Regional Journalists invited to participate in World Bank-sponsored Teleconference

Group Meets at The World Bank to Address Key Issues Impacting the Caribbean and its Diaspora

WASHINGTON, D.C., Oct. 16, 2007 -- Restrictive press laws, access to information and resources, more visibility for issues that impact the Caribbean and its global Diaspora are just few of the agenda items to be discussed at a seminal meeting hosted by The World Bank and the National Association of Caribbean-American Journalists.

For the first time in history, journalists in the Caribbean and the United States will convene to strategize on ways to address sparse coverage of Caribbean issues in the U.S. media and its implications for the Caribbean region. The meeting will be held at The World Bank headquarters at 1818 H Street in Washington D.C.

Several distinguished journalists outside of the D.C. area will attend via video- and teleconferencing from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Nov. 1. The two-hour session is scheduled to begin promptly at 4:30 p.m. and end at 6:30 p.m.

So far, confirmed participants include Executive Vice President of Diversity, NBC Universal, Paula Madison; Founder of National Association of Black Journalists and lead anchor at WJLA-TV, ABC 7 in Washington, D.C., Maureen Bunyan; President of International Center for Journalists, Joyce Barnathan; Communications Director of the Knight Center for Journalism, Marc Fest; General Secretary of Caribbean Broadcasting Union, Patrick Cozier; Executive Member of the Association of Caribbean Media Workers, Michael Bascombe; President of CVM, TV, David McBean; General Manager of The Jamaica Gleaner, North America Edition, Sandra Moore; and Ambassador of Grenada and Dean of the caucus of Caribbean ambassadors Denis Antoine.

Journalists and community leaders who wish to participate must RSVP by e-mail to nacaj@nacaj.org by Oct. 26. There are no exceptions.

The National Association of Caribbean-American Journalists, or NACAJ, is a nonprofit organization founded in June 2007 to advocate for journalists, journalism professors, public relations professionals and students. NACAJ aims to offer members support and recognition, networking opportunities with the Caribbean region and its Diaspora and as a clearing house for ongoing journalism jobs and training opportunities. Membership is open to natives of the Caribbean, their descendants and others in and outside the U.S.

For more information, e-mail nacaj@nacaj.org, or call NACAJ President Ann-Marie Adams (202) 413-0171.