Dr. Marina Berezhnaya, Professor of TV & Radio in Russia, Visits Caldwell Cafe Lecture Series
HAMPTON, Va. (April 16, 2019) – The Hampton University Scripps Howard School of Journalism and Communications held another Café Series on Tuesday, April 2, 2019, welcoming Dr. Marina Berezhnaya, Chair of the Department of TV & Radio Journalism at St. Petersburg State University (SPSU).
Dr. Berezhnaya graduated from Leningrad State University in 1981 and worked as an associate professor in the Radio and TV department from 1985 to 1992. During her postgraduate work, Dr. Berezhnaya worked on various programs at the Leningrad TV Studio, moderated the television talk show, “Political Club,” and worked as a reporter and anchor on an education program.
From 1992 to 1994, Dr. Berezhnaya was an editor and the head of the department at Severo-Zapad Publishing House, and in 1993, she became an interviewer for the live call-in TV program, “SOS.” In 1999, she returned to work as faculty and later on wrote her post-doc thesis, “Social issues in TV journalism: actualization of positive discourse.” Since 2010, Dr. Berezhnaya has been a Doctor of Philology, professor of radio and television, and now chair of the department.
During the Caldwell Café lecture, Professor Earl Caldwell, welcomed Dr. Berezhnaya to the Scripps Howard School of Journalism and Communications and guided the talk throughout the night. “Our special guest comes from Russia, and she is anxious to interact with all of the students in attendance,” said Professor Caldwell. “I hope this will be an interesting evening. What makes me certain that it will be, is because the bulk of our audience tonight is from a very special class here in the Scripps Howard School, JAC 454, Civil Rights Era and the Media.”
The following is a part of the conversation between Professor Caldwell and Dr. Berezhnaya, speaking about why she is visiting the United States and what she has loved about her career.
Dr. Berezhnaya: “I wanted to come here to the United States to see the University and to meet with the students. It’s a neat experience for me, and it’s something different for me. This year I have visited other universities to talk about social issues in the media and television journalism and that was also a new experience for me.”
Professor Caldwell: “I notice in your background that we share a lot. You are a professor, I’m a professor. You’re a journalist, and I’ve been a journalist throughout my career. You work in TV, radio and have done talk shows, and I’ve done pretty much all the same things. When you look back at your career, what is it that array of things that you do that you would describe as being your true love?”
Dr. Berezhnaya: “I like to communicate. I like to speak with people. I think for a journalist, it’s healthy to be enrolled in the communication, especially with young people. Young people dream about interviewing celebrities but it’s interesting to speak with normal people about their everyday life, what they think and what they like. This is the most interesting for me, because of that, I deal with social issues. I connect with every day people.”
During the talk, students also asked Dr. Berezhnaya questions about Russian politics and journalism, being a woman in the television news industry in Russia, and the internet’s effect on people in Russia.
Dr. Kangming Ma, assistant professor for the Scripps Howard School of Journalism and Communications, had the students in her International Journalism and Communications class interview Dr. Berezhnaya. Their story was then reported in Russian by Saint Petersburg State University, Russia. To see that interview, click here:http://jf.spbu.ru/index/146-13565.html?grp=2.