John R. Turner is a Professor of Electronic Media & Film. He earned his Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees in Broadcast Journalism from West Virginia University and worked in the radio industry primarily as a news director for 15 years before obtaining his Ph.D. in Communication from Ohio University in 1990.
His doctorate program of study combined interpersonal communication with telecommunications, leading to a research interest focusing on the interface of interpersonal and mass communication theories, particularly in regard to the development of parasocial interaction.
His publications include articles in Journal of Media Education, Communication Quarterly and the Media Criticism textbook. He has written about program and course assessment procedures; freedom of expression issues related to the electronic media; radio history; broadcast programming; law and regulation; sportscasting and broadcast news. He has presented papers, served as moderator and respondent for panels at the national conventions of the Broadcast Education Association, National Broadcasting Society, College Sports Video Summit, National Communication Association and Central States Communication Association.
In addition, Dr. Turner has recorded three audio books and narrated monthly podcasts for Greenbranch Publishing-a national medical practice journal and book publisher.
Before coming to Towson in 1989, he taught at Ohio University, Fairmont State College, and Alderson-Broaddus College. Among the courses he teaches are broadcast/cable programming; radio, culture, and society; electronic media news production; sportscasting; concept and story; and introduction to electronic media & film. He serves as faculty adviser to the Towson Student Chapter of the National Broadcasting Society-Alpha Epsilon Rho.