Jim Owens ’79, Ph.D.

Dean, School of Communication Arts
Department Chair of Media, Journalism, and Digital Storytelling
Professor of Media Communication

Departments: Media, Journalism & Digital Storytelling, Communication & Theatre Arts

Office: Miller Center for Communication Arts 205

Phone Extension: (859) 858-3511, x2387

Contact Jim Owens

Biographical Information

Jim Owens is the Dean of the School of Communication Arts at Asbury; Chair of the Media & Journalism Department; and a Professor of Media Communication. He loves working with students, creating innovative opportunities that enhance his students’ education and enjoys the adrenaline rush of live television production. He has worked and taught in the television, film, and video industry for over 30 years. Jim has taught television production in universities and colleges in eleven countries.

Jim, winner of a regional Emmy Award (2015) and multiple Telly Awards, was appointed by the Governor of Kentucky to serve on the Kentucky Film Commission beginning in 2016 for a four year term, and serves on the executive board of the Kentucky Film Association. He has worked on local, regional, and national productions including projects for ESPN, ABC, Turner Sports, Sports Illustrated television, Canadian Broadcasting (CBC), NBC, and CBS. Broadcasts that he has worked on include Monday Night Football, NCAA basketball and 26 years of Indianapolis 500 coverage. His love of travel has allowed him to work on international television productions that have included fifteen Olympic Games and taken him to over thirty countries…trips that usually include Asbury students.

Owens began his media career in photojournalism. As a freelance photojournalist for newspapers, magazines and the Associated Press; he photographed major news and sports events. His assignments ranged from shooting an Evil Knieval motorcycle jump to traveling with Presidents Ford, Carter and Reagan on the campaign trail.

Education

Ph.D. in Communications, Southeastern University (1984)
Ed.S. in Instructional Systems Technology, Indiana University (1981)
M.A. in Instructional Systems Technology, Indiana University (1980)
B.A. in Christian Ministries, Asbury University (1979)

Courses Offered:

Multicamera Television Production
Senior Seminar
Remote Television Production

Projects

Owens recently co-produced a television movie with Dean Batali (writer of over 15 television series) and Professor Jim Shores. The film’s actors include Doug Jones (Star Trek, the Silver Surfer in Fantastic Four: Return of the Silver Surfer, Arrow, The Flash and over 100 other film roles) and Nancy Stafford (actor in ER, Babylon 5, Matlock, Quantam Leap and more). (2017)
Researching and curating a collection of over 400 original production design painting from over 50 films shot between 1930-1980. This collection resides at Asbury University and is also being digitized for educational use. More information on this collection can be found at: AsburyProductionDesignStudiesCenter.com. (2015-present)
Serves as the Academic Director of the Broadcast Training Program, a legacy project of the International Olympic Committee’s broadcast division, Olympic Broadcasting Services. The program has trained over 10,000 students to work in paid entry-level professional broadcasters at the last 9 Olympics. (2000-present)
Owens was the curator of the “Broadcasting the Olympics” exhibition for The Olympic Museum in Lausanne, Switzerland. (2014-2016)
Co-produced a video as part of the Opening Ceremonies of the World Equestrian Games. The project won an AVA Digital Award and the EMPIXX Award of Excellence in Film. (2010)

Affiliations

National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences
Commissioner, Kentucky Film Commission
Executive Committee, Kentucky Film & Digital Entertainment Association/Kentucky Filim Association

Publications

He has had over thirty articles published in television-related magazines in the United States and Europe and is the author of the following books:

Video Production Handbook, 6th edition , Focal Press, 2017 (Has been published in English and Spanish)
Television Production, 16th edition, Focal Press, 2016 (Has been published in English, Chinese, Italian, and Russian)
Television Sports Production, Focal Press, 2015 (Has been published in English, Spanish and Russian)
Shooting for Story (co-authored with Sarah Leckie), Olympic Broadcasting Services (Madrid, Spain), 2014 (Has been published in English and French)
Introduction to Television Production, Olympic Broadcasting Services (Madrid, Spain), 2007 (Has been published in English, Greek, and Chinese)