Conference Opens

Conference Opens Feb. 28 in DC

Register today to attend the 2002 MDDC Editorial Conference, formerly the Winter Convention, February 28 – March 1 at the Capital Hilton in Washington, DC. Despite a new name, the program will once again feature all the top attractionns of the annual event.

These include editorial seminars with leading journalists, the annual business meeting and the Editorial Awards Luncheon.

At the conference dinner on Thursday, Thomas Kunkel, dean of the Philip Merrill College of Journalism at the University of Maryland, will speak on the college’s exciting march to the very top of the nation’s journalism school ranks.

Friday’s program will start at 9 a.m. with the Associated Press panel presentation on "Rules of Engagement: The Press and the Military After 9/11." Panelists include Brigadier General Andrew B. Davis, director of Marine Corps Public Affairs, Jim Lee, Carroll County Times editor, Lauran Neergaard, AP medical writer, and Major General John S. Parker, commanding general, United State Army Medical Research and Materiel Command and Fort Detrick.

David Broder, Pulitzer Prize-winning columnist at The Washington Post and professor at the Philip Merrill College of Journalism, will lead the annual editorial seminar Friday morning starting at 10:30.

Thursday evening will include a Past Presidents’ Reception and the Association’s annual business meeting. Friday morning will start off with a continental breakfast sponsored by the Associated Press leading into the program.

Friday’s Editorial Awards Luncheon will include presentations to winners in the 2001 Editorial Contest, the "Newspaper of the Year" awards in each of the six circulation divisions, and the 32 "Best of Show" awards.

The James S. Keat Freedom of Information Award will be presented to a single paper that made the greatest effort to "gain access to public records, pursue open meetings or address other FOI issues" in 2001.

Suter Kegg, sports editor emeritus of the Cumberland Times-News, will be inducted as the 35th member of the MDDC Newspaper Hall of Fame.

Also honored at the Awards Luncheon will be Julia Kay, High School Journalist of the Year, who will be presented with a check for $1,500 from the MDDC Press Foundation.

For more information or for a registration form contact the MDDC office at (410) 721-4000 or visit the association’s Web site at www.mddcpress.com.