Keynote Speech: "The History and Future of Rural and Regional Journalism" by Paul Gruchow, author of The Boundary Waters, Grass Roots, The Necessity of Empty Places, and other books, former editor of the Worthington Daily Globe, 1998-2000 Writer-in-Residence Concordia College, 1999 Gamaliet Chair in Peace and Justice University of Wisconsin, Millwakee.

Other Presentations By Editors And Publishers From Around The Region Will Include: The Importance of Community Journalism in Rural Minnesota: Take Your Watchdog Role Seriously, Creating Readers: The Business of Journalism, It's Not All Fender Benders and Bicycle Theft: Reporting Crime in Small Communities, Finding Continuing Challenges and Keeping Motivated as a Rural Reporter, Covering Public Affairs When the Mayor Lives Next Door

Sponsored By: SMSU English Department
Funded By: The SMSU Center for Rural and Regional Studies, The Otto Bremer Foundation with a Grant for Faculty Development, and The Society for the Study of Local and Regional History.

For more information contact conference organizer, Ruthe Thompson, assistant professor of English, SSU at 507-537-7174, 537-9490.