Newhouse, Maxwell to host international journalists as part of U.S. Department of State program this April

Newhouse, Maxwell to host international journalists as part of U.S. Department of State program this April February 27, 2006Jaime Winne Alvarezjlwinne@syr.edu

Syracuse University’s S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications and Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs will jointly host a delegation of 17 journalists from Europe and the Middle East April 5-13 as part of the U.S. Department of State’s inaugural Edward R. Murrow Journalism Program.

An innovative public-private partnership among the Department of State, Aspen Institute and seven leading U.S. universities, the program will bring a total of 130 journalists from independent media outlets around the world to U.S. soil. The program’s goals are to expose journalists to the rights and responsibilities of a free press in a democracy; to give them insight into the social, economic and political structures of the United States; and to have them visit leading academic institutions in smaller delegations for interactive sessions with faculty and students.

“We are very excited to be one of the campuses chosen by the State Department to host these visiting journalists,” says Newhouse Dean David Rubin. “It is no secret that the image of the United States abroad is not as positive as it must be. To the degree we can help to repair that image by introducing these visitors to American views of democracy, a free press and the role of citizens, we will have provided a valuable service to our country and to our guests.”

Host campuses will design specialized curricula — including intensive academic seminars and field activities with faculty, students and distinguished guest speakers — to highlight journalistic standards in the United States. In addition toSU, six other institutions will host delegations: the University of Southern California, the University of Oklahoma, the University of Texas at Austin, the University of Minnesota, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and the University of Kentucky.

“The combined expertise of the Maxwell and Newhouse schools will provide these journalists with a unique perspective on media communications by linking it to 80 years of teaching and research experience on citizenship and public policy issues,” says Maxwell Dean Mitchel Wallerstein. “We are delighted to participate in a program that will help to broaden our visitors’ understanding of the United States as well as our understanding of their homelands.”

Prior to coming to campus, visiting journalists will have an orientation period in Washington, D.C., where they will be introduced to U.S. government and foreign policy. Following their stay at SU, they will visit state capitals for exposure to the role and responsibilities of state government and media coverage of state politics. They will also visit small and medium-sized communities to observe civic life and grassroots involvement in political affairs.

U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice announced the program in a ceremony in Washington, D.C., in December, saying, “The Department of State is determined to forge partnerships with our private sector so that Americans of all stripes, all traditions, all ethnic groups and also all walks of life might be able to help to carry the story of democratic progress and the progress of liberty. We look forward to this excellent program in April, but we especially look forward to working with our partners.”