MEDIA ADVISORY: FCC Says Local Journalism is in Crisis

MU Reynolds Journalism Institute to host day-long symposium to examine the issue

November 15th, 2011

WHAT: A report released by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) in June 2011 stated that local journalism is in a state of crisis. In the report, “Information Needs of Communities,” the FCC concludes that lack of government advertising money, philanthropic support and journalism schools’ ability to produce local news content are some of the leading factors.

The Reynolds Journalism Institute at the University of Missouri School of Journalism will host a symposium to discuss and examine proposals to reverse this trend by reforming the Corporation for Public Broadcasting and redistributing government advertising money, and other ideas. Keynote speaker, Steven Waldman, former FCC advisor, will lead the discussion “Meeting the Information Needs of Communities: How the FCC Reforms Could Shape the Local Media Landscape?” Other topics that will be discussed include MU’s role in the Gig.U project and its implications for the local community.

WHO: Keynote speaker:

Steven Waldman, former senior FCC advisor

 

Other speakers:

Brian Bracco, vice president, news, Hearst Television

Steven Lanzano, president, Television Bureau of Advertising

Margaret Freivogel, editor, St. Louis Beacon

Kent Collins, chair, radio-television journalism, Missouri School of Journalism

Mike Dunn, general manager, KBIA-FM

Bob Priddy, news director, Missourinet

Janet Saidi, news director, KBIA-FM

Marty Siddall, general manager, KOMU-TV

Dean Mills, dean, Missouri School of Journalism

Amy McCombs, Lee Hills Chair in Free-Press Studies, Missouri School of Journalism

Barbara Cochran, Curtis B. Hurley Chair in Public Affairs Journalism,

Missouri School of Journalism

WHEN &

WHERE: 9:30 a.m.-4 p.m., Tuesday, Nov. 15

Fred W. Smith Forum (Room 200), Reynolds Journalism Institute

MU campus

NOTE: For more information visit: http://www.rjionline.org/events/fcc