Doug Newsom Chapter of PRSSA Newsroom

May 24th, 2021

 

Professor Douglas Ann Newsom,  Ph.D., APR, Fellow PRSA, PR Educator, Scholar and Patron of TCU PRSSA Chapter,  Dies.

 

We are sad to announce the passing of our chapter’s namesake, Professor Douglas Ann Newsom,  Ph.D., APR, Fellow PRSA, whose death occurred on Monday, May 24, in Fort Worth, Texas. She was a renowned public relations scholar, author, professor, mentor, and founding advisor of our PRSSA chapter. To recognize her contribution to our profession and public relations students, the TCU chapter petitioned to rename the chapter The Doug Newsom Chapter of PRSSA @ TCU in her honor. Many students may recognize her name from the public relations textbooks she authored: This is PR: The Realities of Public Relations, Public Relations Writing: Form & Style and Media Writing.

 

Professor Jacque Lambiase, chair of the strategic communication department, said,  “Our faculty and students recognize the profound impact that Dr. Newsom had on our program, and nowhere was this more evident than through our PRSSA chapter. She loved PRSA, because it standardized public relations and professionalized many places where the discipline is at work. Through PRSSA, our students were exposed early and often to these disciplinary and professional discussions. How fitting that our chapter has been named in her honor for many years.”

 

She enjoyed working with students, whether it was leading the Study Abroad program in London or supervising the Bateman, the national public relations campaign  competition, which PRSSA sponsored. “PRSSA at TCU is honored to be named after Professor Newson and we strive to run our chapter and grow into PR professionals who would make her proud. Each year, we plan to dedicate time to teach our members about Professor Newsom, her impact, and her dedication to TCU, PRSSA, PRSA, and the PR profession as a whole,” said Paige Gonterman, 2021 president of the Doug Newsom Chapter of PRSSA.

 

While she taught for many decades at TCU, we will always remember how much she wanted students to succeed. Tuba Piskinsut Balcicoy, a former student and now public relations executive in Turkey, said, “It’s no wonder that years after most have graduated, they kept in touch with her. She was so precious, understanding and helpful. She played an important role in my life.”

 

Professor Newsom was elected or appointed to many top positions in public relations and communication organizations, and those positions meant she was in demand as a speaker at many conferences, but she always made her students a top priority.

 

“When she handed over to me the role of PRSSA advisor, she told me to always take care of our students first. She remained a mentor and a friend and I will miss her greatly,” said, Dr. Amiso George, APR, Fellow PRSA, current advisor of the Doug Newsom Chapter of PRSSA @ TCU.

 

Professor Newsom received some of the highest awards in public relations education and practice,  including PRSA Educator of the Year from the Public Relations Society of America,  and the Gold Anvil Award, PRSA’s highest individual honor.  Organizations have created awards in her name, including the Greater Fort Worth chapter of PRSA which created The Douglas Ann Newsom PRSA Professional of the Year Award, established to recognize those who have led and contributed to the advancement of public relations. In addition, the  Public Relations Division of AEJMC created the Doug Newsom Award, to recognize the top paper in global ethics or global diversity.

 

We miss her, but are proud to carry on her legacy at the Doug Newsom Chapter of PRSSA @TCU.

 

If you wish to honor Professor Newsom’s legacy, please donate to the Douglas Ann Newsom Endowed Scholarship at Texas Christian University.