DAY 3: WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 2022
5:45-6:45 pm
Late Night with JEM – Social Media in a Journalist’s World
Join Late Night with JEM in a TV talk-show style discussion, where panelists provide tips to find success in social media journalism, and how to navigate it post-graduation.
Moderator:
Dr. Michael T. Martinez’ research interests include media law, specifically media and the courts, the history of journalistic practices and political coverage in visual communication. Dr. Martinez turned to academe after working for 26 years as a photojournalist, graphics editor and web producer. He considers himself both a journalist and a scholar. He spent his professional career expanding a palette of journalistic skills at four newspapers and a wire service. He worked at the Associated Press in New York, the Louisville Courier-Journal, the Detroit News, the Cincinnati Enquirer and the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. In 2000, Dr. Martinez broadened his horizons and moved into the world of the Internet as an online producer. After covering two Olympics for the Associated Press, Lillehammer 1994 and Atlanta 1996, Dr. Martinez had the opportunity to work for four Olympic Organizing Committees: Sydney 2000, Salt Lake City 2002, Athens 2004 and Beijing 2008.
Dr. Martinez has been active in professional associations throughout his career. He was president of the National Press Photographers Association in 1990. He has been the National Association of Hispanic Journalists’ visual task force representative to Unity ’94 and Unity ’99 and in 2005-2006 served as vice president/membership of the Fort Worth Professional Society of Professional Journalists’ chapter.
Panel:
Ric Butler is a Knoxville based sports media personality who has covered University of Tennessee athletics since 2017. Most recently, he served as the lead writer for the website of a local radio station. Ric also helped create and host a daily radio show called “The Blitz.”
Ric’s passion for sports, commanding vocal, and infectious personality have made him popular with both his peers in media and Vol Nation. Originally from Dallas, Ric didn’t grow up riding horses to school. But he did dream of the big city lights. When not chasing down the latest Tennessee story, Ric can be found watching the WWE, often attempting their moves in an embarrassing fashion.
Kay McCabe is a Reporter/MMJ for Alabama News Network, beginning in September 2020. Kay is a May 2020 graduate of the University of Tennessee. She previously interned with the NBA, ESPNU, SEC Network and WATE in Knoxville. Kay is a proud member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, joining in Spring 2019.
Kay is a native of Atlanta, Georgia, but has lived in eight states with her mother in the military. In her free time, Kay loves spending time with her mom, sister and nephew.
Dr. Mustafa Oz is a new professor at the University of Tennessee who transferred from the University of Southern Indiana in 2020. He looks forward to expanding his research program, which revolves around social media. His goal is to understand the implications of social media data and algorithms on political engagement and public opinion.
During his time in Indiana, he developed and taught several courses about social media and emerging technologies. He currently teaches a social journalism course here at the university.
Oz has many years of experience working with social media in regards to journalism, and will be able to provide interesting insight to the panel discussion.