Tag: 2021

Scott Jackson

SCOTT JACKSON

Freelance Sports Broadcaster and Talk Show Host, SiriusXM

Scott Jackson is a freelance broadcaster in Washington D.C. He is a fill-in talk show host at Team 980 and 106.7 The Fan, part time sports anchor at SiriusXM and WTOP, and the TV play-by-play voice for ODU Basketball. A Northern Virginia native and lifelong D.C. sports fan, Jackson is also the official Washington Commanders Football Post-Game Show co-host. He also calls high school basketball and lacrosse for Monumental Sports Network. His career includes time in Raleigh, NC and Jacksonville, FL.

Dr. Richard T. Craig

DR. RICHARD T. CRAIG

Associate Chair Professor, Communications, George Mason University

Dr. Craig is a Professor of Communication at George Mason University. He has been a part of the university and the Department of Communication since the fall of 2009. Dr. Craig received his BA in Journalism from Olivet College, his MA in Telecommunications Management from Michigan State University, and his PhD in Mass Communication/Media Studies from Howard University. His research centers on mass media political economy; addressing the production, distribution and consumption of media content. He takes particular interest in exploring the social structure/struggle embedded in media production and interpreted in media consumption. His goal is to use research to influence the development of policy to enhance opportunities for media production and distribution by marginalized cultures.

DR. RICHARD T. CRAIG

Associate Chair Professor, Communications, George Mason University

Meghan A.T.B. Reese

MEGHAN A.T.B. REESE

Photographer and Videographer

Meghan is a producer, director, and writer whose credits include National Geographic, Discovery Channel, Travel Channel, History Channel, Animal Planet, Amazon Prime, PBS, Microsoft, Facebook, and NASA. She is also a photographer for the National Park Service, where she has covered three presidential administrations at her assigned park, The White House. Her photography has been featured by The National Park Service, The New York Times, The L.A. Times, The Wall Street Journal, PBS, and more. Prior to transitioning to television and film, Meghan was an award-winning writer and editor, beginning her career at USA Today. She holds a journalism degree from American University and is completing her Master’s in journalism at Emerson College.

MEGHAN A.T.B. REESE

Photographer and Videographer

Matt Schott

MATT SCHOTT

Faculty Advisor

Matthew is the publications adviser at Francis Howell Central High School in Cottleville, Mo., as well as a freelance photographer, specializing in high school sports. He has been the adviser at FHC for the past 21 years and has been a faculty adviser at WJMC since 2011. In addition to photography, Matt is an avid reader and consumer of all things journalism, is a huge soccer fan, Chicago Blackhawks and Cubs fan. He is married with two kids and two dogs.

MATT SCHOTT

Faculty Advisor

April van Buren

APRIL VAN BUREN

Faculty Advisor

April van Buren, M.J.E., advises newspaper, broadcast and yearbook, and also teaches various digital media classes including graphic design and social media and marketing at East High School in Madison, Wisconsin. She has taught journalism for more than 20 years, including at Parkway Central High School near St. Louis, Missouri and at Mesa Vista Middle and High School in rural New Mexico. She has been an adjunct professor for the communications department at the University of New Mexico-Taos. From 2010 to 2013, she served as the New Mexico director for the Journalism Education Association (JEA) and as the vice president of the New Mexico Scholastic Press Association. She earned her National Board certification in language arts in 2012, and studied journalism, education and library sciences at the University of Missouri-Columbia. She was the 2013 New Mexico Adviser of the Year, is the current President of the Kettle Moraine Press Association, serves on the Wisconsin JEA Board and previously ran the JEA national quiz bowl and the broadcast contests.

APRIL VAN BUREN

Faculty Advisor

Jessica Young

JESSICA YOUNG

Faculty Advisor

Jessica Young is returning for another summer with the Washington Journalism and Media Conference. She teaches yearbook, journalism, photography, video production and graphic design at Orange Glen High School in Escondido, California. Her yearbook staff was recognized as the 2025 Diversity Award winner, for their commitment to creating a multi-lingual yearbook for their diverse school population. Young earned her bachelor’s degree in journalism and anthropology from San Diego State University and her master’s degree in education from University of California, San Diego. Outside the classroom, she serves as the vice president and communications chair for her school district’s teachers union. She is also the president of the San Diego Journalism Education Association and serves as the secretary for the Southern California Journalism Education Association. In addition to teaching, she also enjoys running, baking, baseball, putting glitter on things and traveling. She has conquered the Original Marathon Greece, the Inca Trail in Peru, and the Marine Corps Marathon in Washington, DC. She and her husband are on a quest to visit all the major league baseball stadiums across the country.

JESSICA YOUNG

Faculty Advisor

Jessica Young is returning for another summer with the Washington Journalism and Media Conference. She teaches yearbook, journalism, photography, video production and graphic design at Orange Glen High School in Escondido, California. She earned her bachelor’s degree in journalism and anthropology from San Diego State University and her master’s degree in education from University of California, San Diego. Outside the classroom, she serves as the vice president and communications chair for her school district’s teachers union. She is also the president of the San Diego Journalism Education Association and serves as the secretary for the Southern California Journalism Education Association. In addition to teaching, she also enjoys running, baking, watching baseball, putting glitter on things, and traveling. She has conquered the Original Marathon Greece, the Inca Trail in Peru, and the Marine Corps Marathon in Washington, DC. She and her husband are on a quest to visit all the major league baseball stadiums across the country.

Katie Fletcher

KATIE FLETCHER

Faculty Advisor

Katie (Fletch) Fletcher is a proud native Texan with a BA in political science and English from Texas Tech University. She teaches in a small town and is the sole member of the fine arts department at her school, where she oversees the production of the yearbook and the coordination of photography, teaches all art courses, and is in her 16th year of instructing journalism. Katie advises student council, fostering leadership skills and encouraging meaningful contributions to both the school and the community. She is passionate about the leadership development supported by both student council and WJMC, and she finds fulfillment in watching her students grow and succeed. Katie enjoys spending time with her family, photography, reading, attending concerts and festivals with her sister Emily, following sports, playing spades, and traveling. She is thrilled to return to WJMC!

KATIE FLETCHER

Faculty Advisor

Justin Turner

JUSTIN TURNER

Faculty Advisor

Justin Turner has taught journalism and advised yearbooks, newspapers, and literary magazines for 15 years. In that time he’s found his passion: supporting students, the 1st amendment, and the power of those two things together. Justin’s staffs have won numerous state and national awards including gold medals, first divisions, individual write off awards, Arkansas’s top honor, the All-Arkansas award, and has placed in the top 10 best of show at a JEA/NSPA convention. Justin was named the 2020 Arkansas Adviser of the Year. He’s lost count of how many WJMC sessions he’s been able to attend, but each one has made for an amazing summer!

JUSTIN TURNER

Faculty Advisor

Sue Muraida

SUE MURAIDA

Assistant Director

Sue Muraida is a best-selling author, speaker, and pursuer of abundant life. Over the past 30 years, she has worked as a medical photographer, photojournalist, leadership trainer, writer, and teacher. Sue has published three books, Change For a Penny, The Silent Sound of Darkness, and her memoir Going Back For Me, as well as co-authored the anthology Deserts To Mountaintops: Our Collective Journey To (Re)Claiming Our Voice. She is currently the program director for Humanities North Dakota.

Rodger Smith

RODGER SMITH

Professor & WGMU Radio/Podcast Faculty Advisor, George Mason University

Professor Rodger Smith is a professor of Communication at George Mason University. He is currently teaching COMM 359 Media Management, COMM 148 Radio Workshop 1, COMM 354 Radio Production, COMM 348 Radio Workshop 2 and COMM 372 Sports and the Media.

He is currently the faculty advisor for WGMU, the campus online radio station. Professor Smith’s interest in Communications came from an interest in the cause and effect of programming and how the media affects culture, daily life and technology. His previous work in radio includes working for WFTR Front Royal, Virginia where he was a news director (1986-1988), sports director and mid-day on-air talent (1988-1989) and a morning drive personality (1990-1992). He also worked as an advertising/production director for WUSQ Winchester.

Professor Smith was honored in Who’s Who in the Media and Communications in 1997-1998. Professor Smith also serves as the public address announcer for football and basketball games at his Alma Mater, Warren County High School in Front Royal, VA.