“I believe students learn best when coursework includes practical application of concepts discussed in class. I encourage students to improve their technical skills and to consider fully the stories they are telling. Accurate and ethical storytelling is at the heart of each major we offer.”

Title

Chair of the Pulliam School of Journalism; Professor of Journalism

Educational Background

• J.D., IU School of Law – Indianapolis, IN
• M.A., Central Michigan University – Mount Pleasant, MI
• B.A., Olivet Nazarene University – Bourbonnais, IL

Year Joined Franklin

1985

Expertise

Media law, broadcast journalism, videography, photography

How do you adapt your classes to meet the needs of public relations majors and multimedia journalism majors?

There is a lot of overlap between the skill sets in public relations and multimedia journalism. Projects in my photography and videography courses allow students to explore stories from the roles they envision for their career.

Are your students prepared for internships?

Students often have some concern when approaching the first internship. My courses are grounded in real-world work experiences and are designed to prepare students to participate in the internship with the confidence.

Selected Professional Accomplishments

The Clifford and Paula Dietz Award for Faculty Excellence-2008

The Faculty Teaching Excellence Award for Excellence in Teaching-1997

Academic Adviser of the Year Award- 2015

What Students Say

“Joel Cramer is a great professor because he challenges students to reach their creativity. He works well with students teaching them new techniques and skills to enhance their work.”  – Shayla Jones ‘18

Something My Colleagues Don’t Know About Me

Something my colleagues don’t know about me: I am a bit of a gearhead and enjoy sports cars and motorcycles. I also earned a third-degree black belt a few years ago.