Mary Erickson

I am a media educator, writer, researcher, film professional and arts advocate.

I have over 20 years of experience in various capacities in the arts and film, working in publicity and promotions, production and education.

I have spent the last decade building an academic portfolio of research about regional and international audiovisual media. The intersection of culture and economics in media underlies my research agenda, as does the impact of technology in the historical context of audiovisual media. My experience as a media educator complements this research; it is important to me that my students learn the contexts in which media is produced: cultural, political, economic, historical. I am a Visiting Assistant Professor in Communication Studies at Western Washington University, primarily teaching media studies classes.

In 2015, I founded the Pacific Northwest Media Research Consortium, an international network of scholars researching the dynamics, contexts and dimensions of media located in and impacting the Pacific Northwest. The mission of the Consortium is to provide practical research that can positively impact the media industries in the Pacific Northwest. This research will support the sustainability of ethical, knowledgeable and responsible media that contribute to the cultural fabric of the region.

I am a passionate advocate for the arts and independent film in particular, and I am dedicated to cultivating and nurturing excitement about film and the arts.  I am also a skilled writer, researcher and editor, specializing in academic work and making it accessible to a broader audience.