JAM Faculty Make Their Mark at AEJMC 2026

JAM faculty members Jen Smith, David Stephenson, and Beecher Reuning share their  innovative teaching tips at the AEJMC annual conference.

AEJMC is the premier professional organization in mass media education. The UK School of Journalism and Media faculty participate annually as organizational officers, panelists, paper presenters, paper reviewers, panel organizers, and discussants. These activities span teaching, research, and service responsibilities, reflecting the School's commitment to academic and professional excellence.

Peter Baniak served as a panelist for the sessions “Bridging the Gap: Navigating AI Policy, Ethics, and Education in Journalism” and “Teaching Multimedia Reporting in Age of AI.”

Deborah Chung, chair of the AEJMC Elected Standing Committee on Research, presided over its annual conference meeting and awards session.

Allyson DeVito served as a panelist for the session “Learning During Crises: Best Practices for Right Now with the Teaching Media Law, Media History and the First Amendment” and moderated the session 

“Bridging the Gap: Navigating AI Policy, Ethics, and Education in Journalism.”

Carey Higgins-Dobney served as a panelist for the session “Broadcasting in the Public Interest: Examining FCC Leadership Shifts and Policy Upheaval,” and as discussant for the session “Broadcast News Identity in a Partisan Landscape.”

Kathryn Montalbano served as a panelist at the session “Learning During Crises: Best Practices for Right Now with the Teaching Media Law, Media History and the First Amendment,” and moderated two panels, “Covering Religion and Spirituality in the United States: Pedagogical Approaches for Journalism Ethics and Reporting Courses and Compelling Faith” and “The Growing Tensions between

the Free Speech, Free Exercise, and Establishment Clauses of the First Amendment.”

Beecher Reuning presented their refereed paper, “The Future [of the Catholic Church] Is Female: Visual

Rhetoric in Edward Berger’s Conclave," which won a top faculty paper award from the Religion and Media Interest Group, and presented “Incentivizing Collaboration on Creative Projects” at the session “Hands-on Approaches Teaching JMC Skills in Real-World Settings.”

Jen Smith presented “Sports Journalism and Experiential Learning: The GameOn UK Workshop” at the session “Hands-on Approaches Teaching JMC Skills in Real-World Settings.”

David Stephenson presented “High-Impact Multimedia Storytelling: The Picture Kentucky Workshop” at the session “Hands-on Approaches Teaching JMC Skills in Real-World Settings.”