MIAMI (FWAA) The Orange Bowl Committee, along
with Football Writers Association of America, City of Coral Gables and the
University of Miami's Latin American Studies Degree Programs, is hosting
the inaugural Hispanic Media Summit and Roundtable Thursday, October 7 from
11 a.m-2 p.m. at the University of Miami's Miller Center. Tapas and drinks
will be served.
"Our city is delighted to participate in such a dynamic interactive event
that highlights South Florida's and the Orange Bowl's unique position in
the upper echelon of college football," said Coral Gables Mayor Don Slesnick.
"With the 'El Espritu de la Comunidad' scholarship benefit, Orange Blossom
Classic and the BCS Championship Game all scheduled to take place in our
hometown over the next few months, we believe that this gathering is a great
opportunity to broaden the perspective of an important, growing audience
to the excitement of college football."
The discussion will focus on how to cover, sell and market college football
to a growing Latino audience. Local and national television, radio, print
and internet mediums will all be represented in the interactive, roundtable
discussion.
"The Football Writers Association of America is committed to bringing
the game to anyone that has an interest and there is significant interest
in the Hispanic community," said FWAA Executive Director Steve Richardson,
whose organization is the governing body of college football media and gives
out various college football awards, including the FedEx Orange Bowl Team
of the Week. "Tailoring coverage toward the Hispanic fan has long been needed.
This summit will be a free-flow of ideas that will help our members provides
better college football coverage in both English and Spanish."
"We are proud to be a part of bringing this kind of conversation to campus,"
said Dr. Rebecca Biron, UM's Director of Latin American Studies Degree Programs.
"As media outlets seek to better serve Latino and Spanish-American audiences,
the industry is considering the same stereotype circulation, ethnic identity
and popular culture relationships, mass media viewer assumptions and Spanish-English
translation issues that concern the academic community. We look forward
to an intriguing dialogue about these and other related topics."
The Orange Bowl Committee is the host of this year's FedEx Orange Bowl
2005 National Championship on January 4, 2005 at Pro Player Stadium. The
Committee is also hosting the Orange Blossom Classic between Florida A&M
and Florida International at Orange Bowl Stadium Saturday November 27.