Rural Journalism is Focus of Conference

The conference hopes to improve news coverage of health and health care in Appalachia by providing information and causes for the region’s health status, contacts and resources in the institutions and agencies specializing in health care, and ways journalists in the region can cover these subjects.

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Feb. 1, 2005) -- The University of Kentucky Institute for Rural Journalism and Community Issues (IRJCI) will host a regional conference for journalists, “Covering Health Care and Health in Mid-Appalachia,” Feb. 25 at the UK Center for Rural Health in Hazard, Ky.

The conference recognizes the impact reporters, editors and photographers can have in improving the health of the region.

“The news media in Appalachia could play a key role in improving the region’s health, but all too often most of the health care information some outlets carry is advertising from providers,” said Al Cross, interim director of IRJCI.

The IRJCI is an institute dedicated to strengthening and invigorating local newspapers, broadcast stations, and other media outlets so they can better define the public agenda in their communities and help their readers, viewers and listeners understand how the public is affected by regional, state and national issues. IRJCI is headquartered at UK’s School of Journalism and Telecommunications.

For more information, go to the Institute’s Web site, or call (859) 257-3744.

Presenters at the conference include Wayne Myers, former head of the federal Office of Rural Health Policy and former president of the National Rural Health Association (NRHA); Bruce Behringer, assistant vice president for rural health at East Tennessee State and former NRHA president; Rice Leach, former Kentucky state health commissioner; Judy Jones, director of the Center for Rural Health and former reporter for the Louisville Courier-Journal and the Lexington Herald-Leader; Daniel Mongiardo, Hazard physician, state senator, and 2004 nominee for U.S. Senate; Eric Scorsone, UK assistant Extension professor of rural economics; Al Cross, interim director of IRJCI and former political writer for the Courier-Journal; and Bonnie Tanner, project coordinator of UK’s Health Education through Extension Leadership.

Conference registration is free to participants. To access more information on the program, visit the online. Individuals may register by e-mailing Al Cross or by calling him at (859) 257-3586.