Alex Jones to Leave Shorenstein Center July 1, 2015
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Spring 2015 Alex Jones to Leave Shorenstein Shorenstein Center Receives $1 Center July 1, 2015 Million Grant from Carnegie and Knight After fifteen years as Director of the Shorenstein Center, Alex Jones Foundations announced he will be leaving his post on July 1. Jones is the Center’s longest- The Shorenstein Center received match- serving director (2000-2015), arriving ing $500,000 grants from the John S. and after Marvin Kalb (1987-1999). His strong James L. Knight Foundation and the Carn- belief in the importance of quality jour- egie Corporation of New York. nalism has informed all of the work that The funding will help grow the reach we do. and improve the effectiveness of Journal- In his most recent book, Losing the ist’s Resource (journalistsresource.org) News, Jones referred to serious reported which supports news coverage by provid- news as the “iron core of information ing understandable research reports on a that is at the center of a functioning variety of subjects. The site is used by jour- democracy.” nalism schools that teach specialty report- Continued on page 2 ing topics and by journalists and major news outlets looking to build knowledge in science and social science subjects. Additionally, this support will continue Walter Shorenstein Media & biannual Carnegie-Knight journalism school deans’ meetings to help advance Democracy Fellows Focus on Data & journalism education reform. Thought leaders will be invited to consult with the Technology in Government deans on new ways of updating and inno- vating their curriculums as well as their The Shorenstein Center welcomed two writing about the policy, economic, and metrics for measuring success. distinguished technological leaders, media implications of providing greater Aneesh Chopra and Nick Sinai, as public access to government data. the inaugural recipients of the newly Sinai, former U.S. Deputy Chief IN THIS ISSUE established Walter Shorenstein Media and Technology Officer, began his six-month Democracy Fellowship. residency at the Center in December. Staffing Changes at the Center ...... 2 Together, Chopra and Sinai are driving Chopra, the first U.S. Chief Technology Salant & Theodore H. White an ambitious program on data as public Officer, will be in residence periodically. Lectures .............................................. 2 infrastructure. They are speaking and Read more on page 4 Goldsmith Awards ............................ 3 Walter Shorenstein Media & Democracy Fellows .......................... 4 Joan Shorenstein Fellows, Spring 2015 .................................................... 5 Speaker Series Highlights ............... 6 Spring 2015 Courses ........................ 6 From left to right: Nick Sinai, Lynn Overmann, Todd Park, DJ Patil and Aneesh Chopra speak at a technology and data in government panel discussion in February. 2 SHORENSTEIN CENTER ON MEDIA, POLITICS AND PUBLIC POLICY Alex Jones to Leave Shorenstein Center Continued from page 1 Alex Jones strengthened the financial underpinnings of the Farewell, Nicco! Center; emphasized the importance of new technology by recruit- ing visiting fellows and faculty such as Aneesh Chopra, Nick Since 2009, Nicco Mele has Sinai, Clay Shirky, Nicco Mele, Susan Crawford, Micah Sifry, and been a vital part of the Center, Zephyr Teachout; and was asked to lead a consortium of journal- first as a visiting Murrow ism school deans at research universities known as the Carnegie- Lecturer, then as an adjunct Knight Initiative on the Future of Journalism Education. lecturer teaching and advising New programs created during Alex’s tenure include the David on digital media strategy and Nyhan Prize for Political Journalism, the Richard S. Salant Lecture politics. In November, he was on Freedom of the Press, the A.M. Rosenthal Writer-in-Residence named the deputy publisher of program, the Lynette Lithgow Summer Internship award, and the the Los Angeles Times. We wish Walter Shorenstein Media and Democracy Fellowship. One of him the best in his new role – the widest-reaching initiatives is the award-winning Journalist’s and fortunately, he will continue his involvement Resource website, providing scholarly research on news topics. with the Shorenstein Center as a member of our A search committee for the new director will be co-chaired advisory board. by Bradlee Professor Thomas E. Patterson and Academic Dean Archon Fung. In an email to friends and colleagues, Jones wrote, “As for the New Staff future, I am embarking on what in Cuba is known as "Third Life," In October, the Shorenstein meaning the rich and exciting period in which to pursue long- Center welcomed a new delayed projects, to study and learn, and to follow one’s own pecu- Communications Manager, liar interests. My feelings at this moment are overwhelmingly of Nilagia McCoy, who will gratitude – for the chance to work at such a wonderful institution manage digital and print and to do work I consider so very important. I believe that high- communications for the Center. quality journalism is essential to democracy, and it has been my great pride to do all I could to ensure that the Shorenstein Center stood for that standard of excellence.” EVEnts AND Awards shorensteincenter.org/news-events SALANT LECTURE Lecture on Freedom of the Press on of Bloomberg Politics, and hosts of Democracy v. the First Amendment? New November 13. She discussed the Bloomberg TV’s “With All Due Respect.” Tensions in a New Age Supreme Court’s interpretation of the The David Nyhan Prize for Political First Amendment and its impact on Journalism was awarded to David democracy, civic discourse and privacy. Rogers of Politico. Watch the video: shorensteincenter. Watch the video: shorensteincenter. org/margaret-marshall org/theodore-h-white-lecture-2014 THEODORE H. WHITE LECTURE ON PRESS AND POLITICS Optimism for a Change: Media, Campaigns and 2016 The Theodore H. White Lecture on Margaret H. Marshall, former chief Press and Politics was delivered on justice of the Supreme Judicial Court December 1 by Mark Halperin and of Massachusetts, delivered the Salant John Heilemann, managing editors shorensteincenter.org SHORENSTEIN CENTER ON MEDIA, POLITICS AND PUBLIC POLICY 3 Goldsmith Awards Honor Journalistic Excellence The Goldsmith Awards Ceremony, Thomas Farragher, held on March 3, 2015, recognized six Jonathan Saltzman, Jenn outstanding journalism teams as finalists Abelson, Casey Ross for the Goldsmith Prize for Investigative and Todd Wallack of The Reporting. Boston Globe for “Shadow The $25,000 prize was awarded to Campus.” The series found Miami Herald reporters Carol Marbin that illegally overcrowded Miller, Audra Burch, Mary Ellen Klas, student apartments owned Emily Michot, Kara Dapena and Lazaro by profit-driven landlords Gamio, for their investigative report are rampant in Boston, “Innocents Lost.” placing the health and The Miami Herald examined how more safety of thousands of than 500 children died of abuse or neglect undergraduates at risk over a seven-year period after falling while city officials did through Florida’s child welfare safety net, nothing to respond to this largely as a result of a misguided effort lawless behavior. Audra Burch and Carol Marbin Miller of the Miami Herald, and Alex S. Jones, to reduce the number of foster children Jennifer Berry Hawes, Shorenstein Center Director, at the Goldsmith Awards while simultaneously slashing services for Natalie Caula Hauff, giving them a disproportionate chance to troubled families. The series prompted Doug Pardue and Glenn Smith of The influence the law. immediate reforms, including the most Post and Courier for “Till Death Do Us Christopher S. Stewart, Christopher far-reaching overhaul of child welfare laws Part." The five-part series examined South Weaver, John Carreyrou, Tom McGinty, in Florida’s history. Carolina’s ranking as one of the deadliest Anna Wilde Mathews, Rob Barry and “Each year the Goldsmith Prizes are an states in the nation for women at the hands staff of The Wall Street Journal for inspiration to all journalists, and this is a of men. The series showed a state awash “Medicare Unmasked." Using 9.2 mil- banner year for inspiration,” said Alex S. in guns, saddled with ineffective laws and lion newly-disclosed billing records, the Jones, Director of the Shorenstein Center. lacking in resources for victims of domes- Journal uncovered bogus, unnecessary, and Launched in 1991, the Goldsmith Prize tic violence. The investigation spurred harmful Medicare practices – abuses that for Investigative Reporting honors journal- national discussion, pressured state cost U.S. taxpayers $60 billion. ism which promotes more effective and legislators into drafting and fast-tracking The Goldsmith Book Prize for best ethical conduct of government, the making domestic violence reform laws, and led to academic book was awarded to Daniela of public policy, or the practice of politics the appointment of a statewide taskforce. Stockmann for Media Commercialization by disclosing excessive secrecy, impropri- Justin Elliott, Jesse Eisinger and Laura and Authoritarian Rule in China. ety and mismanagement. Sullivan of ProPublica and NPR for “The The Goldsmith Book Prize for best The five finalists for the Goldsmith Prize Red Cross’ Secret Disaster,” which found trade book was awarded to Andrew Pette- for Investigative Reporting were: that the Red Cross had put public rela- gree for The Invention of News: How the tions ahead of relief services and had been World Came to Know about Itself. serially misleading about