Journalists Brady and Plante Among Headliners at Inaugural National Press Club Public Education Program
WASHINGTON, May 22 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- A panel of leading Washington journalists gave a dire view of turmoil in the news industry but said they are optimistic that the changes will lead to a robust age of news reporting.
(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20080522/DC23368 ) Speaking at the National Press Club's first in a series of nationwide forums on the future of journalism Wednesday, Susan Page, Washington bureau chief for USA Today, said, "It's a time of tremendous stress in newsrooms across the country.
"News bureaus are struggling with how to deliver the news in an effective way while keeping up with traditional news practices," Page said. Jim Brady, executive editor of Washingtonpost.com, predicted a shift in advertising dollars to online media that will support good journalism. "The journalism profession may be in for a period where the next five to seven years it will be grappling with these issues," he said. "But at the end, we'll come out okay. Once we get through this, journalism is in for another great period." The panelists said the First Amendment and freedom of the press are under attack, especially by the Bush administration, which refuses to release information under the Freedom of Information Act while keeping careful control of information leaks out of the White House. "I think it's in trouble," Bill Plante, CBS News White House correspondent, said of the First Amendment. "There will always be those in government who try to apply pressure to those gathering news and to have that information suppressed." Mark Jurkowitz, associate director of the Project for Excellence in Journalism, said he fears that young people using the Internet are not learning to differentiate among sources of information. He called for schools to teach "media literacy" so students can learn to discern reliable information from rumor and opinion. As part of its centennial celebration, the National Press Club, the world's leading professional organization of journalists, will host similar panels in cities across the country to examine the First Amendment, freedom of the press and the future of journalism. Moderated by veteran national correspondent and former Club President Gil Klein, the panels will draw prominent journalists to talk about the changes in the industry and the core values of journalism. "In this time of change, the Club thinks it's important for people to understand the role of journalism in promoting democracy," said Club President Sylvia Smith. Each event includes a screening of the Club's centennial documentary, "A Century of Headlines," that looks at journalism's past through the lens of the Club's history. The Club has partnered with the World Affairs Councils of America (www.worldaffairscouncils.org) and its 89 chapters nationwide as well as with journalism schools at leading colleges and universities to present these events across the country through the end of the year. Wednesday's event was held at the World Affairs Council's District of Columbia chapter. This program is underwritten by a contribution from Aviva USA, one of the nation's fastest-growing life insurers (www.avivaUSA.com). The grant will pay for the distribution of 12,000 copies of the documentary and education materials as well as promotion of the forums. The panel discussion will be posted on the Club's Web site: www.press.org. The next event will be at Columbia College in Chicago on June 4. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION Gil Klein -- National Press Club Centennial Project director, 703-338-2721. E-mail gklein@press.org.
ABOUT THE NATIONAL PRESS CLUB: The National Press Club is the world's leading professional organization for journalists. Founded in 1908, the Club has 3,700 members representing most major news organizations. The Club holds more than 2,000 events including news conferences, luncheons and panels each year, and more than 250,000 guests come through its doors. On the web at www.press.org. First Call Analyst: Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20080522/DC23368 CONTACT: Gil Klein, National Press Club Centennial Project director, Web Site: http://www.avivausa.com/
2008-05-22 18:57:26 0369400 PRNEWSWIRE
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