7:00 P.M.

KEYNOTE SPEAKER

S.E Cupp, political television commentator, conservative culture critic and author

7:45 A.M. – 8:30 A.M.

REGISTRATION

Continental breakfast is included with paid registration

First Floor Lobby

8:30 A.M. – 9:00 A.M.

WELCOME REMARKS

• Michael Dahlstrom, interim director, Greenlee School of Journalism and Communication
• Wendy Wintersteen, president, Iowa State University

195 Benton Auditorium (First Floor)

9:00 A.M. – 10:00 A.M.

KEYNOTE SPEAKER

Leslie Gaines-Ross, Weber Shandwick
Civility in America: A Nationwide Survey
Gauging Americans’ attitudes toward civility in a variety of areas impacting society and daily life

195 Benton Auditorium (First Floor)

10:00 A.M. – 10:15 A.M.

DEAN’S REMARKS AND AGENDA FOR THE DAY

• Beate Schmittmann, dean, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
• Michael Dahlstrom, interim director, Greenlee School of Journalism and Communication

195 Benton Auditorium (First Floor)

10:15 A.M. – 10:30 A.M.

BREAK

10:30 A.M. – 11:45 A.M.

MORNING BREAKOUT SESSIONS

Panel discussion: Covering controversial issues
How media can help maintain civility and encourage civil discourse

Moderator: Rheya Spigner, KCCI-TV anchor and host of the Project CommUNITY series

Panelists:

• Anne Hillman, freelance journalist, formerly of Alaska Public Media
• Kathie Obradovich, opinion editor, Des Moines Register
• Monica Schneider, CLTV anchor and WGN reporter, Chicago

First Floor (Room 167-179)

Panel discussion: Keeping audiences intact
How incivility is decreasing our ability to connect with audiences, and how we can fix it

Moderator: Melissa Inman, vice president, digital content strategy and operations, Meredith Corporation

Panelists:

• Karla Armendariz, Hispanic marketing consultant and consumer specialist
• Lolly Bowean, Chicago Tribune reporter on urban affairs and minority communities
• Rob Yarin, VP, Content Strategy and Research, Cox Media Group

Second Floor (Room 220-230)

11:45 A.M. – 1:00 P.M.

LUNCH

(included with paid registration)

Second Floor Lobby

1:00 P.M. – 2:00 P.M.

MODERATED DISCUSSIONS AND BEST PRACTICES FORUMS

Discussion: How journalists can inspire civil discourse and deliver a better product

Moderated by the Robert D. and Billie Ray Center, Drake University

First Floor (Room 167-179)

Discussion: How advertisers, PR professionals and organizations can ensure we don’t lose our audiences

Moderated by the Robert D. and Billie Ray Center, Drake University

Second Floor (Room 220-230)

2:00 P.M. – 2:15 P.M.

BREAK

2:15 P.M. – 3:30 P.M.

AFTERNOON BREAKOUT SESSIONS

Panel discussion: Navigating discredit and disbelief
The origin of misinformation and evolution of distrust – and how we as media and marketers can regain trust among our audiences

Panelists:

• Aleksander Dardeli, executive vice president, IREX
• Chuck Kaiser, general manager, Edelman U.S. Public Affairs
• Sandy Pudar, assistant news director, WGN Chicago

Moderated by Joseph Jones, executive director, The Harkin Institute

First Floor (Room 167-179)

Panel discussion: Civility and the upcoming election cycle
How press will be viewed and treated; how much advertising money will be spent; how uncivil things may get; how that all affects our professions

Panelists:

• Noor Naseer, senior director, media innovations and technology for Centro
• Dave Price, WHO-TV political director and anchor, and author of the “Caucus Chaos” book series
• Travis Ridout, distinguished professor of government and public policy, Washington State University; co-director of the Wesleyan Media Project

Moderated by Walker McKusick, national director, Vote Smart

Second Floor (Room 220-230)

3:30 P.M. – 3:45 P.M.

BREAK

3:45 P.M. – 5:00 P.M.

CLOSING SESSION

Congressional investigations and hearings: How we get to the truth in a civil manner

• Mike McCurry, former White House press secretary; current director of the Center for Public Theology and distinguished professor at Wesley Theological Seminary
• Tom Miller, Iowa attorney general

Moderated by Kevin Cooney, former anchor, KCCI-TV

195 Benton Auditorium (First Floor)

5:00 P.M. – 6:30 P.M.

NETWORKING RECEPTION

First Floor Lobby