2005 Portland Program Highlights

Frequently Asked Questions | Hotel Information | Photos | Program Highlights | Critiques | Convention Reports

The theme for the 2005 convention is "Staying Civilized, 200 years after Lewis and Clark"

Click here for an overview of the event.

Click here to read speaker biographies.

Tentative Agenda

To members: Start planning now to attend the convention in Portland, Oregon! Below is a tentative schedule that will whet your appetite and answer your questions. We will keep adding events over the summer. Keep checking the Web site for more information and FAQs about what to do, see and bring. (Early hint: Pack comfortable walking shoes and layers for outdoor events.).

See you in September - Susan Nielsen, Convention chairwoman/The Oregonian

WEDNESDAY, September 14

11 a.m. - 6 p.m. Convention registration

Noon - 4:30 p.m. NCEW U (mini editorial workshops) CRYSTAL BALLROOM

Noon - Please Don't Swat the Camera: How to Be Your Best in Public

Discussion Leader: Neil Heinen, editorial director, WISC-TV, Madison, Wisconsin

12:45 p.m. - Getting Your Words' Worth: Finding Your Editorial Voice(s)

Discussion Leader: Rick Horowitz, syndicated columnist/writing coach, Milwaukee, Wisconsin

1: 45 p.m. - Break

2:00 p.m. - Who Are Those Guys?: Taking on Reader Advisory Boards

Discussion Leader: Miriam Pepper, editorial page editor, The Kansas City Star

2:45 p.m. - Having Your Readers for Dinner (and Other Great Tips for Staying Connected)

Discussion Leader: Sandra Roberts, managing editor/opinion, The (Nashville) Tennessean

3:30 p.m. - Break

3:45 p.m. - Building a Pulitzer-Worthy Editorial Page with Materials Commonly Found Around the Home

Discussion Leaders: David Holwerk, editor of editorial pages; Maria Henson, deputy editorial page editor; Tom Philp, associate editor, The Sacramento Bee

6:30 - 8:30 p.m. Welcome reception and cocktail buffet at The Benson Hotel

Welcome by NCEW President Kay Semion and Portland Mayor Tom Potter (invited)

Entertainment by: Shera Sinell, harpist

9 p.m. - midnight Hospitality with cash bar, Benson Grand Suite

THURSDAY, September 15

7:30 a.m. First time attendees' breakfast

7:30 a.m. Continental breakfast

8:15 - 9:45 a.m. THE PORTLAND DIFFERENCE: CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES AHEAD FOR ONE OF THE NATION'S MOST LIVABLE CITIES

Moderator: Sandra Mims Rowe, editor of The Oregonian

Panelists:

• Ethan Seltzer, director of theSchool of Urban Studies and Planning at Portland State University
• Tim Hibbitts, Portland-based independent pollster and Oregon political commentator
• Vera Katz, mayor of Portland from 1992-2004

9:45 a.m. - 5:15 p.m. Board Bus for optional spouse/guest lunch at an oceanfront beach house at the Surfsand Resort to be followed by an afternoon at Cannon Beach on the Oregon coast.

(Bus leaves promptly at 10 a.m. from the main entrance of The Benson Hotel. Important note: Coastal weather is unpredictable and can change quickly. Plan for sun but wear layers, bring a warm coat and hat and wear beach-worthy shoes.)

CLEANER BEACHES AND FEWER STRANGERS: VOLUNTEERISM IN A COMMITMENT-PHOBIC SOCIETY

Spouse Tour Speaker: Jack McGowan, executive director of Portland-based SOLV, one of the nation’s largest civic volunteer organizations

10 a.m. - 5 p.m. Critique sessions

12:15 - 1:30 p.m. Members' lunch at The Benson Hotel

FIGHTING THE WAR AGAINST CORPORATE BLANDNESS

Speaker: Frank Blethen, publisher of The Seattle Times

6:30 - 9:30 p.m. Reception and cocktail buffet at the Portland Classical Chinese Garden

Within walking distance of The Benson. A shuttle bus will also be available starting at 6:15 p.m.

9:30 p.m. - midnight Hospitality with cash bar, Benson Grand Suite

FRIDAY, September 16

7:30 a.m. Continental breakfast

8 - 9:15 a.m. PROPERTY RIGHTS IN SPRAWL-FREE OREGON

Moderator: Gale Hammons, editorial page editor, The Press-Enterprise in California

Panelists:

• Lane Shetterly, director of state Land Conservation and Development Commission
• Bob Stacey, executive director of 1000 Friends of Oregon
• Dave Hunnicutt, executive director of Oregonians in Action

9:15 a.m. Break

9:30 -10:30 a.m. WRITING PROVOCATIVE , LIVELY EDITORIALS

Moderator: Vanessa Gallman, editorial page editor, Lexington Herald-Leader

Panelists:

• Andrew Malcolm, editorial writer, Los Angeles Times
• Mary Schulken, associate editor, The Charlotte Observer

10:30 a.m. Break

10:45 am. - 11:45 a.m. Breakout Sessions (Choose one)

A) AVOIDING LIABILITY IN LETTERS AND GUEST COLUMNS

Moderator: Dan Radmacher, editorial writer, The Roanoke Times

Panelists:

• Charlie Hinkle, Oregon attorney specializing in media law and advisor to The Oregonian
• Bruce Johnson, Washington attorney specializing in media law and advisor to The Seattle Times

B) THE LEGACY OF LEWIS AND CLARK

Moderator: Charles Rowe, associate editor, The Post and Courier in South Carolina

Panelists:

• David Sarasohn, editorial writer, The Oregonian
• Bobbie Conner, vice president, National Council of the Lewis and Clark Bicentennial Board of Directors

11:45 a.m. - 1:15 p.m. Lunch at The Benson

Presentation of the 2005 Barry Bingham Sr. Fellowship

EDITORIALS THAT CHANGE THE WORLD

Speaker: Michael Gartner, Pulitzer-Prize winning journalist and author of "Outrage, Passion, & Uncommon Sense: How Editorial Writers Have Taken on the Great American Issues of the Past 150 Years"

1:45 - 6 p.m. Board buses for afternoon guided tour of the Columbia River Gorge with stops at Vista House at Crown Point and Multnomah Falls

(Buses will leave from the main entrance of The Benson Hotel as they are filled. The last bus will leave promptly at 2 p.m. Bring a camera, dress casually, wear layers and walking/hiking shoes.)

6:30 - 7:15 p.m. Cocktail reception with cash bar and final sign up for optional dinner groups

Evening Dinner on your own or with one of the groups

9 p.m. - midnight Hospitality with cash bar, Benson Grand Suite

SATURDAY, September 17

7:30 a.m. Continental breakfast

8:15 - 9:30 a.m. Breakout sessions (Choose one)

A) Navigating the blogosphere: Trends and tips for editorial blogs

Moderator: Neil Heinen, WISC-TV in Wisconsin

Panelists:

• Steve Outing, senior editor, Poynter Institute
• Keven Willey, editorial page editor, Dallas Morning News
• Geitner Simmons, editorial writer, Omaha World Herald

B) Army of one: Working smarter, not harder, in a small shop

Discussion leaders:

• Bonnie Williams, Editorial Page Editor, Anderson Independent-Mail
• Mark Mahoney, editorial page editor, The Post-Star , Glen Falls, New York

9:30 a.m. Break

9:45 - 10:45 a.m. Breakout sessions (Choose one)

A) Editorial innovations: New ideas and best practices

Discussion leader: Kate Riley, editorial writer, The Seattle Times

B) Writing that book, finally: How these journalists did it

Moderator: Joann Crupi, Editor of the Opinion Pages, Times Union in New York

Panelists:

• Jackie Mitchard, author and syndicated columnist for Tribune Media Services
• Doug Bates, author and associate editor, The Oregonian
• M.J. Andersen, author and editorial writer, The Providence Journal

10:45 a.m. Break

11 a.m. - 12:15 p.m RELIGION, POLITICS AND IDENTITY IN A CHANGING AMERICA

Moderator: E.J. Dionne, syndicated columnist, The Washington Post

Panelists:

• Gaston Espinosa, Assistant Professor, Philosophy and Religious Studies, Claremont McKenna College, California
• Melissa Harris-Lacewell, Assistant Professor of Political Science, University of Chicago

12:15 - 1:45 p.m. Lunch at The Benson Hotel

Presentation of the 2005 Pulliam Award, sponsored by SDX Foundation

THE FUTURE OF GAY RIGHTS IN AMERICA

Speaker: Evan Wolfson, civil-rights attorney and executive director of Freedom to Marry

2:15 p.m. Annual NCEW business meeting and board elections

6:30 p.m. Reception at The Benson

7:30 p.m. Closing dinner at The Benson, sponsored by The Oregonian

Presentation of 2005 Life Membership

THE FUTURE OF HUMANITARIAN AID

Speaker: Neal Keny-Guyer, CEO of Mercy Corps

Entertainment: Lisa and Her Kin, a locally grown honky-tonk band

9 p.m. - midnight Hospitality with cash bar, Kent Room

Sunday, September 18

9 a.m. Past presidents' breakfast

Schedule subject to change