About the Beat

It is no secret the United States’ economy is in a recession. What has also become apparent in the past few years is that public education is one of the first items on the chopping block when budgets are reconstructed. The effects are felt at every level of the education system from elementary, middle and high schools to the state universities. Cuts to education budgets have been in the news for decades, and with each slash the results become more magnified. As a result, students and families have been taking on a larger financial obligation, especially at the collegiate level.
Now, with hard times falling upon more and more families, the decreased affordability of education is taking a more dramatic toll. That can even be seen in primary and secondary schooling. Private schools are becoming less of an option for Americans and that not only makes it more difficult for the schools losing enrollment to operate, but puts a larger burden on the already-stretched public schools those children are entering.
Another part of the education system that is taking a hit due to the economy is scholarships and financial aid. College tuition nowadays is a small fortune even at a state school, and there is less money being provided to help offset the cost for potential students. There are also more people applying for financial aid and scholarships than ever before because of the worsened economy, further compounding the problem.
As a student at Washington State University, I see first-hand the consequences these drastic budget cuts are having on our school, but we are not alone. As unbelievable as it sounds, it is even worse in some places and those nation-wide issues can offer a glimpse at what may be in store for this region. Follow me as I explore what happens in the education realm during the next four months and how it may affect the Northwest.
Please direct any questions or comments to mwalsh88@wsu.edu.

Thursday, April 2, 2009

Murrow Symposium Background

Often referred to as the “First Lady of the Press,” Helen Thomas has been a White House correspondent since John F. Kennedy was in office. Thomas spent 57 years with United Press International, from 1943 to 2000, eventually becoming the first female United Press bureau chief. She has traveled the world with seven presidents in the past quarter-century and now writes as a syndicated columnist for Hearst Newspapers.

Bob Schieffer carries more than 50 years of broadcast journalism experience, 40 of them at CBS News. Schieffer has covered all four major beats in the nation’s capital and has been a floor reporter at every Democratic and Republican National Convention since 1972. Career highlights include moderating the final presidential debates in 2004 and 2008.

The Murrow Symposium is an annual event to recognize the accomplishments of a national figure in print or broadcast journalism. Previous recipients of the Lifetime Achievement Award include Tom Brokaw, Peter Jennings and Don Hewitt. The symposium is named after legendary journalist and WSU graduate, Edward R. Murrow.
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1 comment:

  1. hrgottliebApril 2, 2009 at 1:29 PM

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