BEA2026: Full Schedule

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9:00am PDT

Saturday April 18, 2026 9:00am - 10:00am PDT

Every budding journalist has to learn AP Style, but it’s not something students are necessarily motivated to learn. Quizzes? Kahoot? Worksheets? Lectures? What works? This panel brings together different ideas to teach AP Style to students. It will be interactive—so bring your knowledge!
Moderator: Julia Largent Kuttler, McPherson College
Panelists: Tom Hallaq, Kansas State University
Jen Smith, University of Kentucky
Stephanie L. Elder, University of South Florida

Moderators

Julia Largent Kuttler

Associate Professor of Communication, McPherson College

Associate Professor of Communication and Student Media Adviser (newspaper & podcast studio) at McPherson College in central Kansas. I study documentaries and fandom, both separately and in tandem. I like cats.

Speakers

Dr. Stephanie L. Elder

Associate Professor of Instruction, University of South Florida

Dr. Tom Hallaq

Associate Professor, Kansas State University

Jen Smith

assistant professor, University of Kentucky

I am a recovering sportswriter who worked for the Lexington Herald-Leader in various positions for more than 20 years, including copy editor, designer, news and sports reporter. While working in the sports department for most of my career, I covered everything from high school sports... Read More →

Saturday April 18, 2026 9:00am - 10:00am PDT
W308

Writing, Teaching Techniques/Tips & Educational Programs | BEA, Teaching Techniques/Tips & Educational Programs

10:15am PDT

Festival of Media Arts: Faculty Showcase Session & Awards - Audio & Documentary Competitions

Saturday April 18, 2026 10:15am - 11:15am PDT

W308

Please join us as we recognize all of the Faculty Festival winners from Audio, Documentary & Scriptwriting competitions.

After the awards are handed out, we will hear from our Best of Competition winners.
Confirmed Presenters

Faculty Audio
Short-Form Production Category
Haitian Church in Pine Hills Fights Fear with Faith; Rick Brunson, University of Central Florida

Faculty Documentary
Short-Form Documentary Category
Chicken Ghetto; Sangsun Choi & Paul Lee, Kennesaw State University

Moderators

Heather Dunn

Arizona State University

Speakers

Sangsun Choi

Assistant Professor, Kennesaw State University

Sangsun Choi is a visual storyteller who focuses on discovering the unique meaning behind ordinary life. He believes that this value can be revealed through exquisite observation and artistic representation. Originally from South Korea, he has created dozens of works about child labor... Read More →

Rick Brunson

Senior Instructor, University of Central Florida

Saturday April 18, 2026 10:15am - 11:15am PDT
W308

BEA, Festival of Media Arts | Radio & Audio Media, Festival of Media Arts | Documentary, Festival of Media Arts | Filmmaker Spotlight, Festival of Media Arts

12:00pm PDT

How Media Shapes the Mainstreaming of Sports Gambling: A Beyond Sports Initiative Discussion

Saturday April 18, 2026 12:00pm - 1:00pm PDT

W308

One of the four main focus areas of the University of Alabama's Beyond Sports Initiative focuses on the role sports gambling/gaming plays in modern society. This panel will focus on past findings and future investigations in the area, ranging from connections between betting and media dependency, the ubiquitous nature of sports media advertising/sponsorship, and the development of a sports betting addiction scale.
Moderator: Michael Bruce, University of Alabama
Panelists: Andrew C. Billings, University of Alabama
Brody Ruihley, Miami University (Oxford)
Travis R. Bell, University of South Florida

Moderators

Michael Bruce

Dept. Chair, Associate Professor & Director of Digital Media Center, University of Alabama

Speakers

Travis R. Bell

Associate Professor, University of South Florida

Andrew C. Billings

University of Alabama

Brody Ruihley

Miami University (Oxford)

Saturday April 18, 2026 12:00pm - 1:00pm PDT
W308

Sports, Research/Theory | BEA, Research/Theory | Research, Research/Theory | Student Spotlight, Research/Theory

1:15pm PDT

Skills vs. Specialization: Preparing Students for Sports Media and Beyond

Saturday April 18, 2026 1:15pm - 2:15pm PDT

W308

This panel examines the ongoing conversation between teaching broad, transferable academic skills and preparing students for specific sports media careers. Educators will explore how universities can best equip students with writing, research, and critical thinking skills while also addressing the demand for technical training and job-ready experience. Panelists will also highlight how these skills apply beyond sports media, providing graduates with pathways into communications and related industries.

Moderator: Chris Bacon, Middle Tennessee State University
Speakers: Eric Esterline, University of Florida

Moderators

Chris Bacon

Middle Tennessee State University

Speakers

Eric Esterline

Senior Lecturer, University of Florida

Saturday April 18, 2026 1:15pm - 2:15pm PDT
W308

Sports, Teaching Techniques/Tips & Educational Programs | BEA, Teaching Techniques/Tips & Educational Programs | New Faculty & Graduate Student Spotlight, Teaching Techniques/Tips & Educational Programs

3:00pm PDT

Public mistrust in Media: How inequalities drive mistrust of health information

Saturday April 18, 2026 3:00pm - 4:00pm PDT

W308

Abstract: Inequalities in healthcare contribute to media distrust by crushing public faith in both health institutions and news reporting. This lack of trust is driven by historical abuses, ongoing discriminatory treatment, and imbalanced media coverage that often ignores and/or misrepresents the experiences of marginalized communities.
Moderator: Chalise Macklin, University of Memphis
Panelists: Dorothy Bland, University of North Texas
Brian Bentley, Clark Atlanta University
Vanessa Botelho, CUNY Newmark
Sharon Baldinelli, University of Nebraska-Lincoln

Moderators

Chalise Macklin

University of Memphis

Speakers

Dorothy Bland

Professor, University of North Texas

Dorothy M. Bland, Ph.D., is a journalism professor at the University of North Texas Frank W. and Sue Mayborn School of Journalism. In 2019, she was honored as one of the top 35 women in higher education by Diverse Issues in Higher Education magazine. During her tenure as a journalism dean, student enrollment, faculty and staff grew. Under her leadership, the Mayborn launched a master’s degree in digital communication analytics plus earned AEJMC’s Equity and Diversity Award. She worked 25 years in the news industry... Read More →

Brian Bentley

Associate Dean Arts & Sciences/Assistant Professor Mass Media Arts, Clark Atlanta University

Dr. Brian Bentley has dedicated 24-plus years to higher education, earning educational accolades with a doctorate while working to complete a second doctorate. In addition, he has earned three master’s degrees: an MA in Mass Communications, an MFA in Creating Writing, and an MBA... Read More →

Sharon Baldinelli, Ph.D, MPH

University of Nebraska-Lincoln

Vanessa Botelho

CUNY Newmark

Saturday April 18, 2026 3:00pm - 4:00pm PDT
W308

Multicultural Studies, Research/Theory | BEA, Research/Theory

4:15pm PDT

Has DEI Jumped the Shark? Rethinking Diversity in Journalism Education

Saturday April 18, 2026 4:15pm - 5:15pm PDT

W308

In journalism education, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) efforts once signaled progress — a commitment to amplifying marginalized voices, confronting bias, and broadening the lens of storytelling. So, what went wrong?

Critics charge that DEI initiatives in higher ed have overreached — stifling down-to-earth conversation with language-policing, "woke indoctrination," and fear of saying the wrong thing. When everything can be labeled a microaggression, are we still fostering dialogue — or just managing landmines? And where does viewpoint diversity fit in a space that claims to be inclusive but often feels ideologically narrow?

While some institutions are rebranding their diversity efforts, others are abandoning them altogether in the face of rising opposition. We’ll examine the pitfalls of diversity training done badly, where good intentions meet poor execution, and offer concrete strategies for doing better in ways that avoid playing into the hands of DEI opponents.
Moderator: Suzanne Lysak, Chapman University
Panelists: Elliott Lewis , Syracuse University
Cheryl L. Gardner, California State University, Fresno
Jennifer Woodard, Middle Tennessee State University

Moderators

Suzanne Lysak

Chapman University

Speakers

Jennifer Woodard

Assistant Dean, Middle Tennessee State University

Dr. Jennifer Bailey Woodard, who was trained and educated in journalism as an undergraduate at MTSU, joined the faculty of the School of Journalism and Strategic Media after graduating from the University of Georgia with an M.A. in mass communication. She received her Ph.D. at Indiana... Read More →

Elliott Lewis

Professor of Practice, Syracuse University

Cheryl L. Gardner

California State University, Fresno

Saturday April 18, 2026 4:15pm - 5:15pm PDT
W308

Multicultural Studies, Industry Issues & Updates | BEA, Industry Issues & Updates | New Faculty & Graduate Student Spotlight, Industry Issues & Updates

9:00am PDT

10:15am PDT

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4:15pm PDT

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