Communication and Journalism

Markovitch Interviewed on "Beer Sessions Radio" Podcast Episode (October 10, 2024)

Ellie Markovitch, Communication and Journalism lecturer, was a guest at Beer Sessions Radio episode “Everybody Loves Corn.” The podcast is hosted by Jimmy Carbone and they were joined by writer Amy Halloran.

Markovitch talked about recreating her native Brazilian drink “aluá de milho” , fermented corn drink or corn kvass and recipes using Maine corn. Corn is a key crop in our food systems – regionally and beyond. Learn about the significance of corn. 

Professor Rosenbaum Appears on Maine Public's "Maine Calling" (September 27, 2024)

Professor Judith Rosenbaum, associate professor and chair, Department of Communication and Journalism appeared on Maine Public’s radio program “Maine Calling” on September 27, 2024 to discuss “The Need for Nuance.”  The program featured a discussion about how “society today is increasingly polarized, and one explanation is that many people frame issues in black and white, rather than address the gray area.”  The program interviewed experts in psychology and communication about what it takes to speak and think with more nuance—instead of extremes—and how that can be beneficial in politics, the workplace, and personal relationships.  You can listen to the program here. 

Granting Social License to Operate: A Risk Communication Perspective

The Society for Risk Analysis presents a webinar, featuring Dr. Laura Rickard, Department of Communication and Journalism, University of Maine

September 5, 2024, 11:00 a.m. Eastern USA 

Register here.

Professor Emeritus John C. Sherblom and Associate Professor Judith E. Rosenbaum Publish Computer-Mediated Communication Approaches and Perspectives (Second Edition)

The Department of Communication and Journalism and Cognella Active Learning are pleased to announce the publication of the second edition of Computer-Mediated Communication: Approaches and Perspectives by John C. Sherblom and Judith E. Rosenbaum.

The second edition substantially updates each of these perspectives with a description, multiple applications, analysis and critique, practical examples, illustration of concepts, communication ethics challenge, and set of discussion questions. 

Maine Press Association Awards Scholarships to Two CMJ Students

Recipients of 2024 scholarships are Amy Blanchard, a junior majoring in communications and pursuing minors in French and anthropology; and Ella Candage, a senior studying journalism with a minor in marketing. Both Amy and Ella are students at the University of Maine at Orono.

The Maine Press Association has traditionally awarded scholarships every year to a junior or senior with financial need who plans to pursue a career in journalism. The funds come from the association’s annual scholarship auction.

To inquire about the scholarship, contact Maine Press Association Scholarship Committee Chair Maia Zewert at mzewert@lcnme.com.

Established in 1864, the Maine Press Association works to promote ethical journalism, to advocate for the interests of the journalists and organizations that constitute its membership, and to protect the freedom of the press and the public’s right to know.

New Sport Communication Minor to start in 2024 - 2025

The Department of Communication and Journalism is pleased to announce that beginning in academic year 2024 – 2025 the Department will offer a Minor in Sport Communication! 

The sport communication minor will provide students with the critical understanding and experience in content creation needed to excel in a variety of aspects of the sports industry. In the sport communication minor, students will learn the principles of communication and journalism as they apply to sports-related events, topics, and people. The minor offers courses familiarizing students with the skills and tools needed to produce sport content for a variety of media from broadcasting to digital media, as well as courses that will teach students to function as effective communicators within and for sport organizations. Several courses also offer students the opportunity to develop a critical understanding of the role sport and sport organizations play in larger social processes and issues, including health promotion, issues of equity and equality, and the impact of media images.

Current undergraduate students interested in the minor should read the information in this announcement, and then schedule a time to speak with their advisor about the requirements and process for declaring it.

REQUIREMENTS FOR THE SPORT COMMUNICATION MINOR: 

Courses*

Core (6 credits):

CMJ 136: Journalism Writing and Editing

CMJ 391/ 398: Special Topics: Sport Communication

Electives (12 credits):

CMJ 106: Storytelling

CMJ 237: Journalism across platforms

CMJ 257: Business and professional communication

CMJ 261: Photographic Reporting and Storytelling

CMJ 351: Audio and Video Production

CMJ 367: Public Relations

CMJ 380: Advertising, Media, and Society

CMJ 420: Health Communication

*Students majoring or minoring in any other CMJ program may double-count no more than three credits between the Sport Communication Minor and other CMJ majors and minors.

Minimum number of credits required to earn minor: 18

GPA requirements to earn minor: Students graduating with a minor in a CLAS field must earn a cumulative GPA of 2.0 or better in the courses in the minor field that are credited toward completion of the minor.

Minimum Grade requirements for courses to count toward minor: C-

Other requirements:  A minimum of 12 credit hours must be completed at the University of Maine.

Contact information: Judith Rosenbaum-Andre, Department of Communication and Journalism, 420 Dunn Hall, 207.581.1934; Judith.rosenbaumandre@maine.edu

"Eroding History" Documentary Film Screening & Class Visits

André Chung speaks to CMJ 391 students, February 6, 2024

On February 5 – 6, 2024, the Director (André Chung), and Producer/Co-Writer (Rona Kobell) of the film “Eroding History” travelled to Orono and the University of Maine to visit classes and offer a public screening of the documentary followed by a panel discussion. 

“Eroding History” tells the story of two Black communities on Deal Island, on Maryland’s Eastern Shore, that are finding themselves at the intersection of sea level rise, historic racism, and the disappearance of Black communities. It is a climate justice story, made by two Black filmmakers and a Jewish grandchild of refugees.

Rona Kobell, Producer of “Eroding History” spoke about the Environmental Justice Journalism Initiative in the Department’s colloquium series on February 5, 2024. 

“Eroding History” was screened at the University of Maine on Tuesday, February 6, 2024.  The film was followed by a panel featuring the film’s director (André Chung) and it’s co-writer & producer (Rona Kobell) and University of Maine Climate Scientist and Associate Professor of Paleoecology & Plant Ecology Jacqueline Gill, Ph.D.  The panel was moderated by Assistant Professor Haley Schneider, Ph.D. of the Department of Communication and Journalism.

The public screening of “Eroding History” on February 6, 2024, and related events, were supported in part by a grant from the Cultural Affairs/Distinguished Lecture Series Fund and a grant from the McGillicuddy Humanities Center at the University of Maine.

Dr. Rosenbaum's Talks About Community-Building and Dialogue on Social Media

On March 24, Judith Rosenbaum, Associate Professor and Chair of the Department will deliver a keynote at the Annual Convention of the Connecticut Association for Adult and Continuing Education (CAACE). The talk will focus on the topic of “Community-Building and Dialogue on Social Media: Examining Democracy in the 21st Century.” For more information, click here.

The Evolving Relationship between News Media and Criticism

Associate Professor of Journalism, Michael Socolow, has published an insightful article on The Conversation, exploring the complex relationship between news media and criticism. In the piece, Socolow delves into the last fifty years’ evolution of criticism towards the media and how it influences public discourse both positively and negatively. Read the full article here.

Breaking the Bubble: Boosting News Literacy Workshop

On April 3, Fogler Library will host the “Breaking the Bubble: Boosting News Literacy” workshop, which is open to all undergraduate students. Led by Sanne Tamboer, a postdoc in Communication and Media at Radboud University, Judith Rosenbaum, associate professor in the Department of Communication and Journalism and Jen Bonnet, Social Sciences and Humanities Librarian at UMaine, the workshop aims to creatively evaluate news production and consumption. It will address how to determine the reliability of news content, ethically consume and share information, and be an informed 21st-century citizen.

The workshop is scheduled from 4:30-6 PM in the Lynch Room on the second floor of Fogler Library. Please, contact Jen Bonnet for any queries.

Willow Wind named CLAS Outstanding Graduating Senior of the Year

We are excited to announce that Willow Wind has been named the CLAS Outstanding Graduating Senior of the year. This prestigious honor is a testament to Willow’s exceptional academic achievements and outstanding contributions to the department. We are incredibly proud of Willow and grateful for all the hard work she has put in during her time with us. Congratulations, Willow, on this well-deserved recognition of your achievements!

Romany Melek Hetta's Arabic Translation of "Propaganda" Takes the Stage at Cairo Book Fair

The first Arabic translation of Jacques Ellul’s renowned book “Propaganda” was showcased at the Cairo Book Fair in Egypt last January 2023 by Romany Melek Hetta, who graduated with a MA in Communication from CMJ in 2016. This momentous achievement was made possible after Romany first encountered Ellul’s insightful study of attitude formation in a course taught by his advisor and Associate Professor Michael Socolow, titled CMJ 525: Propaganda and Political Communication.

Dr. Socolow writes an article about Barbara Walters' journalistic and cultural impact

Michael Socolow, Associate Professor, wrote an article for Slate about the journalistic and cultural impact of Barbara Walters, who died on December 30, 2022, at the age of 93. “For all her intrusive questions, her skillful interrogating, her sharp and incisive commentary, Walters’ legacy extends far beyond those famous interviews. She provided a model for women to unapologetically pursue their ambition, no matter how often it got them called ‘rude,’” Socolow wrote.

Dr. Rosenbaum-Andre was a panelist in Maine Calling

Judith Rosenbaum-Andre, Chair and Associate Professor, was a panelist on a recent episode of Maine Calling on Maine Public Radio. The theme was “Finding Common Ground.”

In addition, the episode’s VIP caller was Caty DuDevoir, a third-year student studying anthropology and journalism; DuDevoir is also the news editor for Maine Campus Media.

You can find the episode here.

Dr. Stormer was interviewed for his article "Rhetoric by Accident" at Live Theory

Nathan Stormer, Professor of Rhetoric, was interviewed at Live Theory, a program sponsored by the Dornsife College of Letters, Arts, and Sciences at USC that honors scholars who bring writing and rhetoric scholarship to life. He discussed his article “Rhetoric by Accident,” which was published in Volume 53(4) of the Journal of Philosophy & Rhetoric, in which he articulates a view of accidents that shape rhetorical work but are not themselves purposeful, motive-driven, directed, or ethical. You can listen to the episode here.

Dr. Michael Socolow Wins Essay Contest on the History and Importance of Television

We are delighted to announce that Dr. Michael Socolow, Associate Professor, has emerged as the winner of an essay contest sponsored by Journalism History. The contest, in celebration of the 60th anniversary of television news coverage of the assassination of John F. Kennedy in 1963, sought to examine the history and significance of television over the past 60 years.

Professor Socolow’s winning essay, entitled “Commercial Television’s Secret Goldmine: The Hidden Riches Generated by U.S. Network TV News, 1960-1970,” will be published in the Fall edition of Journalism History and provides an in-depth examination of the impact and influence of television over the decades.

Read more on the Journalism History website.

Dr. Couture Bue wins distinguished article award at NCA

Professor Couture Bue won a Distinguished Article Award from the National Communication Association’s Social Cognition Division. She received the award for a co-authored paper entitled. “Marr’s Tri-Level Framework Integrates Biological Explanation Across Communication Subfields.” The article was recently published in the Journal of Communication

The department is incredibly proud of Dr. Couture Bue for this amazing achievement.

Professor Markovitch joins "Maine Calling" for an episode on baking bread

On Monday November 7, Ellie Markovitch, Lecturer in Journalism, joined Maine Calling to discuss the art of baking bread in Maine. You can listen to Ellie, who is both a photojournalist and a multi-media storyteller with Story Cooking, here.

Dr. McGreavy wins 2022 NCA J. Robert Cox Award in Environmental Communication and Civic Engagement

Bridie McGreavy has won the 2022 National Communication Association J. Robert Cox Award in Environmental Communication and Civic Engagement. This award is given to members of the NCA’s environmental communication division who have shown a substantial commitment to environmental issues through organizational leadership, service, and/r activism, who have been actively engaged for several years at a regional, national, or international level. 

CMJ faculty and graduate students take home top poster award at AEJMC conference

Dr. Laura Rickard, Associate Professor, Nathan Smith, first year doctoral student, and Ella Gurney, first year MA student took home the top poster award for the Communicating Health, Science, Environment, and Risk division at the 2022 convention for the Association of Education in Journalism and Mass Communication held in Detroit. Their poster was based on their research entitled “Fairest fish of all: Perceptions of procedural and distributive justice in proposed aquaculture facility siting”

Event: Dr. Sutton presents "Wabanaki Fisheries: What rivers can teach us about partnerships"

Dr. Anthony Sutton, community food facilitator, ME Shellfish Learning Network, and CMJ adjunct instructor, will present a talk, “Wabanaki Fisheries: What rivers can teach us about partnerships,” on February 14, 3:00 – 4:00 pm.

Read more here: https://umaine.edu/mitchellcenter/event/talk-wabanaki-fisheries-what-rivers-can-teach-us-about-partnerships/

"Fish tales: Applying (risk) communication theory to inform social license to operate in the aquaculture industry"

A Seminar with Dr. Laura Rickard

On February 27, 2024, Dr. Laura Rickard gave a talk at the University of Southern California at the USC Dornsife Wrigley Institute for Environment and Susatinability