James L. Highland

James L. Highland, MS

Professor (optional retirement)

Contact Information: E-mail: james.highland@wku.edu Office: 222 Mass Media and Technology Hall Phone: (270) 745-5837 Teaching Areas: Basic News Writing, Public Affairs Reporting, Investigative Reporting, FOI and Public Records

Experience

• Coordinator, print journalism major, School of Journalism and Broadcasting, Oklahoma State University, 1969-1973
• Coordinator, print journalism major, Department of Journalism, Western Kentucky University, 1973-1984
• Interim department head, Department of Journalism, 1984-1987, Western Kentucky University
• Coordinator of print journalism, WKU School of Journalism and Broadcasting, 1987-2004.
• Police and courts reporter, The Clarksburg (W.Va.) Exponent, 1960-1962
• Police, courts and political reporter, Morgantown(W.Va.) Post, 1963-1965
• Deputy government press secretary, State of West Virginia, 1965-1967
• State and federal government reporter, Charleston(W.Va) Daily Mail, 1967-1969
• Instructor, assistant professor, School of Journalism and Broadcasting, Oklahoma State University, 1969-1973
• Stillwater (Okla.) News Press, police and courts reporter, weekends and summers, 1969-73
• Bowling Green Daily News, courts and government reporter, 1974,1987.

Education

• Bachelor of Science in Journalism, West Virginia University, 1965
• Master of Science in Journalism, West Virginia University, 1967
• Southern Newspaper Publishers Association, management seminar
• Society of Professional Journalists Convention and professional development seminars, 1969-2003.
• Kentucky Press Association, professional development seminars,1973-2003
• Western Kentucky press association, professional development seminars, 1973-2003.
• SPJ Leadership Training Seminars, 1999-2003.

Professional Activities

• Director, Dow Jones-WKU Newspaper Fund Minority Journalism Workshop, 1985-2004.
• SPJ Leadership Council, 1984-2004
• SPJ Executive Committee, 2001-2004
• SPJ National Board of Directors, 2001-2004
• SPJ National Budget Committee, 2001-2004
• Sigma Delta Chi Foundation, 2001-2004
• SPJ National Vice President of Campus Chapter Affairs, 2001-2004.
• Student Press Law Center Advisory Council, 2001-2004.
• Developed program bringing Kentucky Supreme Court out into the state
• Writer for Quill, Adviser Update, Country America, The Kentucky Press, Publisher's Auxiliary, News Photographer and other professional publications.
• Consultant on First Amendment issues to state press associations and newspaper groups, 20 years.
• Chairman, Mayor's Select Committee on Local Government Policy, 1996-2000.

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