Multi-Media Editor to Address Local PRSA Group

Seth Gitner to Speak at October Luncheon

September 28, 2006 (ROANOKE, VA) — Technology is constantly evolving – just ask the Multimedia Editor at the Roanoke Times/roanoke.com whose job is to develop and keep track of new ways to communicate with today’s online readers. Join us on Thursday, October 12th, as Seth M. Gitner demonstrates to area communications and public affairs professionals the latest ways to communicate with an audience using technology. The noon luncheon at the Hotel Roanoke is organized by the Blue Ridge Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America (BRC-PRSA) and is sponsored by The Roanoke Times.

The digital media staff at roanoke.com has won national recognition for their journalistic work in the multimedia world. Articles in The Roanoke Times about Iraq war veterans, a young cancer survivor and Appalachian music in Southwest Virginia are just a few examples of stories that come alive with sound, video, still photos, timelines, maps, and other educational features through multimedia. Gitner has been Multimedia Editor for The Roanoke Times/roanoke.com since January 2005. Before entering the online news side of journalism, he was a still photojournalist for ten years. He has taught multimedia storytelling at the Poynter Institute's Visual Edge Workshop, North Carolina Photojournalism Workshop, and Truth with a Camera workshop.

A past president of the Virginia News Photographers Association, Gitner currently serves on the Board of Directors of the National Press Photographers Association (NPPA) as a Chapter Board Representative. He also serves as chair of the NPPA’s newly established multimedia committee. Both his multimedia and photography have been recognized in contests sponsored by the NPPA. In all, the roanoke.com digital media team has earned numerous accolades including a 'Best Internet Site under 1 million users' by Editor and Publisher magazine, the 2006 NAA Most Innovative Storytelling Award, the 2005 Scripps Howard Award for Web Reporting, and many other notable honors.

PRSA is the world's largest association of public relations professionals. The society’s members represent business and industry, counseling firms, government, associations, hospitals, schools, professional service firms and nonprofit organizations. The purpose of PRSA is to unite professionals, set industry standards and a Code of Ethics for performance, and to increase public recognition of the public relations profession. The Blue Ridge Chapter serves members in western Virginia.

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