Emmy-nominated CBS News reporter Daniel Sieberg, an alumnus of the first graduating class, leads off a day of events to mark the journalism school’s 10th anniversary on Feb. 10. Sieberg, who is currently in New York City working for CBS, will be giving a lunch-hour talk on “The Politics of Data: One reporter’s mission to make sense of sci-tech.” The talk couldn’t be more timely as President Barack Obama just proclaimed in his inauguration speech that it is time to put science back in its “rightful place.” 
But what is that place, and what is the role of journalism in reporting on science and technology? For Sieberg, there is plenty of journalistic interest in science and technology — but also a number of inherent challenges and pitfalls.
He cites: “Separating science fact from fancy, crunching the numbers, and translating techno-speak are just some of the potential obstacles standing in the way of telling a compelling and accurate story.”
Find out some of the secrets, the adventures, and the missteps of a journalist who has covered these subjects for more than a dozen years for The Vancouver Sun, CNN, and CBS News. He also co-hosts an environmental program called “G Word” for Discovery’s Planet Green network and writes regular stories for online and print.
This talk is followed by an alumni reception and evening panel: “The Future of International News: Canadian Voices on the World Stage.” Join four prominent Canadian journalists, including Al Jazeera’s new Managing Director Tony Burman, to discuss Canada’s voice in international news.
Burman, who is in charge of Al Jazeera (English), was editor-in-chief of CBC News for more than a decade. He will be joined by Sarah Carter, CBS News Johannesburg Bureau Chief and Canwest Visiting Professor, and Ayesha Bhatty, BBC News online journalist and UBC School of Journalism graduate. They will discuss the challenges of covering international news in an age of economic and media globalization, amid constant public security concerns.
Global National and Gemini Award-winning news anchor Kevin Newman, a former ABC News anchor and correspondent for World News Tonight in New York, will moderate the conversation. Chris Tenove, UBC School of Journalism graduate, Doctoral Student in Political Science at UBC, and Pierre Elliot Trudeau Foundation Scholar, will be the academic respondent to the panel.
10th Anniversary Events
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
12:30 – 2:00 pm
Lecture by Daniel Sieberg, CBS Correspondent CBS News Science & Technology Correspondent as well as co-host of “G Word” on Discovery’s Planet Green
Title: “The Politics of Data: One reporter’s mission to make sense of sci-tech”
Location: School of Journalism, Room 104
5:00 – 6:30 pm
Alumni Reception
Location: School of Journalism, Lobby
Current students and Alumni only
7:00 – 9:00 pm
Main Event: The Future of International News: Canadian Voices on the World Stage
Frederic Wood Theatre, UBC
Reception to follow
