• JOURNALISM
• JOURNALISM, BROADCAST
• JOURNALISM, NEW MEDIA
• JOURNALISM, NEWSPAPER FEATURE WRITING
• JOURNALISM, NEWSPAPERS
• WRITING

Deidra Jackson is Director of Academic Advising and an Instructor of Journalism in the Meek School of Journalism and New Media. She received her master's in journalism from the University of Mississippi in 1995 and bachelor's in print journalism from Mississippi University for Women in 1989. Following eight years as a professional journalist (reporter and editor) in North Carolina and Mississippi, including stints as a local government, education and courts reporter at the News & Observer (Raleigh, N.C.) and as editor-in-chief at the Triangle Tribune (Durham, N.C.), and three years spent in radio broadcasting, she joined UM Media & Public Relations as a communications specialist in 2000. Five years later, she remained at UM and accepted a position as a full-time faculty member in the Meek School of Journalism and New Media. Jackson teaches such journalism skills courses as Intro to Multimedia Writing, Advanced Reporting and News Reporting, and during her second year as a journalism instructor, she designed a freshman writing seminar course aimed at studying the intersection between blogging and traditional journalism. As an advising director Jackson guides journalism and new media students during their academic careers and meets regularly with prospective and other students during Majors Fair, Fall and Spring Visit days, August Freshmen/Summer Orientation and Transfer Student Orientation. She also is a frequent presenter at the UM-based Mississippi Scholastic Press Association Workshop and has served as moderator and judge at the UM Academic Invitational Tournament and Brain Brawl. She also serves as faculty adviser of UMABJ, the UM chapter of the National Association of Black Journalists. She holds memberships with NABJ and the Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication. She has twice received the honor of UMAA Faculty Coach during Rebel men's basketball games. She has been a professional blogger on the AOL.com website "ParentDish.com" (2010-2011) and is a columnist for the Oxford Eagle newspaper.