Political Consultant Paul Newman Will Speak Nov. 24 in Bakke Lecture Series
For release: November 10, 2003
For press information, contact Gabrielle Maxey

Political consultant Dr. Paul M. Newman will deliver the second talk in the John P. Bakke Political Communication Lecture Series Nov. 24 at the University of Memphis. Newman will discuss "For Richer or Poorer? Political Professionals in the Campaign Process" at 7:30 p.m. in the Fogelman Executive Center, Room 123.

A reception will follow the lecture; both events are free and open to the public. They are sponsored by the University's Department of Communication within the College of Communication and Fine Arts.

Newman became involved in professional politics while teaching in the communication departments at the University of California, Santa Barbara, and California Polytechnic University. In his 35 years in politics, he has achieved success in such fields as survey research, voting behavior models, campaign strategy and tactics, fundraising, and issues research.

Newman was one of the founders of Decision Making Information, an organization now known as Wirthlin Worldwide. The group provided polling for Presidents Richard Nixon and Ronald Reagan. Since 1973 he has served as a political consultant for more than a dozen successful U.S. Senate and gubernatorial candidates and several dozen successful candidates for the U.S. House of Representatives.

The lecture series honors the former chairman of the U of M's Department of Communication. Bakke, who initiated the study of political communication in the department, was a faculty member for 32 years before retiring in 1999. He served as a political analyst for WREG-TV in Memphis for 14 years and has been communication director for more than 80 political campaigns.

In further recognition of Bakke, an enrichment fund to support doctoral student research and travel has been established at the University. Contributions may be mailed to the John P. Bakke Communication Enrichment Fund, the University of Memphis Foundation, in care of Patty Bladon Lawrence, 120 Alumni Center, the University of Memphis, Memphis, Tennessee, 38152.

For more information, call 901-678-2577 or 901-678-3176.

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