News Literacy and the Future of Journalism

SCH News Literacy and the Future of Journalism

The “News Literacy and Future of Journalism” series is an eight-month collaborative effort among SC Humanities, Winthrop University, and the SC Press Association. Additional support comes from the North Carolina Humanities Council, The Newseum in Washington, D.C., The John C. West Forum on Politics and Policy, the Departments of Mass Communication and Political Science, and the College of Arts & Sciences at Winthrop University in Rock Hill, SC.

“News Literacy and the Future of Journalism” is part of the national initiative on “Democracy and the Informed Citizen” administered by the Federation of State Humanities Councils and funded by the Mellon Foundation. The initiative seeks to deepen the public’s knowledge and appreciation of the vital connections among democracy, the humanities, journalism, and an informed citizenry.

Events

The series includes 11 events. All are free, open to the public, and will be available for view on the Newseum website. Unless otherwise noted, they will be held on the Winthrop University campus. The events are:

  • Tuesday, September 18, 2018. 11 a.m. Dina’s Place, DiGiorgio Campus Center. “Constitution Day Observance: Free Speech and the Responsibilities of Citizenship” by Dr. Michael Lipscomb. Dr. Lipscomb is a Professor of Political Science and Chair of Faculty Conference, Winthrop University. He specializes in Political Theory and teaches courses in American Government and Political Theory, including American Political Thought. Introduction: Dr. Jennifer Leigh Disney, Professor and Chair, Department of Political Science
  • Tuesday, October 2, 2018. 11 a.m. Dina’s Place, DiGiorgio Campus Center. “News Engagement Day Observation: Discerning the Truth: Fake News vs the Real Thing.” A panel of experts will discuss the importance of critically examining information and equip students with tools to look beyond the headline or “click bait” to determine the veracity of articles posing as news. Recent surveys show that young adults have the greatest difficulty determining legitimate news from fiction disguised as news. The panelists are:
    • Amanda Hiner, Associate Professor of English and Director of Critical Reading, Thinking, and Writing (CRTW 201) course at Winthrop University;
    • Bill Schulte, Assistant Professor of Mass Communication at Winthrop University; and
    • Michelle Ciulla Lipkin, Executive Director of the National Association for Media Literacy Education.
      Panel Moderator: Dr. Aimee Meader, Assistant Professor of Mass Communication
  • Tuesday, October 23, 2018, 7:00 p.m. Dina’s Place, DiGiorgio Campus Center: Public Forum entitled, “Is That All You Do: The Art of Editorial Cartooning” by:
    • Kevin Siers, cartoonist from The Charlotte Observer and winner of the Pulitzer Prize, and;
    • Robert Ariail, political cartoonist and three-time Pulitzer Prize finalist.
      Panel Moderator:  Terry Plumb, retired editor, Rock Hill Herald
  • Tuesday, October 30, 2018. 7:00 p.m. Richardson Ballroom, DiGiorgio Campus Center. “Do Opinion Writers Matter Any More?” This panel of distinguished guests will discuss the role of opinion writers in today’s partisan and ideological media environment. The panelists are:
    • Maria Henson, Wake Forest University, winner of the Pulitzer Prize; and
    • Vilissa Thompson, Disability Rights advocate and author of Ramp Up Your Voice, a nationally-recognized blog that focuses on issues of concern to persons with disabilities and especially persons of color with disabilities.
    • Lane Filler, opinion writer, Newsday
      Panel Moderator:  Betsy Teter, co-founder and publisher, Hub City Writers Project
  • Tuesday, November 13, 2018. 7:00 p.m. Dina’s Place, DiGiorgio Campus Center. Public lecture entitled “Finding the Truth Among Competing Claims: Politifact’s Role in American Politics.” This lecture will be presented by Ms. Angie Holan, Editor of Politifact, Pulitzer Prize winning independent fact-checking organization. Moderator: Avery Wilks, political reporter, The State
  • Tuesday, January 29, 2019. 7:00pm Dina’s Place: Film Showing of Spotlight, followed by a discussion led by Dr. Peter Judge, Professor of Religious Studies and Chair, Department of Philosophy and Religious Studies.
  • Tuesday, February 12, 2019. 7:00 p.m. Richardson Ballroom, DiGiorgio Campus Center. “Why Investigative Reporting Does Matter.” These journalists will discuss the role of investigative reporting in American Democracy and the challenges it faces in an era of citizen journalism, social media, and declining audiences for newspapers and television news.   Panelists include:
    • Anna Douglas, The Charlotte Observer;
    • Jennifer Hawes, Charleston (SC) Post & Courier and winner of the Pulitzer Prize; and
    • Bill Fox, President of Protecting Public Access to Public Records (PAPR)
      Panel Moderator: Manning Kimmel, Co-owner and Managing Partner, WRHI radio
  • Tuesday, February 19, 2019. 7:00 p.m. Dina’s Place. DiGiorgio Campus Center. “The State of the Fourth Estate: An Evening with David Fahrenthold.” Mr. Fahrenthold is a Pulitzer Prize winning journalist from Washington Post. He is known for his coverage of the Trump family business empire. Introduction: Beryl Dakers, SC ETV
  • Tuesday, March 26, 2019. 7:00p.m. Richardson Ballroom: Closing campus plenary, a panel entitled “the Future of Journalism.” Panelists include:
    • Kelly Kaufhold, professor at Texas Tech University
    • Gene Policinski, the Newseum
    • Graham Osteen, Co-Owner of Osteen Publishing Company
      Moderator: Mr. Glenn Burkins, Founder and Publisher, Qcitymetro.com
  • Tuesday, April 2, 2019. 7:00 p.m.: DiGiogio Campus Center. “Speaking Truth to Power.” Jim Hoagland, Washington Post, Pulitzer Prize winner and Rock Hill native, in conversation with Mary C. Curtis, Charlotte-based, award-winning writer, speaker and editor. This event will be supported in part by the North Carolina Humanities Council (NCHC). Moderator: Dr. Jennifer Leigh Disney, Professor and Chair, Department of Political Science, Winthrop University
  • Saturday, April 6, 2019: Address at the SC Press Association meeting in Columbia, SC. “Seven Days of Heroin: This is What an Epidemic Looks Like” presented by Amy Wilson, storytelling coach of the Cincinnati Enquirer and editor of 2018 Pulitzer Prize for Local Reporting. This event will focus on the overall theme of the series. 10:30-11:45 a.m., the Marriott, 1200 Hampton St., Columbia.

For more information, contact:
Judy B. Bynum judy@schumanities.org
Guy Reel reelg@winthrop.edu