| Can African-American newspapers survive the Internet? Will black consumers gain from the sale of BET and Essence magazine to white corporations? In an era of racial integration, is the black press still necessary? These and other questions will be the focus of a panel discussion, sponsored by the Department of Human Communication Studies at Howard University. Several member publishers of the National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA) and Howard scholars will discuss the impact of desegregation, new technologies, and economic changes on the publication and distribution of Black newspapers. After presentations by the panelists, there will be a question-and-answer session, followed by a reception. The symposium takes place in the Forum Room of the Blackburn Student Center Wednesday, March 14th, 4 p.m.-5 p.m. It is free and open to the public. For more information on this event, contact Prof. Carl P. Burrowes at CPBurrowes@aol.com or (202) 806-4019/6711. The symposium appropriately takes place during Black Press Week, an annual event sponsored by NNPA. It culminates with the National Newsmaker of the Year Awards Dinner. This year's honoree is Rev. Jesse L. Jackson, Sr. who has consistently made headlines for his political activism. Much has been reported about Jackson's campaign to get people out to vote and then to have those votes count, as well as his economic push to provide greater access to the world of business. More recently there has been much coverage of his admitted affair with Rainbow/Push Coalition worker Professor Karin Stanford, which resulted in the birth of a daughter. Revelations of the affair has led to further allegations about misappropriation of his organization's funds. No doubt the award is in recognition of productive and proactive works on behalf of the community. For information about the National Newsmaker of the Year Awards Dinner call 202-588-8764. For more discussion about Rev. Jesse Jackson, Sr. read William Reed's commentary in the Business Exchange. | 
