Different Faces: How the media covers race and diversity.

That's the title of an upcoming program sponsored by the East Tennesseee Pro Chapter, scheduled to start at 7 p.m. Feb. 26 at the Cansler Family Branch, YMCA, 616 Jessmine St. in Knoxville.

A distinguished panel will help discuss issues like: Are stories covered differently when they involve minorities? Are issues of importance to minority and other diverse groups given appropriate coverage in the media? When is it helpful, and when it is harmful, to mention identifying characteristics like race in a news story?

Confirmed speakers include:

• Saadia Williams: Former executive director of the Race Relations Center of East Tennessee
• Rev. Harold Middlebrook: Pastor of Canaan Baptist Church of Christ in East Knoxville, a friend of the late Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and longtime civil rights activist
• Loida Valesquez: with the UT College of Education, Health, and Human Sciences, and active in the Hispanic/Latino community

The discussion is free and open to the public.

For more programs coming up this spring and summer, please see the chapter's Web site at www.etspj.org.