PULLMAN, Wash. – The Murrow College at Washington State University is delighted to host the virtual 45th Murrow Symposium on March 30–31, 2021.
Originally scheduled for March 2020, the 45th Murrow Symposium was postponed last year due to the COVID‑19 pandemic. This year’s virtual environment presents added opportunities for participants, including master classes and networking spaces, as well as open sessions for high school students and community members to attend.
“Technology continues to transform how and where we communicate, and students from around the globe will be able to participate in this year’s Symposium,” said Bruce Pinkleton, dean of Murrow College at WSU. “While I’m looking forward to bringing the event back to Pullman, we’ll continue to use technology to reach across the world in extending the reach and impact of the Murrow legacy.”
This year’s theme is “Power of Voice.” The human voice is a tool of great power and persuasion: it can stimulate joy, tears, anger, and create empathy and understanding. Whether used verbally, in print, or digitally, the human voice provides a way to express a unique sense of style, personality, experience, and opinion. At their worst, voices disseminate misinformation, disinformation, and hate. But at their best, voices can break down systemic barriers.
Lester Holt, news anchor for the weekday edition of NBC Nightly News and Dateline NBC, will receive the Murrow Lifetime Achievement Award in Journalism and give the keynote speech virtually on March 30.
“I can’t think of anyone more deserving of the Murrow Lifetime Achievement Award than Lester Holt,” Pinkleton said. “I’ve been especially impressed by the quality of his work during our recent, tumultuous election season. He has graciously extended his participation to this year’s Symposium, and it is a privilege to have him join us as an awardee and participant this year.”
Murrow alums Janie McCauley and Mark Wright will also be honored as Hall of Achievement Award recipients and will accept their awards on March 31. Janie McCauley, a 1998 Murrow College graduate, is a journalist for the Associated Press based in the Bay Area, where she covers the San Francisco 49ers, the San Francisco Giants, the Golden State Warriors among her other beats. Mark Wright is a news anchor for KING 5 News in Seattle and a two-time Emmy Award winner for his work as a hard news reporter and documentary producer.
Registration for the virtual 45th Murrow Symposium is open. Event details will be shared in the virtual platform, on the Murrow College Symposium website, and social media channels.
Media contact:
- Corrie Wilder, director of marketing and communications, Edward R. Murrow College of Communication, 425-405-1776, corrie.wilder@wsu.edu
