Annual Report

Annual Report of Individual Faculty Accomplishments

From 2007-08 Department Annual Report

New/Revised Courses

Marian Deutschman – Enhanced COM 630 Applications of Public Relations and COM 690 Public Relations Master’s Project graduate courses

Paul DeWald – Developed content and presentation in all courses, resulting in high-quality student video projects

Meg Knowles – Revised COM 100 Media Literacy to bring course more in line with Humanities learning outcomes; revised online course materials. Revised COM 304 Writing for Television assignments with added radio component. Revised COM 439 Producing Video to include Service learning projects with TOY Theater, West Side Community Housing Group, Journey’s End Refugee Center. Implemented in COM 389 Producing Documentary a Service Learning component with McKinley High School program for developmentally disables students

Joe Marren – Taught HUM 100 in Social Justice Learning Community. Revised COM 319 News Editing as Service learning course. Revised COM 405 Bengal News to emphasis convergent journalism approach. Developed and taught COM 310 Media History

Tom McCray – Developed new course in SPC 389 Media Performance, featuring two “books” of scripts the instructor has written or performed professionally

Mike Niman – Created digital visual resource collections for COM 215 Intro Visual Communication. Updated reading anthologies and created digital visual resource collections for SPC 309 Persuasion and Propaganda. Updated anthologies and created digital visual resource collections for SPC333 Minority Voices and the Media. Mentoring student preparing presentation at New York State Sociological Association conference

Bill Raffel – Updated COM 337 and 338 Broadcast Reporting courses to reflect industry trends.  Revised COM 400 Law of Mass Communication, with reading material via Angel. Taught two sections of BSC 101 on Celtic Cultures theme. Revised COM 389 Internet and Society to reflect evolution of participatory web. Mentored undergraduate student through Undergraduate Summer Research Fellowship program

Lou Rera – Integrated Angel into all courses. Developed integrated media as both references and resources and digital output for all courses.

Rera/Knowles/McCray/DeWald – Development of new course on Basic Production Techniques

Deborah Silverman – Developed COM 301 Principles of Public Relations and Advertising as Service Learning course. Clients include First Hand Learning, American Red Cross, Jericho Road Ministries, Squeaky Wheel, Journey’s End Refugee Services, Buffalo-Niagara Riverkeeper, Morlock Foundation, Kids Escaping Drugs, Upstate New York Transplant Services, Planned Parenthood, Herschell Carousal Factory Museum. Developed COM 308 Public Relations Writing as Service Learning Course. Clients include Journey’s End Refugee Services, Kids Escaping Drugs, Upstate New York Transplant Services, Morlock Foundation, First Hand Learning, American Red Cross

Ron Smith – Developed COM 401 Applied Communication Research by introducing spreadsheet protocols and skills packet to assist students in data analysis. Developed COM 450 Communication and Society with evolving Internet video library. Supervised 12 COM 495/499 Independent Study/Project during the year. Supervised COM 488 Internship.

 

Books

Bruce Bryski – Book: Public Speaking for Success: Strategies for Diverse Audiences and Occasions (with Dr. Tim Brown)

Ron SmithBecoming a Public Relations Writer (3rd edition, published November 2007) Routledge/Taylor & Francis

Ron Smith – Book Co-Author MediaWriting (3rd edition manuscript submitted spring 2008, in press) Routledge/Taylor & Francis

 

Chapters, Academic Papers & Articles

Joe Marren – “Bullshit and Political Spin: Is the Medium the Massage” (with Kim Blessing). Chapter in The Daily Show and Philosophy: Moments of Zen in the Art of Fake News. Blackwell Publishing, 2007

Bill Raffel – “Internet and Religious Violence.” Encyclopedia of Religious Violence (in press)

Bill Raffel – “Going Too Far: Language Limitations of Sports Talk Radio.” Journal of Radio and Audio Media (in press)

Deborah Silverman – “Service Learning Projects in the PR Writing Course.” Journal of Community Engagement and Higher Education (in press)

Deborah Silverman – “Working to Learn and Learning to Work: A Profile of Service Learning courses in University Public Relations Programs. Co-author in Journalism & Mass Communication Educator (in press)

Ron Smith – “Campaign Design & Management.” Chapter author & contributing editor in Sage 21st Century Reference Series: Communication.

 

Professional & Creative Productions/Publication/Activity

Bruce Bryski – Training manual on public speaking for CDHS (with adjunct Lori Miller)

Bruce Bryski – Chief political/media analyst on WLVL Radio & WECK Radio

Paul DeWald – Teaching modules for Buffalo office of Federal Communications Commission

Paul DeWald – Director/Producer for video presentation for FCC re: new DTV standards

Paul DeWald – Video producer with J.P. Morgan Corporate Challenge race

Meg Knowles – “The Water Show” (coordinating producer-contributor; 30-minute video). Completed 2007

Meg Knowles – “Growing Green” (director; 18-minute documentary about Buffalo West Side teens involved in urban gardening). Completed 2007

Meg Knowles – “See That the World Is Moving” (director; 22-minute video about Elizabeth Cady Station and 1848 Women’s Rights Convention). In post-production.

Meg Knowles – “Restoring Community” (producer-director; 15-minute documentary about refurbishing Asarese matters Community Center in Buffalo). In production.

Meg Knowles – Festival/exhibition “Walk” 2006 video (producer-director). International (Malaysia, Singapore). National (Texas, Oregon). Regional (Rochester, Canandaigua, Buffalo)

Meg Knowles – Festival/exhibition “Growing Green in Buffalo” 2007 video (director). Regional (Buffalo, Niagara Falls)

Meg Knowles – Festival/exhibition “See That the World Is Moving” 2008 video (director). Regional (Canandaigua, Buffalo)

Meg Knowles – Festival/exhibition “The Water Show” 2007 video (producer-director). National (Philadelphia, Baltimore). Regional (Troy)

Meg Knowles – Broadcast/cablecast program “Water” (coordinating producer-contributor). National (Philadelphia, Dish Satellite)

Meg Knowles – Broadcast/cablecast program “Axelgrease” (director-cinematographer-editor). Regional (Buffalo)

Meg Knowles – Curation of “True Lives / False Lives” for Rendez-Blue Festival autobiographical film series at Burchfield-Penney Art Center; 11 films over 3 days

Meg Knowles – “Rendez-Blue: True Lives / False Lives” (curatorial essay). Exhibition Catalogue, Burchfield-Penney Art Center, Buffalo

Meg Knowles – “Organic Riches in a House of Straw.” Buffalo Spree magazine, Buffalo

Meg Knowles – “Cottage Life: Paradise on Georgian Bay.” Buffalo Spree magazine, Buffalo

Meg Knowles – “Outdoor Summer Film Festivals.” Buffalo Spree magazine, Buffalo

Joe Marren – Commentator on WBFO Radio

Tom McCray – Commercial voicing for PathMark grocery chain in New York City and Philadelphia markets, LenCo Home Improvement company, and Kaz Brothers construction company

Tom McCray – morning news anchor and co-host at WECK radio

Mike Niman – 20 articles published and widely disseminated in venues including Buffalo’s ArtVoice, Orlando Reader, Coldtype

Mike Niman – “Would You Buy a Used War from This Man,” The Humanist (Jan/Feb 2008)

Mike Niman – “The Role of Local Media in Waging War & Peace.” Panelist at Hallwalls/WNY Peace Center

Bill Raffel – Host of classical music program, WNED Radio

Lou Rera – Original fiction: “Art for Art’s Sake” Writers Eye magazine. “There Are No Doors on a Cocoon” Book surge/Amazon

Lou Rera – “Mr. Muzzy” YouTube video

Deborah Silverman – “Ethics in Public Relations.” Co-presentation at Public Relations Society of America Northeast District Conference, Rochester

Deborah Silverman – “Service Learning in the Public Relations Curriculum.” Co-presentation at California State University conference on Community-Based Teaching and Research, Los Angeles

Deborah Silverman – “Engaging Students through Service Learning” Presentation at Volunteer and Service Learning Center, Buffalo State

Deborah Silverman – “Engaging College Students in Service at Your Organization.” Presentation at Workshop for Nonprofits and Community Organizations, Daemen College, Buffalo

Ron Smith – “NMAI Educational Programming: Distribution Options.” Strategic planning report for Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian

Ron Smith – "Public Understanding of Native America: A Call to Native Leaders and Peoples to Communicate.” Strategic planning report for National Congress of American Indians

 

Professional & Academic Presentations

Meg Knowles – “Culture Clashes: Documentary Subjects Meet with Fictional Constructs in Borat & The Yes Men.” Conference presentation, University Film & Video Association, Denton TX

Meg Knowles – “Screening Shorts.” Film Indiana 2007 Conference, Bloomington IN

Meg Knowles – “Chisholm ’72: Unbought and Unbossed.” Women’s Studies November Film Screening, Buffalo

Meg Knowles – “True Lives / False Lives.” Film screening, Rendez Blue Festival, Buffalo

Joe Marren – “Living in Interesting Times: Dr. George Hatem Meets the Press.” Presentation, American Journalism Historians Association & History division of Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication joint conference, New York City

Joe Marren – “New Media – What’s Next.” Panel co-moderator with Lou Rera, New Media Weekend, Buffalo State

Joe Marren – One Monk’s Message: Establishing an Enlightened Ethic for the Media.” Presentation with Kim Blessing, Colloquia Series in Applied Media Ethics, University of Hawaii at Manoa

Mike Niman – “Dancing on the Razor’s Edge: Buffalo’s Experiment with Progressive Commercial Media.” Presentation at Union for Democratic Communication conference, Vancouver BC

Bill Raffel – “Sports-Talk Radio and Indecency.” Presentation, Popular Cultural Association and American Cultural Association joint conference, Boston

Bill Raffel – “Defining Celtic Music: The Marketplace Meets Tradition.” Presentation, Harvard University Celtic Colloquium

Lou Rera – “Information Design and the Use of Web-based Educational Tools.” Presentation, New Media Consortium, Princeton University

Ron Smith – “Strategic Communication Planning for Arts Development.” Workshop, Arts Council in Buffalo and Erie County

Ron Smith – “Research on American Indians in the Media.” Presentation, Native Round Table co-sponsored by Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians and American Indian Policy & Media Initiative, Santa Ynez CA

 

Awards & Grants

Meg Knowles – First-place prize: 2007 video “Walk,” Athens (Ohio) International Film & Video Festival

Joe Marren – Certificate: “Teaching and Research in Converged Media.” IFRA Newsplex, University of South Carolina, Columbia SC

Joe Marren – Certificate: Summer Institute on College Teaching. Virginia Tidewater consortium, College of William and Mary, Williamsburg VA

Mike Niman – Student’s Award: Promotion of Equity and Diversity, Buffalo State

Mike Niman – Research grant from Center for the Development of Human Services to continue expansion of online library of diversity resources

Mike Niman – Research grant to conduct research as consulting producer for documentary film about the Rainbow Family of Living Light

Lou Rera – “Mr. Muzzy” video: 2nd place, BFV competition. 1st place winner, BSC Student Film Festival

Deborah Silverman – Faculty Appreciation Award: Campus Life Office (nominated by PRSSA chapter)

Deborah Silverman – Outstanding Practitioner of the Year, Buffalo Niagara Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America

Ron Smith – Research grant from Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian

Ron Smith – Research grant from National Congress of American Indians

 

Professional Organizations & Professional Service

Marian Deutschman – Girl Scout Council, Alzheimer’s Association, Bistro Bookers, League of Women Voters

Meg Knowles – Squeaky Wheel/Buffalo Media Resources, Friends of Asarese Matters Community Center, International Women’s Film Festival of Buffalo,  Sugar City Community Arts/Cultural Space

Joe Marren – Newspaper Division of the Association for Education in Journalism and mass Communication, Newspaper Research Journal

Mike Niman – Editorial board of New York Sociologist

Mike Niman – Fairness and Accuracy in Reporting, Association for Education in Journalism and mass communication, Union for Democratic Communications, Guatemala Scholars Network, Committee for Science in the Public Interest, American Association of University Professors, Buffalo Association of Black Journalists, Americans United for Separation of Church and State, Union of concerned Scientists, National Writers Union, American Civil Liberties Union

Deborah Silverman – Public Relations Society of America: Northeast District Chair, Northeast District Conference Chair; PRSA National leadership Volunteer Continuum Task Force, PRSA National Diversity Committee, PRSA assembly Delegate, PRSA Buffalo-Niagara Chapter Board of Directors; Buffalo-Niagara Chapter Diversity Committee Co-chair

Nanette Tramont – Public Relations Advisory Board of American Red Cross; Publicity chair of Clarence Bicentennial Celebration Committee

  

Campus/SUNY Service

Bruce Bryski – Senate Bylaws/Elections Committee. BSC Alcohol Task Force. Medical Amnesty sub-committee. UUP Executive Board???????

Marian Deutschman – Interim Director of College and Community Partnerships. Presidential appointee, College Senate. Presidential appointee, Academic Council. Chair, partnership Advisory Council. Western New York committee work with Girl Scout Council, Alzheimer’s Association, Bistro Bookers, League of Women Voters

Paul DeWald – Engineering-repair on camera pedestals in TV studio. Producer/Director for video interviews re: TFA major

Meg Knowles – SUNY Faculty Senate, undergraduate committee; chair – sub-committee on undergraduate research. Women’s Studies Interdisciplinary Unit. Collection committee, Burchfield-Penney Art Center. USG Election Committee. Volunteer & Service Learning Conference Planning Committee. Union for Democratic Communications conference Planning Committee

Joe Marren – Learning Communities Oversight Committee. First-year Awards Selection Committee. A&H Assessment Committee. A&H Curriculum Committee. Intercollegiate Athletic Board

Tom McCray – Coordinator, WBNY New Media Weekend. Emcee and panel host, WBNY New Media Weekend

Mike Niman – Student Judicial Board. Chair, United Student Government Election Committee. Coordinator, Student Research and Creativity Celebration. Engels Scholarship Committee

Bill Raffel – Coordinator, Interdisciplinary International Studies minor; chair of oversight committee. College Senate; Bylaws committee; Academic Plan committee. College Commencement committee. Student Judicial Board

Lou Rera – Television and Film Arts Committee

Ron Smith – Project Director, American Indian Policy & Media Initiative. Institutional Advancement search committee. A&H Leadership Team

 

Faculty Advisor/Mentor

Paul DeWald – BSC-TV
Meg Knowles – Silver Screen Student Film Festival
Meg Knowles – AOZ Fraternity
Joe Marren – The Record
Tom McCray – WBNY
Mike Niman – Young, Gifted & Black radio program
Bill Raffel – BSC NewsWatch |
Deborah Silverman – PRSSA