Ted Koppel awarded with lifetime achievement

News veteran Ted Koppel discussed his thoughts regarding modern journalism during his acceptance speech for the Edward R. Murrow Lifetime Achievement Award. The award was presented Friday at Beasley Coliseum during the 37^th Edward R. Murrow Symposium.

Lawrence Pintak, dean of The Edward R. Murrow College of Communication, paid tribute to Koppel before introducing him to the audience. Pintak said Koppel was an icon and that his show was a Master class in world politics and journalism. “He drilled right into the hearts of the stories that affected America,” Pintak said.

As Koppel took the microphone, he acknowledged that Murrow was his idol and the “first great professional influence” in his life. “I never wanted to be anything other than Ed Murrow,” he said. Koppel’s passion for journalism was undeniable.

Koppel went on to talk about his thoughts on new media. Information is now more readily available, he said, though often incomplete. “It is harder to concentrate when everyone is talking at the same time,” Koppel said. With access to Twitter, Facebook, and other social media, “it is hard not to believe that the medium is the message,” Koppel said, but the message is still more important.

Chenwei Ling, a Murrow College graduate student, said these words of Koppel stuck out to her the most. “The medium is the tool of transmission,” Ling said, “but the message is what stays”. Ling prefers more “traditional media” such as magazines and newspapers.

Though Ling said she uses social media, she agreed with Koppel when he said it creates “looser, more careless communication.”

Still, Koppel said we must acknowledge social media because of its incomparable speed and efficiency, though it is not perfect yet. “There is nothing new about bad journalism, simply more of it.”

Koppel said what the public wants today are stories like Charlie Sheen and the Amanda Knox trial, which are “far more interesting” than the economic crisis in Greece or tensions in Iran. “We live today in a world of instant reaction and constant judgment,” Koppel said, “and journalists are giving the public what it wants.”

Koppel continued saying that when we communicate faster, we no longer are illuminated, but are simply consuming information faster than we can understand its meaning. “The more fuel we burn, the faster we go.”

In order to deal with the information intelligently, Koppel said, we need time to reflect. But society has developed an intolerance to pause. He acknowledged that the role of journalism has changed from objective reporting of the facts to the need to publish the latest “breaking news” or tabloid scandal in order to satisfy the public.

Koppel predicts the public will realize and question why the media “feed us trivial crap while these terrible things are happening.” During this realization, “no one will be happy,” Koppel said, “but what we gave you was what you wanted.”

The crowd absorbed these final thoughts while erupting into a standing ovation. Koppel stayed on for a question and answer session with the audience.

Following the conclusion of the symposium, Joanna and Brent Steward, a WSU alumna and her husband, said they both were in high school when Nightline, Koppel’s show, began in 1980. Through Nightline, they both became aware of world affairs, the Stewards said.

Brent said he believes that Koppel truly can stay objective in any given situation, as he proved in his answers to the crowd. “His ability to interview is second to none,” Brent added. “I think he is in the same caliber as Walter Cronkite.”

“It was wonderful to hear him. If you ever want to learn about journalism,” Joanna said, “just watch him.”

- LM -

Sources:

Ted Koppel

(At symposium)

Dean Lawrence Pintak

(At symposium)

Chenwei Ling

509-592-8825

Brent Steward

509-335-3933

Joanna Steward

509-335-3933

Outline:

I. Lede

A. Dean Pintak – Quote

1. Introduces Koppel

II. Ted Koppel

A. Thanks for award

B. Murrow tribute

1. His hero as a child

C. New Media

1. Quote

2. Media is the message

a. Quote – Chenwei Ling

b. Agree with Koppel

3. Acknowledging social media

4. Giving the public what it wants

a. Quote

b. Ending statement

III. Joanna and Brent Steward

A. Both speak about Koppel

B. Quote – Brent

C. Quote – Joanna

Homecoming 2011

The Student Entertainment Board decided Monday that there will no longer be homecoming royalty. This is just one among many major changes for this year's 105th homecoming celebration.

Yasmin - would you interview her?

If the parents gave consent, I would interview Yasmin. She is 4 years old, and undoubtedly traumatized from the experience. But I believe that her take on the story is crucial to making it well rounded. As a 4 year old, the fact that she will be on TV will not be detrimental in my opinion, and her name will still show up on Google searches regardless as her name will be the topic of the story. Looking back, if that happened to me, and I hardly remembered it, I may want to see what I said on air.

Comma, Splice, Exercise

Comma splice? Yes or no. If it is a comma splice, fix the sentence.

1. “We just buy and sell real estate," she said. "It is what we do, but the market doesn’t dictate the price."

2. In 2007, while the average income in Washington was $55,628, the average income for Whitman County was $36,438.

3. Going green took on new meaning this year when WSU Waste Management announced dramatic changes to the recycling program in an effort to save money across the university. The city plans to follow suit.

4. “Take a little out of athletics, take a little from the library, and save the rest of the money,” Jones said.


5. Dan is using an emerging dairy trend. He installed an anaerobic digester two years ago.

6. He entered the three-mile race yesterday morning. However, he does not have any shoes.

Interviewing Tips from Mike Wallace

1. Remain strong/calm and bring about others' viewpoints - 3rd party source, diffuse tensions. home environment
2. Quantitative data
3. Keep bringing in quotes to combat him
3. Use emotions but not overly
4. come prepared!!Think about what he will say.
5. Follow up questions, doesn't interrupt. SKEPTICAL. clarifying questions.
***what would you tell him?

Edit Your Peers

1. The theater is currently preparing for its next production, "Meet Me in St. Louis".

2. Recent budgets cuts have had little effect on the program.

3. The band for six months has been touring.

4. Angel Nava, the arts and programming adviser for student involvement, said participants can listen to the artists' descriptions of their sculptures.

5. Everyone had a great time at the rally.

6. More than 150 people attended the festival from Sept. 14-16.

7. Eric W. Hoffman is a clinical assistant professor in The Edward R. Murrow College of Communication.

8. “It's always great seeing such a wonderful turnout each week,” Smith said.

9. The festival is sponsored by the Pullman Chamber of Commerce and is now in its third year of operation.

10. “I love shopping in this kind of environment," she said. "It is much better than inside a grocery store.”


Acronyms from your stories
List the names that correspond with these acronyms.

VPLAC - visual performing and literary arts center/club
RTOP - regional theater of the palouse
CEREO - center for environmental research education and outreach
PCC - Pullman Chamber of Commerce
PFM - personal finance management
FFA - future farmers of america
CFSL - center for fraternity and sorority life
ASWSU - associated students of washington state university
PRUS -
CSA - community supported agriculture

Michael Kors and others draw crowds for Fall Fashion Week 2011

New York City “fashionistas” filled the streets Thursday as they celebrated Fashion’s Night Out to kick off Fall Fashion Week 2011.

Michael Kors, a native New York designer and entrepreneur, “Project Runway” host, and fashion house icon held the main event at his new store in Rockefeller Center. He drew in crowds with signed handbag giveaways, endless glasses of champagne, a DJ, and special performance from the Radio City Rockettes.

Simultaneously, throughout the city, other elite fashion houses hosted their own events featuring big names like Nicki Minaj, Justin Beiber, and DJ Pauly D to attract the masses.

The Michael Kors public relations team expected more than 1,000 people to attend their events around the city. “Are you having fun tonight?” Kors asked the crowd anxiously waiting outside the store. They erupted in cheers to acknowledge their excitement as the Rockettes filed on stage.

“It’s a huge publicity stunt more than anything,” Michael Kors Global Events Director Kathryn Knox said, “yes, sales is a part of it, but the truth is, it’s a free party and most importantly it’s about the PR and bringing crowds in.”

Knox spent the majority of the night making sure top clients and VIPs were accommodated accordingly. “You have to treat everyone at the events like a celebrity and make sure they know they are appreciated,” she said.

Knox, who recently joined the Michael Kors team, said she mainly wanted to observe the event details of the night. “There are definitely elements that I would change for next year, but overall I think it was a success.”

Fashion was not the only reason swarms of people filled the haute couture boutiques of NYC. A man in the Michael Kors Collection store on Madison Avenue said, “Well, I like the brand, it’s classic and great for work, but to be honest I just got off work and wanted a couple free drinks!”

Fashion Week entices not only the public but employees as well.

Michael Kors Associate Account Executive Matthew Carvalho attended the event in support of the company. However, Carvalho said he is more excited for the fashion show at 10 a.m., Wednesday, Sept. 14, where Kors will introduce his highly anticipated fall collection to the public.

Carvalho helped out at the fashion show the previous fall season. “I really hope I can go again this year,” Carvalho said. “Watching the show makes you realize that the work you did all year was so worth it. It truly was beautiful.”

Frank Spadafora, the president and CEO of fashion sample tracking company D’Marie, is celebrating Fashion Week as well.

“The trick to fashion,” Spadafora said, “is to not have a job that revolves around Fashion Week, because it sucks.” Spadafora said this week he will be meeting young designers, attending events, and “wearing fabulous clothes.”

“I think Fashion Week in September marks a new year in the city,” Michael Kors Public Relations Intern Hannah Danahey said. Danahey is from North Carolina and traveled to New York City solely to be a part of Fashion Week.

“It’s a time when people with every style come together because of the passion they share,” Danahey said. “It doesn’t matter if you don’t work in fashion, it’s a week that makes the city alive. You simply can’t escape it.”

LM

Summary:

Fall Fashion Week (September 8-15) began Thursday with Fashion’s Night Out. I spent the night helping Michael Kors with the event and got insight and details of people’s reactions to the event and the upcoming week.

Structure Outline:

I. Lede

II. Michael Kors Fashion’s Night Out Event

A. Summary of the Night/Event elements

B. Other similar events

C. Guest Count and crowd reaction

D. Kathryn Knox

1. Quote

2. What she did that night and reactions

E. Guest reaction

III. Michael Kors Fashion Show

A. Matthew Carvalho

1. Quote and reaction to last year

IV. Fashion Week General

A. Frank Spadafora

1. Quote

2. Schedule for the week

B. Hannah Danahey

1. Quote

2. Final Reaction to Fashion Week and ‘kicker’ quote

Sources:

Kathryn Knox

646-441-7755

Matthew Carvalho

860-620-3208

Hannah Danahey

704-241-1411

Frank Spadafora

206-465-5482