Thanks to our 2010 donors!
January 26th, 2011

SMPA is fortunate to have a number of endowed scholarships, fellowships and prizes. These funds allow donor support to live in perpetuity, providing opportunities for our students and faculty on a consistent annual basis. We are pleased to recognize our endowed funds:
 
William and Ramona Kummer Family Fund
Wilson Grand Communications Fund+
Kathryn Green Editor in Residence Program+
Owen Smoot and Elizabeth Browder-Nibley Fund
Steven and Eileen Farbman Fund
Dr. Walter R. Roberts Endowment
Essary Prize
Allen Scholarship
Larry King Scholarship Fund
Shapiro Fellowship in Media and Public Affairs
Airlie Professorship
Stephen Holly Bronz Fund
Elberger Scholarship
Robert and Christine Staub Faculty Excellence Award+
Richard Eaton Foundation Endowed Prize Fund+
 
+ Indicates that donor also made a current-use gift in 2010, in addition to their original endowment gift

***

The SMPA Honor Roll of Donors recognizes support designated for SMPA-specific programs and funds from GW alumni and friends between January 1, 2010 - December 31, 2010. While we make every effort to ensure accuracy, we appreciate your contacting the SMPA Development Office at 202-994-9169 or orikorin@gwu.edu to alert us of any issues or concerns.

Our Honor Roll of Donors:

Eleanor Aab, BA 1996
Mark Abramson, BA 2010
Tracy Abriola, BA 1989
Emily Aden, BA 2009
Joseph and Robin Altman
Christopher Avallone, BA 2009
Donna Ball
R. Taylor Barden, BA 2010
John Barry, BA 1976*
John Barth
Andrew Baxley, BA 1982
Char Beales, BA 1973*
Justin Bevers, BA 2005, and Samantha McGovern, BA 2005
Donna Bonner, MS 2006
Laurie Brandt and Jay Koslof
Wendy Bronfein, BA 2002
Chris Brooks, BA 2008, MS 2010
Anna Bryant, BS 1979, MA 1981
Samuel Buchbinder, BA 2008
Peter Calabretta
Adoracion Camacho
Elizabeth Cantwell, BA 2009
Christal Chacon, BA 1992
Catherine Clement, BA 2005
Tara Connell, BA 1971
A. George Cook III, BA 1957, and Marylou Cook, BA 1958*
Ralph Crane, BA 1964
Daniel Cronin
Natalie Cucchiara, BA 2010
Daniel Curran, BA 2010
Lauren Danner, BA 1990
Richard Davis
Victoria Devine, BA 2010
Mark Dollins, BA 1983
Meredith Dubner, BA 1999*
Gail and Stephen Circillo
Anne and Clark Dumont
Nancy Ellin, BA 1987
Robert Entman
Erica Evans, BA 2008, MS 2009
Lorena and Robert Ewing
Monique Exposito
Irwin Feldman, AA 1961, and Marilyn Feldman, BA 1966*
Andrew Feldman
Karen Fincutter, BA 1990*
Marilyn and Robert Fincutter*
Jamie Freedman, MS 1997, and Anthony Freedman
Michael Freedman*
Thomas Friedman
Gannett Foundation
Markus Geissler
Loren Ghiglione, PhD 1976
Andrew Goldberg, BA 2003, MD 2007
Brian Goldberg, BA 2005, MA 2007
Darren Goldberg, BA 1997
Scott Gorelick
Jeffrey Grant, MPA 1993
Kathryn Green, BA 1977
Daniel Greene, BA 2010
Kimberly Gross
John Gwynn, BA 1986*
Kristen Gyulafia, BA 2005
Julie Harnik, BA 2002
Ryder Haske, BA 2010
Caroline Hemenway, BA 1985
Elizabeth Henzey, BA 1986
William Herzig, MD 1989
Carol Hodes, BA 1974
Jane and Roger Holeywell*
Tracey Horwich, BA 1998*
Susan Hunsinger, BA 2010
Julie Hyman, BA 2010
Arthur Jaeger, BA 1968
Vyomika Jairam
Christina Juliano, BA 1998*
Jason Kane, BA 2007
David Kanevsky, BA 2002
Hilary Kanter, BA 1983
Oriana Korin, BA 2005, MA 2008
Michael Krauthamer, BBA 1994, MPA 1996*
Samantha Lafer
Jake Lansburgh, BA 2010
Liz Lauren-Oser and Aaron Oser
Jennifer Lerner, BA 2000
Eleanor Levi, MA 1970
Brenda and Paul Lilly
Amanda Lindner, BA 2010
Morgan Manousos
David Mayer, BA 1989
Lucy McCalmont, BA 2010
Ashley McDaniel
Kelly McLaughlin, BA 2005
Conor McSweeney, BA 2010
Danielle Meister, BA 2010
Marissa Moran, BA 2010
Michael Morsberger
Toni Murphy, BA 2008
Edward Murray, BA 1960
Aaron Myers, BA 2000
Sara Narod, BA 2010
Jennifer Nedeau, BA 2007
Noblis, Inc.*
Harrison Pannella, BA 1978
Dawn Pepin, BS 2006
Sandra Perez, BA 2009
Joshua Phillips, BA 2010
Andrew Rabin, BA 2010
Joseph Radosevich, BA 2009
Jennifer Ramacciotti, BA 2006
Jennifer Rellis, BA 1997*
Joseph Rendeiro, BA 2010
The Richard Eaton Foundation, Inc.*
Brett Rodda, BA 1995*
Kenneth Rogers, BS 2000, and Rachel Rogers, BA 2000*
Tara Rosenblum, BA 2003
Lance Rothenberg, BA 1997
Joshua Rothstein, BA 2003
Timothy Saccoccia, BA 2007
Alessandra Sangiolo, BA 2010
Mark Schleifstein, BA 1975*
Michael and Raffaella Schnurr
David Schulps, BA 1975
Dana Schwartz-Bash, BA 1993
Jonas Searle
Meredith Segal, BA 2005, and Theodore Segal, BA 2003*
Valerie Seiling-Jacobs
Samuel Shor
Benjamin Simon, PHD 2001*
Ronnie Smith, BA 1989
Mark SooHoo, BA 2002*
Beverly Spadotto, BA 1973
Christine and Robert Staub
Steel Associates LLC
Cathryn Steel, BA 1988
Bory Steinberg, MS 1973, DPA 1984*
Barry Sussman
Marilyn and Thomas Swartz
Bruce and Cindy Terker
Barbara Tesner
Eric Thibault
Gary Thibault
Benjamin Toder
Andrew Trachtenberg, BA 1975*
Paul Truntich, BA 1958*
Tawani Foundation
Scott Underwood, BA 2010
Geoffrey Vincent, BA 1974
Lorraine Voles
Volkswagen Group of America
Patrick Waldron, BBA 2010
Paul Waters
Vanessa Weisbrod, BA 2005
Robert Wheelock, BA 1979
White House Correspondents Association
Gillian Whitford-McHale, BA 2008
Megan Whittemore, BA 2008, MS 2010
Widmeyer Communications
Paul Wilson
Jeffrey Wolf, BA 1986
Victoria Wunsch

*Indicates a consistent donor of three years or more

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Student Radio Show Receives National Coverage
January 26th, 2011

Andrew Feldman (PCM '11) received national news attention this week following an interview he did with Arizona State Senator Linda Gray and others regarding the Tucson shootings.

Feldman hosts the WGRW radio show, "The Political Pulse." While gun laws and political rhetoric has garnered blame for the shootings, Sen. Gray suggested on the show that abortion was another culprit.

When asked if she thought "cultural issues" caused acts such as the shootings, she said, "Yes, I believe part of it is a cultural issue in the disrespect for human life."

Feldman's interview was mentioned in Politico, Talking Points Memo, Huffington Post, and local television stations KGUN9 and ABC15 in Tucson.

The special edition of the radio show also featured Scott Keeter, director of survey research from Pew Research Center, Sen. Steve Gallardo (D) of the Arizona State Legislature, and Tucson news anchor for KGUN9, Jennifer Waddell.

The widespread attention has mainly been caused by the following response Sen. Gray had when Feldman asked what she thought could be done to prevent such acts in the future:

Training of people to respect human life. It is ironic that today today is the day 38 years ago that the Supreme Court said we do not have to respect the life of an unborn and we have gone through now more then a generation of people, a large number of people who believe that it is fine to take an infant prior to it being born and to kill it. What type of respect is that for human life? So now we have this generation of people who have that idea and it continues on, that why respect life if we can kill an infant who can’t defend themselves. It goes back to the value in the creation of life and the respect for that life and if your not trained and have that type of character in realizing that all human life deserves respect this is what our country has come to.

Sen. Gray later told KGUN9 that she did not regret her statement, but said she felt her words were taken out of context.

The show airs live on Sundays from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m., and the special edition episode regarding the Tucson shootings can be downloaded for listening.

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Get to Know Professor Mike Freedman
January 26th, 2011

Professor Mike Freedman has been a SMPA professor since 2009. He served at GW's Vice President of Communications for eight years, and was previously the general manager of CBS Radio Network News in New York. He is the founding executive director of the GW Global Media Institute, which produces the highly acclaimed "Kalb Report" with its latest edition coming up on Jan. 31.

Professor Freedman sat down to answer a few questions:

What are you reading right now?: Powers That Be by David Halberstam, which he said is sitting in the back seat of his car, and is about the history of the rise of big media in America

What's your go-to link: Definitely www.nytimes.com

Who are three people you would invite to dinner, dead or alive?: Edward R. Murrow, John F. Kennedy, and my Dad

Who is your favorite musician?: Tony Bennett

What movie do you love that you would recommend to others?: "Casablanca"-  "There's not a wasted word or scene in the film."

What's your favorite place in the world?: "Next to my wife."


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Grad Student Published in NPR Blog
January 24th, 2011

Erika Rydberg (MA '11) was recently published in the National Public Radio (NPR) blog, "All Tech Considered." She is an intern there in the Social Media department where she is pitching stories, helping increase capacity, and helping with research for the Social Media team. Entitled "So Much for Bowling Alone; Research Says Internet Users Are Socially Engaged," Erika's post discusses how internet use may no longer be a solo activity. She will graduate this year with a master's in Public Affairs.

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Student work for Planet Forward appears on PBS
January 21st, 2011
Last night on PBS’ Night Business Report featured student work produced for “Planet Forward”- the ongoing project founded by SMPA Director Frank Sesno.

The segment centered around a video package produced by Devin Greene, a junior minoring in Journalism, and Kristina Sgueglia, a senior majoring in Communications. The package, called “Empire State of Energy,” discussed how the Empire State Building is becoming more efficient.

Professor Sesno appeared on Nightly Business Report to accompany the segment, and ran a live chat with viewers online.

Watch the segment and see what “Planet Forward” students have been working on to advance the discussion on energy!

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New Exhibit on display in SMPA Lobby
January 19th, 2011

"Tools of the Trade" is the theme of the new display just installed on the first floor of the MPA Bulding. From the telegraph to communication satellites and the Internet, the exhibit highlights some of the technical changes that have helped reporters get the story from "there" to local listeners and viewers. Among the things to see are early telegraph equipment, microphones, Edward R. Murrow's press credentials from London during World War II, a wire recorder (used before tape), television cameras, a UPI teletype ticker, and an Ampex audio tape console used by CBS News. Many of the items on display were loaned by Prof. Mike Freedman from his extensive collections. The exhibit, which will be up until this summer, is a project of the Museum of Radio & Television and SMPA.

There is additional information and handouts next to the exhibit, so be sure to check it out!

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Fellows Henry and Lockhart Begin Teaching
January 16th, 2011

What more could SMPA students ask for?

Standing side-by-side in one of SMPA’s classrooms last week were CNN Senior White House Correspondent Ed Henry and former Clinton White House Press Secretary Joe Lockhart talking about whether President Barack Obama gave the right kind of speech to console the nation in the wake of the tragic shooting in Tucson.

And of course, the conversation also led to speculation over what kind of press secretary the President should appoint to replace the departing Robert Gibbs at the White House podium.

Lockhart, Henry and Assistant Professor Michael Shanahan have come together to teach SMPA 3195 “Across the Podium,” a course that will offer students unusually candid insights into how presidents do their best to communicate to their political advantage with the American people and how the White House press corps interprets and reports what the U.S. President and his staff actually say and do.

"What people need to understand is that the only a tiny percentage of the White House Press Secretary's job involves the daily briefing," Lockhart told  the students, equally divided between eight journalism and mass communication and eight political communication majors.

Henry, a veteran Washington political journalist, and Lockhart, a former television news producer who held senior communication strategy jobs for Bill Clinton, John Kerrey and Walter Mondale, are well suited to explain the ins and outs of White House coverage and messaging to SMPA students eager to follow in their footsteps.  They are also both Professional Fellows at SMPA during this academic year, interacting with students beyond this class at both private and public events.

The course will cover all aspects of how American Presidents prepare their messages over the long and short term as well as the makeup and practices of the disparate White House press corps.

From week to week, the curriculum will include discussions on how the digital communication revolution allows the President to bypass White House reporters in reaching Americans, the importance of imagery in presenting the Chief Executive positively, the structure and purpose of the White House Communication Office, White House scandals like the one involved Monica Lewinsky and how the President is covered when he travels abroad.

Other members of the SMPA faculty will also deliver guest lectures to the class. Professor Steven Livingston will talk about the so-called “CNN effect” in which Presidents make foreign policy decisions driven by reporting on CNN and other cable channels that have more current and accurate information than is available through State Department and Pentagon channels.

"I chose to take the class with Ed Henry and Joe Lockhart because this is my final semester at GW and I have already fulfilled all of my requirements. I thought to myself, 'What better way to capstone my experience as a journalism student studying in Washington D.C. than to learn the behind-the-scenes operations from people actually involved in the process?' Sure, I have had incredible learning experiences reading articles and textbooks describing how the government filters information before exposing it to the press, and how the press frames information before it releases it to the public. But hearing how this process actually works from CNN's senior White House correspondent and from a former White House press secretary is a whole different ballgame," said journalism senior Ricki Maybruch.

Professor Robert Entman will talk about framing the White House story, reflecting readings from his research on why some stories are covered by the press and others are ignored and the political consequences of those decisions.

"Learning from experts in the field like Mr. Lockhart and Mr. Henry, all guided by the teaching skills of Professor Shanahan, provides an in-depth, and uniquely GW learning experience," said political communication senior Colby Anderson.

All in all, the course promises to capture in one semester the vision and purpose of learning within SMPA with its unique mix of journalism and political communication academic pursuits.

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Alum joins Peace Corps, uses SMPA skillset
January 16th, 2011

Julie HymanAfter graduating last May, SMPA alumnus Julie Hyman (JMC ‘10) not only moved out of D.C., but out of the country to begin a twenty-seven month Peace Corps volunteer position. Julie has been living in Northern Namibia since August 2010, working as an IT Librarian in a “small, developing town” called Omuthiya.

“It’s been kind of a whirlwind, of course, with graduating in May then moving to Namibia,” she said.

Five months into her term, Julie was proud to share that the community library where she works officially opened last week. The library has three shelves of books, and ten computers in the lab, but said she hopes to gain many more books through donations. Julie added that the library now has a temporary security system too which is a “big deal.”

“It was completely empty and closed when we arrived,” she said. Read the rest of this entry »

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Questions for Director Sesno?
January 12th, 2011

Do you have any questions you'd like to ask SMPA Director Frank Sesno? He is the first featured guest at the new "Friday Forums" event series held at Provost Steven Lerman's home on the Mount Vernon Campus. Enter the contest to win a seat at this intimate conversation with Director Frank Sesno, who will discuss any topic of your choosing!  Join the Provost and his wife Lori at 4:15 p.m., Friday Jan. 21, by invitation only (transport to his home will be provided.) Submit your best question for Director Sesno to SMPA's Facebook page or leave it in the comments section below by Friday January 14, and the students with the top 20 questions as chosen by the Office of the Provost will be selected to participate. Good luck!

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