TOPICS
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Name: Merrill, Thomas A.
Title: Professor
Specialization: News
E-mail: 
Department: Communications
Organization: LSU AgCenter
Address 1: 109 Knapp Hall
Address 2: Baton Rouge, LA 70803
Phone Number: (225) 578-5896
Fax Number: (225) 578-4524
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Education/Training
University of Florida (Gainesville, Fla.)
Northeast Louisiana University (Monroe, La.)
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Areas of Specialization/Research
Tom Merrill is a special projects writer/editor for the LSU AgCenter, who previously served 12 years as managing editor for the AgCenter's news services. His routine duties include writing and editing, working with publication designers, editing and moderating sections of the LSU AgCenter’s Web site, electronic distribution of news releases and maintaining contact with Louisiana’s 100-plus daily and weekly newspapers. A 23-year veteran in land-grant communications, he started his professional career working for weekly, daily and special-interest newspapers as a reporter, bureau chief and editor.
Professional/University Activities:
Association for Communications Excellence (ACE) Regional Director (and Director-elect) – 2004-2007
ACE Member – 1986-present
ACE Professional Development Committee – 2003-2006
ACE State Representative – 1999-2004
USDA/CSREES National Impact Writing Team Member, 2004-2005
LSU AgCenter Diversity Council Member – 1999-2007
LSU AgCenter Diversity Initiative Senior Trainer – 2000-2007
Gamma Sigma Delta, The Honor Society of Agriculture, member – 1999-present
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Professional Experience
LSU AgCenter professor in communications – September 2007 to present
- Serving as special projects writer and editor; accomplishing variety of tasks related to production of tabloids, fact sheets, brochures, annual reports and other publications; writing and editing promotional material; writing and editing news releases; assisting with editing a variety of publications; maintaining electronic style guide for writers and editors in unit; media relations; editing and designing material for the Web; and serving as moderator for variety of channels in LSU AgCenter's Web site
LSU AgCenter professor in communications – July 2002 to August 2007
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Serving as managing editor for print news service for university campus; accomplishing variety of editing and media relations tasks; handling 800 or more news releases per year; writing average of 100 or more news releases a year; managing Internet site for news, writing, editing and designing other material for the Web; editing and designing electronic newsletter; writing and editing other promotional materials
LSU AgCenter specialist in communications – July 1994 to June 2002
LSU AgCenter associate specialist in communications – July 1989 to June 1994
- News and feature writing; editing newsletters; writing for other publications; desktop publishing; media relations; communications training; photography; and providing technical support on computer systems
LSU AgCenter assistant specialist in communications – December 1985 to June 1989
- News and feature writing; designing systems for computerized dissemination of news; maintaining computer databases; writing computer programs to aid in communications administration; providing technical support/training to computer users; and serving as computer equipment and software coordinator
General Aviation News editor – April 1985 to November 1985
- Broad range of experience in writing, editing and supervising production of two aviation-related newspapers
Monroe News-Star court reporter, bureau chief – January 1984 to April 1985, November 1981 to August 1982
- Experience in news and feature writing, covering parish and local government, reporting about court cases and other legal news and managing news bureau for seven parish area
University of Florida graduate assistant – August 1982 to December 1983
Richland Beacon-News reporter/photographer – August to November 1981
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Awards/Grants
Association for Communication Excellence Award of Excellence for media relations, 2008
ACE Critique and Awards Program bronze award for marketing communications campaign, 2008
ACE Critique and Awards Program silver award for media relations, 2007
ACE Outstanding Professional Skill Award for marketing/media relations, 2006
ACE Critique and Awards Program gold award for media relations, 2006
Metropolitan Community Church Of Baton Rouge Outstanding Steward Award, 2005
Louisiana Farm Bureau Federation Regnal Wallace Ag Communicator of the Year Award, 2004
ACE Critique and Awards Program silver award for newspaper writing, 2004
ACE Critique and Awards Program silver award for non-credit educational project, 2004
UFMCC South Central District Dr. Tom Reveley Memorial Award for Excellence in Lay Ministry, 2002
LSU AgCenter Diversity Program Outstanding Service Award, 2001
Krewe of Apollo-Baton Rouge Captain's Award, 2000
UFMCC Commission on Laity Award for Faithfulness, Service and Leadership, 1997
ACE Critique and Awards Program gold award for specialized color publication, 1994
ACE Critique and Awards Program honorable mention for computer program, 1989
Louisiana Associated Press honorable mention for 12-part series, 1985
"Best of Gannett" honorable mention for series on rural health care, 1985
Scripps-Howard Foundation graduate fellowship, 1982-83, 1983-84 |
Publications/Presentations/Patents
“What If Soybean Rust Was Found In Your Backyard,” Agricultural Communicators In Education International Meeting, San Antonio, Texas, June 2005
"Media Relations Made Easy," Agricultural Communicators In Education Superworkshop, News Orleans, September 2003 (served as conference logistics coordinator/planner and helped to produce training manual)
"Designing A News Web site That Attracts The Media" and "Get It Growing Sweeping Louisiana," Agricultural Communicators in Education International Meeting, Savannah, Ga., August 2002
"Meeting With Newspaper Editorial Boards As A Media Relations Tool," Agricultural Communicators in Education and National Extension Technology Conference, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, July 2001
"Writing, Editing and Production of `Focus on Louisiana,'" Poster Session, Agricultural Communicators in Education International Conference, Moscow, Idaho / Pullman, Washington, July 1994
"Computer Delivery of News Stories," Southern Association of Agricultural Scientists, Communications Section, Nashville, Tenn., February 1987
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