Four Baker University alumni who have excelled in the media will be leading a panel discussing technology’s impact on the field following convocation Tuesday.
Gwyn Mellinger, chair of the mass media and communication department, said alumni Theodore Glasser, professor of communication at Stanford University; Wayne Stewart, managing editor of the Topeka Capital-Journal; Harold Jackson, editor for the editorial page of the Philadelphia Enquirer; and Curt Eddy, senior vice
president of sales for Hollywood Records, will give presentations for the program.
Mellinger said the speakers will be split into two panels at 1:30 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. Tuesday in Rice Auditorium. Along with Glasser, Stewart and Jackson, the first panel will also include convocation keynote speaker Cokie Roberts, who is a political analyst for ABC News and National Public Radio. Eddy will make up the second panel, talking about current music delivery systems and their historical perspectives.
Mellinger said the program is meant to provide students opportunities to interact with distinguished alumni.
“Ted Glasser is an internationally known media scholar. Harold Jackson won a Pulitzer for his work. Wayne Stewart is one of the most prominently known people working in a Kansas newsroom,” she said.
Joe Watson, assistant professor of mass media and communication, said the university encourages alumni to come back and participate with Baker after they graduate to enhance the university and future alumni.
“Curt Eddy has made a mark in a very competitive field,” he said. “He was last year’s commencement speaker and has been added to the Board of Trustees. We wanted to build upon that.”
Stewart said he looks forward to taking part in the panel and giving back to Baker.
“I used to be the sports editor for the Baker Orange, and Baker helped me land my first journalism job,” he said.
Mellinger said Baker is fortunate to have compiled so many successful people to speak at the same time on campus.
“All four of these alumni worked on the Baker journalism staff at one time,” Mellinger said. “We were pleased that we were able to put together a program with journalists of this caliber who have achieved such achievements in their professions.”
Stewart said he is pleased he can give students insight into their futures and also interact with the other panel members.
“Our industry is at a crossroads at the moment,” he said. “Our industry is figuring out how to adapt to new technology. It will be quite an interesting opportunity. I’m excited to listen to Cokie and to talk with the other speakers.”
Mellinger said she hopes students take advantage of the opportunities the panel provides and that students majoring within the communication department are confronted with the prospect of what their futures may hold.
“It connects students to a world of possibilities and provides them with information about their field,” she said. “This is something for majors and what you can do with one of our majors.”
Mellinger said the program will begin with each speaker giving a three to four minute presentation on a question introduced by a moderator. A question and answer session will follow in which the moderator will introduce student questions.
Mellinger said most mass media and communications majors are expected to attend.
“We are doing this for the students so they can have contact with these people,” she said. “I’m hoping this will not be the last time we do this.”president of the Philadelphia Enquirer; and Curt Eddy, senior vice president of sales for Hollywood Records, will give presentations for the program.
Mellinger said the speakers will be split into two panels at 1:30 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. Tuesday in Rice Auditorium. Along with Glasser, Stewart and Jackson, the first panel will also include convocation keynote speaker Cokie Roberts, who is a political analyst for ABC News and National Public Radio. Eddy will make up the second panel, talking about current music delivery systems and their historical perspectives.
Mellinger said the program is meant to provide students opportunities to interact with distinguished alumni.
“Ted Glasser is an internationally known media scholar. Harold Jackson won a Pulitzer for his work. Wayne Stewart is one of the most prominently known people working in a Kansas newsroom,” she said.
Joe Watson, assistant professor of mass media and communication, said the university encourages alumni to come back and participate with Baker after they graduate to enhance the university and future alumni.
“Curt Eddy has made a mark in a very competitive field,” he said. “He was last year’s commencement speaker and has been added to the Board of Trustees. We wanted to build upon that.”
Stewart, a former Baker Orange sports editor, said he looks forward to taking part in the panel and giving back to Baker.
“Baker helped me land my first journalism job,” he said.
Mellinger said Baker is fortunate to have compiled so many successful people to speak at the same time on campus.
“All four of these alumni worked on the Baker journalism staff at one time,” Mellinger said. “We were pleased that we were able to put together a program with journalists of this caliber who have achieved such achievements in their professions.”
Stewart said he is pleased he can give students insight into their futures and also interact with the other panel members.
“Our industry is at a crossroads at the moment,” he said. “Our industry is figuring out how to adapt to new technology. It will be quite an interesting opportunity. I’m excited to listen to Cokie and to talk with the other speakers.”
Mellinger said she hopes students take advantage of the opportunities the panel provides and that students majoring within the communication department are confronted with the prospect of what their futures may hold.
