Chicago Chapter — May 16, 2012
National Writers Union, Chicago Chapter
PRESS RELEASE: For Immediate Release
Contact Kim Scipes, Chicago Chapter Chair, 773-615-5019, [email protected]
Reporters, media activists to tackle topic of NATO press coverage
The Chicago Chapter of the National Writers Union, UAW #1981, AFL-CIO, is convening a public forum this Friday to tackle the issue of press coverage for the Chicago NATO summit. The forum is scheduled for Friday, May 18 from 6:30 – 8:30PM at Rosa's Lounge, 3420 W. Armitage Avenue (near Kimball) on Chicago’s west side.
Attendees are encouraged to stick around at Rosa’s after the forum breaks up – the tavern’s moniker, "The Friendliest Blues Lounge in Chicago," suits what is regarded as one of the city's most authentic and entertaining inner-city blues bars. The tavern is asking an entrance fee of $10.00, which includes both the panel discussion and the night’s live music, Nick and the Ovorols. Light snacks will be provided.
"Journalistic Coverage of the NATO Meetings in Chicago: A Professional Overview" is designed to give news professionals and members of the public a chance to unpack the character of coverage in the run-up to the NATO summit in Chicago, from its factual accuracy to its professional bias. Join us for this unflinching and lively look at the state of the news and the newsroom today, including questions and dialog from the floor.
Our panelists:
Jon Hilkevitch: the Chicago Tribune's transportation reporter since 1997 and a 33-year Trib veteran who previously worked for the paper as a local reporter and an editor on the National and Foreign desks, as well as in Washington. In 2001, Hilkevitch co-led a team of Tribune reporters in their series "Gateway to Gridlock,'' which chronicled the capacity crisis confronting the airline industry and the nation's commercial airports. The work the Pulitzer Prize for explanatory journalism.
Paul Street, Ph.D.: Author of six books – including two acclaimed books on Barack Obama – and co-author with Dr. Anthony DiMaggio of a 2011 book on the Tea Party – Dr. Street is a widely-published journalist on urban and political affairs. Street has a doctorate in U.S. History at Binghamton University and has taught at numerous colleges and universities in and around Chicago. He was Director of Research and Vice President for Research and Planning at The Chicago Urban League from 2000 to 2005, and is currently an independent policy researcher, historian, journalist, activist, political commentator and speaker based in Chicago, Illinois and Iowa City, Iowa.
Stan Westis a former foreign correspondent for the San Francisco-based Pacific News Service, and remains a working journalist, reporting for the Wednesday Journal. A documentarian who co-coordinates the Oak Park International Film Festival, West has written and co-authored several nonfiction books. He also teaches writing, television and first-year seminar at Columbia College Chicago.
Chris Geovanisis co-founder of HammerHard Media Works in Chicago, a worker-run non-profit collective of media professionals and activists committed to media advocacy, skills-sharing and movement-building in partnership with grassroots progressive groups. She’s a long-time activist and leader in the world of alternative media Chicago, working with collective members on issues that range from rank-and-file trade union democracy and immigrant rights to Palestinian solidarity and police brutality. Active projects today include tactical and public relations planning in projects revolving around police brutality, anti-war initiatives, and media access issues. Most immediately, she and her cohorts are working to bring information and alternative coverage of NATO summit opposition directly to the people through @natoindymedia, @chicagoimc, chicago.indymedia.organd natoprotest.org
Karen Ford, Third Vice President of the National Writers Union and Treasurer of the Chicago Chapter, is moderating.
Learn more about our host tavern, Rosa’s, here: rosaslounge.com. There is street parking in the vicinity, with no charges after 9:00 pm.
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