Dr. David Parry helps students explore the changing world of media and communication in the EMAC program.
Students from the Emerging Media and Communications (EMAC) program will present projects that examine how new media and network technologies are transforming the ways we connect with each other.
The presentations are Tuesday, Dec. 4, from 5:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. in CB3 1.306.
Desiree Jacob, a master’s candidate, created a website and blog that details her own journey as an adopted child, and aims to educate others about adoption. Her project is called The Quiet Struggle.
“Many adoption myths persist in our society. Understanding details on the topic of adoption is something that all members of the triad (adoptee, birth mom and adoptive parents) should be more educated and aware of before decisions are made,” writes Jacob on her blog.
A project by Desiree Jacob (right) seeks to educate the public about issues regarding adoption.
Dr. Kim Knight, assistant professor in the EMAC program, served as faculty advisor for the project.
“One of the things that is exemplary about “The Quiet Struggle” is that Desiree has used her passion to construct a project with social benefit for an audience with very specific needs. She has a growing pool of readers and people are coming forward to share their stories on the site, both of which speak to the quality of the project,” said Knight.
Jamie Field, a senior, will present her project Roach Coach Review. The website tracks the location, and gives reviews, of various food trucks across the Metroplex.
“With an explosion in food truck popularity, the number of trucks is on the rise. Previously, only social media outlets were a resource for updates like new menu items or truck locations/schedules. We developed ‘Roach Coach Reviews’ to serve as your DFW food truck information portal,” the website states.
“Jamie has combined all the skills she learned as an EMAC student with her interest in food trucks to create a high-quality website that serves as Dallas' best food truck review site. Not only does the site contain reviews, but also schedules, videos, maps and links.”
Dr. David Parry,
assistant professor
EMAC
The faculty advisor for the project was Dr. David Parry, assistant professor.
“Jamie has combined all the skills she learned as an EMAC student with her interest in food trucks to create a high-quality website that serves as Dallas' best food truck review site. Not only does the site contain reviews, but also schedules, videos, maps and links,” said Parry.
Other projects to be presented include graduate student Aline McKenzie’s trail media for Dogwood Canyon Audubon Center. McKenzie produced video that can be accessed via QR code along the trails at the center. The videos cover topics ranging from identifying poison ivy to the history behind a concrete basin that once housed a telecommunications tower and antenna but now has a garden and deck inside.
“Aline did a lot of really great research on the history of media use in national park settings as part of this project. She has used this knowledge as a foundation to construct educational media that taps into the growing use of mobile Internet access while being respectful of the natural setting. In addition, she is gaining valuable experience in working in partnership with a community organization,” said Knight, who oversaw the project.
The event is free and open to the public.