Panels Bridge Newsroom, Audience and Classroom Issues

By Maggie Rivas-Rodriguez

Vice Head and Program Chair

    We've got some juicy panels coming up in Toronto -- panels that explore issues like which computer layout programs is best, problems in polling, and how the newspaper industry is trying to capture younger readers. In short, some of the issues that are being discussed in newsrooms across the country, as well as in journalism units that try to prepare the next generation of journalists.

    (There is also an appropriate prize to be awarded to whoever guesses which panel title Division Chair Frank Fee poo-pooed until I told him it was MY idea. You have never seen a man back-pedal as fast as our dear Frank!)

    Our newspaper division members followed through last fall and submitted 42 panel proposals. In the end, only five of our own panels made it onto the program.  Many that didn't get onto the program this year should be repackaged and re-submitted next year -- when the convention goes to San Antonio.  A few got sort of rolled into other division's panels -- which we are co-sponsoring.

Here are the ones that we're sponsoring:

• Wed., Aug. 4, 10 -11:30 a.m. -- Digital Storytelling (Wilson Lowery, University of Alabama organizer; Newspaper is lead sponsor; VisComm is co-sponsor).

• Wed., Aug. 4, 1:30-3 p.m. -- Quark vs. In Design: Frustration, Confusion and Tentative Hope in the World of Layout (Julie Yioutas, University of Texas at Austin, organizer; Newspaper is lead sponsor; Magazine is co-sponsor).

• Wed, Aug. 4, 5-6:30 -- Latest Industry Research on Broadcast and Print Journalism, (Randy Reddick, Texas Tech University, organizer; Council of Affiliates is lead sponsor; Newspaper is co-sponsor).

• Thurs., Aug. 5, 11:45 a.m. -- Uses and Abuses of Polling (Paul Janensch, Quinnipiac University, organizer; Newspaper is lead sponsor, ComTheory and Methodology is co-sponsor).

• Friday, Aug. 6, 8:15 a.m. -- Journalism on the Edge: Can Minidailies Grab Hip Young Readers and Provide Public Service? (John K. Hartman, Central Michigan University, organizer; Newspaper is sole sponsor).

• Friday, Aug. 6, 5 p.m. -- Messages Wrapped in a Flag: The News Media and the Images of War and Patriotism (Fred Blevins, Oklahoma, organizer; Newspaper is lead sponsor and Council of Affiliates is co-sponsor). (Panel details)

Prize for Right Guess

    And finally, let's not forget the members' business meeting on Thursday, Aug. 5, from   6:45 to 8:15 p.m. Light refreshments provided. We promise to make it interesting. I will let you know how Frank Fee panned the title for one of our panels, only to learn that I had actually juiced it up. A suitable prize will be given the first person at the meeting to guess which was the panel title that Frank panned. Panelists are not eligible to compete!