LSU Manship School to Host Conversation on Historical Parallels in Government Propaganda as Part of Virtual Event Series

May 18, 2020

BATON ROUGE – The fourth installment of the Reilly Center for Media & Public Affair’s Communications & COVID-19 series will explore the history of government propaganda to understand how governments are responding to the COVID-19 pandemic. The conversation will be Tuesday, May 19, at 1 p.m. CST. 

The event, Historical Parallels in Government Information Dissemination: Learning from the Past, will feature Hopkins P. Breazeale Professor of Journalism John Maxwell Hamilton and University of British Columbia Assistant Professor of International History Heidi Tworek as panelists and Manship School Switzer Endowed Chair in Media Literacy Len Apcar as moderator.

As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to sweep through the global community, the time is ripe for conversations like this one. Governments, historically, have been faced with the responsibility to provide accurate and relevant information without causing cynicism and chaos. Examples range from President Woodrow Wilson’s creation of the Committee on Public Information to current global leaders hosting daily press briefings about the coronavirus.

Tuesday’s panel will explore how global leaders throughout history have chosen to utilize the power of government information dissemination to create different public health outcomes for citizenries.

Registration information for Historical Parallels in Government Information Dissemination: Learning from the Past and all events in the Communications & COVID-19 series can be found at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/communications-covid-19-a-virtual-event-series-tickets-102608007312. Registrants will receive a Zoom meeting link and information on how to join. The events will also be recorded and uploaded to the Manship School’s YouTube channel.

For more information, contact ksibley1@lsu.edu.

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The Reilly Center for Media & Public Affairs is partnership-driven, action-oriented and dedicated to exploring contemporary issues at the intersection of mass communication and public life. Its interdisciplinary approach draws together experts from diverse fields to advance research and dialogue. The intent is to inspire our communities to think deeply, take action, develop solutions and broaden knowledge. Underlying the Center’s endeavors is to strengthen and advance the Manship School’s national and state leadership in media and politics.

LSU’s Manship School of Mass Communication ranks among the strongest collegiate communication programs in the country, with its robust emphasis on media and public affairs. It offers undergraduate degrees in public relations, journalism, political communication, digital advertising and pre-law, along with four graduate degree programs: master of mass communication, Ph.D. in media and public affairs, certificate of strategic communication and dual MMC/law degree.