By Alyssa Scenters
scenters.2 @wright.edu
Dr. Ware discusses her expertise in multimedia storytelling and excitement to be teaching at WSU. Check out this quick Q&A!
What degrees do you have and where did you get them?
My Bachelor’s degree is in Mass Communication with an emphasis in Broadcast Journalism.
I have a Master’s in Communications/Cinema Arts from Regent University and a Ph.D. in Communication, Rhetoric and Digital Media from North Carolina State University.
Where have you worked in the past?
I’ve worked for a CBS affiliate in Milwaukee as a photojournalist and editor. My professional experience also includes working for The City of Chesapeake, Virginia’s Public Communications department. We had our own TV station and I worked on everything from taping weekly news shows, creating half hour programs with business profiles or medical topics, and as a sideline camera operator for live Sporting events like football, volleyball and basketball. We also had a number of studio variety shows where we featured local artists and public figures for shows about events and activities happening in the community. During that time I also was able to make a number of award-winning documentaries and show segments. Working for the City of Chesapeake really helped me realize the variety of things you can do with a strong foundation in visual communication and multimedia storytelling.
After that I worked for The Virginian-Pilot newspaper in Norfolk, VA. I was their director/producer of online video advertising. While there I also worked with journalists to create daily online news programs to reach younger online viewers.
What research/projects have you completed?
Some of my favorite ongoing research projects include studying how communication technologies change workplace practices. I also enjoy working on documentary projects. I also regularly work with researchers in other disciplines to examine and build media pieces that communicate messages to others. For example, I worked on an NSF grant that was designed to help teachers work with high school students to show them why algebra and geometry are important for STEM careers and for college. I interviewed scientists about how they use math and then we created short video segments that the students watched to see how scientists use math. One scientist worked with veterans and creating prosthetics. He used algebraic calculations to measure the stride and angles of walking with different prosthetics. We profiled him in his office working with others and showed how that math looked not just in the classroom, but how it made a difference in helping someone walk with a steadier prosthetic foundation. Having visual stories and examples like this really helped the students see and understand how math can make a difference in the lives of others. And it takes a partnership between communicators and scientists to share those stories with others.
Are you enjoying your time at Wright State?
It’s a really exciting time to join the faculty and students at WSU. With the media incubator coming soon and the growth in media and storytelling opportunities on and off campus, I can’t think of a place I’d rather be.
What courses are you teaching?
Right now I’m teaching Photographic Communication, Audio and Video Storytelling and an online Introduction to Mass Communication course. The online course has been a lot of fun and enabled me to teach in new and different ways. Each week I create an online lecture video using voiceovers, media footage, public domain works and music. Once they are uploaded to YouTube, I make sure to transcribe the videos to make sure they are accessible. I hope to teach this course again in the future.
What is you favorite thing about teaching communication students?
One of my favorite things about the students here at WSU is their excitement for learning about new visual concepts and theories. We have had some really great discussions about photography, ethics, and video storytelling. Then we go out and learn more about those ideas through hands-on activities. I want them to be as excited as I am about the possibilities of multimedia storytelling for different audiences and purposes. And I want to help them hone those skills to be more successful here and in their future careers.
Please visit Dr. Ware's website www.jennifer-ware.com for more information on her experiences and accomplishments.
