The Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ) continues its innovative Journalism Education Series with a think tank dedicated to helping public relations professionals and journalists understand the cataclysmic forces behind news dissemination in the Far East so they can more effectively navigate its complex media environment.

The idea-packed two-hour session will be held on Tuesday, February 12 at 8:30 a.m. at the San Francisco Chronicle. The SPJ Journalism Education Series is sponsored by Marketwire, a full-service newswire and communications workflow provider.

Thomas B. Gold, noted authority on the societies of East Asia and University of California at Berkeley’s executive director of the Inter-University Program for Chinese Language Studies, a consortium of 14 American universities, will begin by sharing his insights about how democratization—particularly in Hong Kong and Taiwan—has affected everything from popular culture to private business. Ling-chi Wang, an expert on the Chinese Diaspora, will add his own perspective on China’s growth as an economic and political force, also speaking on the news media landscape and emphasis both here and in China. Finally, Mei-Ling Sze, veteran news broadcaster and KTSF-TV Chinese News anchor, will speak from the perspective of the Asian media in China and the US and compare her experience here to that in Asia.

SPJ President Sally Lehrman, award-winning reporter and writer, will moderate the event along with editor and author Andrew Lam of New America Media.

“East Asia is a prime news destination for virtually every multi-national company, but it is one of the most difficult to navigate,” said Terrence G. Harper, SPJ executive director. “It is imperative for PR professionals and journalists communicating with this region to understand the culture and stay abreast of changes impacting the media environment. The best way to do this is to learn from those with deep area ties, and this Journalism Education Series session offers attendees a great opportunity to do that.”

The Feb. 12 think tank will explore:
— How to work within the boundaries of strict Chinese media policies— Who are the gatekeepers—those local insiders who are crucial intermediaries to getting news out— Why the “totalitarian” image persists even though there is great scope for individual autonomy— How to take advantage of Web 2.0 technologies to gain a greater understanding of this emerging market— Why Asian-American and Chinese news media see news so differently— Why China is an attractive model to many developing countries, especially in Africa, which are disillusioned with American ideology and practices

“Marketwire works with many global companies as well as journalists, so we understand the issues they face communicating with East Asia,” said Paolina Milana, vice president of marketing. “Because of our unique position, we’re able to help facilitate a dialogue between them, and SPJ’s innovative Journalism Education Series is a great medium for doing so. We’re honored to work with SPJ to make this happen.”

SPJ’s Journalism Education Series is a first-of-its-kind initiative that aims to inform the general public about the core principles of good journalism, the standards under which respectable news organizations operate, and the challenges journalists often confront when gathering the news. SPJ is working exclusively with Marketwire within the newswire industry to help communication professionals, as well as community and civic groups, gain a better understanding of the tenets of responsible journalism and the profound importance of a free press. The series focuses on SPJ’s core missions including the free flow of public information, journalism ethics, and the importance of diversity in the news-gathering process. Experienced journalists and experts in media ethics and media law devise the series’ curriculum and instruct all programs. Marketwire sponsors and presents the series to professionals working in investor, media and public relations, while SPJ delivers it.

For more details or to register for the Feb. 12 event, please visit the Journalism Education Series Web site at: https://www.spj.org/jes-form.asp.

About the Society of Professional Journalists

Founded in 1909 as Sigma Delta Chi, SPJ promotes the free flow of information vital to a well-informed citizenry; works to inspire and educate the next generation of journalists; and protects First Amendment guarantees of freedom of speech and press. For more information, visit us at www.spj.org.

About Marketwire

The only fully integrated North America-based global newswire, Marketwire, Inc. is a full-service partner to IR, PR, and MarCom professionals seeking premier distribution, media management, multimedia and monitoring solutions. Marketwire’s customer-centric corporate philosophy focuses on being the best by infusing every aspect of its business with the following core attributes: precision, adaptability, innovation, and simplicity.

Marketwire delivers its clients’ news to the world’s media and financial communities. With a reputation for technological leadership, Marketwire offers innovative products and services—including Social Media, Search Engine Optimization, Dashboard Mobile Financial, News Dashboard coverage reports, exclusive access to networks such as the Canadian Press Wire Network, Easy IR and Easy PR workflow solutions, and more—that help communication professionals maximize their effectiveness while ensuring accuracy and best practices. Having merged companies (Market Wire and CCNMatthews) in April 2006, and enjoying a combined history of 25 years of service, Marketwire is now majority-owned by OMERS Capital Partners, the private equity arm of one of Canada’s largest pension funds. Operating 12 offices worldwide, Marketwire distributes the majority of press releases issued by publicly traded companies in Canada. For more information, visit us at www.marketwire.com.

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For additional information:
Paolina Milana
Marketwire
(310) 765-3250
pmilana@marketwire.com