The Dart Center has announced plans for a conference to explore lessons learned for journalists in the aftermath of the South Asian tsunami, and identify the next steps in covering the social, political and economic fallout of the disaster.

The conference is being planned for April 15, to be held at the University of Washington in Seattle. Print and broadcast journalists from around the world will join experts on South Asia, earthquake and tsunami science, humanitarian relief and mental-health in exploring lessons learned from the tsunami coverage, how journalists reacted personally to the devastation, natural disaster risks at home, and how best to cover the ongoing story of rebuilding damaged communities.

The daylong conference will be capped by a public program and the presentation of the annual $10,000 Dart Award for Excellence in Reporting on Victims of Violence.

For more information, contact Roger Simpson, director of the Dart Center, at 206-543-0405 or, via e-mail, at roger.simpson@dartcenter.org