Jim Ranney, a 1988 Fredonia graduate now serving as Director of Communications for New York State Senator Patrick Gallivan, will return to his alma mater for Writers@Work, an alumni series that brings established and emerging writers, editors and publishers in a range of professional and creative genres back to campus to speak with students.
In his talk, “Making News for the Right Reasons,” Mr. Ranney will explore writing and communication for the media on Thursday, Oct. 12, at 7:30 p.m. in McEwen Hall Room G26. Joining Ranney to address how the press and government officials can communicate with each other and with the public in pursuit of the public good will be his son, Joshua, a Fredonia junior majoring in Journalism and Political Science who also serves as president of the Student Association and student representative to the Fredonia College Council.
A question and answer session will conclude the presentation that is free and open to the public.
On Friday, Oct. 13, Ranney will be a guest on “High Noon Friday,” a public affairs program produced by Fredonia Radio Systems. He will also meet with students enrolled in two courses, COMM 251 Audio Production and COMM 230 News Gathering.
A student-only workshop, “Writing for an Audience of One and an Audience of Thousands,” will be held on Friday, from 3 to 4:30 p.m., in McEwen Hall Room G26. Ranney will delve into rhetorical methods and ways of curating language in the fashion of an orator. Tips for targeting audiences will be shared. Students will learn openings and closings, storytelling strategies and ways to appeal to their audience, among other topics. Student work submitted in advance will be examined.
The workshop will be convened by Justin Barnard, a second-year student in the M.A. English and C.A.S. Professional Writing programs. Admission is free to high school and university students.
Ranney, a 25-year veteran of broadcast journalism and former station manager/news director of WBFO/WNED-TV in Buffalo, has received multiple awards for radio news coverage and has moderated political debates, conducted interviews and hosted programs on radio and television. As Director of Communications for Senator Gallivan, he manages all aspects of communication, including media relations, social media and constituent relations for the office. He is also an adjunct professor in the communication department at SUNY Buffalo State and a past member of the New York State Associated Press Board and Public Radio News Directors Inc. Ranney earned his B.S. in Communication from Fredonia and M.A. in Education from D’Youville College.
Writers@Work is a partnership between the departments of Business, Communication, English, Theatre and Dance, and History, Alumni Affairs and Career Development. Sponsors include the Fredonia Alumni Association, Fredonia College Foundation’s Carnahan Jackson Humanities Fund and Mary Louise White Fund, and the Faculty Student Association.
