Martin D. Sommerness  

 

Professor of Journalism
Journalism, Mass Communication Law and Ethics
School of Communication, Room 323
928-523-2510
Martin.Sommerness@nau.edu 

Research and teaching interests

Professor Sommerness focuses his research and teaching on issues in mass media and society as well as mass communication law and ethics.  He is also active in teaching courses for the NAU Honors Program.

Courses offered

Communication Analysis
Academic Communication
Mass Communication Regulation and Responsibility
Future of Communication
Communication Ethics
Writing for Communication Channels
Media Writing and Reporting
Humor Writing
Basic Editing
Mass Media and Society
High School Publications Workshop.

Representative research and creative activity

"Making Relevant Contemporary Undergraduate Legal Studies,"WAPLA, publication of the Western Association of Pre-Law Advisers, Autumn 2007. 

"OOOY – LENGUAGE: The Media Mind of Krazy Kat’s George Herriman," paper presented at the annual meeting of the Western Social Science Association, Calgary, Canada, April 2007.

"John Stewart: An American Songsmith," in Mass Media/Mass Culture: An Introduction, 3rd ed., Stan Le Roy Wilson.  New York: McGraw-Hill, 1995.

Education

JD, 1981-- Wayne State University
MA, 1979-- Michigan State University
BA, 1977-- Michigan State University