Workshops have been broken down into 11 separate tracks by medium, and were selected with an emphasis placed on quality over quantity, as well as comprehensive, wide-ranging sessions suitable for an audience of varying market size and experience level. Each track leader is a professional journalist experienced within their track as well as a member of a UNITY alliance association.

They are:

• Pre-Convention Workshops
• Television
• Visual
• Education
• New Media/Convergence
• Newspaper
• Magazine
• Hot Topics
• Radio
• Management/Career Development
• Multicultural/Multilingual

Below is a preliminary listing of scheduled UNITY 2004 workshops. Stay tuned for more to come!

UNITY 2004 Workshops as of May 6*
*Incomplete, list is subject to change

Television

Ultimate Minority TV Network Summit
Minority-focused cable networks collectively reach hundreds of millions of viewers and are redefining the industry. Top programming chiefs discuss their programming strategies, unique challenges, and ways of getting respect from the industry and mainstream media.

Questions explored include:
How are networks that specialize in minority (or niche) targeted programming positioned to succeed in the future? What are the challenges and opportunities to creating content targeted at a specific audience? What issues are these executives/networks facing as they vie for coverage in mainstream media outlets and industry clout? What opportunities exist for minority professionals from a career standpoint? Are the best opportunities for growth and advancement of minorities with these networks? Are they considered incubators for new executives and industry professionals or career destinations for the hottest executive talent?

Negotiating a Broadcast Personal Services Contract
Learn what you can do to negotiate the best personal services contract that provides adequate protections in the areas of wages, hours and working conditions. Discussion will also cover topics, such as: how you can protect yourself from a non-compete clause, when to hire an agent etc..

Ultimate Producer Workshop
This panel will focus on your core jobs as a producer (line producer, consumer/investigative producer). You’ll learn how to write clearer, sharper, and more accurate copy on deadline. You’ll learn the secrets of covering big breaking news and how to improve your “continuing” coverage. You’ll discover ways to efficiently use the Internet to find and enrich stories. Sponsored by CNN.

Making Your Mark in a Small Market
Once relegated to smaller television markets, the so-called “one-person band journalist” is becoming more mainstream due in some part to shrinking news department budgets and better technology. The “cross-platform journalist” is most popular with 24-hour news operations. This interactive workshop will share tips on how to do it on your own as reporter, producer, sound technician, photographer and with increasing frequency, tape editor as well.

Building the Best Reporter/Videographer as Team
You may be working towards the same end result, but if the videographer and reporter are not on the same page the road to deadline can be a rough ride. This session will navigate past the potholes of miscommunication that sabotage a news crew. Hear from videographers and reporters as they share tips on eliminating confusion in the field. This is a problem that occurs in all markets.

Polishing Your On-air Look
What should you wear to anchor the news? What about while reporting in the field? What colors/styles go best with your skin tone and your body type? How should your hair look? What about makeup? What works on TV – and what should be kept for the nightclub? Most on-air journalists have wondered about these topics at one point or another. We have the experts to give you advise – to both men and women- on how to polish their on-air look.

Building Sources and Story Ideas
Tired of getting your story of the day ripped out of the local newspaper? Want to bring more stories to the table? Want to land more exclusive stories? No matter what television market you work in or what experience you have under your belt this workshop will show you how to find more sources that can lead you to exclusives and award-winning stories.

Newsgathering in a Digital Age
The trend in television news is the automate newsroom; news video dumped to the server for everyone to access and thus saving time and getting the video for promos out quicker. There are stumbling blocks to overcome, such as the acquisition of tape from the field and ingesting it efficiently and for stations to invest real dollars into the new technology.

Beyond the Roll cue: The Art of the Live Shot
The pros make it look easy, but perfecting the art of the live shot takes time, skill and practice. This interactive session will invite participants to share their live shots with the audience for the panel of experts providing their advice on how to improve their live shots.

Network Writing Styles
This session is designed to give affiliate (local) journalists guidance on the differences in writing for national news, be it network or cable. This interactive workshop will show two to three stories that were covered by both a local affiliate and network reporter, and discuss the differences between them. For example, certain terms may be easily understood in a local community but completely foreign to a national audience.

Minority On-Air Anchors: Is a Good Man that hard to Find?
There are no African American males among the ranks of main network anchors. Few Asian American and Hispanic males hold on-air positions. And Native American males remain nearly invisible in television news. The latest RTNDA numbers show efforts to diversify television and radio in the last ten years have been unsuccessful. What do we need to do to change this alarming trend? This panel will take a hard look at efforts by the four UNITY partners, station groups and networks.

Inside the Mind of the News Director
It has been weeks since you sent your resume tape to that news director, who hasn’t returned your three voice mails. Should you call again? Your contract is up soon and you’re strategizing to get a raise. News directors talk candidly about what they look for when hiring, the dos and don’ts when applying for a job or a promotion, and the financial realities of running a newsroom today.

Navigating A Successful Freelance Career
As budgets get tighter, news stations are turning to freelancers rather than hiring full-time employees. This session will help the seasoned freelancer and those new on the freelance market find out how to navigate a successful freelance career.

Careers Behind The Scenes
Not everyone wants to be a TV anchor (or can be). This workshop will explore the wealth of “behind-the-scenes” jobs available in television news from producer, director, assignment desk etc.
Sponsored by Fox Television

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Visual

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Education

Comin' Up: Linking Professional Development, Happiness and the Next Generation:

Part 1: Getting Ahead by Giving Back
It's a win/win for journalists who teach in high school summer programs. At this session, you'll learn how journalists who participate in high school summer programs benefit both professionally and personally, along with tips on how to persuade your editors to let you do it!


Part 2: What works?
Designed especially for people involved in workshops or who want to start one, this roundtable session will present a set of "best practices" to share.


Part 3: Are we making a difference?
How should we measure the success of our high school workshops? What outcomes mean the most? We'll try to develop a model for assessing the impact of our efforts.

Turbo-Charge Your Career: Exploring Journalism Fellowships
Does your career need a boost? Do you wish you had time to immerse yourself in a topic without deadline pressure? Whether you’re in print, broadcast or online journalism, a mid-career journalism fellowship may just be what the doctor ordered. Listen to a panel of journalists describe their year as a fellow at Stanford, Harvard, the University of Michigan and other mid-career programs, where they spent time in the company of other accomplished journalists at a major university. They will talk about their experiences during the year and offer tips about how to win a fellowship. Following their fellowship year, journalism fellows have gone on to important promotions and have won numerous awards and honors, including Pulitzer prizes. We’ll provide breakfast at this panel, so grab a cup of coffee with us, settle back and learn what these fellowships can do for you.

News Media and High School Partnerships
News Media/High School Partnerships are an innovative tool to help increase diversity in newsrooms. This workshop will help equip newsroom managers that want to partner with high schools and generate a discussion among journalism professionals about how to form successful partnerships with student journalists. Attendees will receive an inside look at some successful partnerships, practical advice about how to get started, and information about the financial resources available to media companies interested in partnering with high schools. The workshop is highly relevant to print and broadcast editors, recruiters, newsroom managers and others interested in training the next generation of journalists and attracting talented minorities into the news industry where they are underrepresented.
Sponsored by the Washington Post

All I Really Need to Know About Diversity I Learned In Kindergarten: Teaching Diversity as a Core Journalistic Value
What should entry level reporters know about reporting on historically excluded communities? How can managers ensure that the journalists they hire understand the importance of inclusiveness both in and out of the newsroom? How are university journalism programs preparing students to work in a diverse and global society? What do those curricula look like? We'll study these issues and tackle the question: What would it take to make diversity training in the newsroom no longer necessary? Be prepared to take notes!

The Future of Journalism Education: A Consumer Story
A conversation with three typical, but diverse, “consumers” of journalism education – a top editor, a hiring/training editor and, of course, a reporter. The goals will be to establish the needs of today’s news organizations and to explore how those needs are being met or should be met by the institutions “producing” tomorrow’s journalists.

Now that You're in the Academy: What You Should Know About the Process and Politics of Tenure for Educators of Color
This panel explores the issue of having a voice once tenured during the tenure process for people of color.

New Professors often complain that they cannot voice their true opinions about their departments or their universities because of the subjective nature of the tenure process. In order to protect themselves until tenure, race and gender discrimination is often ignored for fear of retribution during the tenure decision.

Some journalism departments do not require a Ph D for a tenure-track position. However, doctoral programs are where one often learns about the dubious nature of the tenure track system. What happens when reporters-turned-academics get caught up in the world of tenure without the navigational skills?

How You Can Turn All Those Years in the Newsroom Into a Second Career as an Educator: Q&A
This panel will discuss why journalism schools need diverse faculty members and how professionals can break into academia. Topics to be covered include – how to obtain basic yet tangible teaching experience, how to look for a job at a journalism school, understanding and navigating the tenure process, training opportunities for instructors, and how to create a syllabus.

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New Media/Convergence

Multimedia Storytelling: Making the Most of an Online Minute
A panel of multimedia editors will critique the pre-submitted work of selected entrants. Panelists will discuss methods for telling stories online and trends in online journalism, with a particular highlight on multimedia packages. The panel will also weave in a discussion of developing a career path in online journalism. Even if it¹s not your work being critiqued, here¹s an opportunity to learn from other journalists' work.

Instruction for Submissions
NYTimes.com is looking for examples of innovative online storytelling for our panel to critique. Please submit a package of work that demonstrates how a news or feature story can be told in a way that takes advantage of the capabilities of the Web. The selected pieces will not necessarily be the "best" of the submissions, but those that enable our panel to point out examples of innovative and effective practices, provide suggestions and inspire discussion and learning experiences. Send the url of the piece to unity workshop@nytimes.com and include a short description (no more than 250 words) of how you conceived of the idea, how you went about building the package and what you've learning from the experience.

As an alternative to the url, you may send 4 copies of a CD rom to the following address:

New York Times Digital
Attn: Tina Rolon
500 Seventh Ave. 8th Floor
New York, NY 10018

Submissions must be received by July 14. If your piece has been selected for critique, you will be notified by July 30.

Non-Linear Editing – An Apple, Inc. Workshop
A hands-on workshop developing digital editing skills with the latest equipment, including Final Cut Pro and Avid.
Sponsored By Apple, Inc.


WHAT IS CONVERGENCE ANYWAY?
This session will explore development and trends in convergence, what drives consumers to various converged operations, its industry background, and provide examples of successful converged operations. Discuss ethical challenges facing convergence (i.e. limiting competition, "voices", jobs - particularly for minorities), issues of content quality, labor and management issues, also recent developments with the FCC rulings and appeals.


CONVERGENCE AND COLLEGE JOURNALISM
Journalism has moved from hard copy to the electronic new stand. Through convergence, it has it is hoped that young news consumers and practitioners will be attracted to its graphics, streaming video and interactive features. While veteran journalists adapt to multimedia reporting, students wonder what skills they will need for the 21st century’s information overload. This panel examines the history of convergence, ethics and the new medium, and the skills, jobs and challenges it represents.


MANAGING CONVERGENCE
You are thrown into the fire: "Hey Mr./Ms. Manager, we are going to converge. Make it work." Where do you start? How do you encourage single-medium journalists to do more, in less time, for no extra money? How do you finesse managers from the different media to work together – share resources, share time, share "exclusives"? How do you cross train - if at all? What if your operations are unionized? Which medium gets priority when news breaks?

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Newspaper

Narrative Journalism: Beyond the 5 W’s
Our presenters will trade off during this session, exploring the rising popularity of narrative journalism, from short form to serials. Narrative offers a human dimension to stories about complex intercultural social issues, dry statistical or evidentiary topics, multi-layered situations trailing long histories; its also good for slice-of-life portraits of people, subcultures, and novel events. We’ll discuss the process of writing and editing, from topic selection, through note taking and processing, revision, tactics of publishing, ethics and attribution.


Reporting on Race, Ethnicity, and Demographics in the Media
A candid discussion with a diverse panel of experts about what works, what doesn't and what all journalists need to know. Well, heck? You are the expert in covering the fast-changing demographics of America. Join in the brainstorming with 2004 Pulitzer Prize winner Leonard Pitts, Race and Race and Demographics Editor Anne Vasquez from the San Jose Mercury News and others. The discussion -- and the suggestions of best practices – will be documented by Newswatch and posted online after the convention.


Covering Washington From All over the World
International journalists who cover Washington join a discussion with U.S.-based journalists of color about the issues that make news, and some that don’t. Ask the question of how the world sees us; how does that compare with what journalists of color see?


Winning Writing – A Poynter Workshop
What are the elements, tangible and intangible, that elevate writing to an award-winning level? Keith Woods, editor of “Best Newspaper Writing,” will share lessons culled from writers through the years who have offered their tips for excellent writing.


Finding Your Poetic Potential as a Journalist
Have you ever heard the phrase: That sounds poetic? That’s because the graceful combination of words stirred something special that touched you deeply – an imagery, a feeling, an insight. This session uses hands on exercises and real-life experiences to teach you how to use the peripheral vision that poetry provides to incorporate deeper layers of meaning into your columns, editorials and news writing. Evoke the poetic in the ordinary. Move your readers to greater appreciation of your inner poet. And find a better way to connect with readers in minority and underserved communities.


How to Land a Really Cool Gig
Ever envy the people who get paid to chat with celebrities at Hollywood premieres, go to the Super Bowl and the World Series, get pampered at Lavish resorts, read the newest novels or hunt down the hottest fashion? Find out how to land these cool gigs from a panel of music and movie critics, food reviewers, fashion writers and travel writers.
Sponsored by MGM MIRAGE


Doing Cross Cultural Investigations: The Challenges and Solutions
Investigative stories in different cultures present additional challenges for journalists. This panel will deliver advice and list resources for planning and carrying out such investigations while remaining sensitive to, and respectful of, cultural differences and avoiding the common pitfalls.


Quick-hit Investigations while on the Beat
Whether print or broadcast, most journalists don’t work on an investigative team and are under more deadline and beat pressure than ever. This plan will offer dozens of ideas, strategies, and resources for finding and doing the quick and effective investigative story that makes a difference.
Sponsored by The Washington Post


Using the Census to uncover Ethnic Disparities
By digging into numbers from the Census bureau and other databases, journalists can disclose ethnic disparities that exist throughout our communities. This panel, which includes a U.S. Census Bureau presentation of new data, will show how these revelations can lead a journalist to questions and stories about equal justice and opportunities no matter what beat the journalist is covering.


The Amazing Grace of Feature Writing
Explore techniques for elevating all kinds of stories: profiles; news features; serious pieces focused on celebrities, politicians and other news makers; think-pieces; long-form, magazine stories; first-person columns --- with that rich quality known as voice. A panel of writers and editors lead a conversation about the joys of feature writing.


Sportswriters Theater
How do you question a Barry Bonds, especially if he had a bad game? Sports reporters know that many obstacles can arise as they gather information and write their stories. Using a role- playing format, topics addressed in this workshop will include: Looking and acting professional at a game, what do you do if your computer breaks down on deadline, when and how to utilize a team’s media relations personnel, tips to prevent deadline panic, how to establish a rapport with coaches and players you don’t know well, and checking for accuracy when time is short.


Copy Editing Eye for the Reporting Guys
This panel uses the popular Bravo TV show model, but with a twist. We’d like to hear from a ‘Fab Five’ of experts who will give pointers to reporters who want to get in touch with their editing side. Areas covered include:

-The importance of punctuation
-Grammar
-Spelling: common errors (have you checked the local or AP stylebook?)
-Taste/Tips on how to avoid offensive terms (Is this the best lead? Why should readers care?)
-Just the facts: Tips on how to double-check information (Are all of the questions answered?)

Editing the Editors
At most newspapers where white colleagues on the desk outnumber them, ‘minority’ copy editors’ concerns are sometimes easily quashed. What approach or approaches are best when trying to bring important concerns to the attention of senior editors? For instance, when R&B Singer Aaliyah died, some newspapers did not see the importance of putting that story on page 1. When African-American actors Denzel Washington and Halle Berry won their Academy Awards, some newspapers might have needed a more guided touch when crafting the appropriate headline for such an important moment in history. Another example includes the coverage of Latina singer Selena upon her death – many editors questioned the importance of her celebrity. Let’s explore some role-playing to present how best to handle these types of situations.

Editorial Writing
A session on what it takes to become an editorial writer and exploring the notion if it’s for you.


Reaching Across the Color Lines: Journalists of Color Who Use Their Ink for Other People of Color
This workshop will highlight four journalists of color who write about issues affecting their own communities, as well as those of importance to other communities of color.

Stakes of Media Consolidation
A look at a little-realized effect of media consolidation, deep-pocketed corporations assuming control over ever-larger sectors of the media, making it difficult for smaller media outlets to stay afloat. How does this affect ethnic media? The traditional independent ownership model of the ethnic media is being challenged as cash-starved media outlets “sell up” to survive and grow or grapple with other pressures on their independence. Ethnic media representatives discuss the pros and cons of this trend for the media outlets involved as well as reporters and producers and—above all—for ethnic audiences’ access to local stories and perspectives; the opportunity to see their communities and its concerns reflected in the media culture.


Mainstream Media Companies Running Ethnic Press
What kinds of relationships build success stories when large, English-speaking companies launch publications in other languages? What are the keys to constant improvement; where are the pitfalls? How odes the content differ and is it a two-way street? What can the mother ships learn from their partners? Four experienced Editors and Publishers talk about what they’ve learned. They’ll offer practical advice and some thoughts about the best frameworks in the business for this challenging model.


On the Vanguard of American Journalism: Independent, Ethnic Media
The wide perception is that ethnic media are mom and pop shops that don't do real journalism. But the ethnic media is on the vanguard of American journalism, whether by doing ethnic polling or its investigating festering community wounds. This panel discusses ways how some of these advances could only begin in the independent, if small, media outlets.


Investigative Business Writing: Hunting Down Suits and Corporations
An interactive workshop breaking down how reporters can use sources, government and court records, regulatory agencies, the Internet and other avenues of research to investigate business people, companies and non-profits. Using case studies involving real-life corporations and white-collar crooks, we'll brainstorm investigative techniques and ways to dig up facts, color and context on our subjects. Handouts will include story samples, a rundown of techniques and a bibliography of books and articles with investigative tips.
Sponsored by Time Warner


Getting Down to Business
Whether you cover retail or technology, personal finance or the city budget, here's a chance to learn from top journalists around the country the secret to savvy business reporting and writing - - from digging through financial reports to finding great sources; from great storytelling to provocative profiles. Ace reporters and business editors will share their tips for making good stories great.
Sponsored by Fannie Mae


Environmental Journalism: Wading through issues of Race, Class, Science, Politics and Social Justice - Presented by The Society of Environmental Journalists
Urban development. Bioengineered food. Depletion of fisheries. Population growth. No matter how global or profound the subject matter, the environmental beat is about explaining how such issues affect our quality-of-life. This panel will show how coverage of the environment lends itself to reporting on communities of color as well as the haves and have-nots. How the beat is framed by legislators and activists; how it requires investigative skills as well as literary talent; how the beat can be your opportunity to produce stories that have impact and effect change. Panelists will present tips on document retrieval, accessing information and finding stories.


SEXUAL HARASSMENT IN THE NEWSROOM
Sexual harassment in the workplace isn't just associated with names like Bill Clinton, Anita Hill or Bob Packwood. Even though sexual harassment is a form of sex discrimination that violates Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, that doesn't mean it isn't happening every day in a newsroom across the U.S. How prevalent is sexual harassment? Are women, who now make up more than a third of all journalists, the only ones being harassed? What about men? Gays? Lesbians? Are TV newsrooms worse, or better, than newspaper newsrooms? Journalists and others discuss the issues.

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Magazines

Breaking Into Magazines
The masthead is small, but the clarion call of magazines is ringing out to you. How can you get a staff job at a magazine when transitioning from a newspaper position or a broadcast post? Is it possible? And for college graduates, should you start at newspapers or keep pursuing internships? A panel of editors from different types of magazines talks about ways of moving into the business.

Climbing the Magazine Ladder of Success
This panel will provide strategic information about: How to obtain freelance assignments that can lead to a full-time job; if you’re not in the inner circle, how do you gain entry?; how to translate, leverage your experience to move up the ladder; the characteristics of a “good” editor; how to network with people in journalism in order to lead you to a successful magazine track. Q & A to follow.

Is There Enough Journalism in A&E?
Arts and entertainment journalism has long been considered among the softer kinds of news reporting, but there are more than glowing profiles and glittering parties to cover in the entertainment world. Are A&E journalists reporting enough of the harder-edged stories in the field? What tales or behind-the-scenes pieces are we missing? Do we ignore news in favor of gossip or can, in fact, other areas of coverage learn from how entertainment is reported? A panel explores these topics with the audience.
Sponsored by Time Warner

Write a Winning Query Every Time
Don’t write another query that lands in the circular file or that dusty “look at later” pile. Editors and successful freelancers tell you how to write the one query that will open the doors to their hearts and minds and get you the assignment. They will also tell you how to hang onto your copyright and get paid the most for your hard work.

How to Build Fruitful Relationships
You may be a brilliant reporter and writer, but you can’t do it alone. Maintaining lasting relationships with editors is the bottom line in the freelance business. Editors share the inside story on how to keep them happy and the work coming in; writers share their secret editor-management techniques. Both offer insight into magazine trends to help you find the best fit for your stories and better chart your writing career.

Working at Women’s Magazines: Is It Right for You?
The women’s magazine field is one of the hottest and fastest growing categories in journalism. From the success of ventures like O Magazine and In Style, female-oriented media is no longer a niche market but a powerful medium with sweeping influence over everything from the way we raise our children to how we invest our money to how we perceive celebrity. Join us as top editors in the field share their secrets of success, the pros and cons of working in this industry, the diversity of jobs available and how to get started and get ahead.
Sponsored by Time Warner

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Hot Topics

Celebrity on Celebrity
Are the private lives of celebrities off limits or fair game? The Celebrity on Celebrity panel at UNITY 2004 will put Hollywood celebrities alongside high-profile celebrity journalists and media critics to go head to head to on the issue of celebrity news. Americans are fascinated by the lives of celebrities: singers, actors, and talk show hosts. They want to know where the stars dine, whom they date, where they buy their clothes. Americans crave and consume the real life sagas of marriage, divorce, and marriage again. Yet many celebrities see the behind the scenes stories as personal assault, harassment, and an invasion of privacy. Is celebrity news, News? How can journalists meet the needs of a ravenous public who craves the nitty-gritty details of celebrity life, while maintaining journalistic integrity and respecting personal boundaries? Where should they draw the line? We'll answer these questions and more!
Sponsored by Time Warner

Faux News: Fatal or Fantastic?
Are we raising a generation of critical news consumers, or just news critics? The Pew Research Center for the People and the Press recently conducted a poll of young people between the ages of 18-29 to find out where they were getting their campaign coverage. Twenty-one percent cited The Daily Show on Comedy Central and NBC’s Saturday Night Live as their news source while 23 percent listed the nightly broadcast news. In 2000, only 9 percent of young viewers mentioned comedy outlets as a source of news. Is this a laughing matter? Why is it that entertainment in the form of TV and online (The Onion, the Smoking Gun) are turning into education? What can mainstream news learn from this phenomenon in order to improve its reach with young news consumers?

Closing the Doors: Freedom of Information in the Age of Homeland Security
The public's right to know has been sharply limited under the nation's new homeland security initiatives. A panel will discuss what is being withheld - from the halls of Washington to your local police department -- and what efforts are under way to keep the sunshine in our freedom of information laws.

Journalists Under Fire: Covering War, Disaster and Destruction
Journalists sometimes do their best covering the worst stories, both around the world as well as close to home. Come hear how they did it with sophistication and skill, and survived. A representative from Centurion Risk Assessment Services, the UK-based hostile environment experts, will sharp tips on how to handle checkpoint bribes, which direction to roll at the sound of a blast; what to bring to a riot.

Mascots: Sports and Stereotypes
The Washington Redskins football team is at the forefront of a national debate over the
persistent use of disparaging images and stereotypes of Native Americans in sports. Sports and community leaders join journalists in discussing use of the mascots.

Call the Lawyers: Legal Issues
A panel of experts and journalists will look at the latest wins and losses for media law, and how to avoid legal pitfalls in reporting your next story.

Politics 2004: The Focus Project
A new study analyzing the Washington press corps raises questions about race. We'll discuss what is says about coverage of minority issues from the presidential campaign to Congress.

Politics 2004: Can I Cover the President?
Those who have been there will discuss the pleasures and pitfalls of covering politics.

A Conversation with Dick Parsons
The African-American head of the largest media company in the world—AOL Time Warner— will talk about diversity and media today and will answer questions from UNITY partners and members of the audience.
Sponsored by Time Warner

God and Country: The Politics of Religion
Religion has been at the center of some of the nation's biggest stories, from same-sex marriage, the war in Iraq and the Patriot Act to Supreme Court rulings and faith-based social services. Learn from top newsmakers and journalists how to cover religion --and how your perceptions may color your approach to the news.

Ethics in Today’s Media: Is the Public right to Distrust their News?
Has the parade of journalism’s trials and scandals on the front pages and on TV caused the public to lose faith? Should we be surprised of they have? This panel will include a brief account of the rising public distrust of the so-called ‘mainstream’ press. Are issues becoming more prevalent or are they simply more public? This session will address what kind of new steps might be taken to reduce bad behavior and whether increased monitoring of the media is actually raising standards or simply raising public awareness of problems.

Getting Published: An Author's Guide
Writers and others who know the ropes will discuss the nuts and bolts of getting that novel or work of nonfiction into print.

Author's Panel
Top authors of color talk about their works and what it took to get them done.

Who am I? How to cover race when the lines are blurred
The growth of multiracial people is changing the way we write about racial issues. We'll discuss how to tackle issues that cross racial lines and how to handle - with sensitivity - the growing cross-cultural elements in racial coverage.

Media Mergers: Consolidation, Cross-Ownership and the FCC
Media takeovers and consolidations are changing the ways we cover the news. We'll look at what it means for your job and your community.

Immigration: People and Policies
The attacks of Sept. 11, 2001 brought about an unprecedented restructuring of the federal government's immigration and national security policies, stirring debate about the impact of these changes on the immigrant community and the nation. The session will discuss these policy changes and the human impact they are having across the country.

All the Gays are White, All the People of Color are Straight, but Some of us are Brave: Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender People of Color
All gay people are white? All people of color are straight? So where does that leave me? The face of gay and lesbian America is changing. More and more African-American, Asian, Latino and Native Americans who are also lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender are coming out, but they are often overlooked. This workshop will provide journalists with information and resources on how to identify and cover issues pertain to gay and lesbian people of color, and will discuss the potential clashes between race-based civil rights issues and gay and lesbian issues.

Brown v. Board of Education: 50 Years Later
It's been half a century since the groundbreaking decision that changed the American educational system. What have we accomplished in 50 years? Where do we go from here? Education leaders and journalists discuss the current state of American education and students of color.

Screenwriting: How to Break Into Hollywood
Going from the newsroom to the screening room can be tricky. Writers who have been there tell you how to make the move.

The Spanish Media Explosion
In the last two years, Spanish language media has experienced a rapid and undeniable growth nationwide, with multiple Spanish-language media outlets in major cities across the country. This session will be a primer on this growth industry and the coverage issues that this new industry must face. Panelists will also discuss employment issues and the likely longevity of this phenomenon.

New Views on the News: Young People of Color talk about how Journalism must change to Win their trust
Let’s face it. Young people of color can tell us a few things about ways journalism must change to win their trust and loyalty, whether on television, in cyberspace, in print, or on the radio. You’ll get a chance to hear 18-25 year0olds from throughout the nation inform and perhaps entertain in this multimedia adaptation of the successful Associated Press managing Editors Credibility Roundtable Discussion sessions. Listen to young people talk at UNITY and in uninhibited, videotaped interviews in their hometowns.

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Radio

1. Digital Audio Editing
This workshop is designed to teach you what’s available in the latest state-of-the-art digital audio editing for radio presented by Burli Software, Inc., a broadcast industry leader in audio- editing equipment. Participants will have hands-on demonstrations and meet with company officials on how the equipment will enable them to cover stories more efficiently, with better quality sound.

2. WRITING NEWS FOR RADIO 101
Writing for news radio, you know, television news WITHOUT the pictures, can be a tricky process. You have to paint the picture with (sometimes) fewer than a thousand words. Join accomplished radio broadcasters and educators as they help you structure a strong foundation for writing for radio, point out some of the pitfalls, and teach you a few things you haven’t, and won’t, learn in the textbooks.

CAREER OPTIONS IN RADIO
This panel introduces the world of public and commercial radio news to beginners.

Power to the People: The Empowerment of Talk Radio
Talk radio increasingly shapes public perceptions and influences the social agenda. This panel will look at how talk radio has grown into an important component of agenda setting in the United States. Liberals created "Air America Radio" specifically to counter conservatives such as Rush Limbaugh and Sean Hannity. The discussion promises to be lively and informative for people who've always wondered where talk radio show hosts get their information that helps form their opinions.

RADIO LIVE SHOT CRITIQUE SESSION
This is a hands-on workshop for students and young professionals. Members of the panel give them assignments. They then have 10 minutes to do a short interview, write a story and “go on the air.” They then receive immediate feedback.

*Please bring your own equipment if available. Equipment will be provided if needed.

SOUND SALON
This is an informal session where reporters listen to each other’s work.

Ethnic Radio
The number of radio stations owned by minorities is declining in this age of media consolidation. This panel looks at the challenges facing these small station owners.

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Strategies for Success: Women Newsroom Leaders
Top-flight women newsroom leaders share and challenge attendees on what it takes to be successful in the newsroom.

Ten Management Tools to Use Now
If you're thinking about moving into management, this workshop is for you! Professionally trained newsroom managers from across the country share their most effective tips for short and long-term success. Hear from fellows of the Carole Kneeland Project for Responsible Television Journalism and alums of the Media Management Center at Northwestern University. This session will focus on "news you can use" when you return to your respective newsrooms.

Surviving the First Five Years
A straightforward session on issues facing young people who are in the early years of the profession. The panel includes newsroom advocates for young people and some young folks who have been there, done that.

Say What You Mean, Get What You Want
How much frustration have you experienced because, no matter how many times you tell them, some people simply will not do what you ask them to do? In this workshop, you’ll find out why that happens and how to change it. You’ll learn surefire ways to get better on-the-job performance from the people you supervise, and from yourself. You’ll get actual practice resolving your toughest personnel case and leave with a system to hold people accountable for producing excellent journalism. For print and broadcast managers, editors, TV and radio news directors, and those wishing to move into management positions.

When it Hits the Fan…
Covering disasters and other violent events lead to stress for many journalists and their organizations. This workshop offers suggestions on how to recognize early on and deal with victims of trauma, stress, depression and burnout. Some role-playing may be involved.


Surviving the Cross-Cultural Newsroom
Workshop in development: The idea is to examine how cultural differences can lead to barriers in a newsroom, particularly in terms of cross-cultural communications.

Retention: A Super-Focus Group
Tough Economic times make retention critical in newsrooms across the country. We look at how to develop and retain journalists of color.

Business Careers
A series of intensive 2-day workshops with a limited audience, targeting journalism professionals who have narrowed their career aspirations toward the “business side” of media operations. The sessions will be building block sessions with top-level facilitators representing Knight Ridder and other media organizations.
Sponsored by Knight Ridder

Newsroom Management
A 2-day workshop focusing on “Newsroom Management from A to Z,” targeting professionals who have narrowed their professional aspirations toward the “management side” of media operations.
Sponsored by Knight Ridder

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Multicultural/Multilingual

Emerging Latino Markets: New Regions Face Growing Pains
In the Pacific Northwest, South, and other areas not known for their Hispanic density, an upsurge in the Latino population has forced these regions into a demographic transformation for which they were ill prepared. From school districts and institutions to law enforcement, social service agencies, and even media outlets, how do we appropriately adapt and respond to this sudden emergence?

Two Languages, Two Worlds: Multilingual Multi-tasking and making it all Work
With the growth of the Spanish language daily, Journalists in this medium now must operate with virtual ambidexterity. From getting a story in English and writing in Spanish to interviewing in English and translating on the fly, wide-ranging expectations and responsibilities are at a premium. Leading Spanish language journalists discuss techniques to write under deadline, understand multilingual and editorial nuances such as style and fluency, and develop deeper insight in areas in which they may not be immediately familiar (City Hall/municipal guidelines, etc.) from a different perspective.

Sports Around the Globe: Domestic Coverage of International Athletes
African-American reporters may feel a kinship with a Latin American athlete, both being people of color. But does a Latin athlete feel the same way towards us, especially if we don’t speak Spanish? Does this dynamic affect Asian athletes and Asian American reporters as well? What biases about reporters do international players bring to the United States? Is being covered by female reporters a big adjustment for international players? How difficult is the sports and social transition for an international player? How do you cover sports that may not be popular nationwide but are popular in your particular area?

Covering Native America: A World Beyond the Reservation
How may times must we read or see Native American coverage highlighting either the dire straits of reservation life or the finances of gaming casinos, with nothing in between? Within Native culture exists a rich and compelling history, with current stories relevant to all and deserving of fair and balanced exposure. Leading journalists discuss the ways and means of effectively bringing Native news to the mainstream press.

More than Black and Brown: Looking Past Singular Culture Perspective
Our nation is becoming increasingly heterogeneous in its convergence of race and tradition. Along the way, are ethnic media outlets doing enough to address this shift in their coverage, particularly reporting news affecting other minority groups? What is missing from our pages? What is our responsibility? Learn from writers and reporters effective ways to educate ethnic readership while reporting other racial histories and often-similar plights.

Unified Cultural Alliances: Real or Imagined?
UNITY and other organizations emphasize inter-ethnic union when advocating similar goals, yet an unstated tension remains among minority groups when tacitly competing for an increasingly shrinking pot. How does this friction play out in the newsroom? Is this a microcosm of our nation at large? This candid session explores the theoretical aspects of multicultural alliances, their practicality, and how to ultimately make them real.

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