CNN’s Crowley to attend COM week

By Jennifer Seton and Josh Wolonowski | gargoyle@flagler.edu

The Communication Department has attracted some big names to its third annual Communication Week including keynote speaker Candy Crowley, a CNN senior political correspondent in Washington, D.C.

The Public Relations Student Society of America will host Communication Week from March 17 to March 20.

Professionals in the fields of public relations, journalism and broadcasting will come to Flagler to share international and national expertise with students.

They will speak to students in classroom settings, panel discussions, as well as Crowley’s keynote address March 17 at 2 p.m. in the Gamache-Koger Theater in the Ringhaver Student Center.

According to her CNN biography, Crowley has been a major player in the 2008 presidential debates and has attended all but one of the national political nominations since the election of Jimmy Carter.

Crowley’s keynote address will be followed by a reception in Markland house.

The Communication Department says all Flagler students and faculty are invited to this networking opportunity.

“Communication Week provides marvelous professional opportunities for our students,” Communication Department Chair Dr. Tracy Halcomb said. “Each year 10 to 15 students are able to set up internships as a direct result of the contacts made during COM Week.”

Other speakers include Cheryl Diaz, Tom Mattesky and Alan Bernstein.

Diaz is a 2004 Pulitzer Prize recipient for breaking news photography and senior staff reporter for The Dallas Morning News.

Mattesky is a retired Deputy Washington Bureau Chief for CBS News with more than 33 years of reporting experience.

Bernstein is a 28-year veteran of The Houston Chronicle which is the 10th largest circulating newspaper in the country.

Some local professionals include Jeannie Blaylock from First Coast News, Lanette Hart, vice president of Global Marketing for Bank of America and Flagler College alumni Lou DuBois, a custom content writer and reporter for Sports Illustrated in New York City.

Students will have the opportunity to learn from and network with communication professionals in the industry.

“All of the speakers have been recruited through contacts made by our Communication Department,” said Rosemary Tutt, assistant professor of Communication and PRSSA faculty advisor. “We will surpass any level of previous accomplishment as a result of the cohesive effort and teamwork of the individuals and organizations that are sponsoring Communication Week.”

Communication Week brochures and flyers will be around campus prior to the event.

For more information on Communication Week, please visit myspace.com/flaglerprssa or contact Lisa Dalrymple, vice president of Flagler PRSSA at LDalrymple@flagler.edu.