Christopher J. Winkler
Associate Professor, Department of Radio-TV-Film
Ric Edelman College of Communication & Creative Arts
Rowan University
Glassboro, New Jersey

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“Amateurs practice until they get it right; Professionals practice until they can’t get it wrong.”

In my professional media career spanning the past 20+ years, I have worked in various technical and non-technical roles, above-the-line and below-the-line, crafting broadcast programming for ESPN, NFL Films / NFL Network, Comcast Spectacor and Comcast SportsNet (now NBC Sports Philadelphia), and the Philadelphia Phillies… in addition to countless hours of non-broadcast video and live event production work for several production companies and corporate clients.  I am presently active in the Philadelphia market as a freelance/seasonal director for the Philadelphia Phillies / PhanaVision in-stadium game & event presentation group. See my LinkedIn profile for more employment history.

As for my professional career in academia, after short stints in college television studio operations and management while earning my undergraduate & graduate degrees, I started at Rowan University as the Television Production Coordinator for the College of Communication & Creative Arts in 2006.  Over a period of ten years, I produced numerous high-profile videos for the College and University, and advised the students of the Rowan Television Network.  I taught Television Production 1 as an adjunct in 4:3 and 16:9 standard definition, back when we were still teaching linear editing and working on DV tape. Over that decade, I worked with faculty to mold and redefine the studio TV production curriculum, and was eventually provided the opportunity to join the faculty in a full time tenure-track teaching position.  During my changeover from staff to faculty, I was heavily involved with the complete overhaul of the RTF TV studios from standard definition analog to digital high definition- an entire out-with-the-old, in-with-the-new process, from design to demolition to build and configuration – and then the refreshing of the studio coursework in the “new” HDTV format.

I’ve taught Foundations of Media Production, Television Production 1 & Television Production 2 (now effectively combined as Television Production), Live Event TV & Video Production, Sports TV Production, and Senior Seminar in Sports Communication and Media. My creative work and research interests include personal slice-of-life storytelling through traditional and new means, including the use of VR/360 immersive media.  I am currently a Co-PI on a National Science Foundation grant called STEM-VRCE which utilizes live action 360-degree video to introduce high demand STEM careers to rural and minority high school students.  Two videos I produced for this grant have won Telly Awards in 2022 (1 silver, 2 bronze) as well as one winning a BEA Festival of Media Arts Award of Excellence.

Check out the pages of this website for more info, videos, pictures, and public course resources.  As always with web pages, some items are still under construction.

I am a member of these professional organizations: