Resting after 17 or 18 days

I’m not sure how you count the days when you travel back across the International Date Line. But I left Taipei at 7:20 p.m. on Saturday, May 15, flew about 11 hours, and landed in Los Angeles at 3:45 p.m. on Saturday, May 15. Ended up getting back to Miami about sunrise on Sunday.

So is was either 17 or 18 days with 13 lectures (including questions and answers) and four panel sessions during an eight-day program in two countries and five cities. I visited St. Petersburg and Moscow in Russia and Taipei, Kaohsiung and Taichung in Taiwan.

I spoke to journalism or communications students, to journalists and to professional journalism organizations, including the Faculty of Journalism at Moscow State University and the National University of Science and Technology in Russia, and the National Taiwan University Graduate Institute of Journalism, National Taiwan Normal University, Wenzao Ursuline College of Languages and Providence University in Taiwan. The talk at Providence University was webcast to about 15 other colleges or universities. I also spoke at IREX, the International Research and Exchanges Board in Moscow, and that talk was webcast to two other cities. Additionally in Moscow I spoke at the American Center at the Library of Foreign Literature and on a panel session with foreign correspondents from The New York Times, The Associated Press and The Christian Science Monitor. I heard Russian Fulbright winners describe their work in the United States, and try to encourage others to apply for the program. A highlight of the Moscow trip was a reception at the U.S. Embassy, hosted by Deputy Chief of Mission Eric Rubin.

Poster announcing my talk at Providence University, Taichung

In Taiwan, besides talks at universities, I also spoke to editors and reporters at Business Weekly magazine and at ETTV and with reporters and editors at Central News Agency. (Here’s the story they wrote: Digital media helpful for traditional news industry) I met with a group of radio reporters in Taichung. In Taipei I was on a panel with a representative of Yahoo! and an editor from Global Voices. I also had a great conversation with William Stanton, Director of the American Institute in Taiwan.

All the university students were fascinated to hear about Knight News Challenge projects and how to apply to the Knight News Challenge. But some also wanted to ask about U. S. journalism education and talk about my new role (starting July 1) as Dean of the College of Journalism and Mass Communication at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

Another view of the poster

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Around the World

Just completed the first segment of a literal around-the-world series of flights: Miami to New York’s JFK; JFK to Moscow; Moscow to Beijing; Beijing to Taipei; Taipei to Los Angeles; Los Angeles to Miami.

Someone recently told me that in the days of Pan Am Airlines, they used to make a big deal of this. I think it’s a wonderful reason to have a party – each leg of the way!

Heading to Moscow

It’s time to revive this dusty old blog. Wednesday (April 28) I fly for way too many hours to Moscow.  I’m going there to speak  as part of  a World Press Freedom Day conference at Moscow State University, called “Days of American Journalism.”

I’m traveling there a few days early so that I can first visit St. Petersburg, The Hermitage Museum and the main sights of the city.

Knight Foundation grantee, Alexander Zolotarev, a Fulbrighter and Ph.D. student at Moscow State University, helped arranged the visit and will guide me around Moscow.

Following meetings at Moscow State, the U.S. Embassy and sites around the city, I then go to Taiwan, for a series of talks in Taipei, Kaohsiung and Taichung.

When I return in mid-May, I then head to Lincoln, NE, to find a place to live, as I transition into the job of Dean of the College of Journalism and Mass Communications.