Texas Center for Community Journalism at TCU and Oncor are partners in workshop on energy reporting

Fort Worth, TX

1/13/2011

The Texas Center for Community Journalism at TCU and Oncor are partnering to sponsor a workshop on reporting on energy issues for Texas community journalists.
 
The one-day workshop, “Reporting on Electrical Energy Issues:  Energy Trends, Energy Science, and Energy Regulation for Today’s Texas Readers,” will be held Feb. 17 in Austin.  The workshop will also look at how reporters can find and pursue ideas for energy-related stories about the issues most important to readers.
 
Tommy Thomason, director of the Center, said that reporters who attend will have the opportunity to ask questions of some of the state’s top energy experts.
 
“We want reporters to go back to their papers and Internet news sites with an increased understanding of the complex choices Texas is now facing,” Thomason said.  “Stories about energy regulation, sources of green energy, and the trends we’re seeing in energy exploration and delivery are really important to all Texans, and we want to help reporters get a handle on how they can make these issues come alive for their readers.”
 
Thomason said that the Center welcomed Oncor’s commitment to providing information and resources for Texas journalists.
 
Chris Schein, communications director for Oncor, said that Oncor had left the selection of speakers and the agenda up to the Center.
 
“With so many changes in journalism and the Texas electric market, we appreciate TCCJ’s willingness to host this group of reporters, let them ask their questions, and get the information they need to pursue some important stories about energy,”   Schein said.
 
Speakers for the workshop include Bruce Hight, former energy reporter for the Austin American-Statesman and now senior advisor at Public Strategies, Inc.; Terry Hadley, former TV reporter, now director of communications for the Texas Public Utilities Commission; Kate Galbraith, former energy reporter for The New York Times, now with the Texas Tribune; Catherine Cuellar, senior communications specialist at Oncor;  and Tommy Thomason and Andrew Chavez of the TCCJ staff.
 
The workshop will be offered free to Texas journalists.  It will be held at 1700 Rio Grande St. in Austin.  Registration information is available at the TCCJ website, www.tccj.tcu.edu.