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Azusa Pacific University communication studies professor Jim Willis, Ph.D., will report for The Oklahoman newspaper as a part of its extended coverage of the 20th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall. As a veteran reporter, Willis will blog and submit on-site reports featuring stories and events as they unfold during this historical commemoration. Willis also reported from Berlin in 1999 during the 10th anniversary. Follow his on-going reports here: http://blog.newsok.com/berlinwall/.
Listen to Willis talk about the history of the wall and upcoming celebration here.
Update as of 11/11/09: Listen to Willis' report from the evening celebrations on the night of the anniversary here.
Biography
Jim Willis, a former journalist for The Oklahoman and The Dallas Morning News, has taught at the university level for three decades and now chairs the Department of Communication Studies at Azusa Pacific University. He has written 11 books on the media and another on his beloved Oklahoma Sooners football team. His latest book, 100 Media Moments That Changed America, will be published in December by Greenwood Press.
About that book, the publisher notes:
“From the launching of America's first newspaper to YouTube's latest phone-videoed crime, the media has always been guilty of indulging America's obsession with controversy. Dr. Willis covers 100 events in world history from the 17th century to the present—moments that alone were major and minor, but ones that exploded in the public eye when the media stepped in.”
Willis holds a Ph.D. in Journalism from the University of Missouri, an M.A. from Texas A&M University/Commerce, and a B.A. from the University of Oklahoma. He is a former chair of the Boston College Department of Communication and has held endowed chairs at the University of Memphis and the University of Oklahoma.
In 1995, Willis took a leave from teaching and returned to the street as a reporter for three months to cover the aftermath of the Oklahoma City bombing. In 1999, he covered two significant events as a reporter: the 10th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall, and the F5 twister and the devastation it wrought on Oklahoma City. In 2001, Willis was honored by the State Department for his collaborative work on German-American educational projects. Willis is married, and he and his wife, Anne, divide their time between homes in the L.A. and Cleveland areas.
Related Links:
YouTube: Willis Talks About the History of the Wall
YouTube: Willis Reports on the Anniversary Celebrations
YouTube: 1989 ABC News Coverage
Berlin Twitterwall
The Fall of The Wall Website
