NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)–David Limbaugh, author of “Persecution: How Liberals Are Waging War Against Christianity,” will be the featured speaker at the Excellence in Journalism awards banquet during the fourth annual Baptist Press National Journalism Student Conference Oct. 7-9 in Nashville, Tenn.
The brother of talk show host Rush Limbaugh, David Limbaugh is an expert in law and politics. Persecution, which spent five weeks atop The New York Times best-seller list last fall, documents more than 800 examples of discrimination against Christians in America.
The conference also will include special addresses by other noted journalists, including James Patterson of The Indianapolis Star, William Mattox of USA Today, Anacleto Rapping of The Los Angeles Times and Holly Thompson of WSMV-TV in Nashville.
“This fourth edition of our student journalism conference figures to top the great success of the previous three,” said Will Hall, executive editor of Baptist Press and vice president for news services with the Southern Baptist Convention’s Executive Committee. “I’m excited about the extraordinary talent and Christian witness represented in our lineup of special speakers and workshop leaders. This should be an exceptional event.”
The collegiate conference will include general sessions — with special music by Christian artist Jason Ingram — as well as breakout sessions addressing specific topics. Additionally, the awards banquet will be held to recognize the top schools and individual students who entered the 2004 Excellence in Journalism Competition.
The breakout sessions will include workshops on news and feature writing, broadcasting, graphic design, magazine feature writing, yearbook design, public relations and photography.
This year Baptist Press is adding a $1,000 scholarship for the winner of the annual President’s Award to be presented at the awards banquet. The scholarship and award will go to a candidate who has shown sustained excellence as a student journalist and who meets certain academic criteria. The deadline for entering the President’s Award competition has been extended to Sept. 15.
Faculty include Morris Abernathy, Union University; Bill Bangham, The Commission magazine; Jamie Bates, Biloxi Sun Herald; Andy Beachum, SBC Executive Committee; Kim Bindel, 94FM Nashville/Salem Music Network; Bob Carey, Gardner-Webb University; Sterling Chen, Philadelphia Enquirer; Berta Delgado, Dallas Morning News; Rick Edwards, Salem Publishing; Gary Fong, San Francisco Chronicle; Valerie Hancock, Christian Single magazine; Joni Hannigan, Florida Baptist Witness; Sara Horn, LifeWay Christian Resources; David Lema, Florida Baptist Convention; Jackie Marushka, Provident Music Group; Terry Mattingly, Scripps Howard; Jason McGehee, Jostens; Matthew Melton, Lee University; James A. Smith Sr., Florida Baptist Witness; Lawrence Smith, Southern Baptist Theological Seminary; Art Stricklin, Marketplace Ministries; Jim Veneman, Union University; and Karen Willoughby, Baptist Press.
“I don’t know of another event for student journalists where they can experience the blend we offer in skill-building workshops, spiritual encouragement, professional networking and Christian fellowship,” Hall said. “We’ve added a job fair for students to test the career waters and the scholarship prize should offer even more excitement to the awards program on Saturday night.”
The awards banquet will be held Saturday, Oct. 9, at the Sheraton Hotel in Nashville.
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