Communication Department to host convergence-themed Journalism conference
Contact: Elise Doster
2/3/10
HAMMOND – Budding student journalists and university media enthusiasts may still register to attend or compete in the 2010 Southeast Journalism Conference (SEJC), hosted by Southeastern Louisiana University’s Department of Communication Feb. 11-13.
The free, three-day event will take place at the university and Hammond’s Quality Inn and will feature presentations from professional communication practioners and various media-related competitions. The 2010 conference will focus on media convergence, a topic that has become increasingly popular in recent years.
Communication professor and SEJC faculty president Amber Narro said the university has received 12 confirmations from southeast-area colleges so far, and she is expecting up to 250 people to attend.
Undergraduate students will participate in more than 15 on-site journalism championships of various genres, including newspaper layout, sports writing and broadcast anchoring. Students interested in competing in any of the championships may still register to participate depending upon available space. For a full list of competitions, visit the SEJC 2010 Web site at www.sejc.org.
Students, faculty and staff interested in attending the conference should pre-register with Narro. Optional lunches will be served Friday and Saturday for a fee of $15 for one meal or $25 for both days; checks should be made payable to the Southeastern Louisiana University Press Club.
Harumi Gondo, international coordinator for United Press International University (UPIU), journalist and managing consultant Tedd Illiff, and Mark Briggs, author of “Journalism 2.0: How to survive and thrive in a digital age,” are among some of the media professionals slated to speak at the conference.
“Convergence is what journalism is now,” Narro said. “It’s allowing smaller organizations to get more recognition with more audience. The speakers are going to talk about what kinds of skills you are going to need as a journalist and all the different types of technologies and advancements out there.”
It’s been 10 years since the conference was last held at Southeastern, and Narro said the event is a great networking opportunity for undergraduate students and a positive experience for everyone who attends.
Megan Mosher, the 2010 SEJC student president from Loranger, said she had wonderful experiences at the 2008 and 2009 conferences, which gave her the opportunity to interact with Southeastern students on many levels.
“I think it’s a good chance for us to showcase what Southeastern students have done, and I think it will really show how dedicated the Communication Department is to getting the best for the students,” said Mosher, a senior mass communication and journalism major.
Separate from the on-site championships, winners of the Best of South Competition will also be named. These awards include titles such as “Best News Reporter,” “Best News Graphic Designer” and “College Journalist of the Year.” Students awarded with a Best of South title submitted previously-created works to be judged by a panel of media experts and will not know if they have won until the conference.
For more information about the 2010 SEJC or to register, contact Narro at Amber.Narro@selu.edu or visit the SECJ 2010 Web site at www.sejc.org.
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