Being an Alabamian is more than Southern accents and dirt-stained jeans.
The "Becoming Alabama: Who, What, When, Where and Why" symposium Jan. 21-22 will provide a unique angle on the past, present and future of the Alabama press.
The symposium will be held at The Hotel at Auburn University, and is presented by the Caroline Marshall Draughon Center for the Arts & Humanities.
The symposium was inspired by the statewide project to celebrate major anniversaries in Alabamian and American history, said Jay Lamar, director of the center.
"The Creek War/War of 1812, the Civil War and Emancipation and major events of the Civil Rights movement will all celebrate anniversaries in the next five years," Lamar said. "Many entities around the state will acknowledge the individual anniversaries, but we thought an interesting approach might be to think about them thematically."
Lamar said the conference will focus on analyzing the power and influence of the media on Alabama's culture, history and image.
"Of course, the press is crucial for a democracy, but we don't often have a chance to reflect on its importance through a historical lens," he said.
Speakers include Pulitzer Prize winner Rick Bragg, award-winning reporter Rheta Grimsley Johnson, CBS sports journalist and Mr. College Football Tony Barnhart and National Public Radio's Debbie Elliot.
Bragg and Johnson will be "offering perspectives on writing and media representations of the state," according to the website.
Barnhart's presentation will focus on Alabama's love for sports.
Elliot will speak about NPR's coverage of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.
The remaining portions of the event will focus on the timeline of the press in Alabama.
It will begin with "Native American Press in the Southeast: The Early Days" and will include everything from The Great Depression to the Civil Rights movement.
The conference will conclude with a dialogue between Mary Helen Brown, Breeden Scholar in Residence, and Vickey Williams, project director of the the Learning Newsroom at the American Press Institute, on the future of the press.
Brown will discuss the current environment of the newspaper industry.
Brown said there are uncertainties facing today's publications, and the faster the industry changes, the more uncertainty is present.
According to Margaret Fitch-Hauser, department chair and associate professor of communication and journalism, the workings of the state of Alabama are bound to an understanding of the press.
"Anyone looking to become a leader in the state needs to know the foundations of the press," Fitch-Hauser said.
The conference is open to the public and is free for students who aren't planning to eat. Registration can be completed online at http://www.auburn.edu/cah and must be done by Jan. 15. Students not eating may show up the day of the event.
Do you like this story? The Plainsman doesn't accept money from tuition or student fees, and we don't charge a subscription fee. But you can donate to support The Plainsman.
