With the ubiquity of NPR, PBS and their local affiliates in today's media landscape, the presence of public media may be taken for granted by listeners and viewers. However, today's national, interconnected system resulted from a political process that led to passage of the Public Broadcasting Act of 1967.

To commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Public Broadcasting Act and discuss its impact, the Reynolds School of Journalism will be hosting the 2017 Jim Joyce Symposium on Political Communication -- "The Politics of Public Media" -- Thursday, Oct. 26 at 7 p.m. in the Wells Fargo Auditorium inside of the Mathewson-IGT Knowledge Center.

The impetus for the event came by way of a special section of an academic publication, the Journal of Radio & Audio Media, edited by Reynolds School Dean Al Stavitsky, examining the history of the act: "Symposium on the Public Broadcasting Act at 50: Outcomes for U.S. Public Radio." Associate Dean Donica Mensing also contributed an article to the special section, along with other leading scholars of public broadcasting, some of whom will also participate in the Jim Joyce Symposium.

"Polls show that public radio is one of the most trusted sources of news in the country," said Mensing. "Learning about the history of public radio as well as its prospects for the future is a crucial part of today's media story. How did public radio come about and does it represent a model for the future? How is public radio adapting to the age of podcasting and creative audio storytelling? Why do we trust public media and what are its challenges?"

Members of the panel have both academic and professional backgrounds in public media and hope to stimulate a robust conversation about this critical component our information ecosystem. Panelists include Lori Gilbert, chair of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting board of directors; Robert K. Avery, professor emeritus of communication at the University of Utah; Michael Huntsberger, associate professor of mass communication at Linfield College; Mensing. Dean Stavitsky will be moderating the talk.

The Jim Joyce Symposium was made possible through an endowment that honors the memory of Jim Joyce, a Nevada alumnus who was a legendary political consultant and lobbyist. Joyce managed some 300 political campaigns and was instrumental in working for the development of Nevada's system of higher education. He was noted for his remarkable ability to build consensus and for his integrity.

Co-sponsors of The Jim Joyce Symposium on Political Communication include KNPB Public Television and KUNR/Reno Public Radio.