Mass Comm Week just around the corner

October 11, 2013

Jon Zmikly

We're so excited to announce that Evan Smith, Robert Kolker, Ann Stevens (’72), and Denise Malan will be among the speakers for Mass Comm Week 2013 taking place Oct. 21-25. Speakers will discuss careers and opportunities within the industry.Evan Smith, editor-in-chief and CEO of The Texas Tribune will speak on Monday, Oct. 21. The Texas Tribune is a nonprofit, non-partisan online news organization that focuses on Texas politics and public policy. Smith co-founded the Tribune after spending 18 years leading Texas Monthly magazine to success. He currently hosts a PBS television series, Overheard with Evan Smith, where he interviews some of today’s most interesting public figures such as Nancy Pelosi, Michael McKean and Kasim Reed.Robert Kolker, investigative reporter and author of The New York Times nonfiction best-seller, “Lost Girls: An Unsolved Mystery,” will present “A Conversation with Robert Kolker,” on Tuesday, Oct. 22. As contributing editor for New York magazine, Kolker writes articles that focus on life-changing events for everyday people. His work covers a variety of topics, including the heroics of firefighters, Boston Marathon bombing suspects and the police shooting of Sean Bell.Ann Stevens, class of ’72 and president of BioMed SA, will speak on Wednesday, Oct. 23. BioMed is a nonprofit organization formed to promote and expand San Antonio’s healthcare and bioscience assets. Stevens has firsthand experience, having spent eight years as director of corporate communications and investor relations for ILEX Oncology Inc., San Antonio’s first biopharmaceutical company.  She graduated from Texas State University with a B.A. in journalism with highest honors - and will receive a Distinguished Alumni Award on Friday, Oct. 25, during Texas State Homecoming weekend.Denise Malan, data director for the Investigative News Network and Investigative Reporters & Editors, will present an overview of IRE and demonstrations of data journalism on Wednesday, Oct. 23 and Thursday, Oct. 24. Malan, former data/investigative editor for Corpus Christi Caller-Times, is in charge of facilitating data-analysis services to INN’s membership of more than 80 nonprofit investigative news organizations.Other featured presenters include: Katherine McLane, former vice president of communications for LiveStrong Foundation. Erica Schuckies, account executive for Business Wire. Michelle Tanzola, marketing and public information manager for the City of Austin Fire Department.Check out the full schedule at www.txstatemcweek.com.