The Institute for New Media Studies in the School of Journalism and Mass Communication last week named Nora Paul its inaugural director.
Paul will lead the new institute, which is designed to study how emerging technologies affect journalism and — through an interdisciplinary approach — seeks to deepen understanding of the new communications environment.
The appointment will be effective July 1.
Paul is a faculty member at the Poynter Institute for Media Studies in St. Petersburg, Fla., and a former Miami Herald editor. She also has extensive experience in Internet journalism.
“(Paul) sees the intersection between new information technologies in ways that give her amazing contacts and a wonderful grasp of the main issues and themes in new media,” said Kathleen Hansen, a University journalism professor and chairwoman of the search committee that lured Paul to the University.
Paul said journalists haven’t realized the potential of digital communications and hopes the institute will facilitate better use of emerging technologies.
“Right now we’re simply shoveling products from dead wood to online,” Paul said. “We’re not taking full advantage of new media in terms of storytelling and reporting.”
By finding solutions to problems facing new media, Paul envisions the institute becoming the premier institution, nationally and internationally, for research and innovations.

Todd Milbourn welcomes comments at [email protected].