Panelists for this year�s workshop include Debra Kocher, Fredricka Whitfield, Femi Oke and Dr. L.J. Thompson. Debra Kocher, vice president of CNN International, is responsible for general newsroom management. She supervises and recruits all news producers in addition to overseeing the business teams in New York, London and Hong Kong. Kocher is the executive producer of �CNN Connects,� the network's signature global panel discussion program, showcasing the world's top political and business leaders. Kocher has held several senior management positions at CNN including serving as vice president of special projects for CNNfn, CNN�s 24-hour financial network and vice president of production/editorial as well as managing editor of CNNfn. During her tenure at CNNfn, Kocher was responsible for all business news programming, including international financial programs such as �Moneyline with Lou Dobbs,� �Business Morning� and �Inside Business.� Kocher was the first person to receive a Fulbright Professional Fellowship for Financial and Economic Journalism.

Fredricka Whitfield is a CNN anchor and hosts the weekend news programs �CNN Saturday� and �CNN Sunday.� She also acts as a correspondent and reports on breaking news worldwide for the network. Whitfield worked for �The Today Show� and �NBC Nightly News,� prior to working for CNN. She has also worked as anchor or correspondent for several TV stations in Miami, Dallas, D.C, Charleston and New Haven, Conn. Whitfield has won several awards including the 1991 Groit Award, the 1988 Associated Press� Reporter of the Year Award, and the Society for Professional Journalists� Rookie of the Year Award.

Femi Oke is a host for �Inside Africa,� a CNN show that provides an inside look at Africa�s economic, social, cultural, and political trends. Oke is also an anchor and correspondent for �Global Challenges� and hosts the weekday edition of CNN�s �World Report,� the only global news bulletin that features reporting from television networks around the world. She has worked for London Weekend Television and Carlton Television in London and presented the longest running music show, �Top of the Pops� for the BBC.

Dr. L. Thompson is the senior director finance for International, Capital and Deal Analysis at CNN Worldwide. As a member of the senior operating team, Thompson works with operating and finance management to provide financial and strategic leadership for CNN�s programming and production centers in Atlanta, London, and Hong Kong along with news bureaus in 27 countries throughout Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Asia, India, and Latin America. Thompson has held management positions at some of the world's largest global companies which include Ford Motor Company, Alcoa Inc., Con Edison, Energis, and Phillip Morris.

The panelists will address a variety of issues including factors that affect the financing of news programs, especially international news; the effects of sponsorships and ratings on programming; CNN�s business model; the opportunities and challenges facing women in the news industry; and the impact of mentoring on diversity.

Dr Ugochukwu says she is excited about this year�s workshop and happy that the workshop/speaker series has successfully attained its third anniversary. �This year�s workshop features an elite panel and our students will certainly benefit from hearing of their experiences. Their presentations will spark students� interest in the news business and sustain the interest of those who are already in the journalism field. The event will also be a great opportunity for our students who want to pursue internship and career prospects at CNN.�

The workshop made possible through partial funding from the Division of Student and Diversity Affairs Diversity Incentive Grant, the vice-chancellor for academic affairs and the Center for International Studies will feature these distinguished guests for a panel entitled �Inside CNN,� an in-depth look at news programming within the CNN Network.The Center for Women Studies and Student Life are some of the other co-sponsors of the program.

For more information, contact Dr. Chioma Ugochukwu, professor of journalism, at (864) 503-5352 or [email protected].

(Images provided by University of South Carolina Upstate.)

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