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Kenova Pumpkins And Diminished Trust In Media On This West Virginia Morning

On this West Virginia Morning, thousands of visitors from all over the region visit the small town of Kenova each year to see more than 3,000 pumpkins aglow for the Halloween weekend. Briana Heaney has the story.

On this West Virginia Morning, thousands of visitors from all over the region visit the small town of Kenova each year to see more than 3,000 pumpkins aglow for the Halloween weekend. Briana Heaney has the story.

Also, in this show, we are struggling with trust in America. Some people distrust our institutions and each other. Recently, Us & Them host Trey Kay partnered with West Virginia University (WVU) for a conversation on diminished trust in the media. His guests were Raney Aronson-Rath editor in chief of the PBS investigative journalism series Frontline – and June Cross, professor of journalism from Columbia University. We listen to an excerpt from that conversation.

West Virginia Morning is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting which is solely responsible for its content.

Support for our news bureaus comes from Shepherd University.

Caroline MacGregor produced this episode.

Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:43 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning

Us & Them: Diminished Trust In The News Media

We used to trust the news, but now some polls and surveys show that our confidence has eroded. Recently, the Us & Them team partnered with West Virginia University’s Reed College of Media for a conversation on diminished trust in journalism. Host Trey Kay spoke with Raney Aronson-Rath, editor-in-chief and executive producer of PBS Frontline, and June Cross, director of the documentary journalism program at the Columbia Journalism School.

Trust is in short supply in America as social and political divides continue to erode our faith in our democratic republic. National surveys and polls show that people distrust each other as well as our government and institutions.

Us & Them Host Trey Kay recently partnered with West Virginia University’s Reed College of Media for a conversation focusing on diminished trust in journalism and the news media. He spoke with special guests Raney Aronson-Rath, editor-in-chief and executive producer of PBS Frontline, and June Cross, director of the documentary journalism program at the Columbia Journalism School.

The panelists agreed that the rise of social media and the hollowing out of local news have been part of the problem. The event included thought-provoking audience questions and comments about who and what they trust. This episode of Us & Them draws from that live event as we figure out where to turn for reliable information.

This episode of Us & Them is presented with support from the West Virginia Humanities Council, and the CRC Foundation.

Subscribe to Us & Them on Apple Podcasts, NPR One, RadioPublic, Spotify, Stitcher and beyond.

Professor June Cross (left) of the Columbia Journalism School and Raney Aronson-Rath (center) editor-in-chief and executive producer of PBS Frontline, speak with Us & Them Host Trey Kay at West Virginia University.

*Credit: Julie Blackwood*

Raney Aronson-Rath is editor-in-chief and executive producer of Frontline, PBS’s flagship investigative journalism series. She is a leading voice on the future of journalism. Under her leadership, Frontline has won every major award in broadcast journalism.

*Courtesy Photo*

June Cross is Columbia University’s Fred W. Friendly, professor of media and society, and director of the Documentary Journalism Program. Her work has been awarded with the highest honors in broadcast journalism, and her career has highlighted stories of the dispossessed and the intersection of race, politics, and public health. She joined the Columbia Journalism School in 2001, and she is now a tenured faculty member.

*Courtesy Photo*

“We’ve heard from many people who say that the erosion in public trust in America is an existential threat to our democratic republic. We believe this is *the* issue of our times.” — Trey Kay, *Us & Them* host

*Credit: Julie Blackwood*

An audience of students, faculty and community members from throughout West Virginia came to West Virginia University’s Reynolds Hall to listen to a discussion about diminished trust in the news media and journalism.

*Credit: Julie Blackwood*

I’m 18 and journalism has been so skewed for my whole life. My political consciousness kind of was there during the Trump presidency, and we know that since then the media has been so biased… Have you noticed any trends of apathy or ignorance among teenagers in my generation towards politics and current events? Because we just don’t care what the media has to say, because it’s been so bad.” — West Virginia University student

*Credit: Julie Blackwood*

“I want to talk to you about the role and impact of technology and journalism. Should journalists be rushing towards new technologies? And what about also the impact of AI [Artificial Intelligence]? Raney, you said that you know journalists are trained to be able to distinguish reality from fake. What if we are soon or if not already in that time where we genuinely cannot tell what is true and what is not?” — Prof. Robert Quick, director of Marshall University’s W. Page Pitt School of Journalism & Mass Communications

*Credit: Julie Blackwood*

“My trust in West Virginia media was diminished after the West Virginia Broadcasters Association and West Virginia media, including Public Broadcasting, changed the debate rules to exclude third party candidates. How do we restore our faith that we can return to a structure where outside voices and not just the two corporate parties have a seat at the table?” — Joel Brown, West Virginia University staff

*Credit: Julie Blackwood*

“There is something to be said that we’ve splintered and that we’re getting news from TikTok instead of just the CBS Nightly News. That it’s not just Walter Cronkite, it’s a variety of voices that are doing this online. But at the same time, you both also mentioned that, that part of this splintering and this distrust resulted as a [democratizing of] the media ecosystem since more and more people have entered. And so I’m wondering, is part of restoring faith in the media, actually restoring some sense of gatekeepers?” — Amy Eddings, reporter from Ideastream Public Media in Cleveland, OH

*Credit: Julie Blackwood*

“When do the individuals that are beholden to media, have a love for media and actually care about the reputation of media, begin to step in and say, ‘For the integrity of my profession, I need to show some authenticity and fix how we as a profession are seen, not the problems of the world per se, but how we conduct ourselves in this profession?’” — Meshea Poore, vice president for West Virginia University’s Division of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

*Credit: Julie Blackwood*

WVU President Gee Highlights Path Forward, Hints At More Cuts

President Gordon Gee hinted at more cuts for West Virginia University in his State of the University Address Monday.

Gee opened his remarks by acknowledging the impacts of the Academic Transformation process that has cut dozens of programs and close to 150 faculty positions.

He highlighted several of the university’s successes, including a national astronomy award and increased freshman retention rates before returning to the issue of the university’s budget deficit.

WVU is facing a $45 million budget shortfall, and Gee said the 2024 budget was designed to to reduce expenses by around $21 million.

“The academic program review process, we are estimating the university will yield around $17.3 million in savings by fiscal year 27 after phased retirements and teach-out plans run the record,” he said. “However, the majority of savings will be realized in fiscal year 25.”

Reviews of WVU’s Beckley and Keyser campuses, as well as WVU Extension, are slated for January 2024.

Gee said the cuts are setting the university on a course to become the modern land-grant university of the future by focusing on “four priorities within the pillars of education, health, prosperity and purpose.”

“We will serve as the great connector — building partnerships that drive industry, education and public sector growth,” Gee said. “And we will create the great public square our society so desperately needs, providing a safe and nurturing place for civil discourse and debate for all ideas.”

Gee also highlighted an effort to expand access to the university by increasing the number of students who graduate with zero debt. He said about 45 percent of May 2023 graduates earning bachelor’s degrees completed their education with zero debt.

WVU Professor Indicted For Fraud

Forty-one-year-old Xinjian “Kevin” He is accused of embezzling federal grant funds from WVU’s management and industrial systems engineering department where he worked as an assistant editor.

A former West Virginia University (WVU) professor has been indicted on two counts of federal program fraud for embezzling university grant money.

Forty-one-year-old Xinjian “Kevin” He is accused of embezzling federal grant funds from WVU’s management and industrial systems engineering department where he worked as an assistant editor.

He is alleged to have used the money for his personal use to buy clothing, furniture, electronics and other items.

According to U.S. Attorney William Ihlenfeld, He embezzled $8,360 between March and November 2018 and $16,997 between November 2018 and November 2019.

The indictment was originally returned in 2020 but it was sealed by authorities after He fled the country. The former WVU professor was arrested this year on Sept. 26 in New York after he was caught entering the U.S. from Canada.

If convicted, He faces up to 10 years in prison on each count of fraud.

Friends Across The Political Divide And Keeping The Nations Voter Rolls Clean, This West Virginia Week

On this West Virginia Week, mental health continues to be in the spotlight with federal funds set aside to help finance multiple West Virginia programs. We’ll also hear statistics from the recent mass distribution of the lifesaving Naloxone drug.

On this West Virginia Week, mental health continues to be in the spotlight with federal funds set aside to help finance multiple West Virginia programs. We’ll also hear statistics from the recent mass distribution of the lifesaving Naloxone drug. And, more on West Virginia University and how faculty and students continue to grapple with widespread funding cuts.

There’s also good news for customers of Mountaineer Gas who can expect to see lower bills, and there’s new efforts to expand green technology in the state.

We’ll also hear feature stories about science fiction and technology writer Corey Doctorow and ERIC – the Electronic Registration Information Center, and in this week’s US & Them we’ll hear how two friends manage to keep their relationship intact across the political divide.

Caroline MacGregor is our host this week. Our theme music is by Matt Jackfert.

West Virginia Week is a web-only podcast that explores the week’s biggest news in the Mountain State. It’s produced with help from Bill Lynch, Briana Heaney, Caroline MacGregor, Chris Schulz, Curtis Tate, Emily Rice, Eric Douglas, Liz McCormick, and Randy Yohe.

Learn more about West Virginia Week.

Update: WVU Students Show Support For Palestine With Rally

Students on West Virginia University’s Morgantown campus held a rally in support of Palestine Wednesday.

Updated on Friday, Oct. 13, 2023 at 10:35 a.m.

Students on West Virginia University’s Morgantown campus held a rally in support of Palestine Wednesday.

About two dozen people gathered outside WVU’s student union to show their support for Palestine at the event organized by the Muslim Student Association.

Omar Ibraheem, president of the association, said the rally also hoped to raise money for humanitarian aid in Gaza, and push back against misinformation.

“Our main goal is just to educate people passing by and encourage research,” he said. “We want them to get out of the mindset that Palestine is the villain. Don’t believe everything you hear, don’t believe everything you just see, even the stuff I’m preaching right now, I want people to go home and fact check me.”

Ibraheem said they are advocating for human rights, regardless of race or religion.

“This is a human rights issue,” he said. “There are Jewish Palestinians, there are Christian Palestinians, there are Muslim Palestinians, all of them are being persecuted. We are here for the sake of human rights, not for the sake of a religion. As the Muslim Student Association we stand against injustice, and we stand for human rights at all costs.”

Computer science major Nada Mikky lived in Gaza for 13 years before moving to West Virginia with her family. She said she lived through three wars in that time and beyond misinformation she feels there has been a lack of coverage on the psychological impact of the fighting.

“The sound of the bomb, now that I’m hearing it through social media, that’s nothing compared to the sound that you can hear in real life,” Mikky said. “It not only shakes you from the outside, it can shake your lungs, it reaches the very bottom of your heart. Children there are struggling with PTSD.”

She said she hoped the rally helped to fix any misconceptions and possibly push people to look at the other side of the situation.

Jewish student organizations – including Chabad at WVU, Hillel and the AEPi fraternity – have also organized campus events in support of Israel such as a counter-protest Wednesday and a vigil in Woodburn Circle Thursday evening.

*Editor’s note: This story was updated on Friday, Oct. 13. to include the activities of Jewish student organizations.