As part of the Adult School’s 85th anniversary celebrations, they have planned several special Conversations throughout the 2023-24 school year. These Conversations offer an opportunity to engage in informal and insightful discussions with notable speakers. Led by a knowledgeable moderator, these Sunday afternoon sessions provide a platform for sharing experiences, exchanging ideas, and fostering meaningful dialogue. Join for an afternoon of captivating Conversations!
Both Conversations will be held at Stuart Country Day School of the Sacred Heart, 1200 Stuart Road, Princeton NJ 08540.
Conversation 1: Behind the Byline: A Candid Conversation on the Media
Sunday, October 22, 3:00–4:00 pm ($85)
Join Jenny and Mark for a post-event reception with wine and hors d’oeuvres.
Ever wonder what it’s like to live and work in today’s time-pressured media environment? The Princeton Adult School is highlighting two Princeton natives who have grown up in the media business to help us find out.
Jenny Carchman, an award-winning documentary film producer and director, and Mark Mazzetti, a Pulitzer prize-winning investigative journalist for The New York Times.
Whether it be on film, in print, or digitally, finding the right story, pursuing the right leads, hitting a dead-end and restarting, and then persisting to meet deadlines is the way of life. Jenny and Mark will tell us about some of their happier experiences, funnier experiences, and some of the disappointments that come with the job.
Conversation 2: Glitz, Glamour, and a Look into the Dark Side: A Conversation on Celebrity
Sunday, December 3, 3:00-4:00 pm ($85)
Join Landon, William, and Marilyn for a post-event reception with wine and hors d’oeuvres.
Why do we find celebrities so fascinating? Suddenly, they are everywhere — in newspapers and magazines, on TV, on the internet, and most recently, on social media. How does the celebrity machinery work, and what are its effects – on us, on celebrities themselves, and on our communities? What in human nature explains why we are so eager to follow their exploits? Our panel of experts will explore how one achieves celebrity status these days, who is actually getting rich, the real dangers of celebrity, and how it could be used for the better.
Our distinguished panel includes:
- Landon Jones, former editor of People magazine who coined the term “baby boomer” and author of the newly published book Celebrity Nation which reveals how our culture of celebrity shapes our politics, influences our culture, and ignites our personal lives…for better or worse.
- William Gleason, Hughes-Rogers Professor of English and American studies at Princeton University, author and researcher into American culture, including seminars on American Television, The Disney Industrial Complex, American Best Sellers, and The Making of Modern Baseball.
- Marilyn Marks Tal, former editor of the print and on-line Princeton Alumni Weekly (PAW) from 2002-2022. She also worked for more than 15 years as a daily newspaper reporter for the The St. Petersburg Times, The Jerusalem Post, and The Miami Herald, on beats that ranged from economics to education.
Sign up for both Conversations for $150 and save $20!
Visit the Princeton Adult School website to learn more and register.
