Grady Research Radio
By Jackson Schroeder
Grady Research RadioMar 16, 2023
Kim Landrum’s teaching practices, career and favorite local food
Kim Landrum is a senior lecturer in the Department of Advertising and Public Relations at Grady College. She teaches Social Media Content and Production, Integrated AdPR Campaigns, and Podcast Branding and Production, among other courses, at the College. Landrum is also the faculty advisor for the UGA chapter of the Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA).
In this episode, guest host Jin Lee, a fourth-year Public Relations major, Yarbrough Fellow and the director of DEI and Outreach for UGA PRSSA, talks with Landrum about her career in communication, how she approaches teaching and mentoring students, managing work-life balance, and even her favorite local restaurants.
Inside Dr. Carolina Acosta-Alzuru’s award-winning research and teaching methods
Dr. Carolina Acosta-Alzuru (MA ’96, PhD ’99) is a professor in the Department of Advertising and Public Relations at Grady College and the recent recipient of a Fulbright Distinguished Scholar Award.
In this episode of Grady Research Radio, Acosta-Alzuru takes us through her research path, which largely focuses on the links between media, culture and society, centering specifically on melodramatic television series in Latin America and Turkey, which are two of the world’s largest exporters of such series. Her work has been cited more than 1,100 times, and she is the author of three books focusing on telenovelas.
Acosta-Alzuru also answers questions about her recent recognition as a Fulbright Distinguished Scholar, her award-winning teaching methods, and more.
Inside Booker T. Mattison’s filmmaking and teaching processes
Booker T. Mattison, an associate professor in the Department of Entertainment and Media Studies at Grady College, teaches screenwriting and directing for the screen courses at Grady and actively works as writer, director and filmmaker.
In this episode of Grady Research Radio, Mattison takes us through his career, sharing his inspirations, the aspects of his work that stand out to him, how his professional work influences his teaching practices, and more.
The power of humor in advertising, with Dr. Hye Jin Yoon
In this episode of Grady Research Radio, Dr. Hye Jin Yoon takes us through her research path, largely inspired by what she describes as the “healing power of humor” and how it can be used for the greater good in advertising and communication, specifically when communicating complex or serious topics, such as health or the environment.
Dr. Yoon goes on to explain how she prioritizes research with real-world implications, outlines her more recent projects, including work focused on sustainability, and dives into how her research influences her teaching practices.
Evaluating consumers’ processing of non-traditional advertising, with Dr. Nathaniel Evans
For a large portion of his career as a researcher, Dr. Nathaniel Evans has looked at areas of advertising that were on the Federal Trade Commission's radar about potentially being deceptive and, through his research and from a consumer protection standpoint, has offered insights and recommendations on what advertisers should do differently.
In this episode of Grady Research Radio, Dr. Evans walks listeners through his research path, speaks about creating tangible benefits to society through his research, explains how his research influences his teaching, and dives into his most recent work, which focuses on advertising techniques to increase vaccination intention, specifically the HPV vaccine.
Using virtual reality to address real-world problems, with Dr. Sun Joo (Grace) Ahn
Dr. Ahn, director of the Center for Advanced Computer-Human Ecosystems (CACHE) Lab at Grady College, dives into her research testing and analyzing how virtual reality can be used as a tool to improve lives and prepare people for unforeseen circumstances, such as a natural disaster. Dr. Ahn also speaks about the rapid evolution of virtual reality over the past decade and predicts a future for the field.
The influential and evolving field of photojournalism, with Dr. Andrea Hudson.
Dr. Andrea Hudson (ABJ ‘12, PhD ‘21), a lecturer in the Department of Journalism at Grady College, teaches a variety of journalism classes, including photojournalism and reporting and writing across platforms. Broadly, her research is grounded in visual communication and women’s studies.
In this episode, Dr. Hudson speaks about her passion for the power images and visual journalism, as well as a few of her recent research projects, including a study on front page photo decisions made by Georgia newspapers during the 2022 midterm elections, a study on the shift from in-house to freelance work for many photojournalists, and an analysis of newspapers’ Instagram posts covering the overturn of Roe v. Wade.
Covering social justice, with Dr. Denetra Walker
Dr. Denetra Walker, an assistant professor in the Journalism Department, started her role in fall 2022. While she’s still new to the College, her research draws from years of experience both studying the topic of social justice journalism and working in several behind-the-scenes roles in television news markets in Augusta, Georgia, New York, Houston, Las Vegas and Columbia, South Carolina.
Walker’s research focuses on the experiences of journalists of color and those who are marginalized and underrepresented in the news media. She’s interested in how protests and movements, such as Black Lives Matter, and historic events, such as the civil rights and women’s rights movements, have been portrayed by news organizations.
She looks at what and how news organizations are covering those events in real time, as well as what it is like for, specifically journalists of color, covering things that are so close to their lived experiences.
TV as a lens into race and gender issues, with Dr. Laurena Bernabo
For many, watching television is a part of daily life, and those clips that show up on screens can begin to leave a lasting impression. Television shows’ portrayals of different people and groups, even in subtle ways, can influence the way individuals and cultures are perceived.
Understanding this, Dr. Laurena Bernabo, an assistant professor in the Department of Entertainment and Media Studies, uses television as a lens to look into issues surrounding race, gender and sexuality. She studies how these issues are being communicated to the public and used as entertainment to make sense of changing social relations. She also studies public responses to these portrayals.
In this episode, Dr. Bernabo dives in to some of her research, including a past project, for which she spent time in Mexico City observing how those working on the Spanish language broadcast of "Glee" dubbed over the voices, and her more recent work, which focuses on public response to depictions of single fathers on television.
Narrative Nonfiction MFA bridges journalism and literature, with Moni Basu
In this episode, we speak with Moni Basu, an award-winning journalist and author and the director of our Master in Fine Arts in Narrative Nonfiction program. The Low-Residency Master in Fine Arts in Narrative Nonfiction program, based in Grady College, bridges the gap between journalism and literature, preparing students to not only produce impactful pieces, but also to have them published.
The two-year, online degree program, which is flexible enough to allow students to continue on with their existing lives, prepares students with narrative journalism skills, pairs them with accomplished industry mentors, provides them with a writing community for life and gives them the tools and connections they need to have their work published.
Inside UGA's burgeoning MFA Film, Television and Digital Media program, with Neil Landau
The film industry in Georgia is flourishing. Generating $4.4 billion for the state last fiscal year, film and TV productions made in Georgia include a long list of box office top earning feature films, streaming programming, commercials, music videos and independent films. Spider-Man: No Way Home, Avengers: Infinity War, Black Panther, Stranger Things, and Loki are just several of the hundreds of productions made in Georgia in recent years.
So, it only makes sense for the University of Georgia to have a top of the line MFA film program, capable of pumping highly trained filmmakers into the marketplace. In this episode, we speak with Neil Landau, the executive director of the MFA in Film Television and Digital Media, about what the program has to offer.
The application deadline to join the program’s next cohort is Feb. 15, 2023.
Students embrace community journalism through the Oglethorpe Echo, with Dr. Amanda Bright
In 2021, after hearing that the Oglethorpe Echo, the community paper of Clarke County’s neighbor, Oglethorpe County, was shutting its doors, Grady College devised a plan to save it.
For over a year now, after transitioning the paper to a nonprofit, the Oglethorpe Echo has been staffed by student journalists. Dr. Amanda Bright, the director of the Journalism Innovation Lab for the James M. Cox Jr. Institute for Journalism Innovation, Management and Leadership, and the instructor of the capstone journalism class that staffs the Echo, recently published an article on the project titled “Listening for The Echo: How Our Students Are Stepping Into, Embracing Community Journalism.”
In this episode, Dr. Bright speaks about the origins of the program, training student journalists in community reporting, the adjustments and advancements made to the Oglethorpe Echo over the past year, what students gain from the experience, and the replicability of the program.
Personalization and disclosures in digital advertising, with Dr. Alexander Pfeuffer
Brands and organizations want to attract consumers and gain their trust. Accomplishing both of these tasks, though, is no easy feat. Two factors that greatly impact the attractiveness of advertisements and consumer trust are the personalization of advertisements — adding names and images to ads, for example — and disclosing if and how an advertisement, whether its an image, video or user review, may be manipulated or influenced by a brand.
In this episode, Dr. Alexander Pfeuffer, an assistant professor of advertising in the Department of Advertising and Public Relations at Grady College, speaks about his research addressing those very questions.
Candidate communication strategies heading into Dec. 6 runoff, with Dr. David Clementson
With the Dec. 6 Senate runoff election in Georgia soon approaching, the Grady Research Radio podcast brought back Dr. David Clementson, an assistant professor in Public Relations at Grady College and a political communication researcher, to discuss the communication strategies of Sen. Raphael Warnock and his Republican challenger Herschel Walker heading into the election.
Exploring Grady College's new Certificate in News Literacy, with Dr. Keith Herndon and Charlotte Norsworthy
The current media landscape is full of unreliable and deceptive information, through deep fakes, click bait, conspiracies and more. With advancements in technology and the sheer amount of information out there, discerning between what is real and fake has perhaps never been more challenging.
With this issue in mind, Grady College’s James M. Cox Jr. Institute for Journalism Innovation, Management and Leadership has established the Certificate in News Literacy, open to any student at the University of Georgia. The program equips students with concepts and tools they need to recognize the difference between truth and falsehoods.
To learn more about the program, including what courses are offered, what students gain, and how to get started, the Grady Research Radio podcast sat down with Dr. Keith Herndon, the executive director of the Cox Institute, the William S. Morris Chair in News Strategy and Management and director of the Cox Institute’s Certificate in News Literacy, and Charlotte Norsworthy, a part-time instructor at Grady College, the editorial director of The Red & Black, and the program coordinator for the Certificate in News Literacy.
The future of video game studies, with Dr. Shira Chess
A discussion with game studies researcher, author and associate professor in the Department of Entertainment and Media Studies Dr. Shira Chess about her research, why video games may not get the attention they deserve, and what the future may hold for the field.
Political advertisements leading up to Georgia midterms, with Joseph Watson, Jr.
Leading up to the midterm elections in Georgia, this episode features a discussion with Joseph Watson, Jr., the Carolyn Caudell Tieger Professor of Public Affairs Communications in the Department of Advertising and Public Relations at Grady College, about the state of political advertisements. Watson has over 20 years of experience working in public affairs, campaigns and communications.
The state of political debates, with Dr. David Clementson
Leading up to the midterm elections in the state of Georgia, this episode features a discussion with Dr. David Clementson, an assistant professor in Public Relations at Grady College and a political communication researcher, about the state of political debates, whether they have any real influence, why some politicians shy away from debates, the art of dodging questions and more.
Exploring the Qualitative Research Lab with Dr. Karin Assmann
A conversation with Dr. Karin Assmann, an assistant professor in the Journalism Department and director of the Qualitative Research Lab, a lab for any Grady College graduate or undergraduate student who wants to pursue qualitative research, which involves collecting and analyzing non-numerical data, such as talking to people or conducting thematic content analysis. She explains recent research that has come from the lab and offers insight into how those interested can get involved.
Exploring the Brain, Body and Media (BBAM) Lab with Dr. Glenna Read
A conversation with Dr. Glenna Read, assistant professor of advertising and director of the Brain, Body and Media (BBAM) Lab, which is used to research psychophysiological reactions to different forms of media and messages. Dr. Read discusses the functions of the lab, recent research conducted in the lab, and how those interested can get involved.
Grady College Named Solutions Journalism Hub With Dr. Amanda Bright, Dr. Kyser Lough and Ralitsa Vassileva
Grady College's Department of Journalism was recently named one of the nation's first solutions journalism hubs, a designation given to only three other colleges in the United States. We check in with Grady's solutions journalism experts Dr. Amanda Bright, Dr. Kyser Lough and Ralitsa Vassileva, who explain what solutions journalism is, what the new designation means, and how students, educators and professionals in the region can get involved.