Dr. Yayu Feng has been appointed to the Society of Professional Journalists’ Ethics Committee, which supports the SPJ Code of Ethics, responds to questions about ethical practice, and helps guide SPJ’s public-facing ethics resources.

The appointment comes at an important moment. As the SPJ Code of Ethics approaches its 100th anniversary in 2026, the Ethics Committee will conduct a full review and update of the Code—the first major revision since 2014. The committee will evaluate possible updates, gather examples and cases, and contribute to the development of supplementary materials that accompany the Code. By the end of 2026, the committee aims to present its recommendations for consideration by SPJ’s board.

This review marks the sixth time the Code has been revised since its original adoption in 1926. Ethical journalism is a core emphasis of our department’s work, and by working on it alongside many respected journalists and scholars, Dr. Feng will be bringing insights from this work back to our students.

This semester, Emerging Media welcomed its newest faculty member, Dr. Lana Medina.

She teaches courses in journalism, media literacy, and digital media arts, with a particular focus on broadcast and social media formats. She earned a Ph.D. in Mass Communications from Penn State University.

Her research examines how journalism is produced and distributed on social media platforms, with special attention to the growing influence of artificial intelligence (AI) on these processes. She also studies how ownership structures and business models shape journalistic practices. Recent projects include a qualitative analysis of TikTok users’ perceptions of and engagement with journalism, as well as a critical evaluation of current news literacy approaches. Her scholarship has appeared in Journal of Media Ethics, Journalism Studies, Political Research Quarterly, and the International Journal of TechnoEthics.

Before pursuing graduate studies, Dr. Medina spent more than a decade in professional journalism. She worked as a newspaper reporter for the Deseret News and Standard Examiner, and later as a television news producer for KUTV, a CBS affiliate. At KUTV, she produced multiple newscasts, including the 12pm, 5pm, and 6pm weekdays and 10pm weekend shows. She also launched the station’s 7am show, which featured news and guest appearances. One of her favorite guest appearances was when Aisha Tyler (voiced Lana Kane in Archer) was interviewed during a noon broadcast. As a field producer, she created special health-related segments syndicated across more than 150 stations. Did you know: elephants don’t get cancer? Among the many stories covered, one of her favorites was profiling an 85-year-old grocery store bagger who could run circles around the videographer.

Dr. Medina’s teaching philosophy blends her professional experience with her research on digital journalism technologies. She emphasizes strong writing and critical thinking in students to help encourage their creative development in storytelling. One of her long-term goals is to watch her students excel on live television and develop journalism work that earn regional and national recognition for their reporting.

Assistant Professor of Strategic Communication April Eichmeier was awarded the 2025 Undergraduate Research Award for Faculty, which is given annually to a faculty member who demonstrates commitment to forging student-faculty research collaborations.

Peter Gregg, Chair of Emerging Media, nominated Eichmeier: ““Her courses are built around her commitment to undergraduate research. What distinguishes her work is how students are trained to think scientifically and critically, to translate findings for both scholarly and public audiences, and to produce research that has tangible, real-world outcomes.” Strategic and Business Communication major Grace Franceschi, who conducted research on woman entrepreneurship with Eichmeier, noted that “[Eichmeier] inspired confidence, nurtured independent thinking, and created a supportive learning environment. Her mentorship had a lasting impact on my academic journey.”

Oyuna competing at Beijing 2022 Paralympic games

Oyuna Uranchimeg, the Emerging Media department coordinator, has been named to the U.S. Paralympic Mixed Wheelchair Curling Team and will represent Team USA at the 2026 Milano-Cortina Winter Paralympics, taking place March 6–15.

This will be Oyuna’s second Paralympic appearance; she was also a member of the U.S. Wheelchair Curling Team at the 2022 Beijing Winter Paralympics.

As I conclude my time at the University of St. Thomas, I want to express my sincere appreciation to the Emerging Media community. Working with our wonderful students and dedicated colleagues over the past two years has been a meaningful experience.

I will be transitioning to a faculty position at a university in South Korea, and I am thankful for the support and generosity I experienced during my time at St. Thomas. I am grateful for the engagement and professionalism that define this program and its people, and I wish the Emerging Media community continued success in the years ahead.

Dr. Greg Song