Cronkite Lecture Series Features Leading Journalists, Communicators

Pulitzer Prize-winning journalists, award-winning filmmakers, the former president of CBS News and the social media director of BuzzFeed headline a spring speaker series at Arizona State University’s Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication.More than 20 leading journalists and communicators are participating in the spring “Must See Mondays” lecture series, which has featured more than 200 lecturers and panelists since 2008.The free public lectures kick off Jan. 23 with a discussion from leading documentary filmmakers Bernardo Ruiz and Suree Towfighnia and concludes April 24 with a panel discussion on cutting-edge journalism research with five Cronkite School professors.On Feb. 27, Walter V. Robinson, the Boston Globe editor-at-large who led the newspaper’s Pulitzer Prize-winning “Spotlight” report on the Roman Catholic Church sexual abuse scandal, will discuss investigative journalism as part of the annual Paul J. Schatt Memorial Lecture. Robinson is teaching at the Cronkite School this semester as the Donald W. Reynolds Visiting Professor in Business Journalism.The speaker series also includes talks on the intersection of social media and the news with Andrew Heyward, former president of CBS News, on Jan. 30 and BuzzFeed Social Media Director Maycie Thornton on Feb. 20.Spring 2017 marks the 18th semester for the lecture series, which has included numerous Pulitzer Prize-winning reporters, national television correspondents, editors of major newspapers, journalism innovators and entrepreneurs and public relations specialists.“Our ‘Must See Mondays’ talks provide an opportunity for students, faculty and the community to discuss important issues and current events with experts in journalism and beyond,” said Cronkite School Dean Christopher Callahan.The talks, which are open to the public, start at 7 p.m. in the First Amendment Forum of the Cronkite School on the ASU Downtown Phoenix campus. The Cronkite School is located at 555. N. Central Ave. in downtown Phoenix. Spring 2017 “Must See Mondays” Schedule“Making of a Documentary”Jan. 23, 2017Filmmakers Bernardo Ruiz and Suree Towfighnia explore documentary storytelling’s impact on journalism. “From ‘60 Minutes’ to Snapchat: The Video Story”Jan. 30, 2017Andrew Heyward, former president of CBS News and the principal of Heyward Advisory, discusses the evolution of journalism and video storytelling.  “Inventing New Forms of Journalism”Feb. 6, 2017New Media Innovation and Entrepreneurship Lab Director Retha Hill and students share how to be entrepreneurs in journalism and their latest innovations. “Voting Wars: Revisiting the 2016 Election”Feb. 13, 2017News21 Executive Editor Jacquee Petchel, Weil Family Professor Leonard Downie Jr., the former executive editor of The Washington Post, and News21 fellows revisit their investigation of voting fraud and participation. “Redefining Social Media”Feb. 20, 2017BuzzFeed Social Media Director Maycie Thornton, a 2011 Cronkite School graduate, examines how news startups and social media are reshaping how people get the news. “Can Democracy Survive? Only If Investigative Journalism Does”Feb. 27, 2017Reynolds Visiting Professor Walter V. Robinson, editor at large at The Boston Globe who led the award-winning “Spotlight” investigation, explores the past, present and future of investigative journalism. The talk is part of the Paul J. Schatt Memorial Lecture, an annual event held at the Cronkite School in honor of the longtime Arizona Republic editor who taught journalism at ASU for more than 30 years. “Free Speech on Campus”March 13, 2017 Cronkite Associate Professor and noted First Amendment scholar Joseph Russomanno examines the role of free speech in America. “Designing Career Strategies”March 20, 2017 Ramon Escobar, vice president of talent recruitment and development at CNN, shares important lessons and tips for getting started in journalism. “Storytelling Through Photography”March 27, 2017 Melissa Lyttle, president of the National Press Photographers Association, discusses the power of photojournalism and how to capture photos that tell important stories. “PR Lab Mentorship Lecture and Aspire Award Presentation”April 10, 2017 The Cronkite School presents the annual PR Lab Mentorship Lecture and Aspire Award Presentation, made possible by Scott Pansky, co-founder of Allison+Partners, a global public relations firm. “Reporting From the Heart of Mexico”April 17, 2017 Southwest Borderlands Initiative Professor Rick Rodriguez and students share their reporting from Queretaro, Mexico. “Faculty Research: From Social Media to Sports”April 24, 2017 Cronkite School faculty members discuss their latest research and important trends in journalism. The panel includes Assistant Professor Monica Chadha, Assistant Professor K. Hazel Kwon, Assistant Professor Sada Reed, Associate Professor Leslie-Jean Thornton and Associate Professor Sharon Bramlett-Solomon.