Previous Events

Women’s Writing Competition/Fall 2008
Congratulations to BU students Christina Clements, Lauren Pieper, Amy Puerto and Shannon Siders for winning the Writing Competition for Women presented by the Institute for Media, Culture and Ethics at Bellarmine University. These students, along with Mr. Ed Manassah, Dr. Gail Henson and several Humana Inc. executives traveled to New York City aboard the Humana corporate jet to attend the luncheon for the 2008 Courage in Journalism Awards of the International Women’s Media Foundation. Students also met Jim Lehrer’s anchor Judy Woodruff, had lunch with Today Show’s Ann Curry, and saw four remarkable international journalists honored for service under pressure.

Understanding Converged Marketing and Media
The Institute held a four week session on Understanding Converged Marketing and Media in the spring of 2008.  The evening sessions were designed to educate experienced executives on the topic of emerging media.  It offered a comprehensive foundation in digital media and marketing.  The course was taught by John Gaunnt, a fellow at the Institute and a senior analyst with e-Marketer. 

Gene Policinski
Gene Policinski, executive director of the Freedom Forum’s First Amendment Center at Vanderbilt University, was a visiting fellow in February 2008, when he spent a day with communication students. Policinski talked a about First Amendment issues. For more information about the Freedom Forum, please visit the First Amendment Center website.

Gene Policinski, vice president and executive director of the First Amendment Center, is a veteran journalist whose career has included work in newspapers, radio, television and online operations.

Policinski oversees operations and programs of the center, which has offices in Nashville, at Vanderbilt University; and in Washington, D.C. He also is co-author of the weekly syndicated newspaper column, "Inside the First Amendment," and executive producer/host of the touring multimedia stage production, "Freedom Sings."

Policinski came to the Freedom Forum in 1996 from USA TODAY, where he was a founding editor and held various news executive positions. He began his journalism career in 1969 in Indiana, where he worked as a newspaper reporter and later as state bureau chief for Gannett News Service. In 1980, he became a correspondent in the GNS Washington bureau, reporting on Congress, politics and other issues.

In 1982, he was named Washington editor of USA TODAY during its development period, and he held that post when it launched on Sept. 15. In 1983, he was named a Page One editor. In 1985, he was named deputy managing editor/sports and later was named managing editor/sports. He is the founding editor of USA TODAY Baseball Weekly (now Sports Weekly). From 1991 through 1993, he was the on-air host of three news, sports and information programs on USA TODAY Sky Radio. He also helped develop USA TODAY’s first online ventures.

In April 1996, he joined the Freedom Forum as a journalist in residence, directing a special Olympic Games program, and in September was named special assistant to the chairman and chief executive officer. Since joining the foundation, he has held a number of executive roles, and was Washington editor for the First Amendment Center’s Web site in 1999. Also, he was host and writer for of “Newseum Radio,” a one-hour program that aired on National Public Radio Worldwide from 1997 to 2001. And he was executive producer of “Speaking Freely," a weekly interview program, which aired nationwide on public television from 2001 to 2005.
Policinski was named deputy director of the First Amendment Center in June 2000. He became executive director in 2004 and vice president in 2007.

A lecturer and consultant on journalism issues ranging from newsroom ethics to new media, Policinski is a member of the board of trustees of the Newspaper Association of America Foundation and the board of governors of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences, Mid-South chapter. He is an adjunct professor at Winthrop University in South Carolina and a member of the journalism alumni board at Ball State University in Indiana.
Policinski was born in South Bend, Ind. He is a graduate of Ball State and attended the Nashville School of Law. He is married to Kathleen B. Powell, an educator. They have two sons.

Andrew Heyward
Andrew Heyward, former president of CBS News, was a visiting fellow to the Institute in November 2007, spending time with students in classes and individual discussions about careers in the media. In addition, Andrew gave a lecture that was open to the community about his life at CBS and the future of media.

Heyward also was a guest of WFPL's State of Affairs. To lisen to the broadcast archive, please visit State of Affairs online.

See Andrew's interview with Beet.tv on online about how consumption patters are changing the ecosystem of television news:

Heyward is a nationally recognized media expert whose particular area of expertise is the rapidly shifting media landscape.

Andrew is a senior advisor to Marketspace LLC, a subsidiary of Monitor Group that specializes in helping companies use digital technology to drive growth and revenue by enhancing customer interactions. He works with clients to create and strengthen original online content, make more effective use of broadband video, deepen engagement through online communities, and develop new business models for the digital era. Heyward was President, CBS News, from January 1996-November 2005.

During that time, CBS News programming grew significantly in audience, regularly scheduled hours and profitability. Under Heyward’s leadership, CBS News’s tradition of journalistic quality and integrity was recognized with an extraordinary number of broadcast journalism’s most prestigious awards:  57 News and Documentary Emmys, 13 Peabody, 13 Alfred I. DuPont/Columbia University, six Overseas Press Club and 46 RTNDA/Edward R. Murrow Awards. The list of Murrows includes seven for Overall Excellence: four for television—including 2003, 2004 and 2005—and three on the radio side.

Heyward also spearheaded CBS News’s move into new media. Its award-winning website, CBSNews.com, became increasingly competitive and was a leader in providing free, advertiser-supported broadband video. Heyward also was a key force in the establishment of the leading financial news website, CBS MarketWatch, and served on its board of directors from its founding in 1997 to its acquisition by Dow Jones in January 2005.

Before his tenure as President, Heyward was executive producer, CBS Evening News, and Vice President, CBS News (October 1994-January 1996). Heyward was also responsible for developing and launching 48 Hours, the primetime CBS News hour that premiered in January 1988. He has won 12 national Emmy Awards.

Heyward was born in New York. He graduated magna cum laude from Harvard University with a B.A. in history and literature.

Bob Steele and Kelly McBride

Bob Steele and Kelly McBride from the Poynter Institute in Florida led a two-day ethics seminar in September 2007 for about 65 participants. They included: media, students, community, faculty and administrators. More information about the Poynter Institute can be found at its web-site http://poynter.org

“Freedom Sings,” a multi-media, musical review of Freedom of Speech was presented by the Freedom Forum as part of the celebration of Constitution Day in September 2007. Freedom Sings is a critically acclaimed multi-media experience featuring an all-star cast of musicians and an “only-in-America” story line.
The presentation tells the story of almost three centuries of banned or censored music in America and invites audiences to take a fresh look at the First Amendment.

This entertaining, irreverent and inspiring program is packed with live music, video and graphics. It features hit songwriters and Grammy Award winners devoted to sharing the power, passion and poetry of music.