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Date 4-25-06
Contact Angela Kilcrease 601.266.4988
WITH PHOTOS
Hattiesburg—A
veteran faculty member and a CNN reporter will be the first two
inductees into the University of Southern Mississippi School of
Mass Communication and Journalism’s new Hall of Fame during an April
26 ceremony.
Dr. Robert “Gene”
Wiggins, long-time professor and current director of the school’s
graduate program, and Kathleen Koch, a CNN correspondent, will be
inducted at the school’s annual awards banquet at the University
Commons.
“The school’s
faculty believes that the Hall of Fame is a good way for us to recognize
people who are making important contributions to mass communication
and journalism and to educating future generations of media professionals,”
said Chris Campbell, the school’s director.
Wiggins and
Koch both attended Southern Miss, though future inductees might
include non-alumni, Campbell said. “The faculty will annually select
candidates who have made a mark. The school offers degrees in advertising,
broadcasting, film, journalism and public relations, so we’ll be
looking for professionals and educators who have had a significant
impact in those fields.”
Campbell said
membership in the Hall of Fame will be awarded to 1) individuals
who have made outstanding contributions to mass communication and
journalism and/or mass communication and journalism education in
Mississippi and 2) Mississippi natives or Southern Miss graduates
who have distinguished themselves in the fields of mass communication
and journalism and/or mass communication and journalism education.
Wiggins earned
both his bachelor's and master's degrees from Southern Miss. After
completing his doctorate from Southern Illinois University, he became
a member of the Southern Miss faculty in 1973, teaching courses
in journalism, media law and public relations. He served as director
of the Southern Miss School of Communication from 1981 to 2001.
Prior to completing
his doctorate, Dr. Wiggins worked for The Jackson Daily News
and for the Hattiesburg American. He also served as a public
information officer in the U.S. Air Force. He has authored numerous
publications, including books, book chapters and journal articles
in the area of mass communication law.
Koch began her
career in broadcasting before completing her degree in journalism
at Southern Miss when she was hired as a reporter and weekend anchor
for WLOX-TV in Biloxi in 1980. Currently a general assignment correspondent
for CNN based in Washington, D.C., she specializes in aviation reporting
and serves as backup correspondent at the Pentagon and the White
House.
Koch has covered
presidential campaigns, the lead up to the war in Iraq and the Sept.
11, 2001, terrorist attacks. After Hurricane Katrina in 2005, she
returned to cover its impact on the Gulf Coast. That coverage included
a documentary about her hometown of Bay St. Louis, Saving My
Town, which aired on CNN as part of its award-winning series,
CNN Reports.
For more information,
contact Dr. Chris Campbell, director of the School of Mass Communication
and Journalism, at Christopher.campbell@usm.edu
or 601.266-4258.
Click to enlarge
Dr. Robert “Gene”
Wiggins
Click to enlarge
Kathleen Koch
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