Elizabeth R. Smith

Associate Professor of Journalism

Communication Division, Seaver College

CCB 147

310.506.4568

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

Research
Awards
Presentations
Grants

de los Santos, T. & Smith, E. (2024, accepted for publication). Almost Two Decades In: Young People and News Literacy Education Research. Communication Research Trends.
Lyon Payne, L., Norman, J., Smith, E., & Hettinga, K. (2023). Exhausted and lonely: Learning in student newsrooms during COVID. Journal of Media Practice and Education, 23(4). DOI: 10.1080/25741136.2023.2225204.
Smith, E. & de los Santos, T. (2022). Seeing and doing: exploring the use of journalist videos and simulations to increase news literacy awareness among high school students. Media Practice and Education, 23(4), 301-314.
Kopenhaver, L., Smith, E., & Biehl, J. (2021). The college newsroom amid COVID. College Media Review, 58(1). Published online first.
Hettinga, K. & Smith, E. (2021). Corrections decrease following The New York Times editing consolidation—is this a good thing?. Newspaper Research Journal. doi: 10.1177/07395329211013506
Macchiarelli, G. & Smith, E. (2021). The push and pull of digital skills in journalism curriculum. Media Practice and Education. Doi: 10.1080/25741136.2021.1874599
Smith, E., Hettinga, K., Norman, J., & Payne, L. L. (2020). Advancing Communities of Practice: understanding the unique roles of newsroom advisers as educators.” Journalism and Mass Communication Educator. Doi: 10.1177/1077695820984333
Smith, E., Hettinga, K., Norman, J., & Payne, L. L. (2019). Understanding communities in student newsrooms. Teaching Journalism & Mass Communication, 9(1), p. 1-11.
de los Santos, T., Smith, E., & Cohen, M. (2018). Targeting truth: How museums can collaboratively address social issues. Journal of Museum Education, 43(2), 104-113. [Q1 journal in Museology]
Waters, K. & Smith, E. (2018). “Promoting Co-curricular learning success: How sharing assessment results strengthen on-campus credibility and help recruit students. Journal of Christian Teaching Practice, 5(1).
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

Lambda Pi Eta Outstanding Professor Award for Teaching, Advising and Mentorship (2022)
Distinguished Adviser Award, College Media Association (2021)
Service Impact Award, Seaver College, for outstanding service to students (fall 2020)
Commendation from Rep. Ted Lieu for service through journalism during the Woolsey Fire (March 2019)
Commendation from CA State Rep. Henry Stern for service through journalism during the Woolsey Fire (March 2019)
Malibu Dolphin Award for service through journalism during the Woolsey Fire (March 2019)
Woolsey Fire Hero, Malibu Times (May 2019)
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

Smith, E., & Hettinga, K. (2024). “Where magic happens: The intersection of learning and job satisfaction for early-career journalists.” AEJMC Annual Conference: Philadelphia, PA.
Smith, E., Hettinga, K., Norman, J., & Payne, L. L. (2022). “College newsrooms in COVID.”AEJMC Annual Conference: Detroit, MI.
Smith, E. & Macchiarelli, G. (2021). “Innovations in journalism classrooms.” BEA Annual Conference, held virtually.
de los Santos, T., & Smith, E. (2021). “We’re playing a game of telephone”: Understanding how teenagers engage with the news through a simulation. Presented at the Association for Educators in Journalism and Mass Communication 2021 conference.
Smith, E. & de los Santos, T. (2020). “Seeing and Doing: The Use of Simulations and Training Videos to Increase News Literacy Awareness among High School Students.” AEJMC Annual Conference: San Francisco, CA.
Smith, E., Hettinga, K., Norman, J., & Payne, L. L. (2020). “Advancing Communities of Practice: understanding the unique roles of newsroom advisers as educators.”AEJMC Annual Conference: San Francisco, CA.
Hettinga, K. & Smith, E. (2020). “Corrections decrease following The New York Times editing consolidation—is this a good thing?” AEJMC Annual Conference: San Francisco, CA.
Macchiarelli, G. & Smith, E. (2020). “The push and pull of digital skills in journalism curriculum.” AEJMC Annual Conference: San Francisco, CA.
Smith, E., Hettinga, K., Norman, J. & Lyon-Payne, L. (2019, July). Teachable moment: fostering communities of practice in student newsrooms. Paper to be presented at the World Journalism Education Congress: Paris, France.
Schaffer, R. & Smith, E. (2019, August). Keynote session at the Pedagogy of Joy Conferences in Malibu CA. “Pedagogical Practices of Joy: When Fear, Loneliness and Death are Knocking at Your Classroom Door”
Smith, E. (2019, June). Panelists, Seeking Truth and the News. Christian Scholars Conference: Lubbock, TX.
Horton, C., DeLong, K., & Smith, E. (2019, March). Presentation at the Women in Leadership conference in Irvine, CA. “Leadership in crisis.”
Smith, E., Hettinga, K., Norman, J., & Lyon Payne, L. (2018, August). I am a Journalist: Understanding Communities of Practice in Student Newsrooms. Presented at the annual convention for the Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication: Washington, DC.
Smith, E. (2018, August). Keynote Presentation at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum. “Truth and the news: a media literacy forum.” All-day training from school teachers grades, 7 through 12 on teaching news literacy.
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.

Solutions Journalism Network Student Media Challenge Grant (2023-2024)
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