wfn.org | April Conference on Coverage of Israeli-Palestinian Issues

["Nat'l Council of Churches" <nccc_usa@ncccusa.org>]

National Council of the Churches of Christ in the U.S.A.
Contact: NCC News, 212-870-2227
E-mail: news@ncccusa.org; Web: www.ncccusa.org
NCC2/14/02

INVITATION TO JOURNALISTS:
APRIL 17-18 CONFERENCE MEGAPHONES AND MUFFLED VOICES
TO EXAMINE MEDIA COVERAGE OF ISRAELI-PALESTINIAN ISSUES

"Megaphones and Muffled Voices:  What is Full and Fair Media Coverage of
Israeli-Palestinian Issues?" will examine how news coverage -- and sometimes
lack of news coverage -- of Israeli-Palestinian issues affects understanding
of this complex topic.  The conference will be held in New York City, April
17 and 18, 2002.  It will hear from a number of media experts and working
journalists who will speak to the issue from a variety of perspectives. Both
religious and secular journalists are invited. The conference will conclude
by developing a "Code of Best Practices" for journalists and broadcasters.

The conference is sponsored by the North American Regional Association,
World Association for Christian Communication (NARA-WACC); World Association
for Christian Communication, London (WACC), and the Communication Commission
of the National Council of Churches.

Conference planners are seeking to invite a diversity of voices to help
build understanding of this issue.  We will be looking at it from
Christian, Jewish and Muslim perspectives; North American, Israeli, and
Palestinian perspectives; and academic and journalist perspectives, said
Linda Anderson of the United Church of Canada, NARA-WACC Chair, on behalf of
the conference planning committee.  We want the candid perspectives of all
involved and in that process we believe we can shed more light on this
critical issue.

Partial List of Confirmed Speakers (more being invited):
    Alan Abbey, Jerusalem Post
    Marda Dunsky, Medill School of Journalism, Northwestern University
    Mitri Raheb, Bethlehem Media Center
    Haroon Siddiqui, Toronto Star
    John Zakarian, Hartford Courant
    Muslim Public Affairs Council (speaker TBA)

Cost of the Conference:  $50. ($25 per day.)  Location:  Church Center for
the United Nations, 777 U.N. Plaza at 44th St., New York City.  Schedule:
April 17: Registration, 10 a.m., Conference  11 a.m. - 5 p.m. (optional
evening open discussion); April 18:  8:30 - 11:30 a.m.  To register,
contact:  Mel Lehman, 310 Riverside Drive, Suite 511, New York, NY 10025
Phone/fax 212-865-6115; ML9612921@aol.com

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