This year’s School of Communication Summit, which begins March 1 and includes three days of panel discussions, workshops and keynote speakers addressing issues in communication, will feature Bob Schieffer from CBS News.
The theme of the summit, Communication: Building Trust in a Complex World, focuses on credibility with the media, as well as with business, government and personal relationships.
Schieffer, who works as an interim anchor for “The CBS Evening News” and as an anchor and moderator for “Face the Nation,” is the Estlow lecturer and Anvil of Freedom Award recipient. He has covered Washington for CBS News for 30 years and is a member of the Broadcasting/Cable Hall of Fame.
Schieffer will attend the Summit Dinner and Estlow Lecture on Wednesday, March 1 from 6 to 9 p.m.
Sandra Petronio, a professor in the Department of Communication Studies at Indiana University-Purdue University in Indianapolis, will also speak as the academic keynote speaker.
On Thursday, March 2, the summit will feature several workshops and panel discussions focusing on trust. The events start at 9:30 a.m., and some run concurrently.
Establishing Trust Online, will discuss trust issues as they relate to the world of online communities and will be held by a panel that includes Allison Christian, a lecturer with the School of Communication; Ernest Eugster, academic director with Computer Information Systems at University College; Matt Morava, a manager with Intrado University; and Jeff Rutenbeck, the director of Digital Media Studies and associate professor with Mass Communications and Journalism Studies.
Why Are the Media Losing the Public’s Trust? focuses on building a trust between journalists and the public, and is held by a panel that includes John Ferrugia, an investigative reporter with KMGH-TV; Bruce Goldberg, the associate editor of the Denver Business Journal; Tim Ryan, assistant news director of KUSA-TV; and Paul Simon, editor of MEdiaNews Group News Service, president of Colorado Pro Chapter and member of the Society of Professional Journalists.
Communicating Trust in Interpersonal Relationships examines how trust is formed in interpersonal relationships, and is held by Mary Claire Morr Serewicz, assistant professor in Human Communication Studies and Allison Christian.
Building Bridges Over Troubled Waters: Establishing Trust Between Government Organizations and Their Publics looks at how government organizations succeed and fail in building trust with the public, and includes Renee Botta, assistant professor of Mass Communications and Journalism Studies; Linda Eichenbaum Lent, communication director at the Denver mayor’s office; Dan Hopkins, deputy chief of staff at the Colorado’s governor’s press office; and Chris Power Bain, vice president of communcation and events for the Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce.
Building Trust in the Documentary Process discusses video production trust issues and strategies for building trust in the documentary film process. Donna Dewey, an Academy Award winning filmmaker, will speak on this issue.
Trust in Leadership, which looks at the leader as a trust-builder, will feature Linda Olson, the director of the Pioneer Leadership Program, as the speaker. Sandra Petronio, the summit’s keynote speaker, will panel The Trusted Other: A Condition for Privacy for the luncheon.
Trust and Popular Culture: Truth Be Told, examines trust with respect to identity, gender, family and Rod Buxton, associate professor with Mass Communications and Journalism Studies, will panel the discussion.
Trusting the Messenger vs. Trusting the Source: The Conflict Between Media and Public Officials looks at the history of tension from Vietnam and Watergate to Iran Contra and Monica Lewinsky, to the Bush Administration and the war in Iraq. Joe Carney, Washington bureau chief of Time magazine and Joe Lockhart, White House press secretary for the Clinton administration will join the session live via cable technology from the C-SPAN studios in Washington, D.C. to the Cable Center on the DU campus.
Beyond Trust: Becoming a Critical Information Customer analyzes ways in which trust works against the development of critical thinking skills and how trust might be misused to manipulate the opinions of others. The panel will be led by Kim Dority, president of G.K. Dority & Associates, Inc.; Rich Gazan, assistant professor of Library and Information Science; Carle Raschke, professor and chair of the Department of Religious Studies; and Jeff Rutenbeck, director of Digital Media Studies.
Creating and Sustaining Trusting Partnerships with Community Programs discusses trust building in several community programs and members and clients of Urban Peak, Denver Police Gang Bureau and the Denver District Attorney’s Victim’s Assistance Program will speak on the subject.
Building Trust Amid Intercultural Conflicts explores current intercultural conflicts in the Denver area, including immigration rights issues, indigenous rights issues and stereotyping and violence against women and minorities. Troy Lynn Yellow Wood, a member of the Red Earth Women’s Alliance, teacher at Escuela Tlatelolco and leadership council for the American Indian Movement of Colorado will be the main speaker.
Civic Ethics will share insights into the role of communication and dialogue in community involvement and ethical decision making with Roy Wood, professor and chair of Human Communication Studies and director for the Center of Civic Ethics.
Panel discussions on Friday, March 3, begin at 8 a.m. and continue the theme of trust.
For Building Trust: America, the World and the New Challenges for Global Brands, Paul Leinberger, senior vice president and global director of Market Opportunity, will review research from the firm and what challenges U.S. brands face in the global market.
Business and Trust will look at business strategies for building trust with representatives from Molson Coors Brewing Company, Sony and Southwest Airlines.
Earning Trust and Building Support in Nonprofit Organizations focuses on how to use marketing tactics to capitalize on corporate responsibility. Panelists include Jean Galloway, president of the Colorado Nonprofit Association and Roxane White, manager of the Department of Human Services in the city and county of Denver.
International Reporting: Building or Breaking Trust? discusses media coverage of international news events. Mary Jane Collier, professor with Communication and Journalism at the University of New Mexico; Gabriel Alizondo, producer of Al-Jazeera International; and Penelope Purdy, editorial writer and columnist with The Denver Post will be the panelists.
Trust in Politics and Media looks at restoring trust in politics and the media, the politics of personal trust and overcoming bi-partisan mistrust, and speakers include Adele Arakawa, anchor of KUSA-TV; John Hickenlooper, Denver mayor; John Temple, editor and publisher of Rocky Mountain News; and Bill Owens, governor of Colorado.
Building Trust Between the Global and Local: Challenges for Transnational Corporate Responsibility discusses the relationship between transnational corporations and local communities. Andre Armstrong, media relations specialist with CH2M Hill; Doug Hock, director of Community and Public Affairs with EnCana Oil and Gas; and Mu Son Chi with Ethical Trade Action Group will discuss this issue.
