"Religion in the News"

I want to call your attention to a panel discussion that will be held next Wednesday, April 2. Titled "Religion in the News: What Future Reporters and Editors Need to Know," the discussion will take place in the Ballroom at the Curry Student Center from 11:45 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. This would make a good extra-credit assignment. Panelists will be:

• Benjamin Hubbard, chair emeritus of comparative religion at California State University, Fullerton.
• Debra Mason, executive director of the Religion Newswriters Association and director of the Center for Religion, the Professions and the Public at the University of Missouri, Columbia.
• Munir Shaikh, executive director of the California-based Institute on Religion and Civic Values.

The moderator will be Prof. Stephen Burgard, director of our School of Journalism and author of "Hallowed Ground: Rediscovering Our Spiritual Roots."

Should you choose to cover this as an extra-credit assignment, please write a 600- to 700-word news story in which you quote at least three people. Since there are three panelists, that ought to be easy. Stories will be due at the beginning of class the following Monday, April 7.