The 1997 NashCAR conference will:

Give journalists hands-on training so that they'll take home specific skills that can be immediately put to work and shared with fellow journalists.

Offer specific training for general-assignment, beat, and projects reporters and broadcasters. We will cover skill levels from students looking toward a journalism career to some of the most distinguished members of our industry.

Break out specific sessions for broadcast and print journalists to help meet specialized needs of both.

Address the concerns of access to information of federal, state and local entities, and the trend of restricting availability of electronic records through direct and indirect means, such as prohibitive costs.

Explore ways to prevent repetitive stress injuries in a work atmosphere that will continue to become more computer-intensive.

Reach out to groups of journalists who previously have not had access to this type of training, focusing specifically on smaller-market and minority journalists.

Provide an opportunity for students to interact with working journalists, as well as bring together the professors who will train the next generation of reporters with those who are now top in the industry.

For the first time, include a job fair where print and broadcast outlets looking for journalists with computer-assisted reporting skills can meet with some of the best in the business.