Image Alternative Text: Annual Faculty Awards

Department honors Hays, Mabry, Misun, Strout with annual awards

The Department of Communication at Mississippi State University recently announced the winners of faculty awards for 2023 recognizing excellence in teaching, research and service as well as outstanding lecturer.

Image Alternative Text: MAB Awards

Communication professor and students win MAB awards

At the Mississippi Association of Broadcasters awards in April, MSU students won more honors in radio and television than any other college or university in the state, and for the third year in a row, MSU won both the Radio Student Broadcaster of the Year (Jackson Smith) and TV Student Broadcaster of the Year (Eli Thurman).

Image Alternative Text: Story State Awards 2023

MSU storytellers’ works highlighted in Story State 2023

Three Mississippi State University students are this year’s winners of Story State, an annual MSU event highlighting the best collegiate storytelling in the Magnolia State.

Image Alternative Text: Uyanga Bazaa Photo

Dr. Uyanga Bazaa & co-authors publish article in Health Communication

Assistant Communication Professor Dr. Uyanga Bazaa and co-authors published #EndtheSTIgma: An Exploratory Analysis of the 2019 HPV Awareness Day Conversation on Twitter & Instagram in the April Health Communication journal. The current study explores the risk communication conversations on Twitter and Instagram in the context of the 2019 HPV Awareness Day, through the theoretical lenses of the stigma associated with HPV, HPV-related cancer, and the HPV vaccine.

Image Alternative Text: Melody Fisher PRAM Presentation

Dr. Melody Fisher presents at 2023 PRAM conference

Associate Communication Professor Dr. Melody Fisher presented "Blurred Lines: Public Relations Ethics" at the 2023 annual PRAM conference. This interactive presentation took a case study approach to address public relations ethical dilemmas. Attendees learned best practices to maintain the integrity of the public relations profession and become responsible advocates for their organization and clients.

Image Alternative Text: Christie Lawrence

Christie Jones Lawrence wins 2023 PRAM Professional Achievement Award

The Public Relations Association of Mississippi honored the achievements of Mississippi’s best public relations professionals and students during their annual awards ceremony last week. The awards recognize outstanding work by Mississippians in the field of public relations and celebrate select individuals for their contributions to the profession. Christie Lawrence, President of Surge Advisors and past president of the Starkville-MSU Chapter is the 2023 PRAM Professional Achievement Award winner, the state’s top honor recognizing excellence in public relations.

Image Alternative Text: Josh Foreman

Communication faculty member’s newest ‘Hidden History’ publication spotlights the Mississippi Delta

Josh Foreman, an instructor in Mississippi State’s communication department and advisor to The Reflector, has released a new book in his “Hidden History” series, the fifth in a series of works detailing the mysteries and unseen aspects of the Deep South.

Image Alternative Text: Forde & Fisher photo

Forde & Fisher receive MSU College of Arts & Sciences awards

During its recent general faculty meeting, the MSU College of Arts & Sciences awarded John Forde for his scholarly commitments to the university with a Robert E. Wolverton Legacy Award and Melody Fisher with a research award.

Image Alternative Text: Jessica Collier

CO Connection: Jessica Collier

Mississippi State University's Department of Communication Head Dr. Terry Likes interviews Dr. Jessica Collier, an assistant professor in Communication and Media Studies. Collier discusses her recent publications on the topic of fake news. Collier also specializes in political communication and has conducted research on the impact of news trust, scandal, and political efficacy. Her publication in the Center for Media Engagement is entitled, “Even in “news deserts,” people still get news.” Finally, Collier, who teaches courses in Communication Leadership, Elements of Persuasion, and Political Communication, offers advice for students.

Image Alternative Text: Dr. Holli Seitz

Dr. Holli Seitz & co-authors publish article in Health Promotion Practice

Associate Professor Holli Seitz and colleagues Antonio Gardner and Leah Pylate recently published a scholarly article on formative research they conducted with MSU students and parents to inform COVID-19 health communication efforts. The article, "Formative Research to Inform College Health Communication Campaigns About COVID-19 Prevention Behaviors," was published in Health Promotion Practice.

Image Alternative Text: SEJC Student Award Winners

Communication students win 'Best of the South' regional journalism awards

More than a dozen Mississippi State students won top journalism awards at the 2023 Southeast Journalism Conference for their work in broadcast, print and online journalism.

Image Alternative Text: Mabry Starkville Community Theatre

Paula Mabry directs award-winning play

Communication Lecturer Paula Mabry directed the Starkville Community Theatre play “Underneath the Lintel,” at the regional Southeastern Theatre Conference, and the performance won Best Actor and Best Director (Mabry).

Image Alternative Text: Dr. Holli Seitz

Dr. Holli Seitz presents at 2023 Association of SNAP Nutrition Education Administrators Conference

Dr. Seitz and colleagues from the HappyHealthy project (Dr. Laura Downey, Dr. Sylvia Byrd, and Drew Cole) presented results from an evaluation of the HappyHealthy social marketing campaign at the 2023 Association of SNAP Nutrition Education Administrators (ASNNA) Conference. This virtual oral presentation, "Effects of a social marketing campaign (SMC) on campaign awareness, fruit and vegetable consumption, and physical activity during the COVID-19 pandemic," highlighted self-reported effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on physical activity and nutrition among Mississippians eligible for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).

Image Alternative Text: Anna Wilkinson

CO Connection: Anna Wilkinson

Mississippi State University's Department of Communication Head Dr. Terry Likes interviews PRISM advisor and instructor, Anna Wilkinson. Anna talks about the student PR agency, how students get involved with PRISM, the real-world opportunities of working with actual clients, and the results and awards students have earned.

Image Alternative Text: Heesook Choi

Dr. Heesook Choi presents at 2023 AEJMC Midwinter Conference

Dr. Heesook Choi presented "Satirical humor matters for liberals? MSNBC and political satire in the context of political participation" at the 2023 AEJMC Midwinter Conference held in Norman, Oklahoma. This study examines the role of political satire in the partisan media environment and its influence on partisan participation.