Joe Campbell's essay about the mythology of Watergate, published online last year, appears in print in the latest issue of American Journalism: A Journal of Media History (volume 39, number 4). An editor's note in the issue's preface describes Joe as "a prolific exterminator of media myths." The essay is titled "Watergate at 50: Solidifying a Mythical Narrative" and its abstract says: "The years since the 1972 break-in at the Watergate complex in Washington, DC, have solidified the dominant popular narrative about the scandal that toppled Richard Nixon’s presidency. The dominant narrative revolves around the claim—ever appealing and reassuring to journalists—that investigative reporting by Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein for the Washington Post uncovered the crimes that forced Nixon’s resignation in August 1974. This essay describes how the narrative of the heroic journalist took hold, why it is misleading, and how it might be revised to emphasize that Watergate ended a corrupt presidency despite, and not because of, journalists and their sources."
A shoutout for Jill Olmsted’s free podcasting ebook from the Poynter Institute, the nonprofit journalism and school and research institute which also operates the International Fact-Checking Network and PolitiFact. It was in Barbara Allen’s column, “Alma Matters” where she is the director of college programming. “If you teach podcasting, you’re probably familiar with “Tools for Podcasting,” the free e-book from American University’s Jill Olmsted. Though it is available as a PDF download, Olmsted recommends that people read it via the Open Textbook Library to get the latest real-time adjustments and improvements. Pick your platform!” It’s been a year-long battle for Jill to get the new URL and book design in place after a security issue.
SOC Adjunct Professor Joel Gershon’s documentary film, Cirque du Cambodia, will be screened for free on Feb. 10 at the Takoma Park Community Center at 7:30 as part of their 2023 film series. Here is a link to the event on the TKPK city website and a Facebook event link. Then, on Feb. 25, the film will screen in D.C. at the DMV International Film Festival https://www.dmviff.org/event-details/dmviff.
The film, which has been screened at more than a dozen film festivals and has picked up a Jury Prize and a couple of audience awards along the way, captures the amazing talents and ongoing challenges for two Cambodian teenagers who travel from the rice fields and dusty roads of their rural village to the other side of the world to train at the prestigious National Circus School of Montreal in Canada. Their ultimate dream is to perform with the prestigious Cirque du Soleil, whose headquarters is located across the street from the school. The two young circus performers arrived in Montreal with almost no money or the ability to speak French or English, but they are fueled by their hope to perform under Cirque du Soleil’s big top. Will they make it to the big time? Join us to see the film to find out!
Funding for Airlie-related research received by SOC professor Maya Livio and CAS professor JP Merz was profiled by AU for its newsletter, This Week at AU. "The two will travel to Airlie in early 2023 to set up camera traps, microphones, and sensors to capture wildlife sights and sounds, particularly those of migratory birds. The data will illuminate the convergence of technology and conservation and help develop ways to tell impactful environmental stories. Livio and Merz plan to produce a short film and host an online symposium at the conclusion of the project."
Gemma Puglisi’s two-part interview with legendary talk show host Maury Povich is now on the National Press Club’s podcast site. See: https://www.press.org/newsroom/podcast
In the first seven days (out of ten add/drop days) the undergrad advisors have seen 120 students! And many many more emails! Thank you, Jesse Nelson, Julio Reyes, Kylie Stigler, Tara Flakker!
In addition, since the start of the year our graduate advisors have advised 127 continuing students from all of SOC’s graduate degree programs, including online, in addition to 2 students seeking readmission, 2 new non-degree grad students, and a few of our new deposits for the coming academic year. Jean McGee said that it “keeps us busy, but it is great working with the students!” Thank you, Jean McGee and Tariq Nadim!