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Registration opens for 2002 student journalism conference


NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)–Registration for the 2002 Baptist Press National Student Journalism Conference is underway, according to Will Hall, vice president for news services with the Southern Baptist Convention Executive Committee.

The conference, set for Oct. 10-12 in Nashville, Tenn., features keynote addresses by former ABC religion reporter Peggy Wehmeyer; Don Boykin, deputy managing editor of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution; Julia Duin, culture editor of The Washington Times; Gary Fong, director of editorial graphics technology for The San Francisco Chronicle; and Lawrence Smith, vice president for communication at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary and former news director at WHAS, Louisville, Ky.

This year’s conference theme is “Tell the Story.”

Wehmeyer, who covered religion for ABC News and reported for World News Tonight With Peter Jennings and 20/20, will join a team of evangelical Christian journalists to lead the conference.

“I am excited about the opportunity we are creating for students to come together for skill-building workshops, networking and spiritual encouragement as journalists,” said Will Hall, vice president for news services for the Southern Baptist Convention Executive Committee and executive editor of Baptist Press. “The program of events and the lineup of journalists we have put together are outstanding.”

Before joining ABC News, Wehmeyer covered religious and social issues for WFAA in Dallas. She had previously served as director of public information at Dallas Theological Seminary, where she studied.

She graduated with honors from the University of Texas at Austin.

“One of my greatest passions is to inspire young men and women of faith to be on the cutting edge in the secular media,” Wehmeyer said.

The conference also features a photography shoot-out of Nashville; workshops on print, broadcast, graphic design, photography, public relations and literary magazines; an interactive exhibit hall; the Excellence in Journalism Awards banquet; and daily worship services featuring the Christian band “Never Abandoned” and Will Norton, dean of the University of Nebraska’s school of journalism.

Workshop leaders include Sterling Chen, features design editor, The Philadelphia Inquirer; William Perkins, editor, The Baptist Record; Lynn Clayton, editor, The Baptist Message; Matthew Melton, Lee University; Fred Jackson, American Family Radio; John Carvalho, Campbell University; James Duncan, Anderson College; Michael Chute, William Carey College; Colleen Rudy, deputy press secretary for the mayor of San Diego; Michael Laney, chair of the department of communication, Lee University; Daniel Brown, SBC Executive Committee; Jim Veneman, Union University; Gibbs Frazeur, North American Mission Board; Bill Bangham, International Mission Board; Teresa Young, Wayland Baptist University; and Morris Abernathy, freelance photojournalist.

The conference will be held at the Southern Baptist Convention Building in downtown Nashville.

To obtain a registration form, contact Todd Starnes at (615) 782-8615 or by email at [email protected].
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