Joan Shorenstein Center on the Press, Politics and Public Policy
| Joan Shorenstein Center on the Press, Politics and Public Policy | |
|---|---|
| Established | 1986 |
| Director | Alex S. Jones |
| Location | Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA |
| Campus | Urban |
| Website | ShorensteinCenter.org |
The Joan Shorenstein Center on the Press, Politics and Public Policy[1] at Harvard University, named after Joan Shorenstein, explores the intersection of press, politics and public policy in theory and practice, striving to bridge the gap between journalists and scholars, and between them and the public. It has emerged as a major source for research on U.S. campaigns, elections,[2] and journalism.
Through teaching and research at the Kennedy School of Government and through its program of fellows and conferences, the center is at the forefront of discussions in this area. The center offers a number of student-oriented initiatives, including courses on political communication and public policy. Its fellowship program invites distinguished scholars and journalists to share their knowledge and expertise with the community through frequent discussions open to the public.
The Shorenstein Center is a widely respected convener of journalists, scholars and political activists working to help the press improve its role in democracy, public policy, international news, and race, gender and the press.
History
The Harvard Kennedy School has always recognized that engagement with the media should be part of the school's focus, and initially this role was fulfilled by the Harvard Institute of Politics (IOP). Jonathan Moore was became the institute's director in 1974, and under him the IOP sponsored conferences and invited journalists to Harvard as fellows.[3]
In 1980 Moore drafted a proposal for a Harvard center on the press, politics and public policy. Kennedy School dean Graham Allison and Harvard president Derek Bok supported the concept, and an advisory board and committee were formed. Those consulted included Richard Neustadt, David Riesman, James C. Thomson Jr., David S. Broder, Otis Chandler, Katharine Graham, Stephen H. Hess, James F. Hoge, Jr., J. Anthony Lukas, Dan Rather, Frank Stanton and William O. Taylor II. A $50,000 endowment fund was created by the IOP, and other donations came from the Boston Globe, Cox Enterprises, Walter Cronkite and General Electric. In all, these efforts raised $5 million for professorships, programs and fellowships.[4]
On March 10, 1985, Joan Shorenstein died of cancer at the age of 38. At the time of her death, she was a producer of The CBS Evening News with Dan Rather. After her death, her parents, Walter H. and Phyllis J. Shorenstein, spoke with Edward M. Kennedy, Allison, Bok and Moore and decided to establish a Harvard research center as a tribute to their daughter. They gave an initial gift of $5 million to establish the center in her name.[5]
The Shorenstein Center officially opened on September 27, 1986. Benjamin C. Bradlee delivered an address, and remarks were made by Senator Kennedy and Walter H. Shorenstein, as well as Broder, Bok, and Moore.[5] Two years later, veteran journalist Marvin Kalb became Shorenstein Center's director. In 1989 the Theodore H. White Lecture on Press and Politics was established, followed by the Goldsmith Prize for Investigative Reporting four years later.[6] Kalb directed the center until 1999, and during that time formalized the its fellowship program; developed the introductory course on press, politics and public policy; and expanded the Kennedy School's curriculum.[7]
Today
On July 1, 2000, Pulitzer Prize–winning journalist Alex S. Jones was named director of the Shorenstein Center. Since taking over, he has enhanced the fellowship program, launched new initiatives to increase student engagement and broadened the advisory board. The Shorenstein Center is one of the most active programs at the Harvard Kennedy School, and has hosted more than a thousand speakers over its 25-year history.[8] Jones's most recent book is Losing the News, an exploration of the changes sweeping the U.S. media landscape and their implications for democracy in America.[9]
See also
↑Jump back a sectionSources cited
- ^ "Joan Shorenstein Center on the Press, Politics and Public Policy". Hks.harvard.edu. 2013-03-27. Retrieved 2013-04-09.
- ^ "Research & Publications - Joan Shorenstein Center on the Press, Politics and Public Policy". Hks.harvard.edu. Retrieved 2013-04-09.
- ^ "About Us > History". Harvard Institute of Politics. Archived from the original on 2011-07-05. Retrieved 2013-04-09.
- ^ "About Us - Joan Shorenstein Center on the Press, Politics and Public Policy". Hks.harvard.edu. Retrieved 2013-04-09.
- ^ a b "About Us - Joan Shorenstein Center on the Press, Politics and Public Policy". Hks.harvard.edu. Retrieved 2013-04-09.
- ^ "About Us - Joan Shorenstein Center on the Press, Politics and Public Policy". Hks.harvard.edu. Retrieved 2013-04-09.
- ^ "About Us - Joan Shorenstein Center on the Press, Politics and Public Policy". Hks.harvard.edu. Retrieved 2013-04-09.
- ^ "About Us - Joan Shorenstein Center on the Press, Politics and Public Policy". Hks.harvard.edu. Retrieved 2013-04-09.
- ^ "The Future of the News that Feeds Democracy". Losing the News. Retrieved 2013-04-09.
