Unity conference in Chicago

While Comic-Con is going on in San Diego, there is a more important convention going on right here in Chicago which features journalists of color.

Titled UNITY: Journalists of Color , the gathering takes place at McCormick Place West and seeks dialogue and the exchange of ideas among minority reporters. The convention kicked off Wednesday and continues until Sunday, when Presidential candidate Barack Obama is scheduled to address the conference.

Participating organizations include the National Association of Black Journalists, the Native American Journalists Association, the Asian Americans Journalists Association, and the National Association of Hispanic Journalists.

One of the panels taking place today is Jeremiah Wright and Jena: Who reported it and who got it right? Featured on the panel include St. Petersburg Times TV Critic Eric Deggans, nationally syndicated radio personality (and former WGCI jock) Tom Joyner, and Rev. Michael Pflager of St. Sabina Catholic Church. NPR's All Things Considered host Michele Norris moderates.

This should be quite interesting, given how the media has reran clips of Rev. Jeremiah Wright's 9/11 speech repeatedly (wonder if they'll talk about ESPN rerunning White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen's rants over and over and the constant disrespect he gets from some members of the local media. Seriously.)

Deggans also recorded a special edition of NPR's Tell Me More at Navy Pier, talking about whether or not the fight at a WNBA game in suburban Detroit should be called a catfight, among other things (has he ever seen America's Next Top Model or Jerry Springer? )