By Jackson State University,
Elayne H. Anthony, Ph.D., chair of the Department of Journalism and Media Studies at Jackson State University (JSU), is the newly appointed incoming president of the Mississippi Association of Broadcasters. Anthony, the first journalism educator in the state to hold the position, will begin her term in 2023.
“I am so proud to represent Mississippi Broadcasters as the incoming president. I would like to thank JSU
for supporting me in this awesome position,” said Anthony.
Anthony has been a professor at JSU for more than 10 years, first serving as director of Graduate Studies for the Department of Mass Communications and later appointed head of the department. Under her leadership, the department received national accreditation from the Accrediting Council on Education in Journalism and Mass Communication.
Anthony previously served as professor of communications and chair of the Department of Communications at Belhaven University. A native of Jackson, she originally made a name for herself as the first African-American female news anchor on WJTV Channel 12.
“We congratulate Dr. Anthony on her appointment as chair of the Mississippi Association of Broadcasters,” said KB Turner, Ph.D., dean of the College of Liberal Arts. “We are thrilled to have someone so vested in the community and committed to our students as a member of the team. Her mentorship over the years has helped many of our students hone their professional skills and land rewarding roles in journalism throughout the country.”
Anthony earned both her bachelor of science and master’s degrees at JSU. She obtained her Ph.D. in organizational communication broadcast law at the University of Southern Illinois, Carbondale.
She has received a number of accolades from her work and civic involvement, including being named the 2014 recipient of the Mississippi Humanities Council Teacher Award at Belhaven University. She has served on the Mississippi Board of Health since 2007, appointed by Gov. Haley Barbour. She is currently serving as co-chair of the Audit Committee and chair of the Communication Committee for the Board. Additionally, Anthony was recently appointed a member of the Blood Services Board.
