Tuesday, March 31, 2009

Shield Law Passes House

INDIANAPOLIS – The Society of Professional Journalists is encouraged by the action of the U.S. House Judiciary Committee, which today passed H.R. 985, the Free Flow of Information Act. The bill now awaits a vote before the full House.

“If this crucial bill eventually comes before President Obama, we urge him to sign it immediately and affirm his support for openness,” said SPJ President Dave Aeikens.

Known as the Shield Law, the measure would grant protections to journalists who refuse to reveal confidential sources, even when compelled by a subpoena and the threat of penal action. Currently, 49 states offer legislative or administrative protections to journalists. No such law exists at the federal level.

As the most broad-based journalism organization in the country, SPJ has been at the forefront – along with numerous media organizations – of the fight to safeguard information and ultimately maintain vital news reporting in the public interest.

“This isn’t about granting special privileges for reporters,” said Aeikens. “This fight is for everyone – the public and the press. This is about preserving and strengthening our democracy.”

The effort to enact a federal shield law has been ongoing since 2005. The most recent bill, H.R. 985, was introduced in February. Although the bill previously passed the House last year, it ultimately stalled in the Senate in July 2008, despite bipartisan support in both chambers.

While campaigning for president, both then-Senator Barack Obama and current Senator John McCain voiced their support for the bill, eventually becoming cosponsors for the Senate version.

Obama administration officials have already shown support for such a law. Attorney General Eric Holder, in his confirmation hearing, indicated he did not hold the same view as former Attorney General Michael Mukasey, who recommended President Bush veto the bill if passed by Congress.

Along with SPJ, a number of other organizations have joined the effort to pass a federal shield law, including the Newspaper Association of American, Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press, Radio and Television News Directors Association, and Investigative Reporters and Editors. Learn more about SPJ’s efforts by clicking here.

Founded in 1909 as Sigma Delta Chi, SPJ promotes the free flow of information vital to a well- informed citizenry; works to inspire and educate the next generation of journalists; and protects First Amendment guarantees of freedom of speech and press. For more information about SPJ, please visit www.spj.org.

IMPORTANT CHANGE

So, due to circumstance beyond our control at OU SPJ, we will be having our meetings in Scripps 116 for the remainder of the quarter.

If you happen to wander in on Scripps 111 you will be attending Dr. Peters' Ethics class.

Tell your friends and make sure people know.

We apologize for the inconvenience and hope to continue to see you all each and every Tuesday at 5 p.m. in Scripps 116!

A Breath of Fresh Air

As spring blows into Athens and the temperature warms up, we all feel a little happier and optimistic.

Here is a great piece that Alec shared with us here on the blog about the Buffalo News. It's VERY refreshing to read and could spur some interesting debate.

Read it here.

And as always, let the Sun Shine!

Evan

An interview with Frank Deaner

During OU's celebration of Sunshine Week (3/9 - 3/14), Frank Deaner, the president of the Ohio Coalition for Open Government, visited our SPJ chapter and shared some anecdotes regarding Open Record Laws.

We had the opportunity to interview Deaner following our meeting. See snippets from our interview below.

Deaner talks about an audit that was conducted in 2004 that resulted in some provisions to benefit journalists with Open Record Law requests.


Understanding your rights as a journalist and knowing what information you have access to can be overwhelming, but it's important. Deaner offers suggestions to brief you on your rights and explains how to give yourself more credibility as a student journalist.


Taylor Mirfendereski

Monday, March 30, 2009

AP Lists Losers

The Associated Press has published a list of all daily newspapers that have cut back editions in the past year. Here's a look at Ohio:

- Bellevue Gazette - Dropped Mondays in January.

- Fairborn Daily Herald - Dropped Mondays in November.

- The Galion Inquirer - Dropped Mondays in September.

- Greenville Daily Advocate - Dropped Mondays and Tuesdays in January.

- Times-Gazette, Hillsboro - Dropped Mondays in November.

- The Madison Press, London - Dropped Mondays in November.

- Piqua Daily Call - Dropped Tuesdays in February.

- The Sidney Daily News - Dropped Tuesdays in February.

- Troy Daily News - Dropped Tuesdays in February.

- Van Wert Times-Bulletin - Dropped Mondays last fall.

- Wilmington News Journal - Dropped Mondays in September.

- The Xenia Daily Gazette - Dropped Mondays in November.

You can read the entire list here.

On a personal note, I began my journalism career with the Fairborn Daily Herald and Xenia Daily Gazette back in high school. I interned there for two summers and really learned the basics of the craft during that time. It pains me to see the paper be forced to cut back.

Do you see any hometown papers on the list? Please share with us.

Thanks!

Evan

Sunday, March 29, 2009

Welcome Back!

Hope everyone had a wonderful and relaxing spring break!

It's getting warmer and nicer outside and OU SPJ is getting busier than ever before!

We kick it all off on TUESDAY (March 31st) at 5 p.m. in Scripps 111.

There has never been a better time to attend an OU SPJ meeting - we'll be discussing elections, inductions, Regional Conference, and continuing to work on our open records service project.

You'll also get a sneak peek at what we have planned for the rest of the academic year!

See you there!

Friday, March 27, 2009

Conference Schedule

Region 4 Conference is exactly one week away!

Here’s the lineup:

Friday, April 3

6-8 p.m. — Reception at Winking Lizard Crosswoods

Saturday, April 4
(specific session times and descriptions are subject to change):

7:30-8:30 a.m. — Registration

8:30-9:30 a.m. — Breakfast with Walter Middlebrook (Sponsored by Nationwide)

9:45 to 11:15 a.m. — (choose one)

Moving Beyond the Mainstream: The Impact of Digital Media on Public Affairs Coverage (presented by the Kiplinger Program) (Sponsored by OSU Office of Communications)

This session is designed to get you up to speed on the latest trends in the digital world and how they impact public affairs reporting. You’ll examine how the Internet is changing the shape and delivery of news and information. You’ll familiarize yourself with how journalists and others are communicating through Twitter, YouTube, blogs, Facebook, and a variety of other sites and technologies (including QR codes, Publish2 and Ping.fm). And you’ll learn how to apply new reporting strategies in multiple platforms. This is a foundations session for those who want to better understand and navigate the digital age.

Ethics of User-Generated Content
with Ray Marcano, internet general manager at Cox Ohio Publishing.

11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. — Mark of Excellence luncheon and awards ceremony with keynote Leonard Pitts

1:15 to 2:45 p.m. — (choose one)

Beat Blogging with Henry Gomez of the Cleveland Plain Dealer, Bob Baptist of the Columbus Dispatch and Chris Seper of MedCityNews.com. Learn how these pros are engaging readers on a whole new level. Blogging is quite different what reporters do in print. Blogs aggregate content from elsewhere, allow interaction with readers and allow for posting lots of tidbits and additional information – items that cannot fit in print. Blogs also can contain video and audio, and are part of an interactive online network of other blogs and social networking sites. (Presented by Online News Association) (Sponsored by Columbus Dispatch)

Time for Transition: Life after Newspapers
. A career coach and other panelists guide attendees through the next steps in the life of a former or about-to-be former journalist. Do you go into PR? Back to school for a brand new career? What’s next? (Sponsored by Paul Werth Associates)

3 to 4:30 p.m. — (choose one)

Following the Crowd: How to Reach New Audiences on the Web (presented by Kiplinger Program)

In this session, you’ll explore how journalists, non-profits, start ups and other organizations are using new technologies and techniques to gain attention and expand their reach. You’ll learn the sophisticated ways people are using 
Twitter, Second Life and other social media sites, for example. And you’ll explore how new semantic tools are changing they way groups collect, organize and make meaning from thousands of people who comment daily on the Web.

Narrowcasting: On-camera Professions in New Media


Assistant Managing Editor Dave Maetzold of college broadcast Web site palestra.net will provide insight into the changing world of online broadcasting. The site’s network of paid student reporters cover news, sports and entertainment. The network was founded in 2006 by a group of former Columbus TV sports guys who realized that the media was moving away from the half-hour evening TV newscast to an online and on-demand world.

The network has grown to nearly 100 schools and more than 120 student reporters. Reporters have covered every BCS bowl game, college basketball’s Final Four, the Super Bowl, the Sundance Film Festival, the Bonarroo Music Festival and both the 2008 Republican and Democratic National Conventions. Student reporters have filed stories from all 48 continental states. Palestra.net is a content partner of Fox News Channel and Fox Business Channel providing student reporters opportunities to appear on both TV networks. Palestra.net is also a content partner with Fox Sports Interactive, providing reporters one more national platform on which to showcase their work.

Spring Conference 2009 is sponsored by Nationwide, Ohio State University — University Communications and School of Communication, Columbus Dispatch, Cox Ohio, Paul Werth Associates, Scripps College of Communication at Ohio University, Graydon Head and Ohio Newspaper Association.

For those of you attending, please be at our first meeting on Tuesday!!

Thursday, March 19, 2009

From the Office of Richard Cordray

In recognition of Sunshine Week, Ohio Attorney General Richard Cordray has released the 2009 Ohio Sunshine Laws Manual in partnership with Ohio Auditor of State Mary Taylor. The updated manual, known as the "Yellow Book," is available for viewing, downloading, ordering and even embedding on host Web sites at www.SpeakOutOhio.gov/sunshine.

The Yellow Book details Ohio's open government laws, and it changes from year to year based on new court decisions. Sunshine Week, which highlights the importance of accountable and transparent government, runs from March 15 through March 21.

Any Web site can now host the up-to-date Yellow Book, thanks to a tool that will display the book and automatically update as the law changes.

"Today's online tools and the Internet mean we can put Ohio's open government resources directly into the hands of any citizen and increase the level of accountability through their vigilance," Attorney General Cordray said.

In order to ensure that officials follow open government laws, the Attorney General's Office offers training sessions across the state throughout the year. Find a full schedule of these free sessions at www.SpeakOutOhio.gov/sunshine.

Check www.SpeakOutOhio.gov/sunshine for updates throughout Sunshine Week.

Some Sun

Congressman, Marking 'Sunshine Week,' Calls For Passing a Federal Shield Law in 2009

By Rep. Mike Pence


Enshrined in the First Amendment are these words: “Congress shall make no law…abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press.” As a conservative who believes in limited government, I believe the only check on government power in real time is a free and independent press.

This week we celebrate “Sunshine Week” in America, and we take time out to recognize the importance of a free and independent press in our nation. But, we must be ever vigilant about maintaining and protecting the freedoms and independence our press enjoy.

Four years ago, I originally authored the Free Flow of Information Act with Congressman Rick Boucher of Virginia. The bill, also known as a federal media shield bill, provides a qualified privilege of confidentiality to journalists, which enables them to bring forward information to the public that might otherwise never see the light of day. The bill is not about protecting journalists, it’s about protecting the public’s right to know.

The Free Flow of Information Act simply provides qualified protection for members of the news media against compelled disclosure of confidential sources. In doing so, this legislation strikes a balance between the public interest in the free flow of information against the public interest in compelling testimony in limited circumstances such as situations involving grave risk to national security or imminent threat of bodily harm.

In October 2007, the House of Representatives overwhelmingly passed the Free Flow of Information Act. Unfortunately, the Senate did not pass the legislation before the end of the last Congress. On February 11, 2009, I was pleased to join Congressman Boucher, House Judiciary Committee Chairman John Conyers, Vice Ranking Member Bob Goodlatte and 35 of our colleagues in reintroducing the same legislation that previously garnered 398 votes.

I believe that sufficient bipartisan majorities exist in both the House and the Senate to enact this critical legislation this year. President Obama pledged his support for a federal media shield when he was serving as a U.S. Senator. The time for ensuring the free flow of information is now.

We all remember when not long ago a confidential source brought to light abuses at the highest levels of government in the long national nightmare of Watergate. History records that W. Mark Felt never would have come forward without the assurance made to him of confidentiality.

Over thirty years later, journalists cannot assure confidentiality to sources without risking fines and jail time. The protections provided by the Free Flow of Information Act are necessary so that members of the media can bring forward information to the American public without fear of retribution or prosecution. Without the free flow of information from sources to reporters, stories will not be written that could better inform the public and strengthen our democracy.

In recent years, we have famously seen reporters such as Judith Miller jailed and David Ashenfelter, Mark Fainaru-Wada and Lance Williams threatened with imprisonment. They are a few names among many who have been subpoenaed for taking a stand for the First Amendment and refusing to reveal confidential sources.

Compelling reporters to testify, and in particular, compelling them to reveal the identity of their confidential sources, is a detriment to the public interest. Without the promise of confidentiality, many important conduits of information about our government will be shut down. The dissemination of information by the media to the public on matters ranging from the operation of our government to events in our local communities is invaluable to the operation of our democracy.

Thirty-six states and the District of Columbia have various statutes that protect reporters from being compelled to testify or disclose sources and information in their courts. Thirteen states have protections for reporters as a result of judicial decisions. The Free Flow of Information Act would set national standards similar to those that are in effect in the states, ensuring that the American people have the facts that they need to make choices as an informed electorate.

Thomas Jefferson warned that, “Our liberty cannot be guarded but by the freedom of the press, nor that limited without danger of losing it.” This Congress would be wise to take those words to heart. Now is the time to heed the advice of Mr. Jefferson, and stitch this tear in the First Amendment freedom of the press.

Rep. Mike Pence is a five-term congressman from the 6th district of Indiana. His twitter page is at: http://twitter.com/RepMikePence

Monday, March 16, 2009

No Meeting Tuesday

To allow us all to focus on finals there will be no meeting tomorrow.

Have a wonderful spring break and best of luck on exams!

We will have our first meeting of spring quarter on Tuesday, March 31st at 5 p.m. in Scripps 111. We will be following up with service project information and doing some final work before we begin our project. This will also be the time to get information on elections, inductions, and the final details about our trip that weekend to Columbus for regional conference.

See you then!

Sunshine Week Hits National

This week is the official National Sunshine Week.

You can read a good report on the issues here.

Let the Sunshine In and best of luck on all your exams!!

Friday, March 13, 2009

Regional Reminder

From headquarters:

Are you coming to the SPJ Region 4 Spring Conference April 3-4 in beautiful Columbus, Ohio?

Act now! The early-bird registration deadline is March 20. Register now by clicking here for $20 off admission.

All journalists in the region (Michigan, West Virginia, Ohio and Western Pennsylvania) are welcome, with special discounts for SPJ members and students. And, in light of recent layoffs at newspapers across our region, we are offering journalists in transition the student rate.

Registration fees: $45 for journalists in transition; $70 professional SPJ member; $45 student SPJ member; $80 professional nonmember; $55 student nonmember;

On the schedule will be a keynote address and book signing by Miami Herald columnist Leonard Pitts, a breakfast welcome from Detroit News recruiter Walter Middlebrook, professional development sessions dedicated to new media, the Regional Mark of Excellence Awards luncheon and a Friday night happy hour. See the full schedule, session descriptions and bios of the presenters at the Central Ohio SPJ Web site. (ed. centralohiospj.org)

For more information, please contact conference planner Katy Waters at 614-220-5468 or kwaters@bizjournals.com.

Scripps Findings

Just in time for National Sunshine Week, which kicks off on Sunday, our friends at the Scripps Survey Center at Ohio University, in association with the American Society of Newspaper Editors (ASNE) have released the results of a nationwide survey that shows some public opinion of government secrecy is leveling off, for the first time in four years.

You see all of the results and information here.

Thanks to all those involved with the survey here in Athens for their wonderful work!

This story will run in newspapers across the country on Sunday, as a kickoff to National Sunshine Week!

Best of luck on finals!

Thursday, March 12, 2009

Getting Some Recognition

"Next week, every day is Sunday.

Sunshine Week is an annual event dedicated to promoting open records, transparent government and freedom of information. Ohio University's chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists has already conducted several "sunny" events this week. The national Sunshine Week actually takes place next week, March 15-21, but it would be a shame to let something like exams get in the way of such an important discussion - and make no mistake, open records are important."


The Post
editorial board comments on Sunshine Week, Freedom of Information and open government in today's issue.

You can read it here. Or pick one up across campus today.

Wednesday, March 11, 2009

Paint the Graffiti Wall!

Hey guys!

We need YOUR help on one final Sunshine Week project.

Tomorrow (Thursday) night we want to paint the graffiti wall along Richland Ave next to Bentley Annex. However, we need people to help.


If you are interested, please email Evan at em176906@ohio.edu.

Time has yet to be determined, but it will be LATE so that we don't get painted over.

Just let Evan know!

Thanks!

Noteable Quotes

Some food for thought about open government:

"A popular government, without popular information, or the means of acquiring it, is but a prologue to a farce or a tragedy; or, perhaps, both."
President James Madison, August 4, 1822

"When information which properly belongs to the public is systematically withheld by those in power, the people soon become ignorant of their own affairs, distrustful of those who manage them, and - eventually - incapable of determining their own destinies." President Richard Nixon, 1972

"Government ought to be all outside and no inside."
President Woodrow Wilson

We'll present some more tomorrow. Also, if you want to help paint the graffiti wall, let me know.

Your thoughts?

Tuesday, March 10, 2009

Day 3: Good Eats, FOIA Treats


Thanks to everyone who came out this evening to talk with Frank Deaner of the Ohio Coalition for Open Government!

Mr. Deaner is certainly the authority on Ohio open records and open meetings laws. Check out the blog in a few days as we post our interview with him!

Thursday we will be holding a brown bag lunch with Dr. Aimee Edmondson, a professor at Scripps, who has extensively researched the federal Freedom of Information Act and done comparative studies between state laws. The lunch will occur from noon to 1 in Scripps 107.


Bring some Grab 'n Go or Bagel Street, whatever your favorite may be, and join us for a casual discussion about FOI and Sunshine Laws.

This is our last official event of the week. However, let me know if you want to help us paint the graffiti wall Thursday night!

Thanks and see you tomorrow at noon!

New Feature


Has OU Sunshine Week 2009 got you interested in the Freedom of Information Act and Ohio Sunshine Laws?

Have you been bitten by the watchdog bug?

Then check out a new feature of our blog, the RSS feeds located at the bottom of the page. These feeds show the latest news headlines about both the federal Freedom of Information Act as well as Ohio's Sunshine Laws!

We are proud to bring you this addition in honor of OU Sunshine Week 2009!

Post comments on what other features you'd like to see added to the blog in the future!

Day 2: Frank Deaner

Thanks to those of you who made it out to watch "All the President's Men" tonight!

The weather couldn't be more perfect for us to Let the Sunshine In this week in Athens!

Please join us tonight at 5 p.m. in Scripps 111 as we welcome back Frank Deaner, the president of the Ohio Coalition for Open Government!


Frank Deaner is a 1967 Scripps grad who made the rounds of all areas of journalism. He spent 15 years as a broadcaster, worked public relations and advertising and since 1990 he has worked for the Ohio Newspaper Association, including as its Executive Director.

Mr. Deaner will speak about Ohio open records and open meetings laws and how YOU can use them effectively as a journalist. He will also address the problems with obtaining open records at Ohio University. Come ready to ask good questions and learn a great deal that will be important in your future career!

See you there!

Monday, March 9, 2009

Welcome to Sunshine Week!

As a reminder, tonight is the kickoff of our 2009 OU Sunshine Week celebration!

For you folks in Washington Hall, come down to the first floor study lounge (right off the lobby at 8 p.m. and watch the classic journalism film, "All the President's Men" based on the book of the same name.

The film follows scrappy Washington Post reporters Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein as they investigate the break-in at the Watergate complex. The investigation would ultimately lead to the impeachment of President Richard Nixon and his later resignation from office.

After the film, we will discuss the importance of open records and how the team protrayed in the film used them.

Bring friends, bring snacks, and come ready to enjoy a great movie and maybe learn a little too ;)

Sunday, March 8, 2009

Jason Motlagh on Freelance Journalism

Jason Motlagh is an international freelance journalist currently based in Washington D.C. He studied Foreign Affairs in college and upon graduating from his university spent time as a fisherman in Alaska. Journalism was a career that he later fell into.

“At the time, it seemed like a chance where I could explore a lot of different fields and have access to a lot of different people and places,” Motlagh said. “It was a vehicle that would give me greater mobility to pursue things more in depth. That’s ultimately why I decided to pursue it.”

He got his start in the profession by securing journalism internships.

“I really just learned by doing. I was very rough in the beginning, but had easy access to seasoned professionals who I could learn from. There was a real immediacy when I was learning so I think that whole process was accelerated and I picked up the trade very quickly,” Motlagh said.

Motlagh has reported from about 35 countries. He started his career in West Africa and has extensively covered Central Asia and the Mideast. Over the past two years he has spent a significant amount of time covering the war on the ground in Afghanistan.

To hear from Motlagh about his experiences as a freelance journalist and to gain some advice about freelance and international reporting, watch the exclusive interview with Jason below.





Taylor Mirfendereski

OU Sunshine Week 2009


Join OU SPJ as we celebrate the rights afforded to journalists and the public by the federal Freedom of Information Act and the individual state Sunshine Laws.

These laws provide us with the ability to keep track of our government by creating a level of transparency using open records and open meetings.

Below is the schedule of events for this week:

MONDAY 3/9
Sunshine Week Outreach - Washington Hall Movie Night
"All the President's Men"
8 p.m. Washington Hall study lounge (first floor)
*NOTE: This event open only to students in Washington Hall*

TUESDAY 3/10
Sunshine Week Headline Speaker
Frank Deaner
President, Ohio Coalition for Open Government
5 p.m. Scripps 111

WEDNESDAY 3/11
Sunshine Week Brown Bag Lunch
With Dr. Aimee Edmondson
12 p.m. Scripps 107
*Please bring your lunch (will not be provided)

Throughout the week, I encourage you all to write Letters to the Editor at local
newspapers to help educate our friends and peers about their rights as taxpayers
and as journalists.

We will also be painting the graffiti wall at a date and time TBD.

All events are free and open to the public unless otherwise noted.

You can RSVP to our Facebook event and invite your Jschool friends by clicking here.

Wednesday, March 4, 2009

Regional Conference Deadline SOON!

Folks,

Those of you who are interested in attending the SPJ Region 4 Conference in Columbus needs to sign up soon to meet at March 15 deadline for a discount.

You can register here.

Registration includes some quality food and admission to all events on Friday and Saturday, April 3-4.

We need to know as soon as you register so we can coordinate transportation and hotel arrangements.

Below is the list of programs for the conference - the BEST networking event in the state!

Friday

An evening cocktail and hors d’oeuvres reception at Winking Lizard Crosswoods

Saturday’s schedule (specific session times and descriptions are subject to change):

7:30-8:30 a.m. — Registration

8:30-9:30 a.m. — Breakfast with Walter Middlebrook

9:45 to 11:15 a.m. –Moving Beyond the Mainstream: The Impact of Digital Media on Public Affairs Coverage and Following the Crowd: How to Reach New Audiences on the Web (concurrent). Presented by Kiplinger Program.

11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. — Mark of Excellence luncheon and awards ceremony with keynote Leonard Pitts

1:15 to 2:45 p.m. — Beat Blogging and Art of the Two-Minute video sessions (concurrent)

3 to 4:30 p.m. — Powerhouse Writing for the Web and to-be-decided broadcast sessions (concurrent)

Breakfast and lunch are included in the registration fee.

DON'T MISS OUT!!!

Tuesday, March 3, 2009

Important Updates

Team-

First off, thanks to all of your who turned out for Jason Motlagh's presentation this evening! It was a truly enlightening speech and really addressed several important foreign correspondence issues. Special thanks goes to the Institute for International Journalism at the E.W. Scripps School of Journalism, Dr. Yusuf Kalyango, and the Pulitzer Center on Crisis Reporting for helping bring this guest to our campus!

Also, tomorrow (Wednesday) at 5 p.m. there will be an information meeting about "College Green" a new campus environmental magazine. Anyone interested in being a writer for this upstart publication should attend at 5 p.m. in Scripps 111 or email Katherine Bercik at collegegreen.editor@gmail.com

Next week, the E.W. Scripps Journalism Student Organizations, led by OU SPJ, will be celebrating National Sunshine Week since the actual week falls during finals for us. Please be on the lookout for a full schedule of events later this week. We can't wait to have you join us as we celebrate the importance of the Freedom of Information Act and state Sunshine Laws!

Finally, regional conference is quickly approaching! Let me know if you are interested in attend the weekend in Columbus on April 3-4 ASAP so that we can arrange transportation and hotels for the weekend.

Have a good one!

Evan Millward,
President, OU SPJ

Sunday, March 1, 2009

This Week's Very Special Guest

This week, SPJ is honored to welcome Jason Motlagh.


Jason Motlagh is an international roving journalist currently based in Washington, D.C. He has covered conflicts in South Asia and West Africa, including recent assignments in Iraq and Afghanistan. Jason was desk editor at United Press International, has reported for the Washington Times, Christian Science Monitor, San Francisco Chronicle, and some major United Kingdom newspapers such as The Economist, The Scotsman, and The Globe and Mail. He is a regular contributor to Asia Times Online and other international magazines and publications.

He will share his experiences in reporting international conflicts and provide tips about freelance journalism. He will give lectures on Tuesday and provide students interested in international journalism/affairs with fresh information on global issues such as conflicts and the current social and political situations in a number of countries.

Mr. Motlagh is presented by The Pulitzer Center on Crisis Reporting, with special help from Dr. Yusuf Kalyango.

**NOTE: This program will last until approximately 6:15 p.m. and will be starting promptly at 5 p.m., please try to be on time. We will be viewing a brief documentary before we are joined by Dr. Kalyango's Foreign Correspondence class and Mr. Motlagh.***

Please invite your friends to this outstanding educational opportunity coming directly to us in Athens!!

See you there!