News Article

The Northwest Alliance for Responsible Media at Gonzaga University in conjunction with Gonzaga’s Master’s Program in Communication and Leadership Studies will present a daylong program titled, “Mixed Messages: Journalistic Practices for an Informed Citizenry – A Media Literacy Approach” on April 22.

Sen. Lisa Brown, D-Spokane, majority leader of the Washington State Senate, will give the welcoming remarks. Gonzaga communication arts Professor John Caputo, director of the aforementioned master’s program, will introduce conference themes and the summit survey. Elana Rosen, co-founder and executive director of the Just Think! Foundation, a San Francisco-based media literacy organization that works with young people, will deliver the keynote address titled, “Screening and Meaning: Youth Media Beyond the Street.” Rosen has more than 20 years of experience in the worlds of media and education.

The event will include workshops addressing TV broadcasting from how a broadcast studio works to accurate sourcing of stories, ethics, sensible and realistic information on how one can critically analyze news events and reporting – and why responsible citizens should do so.

Local TV news directors, newscasters and GU communication professors Susan English and Dan Garrity will lead interactive workshops. The program will conclude with a panel discussion that will include Rosen, Caputo, the workshop presenters and regional media professionals, including Robyn Nance, news anchor for KXLY-TV, Traci Zeravica, executive producer for KHQ-TV, former news director Tamara McGregor, and community activists Shannon Hintz and Alice Fritz.

Conference goals are to: understand the effects of media on our community and culture; work with media to enhance the health and development of our community; empower all people to become critical media consumers; and encourage media professionals to act as responsible and effective stewards of the public trust. The format includes separate tracks for high school students, community members and TV professionals and university students.

The event will be held in the Barbieri Courtroom at the Gonzaga University School of Law (721 N. Cincinnati St.) from 8:30 a.m.–3:15 p.m. The cost is $25 per person; $10 for students (lunch is included). Scholarships for the conference are available.

For more information, call Jill Royston at (509) 323-6645 or visit the Conference Web site at: www.gonzaga.edu/coml and click on the “Mixed Messages” link at the left.