EDUCATION
Ph.D., Portland State University, 2018, Urban Studies
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Dissertation: News work: The impact of corporate newsroom culture on news workers & community reporting
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Concentrations: Community Development & Mass Media
Recipient of Toulan School Dean's Award for dissertation research
M.S., Portland State University, 2005, Communication Studies
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Thesis: Does the “news” come first? Social responsibility, infotainment, and local television newscasts in Portland, Oregon: A content analysis
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Concentrations: Mass Media & Research Methods
B.A. Journalism, University of Georgia, 1997, Telecommunication Arts
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Minor: Spanish Magna Cum Laude with High Honors
ACADEMIC EXPERIENCE
Assistant Professor, University of Kentucky, 2022-present
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JOU404: Advanced Television News**
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MAS201: Communication Technology & Society**#^
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MAS312: Television Studio Production**
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MAS403: Live Television Production**
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MAS442: Advanced Multi-Cam Studio Production*
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JAM395: Independent Study - Advanced Live TV Production
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JAM399: Wildcat News Internship supervisor​​
*Proposed and designed new course
**Redesigned course​
#Updated course for core curriculum inclusion
^Updated for distance learning
Assistant Professor, California State University, Fresno, 2018-2022
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MCJ13 (formerly MCJ113): Intro to Studio Video Production**
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MCJ14: Multiplatform and Mobile Journalism**
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MCJ113/136: Advanced Television Production (also taught as Media Projects)*
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MCJ115: Field Video Production
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MCJ121: News Video Production*
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MCJ123/177t/190: Fresno State Focus Crew*
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MCJ128: TV/Multimedia News Reporting (Broadcast/Multiplatform Capstone)
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MCJ177t: Career Portfolio**
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MCJ178: New Media Technologies
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MCJ190: Independent Study
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Designed & implemented undergraduate Studio Production certificate
*Proposed and designed new course **Designed or redesigned course
Part Time Faculty, Clackamas Community College, 2016-2018
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J220: Introduction to Broadcast Journalism**
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J221: Intermediate Broadcast Journalism**
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J222: Advanced Broadcast Journalism**
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J280: Journalism Cooperative Work Experience
**Redesigned course
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Adjunct Faculty, Portland State University, 2011
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UNST243: Sophomore Inquiry: Media Studies
Graduate Research Assistant, Portland State University, 2009-2010
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Research assistant for Dr. Gerald Sussman of the Urban Studies department
LOCAL TELEVISION EXPERIENCE
KGW-TV, Portland, Oregon, 2006-2018
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Director/technical director/ELC operator, running audio, video, cameras (robotic, studio & handheld), graphics, & IFB for live news, sports, entertainment, and other programming.
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Newsroom social media and web posting duties.
KPTV-TV & KPDX-TV, Portland, Oregon, 2000-2006
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Director/technical director and video/graphics operator for live news, sports, and other programming.
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News promotion writing and syndicated editing duties.
WBBH-TV & WZVN-TV, Fort Myers, Florida, 1998-2000
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Director, technical director, production assistant, & video editor for live news, sports, entertainment, and other programming.
University News, Athens, Georgia, 1997
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All production positions for the University of Georgia’s live daily newscast.
REFEREED PUBLICATIONS
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Higgins-Dobney, C.L. (2024). Make slot, not art: Creativity and burnout in U.S. local television newsrooms. Journalism Practice, online first
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Higgins-Dobney, C.L. (2021). Not on air, but online: The labor conditions of the digital journalist in U.S. local television newsrooms. Electronic News, 15(3-4)
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Higgins-Dobney, C.L. (2020). News work: The impact of corporate-implemented technology on local television newsroom labor. Journalism Practice, 15(8), 1054-1071
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Higgins-Dobney, C.L. & Sussman, G. (2013). The growth of TV news, the demise of the journalism profession. Media, Culture & Society, 35(7), 847-863
BOOK CHAPTERS & INVITED CONTRIBUTIONS
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Higgins-Dobney, C.L. (forthcoming, anticipated 2024). New Media Technologies - syllabus and midterm project. In R. Kaufmann & B. Frisby (Eds.) Teaching Communication Volume 4. Cognella.
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Higgins-Dobney, C.L. (2024). Unions strike a balance of power between newsroom workers and newsroom owners. Response to Assmann, K.’s (2024) We’ve got a union, now what? Journalism & Communication Monographs, 26(2), 169-172
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Higgins-Dobney, C.L. (2021). Producing in precarity: A focus on freelancing in U.S. local television newsrooms. In Chadha, K. & L. Steiner (Eds.) Newswork and Precarity (pp. 71-83). Routledge.
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Sussman, G. & Higgins-Dobney, C.L. (2016). The planned obsolescence of tv journalism. In R. Maxwell (Ed.) The Routledge Companion to Labor & Media (pp. 230-241). New York, New York: Taylor & Francis.
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Republished (2017) in V. Mosco, G. Murdoch, and J. Yao (Eds.) Digital Labour in the Media Industries: A Western Perspective, (pp. 142-161). Shanghai Translation Publishing House
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Higgins, C.L. & Sussman, G. (2007). Plugola: News for profit, entertainment, and network consolidation. In T.A. Gibson & M. Lowes (Eds.) Urban Communication: Production, Text, Context (pp. 141-164). Lanham, Maryland: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Inc.
WORKS IN PROGRESS
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Higgins-Dobney, C.L. (in manuscript preparation). Working title: Revisiting news work in 2024: Corporate technology use & worker impact in U.S. local tv newsrooms
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Higgins-Dobney, C.L. (in manuscript preparation). Working title: Stressed out, checked out and burned out: The impact of endless drama and trauma on U.S. local television news employees
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PRESENTATIONS
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Higgins-Dobney, C.L. (2024). On air, online and over-the-top: Impacts of technology on labor in U.S. local TV newsrooms. Organizer, moderator & presenter for research panel at the Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication conference in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
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Higgins-Dobney, C.L. (2024). Journalism in diverse contexts: From AI to podcasts to rural journalism. Discussant for refereed research paper session at the Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication conference in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
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Higgins-Dobney, C.L. (2024). Tackling the technology of the control room. Best practices for teaching the tech of live production. Presented at the Broadcast Education Association Conference in Las Vegas, Nevada.
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Higgins-Dobney, C.L. (2024). Just because you can, doesn't mean you should. Presented at the Broadcast Education Association Conference in Las Vegas, Nevada.
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Higgins-Dobney, C.L. (2024). Where do we go now? Teaching social media in the era of X. Organizer and moderator for panel at the Broadcast Education Association Conference in Las Vegas, Nevada.
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Higgins-Dobney, C.L. (2024). Video Killed the ___________Star. A Great Ideas For Teaching (G.I.F.T.) poster presented at the Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication Southeast Colloquium in Lexington, Kentucky.
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Higgins-Dobney, C.L. (2023). Make Slot Not Art: Creativity, Alienation and Burnout in U.S. Local Television Newsrooms. Paper presented at the Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication Conference in Washington, D.C.
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Higgins-Dobney, C.L. (2023). Square Pegs & Round Holes: The Adventures of “Oddball” Faculty Bridging Media Specialties in Academia. Organizer & moderator for panel at the Broadcast Education Association Conference in Las Vegas, Nevada.
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Higgins-Dobney, C.L. (2023). Choose Your Own Adventure: The secret sauce for teaching production classes of mixed majors. Presented at the Broadcast Education Association Conference in Las Vegas, Nevada.
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Higgins-Dobney, C.L. (2022). College students and community media: Partnerships with PEG and other outlets. Organizer for panel at the Broadcast Education Association Conference in Las Vegas, Nevada.
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Higgins-Dobney, C.L. (2022). News Division - Top Paper Presentations. Organizer and moderator of research paper competition panel at the Broadcast Education Association Conference in Las Vegas, Nevada.
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Higgins-Dobney, C.L. (2021). Producing in precarity: A focus on freelancing in U.S. local television newsrooms. Presented online at the virtual International Communication Association Conference.
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Higgins-Dobney, C.L. (2021). Smashing silos: Encouraging student and faculty collaboration across media disciplines. Organizer and moderator at the virtual Broadcast Education Association Conference.
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Higgins-Dobney, C.L. (2021). News Division - Top Paper Presentations. Organizer and moderator of research paper competition at the virtual Broadcast Education Association Conference.
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Higgins-Dobney, C.L. & Stephens, K. (2020). Crushing it on social media. Presented online for a Media, Communications & Journalism department #Adulting panel at California State University, Fresno
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Higgins-Dobney, C.L. (2020). The digital journalist’s labor conditions in U.S. local television newsrooms. Paper presented at BEA Virtual On-Location Conference.
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Higgins-Dobney, C.L. (2020). PEG in Peril? Potential impacts of FCC decisions on community media partnerships for student broadcasts and local coverage. Organizer, moderator, and presenter at the virtual Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication Conference.
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Higgins-Dobney, C.L (2020). Teaching visually online. Presented online for a Provost’s panel at California State University, Fresno
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Higgins-Dobney, C.L. (2020). How do you teach multi-camera production? Presented online at the Broadcast Education Association Conference, “BEA Virtual Vegas.”
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Higgins-Dobney, C.L. (2020). #Ready? Preparing students for professional social media use beyond the classroom. Organizer & Moderator for panel presented online at the Broadcast Education Association Conference, “BEA Virtual Vegas.”
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Higgins-Dobney, C.L. (2019). Telling the story from Starbucks: The growth of MMJs and death of editorial oversight – Implications for journalistic credibility. Presented at the Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication Conference in Toronto, Canada.
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Higgins-Dobney, C.L. (2019). How to convey industry experience from the director’s chair into the production classroom to elevate your department’s inclusion and diversity curriculum charge. Presented at the Broadcast Education Association Conference, Las Vegas, Nevada.
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Higgins-Dobney, C.L. (2019). Teaching storytelling on the go: Mobile technology for student production toolboxes. Organizer & Moderator for panel presented at the Broadcast Education Association Conference, Las Vegas, Nevada.
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Higgins-Dobney, C.L. (2018). News work in the age of consolidated corporate ownership: Navigating corporate profits and the public interest as a newsroom worker. Presented at the Broadcast Education Association Conference. Las Vegas, Nevada. 3rd place award for News Division Open Paper competition.
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Higgins-Dobney, C.L. (2017). Technology, flexible labor, corporate expectations, and the local TV newsroom worker. Digital Poster presented at the Broadcast Education Association Conference. Las Vegas, Nevada.
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Higgins-Dobney, C.L. (2016). News work: Local television news employees, corporate culture, and the impact on community reporting. Presented at the Broadcast Education Association Super-Regional Conference. University of South Carolina, Columbia, South Carolina. Award for Best Student Research in Progress.
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Sussman, G. & Higgins-Dobney, C.L. (2015). The planned obsolescence of television journalism. Presented at the International Association for Media and Communication Research. University of Quebec at Montreal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
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Higgins-Dobney, C.L. (2015). News work: The impact of corporate newsroom culture on news workers & community reporting. Speed Networking event. University of Quebec at Montreal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
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Higgins, C.L. & Sussman, G. (2012). Impacts of conglomeration and new technology on the local TV newsroom. Presented at What is television? A conference exploring the past, present, and future of television. University of Oregon, Portland, Oregon.
GRANTS
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2021, 2020 Instructionally-Related Activities (IRA) grant to allow students to enter their projects into creative competitions. $500 per year.
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2019 RAISING THE BAR: From awareness to action about the First Amendment at Fresno State! With Nancy VanLeuven, James Boren, Tim Drachlis, Bradley Hart & Betsy Hays. $2,900.
AWARDS & NOMINATIONS
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2024 Nominated for CI Faculty Teaching Excellence Award at University of Kentucky
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2021 Nominated for Promising New Faculty Provost Award by the Media, Communications & Journalism Department at California State University, Fresno
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2021 Nominated for Outstanding Advisor Award at California State University, Fresno
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2020 Research, Scholarship, and Creative Activities (RSCA) award from California State University, Fresno to work on PEG in Peril research project
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2018 Portland State University Toulan School Dean's Award for dissertation research
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2018 Broadcast Education Association Conference: 3rd place News Division Open Paper competition
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2016 Broadcast Education Association Super-Regional Conference: Top Student Research-In-Progress Award
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2015 Marie Brown Travel Award from Portland State University for use at International Association for Media and Communication Research Conference in Montreal, Quebec, Canada
FACULTY COMMITTEES & UNIVERSITY SERVICE
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University of Kentucky
School of Journalism and Media Committees
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2024-2025: Search committee member for Tenure Track Media Arts and Studies Assistant Professor
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2024: Journalism portfolio requirement subcommittee
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2023-2024: Search committee member for open-rank Tenure Track Media Arts and Studies Professor
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2023-present: Student website task force
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2023: Search committee member for Tenure Track Journalism and Media Assistant Professor and Broadcast News and Sports Lecturer positions and for IT support specialist III studio/equipment manager position
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2022-present: Scholarship committee
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2022-present: Ad hoc curriculum committee. MAS Co-convener 2024-present
Other School of Journalism and Media Service
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2022-present: Working with studio engineers & IT department to fix and update studio staging and production setups ahead of the move to Rupp Arena. This includes fixed lighting, a non-virtual standing monitor set area, an added camera and added video editing and voiceover spaces.
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College of Communication & Information Service
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2024-present: Member of Faculty Council
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2022-present: Part of ongoing meetings to prepare studio and staging areas for new Rupp Arena studios. This includes tech, layout and gear research and suggestions.
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2022: Re-established institutional membership with the Broadcast Education Association.
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California State University, Fresno
Media, Communications & Journalism Department Committees
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2021: Search committee for tenure-track Digital Journalism & Social Justice Assistant Professor position
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2019-present: Studio (Chair: beginning AY 2021-22), Curriculum, Research & IRB, Scholarship, Graduate Program Exploration, World Domination (“Smashing silos”)
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2018-2019: Curriculum, Scholarship, Graduate Program Exploration, MCJ Core Curriculum Redevelopment, World Domination (“Smashing silos”)
Other Media, Communications & Journalism Department Service
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2021: Worked with engineer Terry Dolph and student assistant Ben Cruz to modernize and begin replacing failing equipment in the multimedia studio
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2021: Faculty supervisor for student engineering assistant
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2021: Curated and presented top broadcast option video stories for MCJ's Student Film & Video Showcase as part of Arts in Motion
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2020: Dog Days presentations for new MCJ students
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2019-present: Advisor for Broadcast & Multiplatform students
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2019: Co-emcee for the Hall of Fame awards
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2019: Redesigned news set and studio layout with student assistant Elijah Roberts
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2019: Co-hosted MCJ table & studio tour for community college outreach
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2019: Co-hosted MCJ table for incoming students at Bulldog Bash
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2018-present: Studio tours for area high schoolers interested in MCJ
College of Arts & Humanities Committees
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2021-2022: Development; Communications (ad hoc)
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2020-2021: Development: Chair; Communications (ad hoc)
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2019-2020: Development: Secretary & Vice Chair; Communications (ad hoc)
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2018-2019: Development
Other College of Arts & Humanities Service
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2019: Provided field production students to document Thomas Ellis’ run of Carmen Jones for the Theatre Arts Department
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2018, 2019: Provided production crew and support for Theatre for Film workshop run by Thomas Ellis of the Theatre Dept.
University Committees
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2021-present: Research Subcommittee of the Academic Senate
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2020-2021: Tenure-track Faculty Organization: Webmaster, Social Media Promotions & Executive Board Member
Other University Service
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2020: Virtual Summer Institute Facilitator for advanced online teaching faculty sessions. Through the Center for Faculty Excellence
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2020: eLearning Faculty Fellow. Provided tutorial videos and presented at a Provost panel about teaching online visually. Through the Center for Faculty Excellence
Clackamas Community College
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2017: Scholarship Committee for the Priscilla Buckley Award for women in journalism
PROFESSIONAL SERVICE
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​Academic Publishers
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2023: Manuscript peer reviewer for Lexington Books, an arm of Rowman & Littlefield
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2023: Peer reviewer for Emerald Publishing journal Employee Relations
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2022: Peer reviewer for Sage journal Journalism
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2021-present: Editorial board member of Sage's Electronic News journal
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2021-present: Peer reviewer for Taylor & Francis journal Journalism Practice
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2020: KOME international communication journal peer reviewer
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Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication (AEJMC)
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2024, 2023: Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication (AEJMC) – Broadcast & Mobile Journalism peer review judge for main conference research paper submissions
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2020: Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication (AEJMC) – Electronic News Division peer review judge for main conference research paper submissions
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2020: Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication (AEJMC) – Electronic News Division peer review judge for Southeast Colloquium research paper submissions
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2019: Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication (AEJMC) – Electronic News Division peer review judge for BEA – On location conference paper and research-in-progress submission
Broadcast Education Association (BEA)
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2024-present: Chair for the Electronic News Division of the Broadcast Education Association (BEA)
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2024: Broadcast Education Association (BEA) peer reviewer for BEA – On location conference research paper submissions
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2022-2024: Vice Chair of Panels for the Electronic News Division of the Broadcast Education Association (BEA). Coordinates panel review and selection for main conference
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2022: Broadcast Education Association (BEA) Festival of Media Arts judge for student multi-cam (live or live-to-tape) projects
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2021: Broadcast Education Association (BEA) peer reviewer for BEA – On location conference paper and research in progress submissions
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2021: Broadcast Education Association (BEA) Festival of Media Arts judge for faculty Interactive Media and Emerging Technologies (IMET) projects
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2020-2022: Vice Chair of Research Papers for the Electronic News Division of the Broadcast Education Association (BEA). Coordinated peer-reviewed research paper competition for main conference
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2020-present: Broadcast Education Association (BEA) Festival of Media Arts judge for student Interactive Media and Emerging Technologies (IMET) projects
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2019: Broadcast Education Association (BEA) - World Journalism Education Conference (WJEC) Creative Competition judge for student news entries
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2017-2018: Broadcast Education Association (BEA) Festival of Media Arts judge for student newscasts 3 days a week or less
Other Professional Service
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2021: International Communication Association (ICA) peer reviewer for the Journalism Studies division’s international conference paper competition
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2021-2022: Hometown Media Awards judge for the national Alliance for Community Media competition
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2015- 2016: University of Georgia Grady College Mentor for journalism school students seeking to begin their broadcast careers in the local television news industry​​
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PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS​
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Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication (AEJMC)
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Broadcast Education Association (BEA)
Vice Chair of Panels, Electronic News Division (elected to leadership AY 2020)
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International Communication Association (ICA)