Media to Explore Junkets, Hype & The Hollywood Quote Machine
by Jonathan Evans

HOLLYWOOD -- Two leading regional media organizations will explore ethics in
entertainment journalism this Thur. Feb. 28 at 5:30 p.m.
The Greater Los Angeles Chapter of The Society of Professional Journalists and the Los Angeles Press Club have put together a panel to explore questions such as: "In an age where journalists are wined and dined on all-expenses-paid junkets for movie premieres, why should consumers have any faith in the quality of their reviews?" This panel will feature Hollywood publicists, journalists and an attorney whose anti-junket lawsuit has forced a re-examination of the issue. The panel will also take a broader look at how movies are marketed in a world of competitive pressures among media, controlling PR agencies and demanding stars.

The panel includes:
- Moderator Alex Ben Block - Editor-in-chief, Hollywood Star News; executive
director, L.A. Press Club; former editor, The Hollywood Reporter; and participant in many Hollywood junkets
- Anita M. Busch - Journalist, National Public Radio commentator; former editor, The Hollywood Reporter; and film editor, Daily Variety
- Andrew Hindes - Former film editor, Daily Variety; Ifilm; and Inside.com
- Hal Lieberman - Producer, currently making "Terminator 3: The Rise of the Machines." Former production head, Universal Studios
- Bruce R. Feldman - Movie marketing consultant. Former head of PR at Universal Pictures and Polygram
- Suzanne Fritz - Entertainment publicist, former head of PR and marketing for Centropolis Entertainment
- Anthony E. Sonnett - Attorney whose lawsuit against studios and journalists charges the public is defrauded by reviews resulting from studio-financed junkets

You need not be a member of either organization to attend, and the
admission price includes a buffet dinner. The cost is $15 for LAPC and SPJ members,
$25 for non-members. If you would like to attend, call 323-259-3350 by Feb. 24. A limited
number of seats will be available at the door. The event will be held at the L.A. Press
Club building, 6363 Sunset Blvd., Suite 530, Hollywood (across from the Cinerama
Dome & near CNN). Enter building parking on Ivar Avenue. ($4) For further information please contact Media, Tom Clanin of the SPJ, 714-278-5305, tclanin@fullerton.edu, or Alex Ben Block of the Press Club,
(323) 469-8180 or (818) 642-1727 or alex@lapressclub.org
For more information on these organizations, visit their websites at
http://www.lapressclub.org, or http://www.spj.org/losangeles

About the Author
If you're in the greater Los Angeles area and would like me to come in and show your newsroom how to access these and other resources to help tell better stories, please pop me a note at jonathan_evans@prnewswire.com or call 213-244-9053. If outside of Los Angeles, still pop me a note and we can see what can be arranged.