Norman Lear, the pioneering television and film producer, political and social activist and philanthropist is being honored by the University of Southern California with the establishment of the Norman Lear Chair in Entertainment, Media and Society, Geoffrey Cowan, dean of the USC Annenberg School for Communication announced today.
The inaugural holder of the Norman Lear Chair is Martin Kaplan, founding director of the Norman Lear Center at the USC Annenberg School. Kaplan, an Annenberg Research Professor, has been associate dean of the School since 1997.
"I view few things as more important to the health of our culture as Martin Kaplan's work leading the Center that exists in my name at the USC Annenberg School," said Lear. "I could not be more honored that Mr. Kaplan has additionally agreed to occupy a Chair in my name -- so honored, that I would be happy to surround his Chair with a roomful of furniture, piano included, were the Annenberg School to allow."
"USC's decision to create and name this chair is a wonderful tribute to Norman's commitment to USC Annenberg and the work of the Lear Center," said Cowan, who noted that, other than the Annenberg family, Lear is the largest donor to the USC Annenberg School.
In addition to $11 million from Mr. Lear - which includes a new $6 million pledge - the Lear Center has garnered more than $9 million in gifts and research grants from foundation, government and other sources.
"The research Marty has supervised has made enormous contributions to our understanding of a wide variety of topics, from how television covers campaigns, to the ways entertainment media can improve public health around the world," Cowan added. "I join my colleagues at USC and beyond in congratulating him on his appointment to this chair."
"Every domain of society, from journalism and politics to education and religion, is affected -- for better and for worse -- by the imperative to entertain, to market, to grab and hold attention," said Kaplan. "Norman's generosity, and the additional support it's enabling us to secure, is helping us examine one of the most powerful untold stories of our time. I am honored to hold the chair in his name." Read more: Press Release Variety
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