Minds On Media & Education

From FDR’s fireside chats to today’s Twitter feeds, media has always been an essential component of political strategy and communication. Recent changes in the way Americans get their news, including the rising influence of social media, has dramatically altered the way government officials communicate with their constituents. Martin Brennan, State Director for Senator Chuck Schumer of New York, is one of the Senator’s closest aides and a 30-year veteran of New York politics. In this episode, Mr. Brennan discusses how media has affected our perceptions of politics, politicians, campaigns and our role as citizens.

What do we "see" in our minds when we read a book?  How can you capture the essence of a novel in an image?  Perhaps no one has given these questions more thought than Peter Mendelsund, who has designed some of the most iconic books covers of our time.  Peter is the Creative Director of The Atlantic, was formerly the Associate Art Director at Alfred A. Knopf, and author ofWhat We See When We Read, Cover,and newly published novel,Same Same.Peter talks about about the intersection of perception, authorship and reading, and mass media and cover art.

Have you ever been drawn in by a headline about a celebrity?  Do you know more about the personal lives of the royal family than you care to admit?  Does our media and social media environment create the illusion that celebrities are our friends?  Victoria Arbiter is the CNN Royal Contributor and has spent a career in broadcasting, reporting on the royal family.  We discuss the ways in which the public fascination with the royal family and other celebrities has (or has not) changed over the years, and how media and social media have played a key role in that relationship.

Can a campus that values free speech, opposing points of view and vigorous debate simultaneously provide a safe environment for each of its members?  Are the values of tolerance and safety necessarily in conflict with the value of hearing a wide spectrum of opinions?  My guest is John Palfrey, Head of Phillips Academy in Andover, Massachusetts and author ofSafe Spaces, Brave Spaces: Diversity and Free Expression in Education.We discuss the challenge of cultivating healthy argumentation on campuses, the influence of social media, and how he navigates these concerns with a diverse high school student body.

Films are storytelling brought to life.  Documentaries tell the stories of people whose stories need to be heard.  Regina Scully is an award-winning documentary film producer who is trying to change minds and hearts through storytelling.  Whether covering the epidemic of rape in the U.S. military or on college campuses (“The Invisible War”, “The Hunting Ground”), the under-representation of women in positions of power (“Miss Representation”), or the novel contributions of Mr. Rogers to television and children’s education (“Won’t You Be My Neighbor”), Regina discusses how films can motivate viewers to influence public policy, social policy and inspire change.