Andrea Mitchell addresses Annenberg School grads

Guests assembled in the Annenberg School Auditorium on Monday afternoon for an intimate ceremony to honor graduates of the University's smallest school -- the Annenberg School for Communication. While only 31 candidates received graduate degrees from Annenberg this year, Dean Kathleen Hall Jamieson pointing to the students' high rate of thesis publication as evidence of their potential for success. University Trustee and 1967 College for Women graduate Andrea Mitchell -- NBC Chief Foreign Correspondent -- spoke on the role of the media in covering politics. Mitchell said the media's negative focus "helps to fan the flames of cynicism even while condemning them." "Washington is overrun with suspicion and cynicism," she said. "But you will be uniquely equipped with the best possible tools to refocus and redesign political discourse." The media tends to focus more on the entertainment value than the informational content of news and often relies on graphics and gimmicks rather than substantive reporting, according to Mitchell. She said the media should "educate the public about important events and uncover hidden truths" and noted that "democracy can only be upheld if we keep it in check." Graduating students selected three members of the class to address the audience. One of the students, Molly Johnson, began by impersonating the way various Annenberg faculty members would give a graduation speech. The ceremony concluded with Annenberg Registrar Pam Robinson -- affectionately known as the "Annenberg Mom" -- calling each graduate to the stage, where degrees were conferred. -- Shannon Burke