Noted Media Effects Researcher Wins UA’s Burnum Award

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. –Dr. Jennings Bryant, Reagan Endowed Chair of Broadcasting and associate dean for graduate studies and research for the College of Communication and Information Sciences at The University of Alabama, has been selected as this year’s recipient of the Burnum Distinguished Faculty Award.

On Tuesday, April 7, at 4:30 p.m., Bryant will be presented with the award during a ceremony in the UA Child Development Center, after which he will present a lecture entitled “Media and Me – A Convergence of Research Perspectives.”

Established by Dr. and Mrs. John F. Burnum of Tuscaloosa to recognize and promote excellence in research, scholarship and teaching, the award is one of the highest honors the University bestows on its faculty. It is presented annually to a professor who is judged by a faculty selection committee to have demonstrated superior scholarly or artistic achievements and profound dedication to the art of teaching.

“Receiving this award is sincerely an incredible honor,” Bryant said, “especially because the selection was by many of our university’s most esteemed scholars across many different disciplines.”

Bryant came to UA in 1987 to teach in the department of telecommunication and film. In 1989 he founded the Institute for Communication Research and served as director for more than 15 years.

“His scholarly achievements are truly remarkable,” Dr. Loy Singleton, dean of the College of Communication and Information Sciences, wrote in a nomination letter. “He is one of his generation’s most widely read and prolific scholars of media effects, particularly effects on children.”

Bryant has published 25 scholarly books and more than 70 articles in peer-reviewed journals, written more than 75 chapters published in edited scholarly books and delivered more than 250 papers at national and international professional association conventions. He has served on the editorial boards of 15 scholarly journals, currently holding editorial board appointments on 11, and was founding co-editor of the journal Media Psychology.

He has received the Distinguished Scholar Award from the Broadcast Education Association, the leading national scholarly association for broadcasting and telecommunications. Byant has served as president and been elected a Fellow of the preeminent international scholarly society in his field, the International Communication Association.

In 2006 a Research Pioneer Tribute Essay was published in his honor in the Journal of Broadcasting and Electronic Media titled “Jennings Bryant – The ‘Compleat’ Scholar.”

“Jennings is an accomplished teacher and a dynamic lecturer,” Singleton added. “He can deliver the essence of his research in a meaningful way to students at any level – from freshmen to doctoral candidates. His patience and persistence are marvelous.”

The UA College of Communication and Information Sciences is among the largest and most prestigious communication colleges in the nation. The College consistently is ranked among the top 10 in number of doctoral degrees awarded and in many of its research programs.