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	back A Weekend to Remember: Cowtown Rolls Out the Carpet for SPJ National Convention FORT WORTH -- Organizers of the 2002 SPJ National Convention have a forecast for participants. They will gain at least one fresh newsgathering skill. Refine the skills they already have. Be updated on a mile-long list of topics vital to the practice of journalism. Laugh heartily, and often. Eat well. Learn to line dance. Expand their networking database. The mind-stretching good times appear there for the taking, and they're just a registration form away. "We're putting together the best professional -- and social -- program of any SPJ convention to date," said convention chair Kay Pirtle, editor of the Wedgwood News on Fort Worth's west side. "We're going to show our visitors the many faces of Fort Worth. Even for those who call this area home, I think they'll find a lot of pleasant surprises." The Renaissance Worthington Hotel in the heart of Sundance Square downtown will host the convention Sept. 12-14. An opening night reception at the world's largest honky-tonk, Billy Bob's Texas, will kick-start the affair, then it's down to business as professional development sessions fronted by a diverse array of experts explore the journalist's world in pinpoint, sometimes sobering detail. Topic titles like "Spaceship Earth: the Changing Role of Environmental Reporting," "The Art of Interviewing: Establishing Trust Without Losing Control," "The Nation and the Press at War: an Ethical Minefield," "From Kentucky to Ground Zero: a Student News Team Looks at Terror," "Planning for the Unthinkable: Biowarfare at Home," "Privacy Hysteria: Coming to a State Near You" and "Face Reading: Is There Guile Behind the Smile?" ring with the promise of knowledge shared. Retired University of Texas at Arlington Student Publications director Dorothy Estes and a speakers team have spent the last three months crafting the program. It's still being fine-tuned, but what's in place, Estes said, is top-notch fare. "Working on this convention has renewed my faith in our profession," she said. "We had more outstanding speakers and more topics than we could crowd into the three-day program. I am in awe of the talent and intellect of our speakers. They care about the media and the country, and they accept their responsibilities as conduits of accurate information." Early-bird registration has been extended to July 31. Preregister deadline is Aug. 19. After every deadline, the price goes up. For the specifics of registering and more reasons why someone would want to, see the convention Web site, http://www.spj.org/convention.asp, or call national headquarters at (317) 927-8000. back

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A Weekend to Remember:

Cowtown Rolls Out the Carpet

for SPJ National Convention

FORT WORTH -- Organizers of the 2002 SPJ National Convention have a forecast for participants. They will gain at least one fresh newsgathering skill. Refine the skills they already have. Be updated on a mile-long list of topics vital to the practice of journalism. Laugh heartily, and often. Eat well. Learn to line dance. Expand their networking database.

The mind-stretching good times appear there for the taking, and they're just a registration form away.

"We're putting together the best professional -- and social -- program of any SPJ convention to date," said convention chair Kay Pirtle, editor of the Wedgwood News on Fort Worth's west side. "We're going to show our visitors the many faces of Fort Worth. Even for those who call this area home, I think they'll find a lot of pleasant surprises."

The Renaissance Worthington Hotel in the heart of Sundance Square downtown will host the convention Sept. 12-14. An opening night reception at the world's largest honky-tonk, Billy Bob's Texas, will kick-start the affair, then it's down to business as professional development sessions fronted by a diverse array of experts explore the journalist's world in pinpoint, sometimes sobering detail. Topic titles like "Spaceship Earth: the Changing Role of Environmental Reporting," "The Art of Interviewing: Establishing Trust Without Losing Control," "The Nation and the Press at War: an Ethical Minefield," "From Kentucky to Ground Zero: a Student News Team Looks at Terror," "Planning for the Unthinkable: Biowarfare at Home," "Privacy Hysteria: Coming to a State Near You" and "Face Reading: Is There Guile Behind the Smile?" ring with the promise of knowledge shared.

Retired University of Texas at Arlington Student Publications director Dorothy Estes and a speakers team have spent the last three months crafting the program. It's still being fine-tuned, but what's in place, Estes said, is top-notch fare.

"Working on this convention has renewed my faith in our profession," she said. "We had more outstanding speakers and more topics than we could crowd into the three-day program. I am in awe of the talent and intellect of our speakers. They care about the media and the country, and they accept their responsibilities as conduits of accurate information."

Early-bird registration has been extended to July 31. Preregister deadline is Aug. 19. After every deadline, the price goes up. For the specifics of registering and more reasons why someone would want to, see the convention Web site, http://www.spj.org/convention.asp, or call national headquarters at (317) 927-8000.

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