YSU Department of Communication
Annual Report, 2009 - 2010
Cary Horvath
ACCOMPLISHMENTS
ASSESSMENT
SCHOLARSHIP
ENGAGEMENT
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Section I. Accomplishments in Relation to Mission and Goals
1. In table format, please list the goals you identified for this year, and indicate how and to
what extent you met each of the goals (and any others on which you would like to
report).
Short-term Departmental Goal (if related to long-term goals, please describe)
*We will educate students to be effective communicators. (Student learning outcome)
This is our overarching goal. Results indicated in section two.
We will engage students and faculty in the community, and in research.
These goals are consistent with our goal of applied learning and focus on
community engagement and service. The faculty should also participate as a unit in at least one
community service event.
Update: We believe community engagement for our students and faculty is very strong. See the
engagement grid for evidence. Our ultimate goal is to involve every student, staff, and faculty
member in some type of engagement activity. Faculty research is also vibrant, with significant
student involvement.
We will develop new opportunities for applied learning in TCOM.
Students have expressed a desired to engage in news production.
Update: Our department made significant advancement in achieving this goal. Three separate
programs were created for this purpose. “Light the Wick,” and online production associated with
TCOM coursework, produced weekly 10-minute segments highlighting the arts and other YSU news
(see http://lightthewick.blip.tv/ ). A second initiative begun this year involves collaboration between
our department and YSU sports. Students produced live sports programming, streamed on
http://www.horizonleaguenetwork.tv/ . Sport coverage included swimming, soccer, basketball, and
baseball. Students produced and directed coverage, including camera, editing, switching, play-byplay, color commentary, etc. Third, a new collaboration was created between TCOM and the
Youngstown Business Incubator, whereby a student works in professional residency with “BizVeo.”
Each of these activities provides excellent and varied opportunities for our students to do even
more, beyond the live in studio work with “Homework Express.”
We will develop online coursework.
This is a continuing goal, contingent on YSU’s training and assistance.
Update: After some delay in YSU’s transition to BlackBoard, Dr. Tyus was given the green light
and template to develop an online course. We are hopeful this may be offered spring, ‘11. We will
rely on Dr. Tyus to guide other faculty members interested in developing online coursework.
We will receive certification for master's degree courses and faculty status.
This goal will help to progress toward the MA in Professional Communication.
Update: Certification might have been too ambitious a goal; this year’s progress involved
receiving input from other Ohio universities. We are in the process of responding to that feedback
and writing the full proposal, which will be completed by summer’s end.
We will develop and publicize materials (e.g., track sheets, bulletin information) for new
tracks in CMST.
Achievement of this goal is necessary for student/university use.
Update: This is complete.
We will produce a department brochure, update of list of alumni, and connect with our
alumni.
These efforts represent continued focus on recruitment and career development.
Update: The alumni list we received from the YSU Alumni office is very out of date. Student
workers have been trying to verify and update alumni information for over a year, with limited
success. Keeping in touch with alumni is difficult without accurate information. We strongly
recommend YSU institutes a lifetime email address to help departments maintain connection with
their graduates.
To date, we have created a department brochure, are actively working on updating the alumni list,
and will plan to connect with alumni in concert with the Cliffe guest artist next spring.
2. Highlight any department or program awards.
“Homework Express” was again nominated for an Emmy Award.
3. Highlight any faculty, student, and/or alumni awards or significant achievements (save
publications for section III).
Faculty:
Adam Earnheardt was named MVP of the Mahoning Valley “40 Under 40”
Adam Earnheardt received a YSU Distinguished Professor Award for Community Service.
Adam Earnheardt was named YSU Mentor of the Year Award (2010, Student Award Ceremony)
Adam Earnheardt was named Vice Chair Elect, National Communication Association,
Mass Communication Division
Cary Horvath was nominated for the Mahoning Valley “ATHENA” award.
Dan O’Neill was named Distinguished Teacher of the Year, Ohio Communication Association.
Dan O’Neill received a YSU Distinguished Professor Award for Teaching.
Jeff Tyus received a Mentoring Award at the 2010 Martin Luther King Jr. Diversity Breakfast on
Thursday, January 21st
Students:
Lambda Pi Eta, the Communication Department student honorary organization, was named
distinguished student organization of the year, Ohio Communication Association, 2009.
4. Highlight any new programs or program directions.
New Telecommunication Studies initiatives were highlighted in the above grid.
Communication Studies has refined its tracks from five to a more manageable and streamlined
set of three. MA progress and online coursework noted above.
Our department also created roots for a new university program, Rookery Radio. The student-run
Internet radio program will collaborate with the Youngstown Incubator, and will soft-launch in
fall 2010.
5. Highlight any new accreditations and/or reaccreditations. - N/A
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Section II. Assessment/Teaching and Learning Results
(Where relevant, you may copy/paste relevant information from your most recent assessment
report.)
1. List the student learning outcome(s) that you identified in your fall submission to the
Dean, report the results, and indicate how the department or program is using or will
use the results to improve student learning.
This year’s student learning outcome that applies to both program areas was:
“We will educate student to be effective communicators.”
In Communication Studies, assessment data continue to demonstrate:
 Pre- and post-test data shows students in CMST 1545 learn significantly by using the
text, and self report greater ease and comfort in public speaking.
 CMST majors’ pre-major and post-major knowledge test scores significantly differ,
indicating their improved understanding of subject matter. Their self-efficacy in all areas
of communication also increases as a result of the major coursework, as taken by
anonymous self-report and through exit interviews.
We are fairly satisfied with the results of our assessment data; however, we are reexamining our
assessment model in light of our reduced number of tracks. We also believe we are in need of a
knowledge test designed by our own department, reflecting our own learning outcomes and
curriculum (the knowledge test currently in use was developed elsewhere).
In Telecommunication Studies, assessment taken from Capstone presentations and interviews
suggests:
 Students are competent in presenting information through portfolio and the spoken word.
 Seniors can demonstrate their understanding of communication terminology, and TCOM
skills. They are able to identify concrete examples of increased capability in critical
thinking and depth and breadth of knowledge in their field.
We are also encouraged by the degree of knowledge and skill attainment here, although we
believe we can improve students’ learning experience in the area of critical thinking
development.
2. Discuss any interesting findings about student learning derived from your assessment
efforts.
In general, students report enjoyment and appreciation of learning most keenly when the
experience is perceived as fun, fair, and challenging.
3. Discuss any program or other changes you have made in the past year or two based on
prior assessment results.
CMST track reduction, addition of TCOM opportunities, expanded internship opportunities,
greater emphasis on research knowledge and APA style, second year of student honors banquet.
Section III. Research and Scholarly Activities
Please report scholarly and research achievements/experiences:
Undergraduate students



Several CMST students attended the Fourth Summit on Communication in Sport – a
conference devoted to recent scholarship in sports and communication. One student,
Steve Petrinjak, presented research and several students served as panel chairs.
Student papers presented at QUEST (Andreen Book-Wilson, Steve Petrinjak, Joe
Mamounis).
Students presenting at 2009 Ohio Communication Association
o Good Looks Won’t Put Food on the Table. Tiffany A. Rathfon, Youngstown State
University.
o A Penny for Your Thoughts: A Quantitative Analysis of What “Inspires” College
Students to Make Charitable Donations and Its Potential Impact on
Communication Instruction. Tiffany Rathfon, Shatha Al-Nobani, Adyson Mascher,
Tiffany Talarico, Youngstown State University.
o Inspiring Change: A Qualitative Analysis of Race, Politics, and Media Coverage
of Barack Obama’s Election Night Victory. Stephen Petrinjak, Robert Smith,
Nancy Barker, William Burney, Youngstown State University
o Inspiring Students to Care: An Analysis of College Students’ Knowledge and
Awareness of Global, National, and Local Issues. Ryan Joyce, Nada Al-Nobani,
Angela Shuntich, Courtlynne Peterson, Youngstown State University.
Faculty
(Please note that this list does NOT count countless paper reviews, or editorial staff
memberships).
Crawford
Faculty Fellow - 2010 National Association of Television Programming Executives Convention,
Las Vegas.
Paper Chair and Summit Co-Organizer:
Fourth Annual Summit on Communication and Sport (2010, Cleveland, Ohio).
Ongoing research involves priming, message structure, and fantasy theme analysis in media.
Curnalia
Attended LiveText Conference in Chicago, IL to learn best practices for course management and
administration using eportfolio software, July 13 – 15, 2009
Publications
Curnalia, R. M. L. (2009). A qualitative content analysis of the use of fear appeals in televised
political ads. Ohio Communication Journal, 47, 55-76.
Curnalia, R. M. L. (2010). Predictors of the development of applied knowledge structures for
presidential candidates. Communication Research Reports, 27, 80-89.
Publications Submitted
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Curnalia, R. M. L. (Submitted). Now that’s Good Teaching: Using Alton Brown’s Good Eats as
an Example of Informing. Communication Teacher.
Curnalia, R. M. L., & Mermer, D. L. (Submitted). The Gender Double-Bind for Female
Politicians as Revealed in News Frames of Hillary Clinton’s “Emotional Moment”. Journal of
International Women’s Studies.
Curnalia, R. M. L., Mermer, D. L., & Tyus, J. L. (Submitted). Local, Grassroots Politicians’
Strategies and Struggles. Ohio Communication Journal.
Curnalia, R. M. L. (Submitted). Elaboration on and Integration of Information from News Stories
into Knowledge Structures. Communication Research.
Conference Papers
National Communication Association:
Curnalia, R. M. L. & Haridakis, P. M. (Presented). Linking Motives to Outcome, Value, and
Impression Relevant Involvement and Cognitive Activity While Reading News Stories.
Presented at the National Communication Association Annual Conference in Chicago, IL.
Curnalia, R. M. L., Mermer, D. L., & Tyus, J. L. (Presented). A Qualitative Exploration of Local
Political Campaigns’ Group Processes and Public Relations Strategies. Presented at the National
Communication Association Annual Conference in Chicago, IL.
Curnalia, R. M. L. & Mermer, D. L. (Accepted). Liars, Flip Floppers, and Snobby Elitists: A
Qualitative Reanalysis of Schema Data from the 2004 Election. Submitted for presentation at the
National Communication Association Annual Conference in San Francisco, CA.
Eastern Communication Association:
Simone, M., Carveth, R., & Curnalia, R. M. L. (Presented as a Short Course). New Media
Horizons in the Classroom. Presented at the Annual Meeting of the Eastern Communication
Association in Baltimore, MD.
Curnalia, R. M. L., & Mermer, D. L. (Presented). The Gender Double-Bind for Female
Politicians as Revealed in News Frames of Hillary Clinton’s “Emotional Moment”
Horvath
Continue to work as editor of Journal of Communication Studies, an online peer-reviewed
academic journal.
Panel Respondent
Eastern Communication Association Convention, 2010
On The News: Charting a New Course for Journalism
Earnheardt - Highlights
Author of forthcoming peer-reviewed journal article in the International Journal of Sport
Communication
Author of four encyclopedia entries for the forthcoming Encyclopedia of Social Networking
(Sage).
Author (or co-author) of seven encyclopedia entries for the forthcoming Encyclopedia of Sports
Marketing and Management (Sage).
Co-author (w/Paul Haridakis, Kent State University) of peer-reviewed journal article in the Ohio
Communication Journal.
Co-author (w/ Dan O’Neill) of new textbook The Modern Communicator (including
development of web supplement materials).
Lead Editor (w/ Paul Haridakis and Barb Hugenberg) of forthcoming book on Sports Fandom
and Communication (Lexington Books).
Co-author (with John Spinda, Murray State University) on original scholarship presented at the
Fourth Summit on Communication and Sport
Lead panelists and coordinator of panel at the National Communication Association Convention
(Chicago) exploring ethics and new media.
Panelists for professional presentation at the Ohio Communication Association conference on the
development of The Modern Communicator textbook.
Communicating in the Community! An Exploration of Service Learning Within the
Communication Classroom – a Service-Learning Workshop – presented at the Eastern
Communication Association Convention, Philadelphia, PA (2009) (w/ J. Jackson, D. Mermer, J.
Tyus)
Panelist: Wired and Inspired: Connecting with the Gen-Next Generation through Technology.
2009 Ohio Communications Association Conference
Publications
Earnheardt, A. C. (2010). Exploring sports television viewer judgments of athlete anti-social
behaviors. International Journal of Sport Communication, 3.
Earnheardt, A. C., & Haridakis, P. (2010). An examination of fan-athlete interaction: Fandom,
parasocial interaction, and identification. Ohio Communication Journal, 47.
O’Neill, D. J., & Earnheardt, A. C. (2009). The modern communicator: Applications and
strategies for interpersonal communication, group communication, and public speaking.
Dubuque, IA: Great River Technologies.
Jackson
2009 National Communication Association Convention
Presenter: Establishing Stability with a Communication Netiquette: Change, Civility, and Ethics
in New Media Technologies
Attendant – Poster session, 2009 Ohio Communication Association
Panelist:
Wired and Inspired: Connecting with the Gen-Next Generation through Technology.
2009 Ohio Communications Association Conference
Mermer
2009 National Communication Association Convention
Presenter: Establishing Stability with a Communication Netiquette: Change, Civility, and Ethics
in New Media Technologies
Presenter, “A Qualitative Exploration of the Group Processes and Public Relations Strategy in
Local Grassroots Campaigns.”
Accepted: Curnalia, R. M. L. & Mermer, D. L. (2010, November). Liars, Flip Floppers, and
Snobby Elitists: A Qualitative Reanalysis of Schema Data from the 2004 Election. Submitted for
presentation at the National Communication Association Annual Conference in San Francisco,
CA.
Presented: Curnalia, R. M. L., & Mermer, D. L. (2010, April). The Gender Double-Bind for
Female Politicians as Revealed in News Frames of Hillary Clinton’s “Emotional Moment.”
Eastern Communication Association Convention.
Attendant: Poster session, 2009 Ohio Communication Association
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Panelist:
Wired and Inspired: Connecting with the Gen-Next Generation through Technology.
2009 Ohio Communications Association Conference
Submitted for publication:
Curnalia, R. M. L., & Mermer, D. L. (Submitted). The Gender Double-Bind for Female
Politicians as Revealed in News Frames of Hillary Clinton’s “Emotional Moment”. Journal of
International Women’s Studies.
Curnalia, R. M. L., Mermer, D. L., & Tyus, J. L. (Submitted). Local, Grassroots Politicians’
Strategies and Struggles. Ohio Communication Journal.
O’Neill
2009 National Communication Association Convention
Presenter: Establishing Stability with a Communication Netiquette: Change, Civility, and Ethics
in New Media Technologies
Panelist:
Wired and Inspired: Connecting with the Gen-Next Generation through Technology.
2009 Ohio Communications Association Conference
Publications:
O’Neill, D. J., & Earnheardt, A. C. (2009). The modern communicator: Applications and
strategies for interpersonal communication, group communication, and public speaking.
Dubuque, IA: Great River Technologies.
Tyus
Attended: the Distance Education Conference October 16, 2009 at YSU in preparation of
developing an online Communication course
Attended: the Quality Matters Rubric Workshop in May 2010 with the intent in becoming a
certified QM Peer Reviewer to help set standards for course review for the State of Ohio.
Session Chair: The Inspiration of Learning: An Unconventional Look at Educational Models.
2009 Ohio Communication Association Conference
Session Chair: Inspiring Challenges from a New Age of Journalism.
2009 Ohio Communication Association Conference
Conference Activity:
1. Presenter, “A Qualitative Exploration of the Group Processes and Public Relations Strategy in
Local Grassroots Campaigns.” National Communication Association, Chicago, IL, November
12-15, 2009.
2. Chair, “Change Is Gonna Come/Change is Here: Scholarly Perspectives and Everyday
Politics in the Communication of Black Masculinity.” National Communication Association,
Chicago, IL, November 12-15, 2009.
3. Presenter, “Change, the Black Church and the Community: Black Masculinity from the Pulpit
and the Pews to the Streets.” (Prospectus) National Communication Association, Chicago, IL,
November 12-15, 2009.
4. Panelist, “Establishing Stability with a Communication Netiquette: Change, Civility, and
Ethics in New Media Technologies.” National Communication Association, Chicago, IL,
November 12-15, 2009.
5. Respondent, “Frames, Fans, and the Olympics: Sports and the Mass Media.” National
Communication Association, Chicago, IL, November 12-15, 2009.
6. Served on the Wallace A. Bacon Lifetime Teaching Excellence Award committee for NCA.
The appointment served the entire Association, where nominees were recognized during the
awards ceremony.
7. Nominated to Legislative Assembly representing the Mass Communication Division of NCA.
Attended the Central States Communication Association annual conference in Cincinnati, OH, in
April.
Paper submitted:
“Local, Grassroots Politicians’ Strategies and Struggles,” by Rebecca M. L. Curnalia, Dorian L.
Mermer, and Jeffrey Tyus to the Florida Communication Journal in September and to the Ohio
Communication Journal in February for publication.
Graduate students - N/A
* Refereed Publication or Scholarship
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Section IV. Internationalization and Engagement Activities
SUMMARY CHART OF NUMBER OF STUDENTS, FACULTY, AND STAFF
ENGAGED IN COMMUNITY
2009-2010
CAREER-RELATED WORK
EXPERIENCES
Internships
Number of
Students
Involved
Name of
Program/Major
If Applicable: Course
Title/ Brief
Description of Project
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CMST and TCOM
Representative
Activities:
4 WKBN news
2 WKBN weather
2 WFMJ sports
1 WFMJ news
1 WFMJ sales
2 YSU Marketing &
Communication
1 WYSU Development
1 Youngstown Radio
Reading Service
2 Hometown Journal
1 Youngstown Hearing
& Speech Ctr.
1 BizVeo – a YBIaffiliated company
Co-ops
Field Placements
Practica
COMMUNITY PROJECTS (see
Note 1)
Course-based/credit-bearing
projects
Nonprofit
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CMST 2653 group
comm. course
Various service
learning projects,
including Rescue
Mission Child Care
Center, Rich Center for
Autism, vacation Bible
schools, the Trumbull
County Library, and
Animal Charities of
Youngstown.
7
CMST 4897
individual study
~1500
CMST 1545 –
Foundations
Ethnographic studies
of varied
organizations, e.g.,
Rescue Mission,
Salvation Army,
Meridian Services,
YMCA
Service learning group
project – wide variety
of area nonprofits as
identified using Hands
on Mahoning Valley
For-Profit
Noncourse-based/noncreditbearing projects sponsored or
supervised by the university (i.e.,
by the college, department, and/or
academic program; see Note 2)
Nonprofit
~10
Lambda Pi Eta/Dept
of Communication
Relay for Life, YSU
Raised over $300
For-profit
Number of Name, Organization Served, and Position
Individuals Held (especially if faculty or staff; if it’s
Involved
easier, you may include total numbers in
column 1 and provide a separate list of
individuals, organization served, and position
held rather than trying to fit names,
organizations, and positions into the grid)
COMMUNITY/VOLUNTEER
SERVICE
Number of students
Number of faculty (see Note 3)
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Horvath
1st VP Austintown
Junior Women’s
League
Communication
CoChair - Austintown
School Bond
Committee
Curnalia
Volunteer - Rescue
Mission of the
Mahoning Valley
Jackson
Co-Chair – Relay for
Life Dept. of Comm
Team
Mermer
Co-Chair – Relay for
Life Dept. of Comm
Team
Earnheardt
Team Member: Hope
Foundation of the
Mahoning Valley –
Game of Hope.
Owens
Member - Austintown
Growth Foundation,
Member - Youngstown
Rotary
Curnalia
Advisor, Lambda Pi
Eta
Tyus
Awards Coordinator,
Ohio Communication
Association
Director of Student
Chapters, Public
Relations Society of
America, Akron
Chapter
Earnheardt
Ohio Communication
Association Executive Director
(2008-present)
National
Communication
Association, Mass
Communication
Division Vice Chair
Elect (2009, 4 year
term)
Publications and Web
Editor (2004-2009)
Number of staff
PROFESSIONAL, DISCIPLINEBASED SERVICE
Number of faculty (see Note 4)
Tri-County Journalism
Association/YSU Press
Day Committee (2006present)
Horvath
Undergraduate and
Graduate Competitive
Poster Coordinator,
Eastern
Communication
Convention, 2011
Crawford
Organizer/Instructor –
Visiting Students from
the Communication
University of China,
Summer 2010
Public Relations
Officer – Phi Kappa
Phi Honor Society
Judge – National
Academy of Television
Arts and Sciences.
Number of staff
Number of students
Note 1: Please list course title, identify number and nature of projects, and indicate number of
students involved.
Note 2: Please list projects, provide a brief description, and indicate number of students involved.
Note 3: Please list the nonprofit organizations served by faculty and staff members in your
department. Identify those who serve on boards of directors of nonprofit organizations and for-profit
companies. List position title if officer.
Note 4: Please list the professional/discipline-based organizations served by faculty, staff, and
students in your department, the faculty, staff, or student’s name; and the person’s position/title for
the organization.
Section V. Other
Your dean may ask you to include additional information in your annual report, based on
accreditation or College needs. If so, please provide that information in an attachment.
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