|
Campus News
CAS Taps Media Experts for Journalism
Advisory Board
by Greta Petry (December 10,
2004)
As the College of Arts & Sciences develops
a major in journalism, it has tapped into the
expertise of area media experts to create a
Journalism Advisory Board. The board serves
as an advocate for the program.
Rex Smith, editor of the Albany Times
Union, is a member of the advisory board.
He said, �I have long thought that a good journalism
program at the University at Albany would benefit
not only students, but also the larger community
and the Times Union.
Karen Hitchcock and I used to dream about a
link between the University and the newspaper
that could enable students to get great professional
experience in the newsroom while learning the
standards of the craft in the classroom.�
The Journalism Program Advisory Board had
its first meeting November 5.
College of Arts and Sciences Dean Joan Wick-Pelletier
said, �I am gratified by the interest from the
external community in having the College of
Arts and Sciences establish a journalism program
and am especially pleased to have such eminent
and experienced people agree to serve on the
advisory board. The board�s role in helping
to fashion the overall shape of the program
and in opening doors to facilitate its development
will be invaluable. In our first meeting, many
good ideas were tossed around. We will be following
up on several. It was a very encouraging start.�
At that first meeting, according to the agenda,
Edward Dague, board chair and retired news anchor
for WNYT-TV, convened a discussion on how to
transition the journalism program from a minor
to a major. William Rainbolt, interim director
of the program, discussed developments in the
journalism curriculum.
In addition to Dague and Smith, other members
of the advisory board include: Robert Bellafiore,
�82, director of public affairs, Eric Mower
Associates; Stewart Hancock, III, publisher,
Eagle News-papers; Diane Kennedy, president
of the New York Newspaper Publishers Association;
Marc Kramer, �77, senior vice president for
circulation for The New
York Times; Susan Pinkus, �68, director
of polling, the Los Angeles
Times; Michelle Rea, executive director
of the New York Press Association; and Monte
Trammer, publisher of the Elmira
Star Gazette.
The board is committed to establishing a journalism
program of distinction at UAlbany and its members
serve as advisers on its structure and development.
In addition, the board will assist the dean
in identifying funding opportunities.
Smith concluded, �Since the University is
building a new major from the ground up, there�s
a great opportunity to create something new
and refreshing in journalism education, a program
that both meets students� academic needs and
prepares young professionals for the marketplace.
Those of us on the advisory board are able to
offer some counsel on the latter, in particular.
A journalism program that is too classroom-oriented
or that doesn�t reach out to the world beyond
the campus doesn�t well serve either its students
or the field of journalism. I�m committed to
helping this University to avoid that pitfall.�
|
