Second Annual Jim Murray Memorial Foundation Sports & Media Symposium

Dec. 2, 2010 - PRLog -- The Jim Murray Memorial Foundation (JMMF) will host the Second Annual Jim Murray Memorial Foundation Sports & Media Symposium at ESPN Zone at LA Live on December 9th, 2010.  Reception at 4:30pm, Symposium at 6:00 pm.  

The symposium will feature a panel of ESPN sports journalists including J.A. Adande, Shelley Smith and Eric Neel.  The panel will be moderated by host of ESPN Sportscenter LA’s, Neil Everett. 

The topic of discussion is the 2010 JMMF essay question, “What can a sports journalist do to stay competitive and relevant at a time when people are accustomed to getting their news from an ever-growing ocean of sources, including countless online ‘citizen journalists?”

“With journalism evolving by the hour, it is of paramount importance to promote humility and responsibility in the profession as well as maintain the integrity of the written word,” says Linda McCoy-Murray, Jim’s widow, who established the Foundation and scholarship program shortly after her husband’s death in 1998 and serves as its president. “Strong training in reading and writing is essential to all forms of journalism, including broadcast and electronic. Through our competitive journalism scholarships, we identify the cream of the student crop.”

A reception before the Symposium will introduce the 2010 Class of “Murray Scholars.”  This year's scholarship winners are Tyson Alger (University of Montana), Eric Smith (Arizona State University), Michael Stainbrook (Ohio University-Athens), Samuel Sukaton (UCLA) and Cristina Conti (Trinity College-Hartford).  Each scholarship winner received a check for $5000 toward their pursuit of a degree in journalism at their respective university.

Following the symposium, the scholarship winners will be recognized at Staples Center during the Los Angeles Kings vs. Calgary Flames game.

The late LOS ANGELES TIMES columnist Jim Murray, a former TIME correspondent and a founder of SPORTS ILLUSTRATED who was one of only four sportswriters ever to receive the Pulitzer Prize, recognized the value and vital role of responsible journalism in society.  Since 2000, the Jim Murray Memorial Foundation has continued its namesake’s professional dedication and legacy through a national scholarship program funded by corporate and private donations – awarding nearly $400,000 in scholarships to 73 journalism students at 27 different colleges and universities across the country.
 
Each Murray Scholar receives a $5,000 award through a competition based on second- and third-year print journalism experience, student eligibility and written essays judged by nationally recognized journalists and sportswriters selected by the Foundation.  Previous Murray Scholars include ESPN.com columnist Arash Markazi and Associated Press writer Ryan Pearson.

Symposium Reception 4:30-5:30 pm - Ticket $50
Symposium 6:00-7:00 pm  - Ticket $10
Kings game tickets are available packaged with Reception and Symposium for $100.00.

For more information, tickets and press requests please contact Bill McCoy/MME PR at bill@mmepr.com or 213-631-0379.