Dr. Chris A. Bacon
Associate Professor
Mondays & Wednesdays: 2:15 p.m. - 3:45 p.m.
Tuesdays & Thursdays: 2 p.m. - 4 p.m.
Fridays: By appointment.
Departments / Programs
Degree Information
- PHD, University of Kansas (2017)
- MS, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (2008)
- BS, Murray State University (2001)
Areas of Expertise
Television News, Sports Media Education, Sports Journalism
Biography
Dr. Chris Bacon is an assistant professor in the School of Journalism at Middle Tennessee State University. Prior to MTSU, Dr. Bacon worked as the Executive Producer for KUJH-TV at the University of Kansas. Under his leadership, the station won numerous awards including the Signature Station Award from the Broadcast Education Association, Best TV Newscast from the Kansas Association of Broadcasters, and a Pinnacle Award for Best Special Events Program from the College Media Association....
Read More »Dr. Chris Bacon is an assistant professor in the School of Journalism at Middle Tennessee State University. Prior to MTSU, Dr. Bacon worked as the Executive Producer for KUJH-TV at the University of Kansas. Under his leadership, the station won numerous awards including the Signature Station Award from the Broadcast Education Association, Best TV Newscast from the Kansas Association of Broadcasters, and a Pinnacle Award for Best Special Events Program from the College Media Association. Bacon also helped create a sports communications concentration at the William Allen White School of Journalism and Mass Communications at KU. As a professional, he spent over 10 years in television news and public relations.
Publications
Reinardy, S. & Bacon, C. (2014). Feast and famine? Local TV news workers expand the offerings but say they are hungry for quality journalism. Journal of Media Practice, 15(2): 133-145. DOI: 10.1080/14682753.2014.960766
Presentations
Panelist, “Majors or Tracks: Sports Media Courses in the Curriculum,” Broadcast Education Association Annual Conference, April 2018.
Session Organizer, “Lessons Learned: Tips on Starting a Sports Communication Program,” Broadcast Education Association Annual Conference, April 2016.
Panelist, “BEA Aircheck-The Student Newscast Experience,” Broadcast Education Association Annual Conference, April 2016.
Read More »Panelist, “Majors or Tracks: Sports Media Courses in the Curriculum,” Broadcast Education Association Annual Conference, April 2018.
Session Organizer, “Lessons Learned: Tips on Starting a Sports Communication Program,” Broadcast Education Association Annual Conference, April 2016.
Panelist, “BEA Aircheck-The Student Newscast Experience,” Broadcast Education Association Annual Conference, April 2016.
Panelist, “Reboot-Student Media Organizations in Smaller Schools and Programs,” Broadcast Education Association Annual Conference, April 2015.
Panelist, “Bringing Sports to Life in the Classroom,” Broadcast Education Association Annual Conference, April 2014.
Awards
Hermes Creative Awards: Gold Award, "MTSU Volleyball" (2021)
Broadcast Education Association: Best of Festival - Faculty Sports (2021)
AVA Digital Awards: Gold Award, "The Sports Gig Podcast" (2021)
International Radio and Television Society: Faculty/Industry Seminar Fellowship (2018)
University of Kansas: Honorable Mention for Graduate Teaching (2013)
International Radio and Television Society: Summer Fellowship (2000)
Research / Scholarly Activity
Dr. Bacon currently researches sports media education in colleges and universities. He also studies image-repair strategies by athletes and sports organizations after high-profile incidents.
Creative Activity
Dr. Bacon currently hosts the "Sports Gig Podcast," which focuses on the sports media industry. He also produces freelance video stories for ESPN+ broadcasts.
