Emily Brand & Isabel Lawrence
News Editors
On Nov. 18 at 6 p.m., NCHS hosted the 18th annual Richard Salant Lecture, which included guest panelists David Gergen, Peter C. Goldmark Jr. and Joe Scarborough with moderation by Brian Williams. These three members of the panel, with guidance from Mr. Williams, discussed how the media and broadcast journalism affected the past election, and answered questions proposed by the audience on expectations for the next four years.
Brian Williams and Peter Goldmark talk backstage in the green room before the panel begins.
The lecture, held in honor of Richard Salant and his notable achievements in the media world, is dedicated to broadcast journalism and encouraging news literacy. According to Peter Goldmark, a noted environmental and social advocate, as well as the CEO of the International Herald Tribune, Mr. Salant was a model executive. “Dick Salant was one of this country’s great, great news executives,” he said. “A free and professional news operation is the oxygen of democracy, and I grew up with him. I don’t think anybody understands the pressure to which a news executive can be subject.”
As broadcasting and journalism becomes more advanced technologically, it can be hard to decipher the morals and boundaries that an active journalist should be aware of. Moreover, when talking about the challenges CBS faced from the White House in the 70’s , Mr. Goldmark emphasized the leadership position Mr. Salant had to take. “Dick was on the hotspot and he was just a firm, brave, very talented defender of independent news in the country and that’s about as central to what America is and stands for as anything you can get,” he said.
TV Broadcasting and Journalism teacher, Roman Cebulski, used the lecture as an opportunity for having a team of his advanced TV students work with producer Roger Goodman, as well as having journalism students attend the event. “I think any time or any chance that students have to listen to what these individuals have to say and learn things, educationally speaking, from them, that not only relates to the class but as a person and as an American,” Mr Cebulski said. “I think it’s something that they should really take advantage of.”
Panelists and family members of the speakers and of Mr. Salant arrive in the green room.
Mr. Cebulski added that New Canaan students have a unique opportunity to learn from people in the media industry that are residents here, especially in television and broadcast journalism.
Executive Director of the New Canaan Library Alice Knapp expressed her excitement over high school students’ involvement with the event and the opportunity for them to work with such big names in the industry. “These people are in the pinnacle of their career, but they want to share and talk about the passion that got them there,” she said. “They don’t just want to say I do this, this and this, they want to be mentors.”
One of the team leaders of the NCTV crew covering the lecture, senior Jack Howard, communicated his enthusiasm at being presented with the chance to work with such a prestigious industry producer as Roger Goodman. “Personally, this is a great opportunity to speak with some of the best figures in media and TV and hear their stories,” he said. “Additionally, this could be a nice gateway to getting a few internship opportunities if our production goes well. ”
(From left to right: Brian Williams, Joe Scarborough, David Gergen, Peter Goldmark)
“For the NCTV class as a whole, working with Mr. Goodman will give us a new perspective on organization and in particular lighting for certain productions,” Jack added. “If we are able to successfully produce this event, we anticipate that [Mr. Goodman] will be able to share his own directing and producing expertise to help us improve our own areas of production.”
Aside from a learning experience, Mr. Williams recognized how the event also served to demonstrate the passion of the New Canaan community in bringing residents together to honor their own. “New Canaanites, they are the way all towns used to be,” Mr. Williams said. “They show up, they care, they go to meetings, they have opinions. But they’re engaged and involved. I go to a lot of places, and you just don’t see this kind of civic engagement. Sadly, it’s dying, and maybe it got caught up in partisanship, maybe we’re just too busy, but that crowd, you look out at that crowd tonight, these are people who care. So that’s why it’s a great thing.”
