News & Events

WHO:

1. Acclaimed visual artist Jane Ash Poitras will give the keynote speech on Monday, Aug. 9 at 5 p.m. In her address, Experiences of an Advocate for Shamanism, Poitras will talk about her experiences incorporating mass media images to create works of art exploring a variety of religious ideas, histories and experiences. Her work will be on display at the Royal Ontario Museum in September.

2. Other notable speakers include Professor Heidi Campbell, Texas A&M University, a leading expert in the digital world of religion and Mara Einstein, a professor of media studies at Queen's College, New York, who will discuss the crisis facing the Church of Scientology. Stewart Hoover, a professor of media studies at the University of Colorado who has written extensively on media, religion and culture, will explore the challenges journalists face in covering religion stories during his presentation. Ryerson journalism professor Joyce Smith, who organized the conference, will present a paper on the way writers and directors blend news reports and fact with intangible ideas of faith.

Poitras and various panelists will be available for media interviews during the conference.

For conference details, visit: www.journalism.ryerson.ca/cmrc2010

The conference has been sponsored by Ryerson University and the Stichting Porticus Foundation, Amsterdam.

WHEN:

Monday, Aug. 9 to Friday, Aug. 13
Poitras's speech: Aug. 9, 5 p.m., Room ENG103