The School of Journalism and Electronic Media hosts its annual Convergence Week festivities on Thursday and Friday featuring a panel discussion with industry professionals, a dinner, and guest speaker Bob Benz, formerly of Scripps Interactive.

University of Tennessee journalism professor Jim Stovall says Convergence Week places an emphasis on, "web journalism education, what we're doing with it, and where we're going with it." 

The week kicks off on Thursday in the Black Cultural Center with a panel discussion about getting a job in online media.  Professionals from Scripps Networks and WBIR along with virtual teaching adjuncts Staci Wolfe and Peggy Collins answer any questions students have about jobs in online media.  The University Center houses the journalism dinner with guest speaker Bob Benz later Thursday evening.  Finally, the Tennessee Journalist staff and special guests will have pizza Friday in the Communications building.  

Virtual adjuncts Peggy Collins of msn.com and Staci Wolfe of LucasArts will be in Knoxville to meet with students in-person instead of on-screen.  This will give the students a chance to meet face-to-face with their virtual teachers and get some personal advice about everything from schoolwork to career paths.

Stovall stresses that convergence is one of the most important aspects of journalism, "I think, and many other people think, this is where journalism is headed.  This is where lots of people are being hired, where there is lots of need for people who come out of programs, like ours, well-trained and understanding some of the basics."

Convergence Week is all about the students, says Stovall, "I sit back and watch, a lot, because our students have really taken this over and have done a major part of the planning, and lots of things."  The Tennessee Journalist staff did much of the planning for the event including scheduling speakers, planning the dinner, and other crucial tasks.

Bob Benz, formerly of Scripps Interactive, highlights the event at the dinner on Thursday night.  Benz will speak to the journalism students about online media.  Stovall says he is looking forward to it, "I'm looking forward to it all, and certainly...the speech on Thursday evening, I think will be very enlightening.  Bob is a good guy and he has some exceptionally deep experience in online journalism."

The guest panel event is Thursday at 1:30 pm in the Black Cultural Center and is open to the public.  The dinner is at 6:00 pm in the University Center Ball Room.  For more information visit the Convergence Week website or the main College of Communication and Information website.