The School of Journalism and Communication (SJC) has a new professor, Pablo Fernandez, who teaching a new class called Media Management and Ministry. Fernandez hopes to bring awareness to media ministries and implement skills students can bring into an administrative environment.
“The main point of this class is to help students develop management skills through critical thinking,” Fernandez said. “How can this production be more effective? Where can we generate data to help us see what (appeals to the audience?) That is the purpose of this class.”
Cinthya Molina, a senior mass communication-photography major, shares her thoughts on the unique aspect of this class.
“I am currently learning how to create a media ministry of my own, which is interesting,”
Molina said. “If I want to pursue ministry, I can use my skills in photography and media
management, to create a ministry for photographers to take pictures in the missionary field.”
Five years ago, Fernandez and his family moved from Brazil to the United States. He first moved to Michigan, where he continued his studies, completing his master’s degree in communication at Andrews University.
“Mainly, the decision to leave was family-oriented, along with the desire to continue on my goal of helping media ministries achieve outreach to the masses,” Fernandez said.
Since his employment at Southern, Fernandez notices a change of pace.
“It is dynamic, in a sense that it is not the average 8 to 5 job, and I am teaching potential future producers,” Fernandez said. “As a professor, I can help my students focus on being intentional about their audience; that is my goal right now.”
Dean of the SJC, Rachel Williams-Smith, sees Professor Fernandez’s presence as
an essential guide for students to go about entering media production.
“He has a tremendous amount of experience in media production that can be quite useful teaching to the students,” she said. “Hisfluidity in Spanish and Portuguese can also help develop more connections.”
Fernandez continues to focus on establishing better ways to produce content.
Recently he helped manage a film called “The Mysterious Note.” The movie was produced by the North American Division Stewardship Ministries and is led by Rich Aguilera, a well-known speaker in the Adventist community and the creator of One Mustard Seed.
The movie portrays a message of stewardship by using talents from God to spread the word of the Gospel. It is a comedy-adventure and is directed to appeal to kids ages 8 to 12, as well as parents.
“The film can be a great resource for kids to learn more [about] what it means to be good leaders for God and connect with other kids who watch the film,” Fernandez said. “It can also be used for evangelism and outreach to those who do not know about God.”
Image credit: Stephen Ruf