Award-winning crime reporter headlines Journalism day

By Dianna Shaw

“Stay honest and use your sources, but do not let your sources use you, because they will try,” said best-selling author Dan Moldea, offering advice to new journalists.
Come and experience the life of this investigative journalist firsthand by attending Journalism Day at San Jacinto College-Central Campus March 6.  As the keynote speaker, Moldea will be sharing his life’s work as a member of the press whose career took shape in the days following the disappearance of Teamster President Jimmy Hoffa.
Moldea says in the beginning of his career he was naive and did not believe the Mafia existed.
  “Through a series of events and research I was led to write an eight-part series, ‘The Teamsters, Their Pension Fund and the Mafia,”’ Moldea said.  
This experience propelled Moldea to probe many other cases in which the evidence indicated or proved mob involvement.
Moldea has published eight books that have been noted for their controversial issues, including topics such as the assassination of Robert F. Kennedy, the NFL & the Mafia, the disappearance of Jimmy Hoffa and the O.J. Simpson trial, to mention a few.
Moldea promises to speak about professional football and its ties to the Mafia through gambling.  
“I could explain how to exploit sports gambling and win a million dollars; the problem is you would be killed after you won,” Moldea said.
In addition to these topics Moldea has also chronicled in his book, “Dark Victory: Ronald Reagan, MCA & the Mob,” how the Music Corporation of America helped pave the way for Ronald Reagan to become president.  He also links organized crime to Reagan and the MCA through Beverly Hills attorney Sidney Korshak, who is said to be the main connection between legitimate business and underworld business.
Moldea takes the risks that come with reporting dangerous and controversial truths as just a part of the business.  Moldea has had no less than six attempts on his life.
“It is my job, I am just doing my job,” Moldea said.
Visit Moldea’s Web site, www.moldea.com, to read the first chapter of each of his books and many of his other writings.  
“We are excited to have Moldea as keynote speaker,” said Royce Walker, director of the journalism program at SJC Central.   “The most important element of Journalism Day is for students to be exposed to professionals in the business that they would not have otherwise had the chance to experience.”
“I love to deliver when I am speaking and I invite questions or challenges from the audience,” Moldea said.   
Also in attendance will be Aviva Kleiner with Fresh Films, a division of Dreaming Tree Films. This organization leads the nation in teen filmmaking competitions.  They bring the art and science of filmmaking to all teens who demonstrate the drive, resolve and ambition to make their dreams come true.
“Filmmaking is such a hot topic with students and with advancement in technology everyone is their own filmmaker,” Walker said.  “And with the convergence of the media, new journalists need to understand how to make films.  Fresh Films offers students important opportunities.”  
Annually, Fresh Films travel to nine U.S. cities to engage and train students ages 14-19 by giving them opportunities to work with professional equipment as well as seasoned veterans of film.
 These camps last a week and the participants craft a seven to 10 minute original film during this time.  Their films are then submitted for competition against the other camps.  Winning films are shown at the American Film Institute’s AFI Fest.
“We will be screening winning videos from the 2008 Fresh Films competition,” Kleiner said.  “I will also be talking about upcoming opportunities to get involved in new competitions.  I am always looking for fresh marketing talent.  So I would encourage any of these budding individuals to come out; I would love to shake their hands and hear about what they are doing.”
The day will begin with a panel of local journalists discussing the difficulties of covering Hurricane Ike, thrashing out how they were able to cover evolving stories without electricity and with gas shortages hindering their abilities.  
All sessions will include question and answer sessions.  The event will be held March 6, from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at SJC Central, 8060 Spencer Highway, in the Slocomb Auditorium.  The event is open to the public; there is no charge for attendance.