French's keynote address will focus on writing narrative on deadline. Details of the one-day workshop shall be finalised and publicised soon.
Conference host Paula Fray says, "It is exciting that the conference, now in its third year, continues to attract the best narrative journalists in the world. French is not only a multi-award-winning writer, he is also an accomplished teacher of his craft. We look forward to having him. His contribution will no doubt inspire and enrich every journalist, student and editor who attends the conference."
"Participants again this year have the opportunity to share with and learn from the best in the world. French consistently produces superb narrative on deadline. I have no doubt that participants will find this exciting and enriching," says Anton Harber, Caxton Professor of Journalism and Media Studies and Wits Journalism programme director.
French, who won the coveted Pulitzer Prize for Feature Writing in 1998, has been writing for the St Petersburg Times in Florida, US, since 1981. His work has been acknowledged through many awards. His Angels and Demons series, which won the Pulitzer, tells the story of the murders of three Ohio women and the three-year search for their killers. The series also won the Society of Professional Journalists' national award for Best Feature Reporting.
Other speakers at the 2007 conference include award-winning radio journalist Joe Richman, respected writer and journalism teacher Ndaeyo Uko, creative director and executive editor of The Star Dave Hazelhurst and Nieman Fellow Kim Cloete.
The Narrative Journalism Conference is co-hosted by the Wits Journalism Programme and the Nieman Foundation. The conference, organised by Paula Fray & Associates, takes place at Hackle Brooke Estate in Johannesburg on 26 and 27 March 2007. French's day-long workshop will take place on 28 March. Space is limited.
To register for the conference and the day-long workshop, contact Debby Kramer at Tel +27 (0)11 341 0767 or email . The day-long workshop with French is only open to those who attend the two-day conference.
