Diversity Institute to host Minority Writers Seminar

02.17.04

Printer-friendly page

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Don Wycliff, opinion-page columnist and public editor of the Chicago Tribune, and Pia Lopez, editorial-page editor of the Duluth (Minn.) News Tribune, are among the speakers for the ninth annual Minority Writers Seminar.

The seminar will be April 29-May 2 at the Freedom Forum Diversity Institute at Vanderbilt University in Nashville.

The seminar, sponsored by the National Conference of Editorial Writers Foundation in partnership with the Diversity Institute, gives experienced minority journalists an opportunity to explore editorial writing. Minority journalists who have been writing opinion pieces less than two years also may apply.

Enrollment is limited to 15, and applications must be received by March 12.

Seminar director Vanessa Gallman, editorial-page editor of the Lexington (Ky.) Herald-Leader, said participants will work closely with experienced opinion writers by attending simulated editorial board meetings and writing editorials that are critiqued by the faculty.

An interactive presentation on "Getting your Word's Worth," from Rick Horowitz, a writing coach and syndicated columnist, is one of the highlights of the seminar.

Lodging, food and training costs for the seminar are provided. Participants provide their transportation to and from the conference.

Wycliff will speak at a May 1 dinner meeting about reporting, writing, and editing. Under his earlier leadership as editorial-page editor of the Tribune, the newspaper won a Pulitzer Prize and two Distinguished Writing Awards from the American Society of Newspaper Editors.

Wycliff began his career as a general-assignment reporter at the Houston Post and worked as a reporter in Ohio, Illinois, and Washington. Before joining the Tribune, he was assistant to the editor at the New York Times' Week in Review and was on the editorial board from 1985 to 1990.

Lopez will speak at the opening session April 29. Editorial-page editor at the Duluth News Tribune since 1999, she held the same position at the St. Cloud (Minn.) Times from 1993-1999. She will join the editorial team at The Sacramento Bee in March.

Supporters of the 2004 seminar include Hearst Newspapers; Reid MacCluggage, former president, publisher and editor of The Day in New London, Conn.; The Roanoke (Va.) Times, and The Tennessean in Nashville.