ATHENS, Ohio -- Andy Alexander, the Washington bureau chief for Cox Newspapers, will be the keynote speaker at Ohio University's "Dialogue on Diversity" forum, which will take place from 7:45 a.m. until 6 p.m., Friday, Sept. 14, in the university's Baker University Center ballroom in Athens. The forum is aimed at preparing students and helping professionals build multicultural partnerships in the changing media environment.
The forum is sponsored by the Ohio University College of Communication and endorsed by the Ohio Association of Broadcasters and the Ohio Newspaper Association. There is no cost to attend. The forum is open to everyone, and those who plan to attend are asked to complete the registration forms on the college Web site at: www.commcoll.ohiou.edu/diversity.
"Achieving greater workforce diversity is one of our greatest challenges," said Alexander, a 1972 graduate of Ohio University. "Those of us in the news business know that, at its core, diversity is a matter of accuracy. News organizations that are not diverse in their hiring are invariably not accurate in the ways they cover or reflect their communities. The Dialogue on Diversity' is an important effort to discuss this challenge openly and to collectively search for solutions."
After Alexander's keynote address, Byron White of the Chicago Tribune will moderate two discussion panels. The first -- "The Present: Foundations for Building Partnerships" -- will include Alexander DeBarr, executive vice president at Advanstar Communications; David Carrillo, manager diversity education and training, Newspaper Association of America; and Steve Johnson, consultant. White, DeBarr and Johnson are Ohio University alumni.
The second panel -- "The Future: Opportunities and Strategies for Building Partnerships" -- will include Bill Laveist, project manager, blackvoices.com; Jack Marsh, director, Freedom Forum Neuharth Center, American Indian Journalism Institute, University of South Dakota; Lon Walls, president and CEO, Walls Communications; and Alice Myatt, vice president, programming, PBS Midwest. Walls is a graduate of Ohio University.
"Over the past quarter century, we've made enormous strides in diversifying newsrooms. Regrettably, progress has stagnated in recent years. We've struggled to hire people of color in entry-level jobs in print, broadcast and other media. And we need to do much better in promoting people of color into management."
"Students and professionals will have the opportunity to exchange innovative ideas and share successful models that have generated positive outcomes in the industry," said Erek Perry, assistant to Ohio University President Robert Glidden. "Dialogue about the impact of partnerships on diversity within the communication industry and in education will provide invaluable information. We will gain new knowledge, become aware of emerging opportunities and discover educational programs and processes that have been effective in preparing students and professionals for successful careers in the industry."
"It's an impressive group of individuals who are committed to achieving diversity, who are in the workforce and who practice the ideas they have," said Kathy Krendl, dean of the Ohio University College of Communication. "This is outreach with professional organizations and news organizations to build a partnership with Ohio University to prepare students for the future."
The most recent U.S. Census indicated a significant increase in the minority populations. Perry said partnerships will play a key role in helping various institutions prepare students and professionals for a diverse and dynamic workforce.
"Open and honest dialogue about diversity as an ethical, educational, social, political and economic good is a chief component of Ohio University's efforts to advance the diversity agenda," Perry said. "This conference will give us an opportunity to realize this goal."
