Within and Beyond the Barricades: The Media in National Crisis

For Immediate Release: Sept. 24, 2001


Contact: Maralee Csellar, (202) 885-5952; cell (703) 975-1614




WASHINGTON, D.C. - American University's School of Communication will host An American Forum panel discussion titled, "Within and Beyond the Barricades: The Media in National Crisis," from 7:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. Monday, Oct. 1 in the Kay Spiritual Life Center at American University.




Panelists will analyze media coverage of the ongoing national crisis and discuss the limitations journalists will face in the future as they attempt to inform the American public while protecting national security. In addition, they will discuss how both domestic media as well as international media have been affected during this time and how the media position itself as the neutral, independent observers. Panelists include:




· Patricia Aufderheide, professor of communication & director, Center for Social Media, American University;




· Jeff Cohen, founder, Fairness and Accuracy in Reporting;




· Vernon Loeb, security correspondent, The Washington Post;




· Tom Rosenstiel, director, The Project for Excellence in Journalism;




· Ray Suarez, senior correspondent, The NewsHour with Jim Lehrer;




Jane Hall, assistant professor in the School of Communication (SOC), will moderate the discussion. She specializes in covering issues in the news media, including ethics in journalism and politics and the media. A former correspondent for the Los Angeles Times, Hall is currently a weekly panelist on the Fox News Watch media-analysis program on the Fox News Channel.




This is the second panel discussion for the 2001-2002 An American Forum series, sponsored by SOC, that bring together journalists, elected officials, and public policy makers to address timely media issues. The forum is free and open to the public.




For more information on the panelists or the event, please contact Pauline Dawedeit- Liacouras, special events coordinator, at (202) 885-2074. For media assistance, contact Maralee Csellar in AU's Media Relations Office at (202) 885-5952.




For more story ideas, view AU news releases online at www.american.edu/media