Professor at TX State, teaching Web design, coding & digital product concepts. ‘13-‘14 JSK Fellow at Stanford. Live in Austin, love live music. cindyroyal.comhttps://bsky.app/profile/cindyroyal.bsky.socialhttps://bsky.app/profile/cindyroyal.bsky.social/post/3mcczm25jcc2uThe MILab Journal is pleased to publish the research article "Cognitive Mapping for the Media Industry: A Methodological Approach." https://sjmc.txst.edu/innovative-immersive-learning/milab/milabjournal/schmitz-weiss-cognitive.html13 Jan 2026 16:57 +0000at://did:plc:usoawkrs7cma2to3porn7iaj/app.bsky.feed.post/3mcczm25jcc2uhttps://bsky.app/profile/cindyroyal.bsky.social/post/3ma5hpy5a622mPlease! [contains quote post or other embedded content]17 Dec 2025 01:04 +0000at://did:plc:usoawkrs7cma2to3porn7iaj/app.bsky.feed.post/3ma5hpy5a622mhttps://bsky.app/profile/cindyroyal.bsky.social/post/3ma4eintdfc2zMy 2026 prediction was inspired by something I heard from the very first keynote at the @newsproduct.org Summit. I discuss how product teams will lead the way to unlocking the value of AI for media organizations in three areas: agents, archives and vibe coding. [contains quote post or other embedded content]16 Dec 2025 14:33 +0000at://did:plc:usoawkrs7cma2to3porn7iaj/app.bsky.feed.post/3ma4eintdfc2zhttps://bsky.app/profile/cindyroyal.bsky.social/post/3m7nkidwxwk2qImpressed by the digital products the grad students in my Digital Issues course created this semester. It is not a skills course, but I wanted them to get the feel for being a product manager, while further exploring a digital media issue.10 Dec 2025 17:10 +0000at://did:plc:usoawkrs7cma2to3porn7iaj/app.bsky.feed.post/3m7nkidwxwk2qhttps://bsky.app/profile/cindyroyal.bsky.social/post/3lulr2k6m622vI loved using Washington Post’s TikTok in class as a great example of social media innovation. Will miss @davejorgenson.bsky.social there, but I know he will have great success in this new endeavor. [contains quote post or other embedded content]23 Jul 2025 00:26 +0000at://did:plc:usoawkrs7cma2to3porn7iaj/app.bsky.feed.post/3lulr2k6m622vhttps://bsky.app/profile/cindyroyal.bsky.social/post/3lnscyrynfc2lShocked and disappointed by this news of Hugh Forrest (and other leadership) being laid off by SXSW. Hugh was the heart of the event, making it a premier and unparalleled technology experience. He has been a good friend to our program. End of an era, for sure. https://www.austinchronicle.com/daily/sxsw/2025-04-26/huge-changes-in-sxsw-leadership/27 Apr 2025 13:06 +0000at://did:plc:usoawkrs7cma2to3porn7iaj/app.bsky.feed.post/3lnscyrynfc2lhttps://bsky.app/profile/cindyroyal.bsky.social/post/3lmcv5ter6k2rI provide a review summary of a recent, enlightening article in @digitaljournalism.bsky.social, Digital Turn Without Digital Methods? Mapping the Journey of Journalism Studies. Interesting insight into the evolution of digital topics in journalism and media journals. https://sjmc.txst.edu/innovative-immersive-learning/milab/milabjournal/djdigitalturn.html08 Apr 2025 16:23 +0000at://did:plc:usoawkrs7cma2to3porn7iaj/app.bsky.feed.post/3lmcv5ter6k2rhttps://bsky.app/profile/cindyroyal.bsky.social/post/3lk24is2kwk2l“Skills are the new data, but the shelf life for skills is collapsing.” Need to use Al to augment skill acquisition. Will transform education. “Goes from I am what I know, to I am how I adapt” - Ian Beacraft #sxsw #sxsw202510 Mar 2025 17:51 +0000at://did:plc:usoawkrs7cma2to3porn7iaj/app.bsky.feed.post/3lk24is2kwk2lhttps://bsky.app/profile/cindyroyal.bsky.social/post/3ljvkie34uk2bI am all for the re-weirding of the digital, @rushkoff.com. Hearing a lot of calls to return to roots of #sxsw #sxsw2025 https://schedule.sxsw.com/2025/events/PP114679808 Mar 2025 22:17 +0000at://did:plc:usoawkrs7cma2to3porn7iaj/app.bsky.feed.post/3ljvkie34uk2bhttps://bsky.app/profile/cindyroyal.bsky.social/post/3ljv2otqej222Legendary TV and Film director Paul Feig! He’s been a part of so many of my favorite shows/movies #sxsw #sxsw202508 Mar 2025 17:35 +0000at://did:plc:usoawkrs7cma2to3porn7iaj/app.bsky.feed.post/3ljv2otqej222https://bsky.app/profile/cindyroyal.bsky.social/post/3ljuwqjylfc2aMozi is a new, private social network. Founders are Evan Williams (Blogger, Twitter, Medium) and Molly DeWolf Swenson. Interesting look at the timeline/history of web posting and social, moderated by @baratunde.com #sxsw #sxsw202508 Mar 2025 16:24 +0000at://did:plc:usoawkrs7cma2to3porn7iaj/app.bsky.feed.post/3ljuwqjylfc2ahttps://bsky.app/profile/cindyroyal.bsky.social/post/3ljskwzhzw22mReclaim, Reframe, Reimagine: AI Design for Human Agency. “These disruptive, move-fast-and-break-things tech companies don’t like it when someone disrupts them” - Cory Doctorow of EFF this chat with Google’s Rida Qadri #sxsw #sxsw202507 Mar 2025 17:48 +0000at://did:plc:usoawkrs7cma2to3porn7iaj/app.bsky.feed.post/3ljskwzhzw22mhttps://bsky.app/profile/cindyroyal.bsky.social/post/3ljh37kc6fk2kGlad I decided to watch Anora last night. #oscars202503 Mar 2025 04:07 +0000at://did:plc:usoawkrs7cma2to3porn7iaj/app.bsky.feed.post/3ljh37kc6fk2khttps://bsky.app/profile/cindyroyal.bsky.social/post/3lif6rt3fok2n#SNL50 An impressionable teen when SNL started, I adored Gilda, fell in love w Bill Murray, still laugh at oddball sketches from Martin Short, Norm Macdonald, Mike Myers, Tracy Morgan, Bill Hader, Cecily Strong. Tina Fey is my life coach. Hard to imagine who I’d be without this cultural touchstone.17 Feb 2025 16:40 +0000at://did:plc:usoawkrs7cma2to3porn7iaj/app.bsky.feed.post/3lif6rt3fok2nhttps://bsky.app/profile/cindyroyal.bsky.social/post/3lgrjyrbce22zWatching this 50 Years of SNL Music special is like watching my life flash before my eyes. I can remember where I was and how I felt the first time I saw all these performances. Thank you @questlove.bsky.social for this truly amazing record of music history.28 Jan 2025 03:43 +0000at://did:plc:usoawkrs7cma2to3porn7iaj/app.bsky.feed.post/3lgrjyrbce22zhttps://bsky.app/profile/cindyroyal.bsky.social/post/3lggj7lzj2s23Product. “CNN plans to hire at least 100 new jobs in the coming months to build out a broader digital presence, investing in product and tech as well as ‘new high-quality journalism and storytelling.’” https://www.cnbc.com/amp/2025/01/22/cnn-to-lay-off-hundreds-of-employees-post-inauguration.html23 Jan 2025 18:29 +0000at://did:plc:usoawkrs7cma2to3porn7iaj/app.bsky.feed.post/3lggj7lzj2s23https://bsky.app/profile/cindyroyal.bsky.social/post/3lfxt62sf222sCirca 1976. Been waiting a long, long time. But today’s pronouncement is unlikely to be more than symbolic. https://www.npr.org/2025/01/17/nx-s1-5264378/biden-era-national-archivist-constitution17 Jan 2025 22:17 +0000at://did:plc:usoawkrs7cma2to3porn7iaj/app.bsky.feed.post/3lfxt62sf222shttps://bsky.app/profile/cindyroyal.bsky.social/post/3lf3teoa2cs23Go ahead. Fight me. https://www.wired.com/story/html-is-actually-a-programming-language-fight-me/06 Jan 2025 19:07 +0000at://did:plc:usoawkrs7cma2to3porn7iaj/app.bsky.feed.post/3lf3teoa2cs23https://bsky.app/profile/cindyroyal.bsky.social/post/3lclmlqt5oc24In which I predict that journalism education will experience a new era of innovation due to the continued adoption of and experimentation with artificial intelligence applications. What do you think? https://www.niemanlab.org/2024/12/ai-inspires-innovation-in-journalism-education/05 Dec 2024 21:32 +0000at://did:plc:usoawkrs7cma2to3porn7iaj/app.bsky.feed.post/3lclmlqt5oc24https://bsky.app/profile/cindyroyal.bsky.social/post/3lcfzuxdjb22tThrilled to see this published. It is a case study of using AI in my Mobile App Development class, Prompting, Patience, and Perspective: Applying Transformational Teaching Theory to Using AI in a Coding Course. https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/1077695824129907703 Dec 2024 16:14 +0000at://did:plc:usoawkrs7cma2to3porn7iaj/app.bsky.feed.post/3lcfzuxdjb22thttps://bsky.app/profile/cindyroyal.bsky.social/post/3lbwplsrlxs2bRemembering ten years ago in Sydney at Bondi Beach when Thanksgiving was fish n chips and beer overlooking the Pacific Ocean. It seems like a dream. I hope I can go back someday. 🇦🇺27 Nov 2024 14:00 +0000at://did:plc:usoawkrs7cma2to3porn7iaj/app.bsky.feed.post/3lbwplsrlxs2bhttps://bsky.app/profile/cindyroyal.bsky.social/post/3lb6ydnsjys2uIn a week, I’ve gone from a handful of @bsky.app followers to almost 1000, due to some lovely starter packs and great old friends getting settled in here. All seemingly real people and legit accounts, no bots or spam. Happy days. Let’s enjoy it while we can 😀18 Nov 2024 03:33 +0000at://did:plc:usoawkrs7cma2to3porn7iaj/app.bsky.feed.post/3lb6ydnsjys2uhttps://bsky.app/profile/cindyroyal.bsky.social/post/3lb6twgriqk2uBeen watching old SNLs on TBD on YouTubeTV. A 1991 sketch was about Clarence Thomas hearings. Kevin Nealon was Biden. Phil Hartman was Ted Kennedy. Dana Carvey was Strom Thurmond. Even Al Franken was “playing” a senator then. Sad how little has changed in DC, topics/senators/cast/family members🙁 1/318 Nov 2024 02:14 +0000at://did:plc:usoawkrs7cma2to3porn7iaj/app.bsky.feed.post/3lb6twgriqk2uhttps://bsky.app/profile/cindyroyal.bsky.social/post/3laue4kotqs26I spent all day learning Capacitor to port a simple Vue app into both iOS and Android. Lots of issues with versions, pods, paths. But got both to work! I was not defeated! Not sure I’ll be able to recreate easily on lab computers. Anyone using Vue like another mobile option better?13 Nov 2024 22:04 +0000at://did:plc:usoawkrs7cma2to3porn7iaj/app.bsky.feed.post/3laue4kotqs26https://bsky.app/profile/cindyroyal.bsky.social/post/3las64aaryc2tTonight in my DMI Capstone, our guests were DMI grads Anne Cox and Nina Gloria of SXSW. They both have accumulated loads of experience in the few years since they graduated. Great to hear them enthusiastically discuss their roles at SXSW and what it is like to work for such a large-scale event.13 Nov 2024 01:11 +0000at://did:plc:usoawkrs7cma2to3porn7iaj/app.bsky.feed.post/3las64aaryc2thttps://bsky.app/profile/cindyroyal.bsky.social/post/3lar2un43fs2aHappy to see people moving here. Hello to old and new friends!12 Nov 2024 14:41 +0000at://did:plc:usoawkrs7cma2to3porn7iaj/app.bsky.feed.post/3lar2un43fs2ahttps://bsky.app/profile/cindyroyal.bsky.social/post/3laon5vhzys2vAnother AI exercise. I had students in my DMI Capstone course do an exercise in which they created a Lean Canvas for the idea they are researching. After they turned in their own canvases, I showed them GoZigZag.com, a site that uses AI to generate a lean canvas, based on a simple prompt. 1/311 Nov 2024 15:30 +0000at://did:plc:usoawkrs7cma2to3porn7iaj/app.bsky.feed.post/3laon5vhzys2vhttps://bsky.app/profile/cindyroyal.bsky.social/post/3lajra5u6qk2sStudents in my graduate Digital Issues class each have a website in which they do weekly posts about the topics and readings, things like Digital Media Theory, Cyberculture, Social Media, Product Management, Online Journalism, AI, etc.09 Nov 2024 16:59 +0000at://did:plc:usoawkrs7cma2to3porn7iaj/app.bsky.feed.post/3lajra5u6qk2s