Phelps Stokes Hawkins

Phelps Stokes Hawkins is an Assistant Professor of Journalism and Mass Communication at Savannah State University, specializing in Media Culture, Reporting & Writing, Media Ethics, International News, and the business of media. He held the same position at the American University in Bulgaria from 2007-2011. A long-time innovator dedicated to fashioning top-quality TV and radio programs with complex content, Professor Hawkins is the founder and principal partner of Mission Media Associates of Savannah, GA. It advises on national and international projects that employ high quality, responsible journalism to address significant social and cultural issues.  Before moving to Savannah, he taught JMC for four years at the American University in Bulgaria.  He has also advised the President of American University - Central Asia in Kyrgyzstan on global communications and marketing, as well as its journalism and broadcasting academic programs.

Previously, Professor Hawkins led seminars with local broadcasters in on contemporary news techniques and the prospects/problems of mixing quality journalism with revenue expectations.  That project, coordinated with the Government of Hungary and the Cox International Center at the University of Georgia, revealed as much about U.S. news broadcasting as the needs in Hungary.

Professor Hawkins played a major role in creating the innovative Mideast News Service in January 2003.  He advised on the broad content of the web site, its mission statement and promotion of the service.  He also produced "MNS Journal," the web site's unique video vignettes and non-partisan analysis reports from the Middle East.

Building synergies in news operations and programming has been a recurring theme throughout Mr. Hawkins’ varied career.  Even in his early work with the U.S. Navy in , he was recognized by the Secretary of the Navy for his innovative work building technical and content capacities between commands in the .  By the mid-1970’s and at the CBS affiliate in Eastern Idaho, he instituted the first noon-time combination news and home advice program which dominated the noon time slot within four months.  Later, at NBC News in , he worked to develop a system of “firebases” through the region, streamlining news coverage and reducing costs, while also pushing for collaboration among multi-national news agencies.

Professor Hawkins is a former Foreign Editor for NBC News, former Senior Vice President for News and Information at Public Radio International, and is the President of the consultancy firm, Mission Media Associates. Professor Hawkins has served on numerous boards, most notably the Phelps Stokes Fund, formerly America's oldest continually operating foundation, the Centre for Asians and Pacific Islanders,and Camp Nejeda Foundation for Diabetic children.

Professor Hawkins is married to Sandra Lea Earley, a fellow professor at SSU. The couple has one son, Bradshaw, who is a lawyer in Dallas.