LA Press Club: “Muslim/Arab Coverage in News & Entertainment: What Effect Does It Have on Election 2008?”

Serving Southern California since 1913

ADVISORY

Tuesday, October 21, 2008
For Immediate Release
Contact – Edward Headington, Publicist
(323) 669-8081 or Edward@LAPressClub.org

Hollywood, CA. The Los Angeles Press Club is hosting another great panel discussion this Thursday night at the Steve Allen Theater. Co-sponsored by PR Newswire, the Media Image Coalition, and the Los Angeles County Commission on Human Relations, the theme is “Muslim/Arab Coverage in News & Entertainment: What Effect Does It Have on Election 2008?” In light of recent remarks condemned at campaign rallies and thoughtful comments made by former Secretary of State and retired General Colin Powell on this past Sunday’s Meet the Press, this is one event you won’t want to miss.

WHO – The Los Angeles Press Club Members and Supporters; MIC Members and Supporters; Los Angeles County Commission on Human Relations Members and Supporters; Journalists; and Panelists:

Moderator: Jon Beaupre, Award-winning guest host on KPCC Radio’s “AirTalk” and “Talk of the City”

Panelists: Robert Greenwald, Filmmaker and political activist; Founder of Brave New Films (“Iraq for Sale: The War Profiteers” and “Wal-Mart: The High Cost of Low Price”); Steve Padilla, Religion Editor, Los Angeles Times; Kamran Pasha, TV Producer, Director, Screenwriter (Bionic Woman; Sleeper Cell); Ahmed Ahmed, AFTRA member, Film and TV Actor and Comedian (The Axis of Evil Comedy Tour); Lena Khan, Award-winning filmmaker (A Land Called Paradise; The Sleeper Cell); Munira Syeda, Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR); and Siamak Kalhor, KIRN/670AM; Radio Iran

WHAT – Panel Discussion on “Muslim/Arab Coverage in News & Entertainment: What Effect Does It Have on Election 2008?”

WHEN – Thursday, October 23, 208; Doors open at 6:30 p.m. Program begins at 7:15 p.m.

WHERE – The Steve Allen Theater at the LA Press Club; 4773 Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood, 90027; Plenty of free parking behind the building (enter off of Berendo Street); Click here for a map; Metro: Red line, Sunset/Vermont station

WHY – Against the backdrop of the current presidential election, a diverse panel will give an overview of the portrayals, often negative, of Muslims and Arabs in mainstream media and what circumstances and issues help perpetuate those portrayals. They will further seek to shed light on current efforts to engage more realistic Muslim characters, storylines and news coverage, bring depth and balance to a faith and people frequently misunderstood in the media, and expose efforts meant to characterize political candidates in an “extremist” manner.

FYI: This event is free and open to everyone (bring a friend!). Refreshments and snacks will be provided. RSVP to rsvp@lapressclub.org.

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The Los Angeles Press Club stands as an organization devoted to improving the spirit of journalism and journalists, raising the industry’s standards, strengthening its integrity and improving its reputation all for the benefit of the community at large. For more information, go to http://www.lapressclub.org/ and/or www.myspace.com/lapressclub.

PR Newswire, co-sponsor for all Los Angeles Press Club events, is the global leader in news and information distribution services for professional communicators. For more information, go to http://www.prnewswire.com/.

The Media Image Coalition, established in 1989 by the Los Angeles County Commission on Human Relations, represents the first multiracial, multicultural, inter-religious media advocacy and education organization in the US. MIC promotes increased visibility, diversity and balanced imagery of all groups that it determines to be subjects of discrimination or unfair treatment in media and the arts. For more information, go to www.LAHumanRelations.org/programs/mic/mic.htm.

The Los Angeles County Commission on Human Relations is dedicated to promoting positive race and human relations in an increasingly complex and multicultural county by developing programs that proactively address racism, homophobia, religious prejudice, linguistic bias, anti-immigrant sentiment, and other divisive attitudes that can lead to inter-cultural tension, hate crimes and related violence. For more information, go to http://www.lahumanrelations.org/.

Headington Media Group is a full-service communications firm dedicated to promoting public affairs in Southern California, specializing in image management, branding and public relations. For more information, go to http://www.headingtonmedia.com/ and/or visit http://www.headingtonmediacenter.org/.