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"Media, Politics, and the Iraq War," Subject of Pre-debate Discussion at Williams College, Friday
WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass., Sept. 22, 2008 -- Washington Bureau Chief (McClatchy) John Walcott '71; Albany Times Union editor in chief Rex Smith; and Williams College Professor of International Relations Michael MacDonald will take a hard look at political affairs on Friday, Sept. 26, at Williams College.
The discussion will be held in Griffin Hall, room 3, titled "Media, Politics, and the Iraq War" at 7:30 p.m. It is free and open to the public.
In 2002, Walcott, then Knight Ridder Washington, D.C., bureau chief, and two of his top reporters, Jonathan Landay and Warren Strobel, produced dozens of stories that refuted the Bush administration's claims about the need for war and exposed the serious reservations many intelligence, Foreign Service and military officers had about the rush to invade Iraq.
Walcott and his team are credited with almost independently refuting the Bush Administration about the need for war in Iraq and he was awarded a National Headliners Award in 2005 for "How the Bush Administration Went to War in Iraq.'' Next week, he will be awarded the first I.F. Stone Medal for Journalistic Independence from Harvard University's prestigious Nieman Foundation for Journalism in a ceremony in Washington, D.C.
Walcott, who was with Knight Ridder until 2006, is now McClatchy's Washington bureau chief; Landay and Strobel are senior correspondents. Previously Walcott was foreign editor and national editor of U.S. News & World Report, national security correspondent at The Wall Street Journal and a correspondent at Newsweek. His work won the Edward M. Hood Award and the Freedom of the Press Award from the National Press Club and three Overseas Press Club awards. Walcott is also co-author of the book "Best Laid Plans: The Inside Story of America's War Against Terrorism."
Smith was named editor of the Albany Times Union in July 2002. Previously, he had been the paper's managing editor/news. He is also a host of "The Media Project," a nationally syndicated weekly program produced by Northeast Public Radio.
Smith has spent over two decades in newspaper reporting and editing, including 15 in New York State's Capital Region. He has been a key player on the team that helped the Times Union win recognition as the best newspaper in its circulation class in New York State.
His introduction to the area came in 1987 when he was named Albany bureau chief and national correspondent for Newsday, the Long Island newspaper he joined as a reporter in 1980. In 1991, he became editor of The Record in Troy, N.Y., before joining the Times Union in 1995 as managing editor/news.
Smith began his newspaper career in 1974 as managing editor of the Rensselaer Republican in Rensselaer, Ind., then worked as a legislative aide and press secretary to U.S. Rep. Floyd Fithian, D-Ind., from 1975 to 1979 before going to the Columbia Graduate School of Journalism.
He is a past president of the New York State Associated Press Association, was a Pulitzer Prize juror in 2001 and 2002, and is a host of "The Media Report," a nationally syndicated weekly program produced by Northeast Public Radio.
MacDonald is Frederick L. Schuman Professor of International Relations at Williams College.
He teaches Introduction to World Politics, Order, Disorder and Political Culture in the Islamic World, and Terrorism in Comparative Perspective.
MacDonald is the author of "Why Race Matters in South Africa," "Children of Wrath: Political Violence in Northern Ireland," "Blurring the Difference: The Politics of Identity in Northern Ireland," in The Irish Terrorist Experience, "The Costs of Legitimacy" in the Elusive Search for Peace, and "The Political Economy of Identity Politics."
He is currently working on a book on the power politics of South Africa's political transition.
***
For building locations on the Williams campus, please consult the map outside the driveway entrance to the Security Office located in Hopkins Hall on Main Street (Rte. 2), next to the Thompson Memorial Chapel, or call the Office of Public Affairs (413) 597-4277. The map can also be found on the web at www.williams.edu/home/campusmap/
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Event: Donald L. Molosi
The discussion will be held in Griffin Hall, room 3, titled "Media, Politics, and the Iraq War" at 7:30 p.m. It is free and open to the public.
In 2002, Walcott, then Knight Ridder Washington, D.C., bureau chief, and two of his top reporters, Jonathan Landay and Warren Strobel, produced dozens of stories that refuted the Bush administration's claims about the need for war and exposed the serious reservations many intelligence, Foreign Service and military officers had about the rush to invade Iraq.
Walcott and his team are credited with almost independently refuting the Bush Administration about the need for war in Iraq and he was awarded a National Headliners Award in 2005 for "How the Bush Administration Went to War in Iraq.'' Next week, he will be awarded the first I.F. Stone Medal for Journalistic Independence from Harvard University's prestigious Nieman Foundation for Journalism in a ceremony in Washington, D.C.
Walcott, who was with Knight Ridder until 2006, is now McClatchy's Washington bureau chief; Landay and Strobel are senior correspondents. Previously Walcott was foreign editor and national editor of U.S. News & World Report, national security correspondent at The Wall Street Journal and a correspondent at Newsweek. His work won the Edward M. Hood Award and the Freedom of the Press Award from the National Press Club and three Overseas Press Club awards. Walcott is also co-author of the book "Best Laid Plans: The Inside Story of America's War Against Terrorism."
Smith was named editor of the Albany Times Union in July 2002. Previously, he had been the paper's managing editor/news. He is also a host of "The Media Project," a nationally syndicated weekly program produced by Northeast Public Radio.
Smith has spent over two decades in newspaper reporting and editing, including 15 in New York State's Capital Region. He has been a key player on the team that helped the Times Union win recognition as the best newspaper in its circulation class in New York State.
His introduction to the area came in 1987 when he was named Albany bureau chief and national correspondent for Newsday, the Long Island newspaper he joined as a reporter in 1980. In 1991, he became editor of The Record in Troy, N.Y., before joining the Times Union in 1995 as managing editor/news.
Smith began his newspaper career in 1974 as managing editor of the Rensselaer Republican in Rensselaer, Ind., then worked as a legislative aide and press secretary to U.S. Rep. Floyd Fithian, D-Ind., from 1975 to 1979 before going to the Columbia Graduate School of Journalism.
He is a past president of the New York State Associated Press Association, was a Pulitzer Prize juror in 2001 and 2002, and is a host of "The Media Report," a nationally syndicated weekly program produced by Northeast Public Radio.
MacDonald is Frederick L. Schuman Professor of International Relations at Williams College.
He teaches Introduction to World Politics, Order, Disorder and Political Culture in the Islamic World, and Terrorism in Comparative Perspective.
MacDonald is the author of "Why Race Matters in South Africa," "Children of Wrath: Political Violence in Northern Ireland," "Blurring the Difference: The Politics of Identity in Northern Ireland," in The Irish Terrorist Experience, "The Costs of Legitimacy" in the Elusive Search for Peace, and "The Political Economy of Identity Politics."
He is currently working on a book on the power politics of South Africa's political transition.
***
For building locations on the Williams campus, please consult the map outside the driveway entrance to the Security Office located in Hopkins Hall on Main Street (Rte. 2), next to the Thompson Memorial Chapel, or call the Office of Public Affairs (413) 597-4277. The map can also be found on the web at www.williams.edu/home/campusmap/
END
Event: Donald L. Molosi
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