NAMIC Announces General Sessions Planned for 24th Annual Conference

NEW YORK, Aug. 17 /PRNewswire/ -- The National Association for Multi-ethnicity in Communications (NAMIC) today announced details of the General Sessions confirmed for the 24th Annual NAMIC Conference.   Scheduled for September 14-15, 2010 at the Hilton New York in Manhattan, the 24th Annual NAMIC Conference is being presented as part of the newly reinstated Diversity Week.

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On Tuesday, September 14, the opening General Session of the 24th Annual NAMIC Conference will feature a keynote address delivered by Mignon Clyburn, FCC commissioner.  Clyburn's address will precede an executive panel entitled 3D: Diversity, Digital, Demographics, which is also the theme for this year's Conference.  The panel discussion will focus on the results of the 2010 Census, while addressing the implications of this data for the communications industry, its workforce and consumer base.  Juju Chang, news anchor for ABC's "Good Morning America" will moderate the panel.  

Key cable industry executives confirmed for the 3D: Diversity, Digital, Demographics panel include Cesar Conde, president, Univision Networks, Pat Esser, president, Cox Communications, Kyle McSlarrow, president and chief executive officer, NCTA, Scott Mills, president and chief operating officer, BET Networks, and Laureen Ong, president, Travel Channel.  Leobardo Estrada, PhD, associate professor of Urban Planning, School of Public Affairs, UCLA will also join the panel. An expert in the area of ethnic and racial demographic trends, Dr. Estrada has provided his expertise to the U.S. Bureau of the Census, serving as special assistant to the Chief of the Population Division and as staff assistant to the bureau's Deputy Director.  In addition to participating in Tuesday's General Session, Conde and Mills are serving as honorary co-chairs for this year's Conference.

On Wednesday, September 15, top-level television executives creating diverse content will discuss and debate the merit of their work and the industry's effort to produce multi-ethnic programming.  Panelists confirmed to date include Matt Alvarez, executive producer of the original series, "Are We There Yet" and "Everybody Hates Chris," Ice Cube, American rapper-actor-screenwriter-film director-producer, Loretha Jones, president, Original Programming, BET Networks, Geraldine Moriba, executive producer of  CNN Worldwide's "In America" documentary series, and Ligiah Villalobos, writer-producer for "Go Diego Go."

"The Conference theme, 3D: Diversity, Digital, Demographics, emphasizes the dynamic shifts that are occurring within our industry and the business community in general," said Kathy Johnson, president, NAMIC.  "We are pleased to have this illustrious and diverse group of leaders share their perspectives on diversity and inclusion in light of the nation's and our industry's changing landscape."

In addition to the General Sessions planned, the 24th Annual NAMIC Conference will focus on timely topics within educational track sessions such as Digital Media, Diversity and Inclusion, Leadership Development and Multi-ethnic Content and Programming.  The two-day agenda will include "hot topic" sessions such as Hispanic America 2010 presented by The Nielsen Company and presentation of the Excellence in Multi-cultural Marketing Awards.  Special events include The L. Patrick Mellon Mentorship Program Luncheon sponsored by the Walter Kaitz Foundation and presented in partnership with Women in Cable Telecommunications (WICT), the Diversity in Communications Career Expo and strategic networking opportunities.  

Sponsors of the 24th Annual NAMIC Conference include AETN, BET, Cox Communications, ESPN Deportes, HBO, Motorola, the National Cable & Telecommunications Association, The Nielsen Company, Rainbow Media LLC, Scripps Networks, Showtime Networks Inc., Suddenlink Communications, The Paley Center for Media, TuTV, Turner Broadcasting System, Inc., Univision Networks and WeTV Networks.

For more information on the 24th Annual NAMIC Conference including inquiries regarding sponsorship opportunities, contact Sandra Girado, director of Meetings and Events, NAMIC at 212-594-5985, ext. 23.  Online registration for the 24th Annual NAMIC Conference can be accessed by visiting www.namic.com.  Group registration is available for companies wishing to send multiple employees.

About NAMIC

NAMIC (National Association for Multi-ethnicity in Communications) is the premier organization focusing on multi-ethnic diversity in the communications industry. Founded in 1980 as a non-profit trade association, today NAMIC is comprised of 2,000 professionals belonging to a network of 18 chapters nationwide. Through initiatives that focus on education, advocacy and empowerment, NAMIC champions equity and inclusion in the workforce, with special attention given to ensuring that the leadership cadres of our nation's communications industry giants reflect the multi-ethnic richness of the populations they serve. For more information on NAMIC, visit www.namic.com.

SOURCE NAMIC