Richard Gershon
Richard Gershon
 |
Professor, Co-Director 324 Sprau Tower (269) 387-3182 Personal Homepage |
Education: Ph.D., Ohio University
Areas of Expertise: Telecommunications and business strategy, Communication technology and innovation.
Richard A. Gershon, Ph.D., (Ohio University) is Professor and Co-Director of the Telecommunications & Information Management program at Western Michigan University
where he teaches courses in Telecommunications Management and Communication
Technology & Innovation. Dr. Gershon is the author of Telecommunications & Business
Strategy (2009) and The Transnational Media Corporation: Global Messages and Free
Market Competition, winner of the 1998 book of the year sponsored by the National Cable
Television Center. Dr. Gershon has twice been selected for national teaching honors,
including the Steven H. Coltrin Professor of the Year Award (2000) by the International
Radio& Television Society (IRTS) and the Barry Sherman Award for Teaching Excellence
(2001) by the Management and Economics division of the Association for Education in
Journalism and Mass Communication (AEJMC). In 2007, he was the recipient of the
Distinguished Teaching Award at Western Michigan University. Dr. Gershon is a founding
member of the International Telecommunications Education & Research Association
(ITERA) and served as the organization’s first President.
Courses I teach:
COM 2400 Introduction to Media and Telecommunications
This course will introduce the history, development, and study of media and telecommunications. Areas of study will include roles in media organizations, including management, programming, journalism, and media production. In addition, this course will examine the media's relationship to economic, political, and social institutions (including advertising and regulation); media literacy; and social effects research.
COM 4480 Telecommunications Management
The course examines broadcasting, telephone, cable, and other new communication technologies, with a primary emphasis on principles of telecommunication management, economical and policy. The course is supplemented with a series of case studies and discussions pertaining to select management issues. This course is approved as a writing-intensive course which may fulfill the baccalaureate-level writing requirement of the student's curriculum. Prerequisite: Junior or senior standing, COM 200 and COM 240; or graduate standing.
COM 5410 Telecommunications Law and Policy
Provides an overview of the essential regulatory and policy issues governing the field of telecommunications. Special attention is given to such topics as libel, privacy, access and right to reply, and copyright. A case study approach is used for the purpose of understanding legal precedent. Prerequisite: Junior or senior standing and COM 200; or graduate standing.
COM 5540 Communication Technology
This course provides and overview of telecommunications technology and services. The course is intended for the manager who requires a "practical" understanding of the design and performance characteristics of such telecommunication technology as satellite, optical fiber, PBX, and cellular telephone communications. In addition this course will include an appropriate measure of economic, regulatory, and policy issues as they pertain to the development of new and enhanced telecommunication services. Prerequisite: Junior or senior standing and COM 240; or graduate standing.
COM 6430 Telecommunications and Organizational Planning.
An overview of the basic principles involved in the management and implementation of telecommunications services within public and private organizations. Participants are introduced to three sectors of the telecommunications field, including broadcasting, cable, and telephone communications.