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He now lectures at St. Bonaventure University's School of Journalism and Mass Communication. |
The Society of Professional Journalists, Fredonia campus chapter, will present its first Sports Journalism Conference on Saturday, April 9, in Jewett Hall on the SUNY Fredonia campus.
The conference will include speakers between 9 a.m. and noon, with the noon keynote being delivered by Paul Wieland. The topic will be, “Star Games: The Evolution of Athletes, Celebrity and Journalism.”
Wieland has a good perspective on the phenomenon. The former Buffalo Evening News and Courier Express reporter was essentially the Buffalo Sabres first public relations director (replacing someone who held the job very briefly). He worked for the Sabres for over 25 years, doing PR, coordinating their broadcasts and even spending some time in the Sabres broadcast booth himself.
Along the way, he became known as the PR guy who also served as the practice goalie for the Sabres, putting on the pads for morning shoot-arounds. He is also credited with creating the fictional Taro Tsujimoto, who was drafted in the 11th round by the Sabres in 1974, sending a horde of hockey writers into a blind panic searching for background on the previously unheard of player. His April 1 press releases are legendary in Buffalo sports circles (plastic replacing ice surfaces, anyone?).
Wieland is the author of, “Then Perreault Said to Rico: The Best Buffalo Sabres Stories Ever Told,” and will be addressing the changes as athletes have gone from well-paid suburban neighbors to off-in-the-distance millionaires.
Wieland is a lecturer in the School of Journalism and Mass Communication at St. Bonaventure University.
Other speakers during the 9 a.m. to noon sessions include Buffalo News columnist Bucky Gleason, WECK radio host and social network expert Nick Mendola, Buffalo News videographer Lauren Mariacher and Dunkirk Observer Sports Editor Craig Harvey. Other speakers are still being finalized.
The event is free for SUNY Fredonia students; a donation of $5 to the Fredonia SPJ group is suggested for non-Fredonia students.
The Fredonia SPJ campus chapter is a new group that will be seeking recognition with the national group next fall.
For more information, contact Fredonia chapter President John Matey at jmatey@fredonia.edu or adviser Elmer Ploetz at Ploetz@fredonia.edu.
