NEWS RELEASE
For Immediate Release
June 18, 2005

Contact:
Rahnesha White
Communications Manager
UNITY
(703) 854-3585
e-mail

UNITY Board Picks Chicago for UNITY 2008 Convention

ARLINGTON, Va. — UNITY: Journalists of Color Inc., a strategic alliance representing more than 10,000 journalists of color, today selected Chicago as the tentative host city for its fourth joint conference in 2008.

RELATED NEWS UNITY's 2008 Chicago Convention kickoff party »Click to view slideshow! The following articles have appeared relating to UNITY's decision to go to Chicago in 2008: Hub Passed Over by Minority Group Boston Globe Sunday, June 19, 2005 Overwhelming Vote Picks Chicago over Boston, D.C. Richard Prince's Column Sunday, June 19, 2005 UNITY Selects Chicago Editor & Publisher Monday, June 20, 2005 Mass. Legislature Repeals Law Banning American Indians Boston Globe May 20, 2005 » Also see Richard Prince Highlights from UNITY 2004

UNITY's 17-member Board of Directors voted overwhelmingly to hold the convention July 23-27, 2008, at the McCormick Place convention center. The Board also chose Boston as the alternate city if the alliance and Chicago fail to reach a final agreement.

The Board entertained formal presentations from convention bureau and hotel representatives from Chicago, Boston and Washington, D.C., during a site-selection meeting held during the National Association of Hispanic Journalists convention in Fort Worth, Texas.

"We had strong presentations from each of the three cities and greatly appreciate the interest and efforts of Boston and Washington," said UNITY President Mae Cheng, an assistant city editor at Newsday in New York. "Now we look forward to having a tremendous and successful convention in Chicago that will have great impact on our industry and society."

UNITY advocates news coverage about people of color, and aggressively challenges its organizations at all levels to reflect the nation's diversity. The alliance is comprised of NAHJ, the Asian American Journalists Association, the National Association of Black Journalists and the Native American Journalists Association.

More than 8,100 alliance members met for UNITY 2004 last summer in Washington at what was the largest gathering of journalists in U.S. history. About 6,000 journalists met at UNITY '94 in Atlanta and UNITY '99 in Seattle. At UNITY 2004, President George Bush and Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.) addressed the alliance during the presidential campaign. Then-Secretary of State Colin Powell and many other dignitaries also participated.

"I'm very excited that we've chosen Chicago as the destination for the 2008 convention," said UNITY Executive Director Anna Lopez. "Members of all four of our groups are well represented there and many, many others will love their experience there."

In addition to planning the largest regular gathering of journalists in the nation, UNITY develops programs and institutional relationships that promote its mission. For more information on UNITY, visit www.unityjournalists.org, e-mail info@unityjournalists.org or call (703) 854-3585.

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About UNITY: Journalists of Color
UNITY: Journalists of Color, Inc. is a strategic alliance advocating news coverage about people of color, and aggressively challenging its organizations at all levels to reflect the nation’s diversity. UNITY, representing more than 10,000 journalists of color, is comprised of four national associations: Asian American Journalists Association, National Association of Black Journalists, National Association of Hispanic Journalists, and the Native American Journalists Association.

In addition to planning the largest regular gathering of journalists in the nation, UNITY develops programs and institutional relationships that promote its mission. For more information on UNITY, visit www.unityjournalists.org, email info@unityjournalists.org or call (703) 854-3585.