And now:Ish <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> writes: via LadyScribe From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Return-path: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: UNITY: Journalists of Color, Inc. Announces Programming... Date: Thu, 25 Feb 1999 09:25:09 EST UNITY: Journalists of Color, Inc. Announces Programming for Unity '99 Convention ARLINGTON, Va., Feb. 25 /PRNewswire/ -- Five years in the making, UNITY: Journalists of Color, Inc. has laid the groundwork for the largest gathering of journalists in history. With more than 100 skills-building and issue- oriented workshops, four major plenary sessions, and ten different workshop tracks; the UNITY '99 Convention scheduled for July 7-11 is expected to draw over 6,000 journalists to Seattle, Washington. In addition to the issue-oriented and journalism workshops, UNITY '99 will feature the largest career expo in the news industry. The Job Fair, with over 300 booths, will provide opportunities for journalists to explore and discuss career options with recruiters from over 250 news media companies and other potential employers. The five-day convention opens on Wednesday, July 7, with a plenary discussion of the Year 2000 Census, particularly the impact of the changing demographics on political, social and economic issues. "The plenary sessions explore issues that we as journalists should cover and that also affect our communities both here and abroad."," said Dianna Hunt, UNITY Program Committee Co-Chair, and a member of the Native American Journalists Association. On Thursday, July 8, the convention program will revolve around the issue of affirmative action and how it impacts news coverage and industry hiring practices. The NewsWatch Project will release a study on news coverage of the affirmative action debate in the past year. Panelists will also discuss additional pressures which many journalists of color face when providing balanced and accurate coverage about an issue that may have personal relevance. Continuing in its role as facilitator of public education, UNITY will build on its October "Town Hall Meeting on Affirmative Action" in Seattle with a number of workshops on relevant race relations issues. This will include sessions such as "The Biggest Untold Story: How Our Ancestral Wounds Affect Us At Work and In Our Lives" and "Fighting Diversity Fatigue." In keeping with one of UNITY's goals to facilitate better cross-cultural understanding, diversity awareness curriculum and programs will be offered to conference attendees in an effort to promote better relationships across racial, ethnic and cultural lines. Interactive workshops will help participants recognize and understand cultural differences within communities of color, and differences based on class, gender, age, sexual orientation and geography. The "New Directions" plenary session on Friday, July 9, will focus on the future of news coverage in which new technology may be taking journalism. More than just what journalism jobs might be in the next 20 or 50 years, the session will give attendees a virtual tour of what they may be doing as journalists in the future. Finally, on Saturday, July 10, UNITY brings in international experts and a panel of journalists to look at the global economic crisis and the consequences to both those living in other countries as well as ethnic and racial communities in this country. A UNITY-sponsored pre-convention event, a Town Hall Meeting, entitled "Public Credibility: Journalism in Crisis," will give community members a chance to voice their opinions on what is good and bad about today's media. "The Town Hall will give non-journalists a chance to talk about how communities perceive the accuracy, fairness and balance of current news coverage " said Gayle Pollard Terry, Program Committee Co-Chair and member of the National Association of Black Journalists. The smorgasbord of workshops have something for everyone from the high school newspaper reporter to the network news director. "Tracks" have been developed to allow journalists from all mediums and experience levels to maximize their participation and attend workshops according to their interests. Role-playing sessions will help journalists review and expand their knowledge of ethical conduct as well the legal parameters surrounding the profession. The Visual Task Force will offer sessions for photographers, videographers and designers. "There are over 10 tracks of workshops," explained UNITY Program Director Diane Yen-Mei Wong. "We're arranging program sessions so that attendees can follow a single series of sessions throughout the convention if they want, or they can pick and choose, switching from one track to another." Tracks include Print (Newspaper and Magazine), Broadcast (TV and Radio), New Media (which includes computer-assisted reporting, Web and Internet sessions), Management, Journalism Education and Issues (including covering health issues, seniors, crime, business, sports and welfare). In the Career Resource Center, computers and other state-of-the-art media equipment will enable journalists to polish and hone their skills, as well update their resumes, check their emails and surf the Web. Workshops, such as ones aimed at helping journalists find their first jobs and encouraging them to explore the benefits of working at small companies or in small markets, will be held at the Career Resource Center. The Center will also allow journalists to have their stories, columns, videotapes and audiotapes critiqued in one-on-one sessions with seasoned professionals. UNITY: Journalists of Color, Inc. is a strategic alliance of journalists and media executives working to improve the journalistic profession by encouraging newsrooms to reflect and include underrepresented and diverse perspectives. UNITY: Journalists of Color, Inc. includes the National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ), the National Association of Hispanic Journalists (NAHJ), the Native American Journalists Association (NAJA) and the Asian American Journalists Association (AAJA). UNITY: Journalists of Color, Inc. will host the UNITY '99 Convention from July 7-11, 1999, at the Seattle King County Convention Center. Over 6,000 journalists are expected to attend the second joint convention of the four national journalists associations. SOURCE UNITY: Jounalists of Color, Inc. CO: UNITY: Jounalists of Color, Inc. ST: Virginia, Washington IN: PUB SU: BLK HSP 02/25/99 09:00 EST http://www.prnewswire.com To edit your profile, go to keyword <A HREF="aol://1722:NewsProfiles"> NewsProfiles</A>. For all of today's news, go to keyword <A HREF="aol://1722:News">News</A>. &&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&& Tsonkwadiyonrat (We are ONE Spirit) Unenh onhwa' Awayaton http://www.tdi.net/ishgooda/ &&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&
