Category Archives: Speakers

Knight Center director talks about fake news

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Eric Freedman speaking to faculty and students in Kazakhstan

Knight Center director Eric Freedman recently gave two long-distance guest lectures on fake news to journalism students and faculty at universities in Kazakhstan.

Hosting the lectures were Hodja Ahmed Yassawi Kazakh-Turkish International University in Turkistan and Sarsen Amanzholov East Kazakhstan State University in Ust-Kamenogorsk

Freedman’s lectures addressed the growing prevalence of fake news, misinformation and manipulation that is fueled by social media and threatens democratization, citizen trust in the press and transparency. Continue reading →

High school journalism, science teachers and students visit Knight Center

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By Eric Freedman

Jeremy Steele giving building tour to students

The Knight Center hosted journalism and science students and teachers from three Michigan high schools that had won collaboration grants from a center initiative.

The groups from Everett High School in Lansing, Grandville High School in Grandville and Thurston High School in Redford presented their collaborative projects, which will be posted on the Knight Center website when they’re complete. Continue reading →

Visiting Chinese journalists discuss storytelling

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Xiaofei Dang from China International Publishing Group presents her study on Chinese social media at the VIPP Academic Forum.

Xiaofei Dang from China International Publishing Group presents her study on Chinese social media at the VIPP Academic Forum.

Six Chinese journalists visiting MSU gave a presentation called “Traditional Media vs. Social Media: Impacts on Storytelling” as part of the Visiting International Professional Program 2017 Academic Forum.

They also premiered a 10-minute video about their fall semester professional development experience at MSU.

Program participant Zhang Xiaotong moderated the presentation. Knight Center director Eric Freedman served as discussant.

The other presenters and their topics were:

  • Dang Xiaofei: Social Media in China
  • Zhong Lei: How China Utilizes Social Media on the International Stage
  • Zhai Huixia: Importance of Traditional Media
  • Zhang Tingting: Importance of Photos in Online News
  • Hu Yajuan: Observations on U.S. Traditional Media

The participants work for Beijing-based China International Publishing Group, a publisher of books, magazines and websites “with a mission to introduce China to foreign countries.” During their stay in East Lansing, they sat in on some J-School classes, took VIPP courses and visited the Lansing State Journal and WKAR.

Alums snare top prize for film on endangered sea turtles

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By Steven Maier
Michigan State alums and sibling filmmakers Laura and Rob Sams have won Best Engaging Youth Film at the Jackson Hole Film Festival for the second time in their careers
Their short children’s film, “My Haggan Dream,” follows a girl as she learns about the life cycle of the endangered sea turtles of Saipan, the largest of the Northern Mariana Islands in the West Pacific.

My Hagan Dream

My Hagan Dream


“I think we were a bit surprised we won this year because we were up against some really good films,” Laura said.
Laura was there at Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming that night to receive the award. She announced the victory with a text to her brother, who had stayed at home in Portland, Oregon, to care for his wife, who would give birth to their second son the next day.
Continue reading →