Erik Palmer

Erik Palmer is a prominent academic in the field of media innovation, currently serving as a Professor and Chair of Communication, Media & Cinema at Southern Oregon University (SOU). He has been with SOU since July 2012 and is also the Program Coordinator for Social Media & Journalism. His educational background includes a Ph.D. in Journalism from the University of Oregon, an M.A. in Photojournalism from the University of Texas at Austin, and a B.A. in Journalism from Texas State University.12

Teaching and Research

Dr. Palmer specializes in teaching courses related to social media, visual communication, and media entrepreneurship. Some of the innovative courses he has developed include:

• Strategic Social Media
• Social Media Campaigns
• Design Thinking
• Creative Industries
• Comic Studies
• Sports Communication
• Mobile Photo & Video

His research focuses on the cultural impacts of visual social media platforms like Instagram and Pinterest, particularly how they influence image-making practices in professional media photography. He has presented his findings at various international conferences and edited a special issue on Really Social Photojournalism for Visual Communication Quarterly in 2017.12

Fulbright Scholar

In addition to his teaching role, Dr. Palmer was a 2019-20 U.S. Fulbright Scholar at the University of Ghana, where he taught multimedia journalism and conducted research on photojournalism.24

Professional Experience

Before his tenure at SOU, Dr. Palmer held various roles including:

• Creative Director at Vico Images
• Managing Producer for Trackwire Online
• Adjunct Instructor at Portland State University

He has also worked extensively as a technical writer and publishing consultant for numerous high-profile clients.23

Dr. Palmer's commitment to education is evident through his innovative approach to course development and his dedication to student success, making him a significant figure in media education today.2