Mindich to Keynote Indifference to News Conference
10/02/06
Author: Sherrie Whaley
Contact: Alison Alexander, alison@grady.uga.edu


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David Mindich, author of Tuned Out: Why Americans Under 40 Don't Follow the News will provide the keynote address at the upcoming Youth Indifference to News Conference set for Sunday, Oct. 8 through Wednesday, Oct. 11.

Hosted by the Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication, the state-of-the-art conference will examine indifference to news among youth under age 25, the associated lack of political participation, and its impact on the democratic process.

Mindich, a media critic and professor of journalism and mass communication at Saint Michael's College in Vermont, will address why Americans under 40 have abandoned news and the implications for journalism in particular and democracy in general. His 5 p.m. speech on Sunday, Oct. 8, will be held in Room 148 of UGA's Student Learning Center. It is free and open to the public.

In 2004, Walter Cronkite called Mindich's Tuned Out "very important....a handbook for the desperately needed attempt to inspire in the young generation a curiosity that generates the news habit."

Only one-third of 18- to 25-year-olds vote and at least 40 percent are not even registered to vote, according to findings from the Pew Charitable Trusts. Significantly, just as voting has decreased, so has news consumption. Despite an increase in radio, television and Internet news outlets, youth consumption of news remains low. According to Mindich, fewer than 20 percent of youth read newspapers daily and only 22 percent report regular news viewing.

In addition to the Mindich keynote, the public is also invited to attend a screening and panel discussion of News Programs for Children and Youth on Monday, Oct. 9, at 4 p.m. in Room 148 of UGA?s Student Learning Center. A panel of experts will discuss various news programming geared toward children and youth from the Peabody Awards archives. Clips from various programs, including Nick News with Linda Ellerbee, MTV?s Choose or Lose and The Daily Show with Jon Stewart will be shown.

On Tuesday, Oct. 10, a panel of local high school and college news editors will gather to discuss "Youth and News" from noon-1:15 p.m. in the Grady College's Drewry Room. This special lunch session is open to the public as well.

The Youth Indifference to News Conference is being supported by UGA?s Office of the Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost. For more information on the conference, visit www.grady.uga.edu/yinews