Press Release

Oklahoma City to be Site of NAHJ Region 5 Conference

A little more than a year after forming, the Oklahoma City Chapter of the National Association of Hispanic Journalists will be the host for the 2007 Region 5 Conference, March 30 – 31.

“Reporting Terrorism from the Frontlines” is the theme of this year’s conference. Workshops and panels will focus on the changing role of the media in today’s world.

The conference kicks off with a reception and a forum, “Local Facility — National Impact,” at the nationally renowned Memorial Institute for the Prevention of Terrorism. Other educational opportunities include an all-day Spanish-Language Stylebook Workshop by Lilia O’Hara, co-author of “Manual de Estilo.” O’Hara is a writer and editor for Enlace, the Spanish weekly publication of the San Diego Union-Tribune. The workshop will focus on the tools needed in the daily operation of Spanish- language publications and answer the most common questions about editing.

Keynote speaker, Gilbert Bailon, president-elect of the American Society of Newspaper Editors, will focus on the growing impact of Hispanic media in the United States.

The conference will be held at the historic Skirvin Hilton Hotel in a vibrant city that has seen resurgence in the past decade. From the nightlife in Bricktown to the city's museums and sports attractions, visitors find something to love about Oklahoma City.

The conference will offer insightful and skills-oriented training, but there will be time for cultural enrichment, networking and socializing. Today’s Oklahoma City has been reinvented to offer visitors a fun-filled combination of attractions, events, restaurants and amenities.

Sponsors for the event are Ethics and Excellence in Journalism Foundation; the Oklahoma City Convention and Visitors Bureau; KFOR Channel 4; The Oklahoman; News 9; Memorial Institute for the Prevention of Terrorism; the Hilton-Skirvin; and the University of Oklahoma.

Cost for the conference is $55 for NAHJ members, and $60 for non-members. Participants can register using online registration or can print out and mail the registration from at www.nahj-okc.org. For more information email nahjokc@yahoo.com. Save money and time by registering and making your reservations early! Early registration deadline is March 6, 2007.