2010 Media Symposium

The fourth annual symposium was conducted Friday, January 22.  Representatives from a variety of publications and broadcast organizations were in attendance.

Here is the videotape report of the event:

Part I - Georgia Partnership Policy and Research Director Susan Walker delivers the first part of the Top Ten Issues to Watch in 2010 report. This is followed by Georgia Public Education - A Status Report by Superintendent of School's Kathy Cox. (There is a momentary delay in the start of Part I.)

Part II  -  Erin Hames, the governor's education advisor, provides a status report on Georgia's application for federal Race to the Top education funds.  This is followed by a discussion on the charter school process - "The Charter Commission - Who Controls the Expanding Charter School Frontier" -moderated by Peachtree TV's executive director/community affairs/on-air talent, Jeff Johnson.  Jennifer Rippner, senior policy advisor, Education Counsel LLC, and Phil Hartley, attorney, Harbin & Hartley, answer a variety of questions from their perspectives.

Part III  -  The Department of Education's Communications Director Matt Cardoza provides helpful insights into covering the agency.  This is followed by School Funding: Fundamentals and Forecasts featuring Alan Essig, executive director, Georgia Budget and Policy Institute, and Herb Garrett, executive director, Georgia School Superintendents Association.  The day concludes with Susan Walker's second part of the Top Ten Issues to Watch Report.

Here are a few of the resulting stories:
Education 2010: No money. Zip. Nada. None. Go fish
State schools chief wants flexibility on class size
Teachers to rally at Capitol to share budget concerns
Georgia schools need a break, Cox says

See below for recaps on previous symposiums.  POC is Partnership Communications Director Bill Maddox (404-223-2464).

2009 Event
The third annual program was conducted Friday, Jan. 16.  Twent five reporters representing several news organizations gathered at Georgia Public Broadcasting to hear from a variety of news makers including State Superintendent of Schools Kathy Cox; AdvancedEd President Dr. Mark Elgart; State Senator Eric Johnson; Herb Garrett, the executive director of the Georgia School Superintendents Association; and Associate State Superintendent of Schools Andrew Broy. 

Among the issues discussed were funding, school board governance, and school choice.  Starting the day was the formal release of the Partnership's Top Ten Issues to Watch in 2009 report.

The Partnership is grateful to its supporters who have made the Symposium possible for the past three years: Cox Communications, Georgia Public Broadcasting and Turner.

Thanks to Georgia Public Broadcasting, here is the third annual Georgia Partnership for Excellence in Education Media Symposium arranged in the order of presentation:

Part 1  Opening Remarks with the Partnership's vice president, Diane Hopkins,  communications director, Bill Maddox, followed by the introduction of the Top 10 Issues to Watch in 2009 with Susan Walker, the Partnership's director of Policy and Research, and The View from the Top with State Superintendent of Schools Kathy Cox. 

Part 2  Funding (Herb Garrett) and School Board Governance (Mark Elgart)

Part 3  Round Table Discussion Among Reporters with Dana Tofig, director of communications, Georgia Department of Education 

Part 4 What's Next for Georgia's Public Schools? Upcoming policy and legislation panel discussion focusing on several issues including school choice with moderator Gerard Robinson, President, Black Alliance for Educational Options, Associate Superintendent of Schools Andrew Broy, and State Senator Eric Johnson

2008 Event
Twenty five education reporters gathered to hear from House Minority Leader Dubose Porter; House Education Committee Chairman Brooks Coleman; Senate Education and Youth Committee Chair Dan Weber; Georgia's 2007-2008 Teacher of the Year Emily Jennette; and Dana Tofig, state DOE communications director.  A working lunch was held with guest speakers Dana Tofig, DOE communications director, and Georgia's 2008 Teacher of The Year Emily Jennette. 

2007 Event
Thirty reporters attended the inaugural effort.  Guest speakers included State Superintendent of Schools Kathy Cox, Senator Johnny Isakson's chief of staff, Heath Garrett, Coleman and Weber.  

Evaluations consistently praise the event and request that it be continued.  Contact communications director, Bill Maddox, for details.