The Media, Public Policy and the Age of Indifference

Saturday, March 25, 2006
University of St. Thomas, Minneapolis Campus
1000 LaSalle Ave., Minneapolis, MN
(Corner of 10th Street and LaSalle Avenue)

From the earliest eras of our nation’s history, the importance of a knowledgeable electorate has been recognized. Yet young adults increasingly are tuning out news about public affairs, politics and the activities of our government. Indeed, the statistics are alarming. Fewer than 28% of Americans in their mid-30s say they read a newspaper every day, compared with 74% in 1972. The average CNN viewer is about 60 years old. Only 11% of young people rank the news as a major reason for logging onto the Internet. Consequently, many media outlets have reduced their coverage of “hard news”, instead emphasizing crime, sports and popular culture. What is the impact when an entire generation tunes out?

• Are students learning about workings and activities of government in school?
• How deeply are schools impacted by what is popular?
• How important is what students want to learn, and what their parents want them to be taught?
• How well are schools equipping students to be good citizens?

These are among the important questions that will be discussed at The Media, Public Policy and the Age of Indifference, a conference at the University of St. Thomas Minneapolis campus. In addition to keynote presentations, three panel discussions will bring to the forefront other aspects of multi-faceted issue.

Join us for this important and interesting conference.

Schedule

8:30 a.m.	Registration
9 a.m.	Keynote Address America’s Tuned-Out Generation David Mindich
10:30 a.m.	Panel: What’s Happened to Civics Education (and Why Don’t Our Kids Know More about Their Government)? Moderator: Dave Nimmer, University of St. Thomas  - Michael Boucher, president, Minnesota Council for the Social Studies  - James Murphy, principal, Shakopee High School  - Alice Seagren, commissioner, Minnesota Department of Education
Noon	Luncheon: 2006 Jean Harris Lecture The Challenges Facing Today’s Editors Deborah Howell
2 p.m.	Panel: Is There Still a Market for Public Affairs Coverage? Moderator: Lynda McDonnell, University of St. Thomas  - Brian Lambert, talk show host, KTLK FM and former media critic, St. Paul Pioneer Press  - D.J. Tice, state government and politics editor, Star Tribune  - Bill Wareham, news director, Minnesota Public Radio
3:45 p.m.	Panel: What Happens When the Watchdogs Stop Watching? Moderator: Steve Dornfeld, Metropolitan Council  - Jack Coffman, former statehouse and political reporter, St. Paul Pioneer Press  - Curtis Johnson, urban affairs consultant and former chair of the Metropolitan Council  - Dee Long, energy policy expert and former speaker of the Minnesota House  - Dan McElroy, senior advisor to Gov. Tim Pawlenty and former state legislator

Title Sponsor
Public Policy and Leadership Program, School of Education, University of St. Thomas

Sponsors
Citizens League

Learning Law and Democracy Foundation

Minnesota Association of Government Communicators

Minnesota Association of Secondary School Principals

Minnesota Council for the Social Studies

Minnesota Newspaper Association

Minnesota Newspaper Foundation

Society of Professional Journalists

America’s Tuned-Out Generation
David Mindich, chair of the Journalism and Mass Communications Department at St. Michael’s College, former CNN assignment editor and author of Tuned Out: Why Americans Under 40 Don’t Follow the News

The Challenges Facing Today’s Editors
Deborah Howell, ombudsman for the Washington Post, former director of Newhouse News Service and former editor of the St. Paul Pioneer Press