Current members of the Elon University School of Communications Advisory Board, and a number of guests and visitors held their annual spring meeting April 8-9. The event coincided with the April 8 appearance at Elon by legendary broadcaster Walter Cronkite and presidential adviser David Gergen, who interviewed Cronkite in Koury Center.
Among the Advisory Board group was Mary Beth Marklein (see photo), the higher-education reporter for USA Today, and a number of leaders of state and national communications organizations.
Select board members presented seminars April 9 during two “Professional Day” sessions set aside for School of Communications students. No classes will be held that morning, instead, students attended the seminars.
Here is a list of the seminars that were held:
“Media Convergence and Media General,” Graham Woodlief, President of the Publishing Division, Media General Inc., Richmond
“Why Diversity and Ownership of Media Is Important,” Jim Winston, Executive Director and General Counsel, National Association of Black Owned Broadcasters, Washington
“Adventures in PR and Newsrooms,” Mary Straub, Elon University Trustee and former Pendulum editor
“Communications Surrounding the War in Iraq,” Joe Gleason, Managing Director of Manning Selvage & Lee PR firm, Washington
“Job Opportunities in Television and Beyond,” Jim Hefner, Vice President and General Manager of WRAL-TV, Raleigh
“How To Land a First Job in a Better Market Than You Might Be Qualified For,” Ken White, News Director at Fox 18 TV, Charlotte
“A Brainstorming Session with a USA Today Reporter,” Mary Beth Marklein, Higher Education Reporter for USA Today, Washington
“Branding in the Age of Wal-Mart,” Holly Stewart, Senior Marketing Communications Manager, VF Jeanswear, Greensboro
“Communication Careers in the Corporate, Agency and Non-Profit Worlds,” Ellen Hartman, President of Weber Shandwick PR film, Atlanta
“Getting to Your Dream: The Good and the Bad,” Angel Hawthorne, Director of Programming for HGTV cable, Knoxville
“Community Relations as a PR Discipline,” Bill Warren, Vice President for Public Affairs and Community Relations, Walt Disney World, Florida
“Finding the Local Angle for National and International News,” Darren Richards, News Director at CBS affiliate WFMY-TV in the Triad
“The Evolving World of Radio,” Rick Jackson, President of the North Carolina Association of Broadcasters, Charlotte
“Job Opportunities in Television and Beyond,” Jim Hefner, Vice President and General Manager of WRAL-TV, Raleigh
“Where the Shows You Watch on Network and Cable TV Come From,” Angel Hawthorne, Director of Programming for HGTV cable, Knoxville
“Issues Management in Corporate Communications,” Bill Warren, Vice President for Public Affairs and Community Relations, Walt Disney World, Florida
“Shock and Awe: Media Coverage of the Iraq War,” Don Bolden, Editor Emeritus of the Burlington Times-News and chair of the Advisory Board
“Finding the Local Angle for National and International News,” Darren Richards, News Director at CBS affiliate WFMY-TV in the Triad