WIU's Oct. 15 Journalism Day Targets Regional High School Students

Some 100 high school students from west central Illinois will participate in the Wednesday, Oct. 15 Journalism Day 2008 hosted by Western Illinois University's English and journalism department.

With the theme "Preparing for Multimedia Storytelling in an Age of War and its Aftermath," the 8:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Journalism Day offers high school journalists seminars and panels led by Western Illinois award-winning journalism faculty; a screening of "Forgiving Dr. Mengele" with filmmaker and educator Bob Hercules; and a pizza lunch followed by a tour of the Western Courier, the University's student-run newspaper, and the public radio and television stations on campus.

Hercules, the founder and co-owner of the Chicago-based television production company Media Process Group, will discuss the challenges of producing a film about Holocaust survivor Eva Mozes Kor, as well as the role documentaries play in today's multimedia journalism delivery environment.

"Western's journalism program offers unique opportunites for students to learn journalism skills and the role media plays in society," said Mohammad Siddiqi, journalism program director. "We also provide students with options to specialize in public relations and advertising."

The morning panels, which run from 9:30-10:05 a.m. in the University Union, include:

• "Evolution of U.S. Administrations' Rules for Modern Press Coverage During War (World War II – Present), by Lisa Barr, journalism assistant professor and Journalism Day coordinator, Algonquin Room.

• "Faces of the Enemy: Media Scapegoating and War," by Mark Butzow, journalism assistant professor, Board Room.

• "Go There: Mobile Journalism from the Scene," by Bill Knight, journalism professor, Capital Room A.

• "Media and the Walking Wounded: Telling a Survivor’s Story," by Hercules, Capital
Room B.

• "War and the Still Image," by Lisa Kernek, journalism assistant professor, Cardinal Oak Room.

• "Big Wars Need Big PR: Selling the 2003 Invasion of Iraq," by Mohammad Siddiqi, journalism professor, Fox Room.

• "From Idea to Advertisement: How Creative Concepts Become Breakthrough Ads," by Terri Simmons, journalism associate professor, Capital Room C.

For more information on Journalism Day, visit wiu.edu/English/news/f08/journalism-day.shtml.

Copy By: Bonnie Barker, WIU University Relations