Communication Studies Newsletter—Dec. 2003
On December 7th, 2003, West Virginia University held its Fall Graduation Commencement. On December 6th, the Department of Communication Studies held a Graduation Reception for those students completing either their undergraduate or graduate degrees this August or December. Over 150 graduates, family members, and friends attended this event. Congratulations to all of the graduates.
In the picture above are several of the individuals from our Clarksburg Organizational Cohort who received their Master of Arts degree. Below are three members of Lamda Pi Eta, an Academic Honorary Fraternity limited to the best Undergraduate Communication Studies students, who received their honor cords for graduation at the reception.
McCroskey recognized as NCA Mentor
On Saturday, November 22nd, Dr. James C. McCroskey was recognized as an honoree of the National Communication Association Mentor Fund at the NCA Convention in Miami, Florida. Dr. McCroskey was one of four mentors honored at this year’s convention. The NCA’s Mentor Fund was established to support resources for communication students. Contributions in the name of each mentor were solicited from students, colleagues, and friends. A $10,000 fund is created in a given teacher’s name, and he or she will be enshrined as an NCA Mentor.
Dr. McCroskey is a Professor at West Virginia University where he served as Chair of the Department from 1972 to 1997. Before joining the faculty at WVU, Dr. McCroskey held positions at Illinois State University, Michigan State University, Pennsylvania State University, Old Dominion University, and the University of Hawaii. He also has experience teaching high school in his home state of South Dakota.
Dr. McCroskey has published over 200 articles and book chapters and over 30 books. His early research focused on persuasion and attitude change. He is probably best known for his research in the area of communication apprehension. Over the years, Dr. McCroskey has shown a commitment to programmatic research and the social scientific approach to scholarship.
Dr. McCroskey has received numerous awards for his service to professional organizations and for his teaching, including the West Virginia University Outstanding Teacher award. Besides serving on numerous editorial boards, Dr. McCroskey has served as the Editor of Communication Education, Communication Research Reports, Journal of Intercultural Communication, and Human Communication Research.
Two of the many individuals Dr. McCroskey has mentored include his spouse, Dr. Virginia Peck-Richmond, a Professor at West Virginia University, and his daughter, Dr. Lynda McCroskey, an Assistant Professor in the Department of Information Systems at California State University, Long Beach.
“I’m not a Doctor but I study Doctors on TV”
Rebecca M. Chory-Assad, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, was the lead author of a study recently published in the international quarterly, Journal of Broadcasting & Electronic Media. The article entitled, “Television exposure and the public’s perceptions of physicians,” appeared in the June 2003 edition (volume 47, issue 2, pp. 197-215) of the peer-reviewed journal. Dr. Chory-Assad’s co-author was Ron Tamborini, Ph.D., of Michigan State University. This article was drawn from Chory-Assad’s preliminary paper, which is a major requirement for the Ph.D. in Communication at Michigan State University. Dr. Tamborini was Dr. Chory-Assad’s faculty advisor during her tenure at Michigan State. This 2003 publication followed up on an earlier study published in the same journal in 2001.
Dr. Chory-Assad’s research showed that the more frequently individuals watched prime-time doctor shows (e.g., ER ), the more uncaring, unfriendly, cold, nervous, tense, and anxious they perceived real life physicians to be. The study also showed that the more frequently viewers watched non-medical prime-time dramas (e.g., Beverly Hills, 90210), the less competent they considered real life physicians to be. On the other hand, the more frequently people watched news-related programs (e.g., network news, 20/20, Dateline), the more competent and attractive they found real life doctors to be. In short, watching fictional TV programs was associated with more negative views of doctors, while watching non-fictional TV shows was linked with more positive beliefs about doctors. These relationships held even when viewers personal experiences and relationships with doctors were taken into account.
Dr. Chory-Assad notes, “My research suggests that watching TV shows may affect what people think of their own doctors, which may affect their levels of trust, anxiety, and compliance with their physicians. TV may therefore affect our health indirectly through its impact on our perceptions of doctors. We may be less likely to go to the doctor if we perceive doctors as uncaring, cold, or incompetent.”
Dr. Chory-Assad’s research primarily focuses on TV’s portrayals of aggression, health issues, and occupations/industries and the effects of exposure to these images on related beliefs and behaviors. She also studies the relationships between TV viewers and TV characters and the effects these relationships may have on viewers. In addition to the Journal of Broadcasting & Electronic Media, Dr. Chory-Assad’s research has appeared in other professional journals, such as Communication Quarterly, Journalism & Mass Communication Quarterly, and Communication Research Reports.
Dr. Chory-Assad is married to William D. Assad, Esq., a lawyer at Waggoner and Ferens, Attorneys at Law, in Uniontown, PA. She is the daughter of Robert and Theresa Chory of Masontown, PA. Dr. Chory-Assad and her husband currently reside in Uniontown, PA. In her spare time, Dr. Chory-Assad practices yoga and is active in local historical and genealogical research.
In Memoriam
Walter H. Rockenstein, 85, pastor and teacher, died on September 21, 2003. Born in Parkersburg, WV, he received his Bachelor’s and Master’s from Western Seminary in Pittsburgh, PA, before earning his Ph.D. in Religious Communication from Northwestern University.
Ordained as a Presbyterian Minister in 1945, Dr. Rockenstein served churches in Ohio and Illinois, before becoming the Director of the Mountaineer Mining Mission in 1952. In addition to these duties, he was the pastor at the Canyon and Rock Forge Presbyterian churches.
In 1956, he joined the faculty of the Speech Department at West Virginia University. He expanded the Department’s radio and television broadcasting program and co-founded its film production unit. When Dr. Rockenstein retired in 1983, he was a Professor in the Communication Studies Department.
Dr. Rockenstein worked actively in a number of community organization, including Arthurdale Heritage Inc., the Friends of West Virginia Public Broadcasting, the Morgantown Lion’s Club, and the Presbytery of West Virginia. He and his wife Anne were also active in ecumenical efforts involving Protestant denominations and the Roman Catholic Church.
Elizabeth Pool, 76, died Saturday, September 13, 2003. Born in Pounding Mill, VA, Ms. Pool earned her Associate Business degree from Bluefield Business College and her Regents Bachelor degree from West Virginia University.
Ms. Pool was employed at West Virginia University for over twenty years, retiring from the Eberly College of Arts and Sciences in 1995 as a graduate student advisor. During the late 1970s and the early 1980s, Ms. Pool served as the Extended Learning Secretary for the Communication Studies Department.
She was a member of the First Presbyterian Church of Kingwood. Ms. Pool served on the Board of Directors of the WVU Intergenerate Club, was an officer of the Preston County chapter of the WVU Parent Club, served as a Hospice volunteer, and volunteered for the West Virginia Public Theatre.
