Anthony Adornato, an associate professor of (BDJ) in the , has been named a Fulbright Specialist to train journalists in Kosovo on best practices for reporting across platforms.

Anthony Adornato

The BDJ department chair, will travel to the southeast European country in the summer of 2025 for the nearly three-week Fulbright Specialist assignment. Adornato will train staff at Radio Television of Kosovo on new trends in media and communication.

�ճ�� , which is part of the larger Fulbright Program, was established in 2001 by the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs. It is designed to (two to six weeks) for faculty and professionals from the United States.

Previously, Adornato was named a Fulbright Scholar in 2020 and spent a semester teaching and conducting research at universities in Milan. Adornato explored the impact of mobile and social media on journalism and journalism education in Italy.

Laufey performed “From the Start” and other hits from her decorated album “Bewitched.”(Photo by Arnold Turner)

Grammy Award-winning artist captivated the crowd at an invite-only launch party for Syracuse University’s new music business master’s program at Spotify Studios in Los Angeles.

Laufey performed “From the Start” and other hits from her decorated album “Bewitched” at the event Tuesday night, which also saw the announcement of a new scholarship in the artist’s name that supports international students or those in need of financial aid in the Bandier music business master’s program.

The , starting classes in summer 2025, expands on the success of the prestigious undergraduate program in the recording and entertainment industries in the . Both degree programs are named after Martin Bandier ’62, the legendary music publishing executive and University Life Trustee. The master’s program was created in partnership with the , and reflects a true, cross-disciplinary, hands-on approach to study.

The Laufey Scholarship for Graduate Students will provide $100,000 over the next 10 years to the Bandier program.

In February, Laufey won the Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album award at the 2024 Grammys. She has deep connections to the Bandier program through her core team, which includes manager Max Gredinger ’13, of Foundations Music; attorney Harry Roberts ’12, of Mark Music & Media Law; and publisher Gabz Landman ’12, of Warner Chappell Music.

The team also includes digital marketing manager Izzy Newirth ’23 and management coordinator Kaylee Barrett ’24, of Foundations.

“I’m incredibly proud to support this scholarship and be part of such an important moment for the Bandier program. The talent, knowledge and passion that my team brings to our work every day are a direct result of the incredible education they received at Syracuse University,” Laufey said.

“I hope this scholarship will help future students find the same success and fulfillment in the music industry,” Laufey added.

The is regularly recognized as one of the top undergraduate music business programs in the country. Billboard magazine’s list of the world’s top music business schools has always included the Bandier program.

Laufey (left) and Bill Werde, director of the Bandier undergraduate program (Photo by Arnold Turner)

Created in 2006 in the College of Visual and Performing Arts’ Setnor School of Music, the Bandier program was the brainchild of three Newhouse alumni: Rob Light ’78, John Sykes ’77 and the late Phil Quartararo ’77, who suggested the concept to Martin Bandier.

The program established a solid foundation and grew at VPA before moving to Newhouse in 2017. Bandier students still take classes at VPA, as well as the .

The new will offer students the same top features that set apart the undergraduate program, delivering hands-on experiences and training for cutting-edge skills needed to make students job-ready upon graduation, as well as providing access to the large and loyal networks of Bandier and Newhouse alumni.

A comprehensive curriculum will cover topics, including music law, copyright, social media and the latest data tools used by top industry professionals. A key feature of the program will be a semester based in Los Angeles that provides students with valuable industry experience.

The new master’s program will be led by Bill Werde, director of the Bandier undergraduate program and former editorial director of Billboard.

“An overwhelming percentage of our undergrads are leveraging the skills, network and experiences built in the Bandier program into jobs upon graduation,” Werde said. “We look forward to welcoming these new graduate students into our community and working with them to develop the core that they need to succeed.”

Mark J. Lodato, dean of the Newhouse School, expressed gratitude to Laufey and her team for their commitment to helping Bandier master’s students succeed.

“Through the Bandier master’s program, students aspiring to work in the music industry will have exciting opportunities to hone the skills they learn in the classroom in real-world settings,” Lodato said. “We are so grateful to the Bandier alumni, who play pivotal roles working with such a gifted artist like Laufey, for setting examples for career success.”

Chancellor Kent Syverud (left) and Newhouse School Dean Mark J. Lodato flank Donald Newhouse after the plaza at the Newhouse complex was renamed for his family to celebrate the school’s 60th anniversary. (Photo by Chuck Wainwright)

The welcomed Donald Newhouse and his family back to Syracuse University to mark the with an afternoon full of celebratory events highlighted by the renaming of the plaza in between the school’s three buildings in the family’s honor.

The festivities Wednesday included a special luncheon, a tour of the complex for the family and a ceremony on the plaza, where Chancellor Kent Syverud and Newhouse Dean Mark J. Lodato unveiled the new name as hundreds watched from the Einhorn Family Walk.

The owner of Advance Publications, Donald Newhouse, is the patriarch of one of the first families of American publishing. Advance was founded by his father, Samuel I. Newhouse, in 1922.

Donald Newhouse delivers remarks during the 60th anniversary ceremony. (Photo by Malcolm Taylor)

In remarks on the plaza, Donald Newhouse recounted how he observed a meeting in the late 1950s between his father and then-University Chancellor William P. Tolley during which the idea for what would become the Newhouse School was conceived.

Donald Newhouse was one of the honored guests on Aug. 5, 1964, when President Lyndon B. Johnson joined S.I. Newhouse to . That day also happened to be Donald Newhouse’s 35th birthday.

“I am fortunate to have the chance in the same month that I celebrate my 95th birthday, to look back with overwhelming pride at the record of the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications. It is one of the great joys of my life,” Donald Newhouse said Wednesday.

“Thank you all for helping me celebrate this anniversary, and for your role in realizing the dream of my father and Chancellor Tolley.”

The Newhouse family is one of the largest donors in the University’s history, including the $75 million pledge by the Samuel I. Newhouse Foundation to the Newhouse School in 2020. That pledge was the single largest gift in the University’s history.

“There are so many amazing alumni of this school that I’ve met all over the world—editors, broadcasters, leaders in print, cable news and network newsrooms. They founded and led radio stations, PR agencies, advertising firms, countless ventures in the business, digital music and entertainment industries,” said before unveiling the plaza’s new name.

“All of them amazing people, all made possible because of the transformational gifts of Donald Newhouse and the Newhouse Foundation,” he added. “You’ve really, in a meaningful sense, shaped the trajectory of the University, the Newhouse School and most importantly, the careers of tens of thousands of our students and our graduates and faculty.”

Today, the Newhouse School offers and more than a dozen covering the gamut of fields in media and communications. The school also its first fully online bachelor’s program, in strategic communications, this year.

But what will not change, Lodato said, is an unwavering dedication to journalism education.

pledged to continue to work with newsrooms and journalism organizations on key issues like filling news deserts, and striving to ensure the diversity of newsroom staffs and leadership accurately reflects the communities they serve.

He cited expanded opportunities for students to hone their skills through study-away semesters in , or , or special trips such as of the recent Democratic and Republican presidential nominating conventions for professional media outlets.

Newhouse also combined the broadcast and digital journalism, and magazine, news and digital journalism programs, into starting this fall following state approval, the result of years of discussion with faculty.

Students will still choose one of two tracks under the new journalism major structure—broadcast and digital journalism, or magazine, news and digital journalism. But Lodato noted the change is reflective of how the Newhouse School pivots to meet the needs of an industry which increasingly is looking for journalists who can tell stories on multiple platforms.

“I can think of no better way of recognizing the vision and generosity of Mr. Newhouse and his extraordinary family than to reinforce our steadfast commitment to journalism and journalism education,” Lodato said.

Hundreds of people gathered on the Einhorn Family Walk for the ceremony to honor the Newhouse School’s 60th anniversary. (Photo by Chuck Wainwright)

Newhouse was joined Wednesday by several members of his family, including sons Steven and Michael, the co-presidents of Advance. Larry Kramer ’72, vice chair of the University Board of Trustees, offered remarks at the luncheon, as did Newhouse Dean Emeritus and , Kramer Director of the Syracuse University , and a professor of practice of journalism at the Newhouse School.

David Zaslav, the president and CEO of Warner Bros. Discovery, spoke during a videotaped message.

Marie Achkar, a senior in broadcast and digital journalism, spoke on behalf of students at the luncheon. Jada Knight, a senior in television, radio and film, spoke on students’ behalf during the plaza ceremony, which was followed by a reception for the family, students, faculty, staff and alumni.

Martin Bandier

Both degree programs are named after Martin Bandier ’62, the legendary music publishing executive and University Life Trustee. The is regularly recognized as one of the preeminent undergraduate music business programs in the country.

The new will offer students the same top features that set apart the undergraduate program, delivering hands-on experiences, training for cutting-edge skills needed to make students job-ready upon graduation and access to the large and loyal networks of Bandier and Newhouse alumni.

Billboard magazine has never published its list of the world’s top music business schools without including the Bandier program.

“Our goal at the Bandier program has always been to be the premier music business school, offering the most comprehensive and cutting-edge education while forging top-tier industry connections,” Bandier says. “With this new master’s program, we’re taking it to the next level, shaping future music leaders who are equipped, connected and ready to make their mark.”

Bill Werde

Launching in fall 2025, the Bandier music business master’s program provides a true multidisciplinary education to prepare students for their first job in the music industry. The comprehensive program will cover subjects that include the fundamental rights, royalties and deal-making approaches of the modern music business, across the label, publishing, management, streaming and live sectors, and all genres.

The core music business instruction will allow students to be well-versed on the basics of everything from music law and copyright to current social media and data tools in use by top companies today. Students will also be able to spend a to work in the heart of the music industry.

The new master’s program will be overseen by , who is also director of the Before joining the Newhouse School, Werde served as editorial director of Billboard, which won a 2010 Ellie Award for Digital Media from the American Society of Magazine Editors during Werde’s tenure. Under his direction, Billboard also earned Eddie Awards for Best Media and Entertainment Publication from Folio magazine in 2006 and 2007.

Mark J. Lodato

“Breaking into the music industry can be daunting. If you have great instincts and passion for what fans love in music and how those tastes evolve, the new music business master’s program will give you all the access, skills and network you need for an incredibly fulfilling career in the music industry,” Werde says. “The Bandier program will open doors for students for the rest of their lives.”

The program presents “a fantastic opportunity for college graduates to acquire the dynamic skills and gain the hands-on experiences that will help them succeed in the thriving music business,” Newhouse Dean Mark J. Lodato says. “We are eternally grateful at Syracuse University for the support of Marty Bandier and his enthusiasm to help the Newhouse School provide a first-class education for students aspiring to work in the recording and entertainment industries.”

A new features a Newhouse School timeline and more information about the school’s history. The site will be updated throughout the year with anniversary-related virtual events and in-person alumni gatherings, such as Orange Central weekend.

The Newhouse 1 building was dedicated Aug. 5, 1964, during a ceremony on the Newhouse plaza featuring President Lyndon B. Johnson. The night before the dedication, S.I. Newhouse spoke during a dinner at the Hotel Syracuse to mark the momentous occasion.

“It is right and fitting that such a communications center be located within a dynamic university with world-embracing interests,” Newhouse said at the dinner. “The many fields of study provide an unparalleled opportunity for the interplay of creative talents of the first rank.”

The Newhouse School draws upon those prescient words to mark this milestone year and connect our storied history with our long-standing, forward-thinking philosophy.

Unparalleled Opportunity

The Newhouse School is proud of its ability to pivot and adjust to give students the skillset needed to thrive in the ever-evolving field of communications. Moving forward, this means in part renewing a commitment to expand partnerships and collaborations to pursue research and creative activities for students and faculty; and developing excellence and expertise in technology-driven communication tools and practices, specifically in advanced and emerging media.

World-Embracing Interests

Experiential learning opportunities around the country and globe allow Newhouse students to hone the skills they learn in the classroom from our award-winning faculty, while also helping them build their career networks. Newhouse is committed to expanding access for all Newhouse students through school programs in New York, Los Angeles and Washington, D.C., and University programs worldwide.

President Lyndon B. Johnson cuts the ribbon at the Newhouse 1 dedication ceremony on Aug. 5, 1964. (Newhouse School at Syracuse University archival photo)

Creative Talents

The success of the Newhouse School is embodied through the generations of alumni who have walked through the halls of Newhouse and proceeded to write, produce, create and lead in their respective fields. The “Newhouse Network” supports the legacy of the Newhouse family not only through charitable giving, but by coming back to Syracuse to speak with students; offering internships, networking opportunities and job leads; and lending guidance and feedback via advisory boards and personal connections with faculty and staff.

“Newhouse remains rooted in journalism. It’s in our DNA,” Dean Mark Lodato says. “At the same time, one of the reasons our school has succeeded for so long—and graduated generations of communications professionals—is a philosophy to embrace change and lead the way in forging new frontiers.”

“Our Newhouse School community looks forward to celebrating the legacy of excellence that is rooted in the vision, generosity and commitment of S.I. Newhouse and his family.”

The work is the result of comprehensive research through the ElectionGraph project from the University’s ��(IDJC). In conjunction with the , IDJC ElectionGraph researchers released a report that found about 2,200 webpages have run ads on Facebook and Instagram between Sept. 1, 2023, and April 30, 2024.

The ads, which mentioned President Joe Biden, former President Donald Trump or other presidential primary candidates, have collectively exceeded 1 billion impressions.

Jennifer Stromer-Galley

Though a majority of the pages analyzed appear tied to legitimate groups, a portion of the pages appear to be “inauthentic influencers” who are secretly coordinating and running identical videos or messages. Several of these groups include false or misleading information in their ads, the report found.

The research also captured evidence of a deepfake featuring manipulated audio of figures, including Trump and former Fox News host Tucker Carlson. And the findings detailed different political issues on which conservative and progressive-leaning pages are focusing their ad spends.

For conservative pages, immigration has been the top issue, surpassing the economy, while the economy was the top issue for progressive pages. Accounting for all pages regardless of leaning, ads related to the economy received the most ad dollars.

This is the second , which seeks to identify misinformation trends in the U.S. presidential election and other top 2024 contests.��The project is supported by a grant and use of analytics software from , the world’s leading graph database and analytics company.

The Institute for Democracy, Journalism and Citizenship is a joint University initiative of the Newhouse School of Public Communications and Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs.

The IDJC ElectionGraph team’s efforts included pinpointing origins of messages and tracing misinformation by collecting and algorithmically classifying ads run on Facebook and Instagram, as well as social media posts on Facebook and X, formerly known as Twitter.

Johanna Dunaway

The network of authentic and inauthentic actors identified in the research represents just a fraction of all coordinated pages related to elections. Meta, which owns Facebook and Instagram, is the only social media group that grants approved organizations access to ad data. This data is not required to be disclosed and is not similarly trackable on TikTok, Google, YouTube or Snapchat, according to the report.

“What this research reveals is the surprising number of actors we know very little about who are spending money targeting voters with messaging on social media where there is little transparency,” says Jennifer Stromer-Galley, professor in the School of Information Studies and lead researcher for the project.

“It underscores that tech platforms need to do more to allow academics and journalists access to platform data so that political actors can be held to account with the American public,” Stromer-Galley says.

Johanna Dunaway, IDJC research director and a professor of political science in the Maxwell School, says that what stands out from the analysis is the reminder that the election information environment is more confusing than ever.

“Even as some things stay the same—like emphasis on the economy and more focus on advocacy and attacks than issues—opaque messaging from��random one-off groups or complex hidden networks with��questionable motives��makes it��increasingly difficult to identify credible messages and sources in��the��cacophony��of campaign-related��information,” Dunaway says.

Margaret Talev

The prevalence of inauthentic groups, scams and deepfake voices just within the parameters of the search shows a massive amount of manipulation and misinformation targeting Americans through the political information consumed online, says Margaret Talev, Kramer Director of the IDJC, professor of practice in the Newhouse School and a journalist.

“This is a situation of ‘voter beware’ but also ‘consumer beware’ because sometimes what looks like a bid for your vote may actually be a bid for your identity or your credit card information,” Talev says.

Jim Webber, Neo4j’s chief scientist, says that covert operations by coordinated networks in digital civic spaces is a dangerous modern reality—while the company’s graph technology is enabling IDJC’s researchers “to uncover the hidden patterns and actions of those covert actors” and identify misinformation and misleading content.

Each wave of findings from the is based on interviews with roughly 1,000 U.S. adults conducted by Ipsos through its probability-based KnowledgePanel.

Initial findings released Thursday found that Republicans were more invested in watching the first presidential debate between President Biden and former President Trump than Democrats or independents.

Based on a survey conducted May 17-19, 75% of Republicans said they were likely to watch the debate, compared with 61% of Democrats and 58% of independents.

“This project will help IDJC researchers expand our understanding of media consumption and an increasingly polarized electorate in a rapidly changing news climate,” says , Kramer Director of the IDJC and professor of practice of magazine, news and digital journalism at the .

The is a joint University initiative of the Newhouse School and the . Based in Washington, D.C., the institute engages in nonpartisan research, teaching and public dialogue aimed at strengthening trust in news media, governance and society.

“While many polls are focused on the horse race, this gives us the opportunity to understand how this election cycle is shaping Americans’ perspectives about patriotism, partisanship and the importance of democracy,” says , IDJC research director and professor of political science at Maxwell.

, IDJC senior researcher, says “Our hope is that we can learn more about the relationships between identity, trust in media and attitudes toward democracy that shape the stakes of the election—not merely try to predict the election.” Darr also is an associate professor of communications at Newhouse.

The IDJC also offers foundational courses taught in the nation’s capital in civics, media literacy and ethics, and works with the Maxwell and Newhouse schools to facilitate internships, networking opportunities with alumni and other educational experiences for Syracuse University students.

The polling partnership with Ipsos will provide another avenue to teach students about survey research and demographic trends in society, Talev says.

“These are such important tools for aspiring journalists to have in their skillset,” she says. “It’s critical for reporters and writers to understand how voters feel and perceive developments on the trail to cover the campaign with proper context and authority.”

Talev also is a senior contributor at Axios and Thursday.

Photo illustration by Peter Pietrangelo, USA TODAY Network

Police vehicle accidents and the impact such crashes have had on communities across New York State are the focus of a new����involving Newhouse School students working in partnership with reporters from the USA Today Network and Central Current.

The first two stories from the “Driving Force” investigative series were published last week on��, the result of exhaustive reporting that began in June 2023. The initial stories looked at�������Ի�����for officers in New York State, with more articles set to be published over the next few months.

At the Newhouse School of Public Communications, the project was led by , knight chair in data and explanatory journalism, and , assistant professor of��magazine, news and digital journalism. Students in three of Upton’s data journalism classes read hundreds of pages of documents, pulling out details such as the type of conduct, date, officer involved and the resulting discipline in a process called “data tagging.”

The Driving Force reporting team meets at the Newhouse School in September 2023. (Photo by William Ramsey, USA Today Network)

The exercise helped the students to grasp the importance of how government PDFs can be converted into data for analysis, Upton and Husain said. The team went through the records, court papers and other state and police documents to locate individuals who were injured or killed in police vehicle accidents.

Overall, the reporting collaboration now includes 35,000 records from 115 departments ranging from those in large urban areas to village departments with only a handful of officers.

Upton and Husain said the partnership is building a public-facing police vehicle crash database. It plans to hold workshops to help the public and other journalists inspect local police department documents and understand the impact police vehicle crashes have had on communities.

The investigation was supported with funding from the��. That project is funded by the Google News Initiative in partnership with Northwestern University-Medill.

.

NBC News plans to report findings each month, giving faculty and researchers potential opportunities to discuss or analyze results on the network’s platforms.

Engagious, which will conduct the focus groups, and Sago, which recruits respondents, IDJC is developing questions for the monthly online panels with key voting blocs within each state. The first focus group panel was conducted Jan. 31 via Zoom and moderated by Engagious president Rich Thau. This initial installment focused on women voters from across Pennsylvania who previously backed Donald Trump but support abortion rights or oppose the 2022 landmark Supreme Court ruling overturning Roe v. Wade.

The Institute for Democracy, Journalism and Citizenship is a joint University initiative of the and . Based in Washington, D.C., IDJC engages in nonpartisan research, teaching and public dialogue aimed at strengthening trust in news media, governance and society.

“As a top research university whose communications and public affairs schools are among the best in the country, Syracuse University is obligated to promote engaged citizenship and deliberative democracy for the sake of our students as well as our society,” says Vice Chancellor, Provost and Chief Academic Officer Gretchen Ritter.

“The work of IDJC helps elevate those efforts and provides insights into some of the most important elements of our democracy, including the role of a free press,” Provost Ritter says.

The hinge voters who are the focus of the 2024 Deciders project come from demographic groups that will likely play an outsized role in determining the outcome of the election. A different category of voters will be interviewed each month.

“This partnership will shed light on issues and factors impacting key groups of voters and how news consumption helps form their views,” Newhouse School Dean Mark J. Lodato says. “For our students, this project can provide a valuable learning experience into how voters respond to political reporting, helping our aspiring journalists discern how such reporting takes shape.”

“A critical part of solving the challenges we face as a nation begins with a foundation of understanding,” says Maxwell School Dean David M. Van Slyke. “This partnership builds that foundation by helping our researchers, students and the public at large better understand the people who may determine the 2024 election. This is exactly the sort of critical, policy-informing work that we envisioned when creating IDJC.”

The work of the Institute for Democracy, Journalism and Citizenship, which was established in 2022, spans elections, governance and media, as well as a host of other broad topics including technology, business, science and health.

“We are learning from participants how key issues in the news affect them personally and how that relates to their views toward candidates and voting,” says IDJC Kramer Director Margaret Talev.  “We also are interested to hear from them about where they get their news and information and how that relates to what they believe, who they trust and how they engage with society.”

The idea for a new book about mindfulness by Adam Avin ’26, a sophomore in the Newhouse School of Public Communications, is rooted in the days he spent with his great grandparents growing up in Florida.

“Stress Less: Mindfulness for Teenagers” was years in the making for Avin, a��. Avin’s book made it to No. 1 on the Young Adult and Teen Social Science category on Amazon after being released in the fall.

(Photo courtesy of Adam Avin)

“The support I’ve gotten has been overwhelming,” Avin says in recalling his family’s reaction to the book.

As a child, Avin would sit on the couch next to his late great grandpa, Jack, who would impart words of wisdom: Think well to be well. Smile and the world will smile with you. Smile and say “thank you.”

Those simple but powerful phrases of positivity held sway, so much so that Avin wanted to find avenues to share those lessons about mindfulness with other children and teenagers.

First, Avin channeled his energy into creating the����at age 10. Wuf Shanti promotes health, wellness and happiness in children, and encourages peace and positivity. Wuf Shanti videos have been distributed by outlets including the Children’s Television Network, PBS stations and the Kidoodle streaming service for children.

While he was in high school during the COVID lockdown, Avin and Helen Maffini, an educator, author and consultant in the field of mindfulness and emotional intelligence, started interviewing experts over video chats as a way to keep conversations going.

The videos were a part of the��, a curriculum for middle and high schools across the country. Those virtual conversations ended up being the basis for “Stress Less.”

“Why not take all of that knowledge and have it written down and available every day,” Avin says. “We wanted to formulate the book in a way that a teenager would understand or want to read. It’s really important for teens to understand that they’re not alone, and hopefully something in the book resonates with them.”

Udonis Haslem (left) wrote the forward to Adam Avin’s book. (Photo courtesy of the Udonis Haslem Foundation)

The book even includes a forward by former Miami Heat forward and three-time NBA champion��, who was hired in November as the vice president of basketball development for the team.

Haslem is the founder of a foundation named after him that advocates for mental health in underserved communities. He also happens to be one of Avin’s favorite players on his favorite NBA team.

“Wow, what I would have given to have a book like this when I was growing up,” Haslem said in a��. “I’ve actually been using some of these tips, so let’s just say this book hit home for me.”

“Stress Less” walks readers through the importance behind how coping with emotions and stress in a healthy way is good for the mind and body. In the book, Avin talks about such tools as affirmations, breathwork, journaling and meditation.

Avin is certified in mindfulness-based stress reduction, and has become a mental health education advocate, speaking on the topic to groups. Avin����in 2019 about getting mindful programs into the education system.

His work has also been the subject of stories in outlets including Mindful Magazine, the Miami Herald and the South Florida Sun Sentinel.

“Stress Less” targets teens and young adults, and tips and lessons from the book can also apply to college students, especially during busy times of year like the end of the semester.

“One of the biggest things we talk about in the book, when you talk about mindfulness, is that no one practices it in the exact same way,” Avin says.

For some people, taking a little time to tune out the world to listen to music might calm them down during a crazy week of final exams and projects. For others, taking a walk or doing breathing exercises might do the trick.

Avin also draws from another member of his family—his late grandfather, Alan, for inspiration.

“My grandfather was a very positive person. It was hard for him to be positive when he was sick, but he said there was a place between negative and positive,” Avin says. “He said he would try to get to neutral. He still wanted to be a positive light for others.”

Students from Newhouse assistant professor J. Christopher Hamilton’s television, radio and film capstone course, meet virtually with senior executives from Lionsgate Motion Picture Group. (Photo by Lena Osso)

A new immersive learning opportunity lets students pitch ideas about actors, directors and producers to senior executives in the Lionsgate Motion Picture Group. The executives are also getting feedback on their scripts through virtual conversations with the students. This learning experience is all part of a capstone course this fall for TRF students interested in careers as executives in media, entertainment or the arts.

The collaboration is spearheaded by Erin Westerman ’04, president of production of the Lionsgate Motion Picture Group, and , a TRF assistant professor. Conversations about the idea started when Westerman returned to her alma mater in May to at the Newhouse Convocation Ceremony for the 2023 graduating class.

“We wanted to offer Syracuse students real feedback to projects they are developing and workshopping,” Westerman said. “Access can lead to opportunity and this class offered real insight from executives who are working in the business.”

Erin Westerman (left) and J. Christopher Hamilton during Newhouse’s 2023 graduation weekend in May. (Photo by Lynn Vanderhoek)

It’s the latest example of experiential learning opportunities that Newhouse has developed for Syracuse University students in the TRF executive track. Other experiences this semester included a class trip to the Toronto Film Festival to screen movies, learn from industry veterans and network with filmmakers, as well as Newhouse visits from Robert Halmi ’79, founder and chairman of Great Point Studios, and Joseph Cohen, president of American Entertainment Investors and author of “Investing in Movies: Strategies for Investors and Producers.”

Lionsgate Motion Picture executives Brady Fujikawa and Chelsea Kujawa, as well as department coordinator Alex Tannebaum, have also been instrumental in implementing the studio’s collaboration for the TRF executive track course.

“All of these experiences culminate with students interacting with Lionsgate executives to pitch scripts they have in active development,” Hamilton said.

“Students must identify the actors, directors and producers that they think would be the most compelling talent choices to transform their project or literary property into a greenlighted success story and present a compelling business and creative analysis for their project,” he added.

While pitching to studio executives might sound intimidating, senior Samantha Meir said the process was conversational, though preparation was key. The TRF major hopes to draw from the experience as she builds toward a career of working at a talent agency to represent television writers.

A new immersive learning opportunity this fall lets television, radio and film (TRF) program students pitch ideas about actors, directors and producers to senior executives in the Lionsgate Motion Picture Group. (Photo by Lena Osso)

“The partnership has been really helpful for us to get a more present view (of the entertainment field) from current executives,” Meir said. “They’ve been able to give us a lot of valuable insight on where the industry is going.”

Mia Rodriguez, a TRF senior minoring in theater, said she appreciated the feedback that students received about realistically making cast pitches according to budget. The Lionsgate interaction, coupled with the trip to Toronto, also helped students focus on the business side of the industry and practice their networking skills, which will be important to hone as they enter the entertainment field.

“It was really nice to be able to take this kind of class, especially as someone who wants to enter the business side of the industry,” she said.�� Rodriguez, who wants to go into the music industry, is thinking about specializing in copyright law.

This learning experience helps students focus on the business side of the industry and practice their networking skills, which will be important to hone as they enter the entertainment field.��(Photo by Lena Osso)

The foray into motion picture development with a major Hollywood studio comes on the heels of Newhouse offering students another immersive opportunity in the field of talent representation. launched a robust partnership for Hamilton’s artist representation training course in 2022, which includes in-person instruction from the company’s agents.

Students spent a day at UTA’s New York City headquarters in the Fall 2023 semester, learning from seasoned agents and executives representing clients in music, television and broadcast news. The students also spent part of the day pitching the agency on talent they’ve tracked and who they believe the company should represent, in addition to networking with Newhouse alums working at UTA.

In 2022, Newhouse also launched a partnership with Halmi’s Great Point Studios to offer internships for TRF students enrolled in the program. Lionsgate has also partnered with Great Point Studios on three production facilities in cities including Yonkers, Atlanta and Newark.

The veteran music executive introduced U2 to the United States in the 1980s and developed the careers of artists like Paula Abdul, Linkin Park and the Spice Girls. And that was only a small number of the big-name performers who worked with someone who became known fondly in the industry as “Phil Q.”

Phil Quartararo

Just as important to Quartararo was his dedication to Syracuse University and the , and a commitment to helping develop future leaders of the music industry. Quartararo was one of a handful of executives who worked with Martin Bandier ’62 and the University to create the .

Quartararo died Nov. 22 in Los Angeles of pancreatic cancer. He was 67.

Born in New York City, Philip Michael Quartararo led EMI Records, Virgin Records and Warner Bros. Records during his influential career. Quartararo, a longtime Newhouse Advisory Board member, was also a strong supporter of the Bandier Program’s move to the Newhouse School.

“Phil was an outstanding board member, and one I had come to count upon for wise counsel, especially when it came to the music industry, future opportunities for Newhouse in audio��and our growing presence in Southern California,”�� says.

He recounted last seeing Quartararo in October in California for the celebration of the Kari and Dick Clark Foundation’s��Forever Orange Campaign gift��to expand the University’s presence in Los Angeles and impact in the entertainment field.

“He was as positive as ever,” Lodato says, “and as he always did, pledged his full support to me and the Newhouse School. I often heard this refrain from Phil: ‘Whatever you need, Mark!’”

Quartararo first began booking acts in high school and took a job as a college representative for A&M Records while studying at Newhouse, where he graduated with a bachelor’s degree in television, radio and film. He then moved to Buffalo as the local promotional representative for A&M, where he helped break in artists like The Police and Bryan Adams.

It was the start of 46-year career that included leadership positions with nearly every major record label. Quartararo was named Billboard’s Music Executive of the Year Award in 2001.

, director of the Bandier Program, described Quartararo as a “beloved founding father” who was a trusted advisor to many in the program and Newhouse. “A role he clearly cherished was that of helping the next generation of music industry leaders,” Werde says.

A funeral service was held in Santa Monica, California, with a Mass of Celebration being planned in New York City sometime in January. Another celebration of Quartararo’s life is planned for Jan. 29 in Los Angeles, which is the start of Grammy Awards week.

In lieu of flowers,����for donations to be made in his memory to the Phil Q Memorial Fund at the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University. Donations may be made online at  or sent to Syracuse University, 640 Skytop Road, 2nd Floor, Syracuse, New York 13244. For more information contact Lynn Vanderhoek at .

R. Gustav Niebuhr

As a journalist and author, R. Gustav Niebuhr changed the coverage of religion in the United States by reporting on stories that showed how people’s faiths contributed to shaping their political and civic activities and beliefs.����

As a Syracuse University faculty member, Niebuhr shared his unparalleled expertise and enthusiasm for writing and reporting with students while providing a patient and encouraging presence in the classroom.��

Niebuhr died Oct. 20, as a result of long-term complications from Parkinson’s Disease, says his wife, Margaret L. Usdansky. He passed away peacefully at his home in Skaneateles, New York, after spending his final days surrounded by his wife and their two sons, Christopher and Jonathan, as well as Niebuhr’s sister and other family. ��

Niebuhr, whose full name was Richard Gustav Niebuhr, joined the University in 2004 following three years at Princeton University and a distinguished career of 20-plus years in journalism. A leading writer about American religion, Niebuhr worked at some of the country’s most respected newspapers, including The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Wall Street Journal and The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.��

At Syracuse, Niebuhr had a dual appointment in the Newhouse School of Public Communications and the College of Arts and Sciences as an associate professor of religion and media.����

“While I did not have the privilege of working with Gustav, it is clear he has left a remarkable legacy both here at the University and in the journalism profession as a whole,” Newhouse Dean Mark J. Lodato says. “We are so thankful that someone of Gustav’s stature shared his experiences and wisdom with aspiring journalists at Syracuse.”�� ��

David Rubin, dean emeritus of Newhouse and the school’s leader at the time of Niebuhr’s arrival in 2004, said convincing him to join the faculty was an easy decision. Niebuhr would lead efforts to educate students about coverage of religion and religious issues by the media, a topic that until then was rarely discussed.��

“He proved to be a caring and demanding teacher, and a delightful colleague with a playful sense of humor,” Rubin said. “He was a public intellectual who brought distinction to the University. Gustav’s high standards, moderating voice and classroom presence will be sorely missed.”��

At the Newhouse School, Niebuhr most often taught reporting classes. His biggest contribution might have been helping to establish the schoolwide reporting project in 2018, when he took his class to Washington, D.C., to cover the March for Our Lives. ��

A meaningful experience that produced compelling stories has since been replicated annually, involving hundreds of students and winning dozens of awards, says Aileen Gallagher, a professor and chair of the magazine, news and digital journalism department. ��

“It’s one of the best things we do in the program, and we have Gustav to thank for getting us started,” Gallagher says.��

Niebuhr also proved to be a perfect fit for the Arts and Sciences faculty.��

��“Thanks to Gustav’s leadership and cross-disciplinary expertise, the religion and society program grew and thrived, attracting students from across the University,” says William Robert, professor and chair of the religion department in the College of Arts and Sciences. ��

“Gustav worked programmatically to create fantastic learning opportunities for students to investigate what historical, social and political differences religion makes in our local and national communities and media,” Robert says. “He was a beloved teacher, wonderful colleague and amazing person.”��

Niebuhr, who grew up in Arlington, Massachusetts, came from a family of thought leaders in American religion. He was the great-nephew of 20th century theologian Reinhold Niebuhr, the grandson of theologian H. Richard Niebuhr and the son of Richard R. Niebuhr, a professor at Harvard Divinity School.��

Niebuhr graduated from Pomona College in 1977 and earned a master’s in history from Oxford in 1980 before beginning his journalism career later that year at the Berkshire Eagle in Massachusetts. He worked at the New Orleans Times-Picayune before moving to the Journal-Constitution in 1986 to cover religion and politics.����

Stops at the Post, Journal and Times followed. Niebuhr also appeared as an occasional guest on NPR’s “All Things Considered,” where he explored the impact of religion on society in the United States and around the world. During his career, he interviewed luminaries, including Buddhist leader Thich Nhat Hanh and author and Holocaust survivor Elie Wiesel. ��

In 1994, Niebuhr swept the top awards given by the Religion Newswriters Association for stories that included an analysis of the tragedy at the Branch Davidian compound in Waco, Texas.����

That same year, Niebuhr also married Usdansky, his former Journal-Constitution colleague. Now a sociologist, Usdansky is the founding director of the Center for Learning and Student Success at Syracuse University and interim director of the Center for Teaching and Learning Excellence. ��

Niebuhr is the author of “Beyond Tolerance: Searching for Interfaith Understanding in America” and “Lincoln’s Bishop: A President, A Priest, and the Fate of 300 Dakota Sioux Warriors.”��

A memorial service will be held Dec. 29 at the University, with plans to be announced at a later date. that any donations be sent to the .��

The two-day AI Policy Symposium that begins today in the nation’s capital is organized by the (IDJC) and the (ASPI).

The event also serves as the venue to launch the Academic Alliance for AI Policy, an academic advisory body formed to serve as a resource for lawmakers, policymakers and others seeking to regulate and better understand AI.

“AI is affecting more and more aspects of daily life in America and beyond,” says , director of ASPI and a University Professor. He will lead the alliance.

“Unlike the early decades of its development, when it was the intellectual curiosity of a small number of academics, AI is nobody’s monopoly anymore,” Ekbia says. “If there is a benefit from AI, it should apply to everyone, and if there is harm, someone should be held accountable. This needs oversight and regulation.”

The new alliance and AI policy will be the focus of discussions Thursday at the symposium. How AI will affect the future of work, and its impact on the 2024 presidential election are topics to be discussed Friday.

“Connecting top AI researchers with policymakers��and journalists thinking about AI regulation and impacts on society is key to informing regulation, news coverage and the public’s understanding of these emerging issues,” says , Kramer Director of the Washington-based IDJC. “The symposium also is an opportunity to bring journalists from a range of news organizations together as they navigate coverage and use of AI.”

Still in formation, the alliance will be comprised of academic leaders representing K-12 schools, community colleges and research universities. It is guided by a steering committee that includes representatives from Cornell University, Duke University, Indiana University, Oregon State University, Purdue University, The Ohio State University, the University of California and the University of Illinois.

Joining Ekbia in representing Syracuse is , assistant professor of English in the College of Arts and Sciences.

Ekbia, who joined the University in January 2023, says the alliance will serve as a platform for the exchange of ideas among academics from various backgrounds and as an advisory body for lawmakers as they grapple with the increasing number of challenges arising from AI.

The alliance will also connect AI experts with journalists reporting on related issues to help distill the implications for greater public understanding.

Ekbia says the regulation of AI in the U.S. is lagging and has enabled rampant gaps in information, knowledge and accountability. This, he says, has allowed the economic agendas of a few to take priority over public interest. “Academics can, and should, help correct this state of affairs,” adds Ekbia. “The Academic Alliance for AI Policy is a step in that direction.”

Based at the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs, ASPI is a Universitywide initiative focused on the intersection of technology, policy and society that boasts dozens of affiliated faculty researchers across disciplines.

The IDJC engages in nonpartisan research, teaching and public dialogue aimed at strengthening trust in news media, governance and society.��It is a joint initiative of the and the .

In addition to the symposium, the institutes are co-sponsors of the Axios-Generation Lab-Syracuse University AI Experts Survey. The found that a majority of computer science experts at top U.S. research universities wanted to see the creation of a new federal agency or global organization to govern artificial intelligence.��The next wave of findings is to be released in November.

Ed Bleier

Bleier was a pioneer in media, serving as president of Warner Bros. domestic pay-TV, cable and network features division during a decorated and distinguished career that saw him work in almost every aspect of radio and television.

Thanks to his generosity to his alma mater, Bleier enabled generations of Syracuse University students to follow in his footsteps through the , a think tank on the art of television and the exploration of popular culture housed in the .

Bleier requested in his memorial notices that gifts be sent to the Bleier Center in lieu of flowers.

“Edward Bleier was a titan of the communications industry, a visionary who helped build the foundation for so many of the platforms for consuming content that we take for granted today,” said .

“On behalf of the Newhouse community, I would like to extend our sincere condolences to the Bleier family,” Lodato added. “We are so thankful for his tremendous generosity to Syracuse University, where his legacy will live on at the Bleier Center.”

The Bleier Center for Television and Popular Culture, located in the Newhouse 3 building, is named after Edward Bleier ’51, who died Oct. 17. (Photo by Genaro C. Armas)

Bleier was a key executive in implementing changes in the media landscape, principally at Time Warner/Warner Bros. and ABC-TV. At ABC in the 1960s, he at various times headed daytime and children’s programming; news, sports and prime-time sales; and marketing, public relations and long-range planning.

From 1969-2004, while at Warner Bros., Bleier was a key player in Warner Communications’ development of cable systems, cable networks, home video, sports and its 1990 merger with Time Inc.

In 2005, the Center for the Study of Popular Television was renamed the Bleier Center for Television and Popular Culture thanks to a generous donation from Bleier. The center is headed by , one of the most well-known and widely quoted popular culture experts in the world.

“Media, particularly popular media, are the new DNA of our global society. With Internet and satellite, ideas, images, stories and information affect every aspect of the world, often instantly,” Bleier said in 2005 in an announcement about the renaming of the center.

“The content of American media is so pervasive-for good or ill-it must be seriously taught and examined,” Bleier said. “Bob Thompson is at the forefront and I am honored to add my support.”

Thompson, who planned to speak at a memorial service for Bleier held on Sunday in East Hampton, New York, said Bleier “knew everyone in – and everything about – American television.”

“In over 30 years as my friend, he taught me volumes. I was always taken by how a guy who had been such a VIP for 70 years was also so humble and kind. And hilarious,” Thompson said. “Although he’d been retired for a while, he remained up-to-the-second on the monumental changes happening in the industry.”

Thompson recalled a conversation a few weeks ago, during which Bleier provided insights about streaming, artificial intelligence and the Hollywood writers and actors strikes “with wisdom and aplomb,” he said. “I am proud to see his name on my door every morning.”

Tyger Munn, a Newhouse broadcast and digital journalism graduate student, stands in front of a green screen to be filmed for a video to introduce the Infodemic project. (Photo by Collin Bell)

“” includes more than 30 stories packaged with photos, videos, illustrations, audio, data visualizations and other interactive media. The wide-ranging report was released May 1 on , a multimedia news site for��Syracuse��University to teach practical and digital skills needed for the media industry, in conjunction with and newspaper.

The project, which involved more than 100 student journalists, investigated the sources and effects of disinformation that have undermined trust in communities and democracy overall, and explored ways to combat disinformation. About a dozen Newhouse faculty and staff members advised the student editors and contributors who worked on stories during the 2022-23 academic year.

“Infodemic” drew inspiration from work connected to a led by , an assistant professor of magazine, news and digital journalism, and Shelvia Dancy, a former Newhouse professor of practice now teaching broadcast and digital journalism at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

That project, “Combatting Disinformation in Communities of Color,” has been developing and testing on Syracuse’s South Side,

Erin Westerman ’04

Erin Westerman ’04, president of production for the Lionsgate Motion Picture Group, will give the keynote address at the Newhouse School’s 2023��, to be held Saturday, May 13, at 12:30 p.m. in the JMA Wireless Dome.

Overseeing the development and production of Lionsgate’s theatrical film slate, Westerman has grown the studio’s portfolio of well-known movie franchises during her tenure. They include her recently released fourth installment of “John Wick” and “Ballerina,” an upcoming spinoff film starring Ana de Armas.��Later this year, Lionsgate also plans to release “The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes,” the prequel to the studio’s nearly $3 billion blockbuster franchise.

Other projects overseen by Westerman read like a go-to list for movie lovers. They include the original “Knives Out;” a film adaptation of “Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret;” and the critically loved “The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent” starring Nicolas Cage.

Westerman has frequently been named to The Hollywood Reporter’s Women in Entertainment Power 100 list, where she is recognized for “her knack for courting A-list talent and winning bidding wars.”

Before Lionsgate, Westerman was head of development at Good Universe, where she produced such hit films as “Always Be My Maybe,” “The Disaster Artist,” “Neighbors 2” and “Don’t Breathe.”

She began her career as a production executive at Walt Disney Studios where she oversaw the production of films including “Cinderella,” directed by Kenneth Branagh, and “Into the Woods.”

Westerman earned a bachelor’s degree in����from the Newhouse School in 2004 and graduated with a minor in psychology from the College of Arts and Sciences.

All graduating students and their families are invited to attend the Newhouse Convocation Ceremony. Syracuse University Commencement will be held Sunday, May 14. For the most current information about Commencement weekend, visit .

Abby Phillip, anchor and senior political correspondent at CNN, serves as the master of ceremonies at the 2023 Toner Prizes for Excellence in Political Reporting ceremony in Washington, D.C. (Photo by Scott Robinson Photography)

Politico won the 2023 Toner Prize for national political reporting, and chief investigative reporter Phil Williams of WTVF-TV in Nashville, Tennessee won the Toner Prize for local political reporting.

The winners of the annual����were announced by Syracuse University’s����during a ceremony Monday night at the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center in Washington. Sen. Mitt Romney delivered the keynote speech and CNN anchor and senior political correspondent Abby Phillip served as master of ceremonies.

Toner Prize for Excellence in National Political Reporting

Winner: Politico

Reporters: Josh Gerstein, Alex Ward, Peter Canellos, Hailey Fuchs, Heidi Przybyla, Elena Schneider and Holly Otterbein
Entry: “The Supreme Court and Abortion”

• 

  The reporting team from Politico pose on stage while accepting the 2023 Toner Prize for Excellence in National Political Reporting at the Toner Prizes ceremony in Washington, D.C. (Photo by Scott Robinson Photography)

Politico broke the news that the U.S. Supreme Court voted to strike down the landmark Roe v. Wade decision granting abortion rights. The outlet published a PDF of the initial draft majority opinion, which was circulated inside the court and obtained by Politico. No draft decision in the modern history of the court has been disclosed publicly while a case was still pending. The revelation intensified scrutiny of the tactics of the conservative legal movement in building a new Supreme Court majority during the Trump presidency. Politico’s reporting also transformed the political year, putting abortion rights front and center in the 2022 midterm elections.

Judges’ comments

“A bombshell scoop with seismic repercussions for the third branch of government. Cautiously written to stick to the facts. Revelatory follow-ups on conservative outsiders trying to influence conservative Justices. This reporting took courage and professionalism.” – Ann Compton

“It was the political story of the year, and the extraordinary leak reverberated nationally and locally, galvanizing women and demonstrating the degree conservatives have shaped the judiciary. And it opened the window into how the Supreme Court operates, especially highlighting silent conflicts of interests.” – Maralee Schwartz

Toner Prize for Excellence in National Political Reporting��Honorable Mention

Jeremy Schwartz, an investigative reporter for the ProPublica-Texas Tribune Investigative Initiative, accepts the Toner Prize for Excellence in National Political Reporting Honorable Mention awarded to ProPublica and The Texas Tribune, at the Toner Prizes ceremony in Washington, D.C. (Photo by Scott Robinson Photography)

ProPublica and The Texas Tribune
Reporters: Jeremy Schwartz, Jessica Priest, Chris Morran, Perla Trevizo and Andrea Suozzo
Entry: “Church Politics,” which explored the political activity of churches and the potential impact on candidates and campaigns.

Judge’s comment

“ProPublica and The Texas Tribune joined forces in a ground-breaking five-part series on how churches and right-wing organizations representing themselves as churches violate the terms of federal tax exemption by taking sides on political candidates and issues.” – Joseph B. Treaster

Toner Prize for Excellence in Local Political Reporting

WTVF-TV chief investigative reporter Phil Williams accepts his 2023 Toner Prize for Excellence in Local Political Reporting at the Toner Prizes ceremony in Washington, D.C. (Photo by Scott Robinson Photography)

Winner: Phil Williams, WTVF-TV, Nashville, Tennessee

Entry: “”

As the station’s chief investigative reporter, Williams led WTVF’s dogged efforts to look into how laws are made in the Tennessee General Assembly. The legislative branch is ruled by a supermajority with near-absolute power that sets its own rules. The exhaustive “Revealed” investigation was based on a simple premise: citizens cannot fully understand how the system can be fixed unless they understand how it really works.

Judges’ comments

“It is so hard to crack into the secretive world of campaign cash and lobbying in a state capital — and nearly impossible to do it on video. But somehow Phil Williams managed to do just that in this brilliant series shining light on state lawmaker practices and crisply showing viewers exactly HOW legislation is shaped and the exact questionable practices that are difficult to put into clear journalistic examples in any medium. I’m blown away by these pieces and will be using them to teach.” – Christina Bellantoni

“This is what a great local news investigation looks like. Documentaries like this one are not done nearly enough. It is excellent! It informs residents about what their lawmakers are doing and who has influence and power over them.” – Beverly Kirk

About the Toner Prizes

More than 250 people attended the first in-person Toner Prizes event in three years. The awards, along with the����at the Newhouse School, are named after Robin Toner, a 1976 graduate of Syracuse University and the first woman to serve as national political correspondent of The New York Times.

US Sen. Mitt Romney gives the keynote speech at the 2023 Toner Prizes for Excellence in Political Reporting ceremony in Washington D.C. (Photo by Scott Robinson Photography)

Among other speakers at Monday’s ceremony were Syracuse University Chancellor��, Newhouse School dean�������Ի���, Kramer Director of the Syracuse University Institute for Democracy, Journalism and Citizenship.

Judges

• Christina Bellantoni, professor at the University of Southern California’s Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism and former political reporter and editor for The Los Angeles Times
• Ann Compton, retired reporter and White House correspondent for ABC News Radio
• Beverly Kirk, director of Washington Programs at Syracuse University’s S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications and Professor of Practice in the broadcast and digital journalism department
• Maralee Schwartz, retired political editor of The Washington Post
• Joseph B. Treaster, professor at the University of Miami School of Communication, a former correspondent at The New York Times and a contributor to the Times and other publications