Veteran Journalists Assist Communication Pros in How to Use Public Information to Their Advantage While Adhering to Ethical Standards at Seminar March 20

WASHINGTON, DC -- (MARKET WIRE) -- March 15, 2007 -- The Society of Professional Journalists' (SPJ) Journalism Education Series presents its inaugural session "How to Use Public Information to Your Advantage While Adhering to Ethical Standards" on Tuesday, March 20, from 8:30 to 10 a.m. at the ASAE & Center for Association Leadership Headquarters Building in Washington, D.C. Veteran journalists Steve Geimann and Kai Jackson will lead the 90-minute seminar about freedom of information laws and the ethics of responsible news gathering. Geimann, who anchors "Bloomberg: The Final Word," and Jackson, an anchor for WJZ-13 Eyewitness News in Baltimore, will discuss how legislative policies and government activity impact business; how to conduct more effective, media-worthy research; and how to back up claims more clearly and with greater authority to the public. The SPJ Journalism Education Series is sponsored by Market Wire, a leading newswire in North America and a full service distributor of company press releases and material news.

Market Wire and SPJ announced the Journalism Education Series last December. Under the one-year agreement, SPJ is working exclusively with Market Wire within the newswire industry to help communication professionals, as well as community and civic groups, gain a better understanding of the tenets of responsible journalism and the profound importance of a free press. Market Wire is sponsoring and presenting the series to professionals working in investor, media and public relations, while SPJ is delivering it.

"The goal of this dynamic series is to provide an insider's look into the newsroom so that the public can better understand how journalists do their jobs. In turn, communication professionals will be armed with the right tools and knowledge to deliver accurate information and work more effectively with news organizations," said Christine Tatum, SPJ national president. "While freedom of information laws are of great debate, understanding how to use them accurately is at the cornerstone not only of this first program, but of the entire series."

This first session topic focusing on freedom of information laws and the ethics of responsible news gathering is ideal for all communication professionals to attend, especially those who work closely with government entities and rely on getting access to public documents and those in the non-profit sector who work within tight budgets and would benefit from securing no-cost information to achieve their communication goals. The nominal admission fee for this session serves to further support SPJ initiatives.

"Because Market Wire works closely with journalists -- as advisors and end customers -- we want to ensure that our clients in public, media and investor relations understand how best to work with them as well," said Paolina Milana, vice president of marketing, Market Wire. "As a newswire, we're in a solid position to facilitate an effective dialogue between the public and the media. Presenting this first program in the Journalism Education Series marks a milestone in making this communication possible."

SPJ's Journalism Education Series is a first-of-its-kind initiative that aims to inform the general public about some of the core principles of good journalism, the standards under which respectable news organizations operate, and the challenges journalists often confront when gathering the news. The series will focus on SPJ's core missions, including the free flow of public information, journalism ethics, and the importance of diversity in the news-gathering process. Experienced journalists and experts in media ethics and media law devise the series' curriculum and instruct all programs.

Additional programs will take place throughout the year in various cities. For more details or to register for the March 20 event, please visit the Journalism Education Series Web site at: http://www.spj.org/jes.asp.

About Society of Professional Journalists

Founded in 1909 as Sigma Delta Chi, SPJ promotes the free flow of information vital to a well-informed citizenry; works to inspire and educate the next generation of journalists; and protects First Amendment guarantees of freedom of speech and press. For more information, visit us at www.spj.org.

About Market Wire

Market Wire is a full-service distributor of corporate press releases. The company boasts one of the largest media distribution footprints in North America with the most secure and cost-effective distribution of real-time news to thousands of media outlets including AP, Dow Jones, Bloomberg, Reuters, Yahoo!, and MSNBC.

Committed to world-class client service, industry-leading distribution, technology innovation and market-leading strategic relationships, Market Wire serves corporate and agency communication professionals with key financial and public relations workflow, and media management solutions including Easy PR, Easy IR, SEO, Social Media, Listlogix and more.

A full listing of the company's products and specific distribution points can be found at www.marketwire.com.

Contact Information: For additional information: Paolina Milana Market Wire (310) 846-3760 Email Contact Jamie Ernst Brodeur (210) 495-5757 Email Contact