Adam Wagler plans to use an $8,000 grant from the Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communications and the Knight Foundation to create a new photojournalism and social engagement tablet app.
Wagler, an Advertising/Public Relations faculty member at UNL's College of Journalism and Mass Communications, said portions of existing apps, already created with support from funds provided by the Knight News Challenge, will be used in the new application.
"We are creating an entirely new app that will include features already developed in Document Cloud, BookBrewer and Politiwidgets," Wagler said.
Wagler is overseeing the tablet app with students enrolled in the Journalism and Advertising/Public Relations sequences. Matt Waite, a Journalism professor of practice, is working with the business and computer science students in the Jeffrey S. Raikes School of Computer Science and Management to provide technology assistance.
Gary Kebbel, dean of the College of Journalism and Mass Communications, said the grant, which is part of a two-year project supported by the Knight News Challenge and CoJMC programs, "is a great way to develop a student-created mobile application that educates and inspires future journalists."
Wagler, who created an iPad application through a 2010 National Institutes of Health grant, was among 10 college professors to have received an AEJMC/Knight Bridge grant, so named because AEJMC has funded 10 proposals to develop innovative and creative academic applications of projects already funded through the Knight News Challenge, according to the AEJMC website.
Wagler also is a member of the 2011 Apple Distinguished Educator program. The ADE program provides a unique forum for Apple and educators worldwide to exchange ideas and information about the effective uses of new technologies in the creation of engaging learning environments.
Wagler has a bachelor's degree in fine arts from Iowa State University and a master's degree in marketing, communications and advertising from the University of Nebraskaâ??Lincoln. He is working toward a Ph.D. in instructional technology.
The John S. and James L. Knight Foundation awarded $180,000 to AEJMC and the Association of Schools of Journalism and Mass Communications to support projects initially funded by the Knight News Challenge. AEJMC and the ASJMC administer the grants.
AEJMC is a nonprofit, educational association of journalism and mass communication educators, students and media professionals. It is the oldest and largest membership organization for journalism and mass communication educators. More information on AEJMC is available at aejmc.com.
ASJMC promotes excellence in journalism and mass communication education and is a non-profit, educational association composed of some 190 JMC programs at the college level. More information on ASJMC is available at asjmc.org.
The Knight News Challenge is a media contest that funds new ways to digitally inform communities, awarding up to $5 million a year for ideas that develop platforms, tools and services to inform and transform community news.
Adam Wagler