Convergence Conference Begins

Fall has definitely arrived in Provo and so have more than 30 journalism educators in town for the Fourth Annual Convergence Conference.

Coats and jackets were the most appropriate attire as we headed to the University's Conference Center for a half-day Podcasting Pre-Conference.

The morning temperatures here were in the 40s. But, by mid-day everything warmed up. In the fact, it was warm enough for air conditioners by this afternoon.

BYU Professor Quint Randle, who has attended all three previous conferences at the University of South Carolina is serving as host this year. At the right, you see Quint giving us our marching orders for the day.

A small, but growing community of convergence movers and shakers has temporarily shifted its annual gathering place from Columbia, South Carolina to Provo, Utah.

This is the fourth year for the Convergence Conference, which began in 2002 as the Newsplex at the University of South Carolina opened.

Each fall academic researchers have gathered to share various convergence-related projects on which they’re working while engaging in the ongoing debate about definitions of convergence and what it means for journalism and mass communication programs.

Most of today’s presentations focused on teaching strategies and struggles to keep ahead of the technology as we prepare tomorrow’s journalists and mass communicators.