Contact:   Elissa Ruffino (NIAF) 202/939-3106 or elissa@niaf.org

(WASHINGTON, D.C. – June 7, 2006) Twenty-five Italian-American communications students from across the United States will gather in New York City to participate in the Graduates to Leaders (G2L) workshop in communications sponsored by the National Italian American Foundation (NIAF).

The two-day lecture and discussion series will provide students with an “insider’s” view of the communications /journalism field through interaction with today’s most prominent and influential media personalities. Program seminars will also serve as networking forums, introducing participants to a professional support group of Italian Americans in communications.

From June 18 through June 20, participants of the all-expense-paid NIAF program will meet with leading Italian-American leaders in the communications field including: Silvia Davi, senior managing director of corporate communications for the NASDAQ Marketsite; Charles Gasparino, on-air editor for CNBC; Ron Insana, commentator for CNBC; Sal Marchiano, sports director for Channel 11 News;Tom Pedulla, sportswriter for USA Today; and Linda Stasi, columnist for the New York Post. The program will also include visits to RAI International, NASDAQ headquarters, and a tour of the New York Post’s offices.

Seminar topics will include ethics in reporting; freelancing opportunities; the changing face of cable television; future trends in Internet business; strategies for climbing to the top; editing; news anchoring; and financial reporting in different markets. For more information, contact: Brock Olivo at bolivo@niaf.org or 202/939-3107.