The School of Journalism at the University of Regina is offering an exciting opportunity for Aboriginal students interested in journalism. The one-day, hands-on session will involve an Aboriginal Elder, journalism faculty, practising news reporters and senior journalism students. The workshop will be held at the School of Journalism, University of Regina on Friday, October 24, 2008 and is open to Aboriginal students (First Nations, Métis and Inuit) from across urban and rural Saskatchewan.

"This workshop is part of the School's ongoing efforts to attract Aboriginal students to the field of professional journalism, and build more representative newsrooms across the country.  Many newsrooms are taking steps to include more Aboriginal and minority journalists in their organizations and the School wants to continue to play a decisive leadership role in preparing them professionally," says Mitch Diamantopoulos, Head of the School of Journalism.  "Ultimately, newsroom diversity helps provide Canadians with a more complete picture of our world.  It also provides the basis for a strong democracy, where we can make more fully informed decisions based on facts, not fiction."

The School of Journalism, in partnership with the Young People's Press of Canada and a consortium of four other Canadian universities, held similar pilot workshops in 2006 and 2007.  The 2008 workshop is financially supported by the First Nations and Métis Relations Ministry of the Government of Saskatchewan.

"The goals of the workshop are to attract Aboriginal students to the School of Journalism, build a database of participating students and keep them informed of the requirements to enter the School or the University of Regina," says Leonzo Barreno, Global Visiting Chair at the School of Journalism and co-ordinator of the event.

Anyone interested in attending the workshop or obtaining more information should contact Leonzo Barreno at (306) 585-4091; fax (306) 585-4867; or e-mail at Leonzo.Barreno@uregina.ca.

There is no charge for the workshop and lunch will be provided.  Prizes will be awarded for hands-on exercises and other contests.  The deadline to register for the workshop is October 17, 2008.