Domke, Smith will give post-election lecture

Just nine days after the election, UW professors David Domke and Mark Smith will lead a lively discussion for the Provost Distinguished Lecture, "Election '08: What Really Happened" on Nov. 13 from 7 to 9 p.m. in Kane Hall 130. They'll examine how 2008 paralleled other elections in the influence of voters' party affiliations, religious preferences and economic circumstances and look at factors such as race, gender and the complex political climate that made this election truly unique. The lecture is free, but advanced registration is requested. Register online or call the UW Alumni Association at (206) 543-0540 or 1-800-AUW-ALUM.

Attend a Communication event

A number of fall lectures and colloquia by Communication Department faculty and guests are scheduled. Keep up with the latest events by visiting the department calendar and checking our department news page.

Ph.D. grad receives award for dissertation

Recent doctoral graduate Giorgia Aiello has received the NCA Critical and Cultural Studies Division's Outstanding Dissertation Award. Aiello is now an Assistant Professor of Communication Studies at Colorado State University, Fort Collins. She will receive the award at the CCS Division's annual business meeting in November during the annual NCA convention in San Diego. Read the reactions to Aiello's dissertation.

Colloquium explores Clinton, Palin politics

This election season has offered voters the chance to see two different campaign strategies from Hillary Clinton and Sarah Palin. Regina Lawrence and Melody Rose presented "Playing the Gender Card? Media, Strategy, and Hillary Clinton’s Campaign for the Presidency," during the Oct. 6 colloquium. Listen to the colloquium.

Diversity Community kicking off Oct. 16

The Communication Student Diversity Community is organizing to draft a mission statement. Join them for a kick-off meeting Oct. 16 from 6 to 7 p.m. in CMU 126. Pizza and dialogue will be provided.

Getting to know the interim chair

Professor David Domke began serving as acting chair of the Department of Communication on Aug. 1. Domke is filling in for Gerald Baldasty, who is serving as interim vice provost and dean of The Graduate School. The department put together this short video so you can get to know him a little better.

Ph.D. grad returns to department

Sue Lockett John is working part-time as the journalism program coordinator in the Department of Communication where she is responsible for strategic planning and research. This year’s journalism accreditation is at the top of her list. Learn more about Sue in this staff profile.

Olympia Legislative Reporting Internship

Each year, a small group of our best journalism students head to Olympia to cover the Washington Legislature through the Olympia Legislative Reporting Internship Program. Students chosen for this capstone experience develop excellent political reporting skills, starting with the governor’s State of the State address and staying through bill hearings, floor actions and occasional vetoes. Applications are due Thursday, Oct. 23. Contact Cindy Simmons (simmonsc@u.washington.edu) for more information.

Department welcomes new faces

Students will see some new faculty and staff in the department this year: LeiLani Nishime joins the faculty from Sonoma State University; journalist Florangela Davila will be teaching several journalism courses this year; and Katy DeRosier is working with graduate students as the Graduate Program Assistant. Ph.D. student Julie Homchick is the lead TA for the 2008-09 year. Visiting scholars this year include Andrejs Berdnikovs from Latvia and Geoff Craig who lives in New Zealand. There are also 18 graduate students beginning the M.A., M.C. and Ph.D. programs. Learn more about these newcomers.

Digital opportunities for newspapers

The Department of Communication and Suburban Newspapers of America are co-sponsoring a workshop presented by the American Press Institute, "Newspaper Next 2.0: Making the Leap Beyond 'Newspaper Companies.'" The Oct. 24 day-long workshop will look at opportunities for newspapers in a digital age and what they can become in the next five years. It will also look at tools and processes to get there. The deadline for registration is Oct. 17. More information is available here.

Pulitzer-winning alum, Guthman, dies at 89

Ed Guthman (1944) died Aug. 31 at his home in Los Angeles after a long and distinguished career. He was 89 and suffered from amyloidosis, a rare disease that attacks internal organs. He received a Pulitzer Prize in 1950 for his series on the clearing of Communist charges against UW professor Melvin Rader. He also served as press secretary to U.S. Attorney General Robert Kennedy.

Guthman was inducted into the UW Communication Alumni Hall of Fame in 2005. More information is available at The Seattle Times, where Guthman worked for 14 years.

Hurricane disrupts Katrina film premiere

Hurricane Gustav forced Hanson Hosein to cancel a planned New Orleans premiere of the documentary "Independent America: Rising From Ruins," but he still hosted two impromptu showings before the city began to evacuate. Hosein is director of the Master of Communication in Digital Media program. The film documents the risks small-business owners took in resurrecting their Katrina-ravaged neighborhoods. It is a sequel to the 2005 film "Independent America." Hosein plans to return to New Orleans to follow up on the the people in his film. Hosein wrote about his Gustav experience in the MCDM blog. Read more here.