Brett Atwood, an associate professor at The Edward R. Murrow College of Communication at Washington State University, has been selected to speak alongside some of the nation’s top news media and technology executives as part of the International News Media Association (INMA) conference hosted on the Microsoft campus March 11, 2016. The event includes presentations from several leading media and technology companies, including The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, McClatchy Interactive, and Google.
“This event represents a great opportunity for Murrow College to show off and discuss our innovations in the use of mobile storytelling technology and techniques in the classroom,” Atwood said.
With journalism and communication educators grappling with new ways to engage students in the classroom, Atwood has been using a variety of emerging mobile apps and media platforms. As new content creation tools and distribution platforms continue to emerge, many mobile-savvy millennials find themselves on the frontlines of experimentation in the creation and curation of cutting-edge mobile content. Atwood believes that — because modern media teachers are beginning to integrate Snapchat, Periscope, and even 360-degree VR storytelling into their education mix — it’s critical for today’s media outlets to adapt as a new generation becomes more eager to use video apps to instantly edit and distribute news to both select and wide audiences.
“Our current and future student population primarily gets its news from mobile and social media already, so it only makes sense that we learn how to best explore and embrace these formats in the classroom,” Atwood said. “It is vital that we understand how communication students can create — not just consume — effective and impacting media content across these platforms.”
Atwood is both Director of the Integrated Strategic Communication program and an Associate Professor at the Edward R. Murrow College of Communication. He is a website editor, content strategist, and former print and online journalist whose writings have appeared in Billboard, Rolling Stone, Vibe, Hollywood Reporter and other publications. He has previously held managing editor positions at Amazon.com and RealNetworks.