AI and Communication

Media Psychology

Public Relations

Strategic Communication

Education

• Ph.D., Media, Art and Text, Media Psychology, VCU (Anticipated Spring 2025) 
• M.S., Mass Communications, Strategic Public Relations, VCU

Background

Joshua J. Smith is an assistant professor at the Richard T. Robertson School of Media and Culture. He leads Public Relations courses in the undergraduate curriculum and Integrated Communication graduate program. Smith is the principal owner of Smith & Something, providing communication and media services to clients throughout the U.S. Smith's current areas of instruction and practice span PR writing, media relations, graphic design and production, strategy, and integrated communication campaigns. Over the last decade, Smith has provided his services to business spanning the state of Virginia, including health care, nonprofit, B2B, B2C and government sectors. 

Smith holds both a bachelor's and master's of science in mass communication and is a student in the VCU Media, Art and Text (MATX) doctoral program. His academic work focuses on advancing the understanding of media effects on individuals. Additionally, Smith contributes to individual and group research in the areas of mass communication, integrated communication and public relations. Smith has an ongoing interest in the growing field of media psychology with a special passion for media literacy, computer mediated communication technology and public relations.

Affiliations

• Adobe Education Exchange (EdEx)
• American Psychological Association (APA)
  • Division 46: Media psychology and Technology
• Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication (AEJMC)
• Association of Marketing and Communication Professionals (AMCP)
• International Communication Association (ICA)
  • Division: Public Relations | Children, adolescents and media
• Public Relations Society of America (PRSA)
  • Richmond Chapter, Board of Directors 2019-2022

Articles/Opinions

• Communication Fatigue
• The Book of Crisis Management - The Crisis Paradox
• Bolstering during COVID
• Beware the Zombie Accounts
• Facebook's New Ad Policies for Minors Emphasize Organic PR
• Social media advertising changes amid pushback about digital spaces and teen mental health.
• New Advertising Regulations With Minors Puts Emphasis on Organic PR
• Brands and Membership Affiliation Strategy for Hotels
• Prepare Your Influencer Strategy for the Potential Ban of TikTok 
• Potential TikTok ban is a high-stakes threat for its young user base and beyond, VCU professor says

Accolades and Media Mentions

• As part of a new minor in AI, students explore its intersection with mass media
• Television Academy: Instructors receive valuable instruction at 2024 Media Educators Conference
• VCU REAL Star: Joshua J. Smith
• New VCU class takes students on media and culture study of Vietnam
• VCU PR course provides ‘Agency’ work to area nonprofits
• VCU’s new ‘Agency’ provides Richmond-area nonprofits with pro bono PR
• Why undergrad-ran agencies are popping up across the country

Awards

• Smith, J. (2025) Silver: Guaranteed Care Campaign, Marketing Effectiveness International | Healthcare | Medical Industry Marketing.  
• Smith, J. (2024) Gold: Senior Insights Web Design, Hermes Creative Awards. Honored for outstanding website design and communication strategies in the medical/healthcare sector.
• Smith, J. (2024) Honorable Mention: Guaranteed Care Campaign, MarCom Internal Awards. Advertising/Marketing | Ads | 1c. Advertising Campaign.
• Smith, J. (2024) Honorable Mention: #Love > Shame: Driving National Change, MarCom International Awards. Strategic Communications | Communications/Public Relations | 120c. Communication Plan.
• Smith, J. (2024) Honorable Mention: #RxSafe: National Prescription Drug Take Back Day, Hermes Creative Awards. Acknowledged for effective communication strategies in promoting public health and safety awareness.
• Smith, J. (2024) Bronze: Senior Insights Website Design, Summit International Media Awards. Creative Website - Health Care.
• Smith, J. (2024) Bronze: Senior Insights Consumer Website, Summit Creative Awards. Best Consumer Website (International) Health Care and Medicine. Recognized for excellence in consumer website development and digital marketing strategies.
• Smith, J. (2023) Platinum: Media Careers Start Here, MarComm International Awards. Strategic Communications | Marketing/Promotion Campaign | 104c. Integrated Marketing.
• Smith, J. (2023) Gold: Boosting Volunteer Applications, MarComm International Awards. Strategic Communications | Communications/Public Relations | 127c. Social Media Campaign.
• Smith, J. (2023) Gold: #Love is > Greater Than Shame, Hermes Creative Awards. Recognized for strategic excellence in public relations during the pandemic.

Scholarship

• Smith, J. (2024, March). Potential TikTok ban is a high-stakes threat for its young user base and beyond, VCU professor says. VCU News. https://bit.ly/3MBcttO
• Smith, J. (2024, March 26). Prepare your influencer strategy for the potential ban of TikTok. PRSA PrSay. https://bit.ly/3MX7dYW
• Smith, J. (2024). Expert opinion: Valuing membership awards – Stakeholder relations. WalletHub. https://bit.ly/3IRYMXD
• Alkazemi, M. F., Alkhubaizi, N., & Smith, J. J. (2022). The implications of public health messaging strategies: How branding disease may improve public health awareness in the GCC. In N. Lan, Q. Wang, & B.-L. Sha (Eds.), Intercultural public relations: Realities and reflections in practical contexts (pp. [insert page range]). Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781315641720-13
• Smith, J. (2021). New advertising regulations with minors puts emphasis on organic PR. PRSA. PrSay. https://bit.ly/3LPvwFh
• Smith, J. (2021). Social media advertising changes amid pushback about digital spaces and teen mental health. Digital Sociology Lab. https://bit.ly/3LPvwFh
• Smith, J. (2021). Facebook’s new ad policies for minors emphasize organic PR. Social Media & SEO. PR News. https://bit.ly/3LOZ8fa
• Alkazemi, M., & Youakim, C. E. (Eds.). (2021). Arab worlds beyond the Middle East and North Africa. G - Reference, Information and Interdisciplinary Subjects Series. Lexington Books. ISBN: 179361766X, 9781793617668. [Cover designer: J. Smith].
• Meganck, S., Smith, J., & Guidry, J. P. D. (2020). The skills required for entry-level public relations: An analysis of skills required in 1,000 PR job ads. Public Relations Review, 46(5), 101973. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pubrev.2020.101973
• Smith, J. (2020). PR should beware of zombie accounts. Social Media & SEO. PR News. https://bit.ly/3MD8M6P
• Smith, J. (2020). How to use bolstering messages to grow brand trust. Messaging. PR News. https://bit.ly/3LCcvmQ
• Smith, J. (2020). The crisis paradox. In The book of crisis management: Vol. 10 (pp. 118-110). PR News. https://bit.ly/3MBznpo
• Smith, J. (2020). Avoiding communication fatigue as coronavirus separates workforces. Public Relations Society of America. https://bit.ly/3MC5Z71
• Hopkins, D. (2019). Sepsis in Rwanda. Poster session. [Role: Image restoration / poster designer].
• Lee, Y.-I., Zhang, Y., Jin, Y., Kim, S., Martin, E. F., & Smith, J. J. (2019). Opening the minds’ eye: The pivotal role of sympathy in depression coverage effectiveness. Communication Studies. Routledge. https://doi.org/10.1080/10510974.2019.1650086
• Hopkinson, D., Mucyo, W., & Nkeshimana, M. (2019). Two young men with STEMI in Rwanda: A case report. Rwanda Medical Journal. University of Rwanda School of Medicine and Pharmacy; Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Kigali, Department of Accident & Emergency. [Role: Illustrative EKG image restoration and repair].
• Bajkiewicz, P., & Smith, J. (2019). On-camera media relations training for public relations students: A "Look Live" on-camera interview assignment. Poster session presented at the AEJMC Conference, Toronto, Canada.
• Meganck, S., & Smith, J. (2019). Embracing public relations writing techniques in the classroom. Teaching Journalism and Mass Communication, 9(1), 41-44.
• Meganck, S., Guidry, J., & Smith, J. (2019, April). Skills needed for entry-level public relations positions: An analysis of job listings. Paper presented at the BRIDGE Conference, Washington, D.C.
• Bajkiewicz, T. A. (2018). Dear Kay: One man’s journey through grief (C). Amazon Books. ASIN: B07KBTBLKW. [Role: Print book design and layout].
• Smith, J. Social Marketing Quarterly, 24(2), June 2018. [Role: Cover design].
• Lee, Y.-I., Jin, Y., & Nowak, G. (2018). Motivating influenza vaccination among young adults: The effects of public service advertising message framing and text versus image support. Social Marketing Quarterly, 24, 152450041877128. https://doi.org/10.1177/1524500418771283. [Role: Visual Stimulus Design]
• Anderson, R., Pang, A., Jin, Y., & Smith, J. (2018). Crisis communication and ethics: The role of public relations. Journal of Business Strategy, 39(1), 43-52.
• McIntyre, K., & Gyldensted, C. (2017). Constructive journalism: An introduction and practical guide for applying positive psychology techniques to news production. Journal of Media Innovations, 4(2). [Role: Infographic design].
• Life in 10 Minutes LLC. (2017). Nine lives - A life in ten minutes anthology (C). Chop Suey Books. ISBN: 978-0-9960912-5-1. [Role: Print book design and layout].
• Guidry, J., Jin, Y., Haddad, L., Zhang, Y., & Smith, J. (2016). How health risks are pinpointed (or not) on social media: The portrayal of waterpipe smoking on Pinterest. Health Communication, 31(6), 659-67. https://doi.org/10.1080/10410236.2014.987468. Epub 2015 Oct 29. PMID: 26512916.
• Austin, L., & Jin, Y. (2015). Approaching ethical crisis communication with accuracy and sensitivity: Exploring common ground and gaps between journalism and public relations. The Public Relations Journal, 9. [Role: Research Assistant].
• Jin, Y., Zhang, Y., Lee, Y.-I., Martin, E. F., & Smith, J. (2015). The effects of framing and attribution on individuals’ responses to depression coverage. Paper presented at the AEJMC Conference, San Francisco, CA.