Journalism & Media Studies
140 7th Avenue South
St. Petersburg Florida 33701
Phone: 727-873-4850
Fax: 727-873-4034
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This web page is maintained by: Tony Silvia .
The page was last updated
5/7/09
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Faculty
Seven full-time faculty members teach in the Department of Journalism and Media Studies. Students in the department have access, as well, to faculty members in Tampa and the other USF campuses and may work with faculty at The Poynter Institute.
Dr. Dardenne assumed the role of department director in January 2009. A veteran reporter and editor in Louisiana, New York, Washington, D.C., and Mexico City, Dr. Dardenne teaches media theory and narrative journalism. He is co-author of The Conversation of Journalism and author of numerous articles and book chapters in journalism history and media effects. In 1999-2000, he taught and lectured in China on a Fulbright Fellowship. Active in community-building journalism, he helped launch several initiatives and grant programs in the region to encourage civic dialogue and participation and serves on the board of Speak Up Tampa Bay, which oversees public access TV in Tampa and Hillsborough counties. His Ph.D. is from the University of Iowa.
Deni Elliott, professor and Eleanor Poynter Jamison Chair in Media Ethics and Press Policy, Graduate Program Director
Deni Elliott specializes in practical ethics. In addition to her writings in media ethics, she has published work relating to ethical issues and animals, government, higher education, philanthropy, research and teaching. Her recent books include Ethical Challenges: Building Your Ethics Toolkit, published through Authorhouse, The Kindness of Strangers, Philanthropy in Higher Education and Ethics in the First Person, A Guide to Teaching and Learning Practical Ethics, both published by Rowman & Littlefield. Dr. Elliott also works as the Ethics Officer for the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California. She received an undergraduate degree in communication with a minor in journalism from the University of Maryland, a M.A. in philosophy from Wayne State University and an interdisciplinary doctoral degree from Harvard University with a focus in teaching ethics.
Dr. Killenberg is the founding director of the Department of Journalism and Media Studies at USF St. Petersburg. He teaches media law and editing and reporting classes. His professional experience includes reporting and editing positions at the Alton (Ill.) Telegraph, the St. Louis Globe-Democrat and the Los Angeles Times. His research interests include interpersonal communication for journalists. He is author of Public Affairs Reporting: Covering the News in the Information Age, and co-author of three other books. In 1998, Dr. Killenberg received USF’s Professorial Excellence award. His Ph.D. is from Southern Illinois University.
Dr. Silvia joined USFSP's Department of Journalism and Media Studies as Director in January 2006 from the University of Rhode Island, where he had been a faculty member since 1988. In his various roles at URI, he had served as chair of the department of journalism, director of the public relations studies program, and coordinator of internships. Dr. Silvia's professional background is in television news, having worked as a consumer reporter and news anchor at various television stations in local markets. He also produced a series of media issues programs for PBS and worked as a correspondent for CNN, based in Atlanta, while completing a faculty fellowship with the network. His work for CNN's science-technology features unit was recognized nationally by an award from the Broadcast Education Association. Dr. Silvia has also garnered three Emmy Awards, an Associated Press Award for best documentary, has authored more than two dozen published articles in both academic and industry journals, and published three books: Student Television in America: Channels of Change (1998), Global News: Perspectives on the Information Age (2001), and his most recent, Baseball Over the air: The National Pastime on the Radio and in the Imagination (McFarland, 2007). A fourth book, Baseball's Father and Son Broadcasters, will be published in spring, 2009, and a fifth, titled Power Performance: Effective Multi-Media Communication, will be published by Blackwell of Oxford, England in 2010. He regularly teaches "Senior Seminar" and special topics courses, including "Sports Journalism" (Spring 2009).
The author of several highly acclaimed books, including A Shadow and a Song, the story of Florida’s dusky seaside sparrow’s extinction, Dr. Walters, a veterinarian, frequently writes about the connections between human health and the environment. His most recent book, Six Modern Plagues and How We Are Causing Them, was published by Shearwater Books/Island Press in September 2003. His latest book, due for publication later this year, is Seeking the Sacred Raven (Island Press). Prior to joining USF in 2003, Dr. Walters was a visiting lecturer at Harvard Medical School. He received an undergraduate degree in English literature from McGill University, Montreal; a master’s from the Columbia University School of Journalism, New York; and a D.V.M. from Tufts University School of Veterinary Medicine in Massachusetts. His articles have appeared in publications such as Audubon magazine and Reader’s Digest. He is a contributing editor of Orion magazine.
Paul (Xiaopeng) Wang received his doctoral degree in journalism and mass communication from the E. W. Scripps School of Journalism, Ohio University. Before joining the department of Journalism and Media Studies, he taught Graphics of Communication and graphic design labs at Ohio University. His research interests include visual communication, new media and international communication. He worked as the editor-in-chief, editor at the news departments at Tom.com and NetEase.com, two leading news Web sites in China. He also has experience working for several newspapers and the China Central Television (CCTV) in Beijing, China. In our department, he teaches "Intro to Visual Journalism," "Web Publishing," and "News Paper and News Publication Design."
Phone: 727-873-4856. E-mail: wang@mail.usf.edu
Debbie Wolfe, visiting lecturer in journalism and media studies
Debbie Wolfe spent nearly 20 years as the technology training editor for 450+ journalists at the St. Petersburg Times. She now teaches various courses in our department, from "Writing for the Mass Media" and "Video Stortelling" to "Web Publishing" and "Research Methods." At the Times, she helped supervise beat projects related to the use of technology and the analysis of public records on deadline. Her background is as a reporter, managing editor, photojournalist, college-level journalism educator/administrator and news researcher. Debbie's journalism-related passions are teaching technology/new media, photography, interviewing, analysis and research techniques.
You can access Debbie's Web page: canyonwolfephoto.com for FREE tip sheets for journalists, TECH TIPS teaching archives and consulting information.
Adjunct Faculty
Emeritus Faculty
Jay Black, emeritus professor Dr. Black chaired the Program for Ethics in Education and Community and was the first recipient of the Poynter Jamison Chair in Media Ethics and Press Policy, a position he held until 2003. Since 1985 he has been founding co-editor of the Journal of Mass Media Ethics. In 1997, he received the Freedom Forum’s national journalism professor of the year award. Dr. Black is co-author of Doing Ethics in Journalism and Introduction to Media Communication. He also edited Mixed News: The Public/Civic/Communitarian Journalism Debate. He’s been a reporter and copy editor for newspapers in Missouri and Ohio. His Ph.D. is from the University of Missouri. Dr. Black continues to teach "Media Ethics," "Mass Communication and Society," and a graduate course in the department in the spring terms. View "Last day at the office" film.
Bridget Nickens is the office manager for the Department of Journalism and Media Studies and works closely with the Director and other journalism faculty in advising students, handling finances, and long-range departmental planning. She began working with journalists as secretary to the publisher of the Indiana Daily Students newspaper at Indiana University. She’s been secretary to the president of Fort Wayne (Ind.) Newspapers, secretary to the managing editor of the Tampa Tribune and office manager for the New York Times Regional Newspapers’ Tallahassee bureau. Phone: 727-873-4850. E-mail: mnickens@mail.usf.edu
Dr. Dardenne assumed the role of department director in January 2009. A veteran reporter and editor in Louisiana, New York, Washington, D.C., and Mexico City, Dr. Dardenne teaches media theory and narrative journalism. He is co-author of The Conversation of Journalism and author of numerous articles and book chapters in journalism history and media effects. In 1999-2000, he taught and lectured in China on a Fulbright Fellowship. Active in community-building journalism, he helped launch several initiatives and grant programs in the region to encourage civic dialogue and participation and serves on the board of Speak Up Tampa Bay, which oversees public access TV in Tampa and Hillsborough counties. His Ph.D. is from the University of Iowa. 
Deni Elliott specializes in practical ethics. In addition to her writings in media ethics, she has published work relating to ethical issues and animals, government, higher education, philanthropy, research and teaching. Her recent books include Ethical Challenges: Building Your Ethics Toolkit, published through Authorhouse, The Kindness of Strangers, Philanthropy in Higher Education and Ethics in the First Person, A Guide to Teaching and Learning Practical Ethics, both published by Rowman & Littlefield. Dr. Elliott also works as the Ethics Officer for the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California. She received an undergraduate degree in communication with a minor in journalism from the University of Maryland, a M.A. in philosophy from Wayne State University and an interdisciplinary doctoral degree from Harvard University with a focus in teaching ethics. 
Dr. Killenberg is the founding director of the Department of Journalism and Media Studies at USF St. Petersburg. He teaches media law and editing and reporting classes. His professional experience includes reporting and editing positions at the Alton (Ill.) Telegraph, the St. Louis Globe-Democrat and the Los Angeles Times. His research interests include interpersonal communication for journalists. He is author of Public Affairs Reporting: Covering the News in the Information Age, and co-author of three other books. In 1998, Dr. Killenberg received USF’s Professorial Excellence award. His Ph.D. is from Southern Illinois University. 
Dr. Silvia joined USFSP's Department of Journalism and Media Studies as Director in January 2006 from the University of Rhode Island, where he had been a faculty member since 1988. In his various roles at URI, he had served as chair of the department of journalism, director of the public relations studies program, and coordinator of internships. Dr. Silvia's professional background is in television news, having worked as a consumer reporter and news anchor at various television stations in local markets. He also produced a series of media issues programs for PBS and worked as a correspondent for CNN, based in Atlanta, while completing a faculty fellowship with the network. His work for CNN's science-technology features unit was recognized nationally by an award from the Broadcast Education Association. Dr. Silvia has also garnered three Emmy Awards, an Associated Press Award for best documentary, has authored more than two dozen published articles in both academic and industry journals, and published three books: Student Television in America: Channels of Change (1998), Global News: Perspectives on the Information Age (2001), and his most recent, Baseball Over the air: The National Pastime on the Radio and in the Imagination (McFarland, 2007). A fourth book, Baseball's Father and Son Broadcasters, will be published in spring, 2009, and a fifth, titled Power Performance: Effective Multi-Media Communication, will be published by Blackwell of Oxford, England in 2010. He regularly teaches "Senior Seminar" and special topics courses, including "Sports Journalism" (Spring 2009). 
The author of several highly acclaimed books, including A Shadow and a Song, the story of Florida’s dusky seaside sparrow’s extinction, Dr. Walters, a veterinarian, frequently writes about the connections between human health and the environment. His most recent book, Six Modern Plagues and How We Are Causing Them, was published by Shearwater Books/Island Press in September 2003. His latest book, due for publication later this year, is Seeking the Sacred Raven (Island Press). Prior to joining USF in 2003, Dr. Walters was a visiting lecturer at Harvard Medical School. He received an undergraduate degree in English literature from McGill University, Montreal; a master’s from the Columbia University School of Journalism, New York; and a D.V.M. from Tufts University School of Veterinary Medicine in Massachusetts. His articles have appeared in publications such as Audubon magazine and Reader’s Digest. He is a contributing editor of Orion magazine.
Paul (Xiaopeng) Wang received his doctoral degree in journalism and mass communication from the E. W. Scripps School of Journalism, Ohio University. Before joining the department of Journalism and Media Studies, he taught Graphics of Communication and graphic design labs at Ohio University. His research interests include visual communication, new media and international communication. He worked as the editor-in-chief, editor at the news departments at Tom.com and NetEase.com, two leading news Web sites in China. He also has experience working for several newspapers and the China Central Television (CCTV) in Beijing, China. In our department, he teaches "Intro to Visual Journalism," "Web Publishing," and "News Paper and News Publication Design." 
Dr. Black chaired the Program for Ethics in Education and Community and was the first recipient of the Poynter Jamison Chair in Media Ethics and Press Policy, a position he held until 2003. Since 1985 he has been founding co-editor of the Journal of Mass Media Ethics. In 1997, he received the Freedom Forum’s national journalism professor of the year award. Dr. Black is co-author of Doing Ethics in Journalism and Introduction to Media Communication. He also edited Mixed News: The Public/Civic/Communitarian Journalism Debate. He’s been a reporter and copy editor for newspapers in Missouri and Ohio. His Ph.D. is from the University of Missouri. Dr. Black continues to teach "Media Ethics," "Mass Communication and Society," and a graduate course in the department in the spring terms. View 
Bridget Nickens is the office manager for the Department of Journalism and Media Studies and works closely with the Director and other journalism faculty in advising students, handling finances, and long-range departmental planning. She began working with journalists as secretary to the publisher of the Indiana Daily Students newspaper at Indiana University. She’s been secretary to the president of Fort Wayne (Ind.) Newspapers, secretary to the managing editor of the Tampa Tribune and office manager for the New York Times Regional Newspapers’ Tallahassee bureau. Phone: 727-873-4850. E-mail: mnickens@mail.usf.edu