Veteran journalist Demetria Kalodimos appointed professional-in-residence in School of Communication
Award-winning journalist, longtime WSMV anchor to share four decades of experience with next generation of communication professionals
Kim Chaudoin |
Beloved Nashville journalist and former longtime WSMV anchor Demetria Kalodimos has been appointed communication professional-in-residence in Lipscomb University’s School of Communication for the 2021-22 academic year.
Kalodimos is a trusted voice in Middle Tennessee. She has anchored and reported news for nearly 40 years and has won some of the top awards in broadcast journalism including 16 Emmys, three Investigative Reporters and Editors (IRE) National awards, three Edward R. Murrow Awards for investigative reporting and the Gracie from American Women in Radio and Television. She was inducted into the Tennessee Journalism Hall of Fame and the NATAS Silver Circle. Kalodimos produces her own award-winning documentaries, music videos and other visual content through her company Genuine Human Productions. Her songwriter series, Barnegie Hall, aired nationally on PBS stations across the country.
“For many years I have had the pleasure and honor of working alongside Demetria Kalodimos. She is the epitome of a dedicated journalist with an unmatched foundation of tenaciousness and high ethical standards for her craft,” said Alan Griggs, chair of Lipscomb’s School of Journalism. “She is one of the best journalists I have had the honor and privilege to know and she is a great storyteller as well. With her experience and knowledge, our students will benefit significantly and so will I. I look forward to having her join us in the classroom and to lead several major projects for our School of Communication, as well.”
Griggs and Kalodimos worked together at WSMV for 20 years. During his tenure at the station, he served as news director for nine years, during which time it was awarded more honors than any station in the country.
As communication professional-in-residence at Lipscomb, Kalodimos will share her experiences and expertise with undergraduate students and will develop special workshops and programming, with a particular focus on digital media ethics, to add to their classroom experience. In addition, Kalodimos will co-teach a class with Griggs. Her one-year appointment begins in August.
“I am greatly looking forward to being part of the training and education of young people and sharing lessons learned from my years of experience in the field of communication and journalism,” said Kalodimos. “Educating future journalists about the state of the industry and how to navigate that well while training them to be good storytellers, utilizing the many tools they have available to them, is critical. While content delivery methods continually change, the fundamentals of good storytelling will never cease to be important. So, I am excited to be able to share my knowledge and experiences with students and to have an impact on the next generation of journalists and storytellers.”
Kalodimos has a Master of Science degree in journalism from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and a bachelor’s degree in music education and honorary doctorate from Illinois Wesleyan University.
Housed in the Lipscomb University College of Liberal Arts & Sciences, the School of Communication offers undergraduate programs in advertising, journalism and new media, and public relations. Graduate programs are offered in advertising and public relations. Students learn from scholars and practitioners, and have opportunities for experiential learning opportunities through internships and field experiences across the country. For more information visit www.lipscomb.edu/school-communication.