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Mr. Randy L. Loftis

Senior Lecturer

University of North Texas

Department of Mayborn School of Journalism

(214) 977-8483

Email: Randy.Loftis@unt.edu

Education

  • MA, University of North Texas, 2007
    Major: Journalism
    Dissertation: Environmental journalism as an imperative of democracy: a philosophical exploration
  • BA, University of Georgia, 1981
    Major: Journalism

Professional Positions

    Academic - Post-Secondary

  • Lecturer, Digital & Print, Mayborn School of Journalism, University of North Texas. Mayborn School of Journalism, University of North Texas. (2017 - Present).
  • Adjunct faculty, Mayborn School of Journalism, University of North Texas. Mayborn School of Journalism, University of North Texas. (2015 - 2017).

    • Professional

  • Independent Journalist, Self. Self. (2015 - Present).
  • Senior Editor, Texas Climate News. Texas Climate News. (2015 - Present).
  • Environmental Writer, The Dallas Morning News. The Dallas Morning News. (1989 - 2015).
  • Environmental Writer, The Miami Herald. The Miami Herald. (1981 - 1989).
  • Acting City Editor, The Anderson Independent. The Anderson Independent. (1977 - 1981).

Professional Memberships

  • Society of Professional Journalists. (March 20, 2021 - Present).
  • Society of Professional Journalists Fort Worth Professional Chapter. (March 20, 2021 - Present).
  • American Journalism Historians Association. (March 1, 2021 - Present).
  • National Association of Science Writers. (March 1, 2021 - Present).
  • Ida B. Wells Society for Investigative Reporting. (February 3, 2021 - Present).
  • College Media Association. (June 1, 2020 - Present).
  • Association of Health Care Journalists. (May 10, 2020 - Present).
  • National Association for Media Literacy Education. (August 2019 - Present).
  • Investigative Reporters & Editors Inc.. (January 2000 - Present).
  • Society of Environmental Journalists. (September 1991 - Present).
  • Association of Health Care Journalists. (January 1, 2023 - December 31, 2023).
  • College Media Association. (January 1, 2023 - December 31, 2023).
  • Ida B. Wells Society for Investigative Reporting. (January 1, 2023 - December 31, 2023).
  • Investigative Reporters & Editors. (January 1, 2023 - December 31, 2023).
  • National Association of Science Writers. (January 1, 2023 - December 31, 2023).
  • Society of Environmental Journalists. (January 1, 2023 - December 31, 2023).
  • Society of Professional Journalists. (January 1, 2023 - December 31, 2023).
  • Texas State Historical Association. (January 1, 2023 - December 31, 2023).

Development Activities

  • Other (Webinar), Covering Coronavirus: The Safety Net Unraveled, Center for Health Generation, USCAnnenberg. Los Angeles,CA,United States of America. (November 12, 2020).
  • Other (Webinar), Suffrage and the Press, SPJ Houston Professional Chapter. Houston,TX,United States of America. (August 22, 2020).
  • Other (Webinar), Reporting While Black: Journalists on the Front Lines, Howard University. Washington,DC,United States of America. (June 5, 2020).
  • Other (Webinar), Complex Emergencies and Climate Change in the Era of COVID-19, Society of Environmental Journalists. Washington,DC,United States of America. (May 27, 2020).
  • Other (Webinar), Community Resilience & Healing during COVID-19, UNC Chapel Hill. Chapel Hill,NC,United States of America. (May 20, 2020).
  • Other (Webinar), Sourcing during COVID-19, Investigative Reporters & Editors. Columbia,MO,United States of America. (May 19, 2020).
  • Other (Webinar), What Higher Education needs to know about COVID-19 Disinformation, PEN America. New York,NY,United States of America. (May 13, 2020).
  • Other (Webinar), After COVID: Public Health, the Environment, and What’s Next, New York University. New York,NY,United States of America. (May 4, 2020).
  • Other (Webinar), Investigating Higher Education, Investigative Reporters & Editors. Columbia,MO,United States of America. (April 22, 2020).
  • Other (Webinar), Covering Health in the Age of COVID-19, Columbia University. New York,NY,United States of America. (April 8, 2020).
  • Other (Webinar), Covering the Crisis: A Top Reporter’s Daily Routine, Center for Health Journalism, USCAnnenberg. Los Angeles,CA,United States of America. (April 2, 2020).
  • Other (Webinar), Social isolation, mental health, and COVID-19, Association of Health Care Journalists. Columbia,MO,United States of America. (March 30, 2020).
  • Faculty Fellowship, Traditional Ecological Knowledge, Institute for Journalism and Natural Resoureces. United States of America. (November 13, 2023 - November 14, 2023).
  • Seminar, Covering Extreme Heat, SciLine/American Association for the Advancement of Science. Online,United States of America. (August 10, 2023).
  • Workshop, Science Essentials for Local Reporters, SciLine/American Association for the Advancement of Science. United States of America. (May 10, 2023).
  • Workshop, Project-based Learning, North Texas Non-Tenure Track Faculty Network. Richardson,TX,United States of America. (May 5, 2021).
  • Continuing Education Program, Social & Behavioral Research -- Basic Course, UNT Research and Innovation. Denton,TX,United States of America. (April 12, 2021).
  • Continuing Education Program, Suicide Prevention, UNT Counseling & Testing Services and Student Health & Wellness Center. United States of America. (June 15, 2020).
  • Other (Webinar), More than Masks: Safer Protest Coverage, MSOJ and Trauma Training for Journalists. Richardsonson,Texas,United States of America. (June 15, 2020).
  • Other (Webinar), Racial Injustice: A Necessary Conversation, Broadcast Education Association. United States of America. (June 1, 2020).
  • Other (Webinar), Civil Liberties, Privacy, and Public Health, PEN America. United States of America. (April 30, 2020).
  • Other (Webinar), Free Press on Campus and COVID-19, PEN America. United States of America. (April 24, 2020).
  • Other (Webinar), Investigating Higher Education during COVID-19, Investigative Reporters and Editors Inc.. United States of America. (April 22, 2020).
  • Other (Webinar), Covering Health in the Era of COVID-19, Association of Health Care Journalists. United States of America. (April 8, 2020).
  • Other (Webinar), Covering Climate in the Age of Coronavirus, Society of Environmental Journalists. United States of America. (April 2, 2020).
  • Conference Attendance, Faculty mentoring luncheon, UNT Office for Faculty Success. United States of America. (October 3, 2019 - October 3, 2019).
  • Seminar, Managing difficult classrooms, UNT Office for Faculty Success. United States of America. (September 30, 2019 - September 30, 2019).
  • Workshop, Pedagogy Journal Groupo, Non-Tenure Faculty Mentoring Network, Office for Faculty Success. Richardson,TX,United States of America. (September 26, 2019 - September 26, 2019).
  • Tutorial, Active shooter response training, UNT Police. United States of America. (September 24, 2019 - September 24, 2019).
  • Other (Webinar), Promote Critical Thinking & Make Courses More Engaging (and Affordable!), Proquest. United States of America. (September 24, 2019 - September 24, 2019).
  • Other (Technical webinar for news media), Hurricane Forecasts and Warnings, SciLine and American Association for the Advancement of Science. United States of America. (September 23, 2019 - September 23, 2019).
  • Workshop, UNT Non-tenure Track Faculty Mentoring Network, Office for Faculty Success. Richardson,TX,United States of America. (September 12, 2019 - September 12, 2019).
  • Seminar, Public Charge: Immigrant Health under Trump's New Rule, Center for Health Journalism, Anneberg School, USC. United States of America. (September 11, 2019 - September 11, 2019).
  • Tutorial, Stop the Bleed, UNT HR Talent Management. United States of America. (May 8, 2018).
  • Workshop, Neurodiversity Workshop, UNT Office for Faculty Success. United States of America. (April 30, 2018).
  • Continuing Education Program, University Forum on Teaching & Learning, UNT CLEAR. United States of America. (April 17, 2018).
  • Workshop, Faculty Diversity Training, UNT Division of Institutional Equity & Diversity. United States of America. (April 6, 2018).
  • Tutorial, Faculty Information System Training, UNT Office of Faculty Success. United States of America. (March 22, 2018).
  • Tutorial, Responding to an Active Shooter, UNT Police. United States of America. (March 21, 2018).
  • Workshop, Getting Started on Research Grants, UNT Office of Faculty Success. United States of America. (March 21, 2018).
  • Conference Attendance, UNT Annual Equity & Diversity Conference, UNT Institutional Equity and Diversity. United States of America. (February 22, 2018).
  • Workshop, How to Write Winning Grant Proposals, UNT Office of Faculty Success. United States of America. (February 16, 2018).
  • Tutorial, Canvas Boot Camp, UNT CLEAR. United States of America. (February 1, 2018 - February 1, 2018).
  • Workshop, Team-based Teaching 103, UNT CLEAR. United States of America. (November 16, 2017).
  • Seminar, Getting Engaged Internationally, UNT Office of Faculty Success. United States of America. (November 15, 2017).
  • Workshop, Team-based Teaching 102, UNT CLEAR. United States of America. (October 12, 2017 - October 12, 2017).
  • Workshop, Introduction to Mendeley, UNT Libraries. United States of America. (October 10, 2017 - October 10, 2017).
  • Workshop, Team-based Teaching 101, UNT CLEAR. United States of America. (September 14, 2017 - September 14, 2017).
  • Tutorial, iClick Cloud Training, UNT CLEAR. United States of America. (September 8, 2017).
  • Tutorial, The Beautiful Science of Data Visualization, Tableau. United States of America. (September 7, 2017).
  • Workshop, How to Handle Difficult Classroom Situations, UNT Office of Faculty Success. Denton,TX,United States of America. (August 31, 2017).
  • Workshop, What the Libraries Can Do For You, UNT Libraries. Denton,TX,United States of America. (August 31, 2017).
  • Tutorial, Instructor Training in Respondus Monitor & Lockdown Browser for UNT, UNT. Denton,TX,United States of America. (August 24, 2017).
  • Other, New Faculty Orientation, UNT Office of Faculty Success. Denton,TX,United States of America. (August 16, 2017).
  • Continuing Education Program, Course Design Institute, CLEAR. United States of America. (May 2016 - July 2016).

Teaching

Teaching Experience

    University of North Texas

  • JOUR 2310 - Introduction to Media Writing, 26 courses.
  • JOUR 4210 - Topics in Journalism and Mass Media, 4 courses.
  • JOUR 4230 - Arts and Culture Journalism, 3 courses.
  • JOUR 4321 - Opinion Writing, 7 courses.
  • JOUR 4410 - Reporting of Public Affairs, 10 courses.
  • JOUR 4810 - News or Sports Practicum, 15 courses.
  • JOUR 4820 - History of American Media, 10 courses.
  • JOUR 4900 - Special Problems, 7 courses.
  • JOUR 4910 - Special Problems, 2 courses.
  • JOUR 4999 - News Capstone, 26 courses.
  • JOUR 5020 - Editing Practices, 1 course.
  • JOUR 5290 - Science, Health and Environmental Reporting, 6 courses.
  • JOUR 5900 - Advanced Problems in Journalism, 2 courses.
  • JOUR 5910 - Advanced Problems in Journalism, 1 course.

Directed Student Learning

  • Undergraduate Honors Thesis, "Not yet titled," Mayborn School of Journalism. (January 2018).
  • Master's Thesis Committee Member, Mayborn School of Journalism. (April 13, 2022 - October 26, 2022).
  • Master's Thesis Committee Member, Mayborn School of Journalism. (September 21, 2021 - March 3, 2022).
  • Undergraduate Honors Thesis, "A Non-Denial, Denial: A Study to Find Evidence That Donald Trump Is Changing the Perception of the Media," Mayborn School of Journalism. (August 2017 - December 2017).

Awards and Honors

  • 'Fessor Graham Award, UNT Student Government Association. (May 6, 2022).
  • Green Source DFW Sustainable Leadership Award for Environmental Reporting, Memnosyne Institute. (November 15, 2019).
  • Edward J. Meeman Award for Environmental Reporting, Scripps Howard Foundation. (1994).
  • Nominated for Goldsmith Prize for Investigative Reporting (Finalist), Harvard University. (1994).
  • Worth Bingham Prize for Investigative Reporting, Harvard University. (1993).
  • Charles E. Green Award for specialty reporting, Headliners Foundation of Texas.
  • Community Service Award, Headliners Foundation of Texas.
  • Community Service Award, Junior League of Dallas.
  • Nominated for Deadline Reporting Award (honorable mention), Texas Associated Press Managing Editors.
  • Enterprise Reporting Award, National Association of Black Journalists.
  • Environmental Reporting Award, Sierra Club Texas Chapter.
  • Eppy Award for best special section, Editor & Publisher.
  • Katy Awards for investigative reporting (multiple years), Press Club of Dallas.
  • Open Doors Award for career achievement, Society of Professional Journalists, Fort Worth Professional Chapter.
  • Recognition for Professional Service, Society of Environmental Journalists.
  • Nominated for Silver Gavel Award, American Bar Association.
  • Southern Journalism Award for environmental reporting, Institute for Southern Studies.
  • Nominated for Star Investigative Report of the Year (honorable mention), Headliners Foundation of Texas.
  • Nominated for Texas Health Journalist of the Year (honorable mention), Texas Medical Association.
  • Unity in Media Award, Lincoln University.
  • Public Service Award, Texas Associated Press Managing Editors.

Research

Published Intellectual Contributions

    Magazine/Trade Publication

  • Loftis, R.L. (2018). As wildfires rage, Trump administration plans to slash fire science funding. https://www.revealnews.org/article/as-wildfires-rage-trump-administration-plans-to-slash-fire-science-funding/

    • Revealnews.org/Center for Investigative Reporting

  • Loftis, R.L. (2017). Trump's budget kills funding for clean tap water in struggling small towns. https://www.revealnews.org/article/trumps-budget-kills-funds-for-clean-tap-water-in-struggling-small-towns/
  • Loftis, R.L. (2017). Trump wants to slash all research funds -- except for military. https://www.revealnews.org/article/trump-wants-to-slash-all-research-funds-except-for-military/

Presentations Given

    Invited Talk

  • Loftis, R.L. (Author & Presenter), Environmental Health Interest Group, Guidance on writing/podcasting about environmental health, Dell Medical School, University of Texas at Austin, Remote, United States of America. (2021).

    • Panel Presentation

  • Loftis, R.L. (Author & Presenter), SEJ Annual Conference 2017, From Professional to Professor, Society of Environmental Journalists, Pittsburgh, PA, United States of America. (2017).

Contracts, Grants, Sponsored Research

    Grant - Research

  • Champlin, S. (Co-Principal), Loftis, R.L. (Co-Principal), "“I don’t see the sky with weird colors” so I must be okay: Exploring Environmental Health Literacy," sponsored by Mayborn School of Journalism (Colegrove Foundation), Private, $2000 Funded. (2023 - 2024).
  • Everbach, T. (Co-Principal), Nisbett, G. (Co-Principal), Loftis, R.L. (Supporting), Hurd, M. (Supporting), "Diversity and Inclusion at a Student Newspaper: The North Texas Daily," sponsored by Mayborn School of Journalism: Barbara Colegrove Grant, University of North Texas, $1100 Funded. (2020 - 2021).

Service

University Service

  • Faculty Mentor, Mentor to new adjuncts. (December 1, 2022 - Present).
  • Special Institutional Assignment, D Magazine Special Issue. (August 22, 2022 - Present).
  • Member, Dallas Media Collaborative. (January 1, 2022 - Present).
  • Faculty Advisor, Kappa Tau Alpha academic honor society. (January 1, 2022 - Present).
  • Committee Member, Mayborn Accreditation and Assessment Committee. (January 1, 2022 - Present).
  • Committee Member, Mayborn Assessment & Accreditation Committee. (January 1, 2022 - Present).
  • Committee Member, Mayborn Curriculum Committee. (January 1, 2022 - Present).
  • Member, Mayborn Graduate Faculty. (January 1, 2022 - Present).
  • Program Coordinator, News Capstone. (January 1, 2022 - Present).
  • Other (North Texas Daily faculty adviser), North Texas Daily. (January 1, 2022 - Present).
  • Reference Writer, Reference writer. (January 1, 2022 - Present).
  • Director, Texas Community College Journalism Association. (January 1, 2022 - Present).
  • Member, Texas Intercollegiate Press Association Executive Committee. (January 1, 2022 - Present).
  • Committee Member, University Student Media Committee. (January 1, 2022 - Present).
  • Committee Member, Advertising lecturer search committee. (January 1, 2023 - December 31, 2023).
  • Special Institutional Assignment, Dallas Media Collaborative. (January 1, 2023 - December 31, 2023).
  • Other (Donor relations), Donor relations. (January 1, 2023 - December 31, 2023).
  • Other (Investigation of a possible grant), Grant investigation. (January 1, 2023 - December 31, 2023).
  • Student Org Advisor (Professional Org), Kappa Tau Alpha honor society. (January 1, 2023 - December 31, 2023).
  • Faculty Mentor, Mayborn School of Journalism. (January 1, 2023 - December 31, 2023).
  • Faculty Advisor, North Texas Daily. (January 1, 2023 - December 31, 2023).
  • Other (Professional mentor), Professional mentorship. (January 1, 2023 - December 31, 2023).
  • Discussant, Program exploration. (January 1, 2023 - December 31, 2023).
  • Faculty Advisor, Society of Professional Journalists student chapter. (January 1, 2023 - December 31, 2023).
  • Faculty Mentor, Student service. (January 1, 2023 - December 31, 2023).
  • Director, Texas Community College Journalism Association. (January 1, 2023 - December 31, 2023).
  • Member, UNT Advanced Environmental Research Institute. (January 1, 2023 - December 31, 2023).
  • Guest Speaker, UNT Future Eagles. (November 16, 2023 - November 17, 2023).
  • Faculty Advisor, Dallas Morning News student tour. (November 2, 2023).
  • Session Chair, Visit by journalists from Turkmenistan. (October 18, 2023).
  • Program Organizer, North Texas Daily alumni reunion. (July 1, 2023 - September 29, 2023).
  • Attendee, Graduation, Mayborn Graduate Reception. (May 12, 2023).
  • Program Coordinator, Visit of New York Times opinion editor to the Mayborn School of Journalism. (January 1, 2023 - April 10, 2023).
  • Discussant, Student engagement panel. (April 3, 2023).
  • Faculty Mentor, Student service. (February 14, 2023).
  • Committee Member, Celebrate Mayborn. (January 1, 2022 - December 31, 2022).
  • Member, Dallas Morning News-DFW College Media Advisers Group. (March 10, 2020 - December 31, 2022).
  • Attendee, Graduation, MSOJ Commencement. (December 16, 2022).
  • Guest Speaker, ntTV. (November 8, 2022).
  • Special Institutional Assignment, MSOJ Academic Integrity. (November 2, 2022).
  • Guest Speaker, Guest speaker for Prof. McElroy's class. (September 27, 2022).
  • Guest Speaker, Reception/orientation for new MSOJ graduate students. (August 28, 2022).
  • Guest Speaker, Mayborn College Day. (August 24, 2022).
  • Discussant, Office for Faculty Success. (February 14, 2022).
  • Other (Scholarship donatiion facilitator), Development. (January 12, 2022).
  • Other (Application reviewer), Masters Experience. (January 2020 - December 31, 2021).
  • Member, Dallas Morning News diversity internship committee. (August 1, 2020 - December 31, 2020).
  • Committee Member, University Writing Committee. (October 2017 - September 1, 2020).
  • Chairperson, Mayborn Alumni & Advancement Committee. (January 1, 2020 - June 2020).
  • Attendee, Meeting, Society of Professional Journalists, Fort Worth Professional Chapter. (February 19, 2020).
  • Other (Executive director), Texas Community College Journalism Association. (January 2019 - December 31, 2019).
  • Other (Fill-in professor), Professor Vernon's public affairs reporting class. (October 2019).
  • Session Chair, Mayborn Literary Nonfiction Conference. (July 20, 2019).
  • Member, Mayborn Graduate Scholars reception at the Mayborn Conference. (July 18, 2019).
  • Other (Interview subject), Green Pioneers of North Texas oral history project. (April 2019).
  • Guest Speaker, Professor Bland's class on covering trauma. (April 10, 2019).
  • Faculty Advisor, UNT Students with Mental Illness Club. (January 2019 - January 2019).
  • Other (Executive Director), Texas Community College Journalism Association. (October 2018 - December 2018).
  • Program Organizer, Investigative Reporting Forum with Miami Herald Reporter. (November 2018).
  • Member, University Student Media Committee. (November 15, 2018).
  • Special Institutional Assignment, UNT librarians' group. (October 2017 - October 2018).
  • Special Institutional Assignment, U.S. Embassy London Media Literacy Grant Proposal. (September 2018 - September 2018).
  • Faculty Advisor, NT Daily. (May 2018 - August 2018).
  • Committee Member, UNT Student Media Committee. (April 13, 2018).
  • Other (Moderator of Q&A with Dr. Jane Goodall), UNT Distinguished Lecture Series. (April 9, 2018).
  • Discussant, Office of the Provost. (September 29, 2017).
  • Discussant, MSOJ Strategic Planning. (April 2, 2010).

Professional Service

  • Reviewer, Grant Proposal, Society of Environmental Journalists. (December 2017 - Present).
  • Attendee, Meeting, Society of Environmental Journalists. Houston, Texas. (March 30, 2022 - April 3, 2022).
  • Committee Member, Society of Environmental Journalists Awards judging panel. Denton, TX. (September 1, 2020 - October 1, 2020).
  • Guest Speaker, Society of Professional Journalists Fort Worth Professional Chapter. Dallas, Texas. (January 17, 2019 - January 23, 2019).
  • Board of Directors, Society of Environmental Journalists. (September 2015 - September 2017).
  • Board of Directors, Society of Environmental Journalists. (October 1991 - September 1996).