Lectures Archives - BYU College of Fine Arts and Communications

The Art of Religion: Curator of Religious Art Ashlee Whitaker Shares How Religion Looks Behind the Frame

Capri Baker — Thu, 03 Mar 2022 19:46:18 +0000

Ashlee Whitaker paints the picture of how religious art works and spirituality coincide With over a decade of experience under her belt, curator of religious art Ashlee Whitaker will share her experiences and thoughts at the college Faith + Works Lecture Series. On March 10, she will speak on “The Things of a Soul: Art as Sacred/Spiritual Text,” explaining how she has accessed spirituality, empathy and understanding through art. Whitaker graduated from BYU summa cum laude with a bachelor’s degree in art history and a master’s degree in art history & curatorial studies and is the recipient of BYU’s Graduate Research Award. She was an intern at BYU’s Museum of Art and the Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery in Washington D.C. and later began working at the Springville Museum of Art in Springville, Utah after receiving her graduate degree in 2008. Outside of her practice, Whitaker enjoys numerous personal interests. When she is not curating, she may be found running, hiking, doing “nerdy history stuff,” exploring antique shops, road tripping or playing with her dog Winslow.

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Faith + Works Lecture Series: Professor Kris Boyle Shares How to Harness Heavenly Help

Capri Baker — Wed, 02 Mar 2022 20:50:28 +0000

Kris Boyle walked students and faculty through a few of life’s crucial moments he has faced and how the Lord has been alongside him through it all Third-generation BYU cougar Kris Boyle recently shared what “Harnessing the Power of the Lord in Our Educational Journey” has meant to him at the college Faith + Works Lecture Series on February 3. Boyle looked back on the challenges and opportunities life offered him, which led to his appreciation for the scripture in Doctrine and Covenants 101:16. This verse contains the two-word command to “be still,” a “phrase [that] has stuck with [him] first as a student, then as a journalist and now as an educator.” Boyle found that by encompassing the attributes of faith, action, sacrifice and love, we are enabled to access the power of God in the work we do. During the lecture, he expounded on how these characteristics have played a major role in the different circumstances he has faced. The first story he shared took place in the spring of 2019 when he and fellow School of Communications professor Ed Carter led students on a trip to the Colombian island of San Andrés for cultural preservation purposes. They hoped to document after-school programs and capture the unique influence of American sports on the island. Boyle explained that while the group did not know fully what to expect, it took faith and action from both the professors and students alike to journey to an unknown place with very few connections and try to accomplish their goals. He added that their sacrifice of time to be there allowed for a “spirit of love” to be shared among the youth with whom they worked. A later situation where the Lord’s hand was evident was when Boyle worked with other professors and students to celebrate the anniversary of the First Vision in upstate New York. They thought about pushing back the trip in order to have better weather, considering they were traveling in February, but something inside Boyle said they should move forward with the original plans. Boyle told himself that if this is what the Lord wanted them to do, they should do it. In faith, they took action. Ironically, the worst snowstorm of the year hit while the group was there, but miracles along the way proved they were right where they were supposed to be. Because of the intense weather, there was hardly anyone on site at their interview location, allowing for hours of work without disruption. They met a couple who were some of their most compelling interviewees. The lack of population also allowed for a time of personal spirituality when Boyle got up early to visit the Sacred Grove on his own. He said, “to have that Sacred Grove experience is something I will never, ever forget.” Upon reflection, Boyle realized that had the group decided to push their trip back, the work and preparation for the project may have been for naught, because the COVID-19 pandemic hit soon after and most likely would have made the trip impossible. Boyle continued with the final example of how he has witnessed the Lord’s hand in his life. He explained the miracles he and family identified despite the immense sorrow they felt after his father’s death from a bike accident. He said, “While losing Dad was so difficult…, I’m grateful that as I look back, I am able to identify several ways the Lord was preparing us for this trial.” In retrospect, Boyle has been able to recognize that despite the heartache, there have been blessings that have come of it. Boyle’s mother’s college car, Mustang Sally, is one that his father cherished and worked on extensively before he passed. While it had not run for 40 years, the car finally started weeks before his father’s death. Boyle felt that the Lord knew his father’s time on earth was limited and wanted him to finish the car repair as “a gift of love for his sweetheart,” allowing Boyle’s mother to drive Mustang Sally to the funeral. Another tender mercy came when family members received a letter from a man named Emmanuel, who was the recipient of Boyle’s father’s kidneys. Much like Boyle’s father, Emmanuel’s passions included swimming, running and biking. Reflecting on the experience, Boyle noted, “this was the work of the Creator.” While the family prayed for a miracle for Boyle’s father to recover, Boyle understood that “this was the miracle.” Boyle concluded with his testimony that Heavenly Father is in the details of our lives. “As we are willing to do the Lord’s work at BYU, He will make it so we will not be weary. He will make it so we will not faint.” Again emphasizing the importance of accessing heavenly help, Boyle said that through faith, action, sacrifice and love, the power of God is accessible. He said, “On occasion, we don’t have all the answers. We won’t be able to see the end from the beginning.” Boyle continued, “Instead, we need to step out of the light into the darkness, trusting that He will be there to guide us.”

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Be Still: Kris Boyle to Speak on the Harmony Between Religion and Education at Faith + Works Lecture

Capri Baker — Tue, 11 Jan 2022 23:23:38 +0000

Kris Boyle is well-versed in the world of journalism and communications. On February 3, Boyle will speak at the college Faith + Works Lecture Series on “Harnessing the Power of the Lord in Our Educational Journey.” He will discuss what the phrase “be still” means to him and how faith, action, sacrifice and love have influenced him in doing the Lord’s work. Boyle, originally from Idaho, earned his bachelor’s degree in print journalism and his master’s degree in mass communication. He later received his doctorate degree from Texas Tech University in mass communications. Following this accomplishment, Boyle spent six years at Creighton University as an assistant professor of journalism before returning to BYU. At BYU, Boyle teaches undergraduate classes in media writing and editing and is a member of the Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication (AEJMC). When he is not in the classroom or in the newsroom, Boyle enjoys time with his wife and sons, as well as running, biking and attending BYU sporting events.

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Ira Glass Shares Lessons from Radio and Storytelling Career

admin — Fri, 19 Nov 2021 18:57:06 +0000

Ira Glass, radio personality and host of the award-winning podcast “This American Life,” addressed BYU on Saturday as part of the College of Fine Arts and Communications’ BRAVO! series. His presentation of “7 Things I’ve Learned” expounded upon key lessons of his career and an analysis of the craft of storytelling. Glass began with an hour-long masterclass for select students prior to his main presentation. Delving into his narrative theory, Glass expressed his intrigue in telling the stories of everyday people. In telling these stories, he emphasized that once you have a plot and an idea, you have a story that people will be interested in. A story, Glass explained, is really about motion: that forward movement propels the story forward and captivates an audience. Glass also encouraged writers to interview children. “We’ve always done a ton of interviewing kids on the show because I love it”, Glass said. “They are constantly getting into situations where they feel the stakes are very high because it’s the first time they are doing things, and they’re right.” To read the full story by Marissa Lundeen, click here.

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“All In” Podcast Host Gives 2021 Beckham Lecture

Elena Castro — Mon, 11 Oct 2021 20:19:42 +0000

School of Communications alum Morgan Jones guest speaks at the annual Beckham alumni lecture and shares about her career and the role God has played in it Just shy of her 10 years as a BYU communications graduate, alum Morgan Jones was asked back to give the annual Beckham alumni lecture put on by the School of Communications. Jones has worked with the Deseret News, LDS Living Magazine, Deseret Book and now acts as the voice behind the popular LDS Living podcast “All In.” Communications students and faculty alike welcomed the guest speaker and former student back with open arms on Friday, October 8. Students were invited to a pre-event networking breakfast with Jones’ lecture to follow. Jones opened with an experience she had when she was 15 years old. “I read a quote by Mother Teresa that said, ‘I am but a little pencil in God’s hands. He does the writing, the pencil has only to allow itself to be used.’ From then on, that quote gave me a vision for my life.” Jones continued to say that she knew she wanted her life to be used by God. She empathized with students by saying, “You want your professional pursuits to in some way fulfill a specific mission that God has in store for you, but it feels difficult to have a vision for what that looks like.” Jones’ key message to communication career hopefuls was to turn your life, professional pursuits and all, over to God so that He can utilize you and guide the path. The lecture was structured in five principles by which Jones hoped the students could find helpful. The first, “Take all the opportunities.” Jones shared how she became the first student to intern for professor and author Jeff Benedict at Southern Virginia University. After her stint interning, she was introduced to the CEO of the Philadelphia 76ers, Scott O’Neal and his wife, Lisa. She recounted how her professor who connected her to the O’Neal’s said, “I think that you and Lisa will be best friends.” Jones didn’t find that believable as she was a recent grad at the time. But now, years later, Jones considers Lisa to be one of her best friends. She has found great strength and belief in herself through her relationship with the O’Neals. Secondly, “Your future employer will be hiring all that you have ever been.” Jones used this principle to caution students to be mindful of their social media presence. Detailing the story of a job interview past, the employer had Jones’ Facebook page pulled up on his computer as she interviewed. She also encourages students to refresh themselves on Elder Jeffery R. Holland’s talk, “Don’t Check Your Religion at the Door.” “This is so important because we have to be ready and worthy for when an opportunity presents itself. President Henry B. Eyring said, ‘Part of the tragedy you must avoid is to discover too late that you missed an opportunity to prepare for a future only God could see for you,’” quoted Jones. Her third point was, “Bring all your strengths and all your weaknesses, God can use all of it.” Jones said members of the Church can turn to their patriarchal blessings to understand more of the strengths they’ve been given. “We have to look for where our gifts meet our passions and where those two things are aligned. That’s where we can see an opportunity [where] God might be able to use us,” said Jones. “I think that it’s so important that we set goals and have dreams, but we involve God in those dreams.” Jone’s fourth principle was, “Give all of your life to Him.” She opened this section with a quote by Ezra Taft Benson. “Men and women who turn their lives over to God will discover that He can make a lot more out of their lives than they can…” She used this part to make the point that if people can give their whole lives to God, He will give them the opportunities to course-correct their lives into directions they never saw possible. Jones closed her principles with her fifth point: “Stand back and wonder of all God can do in a life.” Jones said if the audience got anything out of her lecture, she hopes it’s this: “I hope that you walk away knowing that God needs people who are willing to play big… When we’re willing to turn our lives over to Him, He can make so much more out of our lives than we ever could.”

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Guest Artist Nyama McCarthy-Brown Discusses Race and Inclusion

Elena Castro — Fri, 07 May 2021 19:12:28 +0000

The final Listen Up! event of the Winter ‘21 semester featured professor Nyama McCarthy-Brown from The Ohio State University Nyama McCarthy-Brown visited with students virtually from Ohio State University, in Columbus, Ohio. She spoke to dance students and faculty about racism, cultural relevancy, and bridging educational practices. McCarthy-Brown was brought in at the suggestion and high praise of BYU faculty. Professor Kori Wakamatsu from the Department of Dance participated in a Q&A in preparation for McCarthy-Brown’s lecture. You can read the Q&A here. The educator said customs in the United States are very race-based. “Our culture has many racist mechanisms, and so the people within the culture maneuver and negotiate that space.” She followed up by saying that it’s problematic to penalize any one single person, because one single person does not make up the entire construct. It would take a group effort to change the systems in place. McCarthy-Brown continued and said that it is really about learning, growing, and coming to a place of understanding how and why all these structures are working and how they harm people. During the presentation, a photo of a little Black girl in a leotard and tutu was shown. McCarthy-Brown presented questions such as, “Does this little girl get to dance? Where does she get to dance? What about her appearance has to change before she’s accepted into a space?” “The first thing that jumped out for me was her hair,” said McCarthy-Brown. “She has beautiful braids that are flowing into what I think looks like a bun. But I know some places would insist that she had a flat bun, straight with no braids. And that gives me pause.” Situations like this cause McCarthy-Brown to think about how culturally relevant a dance form can be in its requirements. “Do you have to overcome who you are and your appearance to participate? Or can the structure accept you as you are and even a step further–affirm you?” she asked. McCarthy-Brown challenged: “If the dress code pushes against a student’s identity, is something wrong with the student or something wrong with the code?” At the end of the lecture, Wakamatsu presented questions students had submitted. One of the questions was, ”What’s the best way to incorporate more culture in our dances without being disrespectful to their traditions, and where’s the line of centering another cultural dance forms and appropriating a culture’s dance?” McCarthy-Brown responded by praising the students for being aware and receptive of those issues. She then shared a quote from a Native American friend of hers. “There is no representation of me, without me.” “I think there is no representation of any culture without people from that culture. That stated, there are always opportunities and space to share knowledge and information that you hold,” she said. In addition, cite your sources, even if it was a neighbor or friend, cite expertise of all kinds. All people deserve to be recognized, respected, honored, and given credit for what they have shared with you. In McCarthy-Brown’s work employing culturally responsive teaching, she seeks to bridge the gap between past ‘traditional’ habits and progressive habits that would make spaces more inclusive. “As a dance educator, it’s really important for me that all of the material I give students is culturally relevant. My goal is to reach students by relating to who they are and what they came into the classroom with,” she said. The instructor said she believes that most people dance somewhere, somehow in their lives. “Students have movement history. They have embodied knowledge. How can I bring that knowledge into the classroom and position my students as experts, even before they start the work of training in a particular technique?” McCarthy-Brown said first, it’s about exchange. “It cannot be that one group has something to offer and the other group has nothing to offer.” During the lecture, McCarthy-Brown posed these questions: What way is the field of dance upholding structures of whiteness? In what way is the field of dance dismantling structures of racial oppression? She followed up by saying, “If you’re not a dance person, then I challenge you to ask that question in terms of your own discipline or area of expertise and study. What ways are structures of whiteness being upheld in your area? And in what ways are the structures being dismantled?” McCarthy-Brown said that when she’s talking about ‘whiteness,’ she’s not talking about white people. She shared a definition of whiteness from Angelina Castagno’s 2014 book, Educated in Whiteness. The term refers to: Structural arrangements and ideologies of race dominance. Racial power and inequalities are at the core of whiteness, but all forms of power and inequity create and perpetuate whiteness. The function of whiteness is to maintain the status quo, and although White people most often benefit from whiteness, some people of color have tapped into the ideological components of whiteness for their own financial and educational benefits. Whiteness maintains power and privilege by perpetuating and legitimating the status quo while simultaneously maintaining a veneer of neutrality, equality, and compassion. She explained that she has also tapped into whiteness, for her educational or financial benefit and survival on occasion. “So, what does it mean to dissent from whiteness? I’m asking you to consider that,” she said. She called on future educators, parents, and community members to ponder what it meant to dissent from whiteness and consider what inclusion really means.

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Two Marketing Moguls Speak During Y Digital’s ‘Women, Work and Leadership’ Panel

Elena Castro — Wed, 14 Apr 2021 22:43:46 +0000

On March 24, Y Digital hosted the “Women, Work and Leadership” event, featuring guests Carolyn Walker and Rebecca Coleman Marketing students tuned in for Thursday evening’s event with two leading marketing moguls. Carolyn Walker, CEO and managing partner for Response Marketing in New York has worked with brands like McAfee, Red Lobster, Tylenol and more. For Rebecca Coleman, president of The Narrative Group in L.A, McDonald’s, Oikos and Disney are in her repertoire of brands. Walker went through highlights in her career. She recalled being promoted three times in three years, as well as buying out the original owners of the agency back in 2009. Her stories brought awe to the audience, as well as the reassurance that each of them could reach those levels of success. The moderator asked the women if they had experienced imposter syndrome. In a vulnerable moment, Coleman related her struggle with feelings of inadequacy before parlaying the question into a coping strategy. “You’ve just got to show up,” she expressed. “Men will always take the opportunities given to them, even if they aren’t necessarily qualified for the position, and women should do the same.” Walker stated that she never had to deal with imposter syndrome. “Did I always know everything? No,” she said. “But I knew I could learn. I wasn’t afraid to ask questions.” Both women drove the point of advocating for yourself and asking for what you want in the workforce. “No one is going to ask you if you want more money,” said Walker. Coleman added that when talking wages, she attaches herself to her business development strategy and makes her pitches that way. “You are valued at what they think you’re worth. You have to show them what you’re worth,” she said. Being highly successful can lead to busy lives; however, the business women stressed how important it is to have a healthy work-life balance. “You have to be really good at getting people to do the work and have the discipline to not take it on yourself,” said Coleman. She added that it took her about 10 years to learn the skill. “It’s easy just to say, ‘I can do it.’ But it’s about being disciplined and carving out time for yourself,” said Walker. She said she wakes up at 5:30 in the morning to take a walk. “You have to have down time,” she said. “You can’t be 100 percent if you’re just working all the time. Sometimes the best ideas come when you’re away.” Walker closed out the discussion by telling the students to keep following what they love. “Be brave!” she said. “Don’t let anyone stop you.”

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Iranian-born Artist Shares How Failure and a Beginner’s Mindset Shaped Her Career

Noelle Barrus — Thu, 08 Apr 2021 14:45:04 +0000

On March 18, Shirin Neshat shared her life experiences and the background of her latest exhibit, ‘Land of Dreams’ Internationally renowned artist Shirin Neshat visited students from the College of Fine Arts and Communications during a virtual Listen Up! Series event on March 18. The Department of Art and the BRAVO! Series hosted the event while professor Collin Bradford and visiting instructor Tianna Birrell acted as moderators. Neshat is a contemporary artist known for her photography, video and film work. She was born in Iran and moved to the United States to finish high school. She was encouraged to stay in the US because of the Iranian Revolution, so she enrolled at the University of California at Berkely. She now lives and works in New York, and has been featured at art exhibitions in Chicago, London, Seoul, Mexico City and numerous other cities across the world. Her work has received recognition and awards including the Silver Lion Award from the Venice Film Festival, the Golden Lion Award at the Venice Biennial, The Davos World Economic Forum’s Crystal Award and the Praemium Imperiale award from the Japan Art Association. Neshat’s artistic endeavors started with photography before she expanded on her work to include film installations. She has directed two feature-length films and one opera, and she is currently in the post-production stage of a third feature film. “I am a nomadic artist. I am not loyal to one specific form,” said Neshat. “Regardless of what subject I’m embracing, whether it’s photography or film or video, my art is always about things I’m facing as a human being. I became an artist as a way of creating a visual vocabulary to face existential issues in life, anxiety and separation from my country.” During the lecture, Neshat explained how her life and experiences have impacted the themes of her art. “I’ve come to understand that the way my thinking process works is always some form of opposites. Partially because I feel like I’m always conflicted between the different characteristics I have within myself,” she said. “I’m in the U.S., but not quite feeling at home here or in my home in Iran. Duality is central to the core of my work, and that continues to this day.” History, poetry and politics have also all played a major role in influencing Neshat’s artistic endeavors. “My life is defined by political reality. The revolution separated me and my family for good. Currently, I’m in exile. I cannot and do not have the luxury to distance myself from the political reality,” said Neshat. “In our society, being involved in political issues is not a choice.” Neshat shared with students the background and meaning of her most recent exhibit, “Land of Dreams” which is her first exhibit to incorporate all the mediums she uses — photography, film and video. The exhibit shares photographed portraits of over 100 people living in New Mexico, a land that closely resembles Iran but is also the site of US nuclear war development. The exhibit also features a 20-minute film featuring an Iranian woman who interviews people about their dreams. “This exhibit is what America looks like with all its diversity in culture, background, religion, races, gender, ages and colors,” said Neshat. “I’d never dared to make a project about America before this. But I felt it was time for immigrant artists to take responsibility and share how they feel about America and what they cherish about this country as well as what they are critical of.” During the discussion with Tiana Birrell and Collin Bradford, Neshat expressed her belief in art not giving the answers to moral challenges but asking the questions. “There is no way I can control what people take away from my work — a lot of people take away what they want from it according to who they are. But I can leave it where everyone can enter.” When Birrell asked Neshat what advice she would give to young artists, Neshat invited students to embrace failure. “I’m not afraid to fail,” said Neshat. “When I was in school, I barely got accepted to graduate because I was one of the weakest students. For 10 years I didn’t make any art. But I came back to art and came 100%. Going after things you’ve never done is scary. But the reason I am successful is because I’m not afraid of failure. I have made some bad and mediocre work, but it has kept me on the edge to continue to challenge myself and be a beginner and learn new languages of artistic nature. Failure is something to embrace and not be ashamed of.” As her final departing message, Neshat invited students and artists to pick themselves up when they feel they’ve fallen. “Being an artist takes a lot of character. I’ve fallen many times, and I’ve learned to pick myself back up. My skin is tough. My philosophy is that if you fall, pick yourself back up.”

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Faith + Works Lecture Maps out Framework for Fighting Injustice

Noelle Barrus — Wed, 17 Mar 2021 14:51:34 +0000

On March 4, professor Ed Carter presented a lecture on justice as part of the Faith + Works series After years of working professionally as a journalist, attorney and professor, Ed Carter has had numerous hands-on experiences with injustice. He has seen or learned about people from all over the world taken from their families, wrongfully accused of crimes and killed for their journalistic work. These experiences influenced Carter’s framework of ideas for approaching injustice, which he shared during his Faith and Works lecture on March 4. This framework of transitional justice includes judging righteously, telling the truth, being accountable and making reparation. Carter used his own experience and examples from scriptures to illustrate his points. Judging Righteously The first piece to the transitional justice framework is judging righteously. “Righteous judgment sometimes means allowing and bringing about consequences,” said Carter. “Other times, we have to apply grace and mercy and leave it in God’s hands.” Carter shared stories from around the world of people experiencing both justice and injustice. He told of a woman who helped her neighbor after a fire in Chile and a man who was wrongfully accused of a crime. He also shared an example from the people in the Book of Mormon. “Zion was and is created through us being agents for justice for everybody around us,” said Carter. “There were no divisions in society because of political beliefs or statuses. Here at BYU, we can work toward achieving something similar.” Truth-Telling In conjunction with judging righteously, the second piece to Carter’s justice framework is truth-telling. “We need to find truths through debate, discussion, exposure to viewpoints, media and other sources.” Carter explained the theme of his lecture “error without malice.” This phrase comes from a document created by the United Nations Human Rights Committee. This document argues that we have to allow for some degree of unintentional error from people for freedom of expression. “We shouldn’t hold speakers liable for unintentional error, even if it causes damage,” Carter said. “Actual malice is defined as knowledge of falsity or reckless disregard of the truth.” Carter invited listeners to rely on good journalism and have tolerance for non-malicious error. “Similar to how the Savior allows us some error, we should offer the same,” said Carter. “We can seek truth about our own lives through the Holy Ghost, inspiration, revelation, prophets of God and the scriptures,” he said. Accountability and Reparation With judging righteously and truth-telling comes the third piece of Carter’s justice framework — accountability and reparation. “We can also recognize accountability and reparation in our spiritual lives as repentance,” said Carter. “But in the international human rights context, there needs to be a prosecution process.” Carter shared the story of a case he worked on for a client who was wrongfully deported. While working on this case, he felt a lot of pressure to carry out justice for this man. At one point in the process, he stood in front of ten judges. One of the judges asked Carter a question that left him stumbling for an answer. “Three years of work and all of these people were waiting for me to help this man. I wondered how I had gotten there — I was just a journalist and a professor,” said Carter. “What do you do in those key moments when justice hangs in the balance? You do the best that you can,” said Carter. “I relied on my preparation and I provided the best answer I could. This is where mercy and justice came in, because I went home that day feeling like a failure. But a few months later, justice was served despite my inadequacies, and the man I had been fighting for was brought back into the country.” Reform and Non-Recurrence The fourth and final piece to this framework of transitional justice is non-recurrence. Carter explained that in the gospel context, we can become new, reinvented versions of ourselves. In this final part of the lecture, he shared the story from a project he worked on for a series of 10 modules about journalism literacy. The one module he discussed is titled Why People Should Not Kill Journalists. For this module, Carter has done research on over 1,000 unresolved journalist killings. “Most journalists were threatened and refused to stop doing their work and then were killed,” said Carter. “They reported on crime and corruption and somebody was not happy about that.” Carter’s project is aimed at ending the violence acted out on journalists who are fighting for truth and risking their lives. Carter also invited students to watch a variety of news sources in the search for truth. “We are told to seek understanding by study and faith. It is not easy. You will not get real news sources on social media, you need to go out and seek them.” Several students were invited to watch the lecture in-person, including communications student Hannah Koford. “One of my biggest takeaways was Dr. Carter’s counsel to avoid becoming a part of the culture of dehumanization. Don’t dehumanize journalists. Don’t dehumanize people who disagree with you. Don’t dehumanize people who make mistakes. We can only expect to deal justly and mercifully if we view people as who they are: people,” Koford said. Carter finished his lecture by answering questions from the in-person audience. One student asked how college students now can start practicing and applying the principles discussed in his lecture. Carter responded, “Be open to opportunities that come your way. Don’t wait until later, act now. Try to live your life and do fun activities, but also take on challenges. There is never going to be a better time.”

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Journalism Professional DeWayne Wickham Calls on Students to ‘Tear Down Barriers’

Noelle Barrus — Tue, 23 Feb 2021 15:51:38 +0000

Wickham spoke during his Listen Up! Series lecture on the ongoing struggle for journalism to present truth In an effort to better address diversity, inclusion and accessibility, the College of Fine Arts and Communications has been hosting professional guest speakers in an inspirational lecture series. The Listen Up! Series started last semester, and each lecture within the series is sponsored by a different department within the college. On February 4, students from the college participated in the third event of the series with journalism professional DeWayne Wickham. This lecture was hosted by the School of Communications and the BRAVO! series. During the webinar, the School of Communications associate chair Dale Cressman introduced Wickham to the listeners. Wickham is the founding dean of the School of Global Journalism and Communication. He is the author of three books and several articles and is also the founding member and former president of the National Association of Black Journalists. To begin his lecture, Wickham discussed the history of journalism. He dove into historical stories of journalism media that spread both helpful and harmful news. “Media can play a supportive and helpful role, or it can play a role that injures not only people but the notion that this is a fair and equitable society,” Wickham said. Wickham expressed the need for current journalism students to learn the right questions to ask and to distinguish between commentary and news. “It is a journalist’s responsibility to report the fact truthfully and represent the truth about the fact,” said Wickham. “There is a place for commentary, but it ought to be identified and distinguished from news and ought not to overshadow the presentation of news.” As he continued discussing the challenges of journalism, Wickham described one way that he learns truths about current events. “I wake up every day mad about something, and then I challenge myself to find information on that thing that has irritated me,” he said. “I am my best news source.” Wickham invited listeners to be their own best news source and expressed the need for our country to bridge the gaps people create from their differences. “We have to find a way in this country to tear down the barriers that separate us. We have to tear down the barriers that make us Blacks and whites and divide us by religion and ideology,” he said. “We have to stop connecting to people simply because they are fellow travelers in some ideological way, and we have to ask the tough questions.”

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