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| Reporter who broke story of South Carolina governor's affair to speak at The Florida Bar's Media Law Conference at FIU |
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 23, 2010
CONTACT: Karen Y. Kirksey,
The Florida Bar
TELEPHONE: (850) 561-5766;kkirksey@flabar.org
Gina Smith, a political correspondent with The State newspaper in Columbia, S.C., is among the speakers lined up for this year's Media Law Conference, set for Friday, March 26, from 8:30 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. at the Florida International University College of Law in Miami.
The eagle-eyed reporter spotted South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford on June 24, 2009, arriving at the Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport in Atlanta on a flight from Buenos Aires, Argentina. Smith's report of this event showed that earlier claims by the governor's staff that Sanford was hiking the Appalachian Trail were wrong. The story forced the governor to admit that he was having an affair. Smith will explain how she got the story and how it changed her life as a journalist.
Reporters, judges, attorneys and students are invited to attend the day-long Media Law Conference that will explore "Journalism & Other Financial Disasters." Sponsored by the FIU College of Law and the Media and Communications Law Committee of The Florida Bar, the conference will take an in-depth look at:
Canned Reporters -- Life After Death thru Nonprofit Reporting
Libel by Implication after Jews for Jesus
How the Florida Supreme Court Will Protect Private Info in Court Records
Protecting Anonymous Posters
Journalism in the World of Social Media, Twitter & Facebook
And The NCAA v. AP -- Winning One for the Journalism Gipper.
Presenters and panelists include journalists, judges, academics and attorneys. Anders Gyllenhaal, executive editor of The Miami Herald, is the keynote speaker. Richard J. Ovelmen, former general counsel of The Miami Herald Publishing Co., will recall the life and times of famed First Amendment attorney Daniel P.S. Paul, of Miami. He died this year at the age of 85.
The opening plenary will examine how economic difficulties facing the United States generally and the press specifically have and will change all the rules that govern reporting daily news. "This session will feature a big panel of seasoned reporters and media lawyers," said Tom Julin, chair of the Media & Communications Law Committee. "Each panelist will struggle to explain in 140 characters or less what 'journalism' may mean in the year 2020."
"We have planned a very exciting program," said Patricia Acosta, conference chair and media lawyer. "This year's Media Law Conference will be beneficial to reporters, editors and news directors as well as communications and law students. We'll have something for everyone."
Application is being made to The Florida Bar for five hours of general CLE credit. Pre-registration is encouraged. Tuition, which also covers lunch, is $100 for lawyers, and $40 for judges, non-lawyer media, non-lawyer faculty and public relations practitioners. The student rate is $20.
Download the agenda and registration form at The Florida Bar's Web site — www.floridabar.org — under Media Resources.
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EDITORS: Please note The Florida Bar is not an association and "Association" is not part of our name. Proper reference is "The Florida Bar." Local bar organizations are properly termed "associations."
EDITORS: Please note The Florida Bar is not an association and "Association" is not part of our name. Proper reference is "The Florida Bar." Local bar organizations are properly termed "associations."
[Revised:
02-25-2010
]