METROPOLITAN COLLEGE OF NEW YORK INITIATES A DIALOGUE BETWEEN MEDIA & EMERGENCY AND DISASTER MANAGEMENT PROFESSIONALS WITH A THOUGHT-PROVOKING PANEL

“Helping Media Effectively Cover Emergencies & Disasters in  New York City and Beyond”

NEW YORK, NY- May 25, 2010 – On May 16, 2011, Metropolitan College of New York (MCNY) brought together a mix of New York-based journalists for a thought-provoking panel discussion entitled “Helping Media Effectively Cover Emergencies & Disasters in New York City and Beyond.” This panel initiated a much-needed dialogue designed to help media provide accurate coverage and better inform the public in times of crises. Moderated by Dean Meminger, Criminal Reporter, NY1 News, featured panelists included John Keefe, Executive Producer, News & Information, WNYC New York Public Radio; Julian Phillips, Former Co-Host and Reporter, Fox News; Joshua Wilwohl, Reporter, Patch.com and Author of “All the News That Fits in Your Pocket;” and Rolando Pujol, Managing Editor, AM New York, all of whom have covered or managed media at some of New York’s most infamous emergencies and disasters.

 A link to this informative symposium is available at: (http://vimeo.com/23966920).

This discussion explored the realities of today’s news cycle and quest for ratings, the need for rational and informative journalism and the responsibilities of first responders and journalists to deliver crucial and time-sensitive information.  During this panel, Ali Gheith, Director of MCNY’s Emergency and Disaster Management program provided advice from the perspective of a first responder.

Like Mr. Gheith, who also works as Coordinator of Population-Based Resilience for the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, the faculty of Metropolitan College of New York’s (MCNY) Emergency and Disaster Management masters degree program consists of professionals who work on-site at emergencies. This direct experience provides the school with a wealth of specific knowledge that is particularly valuable to media professionals and first responders. MCNY’s stellar Emergency and Disaster Management faculty have managed local and international crises ranging from the 9/11 attacks and the earthquake in Haiti to the New York City Blizzard of 2010.

This panel was developed as the first in a series of discussions to help media, government officials and first responders better serve the public in times of need. The second part of this discussion is slated to take place in September 2011.

To view the discussion on “Helping Media Effectively Cover Emergencies & Disasters in New York City and Beyond,” please visit http://vimeo.com/23966920

For more information on Emergency and Disaster Management and MCNY’s graduate program, visit http://www.mcny.edu/publicaffairs/mpa_emergencyabout.php

L to R: Julian Phillips, Former Co-Host and Reporter, Fox News; Dean Meminger, Criminal Reporter, NY1 New, John Keefe, Executive Producer, News & Information, WNYC New York Public Radio; Dr. Vinton Thompson, President, Metropolitan College of New York; Ali Gheith, Director of MCNY’s Emergency and Disaster Management Program; Rolando Pujol, Managing Editor, AM New York; MCNY Student and Joshua Wilwohl, Reporter, Patch.com and Author of “All the News That Fits in Your Pocket”