Paul Street is speaking (along with three others) this Friday (May 18, 2012) in Chicago on corporate-imperial mass media and its coverage of NATO Summit – information belowNational Writers Union Press Advisory
Contact: Kim Scipes, Chapter Chair
773/615-5019Journalists to Discuss Media Coverage of NATO Meetings in ChicagoThe Chicago Chapter of the National Writers Union, UAW #1981, AFL-CIO, is convening a public forum to discuss the media coverage of the NATO Meetings to be held in Chicago on May 20-21, 2012.
The forum, “Journalistic Coverage of the NATO Meetings in Chicago: A Professional Overview,” will take place on Friday, May 18, from 6:30-8:30 pm. The event will take place at Rosa’s Lounge, 3420 W. Armitage Avenue (near Kimball) in Chicago.
There will be four panelists speaking, with Q & A to follow. The panelists are:
• Chris Geovanis is 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, and she is a long-time activist and leader in the alternative media world of Chicago. Collective members have worked 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.
• Jon Hilkevitch: the Chicago Tribune’s transportation reporter since 1997. He is a 33-year Tribune veteran, and previously worked for the newspaper as a local reporter and an editor on the National and Foreign desks, as well as in Washington. In 2001, a team of Tribune reporters co-led by Hilkevitch was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for explanatory journalism for their series “Gateway to Gridlock,” which chronicled the capacity crisis confronting the airline industry and the nation’s commercial airports.
• 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. Street was the Director of Research and Vice President for Research and Planning at The Chicago Urban League from 2000 to 2005. Street is currently an independent policy researcher, historian, journalist, activist, political commentator, and speaker based in Chicago, Illinois and Iowa City, Iowa.
• Stan West is 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.
Moderator is Karen Ford, Third Vice President of the National Writers Union, and Treasurer, Chicago Chapter.
The entrance fee of $10.00 includes both the panel discussion and admission to hear the slated live music that night, Nick and the Ovorols. Light snacks will be provided.
Rosa’s Lounge is considered “The Friendliest Blues Lounge in Chicago.” Check it out at http://rosaslounge.com/. There is street parking in the vicinity, with no charges after 9:00 pm
rosaslounge.com