May 13, 2008

McClatchy Newspapers’ political writer Dan Walters, often described as the dean of California political writers, will be the featured speaker at the 2007 Roger Tatarian Journalism Symposium on Friday, Oct. 5, at California State University, Fresno.

"Politics and the Digital Age" is the theme of the event, which will run from 9 a.m. to noon in the Satellite Student Union (2485 E. San Ramon Ave.). The free symposium is primarily aimed at the university community and journalists, but the public may attend.

Walters’ speech, "The State of the State,” at 10:30 a.m. will focus on “the things that the governor didn’t tell you.”

Walters has been a journalist for more than 40 years, spending the bulk of his career working for California newspapers. His columns are published in more than 50 California newspapers, including the Fresno Bee.

A panel discussion at 9:15 a.m. featuring two Fresno State faculty members and a pair of local journalists will discuss the Internet’s impact on traditional campaign communication methods.

The panelists will be Dr. David Schecter, a political science associate professor; Dr. Sally Tannenbaum, a communication associate professor; Christine Park, a consumer and morning reporter for ABC 30 Action News; and Jim Boren, editorial page editor for the Fresno Bee. Dr. Diane Blair, also a professor in the Communication Department, will moderate the panel.

Tommy Miller, a mass communication and journalism professor at Fresno State and former managing editor of the Houston Chronicle, is the coordinator for the symposium, now in its fifth year. Miller holds the Roger Tatarian Endowed Chair in Journalism, a tenure-track position funded primarily through a major gift from the McClatchy family.

The symposium is sponsored by the Department of Mass Communication and Journalism and the Roger Tatarian Endowment for Journalism. The endowment honors the late Fresno State journalism professor, who was editor-in-chief of United Press International.

Previous speakers at the symposium were Joseph Wilson, a former U.S. ambassador to Iraq; White House UPI correspondent Helen Thomas; and former New York Times war correspondent Chris Hedges.

Free parking will be available in Lots N, O and P near the Satellite Student Union. For information about conference registration, call Miller at 559.278.2087 or e-mail tmiller@csufresno.edu.