Journalists from Muslim world, local leaders
to focus on bridging divides

CSULA hosts panel to address
racial, religious, economic issues March 30

Los Angeles, CA  -- To explore the relationships between Asian countries with large Muslim populations and the United States since Sept. 11, 2002, Cal State L.A., through its Communications Studies program, will present a wide-ranging panel of experts discussing “Racial, Religious and Economic Divides in the U.S.” Monday, March 30, at 3:30 p.m., in the University-Student Union, Los Angeles Room, on the CSULA campus.

The discussion will bring together six noted Asian journalists who work in predominantly Muslim countries and three local southern California civic leaders. It is also supported by the Honolulu-based East-West Center and Cal State L.A.’s CoolStateRadio student group.

According to Jon Beaupre, event moderator and professor of Communication Studies at Cal State L.A., “The panelists will tackle issues, such as the possibility of international race relations improving during the Obama administration, the role of politics in the pulpit, and how the economic crisis affects Muslim American civic relations.”
 
The following Asian journalists are on the panel:
* Art Bonjoc Jr., area news manager, ABS-CBN Broadcasting Corporation, Cagayan de Oro City, Philippines
* Syed Shujaat Bukhari, bureau chief, The Hindu, Sringagar, India
* Muhammad Ibrahim Khan, senior staff reporter, News Network International, Peshawar, Pakistan
* Purwani Diyah Prabandari, bureau chief for Central Java and Yogyakarta, Tempo International Media, Yogyakarta, Indonesia
* Saini Bin Salleh, assistant editor, Berita Harian, Singapore
* Reza Zandi, member, Iranian Journalists Association, Tehran, Iran
 
The following civic leaders from Los Angeles are scheduled to participate:
* Leon Jenkins, president of the L.A. chapter of the NAACP
* Sara Sadhwani of the Asian Pacific American Legal Center Southern California
* Salam Al-Marayati, executive director of Muslim Public Affairs Council
  
The public and members of local journalism organizations are invited to attend. A reception will follow the discussion. 
   
For directions and parking, go to www.calstatela.edu/univ/maps/cslamap.php. Reservations are not required, but are encouraged to assist in planning. Reservations may be made by contacting journalistguests@yahoo.com. For more information, contact Beaupre at (323) 223-6287 or jbeaupr@calstatela.edu.