Opinion: In August 1969, the Woodstock Music and Art Fair took place on a farm in Bethel, New York. The event, which started on August 15, 1969 and ended on August 18, 1969, attracted around 450,000 people, and featured famous musicians like Janis Joplin and Jimi Hendrix. Jimi Hendrix's version of the national anthem became very famous. Woodstock was a symbol of peace and love during a turbulent time, and even though the era has passed, the music and memories of Woodstock continue to be cherished. With today’s media commentary, which has a musical note to it, here is Dr. Larry Burriss from the Journalism department on the MTSU campus… Hear more from Dr. Larry Burriss HERE.

About Dr. Burriss - Larry Burriss, professor of journalism, teaches introductory and media law courses. At the graduate level he teaches quantitative research methods and media law. He holds degrees from The Ohio State University (B.A. in broadcast journalism, M.A. in journalism), the University of Oklahoma (M.A. in human relations), Ohio University (Ph.D. in journalism) and Concord Law School (J.D.). He has worked in print and broadcast news and public relations, and has published extensively in both academic and popular publications. He has won first place in the Tennessee Associated Press Radio Contest nine times. Dr. Burriss' publications and presentations include studies of presidential press conferences, NASA photography, radio news, legal issues related to adolescent use of social networking sites, legal research, and Middle Earth.

Dr. Burriss has served as director of the School of Journalism, dean of the College of Mass Communication and president of the MTSU Faculty Senate. He was appointed by Gov. Phil Bredesen to serve on the Tennessee Board of Regents. He was a lieutenant colonel in the U.S. Air Force and served on active duty in Mali, Somalia, Bosnia, Central America, Europe and the Pentagon.