Elon University is hosting a March 29-30 conference on media and politics in which the public is invited to attend workshops with influential public policy makers, journalists and academic researchers. Media and Politics: Openness, Accuracy, and Honesty in the 21st Century Media Landscape is made possible by Elon University’s Turnage Family Faculty Innovation and Creativity Fund for the Study of Political Communication.
The Turnage Family Faculty Innovation and Creativity Fund for the Study of Political Communication emerged in 2010 through a gift from Dave Turnage, a former associate dean at Alamance Community College who wants to help the public understand the information they receive through emails, blogs, newspapers and television reports.
For more information on any of the conference programs, contact professor Laura Roselle at lroselle@elon.edu. There is no cost to attend though members of the community must RSVP by Monday, March 28, for the workshop on Wednesday.
Tuesday, March 29
10:30-12 p.m.
Morning session: Presenting Complex Information: Scholars Discuss Media, Public Policy, and Audience Responses
Oaks 212
Scholars and researchers will discuss how complex information is covered in the media, the difficulties in presenting complex information to a broad audience, and how this content affects audiences.
1:30-3 p.m.
Challenges for Government Officials
Oaks 212
Government officials at the local, state, and national level will discuss openness and access to information. Guests include Karen Finnegan, Deputy Director, Office of Government Information Services; David L. Elliott, director of Victims and Citizens Services, North Carolina Department of Justice; Sharon Gladwell, communications director for the N.C. Administrative Office of the Courts; Brad Fowler, manager, Research and Planning at the N.C. Administrative Office of the Courts; and David Hunt, Deputy Clerk/Information Specialist, Orange County, N.C.
3:30-5 p.m.
Challenges for Journalists
Oaks 212
Journalists at the local, state, national, and international level will discuss the challenges of providing accurate and honest stories. What do the terms accuracy and honesty mean? How is information gathered, assessed, and presented? What are the challenges associated with getting information from public officials? What other values or needs may compromise accuracy and/or honesty in journalism today?
Journalists include Andy Curliss, staff writer with the (Raleigh, N.C.) News & Observer; Jennifer LaFleur, computer assisted reporting specialist with ProPublica; and Alex Goldman, producer with On the Media; Anna Johnson, editor of the Pendulum, Elon’s student newspaper.
7:30-9 p.m.
Keynote Speaker: Frank Sesno, professor of media and public affairs and international affairs, and director of the School of Media and Public Affairs at the George Washington University
Oaks 212
Sesno will give a talk titled “Openness, Accuracy and Honesty in the 21st Century Media Environment.”
Wednesday, March 30
9:30-11:00
Workshop for citizens and students: Critically evaluating media sources
Roundtable
McKinnon Hall (On the first floor of the Moseley Center)
RSVP: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/MB8V7RT