8 C olumbia U niversity RECORD December 19, 2003 Dean Lemann: Role of U.S. Media in Politics Is Diminished

BY KRISTIN STERLING mobilize voters, particularly through the Internet. In Italy, however, the relation- ournalists are rapidly ship between the press and gov- becoming less influential ernment is different, because Jin the realm of politics, Italy’s Prime Minister Silvio Nicholas Lemann, dean of the Berlusconi heads a vast media Graduate School of Journalism, empire (Berlusconi personally cautioned recently in a forum controls the three largest televi- addressing the role of media in sion networks, daily newspapers democracies. His remarks were and book and magazine publish- at the very heart of the Italian ers). Alexander Stille, editor of Academy’s Dec. 4 panel discus- Correspondence, a newsletter sion, “Democracy and Informa- published by the Council on For- tion: Truth, Politics and the eign Relations and also a Colum- Press,” featuring noted journal- bia Journalism alumnus, said ists and academics from the that “Berlusconi’s entrance into United States and Italy. The pro- the political scene has posed a gram was moderated by Provost really huge new problem for Ital- PHOTO BY DAVID LEVITSKY Alan Brinkley. ian democracy. Drawing on his experience as “If you combine the roles of From left to right: Angelo Panebianco, Universita di Bologna; Alexander Stille, editor, Correspondence; the Washington, D.C., reporter George Bush with congressional Katha Pollitt, columnist, The Nation; Nicholas Lemann, dean, Graduate School of Journalism; and for , Lemann leaders Bill Frist and Dick Gianni Riotta, writer and journalist, Corriere della Sera. went on to say, however, that it Armey, the media power of Ted would be misleading to think Turner and Rupert Murdoch, the Italy. Other countries, including society. He indicated that the Universita di Firenze, generally that the media are to blame for money of Ross Perot, Steve the United States, are seeing a public trust of the media has concurred that the media were the shortcomings of politics. Forbes and possibly even Bill growing concentration of media grown weaker, partially because doing a poor job in both the “Politics is not dependent on Gates, the real estate and person- into conglomerates. of the media obsession with United States and Italy and that the press,” he said. As an exam- al mojo of Donald Trump, you Gianni Riotta, a journalist with scandals. improvements were necessary. ple, Lemann cited the popularity begin to get an idea of the power Corriere della Sera and an alum- In concluding, Brinkley sur- To that end, Lemann added of Democratic presidential can- and the shadow Berlusconi casts nus of the School of Journalism, mised that the panelists, who that the press must realize its for- didate Howard Dean, who he on Italian life,” he continued. said that many of the same issues also included Angelo Panebian- tune depends on an active, argues is the Democratic Stille warned that while being debated today were argued co, professor at the University of healthy public life, and media frontrunner not because of the Berlusconi’s influence is extra- 20 years ago when he was a stu- Bologna; Katha Pollitt, colum- need to reach out and build audi- press, but rather because Dean ordinary, the issues of media dent at Columbia, especially the nist for The Nation; and Roberto ences to ensure long term has found ways to directly control are hardly unique to role of media in a democratic Zaccaria, professor at the sustainability. 2003-04 Dyckman Institute Attorneys General Brave Snowstorm Scholarships Announced (Continued from Page 1) National Honor Society and techni- BY ELIZABETH GOLDEN Issacharoff and Bill Simon cal sergeant of her marching band, joined panels examining the The Dyckman Institute Schol- in which she played the snare influence of attorneys general in arship Fund winners for the 2003- drum. At Columbia, she is pursuing corporate governance, anti-trust 2004 academic year are freshman a major in Latino Studies, as well work, consumer protection and Brenda Cepeda and juniors as a concentration in . other areas. Alexandra Hernandez and She is involved in several Latino Where the attorneys general Katherine Paez, all of Dominican cultural organizations at Columbia, have gone, controversy has fol- heritage. The Dyckman Institute including Grupo Quisqueyano and lowed. Some congressmen Scholars program provides finan- the Student Organization of Lati- believe that state governments cial support to outstanding stu- nos (SOL). Hernandez wants to have overstepped their bounds PHOTO BY ROBERT ULLMANN dents from the Washington pursue a career in corporate law and should have their authority Heights/Inwood area of Manhat- and plans to attend law school after eliminated. David Leebron, dean of the Faculty Law and Eliot Spitzer. tan who attend Columbia College. graduation. But critics at the symposium David Charlow, associate dean Paez, also from Washington said that removing the state attor- of Student Affairs and director of Heights, majors in political science neys general from working on Financial Aid at Columbia Col- with a concentration in sociology. such issues would mean that lege, said, “We are delighted that She plans to pursue a law degree enforcement would be deeply Brenda, Alexandra and Katherine and wants to be a criminal lawyer. curtailed. have chosen to attend Columbia. Paez has participated in several stu- Harvey Goldschmid, the The Dyckman Institute Scholars dent groups, including SOL and Columbia Law professor who is program supports our need-based her sorority, Sigma Iota Alpha. currently serving as commission- financial aid program and helps Paez serves as a tutor for America er of the Securities and Exchange make it possible for students from Reads during the school year. Commission, has long been an northern , who may In the current year, 52 under- advocate of protections for small not otherwise be able to afford the graduate students from Washington investors and of rules designed to full cost of attending college, to Heights and Inwood are receiving a protect the interests of the public go to Columbia. I strongly en- total of more than $550,000 in over well-connected insiders. courage all high school seniors need-based scholarships from While acknowledging the contri- who are interested in Columbia to Columbia College and the Fu butions of the assembled attor- apply regardless of their financial Foundation School of Engineering neys general to the increased circumstances.” and Applied Science. level of accountability on Wall Cepeda is a first-year student The Dyckman Institute Scholar- Street, Goldschmid insisted that from Inwood. She attended high ship fund, one of some 300 indi- both the federal as well as state school at the Manhattan Center vidual need-based scholarships attorneys general have important for Science and Mathematics, available to Columbia students, roles to play. where she studied mathematics, was established in 1943. All the serious talk over the biology and engineering. She Zead Ramadan, chair of Com- weekend didn’t totally distract joined the Mt. Sinai Scholars Pro- munity Board 12, said, “People in the assembled attorneys general gram, through which she was our area grow up in the shadow of and their staffs from the continu- able to work in a human genetics . Many in fact ously blowing snow just outside laboratory at Mt. Sinai Hospital. were born at the Columbia Presby- the Law School’s windows; Cepeda plans to enroll in the 3-2 terian Medical Center. It gives me some, no doubt, risked missing joint degree program with great pleasure to see these young flights because of the inclement Columbia College and the Fu women attend Columbia. We have weather. Foundation School of Engineer- invited Brenda, Alexandra and But the current or former attor- ing and Applied Science. She Katherine to attend our next board neys general of Maine, Vermont, wants to become a civil engineer. meeting so that we can recognize New Hampshire, Iowa and Wis- Hernandez grew up in the and congratulate them in person.” consin looked completely unper- Washington Heights area. At For more information, visit: turbed—they were probably Mother Cabrini High School, she http://www.studentaffairs.colum- wondering what all the fuss was was elected president of the bia.edu/admissions. about.