Nation's top journalists, new media and public relations executives convene in Reno March 2 to 7

To better predict where journalism must go over the coming months, individuals directly involved in such big headlines as "Salmonella Scare Prompts Spinach Recall,'' "World's Ice is Melting," "OJ Simpson Is Guilty," and "An Appeals Court Rejects Damages Against ABC in Food Lion Case,'' will convene at the Reynolds School of Journalism as part of J Week March 2 to 7. The event is sponsored by the Reynolds School of Journalism and Center for Advanced Media Studies at the University of Nevada, Reno.

Speakers include some of the nation's most significant journalists, including executive environmental editor of National Geographic and editors from The New York Times, new media innovators of Washingtonpost.com and top bloggers, George W. Bush's White House photographer, an award winning public relations executive who helped corporate America navigate the spinach recall, the spokespeople for the Los Angeles and Las Vegas courts and media history makers like the producer at ABC who went undercover at Food Lion to report the handling of meat for "PrimeTime LIVE."

Salmonella Scare Prompts Spinach Recall,'' "We chose to focus on big headlines to uncover the emerging realities of how the important stories are managed both from a traditional and new media perspective," Dean Jerry Ceppos said. "We've assembled these people to better understand how to navigate the complex media challenges of tomorrow."

The week's events will begin with an evening discussion about "Investigative Journalism," then move to a focus on the future and online journalism on Tuesday. Wednesday presentations will stress diversity and law. Public relations will get the spotlight on Thursday.

All presentations are free and open to the public. Speakers have either reported or had intimate involvement in some of the most significant headlines in modern history and will present around campus, work one-on-one with undergraduate and graduate students, participate in think tanks and meet with local professionals.

Those who cannot attend may register on the school's Web site and receive news about the events at the journalism school Web site - http://journalism.unr.edu/.

The Reynolds School of Journalism is Nevada's only accredited journalism school. The school's graduate program in Interactive Environmental Journalism is a three-semester intensive program for students who want to help invent the next forms of journalism.

To view a full lineup of speakers, locations and topics or to register to receive podcasts or videos, visit http://journalism.unr.edu/.