Sizzle Panel Discussion
Thursday, February 5, 5-8 p.m.
Sponsors: Center for Biology and Society, Global Institute of Sustainability, Institute for Humanities Research, School of Earth and Space Exploration, School of Life Sciences, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Whole Foods Market
Moderator
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John D’Anna
Senior editor of the Arizona Republic
John D’Anna is editor of the Mesa Republic community edition, where he exhorts his team of watchdog reporters to afflict the comfortable, comfort the afflicted, and bring him donuts. He also writes the smart-alecky azgreenday environmental blog, which he named after a punk rock group. (He wanted to name it after “The Cramps” but the editorial board already had dibbs on that name.) Anyway, you can find it on the Republic's website, azcentral.com or just go to azgreenday.azcentral.com and let the hilarity ensue. Before his current assignment, he was a senior platform manager, which is what they decided to call the metro editor three or four reorgs back. In 15 years at the Republic, he has served as a deputy managing editor, senior editor for metro, projects editor, deputy city editor and assistant city editor, but not all at once.
D’Anna was named one of Gannett Company’s top 16 newsroom supervisors nationwide in 2003, but has had a considerable dry spell ever since, unless you count a couple of honorable mentions in the press club. In previous lives, he was an editor and reporter at the Mesa Tribune, escaping in time to keep from getting his 10-year pin; and a reporter at the Oakland Tribune, where he once interviewed Morris the Cat and the governor of California on the same day. It was the first time he can ever recall preferring the company of a cat. Before that, he stocked shelves at Safeway, and before that he mowed lawns. Somewhere in there he was a bartender for awhile, but that didn't work out so well.
When he’s not toiling in the newsroom, he is an instructor at Arizona State University's Cronkite School of Journalism and Stuff, where he exhorts his students to get the facts right, get the right facts and bring him donuts. Speaking of college, Mr. D’Anna received his B.A. degree in journalism from The University of Arizona in 1983, graduating magna cum lucky. And still speaking of college, he has had numerous guest lecturing appearances in media law and journalism classes, which he does for free so he can rationalize not donating to his alumni association.
From 1997 to 2002, he oversaw newsroom legal issues for the Republic, including a successful mandamus action before 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals involving the criminal trial of Gov. Fife Symington and a successful public records access suit against state Education Department over the release of standardized test questions. Frankly, he doesn't remember a whole lot about either, but both efforts were honored with freedom of information awards from the Society of Professional Journalists and the Arizona Newspapers Association, and he enjoyed the banquets very much even though they didn’t serve donuts.
Mr. D’Anna serves on the board of the Arizona First Amendment Coalition. In his spare time, he plays ice hockey and is a fourth-degree black belt in Taekwondo and still competes in national and international tournaments (yeah, even at his age) so you all better be on your best behavior.
Panelists
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Daniel Bernardi
Director of Film and Media Studies
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Susanne Neuer
Susanne Neuer is an associate professor in the School of Life Sciences and a biological oceanographer. She did her undergraduate work in Biology in Germany, then came to the United States as a Fulbright fellow to earn her Masters of Science degree from the University of Washington and her doctorate from Oregon State University in Corvallis. Her main research interest is in the area of ocean biogeochemistry; especially the dynamics of the biological carbon pump, and the role of ocean biota in the carbon export to the deep sea. Most of her research has been ship based; she has participated in more than 20 cruises, five of which as chief scientist. She teaches various courses at ASU on Oceanography and Marine Biology, and aims to raise awareness among students and the public of the role of oceans in global change.
