Agenda Set for 11th Annual Convergence Conference

The agenda for the 11^th Annual Convergence and Society Conference features two days of research and panels exploring the conference themes: advancing business journalism and convergence. The conference opens with an evening reception Wednesday, Sept. 26, then continues with two full days of sessions Sept. 27 and 28.

In addition to a full set of panels exploring the latest research, practices, and teaching issues related to convergent journalism, the conference features five sessions addressing business journalism. Keynote speaker Linda O’Bryon, co-creator of PBS’s “Nightly Business Report” and president of South Carolina ETV, will address the increasing importance of business journalism. Other speakers addressing topics related to business journalism include the University of North Carolina’s Chris Roush and Reynolds Business Professor Pam Luecke from Washington and Lee University. Veteran journalists Gabriella Stern, global news editor at Dow Jones/Wall Street Journal, and investigative reporter Mary Fricker will discuss lessons for students and educators after the 2008 financial crisis.

Conference registration is open. Complete details and registration information can be found on the conference website. For more information or answers to questions about the conference, contact Co-Chair Augie Grant, augie@sc.edu.

Read recent and archived issues of The Convergence Newsletter

August 2012: In Convergence, Experience is Still the Best Teacher

A pair of news professionals demonstrate that experience is still the best teacher – for the instructor and the student -- in the latest edition of The Convergence Newsletter. 

Rob Wells explains the role of convergence in meeting the demands of the Dow Jones and Wall Street Journal audiences and how he used that field experience to prepare students as a Reynolds visiting professor in business journalism. 

Chris Harper of Temple University tells how the journalism department uses an urban reporting project to prepare students for the changing demands of the newsroom and to broaden their perspectives by sending students to undercovered, underserved Philadelphia neighborhoods.

Read their accounts, then join the conversation at our Facebook and Google+ pages. 

Recent and archived issues of The Convergence Newsletter

August 2012: Teaching Multimedia Journalism, Street By Street

In the latest edition of The Convergence Newsletter, Chris Harper of Temple University relates how the journalism department uses an urban reporting project to prepare students for the changing demands of the newsroom and to broaden their perspectives by sending students to undercovered, underserved Philadelphia neighborhoods. Read his story in the August edition. Then join the conversation at our Facebook or Google+ pages.

 
Recent and archived issues of The Convergence Newsletter

August 2012: A case study in convergence at the Wall Street Journal

Dow Jones’ coverage of the Discovery Communications hostage drama in 2010 marked a new era of cooperation in one editor's five-year journey to harmonize breaking news coverage for the Dow Jones Newswires, WSJ.com, and The Wall Street Journal print editions in Washington. It also provides broader lessons for editors and reporters harassed to satisfy competing demands in the modern newsroom and for academics trying to prepare students for this chaos

Rob Wells, formerly of The Wall Street Journal, Bloomberg Business News, and the Associated Press, explains how convergence played a key role during a Washington-area hostage crisis for reporters and editors trying to feed the Dow Jones Newswire, WSJ.com, and The Wall Street Journal's print editions. Wells uses that invaluable field experience to prepare students for the demands of the newsroom. 

Read his account and the invaluable lessons he learned -- and now teaches students -- in the latest edition of The Convergence Newsletter. Then join the conversation at our Facebook or Google+ pages.

Recent and archived issues of The Convergence Newsletter