University of New Mexico
Department of Communication & Journalism
UNM Lobo  
Richard J. Schaefer, Ph.D.
 Ph.D., University of Utah, 1992
 Office: Room 252, 505-917-9909
 schaefer@unm.edu
Associate Professor 
Mass Communication 

Research:
Richard J. Schaefer is a co-founder of the Cross-Border Issues Group (CBIG), which leads groups of UNM and Mexican students in intensive, month-long journalistic, research and cultural studies courses taught in immigration and indigenous culture hot spots in the United States, Mexico and Central America. He also administers a political journalism program in Washington, D.C. A graduate of Notre Dame and the University of Utah, he worked as a broadcast journalist and interactive videodisc writer before entering academia. He currently researches and teaches journalism practices, audio-visual techniques, and immigration issues.

Sample Publications:

  • Schaefer, Richard J. (2010). Introduction to Media Writing. A digital online textbook published by the Great River Technologies division of Kendall Hunt, Dubuque, IA.
  • Schaefer, Richard J., Gonzales, Carolyn, and Schaefer, JoAnn (2010). "Casa de Migrante: Lecheria Albergue." A competitive paper delivered to the Latin American Crises and Opportunities Conference in Riverside, CA, on April 24, 2010.
  • Schaefer, Richard J. and Martinez, T.J. (2009). "Trends in network news editing strategies from 1969 through 2005." Journal of Broadcasting & Electronic Media, 53:3, 347-364.
  • Cross-Border Issues Group (2008, Nov. 23.). Schaefer, Richard J., executive producer and reporter, and Carolyn Gonzales, producer and reporter, of one-hour radio documentary entitled “Perspectives on Mexican Immigration” about Mexican and indigenous perspectives on migration. Reporters Jennifer Vieth, Christina Lovato and Maggie Ybarra also produced material for the Cross-Border Issues Group documentary. (Aired on KUNM-FM and the public radio exchange. Winner New Mexico Press Women best radio documentary for 2008 and runner-up in National Press Association long-format radio reporting competition for 2008.)
  • Schaefer, Richard J. (2003). "Whither digital television?" Journal of Broadcasting & Electronic Media, 47:1, 145
  • Schaefer, Richard J. and Gonda, Gillian K. (2003). "U.S. public television workers’ initial impressions of the DTV transition." Southwestern Mass Communication Journal, 19:1.
  • Schaefer, Richard J. (1998). "The development of CBS News Guidelines during the Salant years." Journal of Broadcasting and Electronic Media, 42:1, 1-20
  • Richard J. Schaefer (1996, Feb.). Annotated Synopsis of the Telecommunications Act of 1996. A synopsis of new legislation that was electronically published through the Communication Technology and Policy Division Web page. (www.unm.edu/~aejmcctp/ctphome.htm and http://excellent.com.utk.edu/CTP/telcom96.html)

Service and Advising:

  • Founding member, along with Arturo López Durán and Carolyn
    Gonzales, of the Cross-Border Issues Group, which conducts
    research on issues that affect Mexican and Americans.
  • Faculty adviser for the Talk Radio News Service internships in
    Washington, D.C.
  • Faculty adviser for UNM student Webstreamed radio and television programs.

Teaching:

Broadcast news production classes and telecommunication and media specific theory courses. Graduate-level research methods and mass communication seminars on media structures and informational media. Director of the introductory media writing courses.

Teaching Style: Traditional, hopefully not too dated. A combination of what students often describe as "long lectures" with a practical component of completing applied projects for most courses.

Courses Taught: C&J 171 - Writing for the Media; C&J 360 and 460 Broadcast News I & II; C&J 501 - Fundamentals of Communication Research; C&J 562: Media Seminar: 578: Seminar on Media Structures.

Interests: Traveling, especially to border areas. Tennis — play more than my body will allow. Butchering (languages that is), Spanish and occasionally Chinese. Eating — probably too much of that than my body will allow too, but it's even more fun with company. Biking, hiking and cross-country skiing, particularly with family members, JoAnn and Adrian.

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