Research Summary
Masters thesis and radio documentary on the impacts of federal deregulation on Salt Lake radio news. The research provides a timeline and shows how deregulation, beginning in the early eighties, resulted in a significant decline in both the quality and content of local news. She's currently studying the challenges faced by radio journalists during the Covid-19 pandemic and how that impacted local news coverage.
Biography
Award winning Broadcast Journalist with more than 20 years experience. Written and produced stories for radio, television and the internet on a wide range of subjects from government to children’s issues. Vast experience in live broadcasting and breaking news with a daily afternoon drive show on KSL NewsRadio for 25 years. Received many awards from the Society of Professional Journalists, Utah Broadcasters Association, the Associated Press and the regional Edward R. Murrow Awards.
Created the first original content podcast at KSL in May 2016. “Let’s Get Moving With Maria” is a motivational podcast to get people to spend a few minutes each day making changes to improve their lives.
Currently, National Newsdesk Anchor and Host of Utah's Noon News, the KSL Greenhouse and the Let's Get Moving with Maria podcast on KSL NewsRadio. Maria has been an Associate Instructor at the University of Utah since 2016 teaching radio journalism. In 2020, she created the curriculum for the U's first podcasting course.
Maria is excited to be teaching Radio Journalism and Podcasting. She's a proud Ute having received both her BA and MS from the U in journalism and Mass Communication. She's passionate about teaching the next generation of journalists both a love for the profession and the best journalism ethics and practices. She loves mentoring and teaching students one-on-one writing, production and performance techniques.
Fun fact: Maria met her husband Bob Nelson at the U during her undergraduate years. They were both getting their degrees in Communication and working part-time on campus at KUER. After 25 years in commercial radio, Bob is back at KUER as the Mid-day Host.