NABJ To Host Annual Conference on Political and Congressional Reporting at Georgetown University Two Weeks after General Election

Business Wire, Sept 30, 2008

Conference to examine the changing role of media in political coverage

WASHINGTON -- The National Association of Black Journalists presents the 2008 Watergate Conference on Political and Congressional Reporting: Did Politics Change Media or Did Media Change Politics? The three-day conference will take place Nov. 21-23 at Georgetown University in Washington, D.C.

"Following a historic primary campaign and general election, the country's top political reporters, correspondents and columnists will reflect, recruit and network." says NABJ President Barbara Ciara. "This conference is an excellent opportunity for journalists who are looking to cover the national and political realm."

This annual conference will take a look at how media has changed the dynamics of national politics; the trends generated in this election season and the impact new voters have on state, congressional and local races. It will also examine the issue of diversity amongst reporters on the campaign trail and its reflection in the coverage of national and local races. The conference, taking place at Georgetown University's Inter-Cultural Center, will also train up-and-coming journalists on blogging, new media, tech devices, social networks, and how each has changed the way politics are covered.

Last year's conference at the Watergate headquarters of National Journal Magazine touched on the role of the federal budget, coverage of state and local politics, and a spirited discussion on the opportunities and obstacles of covering an African-American candidate for president.

This year's conference begins with insightful dialogue with many of the country's emerging leaders. New York Governor David Paterson, Massachusetts Governor Duval Patrick, and U.S. Representative Donna Edwards are among the invited attendees. Invited panelists and presenters include NBC News Washington bureau Chief Mark Whitaker, CNN White House correspondent Suzanne Malveaux, senior political producer of BET News Pamela Gentry, Baltimore Examiner columnist Gregory Kane, and political analyst and commentator Roland Martin.

"This November, NABJ will provide the last word on the 2008 political season," says Conference Chair and NABJ Region II Director, Charles Robinson, political correspondent for Maryland Public Television, "you do not want to miss the spirited discussion and engaging topics taking place at Georgetown University."

Registration for NABJ's annual conference is available online at www.nabj.org. For program, sponsorship, advertising and recruitment information, contact NABJ program director Ryan Williams at (301) 445-7100 or email rwilliams@nabj.org.

The NABJ Media Institute offers professional development opportunities, technical training, historical documentation, educational programs, conferences, workshops, entrepreneurial guidance as well as Web seminars which consist of quality content and provides resources for students and journalists of color, relating to the industry.

An advocacy group established in 1975 in Washington, D.C., NABJ is the largest organization of journalists of color in the nation, with over 4,100 members, and provides educational, career development and support to black journalists worldwide.