Thursday, May 2, 2013
Rider’s chapter of Lambda Pi Eta, the national honor society for Communication majors, recently welcomed its newest class of inductees and associates.
by Sean Ramsden
Rider’s chapter of Lambda Pi Eta, the national honor society for Communication majors, welcomed its newest class of inductees and associates on April 16 in a ceremony in the Bart Luedeke Center Cavalla Room.
Randy Bergmann ’69, the editorial page editor for the Asbury Park Press who served as executive editor of The Rider News during his senior year in 1968-69, gave the keynote address. Bergmann addressed the rapidly changing newspaper industry, and explained how his paper’s parent company, Gannett, committed itself to a digital-first approach more than three years ago. Still, he stressed, the changes will not reduce the premium placed on quality storytelling, nor those who can do it.
“Newspapers may not be here in 10 or 15 years, but there will always be a need for those who can gather news,” said Bergmann, who recently served as an adviser to The Rider News. “I don’t know exactly how it’ll play out, but I’m confident that the education you’re getting is going to pay off.”
Lambda Pi Eta recognizes fosters and rewards outstanding achievement in communication studies, according to its mission statement. Thirty-seven students were inducted into the society, and were joined by 31 additional associate members.
The Department of Communication and Journalism also presented 46 awards to students in the department.
“We are a great department because we have great students,” said Dr. Jonathan Millen, associate dean for the Liberal Arts.