for organizations including the U.S. Department of State and the U.S. Army, working internationally to advance journalism practices.
I’m honored that my contributions to journalism and journalism education have been recognized. In 2024, I received the Edward L. Bliss Award for Distinguished Broadcast Journalism Education from the Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communications (AEJMC), one of the field’s highest honors. I was also honored with the William T. Kemper Fellow for Teaching Excellence at Mizzou. I service to profession, I have been national chair of the Radio Television Digital News Association (RTDNA) and its foundation, national president of the board of the Carole Kneeland Project for Responsible Journalism, a national board member of the National Academy of Television Arts and Science (NATAS), president of the Board of Governors of the Mid-America chapter of NATAS, president of the board of the Kanas City Film Festival International, along with service to countless other organizations.
A passionate advocate for the First Amendment and the future of journalism, I continue to mentor students and professionals alike, championing high-quality storytelling and the evolving role of media in a democratic society.
HONORS AND AWARDS
Edward L. Bliss Award winner for Distinguished Broadcast Journalism Education recipient 2024
-The Bliss award is widely recognized as one of broadcast journalism education’s highest honors and is bestowed annually by the Broadcast and Mobile Journalism division of the Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication (AEJMC) for a career of excellence in teaching. It is named for the late Edward L. Bliss, Jr., a legendary news producer and editor for CBS News, and the author of six books. Bliss was known for his work with Edward R. Murrow and Walter Cronkite, and he founded the broadcastjournalism program at American University in Washington, D.C.
University of Missouri Faculty-Alumni Award recipient 2018
-The Faculty-Alumni Awards, begun in 1968, recognize the achievements of faculty and alumni. Faculty are considered for their work as teachers, administrators and researchers. Alumni are considered for their professional accomplishments and service to Mizzou. Through the awards program, the Mizzou Alumni Association expresses its appreciation for these individuals and their service to higher education. It focuses attention not only on these outstanding persons and their accomplishments, but also on the vital relationship between faculty and alumni in promoting the best interests of the university.
Fort Zumwalt High School Hall of Fame 2018
-Fort Zumwalt/Fort Zumwalt North High School honors its graduates each year, selecting those who have gone on to distinguish themselves in their careers and their life accomplishments.
William T. Kemper Fellow 2017
-The William T. Kemper Fellowship for Teaching Excellence was established in 1991 with a $500,000 gift. The fellowship, which includes a $10,000 stipend, is awarded to five outstanding teachers at the University of Missouri each year.
O.O. McIntyre Professorship Award for Teaching Excellence, Missouri School of Journalism, 2007-2008
-The annual designation of the McIntyre Professorship goes to a faculty member who has demonstrated teaching excellence and comes with a $10,000 stipend. The McIntyre Professorship is the highest teaching award presented within the Missouri School of Journalism.
Missouri Interscholastic Press Association Knight Award 2008
-Award given to honor service to scholastic journalism.
University of Missouri Excellence in Education Award 2006
-MU Campus honor for outstanding contributions to student learning.
National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences, Mid-America Chapter Silver Circle Induction 2006
-The Silver Circle honors those individuals who have 25 years or more of significant contributions to the field of television.
University of Missouri Omicron Delta Kappa 2003
-Faculty “Tap” into campus honor society.
Payne Award for Ethics in Journalism 2002
-National award for ethical decision-making in the wake of September 11 attacks.
Edward R. Murrow Awards
-Received national award for Small Market Overall Excellence in 1994.
-Received numerous regional awards.
Mid-America Emmy Awards
-Received numerous regional Emmy awards.
Heart of America Awards
-Received numerous awards, including multiple “Station of the Year” awards.
Missouri Broadcasters Association Awards
-Received numerous awards.
Missouri Broadcast Educators Awards
-Supervised students winning news and sports reporting awards.
Society of Professional Journalists-Sigma Delta Chi
-Supervised students winning national and regional awards for spot news, investigative reporting, feature reporting, and more.
William Randolph Hearst Awards
-Supervised seven national winners in this student competition.
University of Missouri Barbara S. Uehling Award for Administrative Excellence
-Received two nominations.
Florida Emmy and Greater Orlando Press Club Awards
-Received numerous awards.
EDUCATION
Doctor of Philosophy, Political Science, May 2006
Harry S Truman School of Government & Public Affairs at the University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri
Dissertation: Suspicious Signs: Effects of Newscaster Scripts, Symbols, And Actions On Audience Perceptions Of News Organization Bias, John Petrocik, advisor
Master of Arts, Political Science, May 1990
Harry S Truman School of Government & Public Affairs at the University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri
Thesis: A Turn to the Left? Political Attitude Change through Journalism Education, Richard Hardy, advisor
Bachelor of Journalism, May 1981
Missouri School of Journalism at the University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri
Emphasis: Broadcast Journalism
CERTIFICATIONS
Online teaching certification
University of Missouri, October 2020
Remote Pilot
Federal Aviation Administration, November 2018