CV

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Elia M. Powers, Ph.D.

Assistant Professor of Journalism & New Media

Department of Mass Communication, Towson University

epowers@towson.edu

@eliapowers

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EDUCATION

Ph.D., Journalism Studies, University of Maryland, College Park, 2014

M.A., American Culture Studies, Washington University in St. Louis, 2010

B.S., Medill School of Journalism, Northwestern University, 2003

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TEACHING APPOINTMENTS

Towson University, Department of Mass Communication, 2014-Present

University of Maryland-College Park, Philip Merrill College of Journalism, 2010-2014

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COURSES TAUGHT

MCOM651: Media and Politics (Towson University: Spring 2018, Fall 2019)

MCOM496: Independent Study, Narrative Podcasting (Towson University: Spring 2019)

MCOM407: Multimedia Reporting Capstone (Towson: Spring 2015, Fall 2018-present)

MCOM402: Sports Journalism (Towson: Spring 2016, Fall 2017, Fall 2019)

MCOM 390: Mass Communication Research (Towson, Fall 2014-present)

MCOM358: News Editing (Towson: Fall 2016, Spring 2017)

TSEM102: Media Literacy: The Active Media Consumer (Towson: Fall 2015)

JOUR300: Journalism Ethics (University of Maryland: Spring 2013, Fall 2013)

JOUR201: News Writing & Reporting I (Maryland: Fall 2011, Spring 2013)

JOUR200: Journalism History, Roles & Structures (Maryland: Fall 2012, Fall 2013)

JOUR175: Media Literacy (Lead TA, Maryland: Fall 2010-Spring 2012)

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RESEARCH 

SYNOPSIS

Audience metrics and the impact of journalism; civic engagement and news/media literacy; media and disability

PEER-REVIEWED JOURNAL ARTICLES

Powers, E., & Curry, A. (2019). No quick fix: How journalists assess the impact and define the boundaries of solutions journalism. Journalism Studies (Online first).

Powers, E. (2019). How students access, filter, and evaluate digital news: Choices that shape what they consume and the implications for news literacy education. Journal of Literacy and Technology, 20(2), (Accepted for publication).

Powers, E. (2018). Selecting metrics, reflecting norms: How journalists in local newsrooms define, measure, and discuss impact. Digital Journalism, 6(4), 454-471.

Powers, E. (2017). My News Feed is filtered? Awareness of news personalization among college students. Digital Journalism, 5(10), 1315-1335.

Powers, E., & Haller, B. (2017). Journalism and mass communication textbook representations of verbal media skills: Implications for students with speech disabilities. Journal of Media Literacy Education, 9(2), 58-75.

Konieczna, M., & Powers, E. (2017). What can nonprofit journalists actually do for democracy? Journalism Studies, 18(12), 1542-1558.

Powers, E. & Incollingo, J. (2016). Multimedia journalism professors on an island: Resources, support lacking at small programs. Teaching Journalism & Mass Communication, 6(1), 1-17.

Powers, E., & Koliska, M. (2016). Placing trust in others: How college students find news, determine credibility and develop their views of journalism in the digital age. Journalism Education, 5(1), 105-122.

Powers, E., Moeller, S., & Yuan, Y. (2016). Political engagement during a presidential election year: A case study of media literacy students. Journal of Media Literacy Education, 8(1), 1-13.

Yaros, R., Roberts, J., Powers, E., & Steiner, L. (2015). Serving the needs of the Latina community for health information. Health, Culture and Society, 8(1), 20-33.

Powers, E., Moeller, S., & Yuan, Y. (2014). The push and pull of politics: How media literacy students sign up for, stumble upon and seek out news at election time. Journal of Digital and Media Literacy, 2(2).

Powers, E. (2014). Building buzz and episodes with bite-sized content:
Portlandia’s formula for turning a video project into a television series.  Journal of Broadcasting & Electronic Media, 58(3), 342-364.

Yaros, R., Powers, E., & Oh, S. (2014). Incorrect terms used to portray possible cell phone risk. Newspaper Research Journal, 35(1), 96-107.

Powers, E. & Yaros, R. (2013). Cultivating support for nonprofit news organizations: Commitment, trust and donating audiences. Journal of Communication Management, 17(2), 157-170.

Powers, E. & Yaros, R. (2012). Supporting online nonprofit
news organizations: Do financial contributions influence stakeholder expectations and engagement? Journal of Media Business Studies, 9(3), 41-62.

Moeller, S., Powers, E., & Roberts, J. (2012). The world unplugged and 24 hours without media”: Media literacy to develop self-awareness regarding media use. Comunicar: Scientific Journal of Media Education, 39, 45-52.

BOOK CHAPTER

Konieczna, M., & Powers, E. (2019). What can nonprofit journalists actually do for democracy? In S.A. Eldridge II  & B. Franklin (Eds.), The Routledge handbook of developments in digital journalism studies (pp. 198-210). New York: Routledge.

BOOK REVIEW

Powers, E. (2011). The young & the digital: What the migration to social-network sites, games, and anytime, anywhere media means for our future. Journal of Media Literacy Education, 3(1), 63-65.

PEER-REVIEWED CONFERENCE PAPERS

Powers, E., & Curry, A. (2018) No quick fix: How journalists assess the impact and define the boundaries of Solutions Journalism. Paper presented at the annual AEJMC conference, Washington, D.C.

Powers, E. (2016). My News Feed is filtered? Awareness of news personalization among college students. Paper presented at the annual AEJMC conference, Minneapolis, MN.

Powers, E. (2016). Searching in a state of automaticity: How students access, filter, and evaluate digital news. Paper presented at the annual AEJMC conference, Minneapolis, MN.

Konieczna, M., & Powers, E. (2015). Conceptualizing the impact of investigative journalism: How a prominent journalistic nonprofit talks about its work. Paper presented at annual AEJMC conference, San Francisco, CA.

Powers, E., & Incollingo, J. (2013). Multimedia journalism professors on an island: Resources, support lacking at small programs. Paper presented at the annual AEJMC conference,  Washington, D.C. — Third Place, Small Programs Interest Group Division

Yaros, R., Roberts, J., Powers, E., & Steiner, L. (2013). Serving the needs of the Latina community for health information. Paper presented at the annual AEJMC conference, Washington D.C.

Powers, E. (2012). From creative project to network series: Portlandia tracks the music industry into the age of digital media. Paper presented at the annual AEJMC conference, Chicago IL.

Powers, E., & Koliska, M. (2012). Seeing the world through a filter: How college students place trust in others to find news, determine credibility and shape their views of journalism in the digital age. Paper presented at the annual AEJMC conference, Chicago, IL.

Yaros, R., & Powers, E. (2012). Reporting a new cancer risk: Analyzing the online coverage of the World Health Organization’s announcement about possible dangers of cell phone use. Paper presented at the annual AEJMC conference, Chicago, IL.

CONFERENCE PRESENTATIONS

Organizer of panel, “How Journalists Define, Measure, and Discuss Impact.” AEJMC conference, Washington, D.C. (2018).

Presenter, “How Journalists Define, Measure, and Discuss Impact.” Online News Association annual conference, Washington D.C. (2017).

Organizer of pre-conference session, “Teaching Algorithmic Transparency.” Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication conference (2016)

Panelist, “Preparing Your Students for a World of Disability.” Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication conference (2016).

Organizer of panel, “Assessing Media Literacy: What Skills and Knowledge Do Students Already Possess and What Are They Learning in Class?” 11th Annual Northeast Media Literacy Conference, University of Connecticut (2013).

 

ADDITIONAL WRITING

Powers, Elia. (2010). “Teaching News Literacy in the Age of New Media: Why Secondary School Students Should Be Taught to Judge the Credibility of the News They Consume.” Electronic Theses and Dissertations. Paper 455

Co-author/Editor, “The World Unplugged,” a global media study led by the International Center for Media & the Public Agenda at the University of Maryland. Published report can be viewed at: http://theworldunplugged.wordpress.com/

Author of “Paul for President, ‘The One You Can Trust’ and “Faces of Change: A Skeptic’s Story on Health Care Reform. Appear on Political Advertising Resource Center, a project of the University of Maryland’s Center for Political Communication & Civic Leadership. Analyses can be viewed at: http://parc.umd.edu/

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JOURNALISM EXPERIENCE

Contributing writer positions

MediaShift, Washington, D.C., 2015-2018

  • Covered media industry and journalism education trends for national website

Yahoo! Sports’ ThePostGame, Washington, D.C., 2014-2017

  • Wrote lead story on how the award-winning Big Ten Network documentary series ‘The Journey’ captures the spirit of March Madness at the Big Ten men’s basketball tournament; and how former college basketball players adjust to their professional basketball careers overseas
  • Profile on Pulitzer Prize-winning columnist Jim Murray ran on the home page

Shirley Povich Center for Sports Journalism, College Park, Md., 2014

  • Chapter, “Jim Murray,” in Still No Cheering in the Press Box, a series curated by the Povich Center at the University of Maryland that profiles prominent sports writers
  • Wrote an article examining news media coverage of Donald Sterling controversy

American Journalism Review, College Park, Md., 2012

  • Wrote about media trends for national publication covering print, television, radio and online media
  • Articles included “Learning to Do it All,” about the skills young journalists need to get hired; “Going Long About Sports,” about the future of narrative sportswriting on the web; and “The Lonely Life of a Third-Party Presidential Candidate,” about press coverage of third-party politicians

Staff writer positions 

St. Louis Beacon (Now St. Louis Public Radio),  St. Louis, Mo., 2008-2010

  • Covered politics, education, health, technology and other topics for a nonprofit news Web site started by former reporters at the St. Louis Post-Dispatch
  • Wrote a news blog, “The Feed,” that targeted young readers, and produced podcasts and helped create videos that appeared on the site

Inside Higher Ed, Washington, D.C., 2006-2008

  • Covered national higher education issues for the news site
  • Reported regularly on Congressional hearings and covered breaking news from campuses across the country
  • Developed, edited and wrote the script for the site’s podcasts

The Daily Pilot, Costa Mesa, Calif., 2005

  • Feature/enterprise/general assignment reporter for Daily Pilot, a Times Community Newspaper covering Newport Beach, Costa Mesa and UC Irvine. Wrote daily articles on the arts, education and religion, and covered breaking news

The Desert Sun, Palm Springs, Calif., 2004

  • Wrote daily news and feature stories for regional newspaper. Topics included health, politics, and development and growth. Four articles appeared in the A1 section

The Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles, Calif., 2003-2004

  • Covered high school sports and college events for The Los Angeles Times. Wrote feature stories for weekly tabloid, Campus Times

The Sporting News, St. Louis, Mo., 2002

  • Intern for national sports publication; wrote several articles for the magazine

Washingtonian Magazine, Washington D.C., 2002

  • Intern for regional magazine serving Washington D.C.

WGN-TV, Chicago, 2001

  • Intern for nationally syndicated TV station

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MULTIMEDIA SKILLS

  • Data Journalism/Visualization: Certificate in Data-Driven Journalism from the Knight Center for Journalism in the Americas; Google Maps & Earth, DocumentCloud, Census Reporter, SQL, Import.io, Excel, SPSS; BatchGeo, StoryMapJS
  • Graphics/Timelines: Tableau Public, Infogr.am, TimelineJS, TimeGlider, ThingLink
  • Video/Audio: Certificate in Multimedia Journalism Basics from the Knight Center for Journalism in the Americas as the University of Texas; Final Cut Pro, Audacity, SoundCiteJS
  • Photo: Photoshop, Soundslides
  • Curation: Storify
  • Blogging Platforms: Blogger, WordPress, Medium, Weebly, Creatavist, Story Builder, Fold
  • Programming: Basic HTML/CSS, JQuery

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HONORS/AWARDS

  • Innovative journalism educator, part of MediaShift‘s EducationShift20
  • All-S.T.A.R fellowship given to top journalism graduate student, 2013-14
  • Peer-reviewed conference paper, “Multimedia Journalism Professors on an Island: Resources, Support Lacking at Small Programs” earned third place in AEJMC’s Small Program Interest Group division, 2013
  • Peer-reviewed conference paper “Seeing the World Through a Filter: How College Students Place Trust in Others” earned third place in the Top Student Paper Competition in AEJMC’s Mass Communication and Society division, 2012
  • Distinguished teaching assistant, Center for Teaching Excellence at the University of Maryland, 2012
  • Thomas J. Aylward Scholarship, a merit-based award given to one doctoral student at the Philip Merrill College of Journalism, 2012
  • Merit-based AEJMC travel grant, 2012
  • Eleanor Merrill Graduate Fellowship, University of Maryland, 2010-2013
  • Graduate Dean’s Fellowship for academic achievement, 2009-2010
  • Contributing writer to “The State of Hate,” a series on hate crimes that was awarded first place in the comprehensive coverage or investigative journalism category at the American Jewish Press Association 2011 meeting
  • Contributing writer to the documentary, “Tom Brokaw: Witness to History,” awarded first prize at the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences 2004 College Television Awards

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SERVICE

  • Chair, master’s thesis committee, Matthew Scales
  • Organizer, Towson University Google News Lab training, 2018
  • Search committee member, Towson University journalism & new media search, 2017-present
  • Mentor, AEJMC’s Newspaper and Online News Division mentorship program, 2017-present
  • Journalism/new media liaison to Mass Communication & Communication Studies curriculum committee, 2015-present
  • Editor, Towson University Mass Communication & Communication Studies website, 2015-2018
  • AEJMC Mass Communication & Society Midwinter Committee member and reviewer, 2015-2017
  • Reviewer, Journalism Studies, 2017-2018
  • Reviewer, Digital Journalism, 2016-present
  • Reviewer, Media & Communication, 2018-present
  • Reviewer, Journal of Media Literacy Education, 2016-2017
  • Search committee member, Towson University public relations search, 2016
  • Reviewer, AEJMC Newspaper & Online Media, 2015-2016
  • Reviewer, International Journal of Cultural Studies, 2016
  • Organizer, Towson University Journalism Day panel event, 2015
  • Reviewer, AEJMC Political Communication Interest Group, 2014