Current Presents: "Ask Us Anything About Public Media"

Curious about the world of public radio, public TV, podcasting and more? Current, a journalism center at AU School of Communication, reports on public media for the people who work at national organizations like PBS and NPR and local stations around the country.
You are invited to learn more about public media by joining a conversation with three of Current’s senior staff who, together, have worked as journalists in this field for nearly 100 years! Meet Managing Editor Karen Everhart, Digital Editor Mike Janssen, and Executive Director Julie Drizin in the Doyle-Forman Theater, where we’ll dive into the history, present and future of noncommercial, public service broadcasting and streaming. Find out who’s hiring for what kinds of jobs, and how you can best compete for these positions.
If you ask a question, you’ll be rewarded with public media swag! If you already know your questions, please submit them below so we can do our best to answer your question!

Karen Everhart is managing editor of Current, supervising a team of staff reporters, freelance contributors and designers. She also manages Current’s editorial internship program for SOC journalism students. Prior to her 2013 promotion to managing editor, Karen covered every major beat at Current — public TV, CPB, public radio and digital media — as a reporter and senior editor.

Mike Janssen has held the role of digital editor since 2014. Before becoming editor, he covered public radio and digital initiatives in public media for Current. Mike has also written for a variety of publications as a freelancer, was a Public Media Corps fellow, and has hosted talk and music shows on community radio stations in the Washington, D.C., area.

Julie Drizin has served as executive director of Current since 2015. She started her career in public media 40 years ago as News and Public Affairs Director at WXPN in Philadelphia. She later helped launch several award-winning local and national programs, including NPR’s Justice Talking and Democracy Now! Before coming to American University, Julie directed the Journalism Center on Children and Families at the University of Maryland’s Philip Merrill College of Journalism.

Event Venue & Nearby Stays

American University School of Communication, 4400 Massachusetts Avenue Northwest, Washington, United States