School of Journalism & Mass Communication Spring Symposium coming 27 March 2008 in Old Main 320

10:30 a.m.
Gary A. “Rusty” Fleming Jr.
Renavatio Productions
 
For over three years documentary filmmaker Gary A. “Rusty” Fleming Jr. has been traveling along the U.S.-Mexican border, investigating the drug cartels. In his most recent documentary film, “Drug Wars: The Columbianization of Mexico,” he exposes the real truth behind the headlines. From the viewpoint of the players and the victims; this situation gets exposed in graphic detail with never before seen footage of the most powerful terrorists on earth.  
 
In his own words he describes this enlightening experience, full of horrifying revelations and life- changing consequences. From Brownsville to San Diego, Matamoras to Tijuana, Washington, D.C., to Mexico City, where he worked with top law enforcement people from the whole alphabet of three-lettered agencies on both sides of the border. Exclusive interviews with some of the “big dogs” in the narco- trafficking food chain reveal what the narco lifestyle is really like in this tell-all investigation of the Mexican drug cartels.
 
His film shows how the Para-Military groups are on the rampage virtually operating unabated. Kidnappings are taking place at an unprecedented level and last year alone they killed over 2000 men, women and children. The groups post videos on the internet of torture and executions to generate fear for anyone who opposes them. They’ve assassinated journalists, lawyers, policeman and judges; and recently have taken up the practice of beheading many of their victims. No, this isn’t Iraq or the Middle East and it’s not somewhere in South America. These under-reported events are taking place in cities all across the U.S. and Mexican border.  
 
1:30 p.m.
Lisa Krantz
San Antonio Express-News
 
Lisa Krantz is a multiple-award winning staff photographer at the San Antonio Express-News in San Antonio, Texas. She joined the staff in March 2004 after spending five years as a staff photographer at the Naples Daily News in Naples, Florida. She attended Florida State University where she received a degree in psychology and earned her graduate degree in photography from Syracuse University. She interned at The Post-Standard (Syracuse, New York), The Albuquerque Journal and The Indianapolis Star.  
 
“I struggle every time I try to write about myself. I don’t like to focus on myself. I guess that’s why I have chosen to document the lives of others, to tell the stories of their best and worst moments and everything between. When I realized I love making pictures more than anything else, I felt it was too selfish because it was what I loved to do. How could I help anyone with photography? When I discovered photojournalism I found my answer. I found a way to educate and hopefully open readers eyes to a world in ways they may not have seen it before. My desire above all is to tell stories which would otherwise not be told. I strive everyday to uphold the legacy female photojournalists have built as compassionate and intimate storytellers.” - Lisa Krantz

Lights……Camera……History