March 13, 2014 (Jackson) - The Belhaven University Department of Communications will host the 2014 Media Ethics Conference on Thursday, March 20 at 9:00 a.m. This event, held in Belhaven University’s Student Center Theater, will feature a host of media professionals on four different panels discussing the importance of ethics in each of their respected fields.
“The ethics class has done a phenomenal job of pulling this dynamic group of media professionals together under one roof,” said Dr. Elayne Hayes-Anthony, Chair of the Belhaven Communications Department. “Belhaven is the only university in the area that has a media ethics conference of this nature. Students get a chance to speak to members of the media and ask questions about the field plus make personal contacts about internships, and job expectations.”
The conference is open to a select group of high school juniors and seniors as well as community and local university college students that are interested in the field of communication. The theme for this year’s conference is entitled “Keeping it Fresh and Professional.” The title of each panel and the selected speakers include the following:
Integrating Professionalism and Integrity with Social Media
(9:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m.)
Nicole Webb, Director of Communications, Governor Phil Bryant
Sheila Skipper, Director of Communications, the Mississippi Manufacturers Association
Jan Schaefer, Spokesperson, Mississippi Attorney General’s Office
Shawn Rossi, Vice President of Marketing and Public Relations, the Mississippi Hospital Association
Colendula Green, Spokesperson, Jackson Police Department
Breaking News: Balancing Accuracy, Ethics, and The Scoop
(10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.)
Emily Wagster-Pettus, Chief Political Writer AP
Randy Bell, News Director, Clear Channel
Wilson Stribling, News Director, WLBT TV 3
Jason Stevens, News Director WJTV TV 12
Kevin Lightfoot, Executive Producer, WAPT TV 16
How to Be an Ethical Leader While Establishing an Effective Work Environment
(11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.)
Jimmy Cromwell, Vice President/ General Manager, WJTV-12
Stuart Kellogg, General Manager, WAPT TV 16
Dan Modisett, General Manager, WLBT TV 3
Kenny Windham, General Manager, Clear Channel Media & Entertainment
Brian Tolley, Executive Editor, the Clarion Ledger
Jeff Russell, Senior Partner, President of the Godwin Group
How to Outbreak Breaking News in a Twitter World
(1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.)
Rick Cleveland, Executive Director, Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame
Kyle Tait, Radio Personality, Mississippi Braves
Mitchell Williams, FCA Area Director, Pinebelt Fellowship of Christian Athletes
Brad Conaway, Digital Content Manager, WLBT
Adrian Jones, CEO, Redlaser Technology Inc.
Please contact Dr. Elayne Hayes-Anthony at 601-968-8715 or by email at ehayesanthony@belhaven.edu for additional information.