Associate dean Thomas Hollihan recently spoke to the Los Angeles Times about presidential hopeful John Kerry's comments regarding the "Republican attack machine." "This makes it hard to appear later that he's in any way above the fray and that the other side should be held accountable for taking the debate into the gutter," Hollihan said. "And when the attack comes from the candidate himself, then there's no distancing himself from the message at all." L.A. Times story»

Marty Kaplan , associate dean and director of the Norman Lear Center , appeared March 8 on KCRW 89.9's "Which Way, L.A.?" to discuss Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's part-time appointment as executive editor of Muscle & Fitness and Flex magazines. Kaplan said he's concerned that Schwarzenegger might be acting improperly by conferring the prestige of California and his gubernatorial post on a commercial venture. "Is it appropriate for a public figure whom we elect to use his prestige to help other people make money in for-profit ventures?" Kaplan asked. Kaplan was also quoted in a New York Times article about the same topic. Listen to Kaplan's KCRW interview» Kaplan in The New York Times » Also: Kaplan on Schwarzenegger in the L.A. Daily News

USC Annenberg has received a $1.83 million grant from The California Endowment , a foundation dedicated to improving the health and well-being of Californians, to establish The California Endowment Health Journalism Fellowship Program . The program, to be operated through USC Annenberg's School of Journalism, will bring mid-career journalists to campus as fellows for intensive seminars on issues of health, medical and health care facing California. USC Annenberg expects to attract 100 journalists annually across a range of media, including local and ethnic press, and will sponsor workshops for editors and news directors. "This is a big and bold undertaking to improve health care, and the journalism about it, in California," said Michael Parks, director of USC Annenberg's School of Journalism. This will be the School's fourth major mid-career education program for journalists, joining the Western Knight Center for Specialized Journalism (co-run with the University of California at Berkeley), the USC Annenberg/Getty Arts Journalism Program and the Institute for Justice and Journalism . The California Endowment Web site»

27 Visiting professor Adam Clayton Powell III (pictured) appeared as a witness February 26 before the U.S. Senate Committee on Foreign Relations for a hearing titled "Public Diplomacy and International Free Press." "Without independent media, governments are at best only partially transparent, the rule of law is at best incomplete, and multi-party elections cannot be truly open and free," Powell said. "Strengthening independent media remains among the most effective and enduring tools for promoting multiparty democracy available to us today." Powell is a Senior Fellow at the USC Center on Public Diplomacy . More about the hearing» Powell's statement» Watch Powell's statement in RealMedia»

26 John F. Kerry, John Edwards (pictured), Al Sharpton and Dennis J. Kucinich went toe to toe February 26 in a live presidential primary debate sponsored by CNN and the Los Angeles Times , held in USC's Bovard Auditorium. The Annenberg School served as the post-debate "spin room" for candidates and the media. Earlier in the day, Elizabeth Edwards, John Edwards's wife, participated in an open forum at USC Annenberg with students and faculty. Annenberg TV News crews covered every aspect of the day's events. Watch ATVN's comprehensive coverage» Also: USC Annenberg journalism students cover the debate for the Daily Trojan : Zach Fox reports on post-debate rallies more» Kristin Mayer gauges student response more» Susan Tam covers campus demonstrations more» More news»

25 Reporters and editors from Gannett New Jersey newspapers have won the 2004 Selden Ring Award for Investigative Reporting for their groundbreaking series exposing a government system that allows elected officials to exploit their positions for personal gain. The $35,000 annual prize, presented by the USC Annenberg School of Journalism , recognizes the year's outstanding work in investigative journalism that led to direct results. Gannett New Jersey reporters, led by Asbury Park Press investigations editor Paul D'Ambrosio , systematically investigated the New Jersey Legislature to "help voters better understand their lawmakers' financial interests" before the Nov. 4, 2003 state election. The series documented how some legislators in New Jersey "hire their relatives, pad their pensions or hand out millions of dollars in no-bid contracts to employers, friends, and party bosses." In the citation announcing the award's winner, the judges wrote: "The seven Gannett New Jersey newspapers did nothing less than bring ethics to government in the state of New Jersey." Read the series» More about the Selden Ring Award» Read the release»

Professor Ed Cray's new book, Ramblin' Man: The Life and Times of Woody Guthrie , was featured on the cover of the February 15 Los Angeles Times Sunday Book Review section. The accompanying review praised Cray's "meticulous research" and "detailed writing style," and concluded that "in exploring the nuances of Guthrie's work, Cray's exacting style is pitch-perfect." Cray also appeared February 16 on KPCC 89.3's "AirTalk" to discuss the book. Ramblin' Man on Amazon» Listen to Cray on KPCC»

22 Special guest Budd Schulberg (pictured), author of On the Waterfront and other classic Hollywood films, told a crowd of USC Annenberg faculty, staff and students at Dean Geoffrey Cowan's Open Forum on February 12 not to fear what Cowan termed the "war for control of the Disney Corporation." Describing the events that lead to the ousting of his father, a powerful movie producer over 60 years ago, Schulberg said, "How many times has this happened before, this power move? ...again and again!" With some relief, political consultant Dan Schnur asked if he meant that "indeed, there's nothing new under the sun? Does history tell us that the people who tell the best stories eventually win over those who distribute content?" Quipped Schulberg, "I wish that were true."