Robert (Robby) Byrd is a visiting instructor in the University of Southern Mississippi School for Mass Communication and Journalism, teaching courses in multimedia journalism. He is a former newspaper manager, reporter, editor, photographer, and designer. Byrd’s research focuses on queer representations in both the LGBTQ and mainstream media. His most recent work explores LGBTQ representations in television sitcoms. Byrd is also interested in LGBTQ media history, in particular, its role in providing a queer memory in contemporary politics.
While in graduate school, Byrd taught numerous courses as the instructor of record. At USM, he teaches Introduction to Digital Production, which gives many of the mass communication and journalism students their first experience with Adobe Creative Suite and Apple video production software. Byrd’s future teaching interests are in the fields of multimedia journalism and visual storytelling and media studies.
Byrd will graduate in December 2014 from University of Southern Mississippi with a PhD in mass communication. He received his MA in communication from the University of South Alabama in 2011, and in 2002 he graduated from Mississippi State University with a BA in communication with an emphasis in public relations. Before beginning graduate work Byrd worked in the newspaper industry for nearly seven years at various community newspaper in Mississippi, Alabama, and Georgia.
While in graduate school, Byrd taught numerous courses as the instructor of record. At USM, he teaches Introduction to Digital Production, which gives many of the mass communication and journalism students their first experience with Adobe Creative Suite and Apple video production software. Byrd’s future teaching interests are in the fields of multimedia journalism and visual storytelling and media studies.
Byrd will graduate in December 2014 from University of Southern Mississippi with a PhD in mass communication. He received his MA in communication from the University of South Alabama in 2011, and in 2002 he graduated from Mississippi State University with a BA in communication with an emphasis in public relations. Before beginning graduate work Byrd worked in the newspaper industry for nearly seven years at various community newspaper in Mississippi, Alabama, and Georgia.