School of Communication

Richard Gershon

Associate Director
Professor of Telecommunications

324 Sprau Tower
(269) 387-3182

Personal Homepage

Education: Ph.D., Ohio University
Areas of Expertise: Telecommunications management, telecommunications law and policy, and communication technology

Richard A. Gershon, Ph.D., (Ohio University, 1986) is Professor of Telecommunications in the School of Communication at Western Michigan University. Dr. Gershon is co-founder of the Telecommunications Management program at Western where he teaches courses in telecommunications management, law and policy and communication technology. He is the author of Telecommunications Management: Industry Structures and Planning Strategies (2001) and The Transnational Media Corporation: Global Messages and Free Market Competition, winner of the 1998 book of the year by the U.S. National Cable Television Museum. Dr. Gershon has twice been selected for 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).

Courses I teach:

COM 240 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 448 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 541 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 554 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 643 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.

TOP