Dr. Andrea Frantz Named New Executive Director of National Media Organization
SCJ is the nation’s oldest organization designed solely to serve college media leaders. Today, the organization has approximately 100 active chapters nationwide and 1,200 members.
Dr. Andrea Frantz, professor of digital media at Buena Vista University, has been named as the new executive director of the Society for Collegiate Journalists (SCJ).
SCJ is the nation’s oldest organization designed solely to serve college media leaders. Today, the organization has approximately 100 active chapters nationwide and 1,200 members.
“I’m honored to help lead an organization that advocates for student media leaders across the nation,” said Frantz, who specializes in First Amendment law, journalism ethics, and writing. “There has never been a more important time for students to express their opinions and ideas through the freedom of speech.”
As part of Frantz’ new role, the organization’s national office will be housed in the Lage Communications Center on the BVU campus. The office will serve as the organization’s main hub and will be responsible for organizing SCJ’s annual national awards contest, sending out honor cords to graduating SCJ members, processing member applications, updating the organization’s website, and more. The national office will remain on the BVU campus until a new executive director is named in 2022.
“I’m honored to help lead an organization that advocates for student media leaders across the nation. There has never been a more important time for students to express their opinions and ideas through the freedom of speech.”
Dr. Andrea Frantz
Frantz, who will be officially sworn in as executive director of SCJ in October at the organization’s 2018 Biennium Conference in Louisville, Ky., has been involved with SCJ since 2010. Two years later, she was named to the organization’s executive council as vice president, and in 2014, she was installed as president of SCJ.
“I’ve loved being involved with SCJ, and I’m honored to officially be part of the organization’s national leadership team,” said Frantz. “SCJ encompasses so many talented professionals and student media advisors. I feel fortunate to work alongside such an amazing team of people.”
Frantz is also responsible for chartering BVU’s first-ever SCJ chapter in 2012.
“The digital media department needed an umbrella organization that housed all student media organizations and served as a way to celebrate and recognize student media leadership,” said Frantz. “Since its establishment, BVU’s SCJ chapter has been wildly successful. Students from across media organizations now have a space to converge and collaborate.”
Most recently, BVU SCJ members came together to create a public service announcement that highlights diversity in Storm Lake. Members also put together a promotional video for the Tech Trek STEM camp that was hosted by BVU in June.
BVU’s SCJ chapter has approximately 20 student-members at any given time and has experienced tremendous success over the past few years. In April, BVU students and media organizations took home 31 awards at the SCJ national media contest, which takes place each spring and is judged by professionals from across the media industry.
“There are so many reasons for students to get involved in SCJ,” added Frantz. “Employers value effective communication practices now more than ever and ask for proof of skills. Involvement with SCJ allows students to automatically garner a portfolio, all while enhancing leadership and having a lot of fun.”