By Eli Pitcock
JMC student
Students in the Murray State University public relations capstone class (JMC 491) got a first-hand education in creating public relations materials during the first McGaughey Lecture on Press Freedom and Responsibility recently.
The Murray State Department of Journalism and Mass Communications held the first McGaughey Lecture on Press Freedom and Responsibility on Feb. 14.
Designed to honor the late Robert “Doc” McGaughey, a longtime Murray State JMC faculty member, the lecture was given by Louisville-based political cartoonist Marc Murphy, who often appears in The Louisville Courier, as well as other national publications. Dr. Kevin Qualls, JMC department chair, also made an appearance, as well as emcee Amy Watson, ’89, senior anchor at WTVF.
During the lecture, Murphy spoke about the value of dissent and how it relates to his career as a lawyer and political cartoonist, as well as press freedom as a whole.
Preparing for the lecture also served as the main mission of Dr. Marcie Hinton’s public relations capstone course. Senior public relations students were given the opportunity to create public relations materials for the event, as well as manage social media campaigns, create pieces to be published in on-campus publications and gain experience in event planning and crisis management.
“Doc’s mission was always, first and foremost, the student,” Hinton said. “The lecture was a chance for public relations students to do what they have been learning in classes. It also served as a great networking opportunity for them and the professionals who will need them.”
“I was surprised about how much I enjoyed it,” Jake Davis, a junior music education major, said. “I wasn’t sure how relevant it would be to me as someone outside of journalism, but I think it’s important for all of us to continue to stay involved in conversations about questioning authority and ensuring straightforward access to information.”
Along with the lecture, the event served as a fundraiser. The Murray State Department of Journalism and Mass Communications will benefit from funds raised that evening. The Robert H. “Doc” McGaughey Fund for Excellence in Journalism and Mass Communication will directly support Murray State’s JMC department and will be allocated to support student and staff recruitment efforts, create scholarship opportunities, support facility upkeep and more.
The event was held in the newly renovated Lovett Auditorium and drew a sizable crowd of journalists and JMC alum from surrounding areas, as well as current Murray State students. A live stream was also offered for others who were unable to be in attendance.
