Research Honors

School of Journalism Professor Stephen Reese was named the 2017 recipient of the Association for Excellence in Journalism and Mass Communication (AEJMC) Paul J. Deutschmann Award for excellence in research.

Presented only when the association deems a worthy recipient, the Deutschmann Award is the association’s highest research award and was first presented in 1969. The honor was named after Deutschmann to recognize his work as one of the first behavioral communication researchers in the movement to study journalism and mass communication scientifically.

Two other School of Journalism former faculty members have won the prestigious distinction including Professor Emeritus Maxwell E. McCombs, a pioneer and founding father of empirical research on the agenda-setting function of the press, and former Moody College Dean Wayne Danielson, recognized for his efforts studying the impact of the computer and computer applications on the newspaper industry.

The award will be presented during the AEJMC business meeting at the 2017 conference in Chicago on Aug. 11, also marking the centennial of the organization.

Reese was recently honored on with the Ellen A. Wartella Distinguished Research Award on Dec. 3 for his article, “Globalization of Mediated Spaces: The Case of Transnational Environmentalism in China.” The award is given to recognize outstanding achievement in the field of communication.

The article asserts that nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) working in China on environmental issues are more successful in advocating for their causes by leveraging “transnational networks”—composed of local and international partners—providing important political connections and furthering the cause of NGOs.

Reese has served on the faculty at UT Austin since 1982 and taught a wide range of subjects from broadcast news to critical thinking for journalists in addition to taking on numerous administrative positions including advisor and director of the School of Journalism.

In research, Reese focuses on media effects and press performance and has published two books co-authoring “Mediating the Message: Theories of Influence on Mass Media Content” and editing a volume of research titled, “Framing Public Life: Perspectives on the Media and How We Understand the Social World.”

Active in journalism and communication associations, Reese has served in the AEJMC and as political communication division head for the International Communication Association. Other awards Reese has won include the Krieghbaum Under-40 Award for impressive research, teaching and public service.