Venezuela RPCV Alberto Ibarguen to be Chairman of the Newseum
The world’s first interactive museum of news, the Newseum, opened in Rosslyn, Virginia in Arlington County, on April 18, 1997. Its stated mission is "to help the public and the news media understand one another better". In five years, the Newseum became an internationally recognized attraction, drawing more than 2.25 million visitors and receiving some critical acclaim for its exhibits and programs.
Ibarguen leads one of the nation's largest private independent foundations. With assets of $1.9 billion, the Knight Foundation makes grants of more than $90 million annually to promote excellence in journalism. Ibarguen has been a newspaper executive for more than 20 years, first at the Hartford (Conn.) Courant and then at Newsday in New York before joining Knight Ridder. He was publisher of The Miami Herald and El Nuevo Herald until July, when he assumed his current position at the Knight Foundation. During his tenure at The Miami Herald, the newspaper won three Pulitzer Prizes. Alberto Ibarguen served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Venezuela in the 1960's. Read more and leave your comments.
Alberto Ibarguen writes: Students are learning 'Five Freedoms'
"Freedom is like a muscle in your body. If you don't use it, it gets weak; but if you exercise it, it gets stronger. Freedom House, a human-rights organization in Washington, estimates that only 17 percent of the world's people enjoy real freedom of speech and of the press. We are lucky to be among that small number. If we want America's next generation to not take our Five Freedoms for granted, teachers are the answer. And there's help available. Any number of Web sites provide teachers, administrators, students, parents and government officials with tips, lesson plans and ideas for discussing and understanding the Constitution." Read more.
Alberto Ibarguen speaks on news and truth
According to Ibarguen, readers want journalists who can organize experiences so they can make sense out of their lives and journalists want to write something that will inspire people to take action in their cause. “This is an explosively great time to be in journalism if you aren’t seeking the past,” Ibarguen said. Read more about Publisher and Venezuela RPCV Alberto Ibarguen.