Award-winning television executive Kate O’Brian, president of Al Jazeera America, will headline as the inaugural speaker for Monmouth University’s new #coMmtalks series that kicks off on Monday, March 30 at 7:30 p.m. in the University’s Wilson Hall Auditorium.
#coMmtalks is a series of conversations with engaging communication professionals developed by Monmouth University’s Department of Communication Council. O’Brian’s installment, #coMmtalks: The Culture of News, will focus on topics ranging from international news coverage to what it takes to run a major news network. Al Jazeera America is the U.S. news channel that provides both domestic and international news for American audiences. Attendees will gain perspective on the challenges facing today’s media professionals as well as insight on the demands of an ever evolving news cycle. The event is free and open to the public.
“Kate O’Brian’s visit to campus represents a terrific opportunity for our students to learn first-hand what it takes to succeed in broadcast news,” said Chad Dell, chair of the Department of Communication. “They will also better understand some of the key issues that face us as citizens of the nation, and of the world.”
O’Brian became president of Al Jazeera America in 2013 after 30 years with ABC News. Immediately before taking the post, she served as senior vice president of newsgathering operations, where she was responsible for all of ABC News’ newsgathering operations including all ABC News bureaus worldwide; business, law and justice, medical, and investigative units; NewsOne, ABC News Radio, and affiliate relations. O’Brian also was general manager of programming for ABC News Radio responsible for editorial content; overseas field producer in Rome and London; producer for World News Tonight with Peter Jennings, both in Washington, DC and New York; and manager in talent development.
O’Brian won an Alfred I. duPont-Columbia University Award for her work with This Week with David Brinkley team, an Emmy Award for the 2000 Millennium coverage at ABC News and a George Foster Peabody Award for ABC News’ September 11 coverage.
To register online for this free event, please visit the coMmtalks Event Registration form.
For more information about #coMmtalks, please contact Professor Lorna Schmidt at 732-263-5356 or lschmidt@monmouth.edu.