VITA BURNIS R. MORRIS ACADEMIC RECORD Degrees completed Master of Public Administration, University of Dayton, May 1977. Bachelor of Arts, Journalism, University of Mississippi, May 1973. High school diploma, Oak Park High School, Laurel, Mississippi, May 1969. Other academic credits 33 semester hours of graduate courses -- mass communication theory, media and society, research methods, research in new media, survey research, content analysis, media history, media law, constitutional law, organizational culture and leadership, public relations management--university of Texas, Austin, College of Communication and Law School, 1988-90. Charles Kettering Foundation, Dayton, Ohio. Conducted study of urban education for master s degree project (1977). EMPLOYMENT RECORD Current Employment Carter G. Woodson Professor, W. Page Pitt School of Journalism and Mass Communications, Marshall University, since 2003; head, Journalism Division, since 2006. Courses taught include advanced reporting, copy editing, public affairs reporting, women and minorities in the media, computer-assisted reporting, media history and public relations. Previous Full-time Academic Employment Associate Professor and Samuel S. Talbert Lecturer, University of Mississippi, Department of Journalism, 1998-2005. Taught media history, advanced reporting courses. (On leave at Marshall, 2003-2005). Assistant Professor, University of Kentucky School of Journalism and Telecommunications, 1996-98. Taught reporting and public relations principles and cases. Assistant Professor, Louisiana State University, Manship School of Mass Communication, 1990-94. Taught reporting, advanced reporting, copy editing, journalism history, media and society and public relations cases. Lecturer, Southwest Texas State University, San Marcos, Texas, 1988-90. Taught public relations and news-editorial courses.
Full-time Newspaper Employment (at newspapers owned by Cox Enterprises, except Charlotte Observer) Director of Marketing Services and Community Relations, Austin American-Statesman, a Cox newspaper, 1986-1987. Managed all newspaper research and promotion ($1 million budget), public relations, and charitable contributions ($100,000+). Member, Executive Committee and Budget Committee ($80 million+); director, Cox Minority Scholarship program, 1986-1987. Assistant Business Manager, Austin American-Statesman, a Cox newspaper: responsibilities included circulation, newsprint for all Cox papers in Texas and The New York Times national edition. Member, Executive Committee and Budget Committee, 1984-1986. Assistant Business Manager, Palm Beach Newspapers Inc., (Palm Beach Post and others) a Cox newspaper division. Managed multimillion-dollar building expansion and renovation, building maintenance, cafeteria and security departments. Member, Budget Committee. Transferred from Atlanta Journal and Constitution, 1983-1984. Night City Editor, assistant city editor; a national/foreign desk editor, Atlanta Constitution, a Cox newspaper, 1979-1982. Covered both national political conventions (GOP in Detroit, Democrats in New York) in 1980. City Hall and Political Reporter, Charlotte Observer, a Knight Ridder newspaper, 1979. Business Editor, The Journal Herald (Dayton, Ohio), a Cox newspaper. Also, city hall reporter, county government and urban affairs reporter, 1973-1979. Other News Experience Columnist, reporter, features editor, Daily Mississippian, University of Mississippi, 1970-1973. Founder, editor, The Spectator, University of Mississippi, 1970-1973. Writer/photographer, Office of Public Information, University of Mississippi, part time, 1970-1973. Consulting/Expert Witness Expert witness, libel case (2009-2010): Daniel Butcher and Custom Surroundings, Inc., plaintiffs, V. Lincoln Journal, Inc., Thomas A. Robinson and Ron Gregory, U.S. District Court, Southern District of West Virginia, case no. 2:09-0373, and Circuit Court of Cabell County, West Virginia, case no. 08-C-1071, Feb. 24, 2010. Consultant, Research!America, science journalism conferences, Alexandria, Va., 1996-2001. Consultant, Media Education Program, Independent Sector, Washington, D.C., 1992-1999. Consultant, promoting the value of medical research, Research!Kentucky, 1996-1998. Consultant, Port of New Orleans, (Internal/external communications), 1993. Senior consultant, Sommers & Associates, public relations, Houston, Texas, 1990-1996. Consultant, Cox Newspapers, Austin, Texas, 1987-1988.
AWARDS/RECOGNITION Carter G. Woodson Fellow, Emory University, 2012. Distinguished John Deaver Drinko Academy Fellow, 2011-2013. West Virginia Humanities Council Fellowship, 2011-2012. Visiting Scholar, Freedom Forum First Amendment Center, Vanderbilt University, 1994-1995. National Endowment for the Humanities fellowship for journalists (to study modern fiction) at the University of California-Berkeley, summer 1978. Charles Kettering Foundation, Dayton, Ohio. Conducted study of urban education for master s degree project, 1977. Monitor, Dow Jones News Fund Copy Editing Internship Test, since 2007. Fellow, Institute for Journalism Excellence, American Society of Newspaper Editors. Worked as a visiting assignment editor, The Record, Hackensack, N.J., summer 1998. Summer, Professor in Residence, faculty intern, Lexington Herald-Leader, Market Research Department, through Kentucky Press Association. Conducted study of customer base of newspaper online service, summer 1997. Visiting Scholar, Freedom Forum First Amendment Center, Vanderbilt University, 1994-1995. American Society of Newspaper Editors professor in residence, faculty intern, copy editor, Dallas Morning News, summer 1991. Gannett Professional in Residence, William Allen White School of Journalism and Mass Communication, University of Kansas, spring 1992. Taught copy editing, reporting and media and society courses. Summer Teaching Fellow, St. Cloud State University, St. Cloud, Minnesota, 1991. Taught journalism history. National Endowment for the Humanities fellowship for journalists (to study modern fiction) at the University of California-Berkeley, summer 1978. Best Magazine Article (search of college dormitories), Region 3, Society of Professional Journalists, 1973; Best Magazine Article, Memphis Gridiron, 1973, $100. Cadet of the Year, Oak Park High School ROTC, 1967. Intern, The New York Times, 1972. PUBLICATIONS Books: Morris, B. (Work in Progress). Enlisting the Black Press: Carter G. Woodson s Use of Newspapers to Promote Black History. Martin, G. (2010). Count them one by one. Jackson: Mississippi University Press. (B. Morris edited two chapters.) Wickham, K. (2007). Role of the Clarion-Ledger in the Adoption of the 1982 Education Reform Act: Winning the Pulitzer Prize. London: Edwin Mellen Pr. (Foreword by Burnis Morris)
Morris, B. (1998). Covering Nonprofit Organizations and Their People: A Journalist's Guide. Washington, D.C.: Independent Sector. Morris, B. (1993). Nonprofit News Coverage: A Guide for Journalists. Washington, D.C.: Independent Sector. Journal Article: Morris, B. (1999, October). Are journalists qualified to write about health and science? Journal of the Mississippi Academy of Sciences, 44(4), 183-189. Selected Newspaper and Other Articles by Burnis Morris: (2014). Carter G. Woodson: The early years, 1875-1903. Retrieved from http://asalh100.org/carter-g-woodson-the-early-years-1875-1903/ (2010, April 25). Burnis R. Morris: Workshop offers students window into journalism. The Herald-Dispatch, p. 7. (2002, Dec. 12). Mighty Times showing signs of staff dissent. Jackson Clarion-Ledger, p. 11A. (2001, Oct. 2). Drama queens, wimps cower to threat of travel. Jackson Clarion- Ledger, p. 7A. (2001, July 31). Minorities have strong stake in philanthropy. Jackson Clarion-Ledger, p. 9A. (2000, April). In their own words, in 435 project pages, Research!America, 4, p. 4. (1999, Aug. 1). Fund-raising fallout spreads beyond PBS, The Boston Sunday Globe, p. E3. (1998, Oct. 11). What to do when you have way too much money, The Boston Sunday Globe, Sunday Focus. (1998, Oct. 10). Charitable giving may suffer because of partisan politics. Lexington Herald-Leader, Op-Ed page. (1998, Sept. 29). Popular gift incentive may have died in politics. Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal, p. 4A. (1998, Nov. 1). Politics threatens tax law vital to nonprofits survival. Jackson Clarion- Ledger, p. 9A. (1998, Nov. 1). Wealthy are handing over billions to nonprofit groups.sunday Record, Hackensack, N.J., p. RO-7. (1997, Dec. 19). The best advice: Open books during crises. Community Voice, Lexington, Ky. (1997, Dec. 19) 21 st century news: Why a conference is necessary. Community Voice, Lexington, Ky. (1997, September). Online papers must test the waters to determine what customers want. The Kentucky Press, p. 1. (1980, Dec. 23). McNamara warns of disorderly world if industrial nations ignore the others. Atlanta Constitution, p. 1A. (Former Defense Secretary Robert McNamara retires as president of the World Bank.) (1980, April 14). Gov. Winter not whistling Dixie: The interview. Atlanta Constitution, p. 1. (William Winter takes office as governor of Mississippi.)
(1980, April 14,). Last frontier state is about ready to rejoin the Union. Atlanta Constitution, p. 6A. Coverage of 1980 national political conventions in July (Republicans) and August (Democrats) for Cox Newspapers 20 publications, including the Atlanta Constitution wrote and edited numerous articles. (1977, March 7). I am curious black. The New York Times, Op-Ed Page column. (1973, Spring). Search and seizure. Mississippi Magazine, University of Mississippi. (First Place, Society of Professional Journalists, Mark of Excellence contest, Best Magazine Article, Region 3; Memphis Gridiron, Best Magazine Article. (1972, Oct. 15). See and Touch Museum moving in Brooklyn. The New York Times, Brooklyn-Queens section. PAPERS PRESENTED, WORKSHOPS, GUEST SPEAKER Presenter, How Carter G. Woodson Used Negro Newspapers, Annual Convention, Association for the Study of African American Life and History, Pittsburgh, September 29, 2012. Chair, "Before We Hold the Parade Let's Talk Affairs of State: Obama, Women, Gays and the Black Church," Annual Convention, Association for the Study of African American Life and History, Pittsburgh, September 27, 2012. Chair, "And the Envelope Goes To: Black Images on Television Post Bob Johnson," Annual Convention, Association for the Study of African American Life and History, Pittsburgh, September 27, 2012. Dinner speaker, Carter G. Woodson and the Negro Press, Annual Carter G. Woodson Memorial Foundation Dinner, Huntington, West Virginia, April 21, 2012. Annual Dinner Lecture, How Carter G. Woodson Used the Black Press to Sell History, John Deaver Drinko Academy, Marshall University, March 31, 2012. Presenter, Future of Old Media, Graduate College, South Charleston, Marshall University, Oct. 27, 2010. Guest speaker, Prior Restraint, Law & Ethics (JMC 604), Marshall University, Oct. 19, 2010. Presenter, A Response to Bessie Woodson, Faces of Appalachia Symposium, Marshall University, March 5, 2009. Presenter and Organizer, 1968 Revisited, symposium on impact events of 1968 on journalism. Presenter and Organizer, on coverage of nonprofits, University of Maryland, Knight Center for Specialized Journalism, June 2007. Presenter on coverage of nonprofits, panel moderator, Investigative Reporters and Editors association, Fort Worth, Texas, annual convention, June 2006. Presenter and Organizer of workshops for journalists 2002-2005, University of Mississippi; 2006, Marshall University; 2004, 2005, Washington, D.C. (with National Association of Broadcasters, New Jersey Press Association, The Record, Hackensack, N.J.)
Presenter on coverage of nonprofits, panel moderator, Investigative Reporters and Editors association, Denver, annual convention, June 2005 Presenter, panel moderator, LQC Lamar Society, 30 th anniversary, University of Mississippi, November 2004. Presenter and Organizer of Women and Minorities in Philanthropy in the South, October 2001. Presenter, "The ABCs of Print Media: Tips on Reaching the Public with Nonprofit Stories," at "Building Better Bridges" conference, Eagleton Institute, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, N.J., November 20, 1998. Presenter, "Media Training: Getting Your Message Across," Kentucky Psychological Association Convention, Lexington, Ky., May 21, 1997. Presenter and Organizer, "Challenges for the 90s: A Symposium on News Coverage of Nonprofit Institutions," Louisiana State University. April 16, 1993. Presented "Report: Study of Media Coverage of Nonprofits." Presenter and Organizer, "Discovering the Invisible Sector: How the Media Can Cover Nonprofits," University of North Carolina, February 26-27, 1995. Presenter and Organizer, "Into the Next Century: A symposium on news coverage of nonprofit institutions," University of Nebraska, September 29, 1995. Presented, "Why This Attention to Nonprofits?" Presenter and Organizer, "Nonprofits and the Media: Facing the Future," University of Southern California, December 8, 1995. Presenter, "Why all this attention to nonprofits?" GRANTS/SUPPORT (More than $1 million in awards) 2008-2013 Herald-Dispatch, Huntington, to create workshop for high school journalism students, $52,500. 2007 John S. and James L. Knight Foundation to create a blog for journalists who cover nonprofits, $15,000. 2005 -- John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, at Marshall University, to create a national training program for journalists interested in covering nonprofit organizations, $167,000. 2004 -- John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, to create a national training program for journalists interested in covering nonprofit organizations, $500,000. 2001 -- John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, to create a national training program for journalists interested in covering nonprofit organizations, $338,000. 2001 -- Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, $5,000, to support September 2001 conference on Minorities and Philanthropy in Higher Education in the South. 2000-2003 --Trent Lott Leadership Institute, $7,000, to support conference on Minorities and Philanthropy in Higher Education in the South and $15,000 to support workshops for minority students and high school journalism teachers. 2000-2003 -- Dow Jones Newspaper Fund, $22,600 to hold workshops for minority students and high school journalism teachers. 2001-- Scripps Foundation, $5,000, to hold workshops for minority students and high school journalism teachers. 2000-2003 -- Jackson Clarion-Ledger, $15,000, to hold workshops for minority students and high school journalism teachers.
2000-2002 -- The Associated Press, $4,500, to hold workshops for minority students and high school journalism teachers. 2000-2002 -- Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal, $10,000, to hold workshops for minority students and high school journalism teachers. 2001-2003--Biloxi Sun Herald, $3,000, to hold workshops for minority students and high school journalism teachers. 2001-2002 Mississippi Press Association, $1,600, to hold workshops for minority students and high school journalism teachers. 2001-2003 Office of Provost, UM, $10,000, to hold workshops for minority students and high school journalism teachers. 1999 -- University of Mississippi Associates and Partners, $10,000 (December 1998) and $15,000 in other funds to create Computer-Assisted Reporting Lab, Farley Hall. 1999 -- Research!America, $7,830 to hold health and science journalism workshop in Jackson, "When Health and Science Issues Become News," Nov. 11, 1999. PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES Member, Association for the Study of African American Life and History, since 2011. Member Membership Committee, Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication, 2001-2004. Member, Investigative Reporters and Editors association, since 2000. Member, Board of Contributors, Jackson Clarion-Ledger, 2001-2005. Occasional column. Member, Kappa Tau Alpha, national journalism honor society, since 1992. Member, National Press Foundation Advisory Committee, since 2002. Member, Investigative Reporters and Editors Task Force on Education, University of Missouri, 2005-2006. Member, AEJMC Membership Committee, 2001-2004. SERVICE Chair, Marshall University School of Journalism and Mass Communications Personnel Committee, since 2014 Member, HLC, MU reaccreditation committee, 2014- Member, MU College of Liberal Arts dean s search committee, 2014 Vice chair, MU Faculty Senate, 2013-2014. Chair, MU DASA faculty awards committee, 2013. Member, President s Ad Hoc Budget Understanding Committee, 2011-2012. Member, Provost s Committee on Quality of Faculty Work Life, 2010-2011. Member, general studies degree committee, 2010-2011 & 2014. Member, MU Communication Disorders Chair s Search Committee, 2011. Member, College of Education dean s search committee, 2010-2011. Chair, Diversity Committee, School of Journalism and Mass Communications, 2010-2014.
Member, Graduate Dean s Search Committee, 2009. Member, Journalism and Mass Communications Dean s Evaluation Committee. Chair, Special Projects, MU School of Journalism and Mass Communications, since 2006. Chair, Journalism Division, MU School of Journalism and Mass Communications, since 2006. Member, MU Faculty Senate Ad Hoc Committee on Tuition Waivers, 2008. Member, MU Faculty Senate, since 2008. Member, MU Diversity Committee, 2009-2011. Member, MU Faculty Senate Executive Committee, since 2008. Chair, Dr. Betty Cleckley Retirement Committee, Marshall University, 2007. Chair, Student Conduct and Welfare Committee, MU Faculty Senate. Member, 2007-2008; member, 2003-2008. Member, MU Faculty Development Committee, 2007-2008. Member, MU Yeager Scholars interview panel, 2007-2008. Chair, Selection Committee for Editor of The Daily Mississippian. Member, Scholarships and Awards Committee, University of Mississippi Department of Journalism, 1999. Member, Silver Em Award Selection Committee, Department of Journalism, University of Mississippi, 2000-2003. Member, Search Committee, Department of Journalism, 1999 and 2002, University of Mississippi. Director, University of Mississippi s "Conference on Minorities and Philanthropy," 2001. Member, Search Committee for director, Trent Lott Leadership Institute, 2000-2001. Board Member, Mississippi Center for Nonprofits, 2000-2001. Member, Communications Committee, Independent Sector, Washington, D.C., nonprofit, 1998-2000. Board Member, Friends of George Washington Carver Library, Austin, Texas, 1986-1987. Board Member, Greater Austin, Texas, Urban League, 1986-1987.