Muskingum News

Muskingum University journalism students attended the City Club of Cleveland’s Nov. 1, 2024 Annual Meeting and free speech forum.

J.W. Dennison ’25, Katelyn Lindsey ’26, and Assistant Professor of Communication Shawn Starcher were guests of Muskingum trustee Ruth Wasem ’76.

The forum, “Getting Proximate and Local: The State of Free Speech, News, and Access to Information in our Communities,” featured Dale R. Anglin, Director of Press Forward. A national coalition, Press Forward is dedicated to strengthening local newsrooms, closing gaps in journalism coverage, and advancing public policy that expands access to local news.

“This was a great opportunity for our students to reflect on what journalism used to be, how it is changing, what it looks like today, and how it might look in the future,” Dr. Starcher said.

For journalism major J.W. Dennison, Editor-in-Chief of Muskingum’s Magenta Journal and Program Director of WMCO, the conversation sparked new ideas. “Learning about the issue of news deserts has me thinking about how I might play a role in addressing the lack of local news coverage as I begin my career. The creative solutions that communities across the country are using to support local journalism were very inspiring.”

Founded in 1912, the City Club of Cleveland is one of the nation’s oldest continuous independent free speech forums. The non-partisan organization produces programs that convene leaders and engage citizens on critical issues.