The Media Project The Media Project is an inside look at media coverage of current events - with The Times Union's Rex Smith, WAMC's Alan Chartock, WTEN TV Anchor Elisa Streeter and Daily Freeman Publisher Ira Fusfeld. The Media Project airs Sunday at 6:00 PM, Monday at 3:00 PM. REX SMITH has been Editor and Vice President the Times Union in Albany since September of 2002. He had been Managing Editor/News of the paper for seven years before that, and had come to the Times Union after serving four years as Editor of The Record newspaper of Troy. Rex came to New York's Capital Region as state capitol bureau chief and national correspondent for Newsday, where he spent 11 years on various reporting beats. Earlier in his career, Rex was a congressional aide in Washington and editor of the daily newspaper in Rensselaer, Indiana. He is a recipient of the Distinguished Service Award from the national Society of Professional Journalists, the World Hunger Media Award, the New York League of Women Voters Citizen of the Year Award and numerous other prizes for reporting and editorial writing. Smith grew up in the Black Hills of South Dakota and graduated cum laude from Trinity University in San Antonio, Texas. He was awarded a master's degree with highest honors from Columbia University's Graduate School of Journalism, which awarded him a Pulitzer Fellowship. He is past president of the state daily newspaper association, vice-chair of the New York Fair Trial/Free Press Conference, and is in demand as a guest speaker and contest judge. He has twice been a Pulitzer Prize juror. Smith and his wife, the author Marion Roach, live in Rensselaer County, New York, with their 11-year-old daughter, Grace. Rex Smith's Saturday Times Union Column ELISA STREETER As news anchor of the 5,6 and 11pm newscasts on WTEN-TV in Albany, Elisa Streeter has become familiar with the newsmakers and organizations that make a difference in the lives of people in the Capital Region and across New York State. A 15-year employee of WTEN, she brings professionalism, compassion and caring to her coverage of the issues that shape the lives of all New Yorkers, especially those in need. She knows firsthand about these needs. Before pursuing a career in broadcasting with a MA in journalism from the University of Missouri, Elisa received her BA in Sociology and worked with deaf and blind children at the Missouri School for the Blind. She plays host to numerous events and fundraisers for community organizations, and generously volunteers her time to local school, library, church and community organizations in the Capital Region. Elisa was honored to receive the YMCA President's Award. The mother of three elementary school aged children, she is active with the PTA, Little League, Scouts and numerous other fun things! IRA FUSFELD has been publisher of the Daily and Sunday Freeman, Kingston, N.Y., since 1987. He began his daily newspaper career at the Freeman in 1970 as a sports writer. On his way to becoming publisher, he was sports editor, editor and general manager of the Freeman. Ira also is publisher of Las Noticias, the Freeman's Spanish language weekly. He was named Publisher of the Year for 2001 by Journal Register Company. A New York City native, Ira is a graduate of the State University of New York at New Paltz. He has been a member of numerous civic and professional organizations, among them the New York Newspaper Publishers Association, of which he served as chairman of the board of directors and chairman of its legislative committee, and is presently a member of its Foundation. He served on the boards of Ulster County Economic Development Corp., the Management Council of the Hudson Valley Economic Development Corp., and Mid-Hudson Pattern for Progress. In addition he has been a member of the College Council at SUNY New Paltz and the Communications Advisory Council of Ulster County Community College. He is a past trustee of the SUNY New Paltz Foundation, of which he was chairman. He has been a vice chairman of the Chamber of Commerce of Ulster County and a member of the board of the United Way of Ulster County. Ira and his wife, Eileen, reside in Woodstock, N.Y.. They have two grown sons and one granddaughter. Ira's blog ALAN CHARTOCK Dr. Alan Chartock is President and CEO of WAMC/Northeast Public Radio. He is also Professor Emeritus at the University at Albany. He is Executive Publisher and Project Director of the Legislative Gazette, the newspaper of state government. He hosts the weekly Capitol Connection series, heard on public radio stations around New York. The program for almost twelve years, highlighted interviews with Governor Mario Cuomo and now continues with conversations with state political leaders. Dr. Chartock also appears WAMC programs including Midday Magazine. He is executive producer of WAMC's National Programming. Alan's syndicated column on politics appears in newspapers throughout New York State. A second column, I Publius, appears in The Berkshire Eagle each Saturday. Alan Chartock has won numerous awards at SUNY including the Chancellor's Award for Excellence in Teaching and The SUNY Council for University Affairs and Development Award for Educational Achievement. He was one of the first recipients of the SUNY Award for Excellence. He is the author of Me and Mario Cuomo: Conversations in Candor, published by Barricade Books.

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