Power of NYC Media Topic of Nov. 27 Public Affairs School Lecture at Rutgers-Newark

(NEWARK) How influential is the New York City media in shaping the city's perception of social issues and its politics? Did the New York media deconstruct David Dinkins image after he became mayor?

These are just some of the questions that will be addressed Nov. 27 when the Rutgers School of Public Affairs and Administration in Newark launches its 2006 Lecture Series. The inaugural program will feature Professor Wilbur Rich of Wellesley College, author of David Dinkins and New York City Politics: Race, Images, and the Media.

The talk will begin at noon on Nov. 27 in the Paul Robeson Campus Center, Room 226, 350 Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd. on the Newark campus of Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey. The program is free and open to the public, and lunch will be provided at no cost. Reservations are required: Please call Madelene Perez, 973/353-5093, ext. 13, or email the reservation to spaa@andromeda.rutgers.edu.

The program will delve into David Dinkins' tenure as the first African American mayor of New York City and examine the vital role that the media plays in the perception of mayoral leadership. Rich uses interviews and journalists words to demonstrate how the New York City media shaped and challenged the former mayors public image, while providing insights into African American politicians and the fragile nature of political alliances.

The second talk in the SPAA lecture series will be Measuring Public Services, featuring Gregg Van Ryzin, Baruch College, the City University of New York. That program, which also is free and open to the public, will be Dec. 11, at noon, in the Paul Robeson Campus Center, Room 255. Reservations are required: Please call Madelene Perez, 973/353-5093, ext. 13, or email the reservation to spaa@andromeda.rutgers.edu .

For more information, please visit SPAA on the web at spaa

The School of Public Affairs and Administration, the first new school established at Rutgers in Newark in more than 20 years, opened its doors in fall 2006. Under the leadership of Dean Marc Holzer, Rutgers Board of Governors Professor of Public Administration, the school offers masters and doctoral programs in public administration, an executive MPA and professional certificates in such areas as nonprofit management and urban educational administration. The MPA Program is rated highly by U.S. News and World Report, ranking 11th in the nation in public administration and 26th in the broader category of public affairs.

Paul Robeson Campus Center is wheelchair-accessible, as is the Rutgers-Newark campus. Rutgers-Newark can be reached by New Jersey Transit buses and trains, the PATH train and Amtrak from New York City, and by Newark City Subway. Metered parking is available on University Avenue and at Rutgers-Newark's public parking garage, at 200 University Ave.

Printable campus maps and driving directions are available online at: maps