Kirstie Hettinga, Ph.D.

About

Kirstie Hettinga joined the Cal Lutheran faculty in 2013. She earned her doctorate in mass communication from Penn State and her bachelor's and master's degrees from California State University, Fresno. Dr. Hettinga teaches courses in journalism and serves as the faculty adviser to the student newspaper, The Echo. Her research addresses news media, especially print journalism and its relationship with the internet. She is particularly interested in issues regarding transparency and accountability.

Education

Ph.D., The Pennsylvania State University, Communication

M.A., California State Univeristy, Fresno, Mass Communication

B.A., California State University, Fresno, Mass Communication & Journalism; Theater Arts

Publications

Aasen, C., Martinez, R., Seales, L., Hettinga, K., Wigginton, S., & Gracyalny, M. (2024). Reaching new audiences: Student news organization's Spanish-language coverage. College Media Review, 60. 

​Appelman, A., & Hettinga, K. (2024). Innate qualities or learned skills? Copy editors disagree about the need for training. Journalism & Mass Communication Educator, 0(0). 

Appelman, A., & Hettinga, K. (2023). Job satisfaction in the COVID-19 era: A survey of copy editors across fields. Journalism & Mass Communication Quarterly. 

Lyon Payne, L., Norman, J., Smith, E. & Hettinga, K. (2023). Exhausted and lonely: Learning in student newsrooms during COVID. Media Practice and Education.  

Hettinga, K., Medders, R. & Docter, S. (2022). Student media coverage of censorship and press freedom. College Media Review.

Hettinga, K. & Smith, E. (2021). How a copy desk 'edit' influenced corrections at the New York Times. Newspaper Research Journal.  

Appelman, A. & Hettinga, K. (2021). The ethics of transparency: A review of corrections language in international journalistic codes of ethics. Journal of Media Ethics. 

Smith, E., Lyon Payne, L., Hettinga, K., & Norman, J. (2020). Keeping the lights on and the wolves outside: College student media advisers in Communities of Practice. Journalism & Mass Communication Educator.

Appelman, A. & Hettinga, K. (2020). Correcting online content: The influence of news outlet reputation. Journalism Practice. 

Hettinga, K., Wigginton, S., & Seales, L. (2020). ¿Hablas español? Launching a Spanish-language insert at a small student newspaper. In Bernier, M. & Guenee, P. (Eds.) Teaching journalism in a disruptive age: Proceedings of the World Journalism Education Congress (pp. 399-410). Paris, France: World Journalism Education Congress. 

Smith, E., Norman, J.  Lyon Payne, L., & Hettinga, K. (2020). Teachable moment: Fostering Communities of Practice in student newsrooms. In Bernier, M. & Guenee, P. (Eds.) Teaching journalism in a disruptive age: Proceedings of the World Journalism Education Congress (pp. 725-739). Paris, France: World Journalism Education Congress. 

Appelman, A. & Hettinga. K. (2020). Errors, requests, apologies... A case study of 50 years of corrections in a college newspaper. College Media Review 57. 

Formentin, M., Hettinga, K. & Appelman, A. (2019). Two wrongs don’t make a right: Journalists’ perceptions and usage of press releases. Corporate Reputation Review.

Smith, E., Hettinga, K., Payne, L. L., Norman, J. (2019). Understanding communities in student newsrooms. Teaching Journalism and Mass Communication 9(1).

Appelman, A. & Hettinga, K. Error message: Creation of a revised codebook for analysis of newspaper corrections. Newspaper Research Journal 40(1).

Hettinga, K., Appelman, A., Otmar, C., Posada, A. & Thompson, A. (2018). Comparing and contrasting corrected errors at four newspapers. Newspaper Research Journal 39(2).

Hettinga, K. E. (2018) Exploring how college media advisers teach accuracy." College Media Review 55.

Hettinga, K. E. & Appelman, A. (2016) "Repeating error lowers perception of correction's importance." Newspaper Research Journal 37(3).

Hettinga, K. E. (2016) “Student newspaper manuals need clarification on correction practices.” Published in the proceedings of the World Journalism Education Congress, Auckland, New Zealand.

Hettinga, K. E. (2016) “Newswriting textbooks earn low grades for teaching accuracy.” Published in the proceedings of the World Journalism Education Congress, Auckland, New Zealand.

Hettinga, K. E. & Sell, A. (2016) “Source perception of student journalists’ professionalism.” Published in the proceedings of the World Journalism Education Congress, Auckland, New Zealand.

Hettinga, K. E., Clark, R. & Appelman, A. (2016) “Exploring the Use of Corrections on College Newspapers’ Websites.” College Media Review 53. 

Hettinga, K. E. (2015)  “It’s Not Like We’re The New York Times…” Media Ethics. 27(1)

Appelman, A. & Hettinga, K. E. (2015) "Do News Corrections Affect Credibility? Not Necessarily." Newspaper Research Journal. 

Hettinga, K. E. (2014) “Initial Reactions to the New SPJ Code of Ethics.” Media Ethics 26(1).

Hettinga, K. E. & Appelman, A. (2014) "Corrections of Newspaper Errors Have Little Impact."  Newspaper Research Journal 35(1).

Hettinga, K. E. (2013). "Obooma: A Case of Getting It Right."  Media Ethics 25(1). 

Hettinga, K. E. (2013). Experiencing Error: How Journalists Describe What It's Like When The Press Fails." Journal of Mass Media Ethics 28(1). 

Hettinga, K. E. (2013). 50 Shades of Gray... In Newspaper Accuracy. Media Ethics, 24(1).

Hettinga, K. E. & Hardin, M. (2010). Student Editors Need Help In Learning How To Use Codes of Ethics. Media Ethics, 22(1).

Grant Funding

2024: Iles Award for Research in Editing (University of Kansas) with Dr. Dru Pagliassotti, $1,000

2024: Page and Johnson Legacy Scholar Grant with Dr. Alyssa Appelman (University of Kansas), $5,000

2023: DEIJ Mini Grant, $500

2023: Faculty and Creative Works Grant, $5,000

2023: College of Arts & Sciences Dean Mini Grant in Experiential Learning, $500

2021: Gannett Foundation grant with Dr. Sheridan Wigginton (Cal Lutheran) and Dr. LaVerne Seales (Cal Lutheran), $10,000                

2020: Community Leader Association grant, $2,500

2019: Community Leader Association grant, $2,000 

2018: Journalism Education Association and National Scholastic Press Association Research Grant with Dr. Elizabeth Smith (Pepperdine), Dr. Lisa Lyon Payne (Virginia Wesleyan), and Dr. Jean Norman (Weber), $5,412.67

2017: Page and Johnson Legacy Scholar Grant with Dr. Alyssa Appelman (Northern Kentucky University), $2,000