This year’s Murrow Symposium brought communication professionals from across the field together to celebrate and explore Edward R. Murrow’s legacy of truth. Highlighting the event was Lifetime Achievement awardee, Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and former Executive Editor of the New York Times Dean Baquet. Mr. Baquet shared his wit, wisdom and experience in his keynote address and provided inspiration for future communicators to seek and stand by the truth.
The Symposium opened with the keynote speech, Do the Right Thing, Navigating the Moments that will Define Your Career, by former vice president of Twitter Canada and Latin America, Melissa Barnes. Her inspiring story and advice offered guidance on how to build a successful career while maintaining personal values. Brad Goode, award-winning journalist turned senior vice president of marketing and communications for WaFd Bank, similarly illustrated how beneficial it is to be oneself, even as you switch careers from one side of the communication field to another. He also demonstrated the versatility of a communication degree.
Cindy Brunson, Robert Dove, and Roger Nyhus were celebrated as the Murrow Hall of Achievement Class of 2023 during Tuesday’s lunch. Cindy Brunson is an award-winning journalist, who came to national attention for her work on ESPN. Robert Dove is a pioneer and innovator of the broadcast industry who recently retired as the Pacific NW Region President of I Heart media. Roger Nyhus, a business and civic leader, is founder and former CEO of Nyhus Communications. He is presently awaiting senatorial confirmation as the next U.S. Ambassador to Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean. Each of the awardees delivered individual and panel discussions and presentations which gave professional and life advice, demonstrating successful careers that continue the Murrow legacy.
With a total of 26 panels and presentations, including a showcase of student work, talks and panels with Pulitzer Prize-winning photographer David Kennerly, New York Times Executive Director of Audience Insights Rebecca Norris, news Anchor, reporter and WSU Alumni Achievement Award winner Eric Johnson, a panel from DH Communications and more, the 2023 Murrow Symposium was indeed memorable.
The 47th Murrow Symposium closed with award-winning reporter and author Karen Dorn Steele presenting a touching and inspirational memorial of the late Bill Morlin. Morlin’s outstanding investigative reporting on extremists and other topics impacted the whole nation, and his generous mentoring helped to shape a generation of journalists from the Northwest. During the event, Connie Morlin was presented with a plaque recognizing her late husband as a 2023 inductee into the Murrow Hall of Journalistic Achievement.
We sincerely appreciate the support of our sponsors, alumni, students, faculty and staff who together made this possible. Go Murrow Cougs!
Full footage of the events will soon be posted on the Symposium Website, but in the meantime Maggie Degarimore of Murrow News 8 delivered some excellent coverage and student reactions you can see now at:
47th Murrow Symposium – YouTube.