Event Examines the Role of Media in the Face of Tragedy

"It has been said that journalism is the first draft of history, and when tragedy struck our city on that fateful day, it was journalists who wrote that first draft of Pittsburgh’s story,” said Dr. Pamela Walck, associate professor of journalism.
 
Duquesne University’s Gumberg Library and the Patricia Doherty Yoder Institute for Ethics and Integrity in Journalism invite the community to a panel discussion to learn more about the role and responsibilities of journalists when tragedy strikes a community. 
 
Scheduled for Feb. 17 from 6 to 8 p.m. in Gumberg Library, The Ethical Responsibilities of Media When Tragedy Strikes a Community features a discussion with the following: 

• Panelists
  Paula Reed Ward, former Post-Gazette reporter, TribLive reporter
  Lily Thomas, retired Post-Gazette editor
  Bob Mayo, retired, WTAE-TV
  Soo Song, former attorney, U.S. Department of Justice
  Michele Rosenthal, victims’ sister
• Moderator
  Pamela Walck, director, Yoder Institute & associate professor, Duquesne University Media Department

Guests are asked to register in advance. 

“While people removed from the newsroom might make assumptions about how reporters do what they do, the work of journalism is rooted in the ethics of transparency, honesty and veracity of facts,” said Walck. “I hope journalism students attending gain a greater understanding of why journalists do what they do, that law students might leave with a greater appreciation for the role of the press and that citizens who attend will leave with a greater appreciation for the critical value of local news and the individuals who produce it.”
 
This panel discussion complements the traveling mosaic exhibition From Darkness to Light: Mosaics of Healing and Hope, on display in the Library’s Popular Reading Room through March 31, which honors resilience and remembrance in response to the 2018 Tree of Life attack.
 
This traveling exhibit is curated by artist Susan Ribnick and features mosaic works by 40 artists from around the world. The exhibition reflects on the Tree of Life Congregation shooting and explores themes of loss, resilience, peace and hope. 
 
“Gumberg Library is honored to host From Darkness to Light: Mosaics of Healing and Hope,” said Dr. Sara Barron, dean of libraries. “Collaborating with faculty on programs connected to the exhibition deepens its impact, especially when these conversations resonate with what students are learning in class. The Yoder Institute’s outstanding panel brings together expertise and perspectives for a dialogue that remains as vital today as it was in October 2018.”

Duquesne University

Founded in 1878, Duquesne is consistently ranked among the nation's top Catholic universities for its award-winning faculty and horizon-expanding education. A campus of more than 8,200 graduate and undergraduate students, Duquesne prepares students by having them work alongside faculty to discover and reach their goals. The University's academic programs, community service and commitment to equity and opportunity in the Pittsburgh region have earned national acclaim.

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