By Lian Bunny
News Assignment Editor
The Lenna committee chose published author, blogger, documentary producer and advisor, Greg Mitchell, ’70, as this year’s Lenna Visiting Professor.
The professorship is funded through gifts from the late Betty S. Lenna Fairbank and Reginald A. Lenna of Jamestown. Established in 1990, it is designed to bring reputable scholars to St. Bonaventure University and Jamestown Community College for public lectures.
Mitchell will give his speech, “The Struggle for a Free Press in America: From JFK to Edward Snowden,” on Sept. 30, at 4 p.m. in the Murphy Auditorium. His co-produced documentary, “The Following Ninth,” will be screened in The Regina A. Quick Center for the Arts on Oct. 1, at 7 p.m. Both events are open to the public.
“It’s an important subject, especially today in this wild world of the Web and new crackdowns on sourcing, whistleblowing and ‘net neutrality,’” Mitchell said. “And it may be more dangerous, because younger people perhaps take it for granted, not realizing that all this wonderful news that appears online has to come from somewhere and has to be credible, not just gossip or speculation.”
In addition, Mitchell will be visiting several Journalism and Mass Communication and Strategic Communication and Digital Media classes. He will also have time to interact with students one-on-one or in small groups.
“It is a terrific chance to return to campus and try to pass along at least some of what I’ve learned in my 44-year career in daily newspapers, national magazines and writing more than a dozen books – plus hundreds of appearances on TV, radio and creating documentary films,” Mitchell said. “So that span kind of covers most of the aspects of a modern ‘mass communications.’”
Richard Lee, professor of journalism and mass communication, said he nominated Mitchell as the Lenna Visiting Professor, because he embodies an ideal journalist.
“If you look at [Mitchell’s] career, he’s had a very diverse career that really touches on all the disciplines we offer [at St. Bonaventure] – writing, strategic communications, and also politics, public affairs and non-violence,” Lee said.
During his career in journalism, Mitchell has edited magazines such as Crawdaddy, Feature, Politicks & Other Human Interests, Edit & Publisher and the Nuclear Times.
He has also authored more than a dozen books, such as “The Campaign of the Century,” written on the birth of modern media politics and Upton Sinclair’s race for governor of California in 1934. The book received the Goldsmith Book Prize and was a top-five finalist for the Los Angeles Times Book Prize.
Mitchell’s written works have also warranted the attention of celebrities. “So Wrong for So Long” featured a preface by Bruce Springsteen and Mitchell’s memoir “Joy in Mudville” was optioned by Tom Hanks. Recently, he has also completed two e-books, “Hollywood Bomb” and “Vonnegut and Me.”
Mitchell served as chief advisor for documentaries such as “Original Child Bomb” and a theatrical version of his 1992 book, “The Campaign of the Century.” In 2013, he co-produced Following the Ninth, on Beethoven’s final symphony. The documentary was featured on National Public Radio “All Things Considered” and Bill Moyers’ PBS show.
Recently, Mitchell has been a blogger and daily writer for The Nation and its website. He is also a blogger for the Huffington Post and has a personal blog, Pressing Issues. His @GrebMitch Twitter feed has more than 27,000 followers.
“If you follow [Mitchell’s] blog and his twitter feed, he’s always up on current events,” Lee said. “I don’t know how he tweets as frequently as he does on the variety of topics that he does. That’s one of the things I want to talk to him about. As things are happening, he’s always right on topic with things. That’s a strength.”
bunnyla13@bonaventure.edu
