Reporter and author Anthony Collings presents an insider’s appraisal of the American news media’s failings and accomplishments in a talk at 7-8:30 p.m. Thursday in the U-M Library Gallery in Room 100.

Some 30 years ago Collings was part of the team that established the first major cable news network, CNN. He has interviewed world figures from Brezhnev to Kaddafi and Arafat, and won awards for covering Iran-Contra and the Oklahoma City bombing.

In his new book “Capturing the News,” Collings talks of things that get in the way of journalists gathering and reporting the truth, including media bias, excessive use of commentary and conflicts of interest.

Ford School, Red Cross collaboration explored

Following recent disasters that reveal a gap between climate science and the humanitarian sector, the program “Humanitarian Work in a Changing Climate: How Can the Ford School and the Red Cross Help Each Other?” is scheduled for 4-5:30 p.m. today (Nov. 8) in Weill Hall, Room 1110, Betty Ford Classroom.

Climate change, urbanization and environmental degradation are increasing the workload of overstretched aid organizations. The program, which will explore how can the Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy and the Red Cross can work to address these challenges, is led by Pablo Suarez, associate director of programs, Climate Centre, International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies.

Combining a participatory simulation game with an overview of the challenges and innovations of the Red Cross-Red Crescent Climate Centre, this event will explore opportunities to link the strengths of the Ford School’s Science, Technology, and Public Policy program with the knowledge needs of the disaster management sector.

Maria Carmen Lemos, associate professor of the School of Natural Resources and Environment, will serve as commentator.

The program is sponsored by the Science, Technology, and Public Policy Program; Environmental Law and Policy Program at the Law School; and the Ford School.