MTSU faculty and staff were instrumental in providing insights and expertise for reporters recently on subjects such as flooding, Rutherford County history, media critics, inflation, the Trail of Tears and songwriting, among others.

Amy Kostine

Beverly Keel

• Amy Kostine, National Trails Program Coordinator for the Center for Historic Preservation, was interviewed by WUTC-FM in Chattanooga, Tennessee, about modes of transportation used during the Cherokee Nation’s “Trail of Tears.” The audio, which was aired Nov. 9 and posted online Nov. 14, can be heard here.

• Beverly Keel, dean of the College of Media and Entertainment, speculated on what it would mean for country music if Morgan Wallen won the Country Music Association’s album of the year Award in a Nov. 10 article in Billboard Magazine. Her views are available here.

Odie Blackmon

Dr. Charlie Baum

• Odie Blackmon, an associate professor in the Department of Recording Industry, talked about the upcoming expansion of MTSU’s Commercial Songwriting Program in a Nov. 10 article in American Songwriter Magazine. His comments can be accessed here.

• Dr. Charles Baum, a professor of economics and finance, was interviewed about inflation’s impact on consumers in a Nov. 11 report at www.newsy.com. The video can be seen here.

Dr. Elyce Helford

Dr. Kelly Strong

• Dr. Elyce Helford, a professor of English, explained why some faculty are nervous about President Sidney A. McPhee’s decision to lift the university mask mandate in a Nov. 14 report by WZTV-TV in Nashville. The video and transcript are available here.

• Dr. Kelly Strong, director of the School of Concrete and Construction Management, explained why development contributes to rising concerns about flooding in a Nov. 16 report by WSMV-TV in Nashville. The video and transcript can be accessed here.

Dr. Carroll Van West

Dr. Laura Clark

• Dr. Carroll Van West, director of the Center for Historic Preservation, previewed the scheduled Nov. 21 opening of the Rutherford County Historic Courthouse Museum in a Nov. 17 press release posted at www.murfreesboro.com. His remarks can be read here.

• Dr. Laura Clark, director of the Center for Educational Media and an assistant professor of education, was interviewed by The Tennessean for a Nov. 19 podcast about the student organization La Communidad. The video can be accessed here.

Ken Paulson

Dr. Keonte Coleman

• Ken Paulson, director of the Free Speech Center, commented on the blurring of the U.S. presidential and vice presidential seals in videos in a Nov. 22 article in The Daily Magazine. His comments are available here.

• Dr. Keonte Coleman, an assistant professor of journalism, wrote a column exploring why media critics ignore television programs with mostly African American casts that was posted Nov. 22 at www.medium.com. His views can be read here.

Reporters seeking expertise from MTSU personnel, as well as members of the campus community with expertise for media, may contact Gina Logue in the Office of News and Media Relations at 615-631-8322 or via email at gina.logue@mtsu.edu.

— Gina K. Logue (gina.logue@mtsu.edu)