Washington journalists to talk about media, Obama administration

March 26, 2009

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — An evening with two nationally known journalists will conclude the 2008-2009 Presidential Lecture Series at the University of Florida on Wednesday.

Al Eisele, editor-at-large of The Hill, and Bill Adair, Washington bureau chief of the St. Petersburg Times and editor of PolitiFact.com, will discuss “Media and the New Administration.” The event will be moderated by UF spokesman Steve Orlando and will begin at 7 p.m. Wednesday in the Pugh Hall Ocora. The series is sponsored by the Bob Graham Center for Public Service.

“The purpose of the Presidential Lecture Series is to bring lawmakers and experts in to discuss issues of national importance,” said Michael Bowen, assistant director of the Graham Center. “Our two speakers are on the frontlines of the Washington press corps, covering this administration on a daily basis. They are well-placed to share with us the changes and challenges that the Obama administration has faced with the media in its first two months in office.”

The 2008-2009 Presidential Lecture Series is made possible by generous donations from Ron Ansin and Kaplan Higher Education.

The Graham Center for Public Service provides students with opportunities to train for future leadership positions, meet policymakers and take courses in critical thinking, language learning and studies of world cultures. Its mission is to foster public leadership and solve issues related to the Americas and homeland security. It also serves as a magnet to attract distinguished scholars and speakers to Florida.