BEA2026: Full Schedule

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9:00am PDT

Blurring Boundaries: Integrating Sports, Broadcasting, and Journalism with AI Skills

Sunday April 19, 2026 9:00am - 10:00am PDT

This panel featuring both students and faculty will discuss how sports, broadcasting, and journalism teach skills that move the students’ studies from inside the classroom out into the community. We will also explore practical uses of AI, aligning academics with real-world skills.

Moderator: Kathy Heuston, Austin Peay State University
Speakers:
David Ellison, Faculty, Austin Peay State University
Barry Gresham, Faculty, Austin Peay State University
Alexis Hill, Undergraduate Student, Austin Peay State University
Jazmin Logan, Undergraduate Student, Austin Peay State University

Moderators

Kathy Heuston

Austin Peay State University

Speakers

Barry Gresham

Instructor of Sports Broadcasting, Austin Peay State University

David Ellison

Austin Peay State University

Jazmin Logan

Austin Peay State University

Sunday April 19, 2026 9:00am - 10:00am PDT
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Service Learning & Community Engagement, Teaching Techniques/Tips & Educational Programs | BEA, Teaching Techniques/Tips & Educational Programs | Student Spotlight, Teaching Techniques/Tips & Educational Programs | New Faculty & Graduate Student Spotlight, Teaching Techniques/Tips & Educational Programs

10:15am PDT

"What the $#!& were you thinking?!" and other Newsroom No-Nos in a Shifting Workplace Culture

Sunday April 19, 2026 10:15am - 11:15am PDT

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Newsrooms are known for their “salty” workplace culture where “f bombs” fly as frequently as breaking news alerts sound; gallows humor long used to manage the stress of having a front row seat to death and destruction.

Both of these mainstays of newsroom culture are becoming increasingly problematic in today’s multi-generational newsrooms.

This panel will offer thoughts on what that means for educators training future journalists and for the employers who seek to hire them.
Moderator: Steve Bien-Aime, University of Kansas
Panelists: Dan Grainge, President NEP Specialty Capture Division
Wes Akers, Northern Kentucky University

Moderators

Steve Bien-Aime

University of Kansas

Speakers

Wes Akers

Northern Kentucky University

Dan Grainge

President NEP Specialty Capture Division, NEP

Sunday April 19, 2026 10:15am - 11:15am PDT
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Student Media Advisors, Industry Issues & Updates | BEA, Industry Issues & Updates | Student Spotlight, Industry Issues & Updates | News, Industry Issues & Updates

11:30am PDT

The Professional Broadcaster’s Path to Professor

Sunday April 19, 2026 11:30am - 12:30pm PDT

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Making the jump from industry to education? While an institution’s standards for tenure and promotion are typically expressed, when it comes to people in applied fields, there are often subjective requirements in the minds of those who make the decisions about promotion that are not articulated. Get advice and ideas from seasoned, professors who have navigated that path on how to exceed the expectations of the academic world.

Moderator: Chris Strobel, Northern Kentucky University
Panelists: Marilee Madelyn Morrow, Marietta College
Paul Hemenway, Lamar University
Kathy Bruner, Taylor University
Mark Seignious, University of Northwestern-St. Paul
Cameron Harris, Channel Islands University
McManus Woodend, University of Southern Indiana

Moderators

Chris Strobel

Professor, Electronic Media and Broadcasting, Northern Kentucky University

Father and husband. Educator. Filmmaker. Storyteller. Slow grader.

Speakers

Kathy Bruner

Professor, Film & Media Production, Taylor University

During my 30 year career in higher ed, I have taught courses in film and television production, documentary filmmaking, media history, and writing for both fiction and nonfiction. I have a Master of Fine Arts in Filmmaking with an emphasis on documentary.

Paul Hemenway

Lamar University

Mark Seignious

Associate Professor, University of Northwestern-St. Paul

First, the last name. It rhymes with genius. Seignious the genius. But you’ll quickly figure out, it just rhymes! I worked in radio for 20 years in the San Diego (KGB/KPOP, KSON, KKOS), Seattle (KMPS), Sacramento (KRAK), and Minneapolis-St. Paul (WBOB, K102, KFAN) markets. I began... Read More →

Marilee Morrow

McCoy Professor of Communication, Marietta College

Cameron Harris

Department Chair of Black Studies, CSU- Channel Islands University

When I walked into my first faculty meeting, I had credits, connections, and real-world experience. What I didn't have was a clear map for what academic success actually looked like for someone like me.

I figured it out anyway,moving from assistant professor to department chair... Read More →

McManus Woodend

Assistant Professor of Digital Media, University of Southern Indiana

In front of the camera, McManus Woodend played the role of The GEICO Caveman for a decade, appearing in well over 25 national commercials as the iconic character. Additional roles include the Netflix films The Kindergarten Teacher, The Meyerowitz Stories (New and Selected), and T... Read More →

Sunday April 19, 2026 11:30am - 12:30pm PDT
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Curriculum Assessment & Administration, Teaching Techniques/Tips & Educational Programs | BEA, Teaching Techniques/Tips & Educational Programs | New Faculty & Graduate Student Spotlight, Teaching Techniques/Tips & Educational Programs

12:45pm PDT

Festival of Media Arts: Student Showcase Session - Sports Competition

Sunday April 19, 2026 12:45pm - 1:45pm PDT

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Join us for this series of sessions showcasing the work of our Festival of Media Arts Student Sports winners.
Festival of Media Arts

Promotional Video/Tease/PSA Category
Best of Festival: Nate Locker & Amadou Diallo, Ball State University; Ball State Sports Link: My Black Is

1st Place: Symone Harms, Aiden Penner, Jesus Arriaza-Lopez & Paige Drew; Bethel University; Bethel University Track and Field Intro 2025-2026

Audio Story/Feature/News Category
1st Place: Seth Berquist, Indiana State University; WZIS Sports Update

Audio/Video Event: Play by play talent
1st Place: Jack Stager, Michigan State University; Jack Stager for Impact Radio

Video Live Game Production Category
1st Place: Jack Stager, Madison McCarter, Joseph DesVergnes-Christy & Jacob Maurer, Michigan State University; Michigan State Volleyball vs Nebraska

Moderators

Gina Martino Dahlia

Assistant Dean of Academic Affairs, West Virginia University Reed College of Media

Speakers

Symone Harms

Bethel University

Seth Berquist

Indiana State University

Jack Stager

Michigan State University

Nate Locker

Ball State University

Sunday April 19, 2026 12:45pm - 1:45pm PDT
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Sports, Festival of Media Arts | BEA, Festival of Media Arts | Student Spotlight, Festival of Media Arts

2:00pm PDT

On the Mic and On Screen: Helping Students Find Their Sports Voice

Sunday April 19, 2026 2:00pm - 3:00pm PDT

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This panel explores how educators can train students to develop their on-air presence in sports media. From play-by-play and color commentary to sideline and feature reporting, panelists will share strategies for helping students balance confidence, style, professionalism and storytelling. The discussion will highlight classroom exercises and assignments that simulate live game calls, mock radio shows, and on-camera reporting while comparing them to industry expectations. Attendees will gain practical ideas for helping students discover and strengthen their unique sports voice across platforms.
Moderator: Anjelica Trinone, West Virginia University
Adam C. Earnheardt, Youngstown State University
Chuck Scatterday, West Virginia University
Steve Stilwell, Liberty University

Moderators

Anjelica Trinone

West Virginia University

Speakers

Adam C. Earnheardt

Professor & General Education Coordinator, Youngstown State University

Dr. Adam C. Earnheardt is professor of communication in the Department of Communication and General Education Director at Youngstown State University. He has authored or co-authored five books, including The ESPN Effect: Examinations of the Worldwide Leader in Sports (co-edited with... Read More →

Chuck Scatterday

Teaching Assistant Professor, West Virginia University

Hello, I’ve worked in the sports broadcasting industry, primarily at ESPN, for nearly 20 years. While at ESPN, I served as one of the four Broadcast Managers in our Studio Wraps Unit, covering everything stick-and-ball related events outside of SportsCenter (1993-2010). Early in... Read More →

Steve Stilwell

Liberty University

Sunday April 19, 2026 2:00pm - 3:00pm PDT
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Sports, Teaching Techniques/Tips & Educational Programs | BEA, Teaching Techniques/Tips & Educational Programs | Radio & Audio Media, Teaching Techniques/Tips & Educational Programs | Student Spotlight, Teaching Techniques/Tips & Educational Programs | New Faculty & Graduate Student Spotlight, Teaching Techniques/Tips & Educational Programs

3:15pm PDT

Alpha Epsilon Rho (AERho) National Honor Society presents Advice from Professionals

Sunday April 19, 2026 3:15pm - 4:15pm PDT

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This Alpha Epsilon Rho co-sponsored panel features industry advice from professionals for students at all levels of education in all areas of media. Leaders from a variety of media industries and experiences share ideas about skill sets for students to focus on, realities of the workplace, and ways AI has affected staffing and expectations for internships and recent graduates, including advice from

Moderator: Stacey O. Irwin, Millersville University of Pennsylvania
Panelists: Cliff Neill, Towson University
Neal Bennett, E.W. Scripps
Adrienne Garvey, Southeastern University
Darryl Jefferson, SVP Engineering & Technology for NBC Olympics & Sports
Kristi Fulkerson, Operations Manager, Service Electric Network (AERho Alumni)

Moderators

Stacey O. Irwin

Professor, Millersville University of Pennsylvania

Current Alpha Epsilon Rho National Chair, Past President of the BEA Board of Directors (2022-23); past Convention Chair.

My most recent book is the textbook through Taylor & Francis titled Survey of Media: Screens, Sounds, Synergies. I also authored the Choice Review recommended D... Read More →

Speakers

Kristi Fulkerson

Operations Manager/On-Air Talent, Service Electric Network

Cliff Neill

Assistant Teaching Professor, TU BEA Club Advisor, Towson University Newscast TUN Advisor, Towson University

I spent sixteen years in the TV news world in various positions behind the scenes. I worked at News 12 Long Island, the Fox News Channel and WPMT Fox 43 in York, PA. I've earned four degrees in my discipline. An M.F.A. in Communication Design from Kutztown University, an M.S. in Electronic... Read More →

Adrienne Garvey

Assoc. Professor of Broadcasting & Journalism, Southeastern University

I am a former broadcast journalist who has found herself loving being in the college classroom. I enjoy storytelling through writing especially but also love the added tools of using video and sound to tell a compelling story. I am also deeply interested in the mental health of journalists... Read More →

Neal Bennett

E.W. Scripps

Darryl Jefferson

SVP Engineering & Technology, NBC Olympics & Sports

Sunday April 19, 2026 3:15pm - 4:15pm PDT
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Student Media Advisors, Teaching Techniques/Tips & Educational Programs | BEA, Teaching Techniques/Tips & Educational Programs | Student Spotlight, Teaching Techniques/Tips & Educational Programs

4:30pm PDT

Teaching Play-by-Play in the Classroom

Sunday April 19, 2026 4:30pm - 5:30pm PDT

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As more institutions establish sports media degree programs, courses either emphasizing or featuring instruction about sports play-by-play are growing as well. This panel features educators with sports broadcast experience to suggest ideas for classroom instruction that can enhance practical experience behind the microphone.

Moderator: John McGuire, Oklahoma State University
Panelists: Dylan McLemore, Oklahoma State University
Kyle J. Miller, Northwest Missouri State University
Kenneth A. Fischer, University of Nebraska-Lincoln

Moderators

John McGuire

Professor, Oklahoma State University

Speakers

Kenneth A. Fischer

Assistant Professor of Practice, University of Nebraska-Lincoln

Ken Fischer is an Assistant Professor of Practice at the University of Nebraska. He worked in the broadcasting industry for more than two decades. His career included work in public broadcasting, commercial production, and cable television. In the early 1980s, he served as Assistant... Read More →

Kyle J. Miller

Associate Professor, Northwest Missouri State University

I'm an associate professor at the Northwest Missouri State University School of Communication and Mass Media. I teach media writing, broadcasting/digital, sports media and media literacy courses. I also oversee our Mass Media program's Senior Seminar course and Professional Advisory... Read More →

Dylan McLemore

Oklahoma State University

Sunday April 19, 2026 4:30pm - 5:30pm PDT
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