Elon University will be hosting a two-day Media and Politics conference on campus March 29-30 that will include sessions and workshops devoted to topics of governmental transparency, accuracy in the news and challenges journalists face when covering political stories.
The program begins March 29 and continues through the day before concluding with a single morning session March 30. Several academics, government officials and journalists will be parts of panel discussions, including:
- Donald Shaw, Kenan Professor of Journalism and Mass Communication at the University North Carolina-Chapel Hill
- Karen Finnegan, deputy director for the Office of Information Services
- David L. Elliott, director of Victims and Citizens Services, North Carolina Department of Justice
- Andy Curliss, staff writer at the Raleigh News & Observer
- Silvia Gambardella, senior special projects producer for ABC 11
The keynote speaker for the conference will be Frank Sesno, professor of Media and Public Affairs and International Affairs in the School of Media and Public Affairs at George Washington University. He will deliver his speech at 7:30 p.m. March 29.
A description of the event follows:
“A technological revolution is underway in the fields of media and communication. Cable, satellite television and the Internet have transformed how Americans get information about politics and civic life. On the one hand, some people claim that there is now an unprecedented amount of information available to citizens. On the other hand, issues of governmental openness, transparency and accountability are still very important. In addition, messages do not have to be accurate to gain currency. Strident and harsh emotional rhetoric can overwhelm careful and honest debate, and entertainers can shape public discourse on politics and public life.
With these new technologies and enhanced communication abilities come questions about how people can make sense of the public sphere and play a part in our politics. The conference addresses the current state of media and politics through a holistic lens, asking the questions:
- What challenges do journalists face when constructing accurate and honest political reports?
- What is the role of experts/academics in this process?
- What are the challenges associated with governmental transparency?
- How can citizens determine what is accurate?”
More information about the conference, including a list of speakers, will be provided as it becomes available.