Voices found. Leaders of conscience realized.

The Marlin Fitzwater Center for Communication is dedicated to educating leaders of conscience in public communication. In addition to housing the University's Department of Mass Communication, the facility serves as the home for the University's nationally-recognized polling operation and the Pierce Media Group.

The Center also sponsors a variety of programs including the Tuesday Briefings series featuring prominent media, business and political leaders. Each June, the Center hosts a national conference for high school media on the Presidency and the Press. The Center is named for Marlin Fitzwater, who served as press secretary to presidents Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush. Marlin Fitzwater is also a trustee of Franklin Pierce University and a member of the Fitzwater Center Advisory Board.

NEWS FROM THE FITZWATER CENTER

Motorsports journalism 'legend' Mike Harris honored by New Hampshire Motor Speedway and Franklin Pierce University with named scholarship
On his last day covering racing for the Associated Press, Mike Harris was honored by New Hampshire Motor Speedway and Franklin Pierce University with a scholarship recognizing his accomplishments in journalism. Dr. James Birge, president of Franklin Pierce University, and Dr. Kristen Nevious, director of the school's Fitzwater Center, were on hand for the scholarship dedication ceremony. Read more...

Fitzwater Centered honored for students' political engagement and contributions to New England higher education
The Franklin Pierce University's Marlin Fitzwater Center for Communication has been recognized by the New England Board of Higher Education for successfully preparing students to succeed as journalists, critical thinkers, and contributors to a healthy democracy. The Fitzwater Center was chosen, specifically, to receive the 2009 New Hampshire State Merit Award in the New England Board of Higher Education's annual Excellence Awards program. Read more...

Franklin Pierce Students to Broadcast Live from Party National Conventions
The Fitzwater Center and Pierce Media Group are bringing the national party conventions to the Franklin Pierce University community. Fitzwater Center Director Kristen Nevious and Professor Paul Bush are escorting a team of six students to Denver for the Democratic National Convention, 8/24 - 8/29. Then Kristen Nevious and Human Resources staff member Molly Jackson are escorting another team of six to Minnesota for the Republican National Convention, 8/31 - 9/5. Read more and link to the student reports from the conventions...

White House Press Secretary Receives 2008 Fitzwater Award
White House Press Secretary Dana Perino received the 2008 Marlin Fitzwater Award for Leadership in Public Communication from Franklin Pierce University on May 5 in ceremonies held on the Rindge campus. Perino was the fifth recipient of the award, which honors an individual who has made significant contributions to public discourse in the spirit of a healthy democracy. The award reflects the mission of the Fitzwater Center for Communication at Franklin Pierce. Read more...

Fitzwater Medallion winner Arrika Knight's '08 recognized for journalism skills, campus involvement
When she was young, Arrika would watch the news magazine "60 Minutes" with her parents and dream of becoming the next Barbara Walters. She came to Franklin Pierce in 2004 because she knew she could get involved in news production immediately as a freshman. Arrika's experience at Franklin Pierce University may have brought her a step closer to realizing that dream. Read more...

Student media earn praise for coverage of New Hampshire Primary
Franklin Pierce University students had the opportunity to participate in New Hampshire's First in the Nation Presidential Primary, serving as pundits, pollsters, podcasters, video technicians and as contributors to YouTube's political footage. Student efforts were affirmed by the presidential candidates and their campaigns (who granted access and interviews), by the media (who treated students as professional peers) and by web-based media including YouTube (whose political editor praised the video footage provided by student reporters).

To learn more about the Marlin Fitzwater Center for Communication, please contact:
Kristen D. Nevious, Ph.D., 603-899-1039 or neviousk@franklinpierce.edu
Director, Marlin Fitzwater Center for Communication