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ARLINGTON, VA, Nov. 6 - UNITY: Journalists of Color, Inc. has selected the nation's capital to host the UNITY 2004 convention, which is expected to be the largest industry gathering of its kind.

"As UNITY grows in influence as an organization seeking to help diversify the newsrooms, we could not have made a better decision than to hold our next convention in Washington, D.C.," said UNITY President Nancy Baca. "We look forward to discussing the state of journalism in a city where the media plays such a vital role in shaping news coverage that is read and seen throughout the world."

UNITY 2004 will be held August 4 - 8 at the new Washington D.C. Convention Center located in the heart of the city's downtown. The Convention Center opens in March 2003.

UNITY: Journalists of Color, Inc. is a strategic alliance of journalists of color acting as a force for positive change to advance their presence, growth and leadership in the fast-changing global news industry. UNITY's programs include a mentoring initiative for aspiring and beginning journalists, media industry covenants to increase opportunities for journalists as well as public forums and special reports concerning the coverage of issues of race and diversity.

The partners of UNITY (Asian American Journalists Association, National Association of Black Journalists, National Association of Hispanic Journalists and the Native American Journalists Association) is the only coalition of its kind working across cultural lines to make a positive impact in one industry. Last year, UNITY '99 drew approximately 6,800 journalists to Seattle in July."