Adam Maksl
EDUCATION
Ph.D. in Journalism, University of Missouri, July 2012.
Chair: Charles Davis, Ph.D.
Dissertation: On parents, peers, administrators, and advisers: Developing a system to understand self-censorship of controversial topics in the high school press.
M.A. in Journalism, Ball State University, July 2007.
Chair: Marilyn Weaver, Ed.S.
Thesis: The road to scholastic press freedom: A survey of Midwestern high school newspaper advisers to determine the effects adviser backgrounds and school demographics have on student press freedom.
B.S. in Education, Indiana University, May 2005.
Major in journalism secondary education; minor in English secondary education.
UNIVERSITY TEACHING EXPERIENCE
Indiana University Southeast, School of Social Sciences
Assistant Professor of Journalism/Student media adviser, 2012 – Present
Writing for Publication/Advising the Horizon student newspaper
I teach the required course for journalism majors in which students are staff members of the weekly student newspaper. Additionally, I serve as adviser to the larger newspaper staff, which includes paid editors and students contributors taking other journalism courses.
Communications Law
Upper-level course designed to teach students concepts in journalism and communications law. Course focuses on discussing contemporary issues and challenging students to apply knowledge of communications law and the U.S. legal system to new situations.
Reporting, Writing & Editing I
Introductory undergraduate course designed to teach fundamentals of news writing. Lectures, discussions and laboratory work provided training under deadline pressure in writing basic news stories.
Introduction to Mass Communications
Introductory media literacy course designed to teach students — journalism majors and non-majors — about the role media plays in their daily lives. Course emphasized critical media literacy.
University of Missouri, School of Journalism
Graduate Instructor, 2009 – 2012
News Reporting and Writing for the High School Adviser
Online graduate course designed to teach basics of news reporting and writing to high school journalism teachers enrolled in M.Ed. program in journalism education. Asynchronous online course taught entirely through Blackboard. In addition to basics, course introduced students to multimedia storytelling techniques.
Principles of American Journalism
Introductory undergraduate course designed to acquaint students with concepts and functions of journalism in American society. Course stressed basic issues and problems facing journalists and mass media. Also coordinated and supervised three teaching assistants.
Graduate Pro-seminar for the High School Adviser
Online graduate course designed to teach mass communication theory to high school journalism teachers enrolled in M.Ed. program in journalism education. Asynchronous online course taught entirely through Blackboard. Course stressed epistemological foundation of different mass communication research paradigms, as well as provided an introduction to major theories within the discipline.
Solving Practical Problems in Journalism (course later renamed Understanding Audiences)
Undergraduate junior- and senior-level course designed to teach journalism majors the basics of audience research. Course stressed methods of conducting both qualitative and quantitative audience research, as well as techniques for reading and reporting on research results.
Ball State University, Department of Journalism
Instructor of Journalism, 2007 – 2009
Media Editing
Undergraduate junior- and senior-level course designed to teach copy-editing skills. Course stressed knowledge of prescriptive grammar and style guidelines, as well as writing coaching.
Journalism Writing Skills
Introductory undergraduate course designed to teach fundamentals of news writing. Lectures, discussions and laboratory work provided training under deadline pressure in writing basic news stories.
PUBLICATIONS AND PAPERS
Refereed publications
Ashley, S., Maksl, A., & Craft, S. (2013). Developing a news media literacy scale. Journalism & Mass Communication Educator. Prepublished January 2, 2013, DOI:10.1177/1077695812469802.
Maksl, A., & Schraum, B. (2012). Protecting the “impressionable minds” from the “impressionable minds”: The third-person effect and student speech. Journalism & Mass Communication Educator, 67(4), 362-374.
Filak, V., Reinardy, S., & Maksl, A. (2009). Expanding and validating applications of the willingness to self-censor scale: Self-censorship and media advisers’ comfort level with controversial topics. Journalism & Mass Communication Quarterly, 86(3), 368-382.
Reinardy, S., Maksl, A., & Filak, V. (2009). A study of burnout and job satisfaction among high school journalism advisers. Journalism & Mass Communication Educator, 63(4), 345-356.
Manuscripts in progress
Maksl, A. The student journalist: Roles of the scholastic press in the 21st century. Paper being revised to submit in June 2012 to Newspaper Research Journal.
Maksl, A., & Peters, J. Balancing the need for educational privacy and the public’s right to know. Paper being revised to submit in April 2012 to a law journal yet to be determined.
Refereed conference papers
Maksl, A. & Young, R. (2012, November). Affording to exchange: Social capital and online information sharing. Paper presented at the National Communication Association annual conference, Orlando, FL.
Maksl, A., Thorson, E., & Swasy, A. (2012, August). Internet access effects in low and high-income rural residents in middle America. Paper presented at the Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication annual conference, Chicago, IL.
Maksl, A., Swasy, A., & Thorson, E. (2012, August). Some effects of Internet access among rural and small-town respondents. Paper presented at the Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication annual conference, Chicago, IL.
Ferrucci, P., Tandoc, E. C., & Maksl, A. (2012, August). The gates around the book: Applying gatekeeping theory to Facebook. Paper presented at the Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication annual conference, Chicago, IL.
Maksl, A. (2012, August). Describing the shared experiences of being a high school journalist: A phenomenological study. Paper presented at the Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication annual conference, Chicago, IL.
Maksl, A. (2011). The student journalist: Roles of the scholastic press in the 21st century. Paper to be presented at the Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication annual conference, St. Louis, MO.
Ashley, S., Maksl, A., & Craft, S. (2011). Exploring media literacy: Developing new measures of literacy and knowledge. Paper to be presented at the Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication annual conference, St. Louis, MO.
Poepsel, M., Ashley, S., Ferrucci, P., & Maksl, A. (2011). A picture of “Sanity”? Knowledge, engagement and identity at the Rally to Restore Sanity. Paper presented at the International Communication Association annual conference, Boston, MA.
Maksl, A., & Schraum, B. (2010). Protecting the “impressionable minds” from the “impressionable minds”: The third-person effect and student speech. Paper presented at the Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication annual conference, Denver, CO. (Paper was top student paper in the Scholastic Journalism Division)
Schraum, B., & Maksl, A. (2010). Authoritarians in the front office? Personality and support for expression rights among high school principals. Paper presented at the Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication annual conference, Denver, CO.
Maksl, A. (2010). The road to scholastic press freedom: A survey of Midwestern newspaper advisers. Paper presented at the annual midwinter meeting of the Scholastic Journalism Division of the Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication, St. Petersburg, FL.
Filak, V., Watson, W., & Maksl, A. (2009). Certain Restrictions May Apply: A Comparison of High School Principals’ Attitudes Regarding Free Expression Between 2004 and 2009. Paper presented at the Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication annual conference, Boston, MA.
Maksl, A., Filak, V, & Reinardy, S. (2008) An examination of high-school media advisers’ reactions to controversial news topics: A developmental and confirmatory analysis. Paper presented at the Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication annual conference, Chicago, IL.
Reinardy, S., Maksl, A., & Filak, V. (2008). Satisfied: The Maslach Burnout Inventory measures job satisfaction and lack of burnout among high school journalism advisers. Paper presented at the Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication annual conference, Chicago, IL.
Filak, V., Reinardy, S., & Maksl, A. (2008). Expanding and validating applications of the willingness to self-censor scale: Self-censorship and media advisers’ comfort level with controversial topics. Paper presented at the Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication annual conference, Chicago, IL.
Filak, V. & Maksl, A. (2007). High school newspaper adviser comfort levels with covering controversial topics. Paper presented at the Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication annual conference, Washington, DC. (Lawrence Campbell top faculty paper award runner-up.)
Bulla, D. Hall, C., Maksl, A., & Owens, J. (2006). High school advisers’ perception of scholastic press freedom in a state with a projective law versus one without a protective law: A comparison of Iowa and Indiana. Paper presented at the Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication annual conference, San Francisco, CA. (Lawrence Campbell top faculty paper award winner.)
Non-refereed scholarly articles
Filak, V. & Maksl, A. (2008, Fall) “Controversial” definition unclear: If a school paper deals with sex or administrative criticism, chances are someone will be upset. Dow Jones Newspaper Fund Adviser Update.
Maksl, A. (2008, April/May). Performance boost: Journalism adviser preparation helps pave the road to scholastic press freedom. Quill & Scroll.
Maksl, A. & Filak, V. (2008, February/March) Sex, drugs, and rock ‘n’ roll: Controversial topics that most often land high school journalists on the hot seat are identified. Quill & Scroll.
RESEARCH EXPERIENCE
Research Assistant, University of Missouri, Fall 2010 – Spring 2012
Conducting media literacy research project, including development of a scale to measure news media literacy. Project methodologies include ethnographies, focus groups, and surveys. Goal of project is to explicate news literacy, including development of appropriate measures of the concept.
Supervisor: Stephanie Craft, Ph.D.
Research Assistant, University of Missouri, Summer 2010 – Spring 2012
Developing and conducting surveys to explore how iPad owners are using the devices for news and other media consumption. Presented research at multiple conferences organized by the Reynolds Journalism Institute.
Supervisor: Roger Fidler
Research Assistant, University of Missouri, Spring 2010
Gathered information about pretrial prejudicial publicity.
Supervisor: Charles Davis, Ph.D.
Research Assistant, University of Missouri, Fall 2009 – Summer 2010
Gathered information for Reynolds Journalism Institute fellow about local community news websites. Project included content analysis of more than 1,000 community news sites, as well as a survey of both site operators and site users. Presented results at “Block by block” conference, Chicago, IL, Sept. 23-24, 2010.
Supervisor: Michele McLellan
WORK EXPERIENCE
Co-Director, ASNE Reynolds High School Journalism Institute, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, Summer 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013
Organized annual workshop for 35 high school teachers through ASNE-managed and Reynolds Foundation-funded program.
Faculty member, Missouri Scholars Academy, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, Summer 2010
Taught journalism and advised blog site for group of 15 gifted high school students as part of prestigious residential program held at the University of Missouri campus.
Assistant Director of Workshops, Department of Journalism, Ball State University, Muncie, IN, August 2005 – August 2009.
Organized annual high school journalism summer workshops for more than 300 students and 40 teachers, including all marketing and promotion, as well as program and curriculum development; annual Journalism Day program attended each year by more than 1,400 high school students and teachers, including all marketing, promotion, and program development; and various marketing and recruitment programs for Department of Journalism and College of Communication, Information, and Media, including exhibiting at national and regional conventions and events.
Instructor of Journalism, Ball State University, Muncie, IN, January 2007 – May 2009.
Taught courses about journalistic writing and editing, and served on various faculty committees.
Journalism and English Teacher, Zionsville Community High School, Zionsville, IN, March 2005 – June 2005.
Taught introduction to journalism classes and advised newsmagazine and yearbook. Also taught freshman honors English.
Weekly Opinion Columnist, Indiana Daily Student, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, August 2004 – December 2004.
Wrote weekly opinion column for daily student newspaper (circ. 15,000).
Promotions Intern, Salem Communication, Eagan, MN, June 2002 – August 2002.
Promoted KKMS and WWTC radio stations at various events around Twin Cities.
Apprentice/Student Teacher and Journalism Teaching Assistant, Columbus North High School, Columbus, IN, October 2002 – May 2005.
Assisted the teaching and advising of high school journalism classes, including a newspaper, feature magazine, sports magazine, broadcast program, and a student public relations bureau.
PROFESSIONAL SERVICE
Research Chair, Scholastic Journalism Division of the Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication, August 2012 – present.
Judge, National Scholastic Press Association newspaper and website critique service, 2009 – present.
Member, Journalism Education Association Digital Media Committee, November 2008 – present
Webmaster, Scholastic Journalism Division of the Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication, July 2008 – present.
Member, Student Press Law Center Advisory Council, July 2007 – present.
Attended the 2008 Republication National Convention with Y-Press, an Indianapolis-based youth media group. Along with four other adults, helped nine young journalists cover the convention. September 2008.
Member, Ball State University College of Communication, Information, and Media’s Indianapolis Center Interest Group, January 2008 – May 2009.
Member, Ball State University College of Communication, Information, and Media’s Marketing Communication Interest Group, January 2008 – May 2009.
Member, Ball State University Journalism Undergraduate Policies Committee, Fall 2007 – May 2009.
Judge, Indiana High School Press Association on-site contests, 2006-2008.
Graduate Student Representative, Ball State University Grade Appeal Committee, August 2006 – May 2007.
Graduate Student Representative, Ball State University Department of Journalism Graduate Policies Committee, August 2006 – May 2007.
Judge, Journalism Education Association/National Scholastic Press Association on-site contests, various years 2005 – 2010
AWARDS
Top student paper in AEJMC’s Scholastic Journalism Division, 2010 AEJMC Conference, August 2010.
Given annual Core Competency Award for Outstanding Community Connections, Ball State College of Communication, Information, and Media, August 2008.
Runner-up for top faculty paper in AEJMC’s Scholastic Journalism Division, 2007 AEJMC conference, August 2007.
Inducted into Kappa Tau Alpha journalism honorary society, March 2007.
Top faculty paper in the AEJMC’s Scholastic Journalism Division, 2006 AEJMC conference, August 2006.
Certified Journalism Educator status from the Journalism Education Association, November 2006.
Graduate Student Scholarship awardee, Ball State University Department of Journalism, April 2006.
National Future Journalism Teacher scholarship awardee, Journalism Education Association, November 2005.
GRANTS RECEIVED
$50,000 research grant (in collaboration with S. Craft and S. Ashley) to continue developing news media literacy measurement, McCormick Foundation, September 2011.
$15,000 program grant to operate emerging media summer workshop for high school journalism advisers, Newspaper Association of America Foundation, April 2009.
$500 graduate student internal grant, Ball State University, April 2007.
$250 research grant, Quill & Scroll Foundation, January 2007.
$250 research grant (in collaboration with V. Filak), Quill & Scroll Foundation, December 2006.
$100 graduate student internal travel grant, Ball State University, August 2006.
$250 research grant (in collaboration with D. Bulla, C. Hall, and J. Owens), Quill & Scroll Foundation, January 2006.
PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS
Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication
International Communication Association
Journalism Education Association
