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Elizabeth R. Smith Faculty Profile

Elizabeth R. Smith

Assistant Professor of Communication
Director of Pepperdine Graphic Media
Communication Division, Seaver College
CCB 147

Biography

Elizabeth R. Smith is an assistant professor of Communication at Pepperdine University and Director of Pepperdine Graphic Media. She has 14 years of experience teaching a variety of journalism and media courses at Pepperdine as well as advising and directing the Graphic newspaper (print and digital), Currents Magazine, GNews (web show), and PGM Advertising. She has nearly 20 years of professional experience in the journalism industry, including print, web and broadcast news. She is an award-winning journalist, and in 2010 won an Emmy for her work on the breaking news coverage of Michael Jackson's death. In May, Smith was named a Kopenhaver Center Fellow for 2017. Smith has partnered with the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and the Lyndon Baines Johnson Library on the topics of news literacy and understanding the spread of fake news. Her current research includes, social media and news, social media and journalism education, news literacy among college students, and Communities of Practice in student newsrooms. Smith earned her bachelor's in Journalism from Harding University; she earned her master's and doctoral degrees from Pepperdine University. Smith continues to freelance as a writer and editor.

Education

  • EdD, Pepperdine University, Learning Technologies, 2016
  • MA, Communication, Pepperdine University, 2003
  • BA, Journalism, Harding University, 2000

 

  • Smith, E., & Stallings, C. (under review). Technology, Tools & Team: A Case Study on the Challenges of a Digital-First Student Newsroom. College Media Review.
  • De los Santos, T., Smith, E., and Cohen, M. (2018). Targeting Truth: How Museums Can Collaboratively Address Social Issues. Journal of Museum Education, 43(2), p. 104-113.
  • Waters, K. & Smith, E. (2018). "Promoting Co-curricular Learning Success to Emphasize Student Learning, Strengthen On-Campus Credibility and Help Recruit Students," Journal of Christian Teaching Practice.
  • Smith, E. Social Media and Social Learning: A Critical Intersection for Journalism Education (Doctoral dissertation). Retrieved from ProQuest (10251916), 2016
  • Waters, K., & Smith, E., Changing Attitudes, Changing Lives: How the Christian Press Framed the AIDS in Africa Crisis. Paper presented at the meeting of the Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication, St. Louis, MO., 2011., 2011
  • Chandler, R. & Smith, E. (2007). Disaster Recovery and the News Media. BCP Media: St Louis, MO., 2007
  • Smith, E. (2003). The Dependency of African Americans on Daily Newspapers and the Role of Perceived Bias and the Use of Alternative Media. Master's thesis, Pepperdine University, Malibu, CA., 2003
  • Smith, E. (2003). Do if Fast, do it right, and make it local: exploring the meaning of work for managing editors at daily newspapers. Paper presented at the meeting of the International Communication Association, San Diego, CA., 2003
  • Murrie, M. & Smith, E. (2004). The Role of a Student Newspaper on a Christian College Campus. Paper Presented at the Seaver Faculty Conference, Malibu, CA., 2004
  • Featured Lecturer, Arkansas College Media Association (Spring 2005)., 2005
  • Kopenhaver Center Fellow, 2017
  • Society of Professional Journalists Member of the Month, March 2013
  • Pepperdine University Capstone Honors, July 2014, "Storytelling, Mentorship and Change"
  • Emmy Award, Writer, Unplanned Breaking News Event, The Death of Michael Jackson, KTLA, Los Angeles, 2009
  • Recipient, the Linda M. Gage Scholarship, 2012-15
  • Recipient, the Associated Women of Pepperdine Scholarship, 2012-2015
  • Outstanding Adjunct Professor, Pepperdine University, Spring 2004
  • Panelist, I am a Journalist: Communities of Practice in Student Newsrooms, Presented at AEJMC research panel, in August 2018
  • Panelist, A Tweetstorm: Examining Tweets for Fake News Following the Comey Hearings, Presented at the CMA Research panel in October 2017.
  • Panelist, Free Speech vs. Hate Speech, Pepperdine University (Oct. 2017)
  • Smith, E. & Fusco, J. (2017). Social media, newsrooms and digital skills: a critical intersection for journalism education. AEJMC Annual Conference: Chicago, IL.
  • Panelist, Change-A-Thon: Reinventing Student Media, Associated Collegiate Press (Spring 2017)
  • Keynote address, Media Literacy in the Classroom, Reagan Library (summer 2017)
  • Keynote address, Truth and News, Reagan Library (spring 2017)
  • Panel moderator, Nothing to Fear: Seeking Truth in the News, Pepperdine University (spring 2017)
  • Speaker, Sex, Faith, Race and Brexit: Creating Special Sections, Associated Collegiate Press (Spring 2017)
  • Speaker, Closing the Digital Divide: Helping your newsroom shift from a print- centric model to digital first, Associated Collegiate Press (Spring 2017)
  • Speaker, Media Literacy and Solutions Journalism: Understanding how your reader and using the news and providing solutions in your reporting, Associated Collegiate Press (Spring 2017)
  • Panelist, Change-A-Thon: Reinventing Student Media, Associated Collegiate Press (Spring 2017)
  • Panelist, Making Waves: Getting in the Flow to Build, Design and Solve for Youth Engagement: Digital Media and Learning Conference (Fall 2016)
  • Speaker, Sex, Faith, Race and the World on Fire: Publishing Special Editions, Associated Collegiate Press (Fall 2016)
  • Panelist, Change-A-Thon: Reinventing Student Media, Associated Collegiate Press (Fall 2016)
  • Speaker, Sex and Faith at a Private Christian University: Publishing Special Editions, Associated Collegiate Press (Spring 2016)
  • Panelist, Change-A-Thon: Reinventing Student Media, Associated Collegiate Press (Spring 2016)
  • Moderator, Breaking News: Covering the San Bernardino Shootings, Associated
  • Collegiate Press (Spring 2016)
  • Speaker, Let's Talk About Sex: Publishing a Sex Edition at a Private Christian School, Associated Collegiate Press (Spring 2015)
  • Speaker, Balancing Act: Serving as an Adviser While Pursuing Your Professional Interests, Associated Collegiate Press (Spring 2015)
  • Panelist, Covering the LGBTQ Community on a Private Christian College Campus, Associated Collegiate Press (Fall 2014)
  • Speaker, Blogs in the Classroom through a Journalism Lens, Faculty Speaker Series (Spring 2013)
  • Panelist, Facebook in the Newsroom, Associated Collegiate Press (Fall 2011)
  • Waters, K., & Smith, E., (2011). Changing Attitudes, Changing Lives: How the Christian Press Framed the AIDS in Africa Crisis. Paper presented at the meeting of the Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication, St. Louis, MO., 2011.
  • Chandler, R., & Smith, E., (2007). Disaster Recovery and the News Media. BCP Media: St. Louis, MO.
  • Featured Lecturer, Arkansas College Media Association (Spring 2005)
  • Murrie, M., & Smith, E. (2004). The Role of a Student Newspaper on a Christian College Campus. Paper presented at the Seaver Faculty Conference, Malibu, CA, 2004
  • Smith, E., (2003). Do it Fast, Do it right, and Make it Local: Exploring the meaning of work for managing editors at daily newspapers. Paper presented at the meeting of the International Communication Association, San Diego, CA, 2003.
  • Journalism Education Association, Research Grant, 2018
  • Seaver Research Council, Research Grant 2018

Areas of Expertise

  • Journalism
  • News Literacy
  • Social Media
  • Learning in the Newsroom
  • In-depth Reporting

Topics

  • Journalism
  • News Literacy
  • Social Media
  • Learning in the Newsroom
  • In-depth Reporting

Courses

  • JOUR 251, News Practicum
  • JOUR 351, News Practicum
  • JOUR 345, News Reporting and Editing
  • JOUR 330, News Reporting and Producing
  • JOUR 325, Publication Design
  • JOUR 463, Feature and Magazine Writing
  • JOUR 469, Critical and Editorial Writing
  • JOUR 561, Journalism and Culture
  • JOUR 595, Internship
  • COM 180, Public Speaking
  • COM 205, Storytelling in the Media
  • COM 313, Intercultural Communication
  • COM 400, Communication Ethics
  • COM 512, Intercultural Communication