Tom Dickson is professor of journalism and mass media at Southwest Missouri
State University in Springfield, where he has taught since 1987. He also has
taught at the University of Evansville (IN) and Arkansas State University. He
holds a bachelor of arts degree in political science and journalism from Arkansas
State, a master's of arts degree in political science from Tulane University, and a
doctor of education degree with an emphasis in mass communication from
Oklahoma State University. His media experience includes acting radio wire
editor of the Associated Press in Little Rock, AR; reporter for the Jonesboro
( AR) Evening Sun; editor of the 18th Military Police Brigade Roundup, Long
Binh, Vietnam; sports editor of the Blue Springs Examiner, a daily newspaper in
suburban Blue Springs, MO; managing editor of the Blue Springs Examiner; and
acting editor of the Arkansas Sun, a weekly newspaper. He is co-author of
Journalism Kids Do Better: What Research Tells Us About High School
Journalism ( ERIC/Edinfo Press, 1994). He also has contributed chapters to
School Publications: The Business Side ( MOLATX Press, 1989), Media
Education Assessment Handbook ( Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, 1997), and
Censorship: Opposing Viewpoints ( Greenhaven Press, 1997).

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