March 28, 2007

News Panel Featuring Helen Thomas, Clarence Page Rescheduled

MACOMB, IL -- The panel discussion, "The News Media’s Impact on Shaping Our Perceptions of Culture and Diversity," featuring former White House Bureau Chief Helen Thomas; Pulitzer Prize-winning columnist Clarence Page; Pam Huey, a Western Illinois University alumna; and Mark Ridolfi, editorial page editor at the Quad City Times, originally scheduled for Feb. 13, has been rescheduled for 7 p.m. Wednesday, April 18 in Western Hall on WIU's Macomb campus.

The presentation, part of the University Theme "Global Challenges and Personal Responsibility – Cultural Diversity" 2006-2007 Speaker Series, is open free to the public.

Commonly referred to as "The First Lady of the Press," former White House Bureau Chief Helen Thomas is a trailblazer, breaking through barriers for women reporters while covering every president since John F. Kennedy. For 57 years, Thomas also served as White House correspondent for United Press International. She recently left this post and joined Hearst Newspapers as a syndicated columnist; however, she retains her front row seat in the White House West Wing Briefing Room. Thomas has written three books, including her latest, "Thanks for the Memories Mr. President: Wit and Wisdom from the Front Row at the White House."

Page, the 1989 Pulitzer Prize-winner for Commentary, has been a columnist and a member of the Chicago Tribune’s editorial board since July 1984. His column is syndicated nationally by Tribune Media Services in close to 200 papers. Page is an occasional panelist on The McLaughlin Group; a regular contributor of essays to NewsHour with Jim Lehrer; and the host of several documentaries on the Public Broadcasting Service. He is also a regular panelist on Black Entertainment Television's weekly "Lead Story" program and an occasional commentator on National Public Radio's "Weekend Edition Sunday."

Huey, a 1972 graduate, is an editor and writer for the Minneapolis Star Tribune. After graduating from Western and Sangamon State's Public Affairs Reporting Program, which was started by the late Sen. Paul Simon, Huey worked for UPI in Des Moines, IA and was bureau manager in Champaign (IL). In 1985, Huey moved to Washington, D.C. as Simon's deputy press secretary, returning to the Twin Cities region in 1992, where she worked for Minnesota Public Radio and the Associated Press before joining the Star Tribune in 2000.

Ridolfi, who will serve as the panel moderator, has worked on city desks 20 years as city editor for the Daily Dispatch, Moline (IL); assistant city editor for the Indianapolis (IN) News; and city editor for the Quad-City Times. He served as online director for the Quad-City Times in 2006,and he has also worked as the United Press International bureau manager in Davenport, IA from 1984-1985.He is also a journalism instructor at Augustana College in Rock Island (IL).


Copy By: Darcie Shinberger, University Relations
Phone: (309) 298-1993 * Fax: (309) 298-1606