Jennifer M. Proffitt, Ph.D.

Department of Communication

Florida State University

University Center, Building C, Suite 3100

Tallahassee, FL 32306-2664

 (850) 644-8748

jproffitt@ fsu.edu

 

Education

2005                            Ph.D., Mass Communication, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA

Doctorate Minor:  Social Thought

Dissertation Title: “Structural Regulation, Concentration, and Democratization: A Political Economic Analysis of the National Television Station Ownership Rule”

                                                Advisor:  Dr. Ronald V. Bettig          

                                               

2001                            M.A., Communication, University of Wyoming, Laramie, WY

Thesis:  “Print and Broadcast Journalists’ Perceptions of the News Coverage of the Columbine Shootings: An Ethical Analysis”

Advisor:  Dr. George A. Gladney

                       

1995                            PA Instructional I Certification Graduate Program, Secondary English/Communication, University of Pittsburgh School of Education, Pittsburgh, PA

                       

1994                            B.A., magna cum laude, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA

                                                Major: communication; Minors: literature, writing

 

Experience

2005-Present         Assistant Professor, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL

                                    Courses Taught:

·         Graduate Seminar: Communication Regulation and Policy (RTV 5702)

·         Graduate Seminar: Political Economy of Media (COM6400)

·         Senior Seminar:  Political Economy of Media (COM4930)

·         Senior Seminar: Media Ethics (COM4930)

·         Senior Seminar: Media Legalities (MMC4200)

·         Large Lecture: Elements of Broadcasting (RTV3003)

·         Large Lecture: Introduction to Mass Media (MMC2000)

·         Large Lecture: Fundamentals of Speech (SPC1016)

 

Summer 2008       Visiting Professor, Sookmyung International Summer School, Sookmyung Women’s University, Seoul, Korea.

 

2002-2005                   Lecturer, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA

                                    Courses Taught:

·         Political Economy of Communications (COMM 405)

·         Media and Public (COMM 413)

·         News Media Ethics (COMM 409)

·         Women, Minorities, and the Media (COMM 205)

·         Media and Society (COMM 100)

 

2001-2003                   Graduate Teaching Assistant, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA

 

2002 Summer          Research Assistant, Institute for Information Policy, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA

 

1999-2001                                      Graduate Teaching Assistant, University of Wyoming, Laramie, WY

Courses Taught:

·         Introduction to Mass Media

·         Public Speaking

·         Interpersonal Communication

 

1998-1999                                      Instructor, Denver Technical College, Colorado Springs, CO

Courses Taught:

·         Speech

·         English Composition

·         Applied Psychology

 

1997-1999                                      Teacher, Mesa Ridge High School, Colorado Springs, CO

Courses Taught:

·         Television Production

·         KMRG News

·         Writing

·         American Literature

 

Peer-Reviewed Publications

Proffitt, J. M. (2007). Juggling justifications: Modifications to the National Television Station Ownership rule. Journal of Broadcasting & Electronic Media, 51(4), 575-595.

 

Proffitt, J. M., Tchoi, D. Y., & McAllister, M. P. (2007). Plugging back into The Matrix: The inter-textual flow of corporate media commodities. Journal of Communication Inquiry, 31(3), 239-254.

 

Proffitt, J. M. (2007). Challenges to democratic discourse: Media concentration and the marginalization of dissent. Review of Education, Pedagogy, and Cultural Studies, 29(1), 65-84.

 

Proffitt, J. M. (2006). The question remains—Can government intervention promote free speech? Revisiting arguments for structural regulation. Communication Law Review, 6(1), 28-46.

 

Proffitt, J. M., & Brown, M. (2004). Regulating the radio monopoly: Ewin Davis and his legislative debates, 1923-1928. Journal of Radio Studies, 11(1), 100-115.

 

Proffitt, J. M., & Yang, H. (2004). News perceptions of sensationalism and medium in the entertainment age. Kentucky Journal of Communication, 23(2), 55-71.

 

Fleming-Rife, A., & Proffitt, J. M. (2004). The more public school reform changes, the more it stays the same: A framing analysis of the newspaper coverage of Brown v. The Board of Education. The Journal of Negro Education, 73(3), 239-254.

 

Santos, C. A., & Proffitt, J. M. (2004). The humor in it: Tourists and intercultural interaction. Tourism: An Interdisciplinary International Journal, 52(1), 51-64.

 

Grandjean, B. D., & Proffitt, J. M. (2001). Political communication and statistical interaction: Re-examining issue, image, involvement, and interpersonal conversation. Mass Communication & Society, 4(4), 455-464.

 

Peer-Reviewed Publications (ACCEPTED)

Aiello, L., & Proffitt, J. M. (Accepted). VNR usage: A matter of regulation or ethics? Journal of Mass Media Ethics.

 

Tomaszeski, M., Proffitt, J. M., & McClung, S. (Accepted). Exploring the political blogosphere: Perceptions of political bloggers about their sphere. Atlantic Journal of Communication.

 

Book Chapters

McAllister, M. P., & Proffitt, J. M. (forthcoming, July 2008). Media ownership in a corporate age.  In L. Wilkins & C. G. Christians (Eds.), Handbook of mass media ethics. New York: Routledge.

 

Book Reviews

Proffitt, J. M. (2007). [Review of the book Why TV is not our fault: Television programming, viewers, and who’s really in control]. Popular Communication, 5(1), 81-83.

 

Conference Presentations

Corrigan, T.C., & Proffitt, J. M. (2007, October). Campus press, inc.: A critical analysis of the corporatization of collegiate media. Paper presented at the biennial conference of the Union for Democratic Communications, Vancouver, CN.

 

Proffitt, J. M. (2006, June). Big is better in more ways than one: An examination of the culture and consciousness industries. Paper presented at the annual conference of the Intercultural Communication Association, Mass Communication Division, Dresden, Germany.

 

Proffitt, J. M. (2006, May). Juggling justifications: Modifications to the National Television Station Ownership rule. Paper presented at the biennial conference of the Union for Democratic Communications, Boca Raton, FL. Originally scheduled for November 2005.

 

Proffitt, J. M., & Tchoi, D. Y. (2004, August). Entering the Matrix: A political economic analysis of a global textual event. Paper presented as a poster at the annual conference of the Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication, Cultural and Critical Studies Division, Toronto, Canada.

 

Proffitt, J. M. (2004, April). Rupert Murdoch’s challenge to democracy: Concentration and the marginalization of dissent. Paper presented at the biennial conference of the Union for Democratic Communications, St. Louis, MO.

 

Proffitt, J. M. (2003, November). Wedding bells or death knell? A political economic analysis of the Viacom/CBS merger. Paper presented at the annual conference of the National Communication Association, Critical and Cultural Studies Division, Miami, FL.

 

Fleming-Rife, A., & Proffitt, J. M. (2003, July/August). The more public school reform changes, the more it stays the same: A framing analysis of Brown v. The Board of Education. Paper presented at the annual conference of the Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication, Minorities and Communications Division, Kansas City, MO.

 

Proffitt, J. M. (2003, April). Attempting to regulate the radio monopoly: Ewin Davis and the debates leading to the Davis Amendment. Paper presented at the annual conference of the Broadcast Education Association, Broadcast & Internet Radio Division, Las Vegas, NV.

·         First Place Debut Competition

 

Proffitt, J. M. (2003, April). Retention, modification or elimination? A critical legal analysis of the National Television Station Ownership Rule. Paper presented at the annual conference of the Broadcast Education Association, Law & Policy Division, Las Vegas, NV.

·         First Place Debut Competition

 

Proffitt, J. M., Yang, H., & Hwang, J. (2002, November). What is the message? News perceptions of sensationalism and medium. Paper presented at the annual conference of the National Communication Association, Mass Communication Division, New Orleans, LA.

·         Top Student Competitive Paper

 

Proffitt, J. M. (2002, October). 'Arbitrary, capricious, and contrary to the law'? An analysis of Fox Television Stations, Inc. v. Federal Communications Commission. Paper presented at the biennial conference of The Union for Democratic Communications, State College, PA.

 

Proffitt, J. M. (2002, March). Fan is short for fanatic: A description of football fans. Paper presented at the annual conference of the Popular Culture Association, Sports Division, Toronto, Canada.

 

Santos, C. A., & Proffitt, J. M. (2002, February). The American tourist according to The New Yorker: A framing analysis of The New Yorker cartoons. Paper presented at the annual Intercultural Communication Conference, Miami, FL.

 

Proffitt, J. M. (2001, August). Gatekeeping and the political cartoon: A case study of the 2000 presidential campaign. Paper presented at the annual conference of the Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication, Newspaper Division, Washington, DC.

·         Session filmed and appeared on C-SPAN

 

Proffitt, J. M. (2001, April). The Basketball Diaries, Doom, and Marilyn Manson: Death at Columbine High School. Paper presented at the annual conference of the University of Wyoming Organization of Active Students in Sociology, Laramie, WY.

·         Outstanding Graduate Paper Second Place

 

Proffitt, J. M. (2001, March). An ethical analysis of the news coverage of the Columbine shootings. Paper presented at the Southeast Regional Colloquium of the Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication, Columbia, SC.

 

Proffitt, J. M. (2000, April). Gangs, guns, and grades: Tolerance of violence among high school males. Paper presented at the annual conference of the University of Wyoming Organization of Active Students in Sociology, Laramie, WY.

 

Seminars

2003 National Communication Association Doctoral Honors Seminar, Bowling Green State University, Bowling Green, OH, August 2003.

·         Awarded a top three paper distinction in the Media and Democracy Division; paper presented at a public session of the seminar

 

Panels

Panel Organizer, Moderator, and Panelist, Women and Radio: Historical and Contemporary Issues. Panel proposal accepted for the annual conference of the Broadcast Education Association, Broadcast & Internet Radio Division, Las Vegas, NV, April 2008.

Panel Presentation: “Reward, Not Punish: The Women’s National Radio Committee’s Strategy for Better Radio Programming.”

 

Chair, Competitively selected papers in free expression and First Amendment: In the context of the Internet, abortions, video games, and illegal immigration, Southern States Communication Association Conference, Louisville, KY, March 2007.

 

Chair, Division of labor, 32nd Annual Florida State University Film and Literature Conference, Tallahassee, FL, February 2007.

 

Roundtable panelist, Television studies and television policy. FLOW Conference 2006: A critical forum on television and media, Austin, TX, October 2006.

 

Chair, Communication policy: Contemporary developments, The Union for Democratic Communications conference, Boca Raton, FL, May 2006.

 

Panelist, Audiences and radio: How the concept of audience is used. Panel proposal accepted for the annual conference of the Broadcast Education Association, Broadcast & Internet Radio Division, Las Vegas, NV, April 2006.

Panel presentation: “From ‘Blood and Gore’ to Sex in a Church: The Evolution (?) of Radio Content Since the 1930s.”

 

Panel Organizer, Moderator, and Panelist, Redefining radio ownership regulation: Impact of the FCC's 2003 decisions regarding radio. Panel proposal accepted for the annual conference of the Broadcast Education Association, Broadcast & Internet Radio Division, Las Vegas, NV, April 2004.

Panel presentation: “Debating Cross-Media Ownership Limits.”

 

Chair, Media, technology and community, The Union for Democratic Communications conference, State College, PA, October 2002.

 

Colloquia, Exhibitions, and Guest Lectures

The State of the Media Reform Movement: A Report from the National Conference, Colloquium with Dr. Andy Opel, Florida State University, January 2007.

 

Resisting Explicit Content: Women and the Fight against the Commercialization of Sex and Violence in Radio, Colloquium, Florida State University, September 2006.

 

The Power of Independent Media: Tallahassee and an Emerging Alternative Voice, Invited Lecture, Florida State University, February 2006.

 

Political Economy of Communications, Guest Lecture, Analysis of Communication Theory (graduate course), Florida State University, November 2005.

 

Media Economics, Guest Lecture, Media and Society, Pennsylvania State University, July 2005.

 

How to get the most out of the TA/Faculty supervisory relationship: Rules of the road. Colloquium, Pennsylvania State University, February 2005.

 

Structural regulation, concentration, and democratization: A political economic analysis of the National Television Station Ownership Rule. Colloquium, Pennsylvania State University, September 2004.

 

Political Economy, Guest Lecture, Women, Minorities, and the Media, Pennsylvania State University, May 2004.

 

Wedding bells or death knell? Colloquium, Pennsylvania State University, October 2003.

 

Attempting to regulate the radio monopoly and Retention, modification or elimination? Colloquium, Pennsylvania State University, March 2003.

 

What is the message? News perceptions of sensationalism and medium. Poster Session, 17th Annual Graduate Exhibition, Pennsylvania State University, April 2002; Guest Lecture, April 2002; Colloquium, Pennsylvania State University, June 2002.

 

Fan is short for fanatic and The American tourist according to The New Yorker. Colloquium, Pennsylvania State University, February 2002.

 

Print and broadcast journalists’ perceptions of the news coverage of the Columbine shootings: An ethical analysis. Colloquium, University of Wyoming, May 2001.

 

Gatekeeping, Guest Lecture, Introduction to Human Communication, University of Wyoming, April 2001.

 

Honors/Awards/Grants

2008    Nominated for a University Teaching Award, Florida State University

 

2007    Lambda Pi Eta National Communication Honor Society 2006-2007 Teacher of the Year Award, College of Communication, Florida State University

 

2006    First Year Assistant Professor Award, Florida State University ($15,000 summer research grant)

 

            Faculty Travel Grant, Florida State University

 

2005    Alumni Association Dissertation Award, Pennsylvania State University

 

Faculty Marshal for the College of Communications, Summer Graduation, Pennsylvania State University (top student in the College chooses the Faculty Marshal)

 

2004    Deans’ Excellence Award for Graduate Student Teaching, College of Communications, Pennsylvania State University

 

Excellent Teaching by a Graduate Student, The Instructional and Developmental Division of the International Communication Association

 

2003    Deans’ Excellence Award for Graduate Student Research, College of Communications, Pennsylvania State University

 

Top Three Paper Distinction, National Communication Association Doctoral Honors Seminar, Media and Democracy Division

 

            First Place Debut Paper Submission, Broadcast Education Association, Broadcast & Internet Radio Division

 

First Place Debut Paper Submission, Broadcast Education Association, Law & Policy Division

 

2002    Top Student Competitive Paper Submission, National Communication Association, Mass Communication Division

 

            Douglas and Claudia Anderson Graduate Scholarship in Communications, Pennsylvania State University

 

            College of Communications Graduate Scholarship, Pennsylvania State University

 

2001    Professor William C. Donaghy Award for Best Thesis, University of Wyoming

 

            Outstanding Graduate Assistant Award, University of Wyoming

 

            Outstanding Graduate Paper Second Place, OASIS Conference, University of Wyoming

 

1995    Nomination for Outstanding Student Teacher/Intern Award for the Pennsylvania Association of Colleges and Teacher Education, University of Pittsburgh School of Education

 

Affiliations

The Union for Democratic Communications

                       

Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication

 

Broadcast Education Association

 

International Communication Association