Sports Communication Professor Shares his Knowledge with Students in Mexico this Summer
Posted in: School of Communication and Media News
During the last week of August, Stephen P. Andon, Ph.D., was an invited guest of the Universidad Autónoma de Aguascalientes’ (UAA) Department of Communication. The University, which is similar in size and student population to Montclair, is the premier public university in the capital city of the central Mexican state of Aguascalientes.
The visit included meeting Dr. Ana María Navarro Casillas, chair of the Communication Department, and brainstorming future research and teaching collaborations with members of the faculty. Dr. Andon also delivered a guest lecture to commence the fall semester
at UAA and participated in a student-produced sports podcast.
The guest lecture, delivered in Spanish to upper-level journalism and communication undergraduate students, was titled, “Periodismo deportivo en la era de la comunicación digital, (Sports media in the era of digital communication).” In his lecture, Dr. Andon connected the growing interest in sports media among students in Mexico with his similar experiences at Montclair. He introduced Montclair and
the work of the Red Hawk Sports Network, then explained the characteristics that are needed to succeed in the field of sports communication, before concluding with a discussion about his research on sports fans in soccer. The guest lecture was followed by an hour-long question and answer section, where students asked questions about American sports fan culture, social and cultural issues in sports, and the future of sports communication industry in North America.
“The warm welcome I received and the experience guest lecturing to students at Aguascalientes was tremendous. In many ways, the students there reminded me of our Montclair students – sharply intelligent, curious and thoughtful, as well as driven to succeed professionally,” Dr. Andon said. “I’m looking forward to further connections and collaborations with Dr. Navarro Casillas and the faculty in Aguascalientes.”
Spanish language media is an increasing focus for the School of Communication and Media, with the development of cross-platform bilingual reporting course (JOUR 248) and the drive to create more Spanish-language content for Hawk+.
About the School of Communication and Media: Founded in 2012, the School of Communication and Media offers a range of dynamic programs in communication and media to a talented and diverse student population of over 1,800. Offering degrees in film and television, social media and public relations, advertising, journalism and digital media, sports communication, communication and media studies, animation and visual effects, and an MA in public and organizational relations, the School prepares the next generation of communication and media practitioners and leaders. The School houses award-winning student programs that include WMSC Radio, The Montclarion newspaper, Hawk Communications Agency, the Red Hawk Sports Network, Hawk+ OTT streaming platform, and News Lab, as well as the Center for Cooperative Media, which serves the public by working to grow and strengthen local journalism. Student projects and programs have recently received national recognition from PRSSA’s Bateman Competition, an Edward R Murrow Award, several Marconi Award nominations, and a College Television Award from the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences.