Past events

Twenty Years Later: Journalists Reflect on Covering Hurricane Katrina

To mark the 20th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, the Reilly Center for Media & Public Affairs reflected on one of the most tragic and tumultuous periods in modern American history. Featuring journalists who were on the ground in 2005—reporting from flooded neighborhoods, overwhelmed hospitals, and makeshift shelters—this conversation explores the personal and professional challenges they faced, the lessons they carried forward, and how Katrina reshaped local and national media.

The event built on a recent project by LSU Manship School Professor Lisa Page, whose senior journalism students conducted in-depth interviews with reporters, editors, and photographers who covered the storm. Several of those journalists returned to Baton Rouge to share their memories, insights, and perspectives on how journalism has evolved—and what remains unchanged—in the decades since Katrina changed the Gulf South forever.

Inside the Courtroom with CBS News' Jan Crawford

It was an engaging evening with Jan Crawford, CBS News’ chief legal correspondent, as she shared her unparalleled insights into the intersection of law, journalism and society. A recognized authority on the U.S. Supreme Court, Crawford brought decades of experience covering landmark judicial appointments, confirmation hearings and pivotal legal decisions that have shaped the nation. She is also the bestselling author of Supreme Conflict: The Inside Story of the Struggle for the Control of the United States Supreme Court and has conducted exclusive interviews with some of the Court’s most notable justices.

The event included a special introduction by LSU women’s basketball coach Kim Mulkey, who also facilitated an interactive Q&A session with Crawford. This was a unique opportunity to gain behind-the-scenes perspectives from one of America’s leading legal journalists, whose career has bridged the worlds of law, media and storytelling.

Chasing Coral: Panel Discussion & Film Screening

Dive into the critical conversation about our planet's oceans at "Chasing Coral: Panel Discussion & Film Screening." Join us for an eye-opening evening featuring co-producer Stacey Piculell, esteemed experts from LSU's College of the Coast & Environment, and leading environmental journalists.

This panel explored the profound impacts of coral reef bleaching and the role of storytelling in driving climate action. Following the discussion, attendees watched a screening of the acclaimed documentary Chasing Coral, which highlights the urgent crisis facing coral reefs worldwide.

2024 Presidential Election Night Watch Party

This nonpartisan event, hosted in collaboration with LSU College Republicans, LSU College Democrats, the LSU political science department, LSU Roger Hadfield Ogden Honors College and LSU NAACP offered students and citizens the opportunity to come together to experience the highs and lows of election night in a vibrant and engaging atmosphere. We were joined by guest speakers Meg Casper Sunstrom, Chief Communications Officer of the Louisiana Legislature, and Charlie Cook, National Pollster and Founder of The Cook Political Report. 

Beyond the Rings: Inside the 2024 Summer Olympics

Dive into the marketing strategies and innovations that emerged during the recent Summer Olympic Games. Hear from reporters about their on-the-ground experiences, gain academic perspectives and be inspired by the journey of an Olympic medalist. Also, hear from a few of the Manship School students who participated in the first-ever LSU Manship School Olympics Project. This event promised valuable insights and inspiration to ignite your passion for marketing, journalism and the Olympic spirit.

This event kicked off the LSU Manship School Sports Summit, which explores trends, challenges and innovations in the sports media industry.

2024 Presidential Election: How to Analyze It like a Pro

Occurring as early voting begins and shortly after the second presidential debate, this event features a dynamic fireside chat with prominent media figures and political strategists from both major parties. Moderated by Charlie Cook, one of the nation’s leading authorities on U.S. elections and political trends, this discussion covers current party dynamics, key swing states, potential game-changers and the future of the political landscape. Engage in a robust Q&A session to deepen your understanding and prepare to cast an informed vote in November.

The 2024 John Breaux Symposium: AI In Mass Communication

The widespread use of artificial intelligence tools is now a reality, including in the communication industry. How are these tools being used? What concerns should we have? How will the industries change? What do practitioners need to know now and why? The 2024 John Breaux Symposium—the Reilly Center’s signature annual event–examines these questions and more. This event features collaborative presentations and live demos from AI experts and explores its use in communication industries while also examining the accompanying ethical considerations. Manuscripts developed from the 2024 John Breaux Symposium will be featured in an issue of the International Journal of Strategic Communication.