Robert A. Franklin, PhD.
ACADEMIC BACKGROUND
ArkansasStateUniversity, PhD. Heritage Studies, 2005
Dissertation: Reconciliation and the Elaine, Arkansas Race Riot of 1919: Forgive or Forget.
ArkansasStateUniversity, M.A., (Heritage Studies), 2005.
JacksonStateUniversity, M.A.,(English/Communication), 1983.
Thesis: The Effects of Local Television News on JacksonStateUniversity Students: An Analysis of The Interpretation of News Broadcast In The Jackson, Mississippi Market.
JacksonStateUniversity, B.S., Mass Communications (Radio/Television), 1981.
ADMINISTRATIVE EXPERIENCE
KSUT, Inc., Ignacio, Colorado
2015-2016; Executive Director, KSUT
Management and supervisionSouthern Ute Tribal Radio (KSUR) and Four Corners Public Radio (KUTE);responsible for overall leadership and direction of stations; manage budget and expenditures; manage and direct professional station staff and community volunteers. Evaluate and supervise staff; work closely with the Board of Directors in establishing and administering policies, strategic goals, and strategies to ensure the operational success and long-term stability and growth of the station consistent with KUTE, Inc. mission. Supervise, direct local and regional partnerships with business and corporate donors in support of KUTE, Inc. capital campaign initiative.
JacksonStateUniversity, Jackson, Mississippi
2013-2014; Associate Professor, Department of Mass Communications;Supervised student interns; served on departmental committees; coordinated department outreach initiative to increase diversity in the Department of Mass Communication. Courses Taught: Media Production and Design I, Media Production and Design II.
University of Nebraska at Omaha, Omaha, Nebraska.
2008-2013, Director, Media Operations (KVNO-FM, UNO Television) & Assistant Professor, School of Communication.
Duties: Administrative, budget management, and supervisory responsibilities of full-time professional staff in radio and television operations. I taughtRadio Production and Principles of Interviewing courses in the School of Communication; coordinated community projects with local businesses and arts organizations.
ArkansasStateUniversity, Jonesboro, Arkansas.
1997-2008, KASU-FM Station Manager& Assistant Professor. Duties: Administration; supervision of budget; full-time staff and students; direct and coordinate public relations and outreach activities for station.
I collaborated with faculty in ASU Department of Social Work on research and scholarly projects and presentations locally and internationally. I also collaborated with faculty in the College of Nursing and Healthcare Professional to produce a series of programs focusing on healthy lifestyles.I taught Advanced Radio Production and Mass Media in Modern Society.
University of Maryland Eastern Shore, Princess Anne, Maryland
1989-1997, General Manager, WESM-FM;
Duties: Supervision of professional staff, students and volunteers.
I worked with university administrators, local stakeholders, faculty, community volunteers, and members of Maryland’s Governors’ Office of Handicapped Individuals to establish the first Eastern Shore Radio Reading Service for Blind and Print Handicapped Individuals on the Eastern Shore of Maryland. Working with a community-based coalition comprised of elected officials, academicians, faculty, students, staff, and public radio supporters, we successfully launched the radio reading service for blind and visually-impaired listeners.
I also taught a Technical Writing course to inmates at Eastern Correctional Institute, a minimum security prison in Westover, Maryland.
WesternIllinoisUniversity, Macomb, Illinois
1986-1987, General Manager, WIUM/WIUS-FM, Radio Reading Service;
Duties: Supervision of professional and student staff; budget supervision and management of National Public Radio (WIUM); advised student radio station (WIUS) and supervised Radio Reading Service.
MississippiUniversity for Women, Columbus, Mississippi
1984-1986, General Manager, WMUW-FM
Duties: Directed, supervised operation of student station.
RustCollege, Holly Springs, Mississippi
1983-1984, General Manager, WRCR-RC Cable-TV2
Duties: Managed, directed and supervised student staff of cable radio and television stations at RustCollege.
OTHER EXPERIENCE/S
Mississippi Department of Energy and Transportation, 1988-89, Jackson, Mississippi, Media Relations Coordinator- Coordinated agency media activities; editor of newsletter and served as liaison between agency and public; created original publicity for distribution to media.
Jackson State University, Jackson Mississippi,1983,WJSU-FM Public Affairs Director-produced newscast, public affairs and community oriented programs; worked closely with members of community, radio staff, and university.
GRANTS AWARDED
Secured KSUT Inc. $ 15,000.00 Vision Maker Media Research and Development grant for film project, A History of Native American Public Radio (2015).
Awarded $ 3000.00 Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) My Source Education Innovation Award (2010).
KVNO-FM awarded $ 22,000.00 grant from the Omaha City Council for equipment purchase for The Knowledge Network of Greater Omaha (2009).
Received $ 15,000.00 grant for the Sound Partners for Community Health program, a national program of the Benton
Foundation, funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (2005).
Awarded $ 30,000 Audience Service Challenge Grant for KASU
from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, Washington, D.C. (2003).
Awarded $ 15,000.00 Generoso Pope Foundation Journalism Award Scarsdale, New York; the award supported on-going audio productions.
Awarded $ 7,000.00 The Paul Robeson Fund for
Independent Media grant, New York; in support of the Elaine Arkansas Race of 1919. (November 2001)
Awarded $ 3150.00 Public Radio International grant
to support Black History special program entitled “A Return To
To His Roots: A Portrait of William Warfield”.
Awarded $17,163 Rural Listener Incentive Grant for KASU
from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (2001)
Awarded $15,000 Rural Listener Incentive Grant for KASU
from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (2001)
Awarded $ 1200.00 from St. Bernard’s Hospital to sponsor
Lecture for Dr. Karen Drake, acclaimed Perinatologist (2001).
Awarded $ 600.00 grant from Jonesboro Sun Newspaper
in support of Blue Monday Blues Concerts (2001).
Awarded $1,000 grant from Coca Cola Enterprises Mid-South
to KASU Blue Monday Blues Concerts (2001).
Awarded $ 500.00 grant from Mid-South Bank of Jonesboro,
Arkansas for Blue Monday Blues Concerts (2002)
Awarded $500.00 grant from Mid-South Bank of Jonesboro,
Arkansas for Blue Monday Blues Concerts (2001).
Awarded $9,500 CPB Public Radio Signal Extension Grant (1994).
The Blues Project: A 13-part radio series funded by National Endowment for the Humanities grant- aired nationally (1994); the production was a result of a partnership between WESM-FM and PrinceGeorgesCommunity College in Largo, Maryland.
Awarded $5,000 Maryland Office of Handicapped Individuals grant to establish the Eastern Shore Radio Reading Service for print handicapped persons on Maryland
Eastern Shore (1991).
Awarded $20,000 National Telecommunications an information Administration grant to establish a satellite downlink system
for WESM (1991).
Awarded $ 30, 000 Corporation for Public Broadcasting Station Enhancement Grant for WESM-FM (1990-93).
Awarded $ 4,137.00 Grant from ASU Faculty Research Committee
to produce pilot radio documentary on Arkansas Ozarks (1999).
KASU-FM awarded $ 6500.00 endowment from The Warr Family
Foundation of Jonesboro, Arkansas. (February, 2000).
KASU-FM awarded $ 750.00 underwriting grant from Area Health
Education Center-Northeast for public affairs program “Focus on
Health.” (February, 2000)
KASU-FM awarded $ 1500.00 underwriting grant from St. Bernard’s RegionalHospital for public affairs program, “Focus on Health”. (February, 2000).
KASU-FM awarded $ 5500.00 underwriting grant from St. Bernard’s RegionalHospital for public affairs program, “Focus on Health.” (January,1998-99).
KASU-FM awarded $2500.00 underwriting grant for sponsorship of Blue Monday Blues concert Jonesboro Sun newspaper. (February, 2000).
KASU-FM awarded $ 1200.00 underwriting grant from Ryan’s Family Steak House, Jonesboro, Arkansas for Blues After Hours program. (June, 1998).
PROFESSIONAL, PUBLIC, SCHOLARLY PRESENTATIONS
2011 Director/Ex. Producer “The Lynching of Will Brown documentary film selected for screeningat New Hope Film Festival, Lambertville, NJ.
2011 Director/Ex. Producer “Forgive or Forget: Reconciliation and the Elaine, Arkansas Race Riot of 1919” selected by SankofaSpirit film series for screening in Atlanta, Georgia, Chicago, Illinois and Washington, D.C.
2011 Director/Ex. Producer “The Lynching of Will Brown” documentary film was selected for screening at the San Diego Black Film Festival, San Diego, CA.
Director/Executive Producer, The Lynching of Will Brown documentary film was selected for screening at the Texas Black Film Festival, Dallas, TX.
2011 Participant, University of Nebraska-Omaha “Talk To Me: Recruiting and Retaining Multi-Cultural Faculty and Students Amidst Dire Economic Times” Teaching Circle sponsored by Center for Faculty Development African-American Pedagogy Teaching Circle.
2010 Presenter, Fall for the Book Festival sponsored by GeorgeMasonUniversity, Fairfax, Virginia. Screened video documentary, Riots of Red Summer: The Lynching of Will Brown: The Omaha, Nebraska Race Riot of 1919 and Reconciliation and the Elaine, Arkansas Race Riot of 1919: Forgive or Forget.”
2010 Participant, University of Nebraska at Omaha “Teaching Issues of Social Reform: A Communications Perspective” Teaching Circle Supported by Academic and Student Affairs, Center for Faculty Development, Graduate Studies, and Office of Research & Creative Activity.
2010 Participant, University of Nebraska at Omaha “Helping to Preserve a History: The Omaha NAACP Community Engagement Link” Supported by Academic and Student Affairs, Center for Faculty Development, Graduate Studies, and Office of Research & Creative Activity.
2010 Participant, University of Nebraska at Omaha “Health Disparities & Health Reform in the African American Community Research Triangle” Supported by Academic and Student Affairs, Center for Faculty Development, Graduate Studies, and Office of Research & Creative Activity.
2010 Co-presenter Scholarly Paper Presentation: Teaching Issues of Social Reform: A Communications Perspective accepted for presentation at the Western Social Sciences Association Conference, Denver, Colorado, April 2010.
2010 “Spring Time of Life,” a photographic and media exhibit about homeless Ethiopian Youths; a public presentation at Love Jazz and Arts Center’s 4th Annual African American Art Exhibition, Omaha, Nebraska, January 2010.
2009 Coordinator, Ethiopian Homeless Youths Clothing Campaign.
“Spring Time of Life,” an award-winning photographic and media exhibit about homeless Ethiopian Youths; a public presentation at University of Nebraska-Omaha, October 2009.
2008 Poster Presentation “Using Examples from History to Instill Social Capital into Youth through Relationships” presented at International Association of Schools of Social Work 34th Global Social Work Conference, Durban, South Africa, July 2008.
2008 Executive Project Producer and Graduate Student co-producer of Homeless Youth Video/Audio documentary research project with collaboration from ArkansasStateUniversity and Addis AbabaUniversity on-location in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, November 2008.
2004 Lectured as an Academic Scholar at BeijingUniversity of
Technology, Beijing, China; the program was sponsored
by The University of New England, New Bedford, Maine.
2002 Chair, Panel Discussion at Hawaii International
Conference on Social Sciences, Honolulu, Hawaii on
the radio documentary “The Elaine, Arkansas Race Riots of
1919.
2000 Moderator for ASU-TV program, Race, Gender and the
Mass Media: Important Issues for 21st Century.
1998 Delta Communications Initiative, Jonesboro, Arkansas, sponsored by W.K. Kellogg Foundation as a Media Consultant.
Producer, Like It Is, radio program broadcast on British Broadcasting Corporation “State of the State Series. Like It Is
was selected as one of four public radio programs featured in State of the State Series (1993).
Producer, “Still Going On;” was a four part radio documentary about the life and legacy of classical music composer, William Grant Still. The series aired nationally and sponsored in part by the National Endowment for the Humanities (1996).
1991 Advanced Strategic Management Seminar
StanfordUniversity, Palo Alto, California
Sponsored by Alaska Public Radio Network; the Corporation for Public Broadcasting and StanfordUniversity.
1991Rural Radio Audience Research. Washington, D.C. Sponsored by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. Studied and analyzed rural radio audio to changing trends in public broadcasting.
1991 Minority Stations with Jazz Formats. Washington, D.C. Sponsored by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting; studied and analyzed the impact of WESM-FM jazz format and made pertinent adjustments based on the data reviewed.
1990 Professional Management Workshop, Boston, Massachusettsand the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. The goal of the workshop was to improve management skills.
1990 Mentor Program. Boston, Massachusetts. Sponsored by Eastern Public Radio; Partnered with WGBH station manager in mentorship program.
ACADEMIC/TEACHING
JacksonStateUniversity, Jackson, Mississippi
2013-2014 Associate Professor, Department of Mass Communications-Tenure Track position Courses Taught: Media Production and Design I, Media Production and Design II.
University of Nebraska-Omaha, Omaha, Nebraska
2008-2013 Assistant Professor, School of Communication-Tenure Track position
Courses Taught: Principles of Interviewing (Undergraduate); Radio Production (Undergraduate); and Mass Communication and Public Opinion (Undergraduate/Graduate).
ArkansasStateUniversity, Jonesboro, Arkansas
1997-2008; Assistant Professor, Department of Communication-Non-Tenure Track position Courses Taught: Advanced Radio Production (Undergraduate); Mass Media and Modern Society (Undergraduate); and Electronic Reporting (Undergraduate).
University of Maryland Eastern Shore, Princess Anne, Maryland
1989-1997; Instructor of Broadcasting-Non-Tenure Track position
Courses Taught: Introduction to Telecommunication (Undergraduate); Radio Production and Programming (Undergraduate); Technical Writing course at Eastern Correctional Institute in Eastover, Maryland.
MississippiUniversity for Women, Columbus, Mississippi
1984-1986; Instructor of Broadcasting-Non-Tenure Track position
Courses Taught: Radio/Television Announcing (Undergraduate); Radio Production (Undergraduate).
RustCollege, Holly Springs, Mississippi
1983-1984; Instructor of Broadcasting-Non-Tenured Track position
Courses Taught: Radio and Television Production (Undergraduate).
FELLOWSHIPS
Fellow, Vanderbilt University Media Fellowship program, “The Silent Epidemic: Violence against Women”. One of select group of journalist nationwide selected to participate in this (2002).
Fellow, Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE) Media Fellowship; research topic titled “Birmingham, Alabama: Exploring the Effects of Poverty, Racism and Violence in OneAmericanCity.” This fellowship was sponsored by Culver-StocktonCollege, Canton, Missouri (2001).
Fellow, Joan Barone Shorenstein Congressional Journalism Fellowship Program sponsored by the American Political Science Association, Washington, D.C.; spent a year as a congressional fellow for Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson of Texas and Marcy Kaptur of Ohio (1995-96).
Fellow, Vanderbilt University “Culture of the South Media” Fellowship Program, Nashville, Tennessee; One of a select number of journalists invited to participate in the media fellowship (1999).
Fellow, Interactive Marketing Program sponsored by WGBH Boston, Massachusetts and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, Washington, D.C.; the workshop assisted managers with effective marketing techniques for radio stations (1991).
PUBLICATIONS/AUDIO & VIDEO PRODUCTION ARCHIVES
Farish Street: Jackson’s One-Time Mecca, Jackson Advocate, 1981.
Pollutant Found in City’s Drinking Water, Focus III Magazine, 1980.
Women in Congress a four-part, one hour, audio documentary archived at Montana HistoricalSociety, Helena, Montana, 1996-present.
Interview conducted by Robert Franklin with Bobby Robinson of the Negro Baseball League archived at Negro Leagues Baseball Museum, Kansas City, Missouri, 2003-present.
The Men Who Played the Game, a three-part, half-hour LIKE IT IS radio series on the Negro Baseball League, archived at Yesterday’s Negro League Baseball Museum, Brown Deer, Wisconsin, 1998-present.
Crossing Bridges, a five-part, half-hour LIKE IT IS radio series produced while in Birmingham, Alabama as a 2001 Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE) Media Fellow. The series is archived at the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute, Birmingham, Alabama, 2001-present.
The audio documentary The Elaine, Arkansas Race Riots of 1919" archived at the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute, Birmingham, Alabama, 2002-present.
The article “Farish Street: Jackson’s One-Time Mecca”, archived atMississippi Department of Archives and History, Jackson, Mississippi, 2001-present.
Two-part LIKE IT ISradio series featuring Indiana’s first elected African-American sheriff in 100-years archived at the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute, Birmingham, Alabama, 2002- present.
TheLIKE IT ISradio program featuring Dr. James Cameron, founder of The Black Holocaust Museum in Milwaukee, Wisconsin archived at the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute, Birmingham, Alabama, 2002-present.
Other LIKE IT IS radio programs archived at the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute, Birmingham, Alabama, February, 2003-present:
Title: Women in Congress a four-part, hour long radio documentary, 1996.
Title: Dr. Arthur Fletcher, Father of Affirmative Action, 1992.
Title: Nelson Mandela’s receipt of the Medal of Freedom recorded by Robert Franklin, Memphis, Tennessee, 1999.
Title: Samuel Taylor, author, Why African-Americans Call Themselves The N-Word? 2000.
Title: Dr. Aubrey Lucas, former president, University of Southern Mississippi, 1994.
Title: Richie Havens, Folk music singer, 1992.
Title: Dr. Martha Hodes, author, White Women, Black Men: Illicit Sex in the 19th Century South, 2000.
Title: Quincey Troupe, author, Miles and Me, 2000.
Title: Henry Friedman, WashingtonStateHolocaustMuseum, Man’s Inhumanity To Man, 1994.
Title: CliftonDavis, Tony Award-winner and star of AMEN, 1995.
Title: Ted Robinson, Tuskegee Airman, 1992.
Title: Dr. Henry Louis Gates recorded at St. Mary’s College of Maryland, Cultural Diversity, 1992.
Title: The Honorable Dan Blue, former Speaker, North Carolina State Legislature, 1993.
Title: Ann Griffith, TransAfrica, 1992.
Title: The Honorable Constance Slaughter-Harvey, former Secretary of State for Land/Elections state of Mississippi, 1990.
Title: Carol Merritt, Herndon Home, Atlanta, Georgia, 1992.
Title: Jimmie Porter, Founder & CEO, Afro-American Broadcasting, Inc., 1990.
Title: Hallie Gerima, Director and movie producer, 1993.
Title: Attorney Fred Gray of Montgomery, Alabama, 1995.
Title: James Brown, the Godfather of Soul, 1995.
Title: Peggy Berryhill, Native American Stereotyping, 1990.
Title: R.W. Apple, New York Times Journalist, The Tet Offensive, 1993.
Title: Roy Wood, One of the founders of the National Black Network, 1995.
Title: The Honorable L. Douglas Wilder, former governor of Virginia, 1992.
Title: Gil Noble, Host Like It Is on WABC-TV, New York, 1995.
Title: Dr. George Dawson, Healthcare in African-American Community, 1994.
Title: Ramona Africa, MOVE, 1995.
Title: The Honorable Lindy Boggs, former congresswoman from Louisiana, 1995.
Title: The Honorable Jesse Jackson, Jr., congressman from Illinois, 1995.
Title: Catherine Pugh, Notable Black Women in Maryland, 1990.
Title: The Honorable W. Wilson Goode, former mayor, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 1992.
Title: Murder in Mississippi: Re-opening of Medgar Evers Murder Trial, three-part series, 1990.