|
 Dr.
Schwalbe spent the Fall 1997 semester teaching in the Journalism
and Mass Communication program at the American University in Bulgaria.
He notes that AUBG is quite different from other universities
in Eastern Europe. While the majority of students are from Bulgaria
and other Eastern European countries, all instruction is in English.
More importantly, students are given a strong liberal arts education
and are encouraged to think and interact with the faculty. It
is also a very selective university and the students were outstanding.
 He
taught two courses during the semester. One was Radio News. By
the midpoint of the semester, students were producing 15-minute
newscasts which combined American-style radio journalism with
that of their own countries. The second course was International
Media. What made this course quite interesting was the perspectives
students had on their own media systems.
His research involved working with the newly developing private
radio industry. He visited stations in several cities and worked
with a variety of radio professionals. He also did some research
on Eastern European media law.
His wife and two teen-age daughters shared the experience with
him. His daughters attended a local high school. They have both
developed a strong interest in international studies and plan
on pursuing these interests when they go to college.
The low point of the semester was when his younger daughter spent
a week in the local hospital with a broken leg, which occurred
when she was hit by a car crossing the street.
The warmth and friendliness of the Bulgarian people as well as
the AUBG administration, faculty, staff, and students was something
the family will always remember.
Since the Fulbright, Dr. Schwalbe has continued his contacts with
Bulgaria. He received a major USIA grant for training Bulgarian
radio station managers. He coordinated a student exchange program
between AUBG and SUNY Fredonia. He has also maintained contact
with several of his students who went on to pursue graduate degrees
in the United States.
He would he happy to share his experiences with anyone interested.
He can be contacted at schwalbe@fredonia.edu
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