Contact:
Beth King, Communications Manager, (317) 927-8000, ext. 211

INDIANAPOLIS – Representing the Commander in Chief to a mob of hungry media at a White House press briefing, while accurately portraying the actions of a presidential administration, can be daunting in and of itself. But, today, the 24/7 news cycle and citizen journalism, coupled with the changing state of public affairs, is presenting a new dynamic in the life of a White House press secretary.

During a panel discussion at the 2007 SPJ Convention & National Journalism Conference in Washington, D.C., former White House Press Secretaries Ron Nessen, Larry Speakes and Mike McCurry will join Dr. Martha Joynt Kumar, a professor in the Department of Political Science at Towson University, to discuss what their jobs were like and whether they would be harder in today's climate. Mara Liasson, national political correspondent for NPR, will moderate the discussion. The event will take place at 11:30 a.m., Friday, Oct. 5 at the Hyatt Regency Capitol Hill, 400 New Jersey Ave., NW in the Columbia B room.

“The White House press secretary is arguably the most high-profile public relations job in the world,” SPJ National President-Elect Clint Brewer said. “There is perhaps not another spokesperson position that faces more scrutiny from the press and public. This session will allow journalists to see the profession from the perspective of people who have lived inside the intense media fish bowl.”

To obtain a media credential for this event, please contact SPJ Communications Manager Beth King at (317) 927-8000, ext. 211. For more information about the 2007 SPJ National Convention & Journalism Conference — including a full convention schedule — or to register, visit SPJ's Web site.

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 about SPJ, visit www.spj.org.

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