Upcoming events at the UC Berkeley J-School

The latest from the UC Berkeley J-School.

Suzanne Franks | Women and Journalism

When:  Tuesday, April 29,  5:30 p.m.

Where:  North Gate Hall Library

RSVP here.

In many countries, the majority of high profile journalists and editors remain male. Although there have been considerable changes in the prospects for women working in the media in the past few decades, women are still noticeably in the minority in the top journalistic roles, despite making up the majority of journalism students.

Suzanne Franks looks at the key issues surrounding female journalists – from onscreen sexism and ageism to the dangers facing female  foreign correspondents reporting from war zones. She also analyses the way that the changing digital media have presented both challenges and opportunities for women working in journalism and considers this in an international perspective. 

Her recent report for the Reuters Institute of Journalism (Oxford University) 'Women and Journalism' examines why women in many countries are not fulfilling their promise in the media and in newsrooms. [MORE]

Groundtruth and Airwaves: Sensor Networks and Emerging Technology for Environmental Journalism Symposium

When: Wednesday, April 30, 1:00-5:00 p.m.

Where: Banatao Auditorium, Sutardja Dai Hall

Presented by: Internews' Earth Journalism Network and CITRIS (Center for Information Research in the Interest of Society)

“Groundtruth and Airwaves” will showcase a number of newsworthy environmental and health-related sensor projects currently underway. After a session of Lightning Talks, working journalists from around the world will join a panel of technology experts and research scientists to explore opportunities and challenges found at the nexus of DIY sensors, crowdsourced data, and environmental and health journalism. What are the implications of new technology for the future of journalism? What role does crowdsourced data play in creating new media narratives about our environment? Are sensors really making a difference for journalism and news production, or are technology tools and platforms limited to the domain of research scientists and the most tech-savvy news organizations? [MORE]

Advanced registration is required http://groundtruthandairwaves.eventbrite.com

THE SUN NEVER SETS: A documentary film about a small-town newspaper

When:  Thursday, May 8,  5:30 p.m.

Where:  North Gate Hall Library

Filmmaker Ben Daitz will appear in person for a post-screening Q&A. 

Written, produced, and directed by Ben Daitz and narrated by Bob Edwards

Smithsonian Magazine once asked the rhetorical question, “Can a weekly paper in rural New Mexico raise enough hell to keep its readers hungry for more, week after week?”

The Rio Grande Sun, published in Española, New Mexico, is considered one of the best weekly Newspapers in the country. Bob Trapp, the Sun's founder, editor, and publisher, is the quintessential newspaperman—the last of a vanishing breed—a scrupulously honest, fearless, independent journalist, and a mentor to generations of young reporters.

The Sun is known for investigative reporting. The paper broke the story that its own rural community had the highest per capita heroin overdose rate in the country. It has led the fight for open records and open meetings in a county where political shenanigans are the rule.

The film follows the Sun’s reporters and editors as they write about the news, the sports, the arts, and the cultures of a large, rural county.  John Burnett, National Public Radio correspondent, reports on the Sun's Police Blotter—“the best in the country.” The Sun's journalists investigate the largest embezzlement in the state's history, and the widespread use of tranquilizers in the county jail.

Ben Daitz is a physician, writer, and award-winning documentary filmmaker. His work has been shown and honored by PBS, American Public Television, multiple film festivals, and Emmy nominations. Ben is a contributing writer for the New York Times, and has written for the Atlantic Magazine. His novel, Delivery, is published by the University of New Mexico Press.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *