The Georgia Southern Statesboro Campus will host a panel discussion on the role of trusted news media in promoting transparency and accountability in government on Monday, April 1st from 6:00 to 7:30pm in the Atrium of the Carroll Building on the Statesboro campus.
The event, titled “Transparency and Accountability in Government: The Role of Trusted News Media Panel Event,” will feature expert panelists discussing how trusted news media can help promote transparency and accountability in government by ensuring that citizens are informed and involved in the decision-making process.
The panelists include:
- Mayor Jonathan McCollar, the first African American mayor of Statesboro, Georgia, elected in November 2017, a native of Statesboro and a graduate of Georgia Southern University, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in History and a Masters degree in Public Administration.
- DeWayne Grice, founder of Grice Connect, has reshaped local media for nearly four decades across various platforms such as radio, television, print, and digital media. His mission is to provide unparalleled hyper-local daily news to Statesboro and Bulloch County through Grice Connect, a solutions-based news product he founded in 2019.
- Susan Catron, managing editor of The Current, is a veteran journalist with more than two decades of experience in Georgia newspapers. Her heart is in local news, and she has also worked at daily newspapers in Louisiana, Missouri, Florida, and Kentucky.
- Dal Cannady is Communications Director for Bulloch County government, overseeing the county’s website and social media, and serving as a liaison between multiple county agencies, the media, and other community organizations. Prior to this role, he spent 27 years as a news reporter for WTOC-TV in Savannah.
- Jason Grant is Director of Advocacy at the International City/County Management Association (ICMA), where he leads thought leadership initiatives related to the structure and operations of local government administration. Jason's work primarily centers around understanding the dynamics between elected officials, professional staff, and the communities they serve, with a focus on identifying and addressing local issues.
The panel event will be introduced by Zamaria Ball, moderated by Edie Grice, and Ebow Barton-Odro, Graduate Students in Masters of Public Administration (MPA) program. MPA program professors Dr. Candice Bodkin and Dr. Kristina Patterson will share their insights on the topic as well.
Join us for an engaging discussion about the role of trusted news media in promoting transparency and accountability in government. Our esteemed panelists will delve into the significance of informed citizen engagement and explore how trusted news media can facilitate transparency and accountability, empowering citizens to actively participate in the decision-making process.
The audience will have the chance to engage in a lively conversation with our panelists and ask thought-provoking questions. Don't miss this opportunity to gain valuable insights and contribute to the discourse on the crucial role of trusted news media in our democratic society.
The event is free and open to community members and students. It is sponsored by the Georgia Southern Statesboro Campus Department of Public and Nonprofit Studies, the Georgia Southern Institute for Vibrant and Engaged Communities, and the GSU International City/County Management Association chapter.
