December 5, 2010
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Sherice Beevas 202-415-6155      
cell 202-907-9141

NACAJ’S BI-ANNUAL CONFERENCE TO TACKLE INVESTIGATIVE JOURNALISM

In an effort to build a solid investigative reporting tradition in the Caribbean and to increase visibility of the region and its Diaspora, the National Association of Caribbean-American Journalists will hold its second bi-annual meeting at the Mayfair Hotel on December 16-19. The theme is "Common Cause, Common Solution: Shaping Investigative Journalism in the Caribbean for the 21st Century"

The three-day conference includes the Excellence Award luncheon and will convene journalists from the Caribbean and the United States, especially from Miami, Tallahassee, Washington D.C., New York, Virginia, New Jersey and Connecticut.

“I’m excited about this conference in Jamaica. Our venue gives us the opportunity to tackle issues of ethics and excellence in journalism, topics currently in public discourse on the island,” said NACAJ President, Ann-Marie Adams. “Many in the Caribbean Diaspora desire the benefits of good journalism, not only in our communities in the U.S. but in our homeland. We deserve a free and fair press.”

Workshops include strategies and legal advice for navigating access to public meetings, documents and data in the Caribbean and the US; ways to produce high-quality investigative stories, and watchdogging government at all levels in the Caribbean and the Diaspora.

About 50 local and international journalists are expected to attend the professional workshops, plenary session and Russwurm Excellence Award luncheon. The three-day event will feature a day and a half of professional development in investigative journalism workshops, bringing journalists, students and journalism educators together to hear from top international and local experts on best practices to sustain excellence and ethical journalism practices in the Caribbean and the Diaspora.

The 35-year old journalism organization, Investigative Reporters and Editors have joined in our effort to help our members attain excellence and relevancy in a changing business. “We’re excited about working with journalists at the NACAJ conference, said IRE Executive Director Mark Horvit. “We’ll be focusing on skills and tool that help reporters and editors provide better coverage and did deeper. And we are looking forward to learning from our colleagues from Jamaica and other islands.”

The conference will also allow local and international journalists to network and will honor outstanding coverage of the Caribbean and its Diaspora.

The conference is supported in part by the Press Association of Jamaica, The Jamaica Sunday Herald, the Mayfair Hotel, Investigative Reporters and Editors, Jamaica Observer, the Gleaner, and Poynter.

“NACAJ’s central focus is to garner interest and visibility on issues that affect the Caribbean and the Diaspora year round,” Adams said. “It’s not based on whether someone in a particular organization gets elected and decides to reach out to us. We want to ensure the Caribbean region and its Diaspora are almost always a priority.”

Founded in June 2007, the National Association of Caribbean-American Journalists is a non-profit organization based in the U.S.A. for Caribbean-American journalists, journalism professors, public relations professionals and students. NACAJ provides ongoing professional educational and networking opportunities for members and advocates visibility for regional and diasporic issues.

What: NACAJ Bi-Annual Conference
Where: Mayfair Hotel, 4 West Kings House Road, Kingston, Jamaica
When: December 16-19, 2010
Why: visit www.nacaj.org

Register Here:
http://www.planetreg.com/E11208378218

Co-Sponsors: