18th Annual Povich Symposium

The Shirley Povich Center for Sports Journalism at the University of Maryland’s Philip Merrill College of Journalism presents its 18th Annual Povich Symposium, which will feature NBA Commissioner Adam Silver and Monumental Sports and Entertainment CEO Ted Leonsis.

This year’s Povich Symposium, titled “The Future of the NBA” will feature two panels. The conversations will take place Friday, Nov. 17 beginning at 5 p.m. at Riggs Alumni Center on the University of Maryland campus. The event also will be streamed live on the Merrill College YouTube and Facebook pages.

The first panel, which takes a management perspective, will feature:

• Adam Silver, NBA Commissioner since 2014. He was previously NBA deputy commissioner.
• Ted Leonsis, founder, chairman and CEO of Monumental Sports & Entertainment, owner of the Washington Wizards, Washington Capitals and Washington Mystics.

The discussion will be moderated by John Ourand ’89, a media reporter for Sports Business Journal and co-host of “The Sports Media Podcast.”

The second panel, which takes a media perspective, will feature:

• David Aldridge, a senior columnist for The Athletic, who has covered the NBA for nearly 30 years.
• Frank Isola, who has covered the NBA for 25 years and appears regularly on ESPN’s “Around The Horn” and “Pardon the Interruption.”
• Ava Wallace, a beat reporter for The Washington Post, covering the Washington Wizards.

The discussion will be moderated by Kevin Blackistone, Merrill College professor of the practice and a columnist for The Washington Post.

The first panel will begin promptly at 5 p.m. with the second to immediately follow. At the conclusion of both conversations, a reception will be held in the lobby of Riggs Alumni Center. Heavy hors d’oeuvres, wine, beer and nonalcoholic beverages will be served at the reception.

The Povich Symposium is free and open to the public, but registration is required and seating is limited.