1. Latoya Lee
Course Director, New Media Journalism and Public Relations
Full Sail University
Statement of Teaching Philosophy
“Great teaching is about so much more than education; it is a daily fight for social justice.”
United States Secretary of Education Arne Duncan, 2009.
The responsibility of merging critical pedagogy with journalistic objectivity has become
increasingly laborious as specific social injustices continue to compromise human and civil
rights. As an educator in a liberal arts environment, I’m tasked with the responsibility of helping
students develop critical and analytical thinking skills, an appreciable level of social
consciousness, and an unwavering respect for diversity while remaining within the confines of
moral and ethical obligations. While maintaining the balance between journalistic integrity and
educating students on the core pillars of equality has been an ambitious undertaking, it remains
the most fundamental aspect of my teaching philosophy.
My approach to teaching journalism is traceable to my experiences as a news producer. My
courses focus on three key components: reading, critical thinking and writing. My classes teach
students various ways of acquiring information, using critical thinking skills to evaluate the
information and determine the most pertinent elements, and disseminating the information across
multiple platforms while maintaining an emphasis on globalization. In the newsroom,
collaborative efforts present in the form of editorial meetings, wherein content ideas are shared
and differing perspectives offered. My Media Relations course combines informational lectures
with student-driven discussions. The guided collaboration allows for sharing of best practices
and the consideration of varying interpretations. While the majority of the discussions are
executed virtually, the benefit of international student inclusion culminates a more diverse
learning experience thereby re-emphasizing my commitment to cultural tolerance.
The next generation of journalists need not only to understand sociocultural perspectives, but
must also be forward-thinking in terms of digital storytelling and the development of innovative
strategies to accommodate the emergence of new technologies. My Online Media Room course
provides a solid foundation of the practical and theoretical skills necessary to succeed in the
rapidly changing era of broadcast, print and online journalism. While my Media Relations course
allows students to hone video and audio production skills as well as conceptualize and write
news stories, my OMR course helps students become acclimated with web publishing/design,
social media and other digital technologies of modern journalism. Students are tasked with
executing assignments that require the employment of basic research methods such as research
planning, analysis and testing. The practice of these methods presents in the form of primary and
secondary research findings to support the students’ belief that his/her capstone project will be
effective and successful.
Developing methodology is not exclusive to my students. Instructors in Full Sail University’s
Public Relations and New Media/Digital Media Journalism track collaborate on innovative ways
to transform curriculum so as to remain on pace with new media trends - specifically for
technology-oriented classes. Most recently we’ve introduced our students to Behance (Creative

2. Cloud), a network of sites and services developed by Adobe Systems specializing in online
portfolio sites - among other services. Behance not only replaced seemingly antiquated Dropbox
and Google docs, but also combined the benefits of several social media/portfolio building
platforms into one network. After content migration, student’s have reported a greater ease in
collaboration and file sharing with the usage of this design software. We instructors are
perpetually brainstorming innovative ways to transform journalism education, including
collaborating with industry experts and partnering with domestic and international media
professionals on special course projects. A recent project for which I was instrumental was a
partnership with Full Sail University students and The Embassies of France. Students were
charged with highlighting their skills in video story telling, audio production, directing and
editing by creating a short video proposing solutions to climate change. Three students were
ultimately selected to fly to Lyon, France in November to collaborate and share his/her climate
change solutions.
I have maintained an active research agenda throughout my appointment and have presented
numerous innovative solutions to the challenges technological advancements pose for journalism
education. My research interests remain informed by proven methods of merging design
ideology with the journalistic process and will continue to focus on exploring a documented
methodology in journalism. Additionally, my team of colleagues have designed a qualitative
research project to examine the efficacy of teacher training programs in journalism to ensure that
instructors are properly equipped to speak intelligently to advancements in the industry.
Instilling an appreciation for the ethics of responsible communication while maintaining a
commitment to transforming journalism education remains paramount for me as an educator and
seasoned journalist. Having dedicated 14 years of my professional life to a newsroom and more
than 2 years teaching at the graduate level, I’m confident students depart my classes with a
deeper understanding and appreciation for effective global communication strategies and a
passion for innovation.