ONA News: The Latinization of Art and Culture in America: Understanding Its Impact and Why it Matters

October 18-23, 2005

Sponsored by
A Western Knight Center for Specialized Journalism Seminar
In partnership with USC Annenberg School for Communication
Los Angeles, CA

Responding to the new Latino majority in many American cities and towns, the Western Knight Center and the USC Annenberg School for Communication are sponsoring this week-long seminar designed to help journalists target, respond to and report on its changing audience through coverage of arts and culture. Built on the premise that the arts are often where the least comfortable of topics are first thrust into public view, issues to be covered include:

* The common understandings and misunderstandings made by the media about Latino artists and their art
* How the demographic shift toward a Latino majority affects the meaning and expression of today's American arts and culture.
* Finding and telling stories that go beyond the usual.
* The influence of the emerging artists on the social and the political as well as the cultural fabric of a community.

Applications for the 20 fellowships are now being accepted from arts, culture and entertainment journalists, working at print, broadcast and online news organizations. This expenses-paid seminar will introduce fellows to some of the nation's leading musicians, authors, filmmakers, painters, playwrights, scholars, professional broadcast and print journalists, who will share their ideas for successful and compelling coverage of Latino art and culture. The competitively selected fellows will explore America's thorniest debate about race, looking at the past, present and future of -- particularly Mexican -- contributions to the arts and culture of the US.

WHO SHOULD APPLY: Professional arts, entertainment and/or culture writers, editors, critics, reporters and columnists from print,
broadcast and online news organizations. Journalists who specialize in issues related to diversity, immigration, social services, justice and religion will also be considered. The WKC values diversity in all forms, including: gender, age, race, ethnicity, geography and news organizations.

Fellowships cover all expenses including: Lodging, meals and instruction as well as a travel subsidy of up to $300.

HOW TO APPLY: Application forms are available on the WKC Web site at www.WKConline.org. Applications should include TWO each of: a resume; three work samples (broadcast applicants should provide two VHS video samples of work totaling no more than 15 minutes); a 500-word statement of why this seminar would be valuable to the journalist and his/her news organization; a supervisor's strong nominating letter agreeing to cover salary and non-fellowship expenses. Archival links are acceptable for work samples.

Applications should be sent to:
Vikki Porter,
Director,
Western Knight Center for Specialized Journalism,
300 South Grand Avenue, Suite 3950,
Los Angeles, CA 90071-8110.