Dr. Donald’s research interests include film
and television propaganda, motion picture history, gender-related
studies in film and television, pedagogical and curriculum issues
in mass communications.
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Ralph Donald,
Professor
(Ph.D., Communication, The University of Massachusetts,
Amherst; M.A. and B.A., Communications, California State University, Fullerton)
Chair of the Mass Communications Department from 1997 to 2003, Ralph Donald has taught broadcasting, journalism and film at the college level for 34 years. His professional credits include jobs as a newspaper reporter and copy editor, radio and television news producer, TV station production manager, and a producer-director of film and video. Dr. Donald’s research interests include film and television propaganda, motion picture history, gender-related studies in film and television, pedagogical and curriculum issues in mass communications. Leadership in national academic organizations includes serving since 1990 on the executive board of the Mid-Atlantic Popular/American Culture Association, one term as MAPACA’s president, and as founding editor of that organization’s journal, the Mid-AtlanticAlmanack. He also served as vice-chair and chair of the Courses, Curricula and Administration Division of the Broadcast Education Association for four years. Dr. Donald resides in Edwardsville, IL with his wife, clinical psychologist Dr. Karen MacDonald. Between them, they have eight children and eleven grandchildren.
Recent Referred Publications
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“The Devil on His Shoulder, Sniveling Weasels, Lady MacBeth and the Pit Viper:
Evil West Wingers in American Film”, an article in the Mid-Atlantic Almanack, journal of the Mid-Atlantic Popular/American Culture Association, Vol. 18, Fall, 2009. |
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Reel Men at War: Combat Films and American Masculnity, a nearly-completed book manuscript for Scarecrow Press. |
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“An Appeal to Fear Ain’t Nothin’ New: George W. Bush’s Middle East War Rhetoric and Territoriality in American Propaganda Films of World War II,” in American Studies Today, the official journal of the American Studies Resources Centre, the Aldham Robarts Centre, Liverpool John Moores University, UK, September, 2007. |
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Fundamentals of Television Production, 2nd. ed., with Riley Maynard and Tom Spann, for Allyn and Bacon Longman Publishers, 2007. |
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“America’s ‘Great Satan’ in Action and War Films, in American Studies Today, the official journal of the American Studies Resources Centre, the Aldham Robarts Centre, Liverpool John Moores University, UK, September, 2006. |
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“Direct Measures: Portfolios,” Chapter 20 in Media Education Assessment Handbook, 2nd. ed.,edited by William Christ, Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, Publishers, 2006. |
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“All the Losers Were Winners; All the Victims Were Heroes: The ‘Illusion of Victory’ in the American War Film, 1942-2002”, the 2003 (published in June, 2005) Film & History CD-ROM Annual, a publication of the interdisciplinary journal, Film and History. |
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“From Knockout Punch to Home Run: Sports Metaphors in American War Films”, in Film and History, the interdisciplinary journal of the Film and History League, vol. 35, no. 1, January, 2005. |
Selected Conference Papers and Presentations
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“Feminine Roles in American War Films”, a paper presented at the 2008 Conference of the Mid-Atlantic Popular/American Culture Association, Niagra, Ontario, Canada. |
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Chair and producer of a panel entitled, “ACEJMC Accreditation” presented to the 2008 convention of the Broadcast Education Association, Las Vegas, NV. |
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“Manliness and the Burden of Command,” a paper presented at the 2007 Conference of the Mid-Atlantic Popular/American Culture Association, Philadelphia, PA. |
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“TV Program Analysis,” an MC 333 assignment presented on a panel entitled, “My Favorite Screenwriting Assignment: ‘Non-writing Writing Assignments’”, at the 2007 convention of the Broadcast Education Association, Las Vegas, NV. |
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“Bands of Brothers: Love and Devotion Among Male Combatants in War Films,” a paper presented at the 2006 Conference of the Mid-Atlantic Popular/American Culture Association, Baltimore, MD. |
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“Hiring the Best People for Your Program’s Success”, a paper presented on a panel entitled, “The Mass Communication Department Chair: Issues, Successes, and Challenges of Leadership”, at the 2006 convention of the Broadcast Education Association, Las Vegas, NV. |
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“Sgt. Stryker Died for His Sins, or Why Screenwriters Kill Off Characters in War Films,” a paper presented at the 2005 Conference of the Mid-Atlantic Popular/American Culture Association, New Brunswick, NJ. |
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