MIAMI (FWAA) – The Orange Bowl Committee, along with Football Writers Association of America, City of Coral Gables and the University of Miami's Latin American Studies Degree Programs, is hosting the inaugural Hispanic Media Summit and Roundtable Thursday, October 7 from 11 a.m-2 p.m. at the University of Miami's Miller Center. Tapas and drinks will be served.

"Our city is delighted to participate in such a dynamic interactive event that highlights South Florida's and the Orange Bowl's unique position in the upper echelon of college football," said Coral Gables Mayor Don Slesnick. "With the 'El Espíritu de la Comunidad' scholarship benefit, Orange Blossom Classic and the BCS Championship Game all scheduled to take place in our hometown over the next few months, we believe that this gathering is a great opportunity to broaden the perspective of an important, growing audience to the excitement of college football."

The discussion will focus on how to cover, sell and market college football to a growing Latino audience. Local and national television, radio, print and internet mediums will all be represented in the interactive, roundtable discussion.

"The Football Writers Association of America is committed to bringing the game to anyone that has an interest and there is significant interest in the Hispanic community," said FWAA Executive Director Steve Richardson, whose organization is the governing body of college football media and gives out various college football awards, including the FedEx Orange Bowl Team of the Week. "Tailoring coverage toward the Hispanic fan has long been needed. This summit will be a free-flow of ideas that will help our members provides better college football coverage in both English and Spanish."

"We are proud to be a part of bringing this kind of conversation to campus," said Dr. Rebecca Biron, UM's Director of Latin American Studies Degree Programs. "As media outlets seek to better serve Latino and Spanish-American audiences, the industry is considering the same stereotype circulation, ethnic identity and popular culture relationships, mass media viewer assumptions and Spanish-English translation issues that concern the academic community. We look forward to an intriguing dialogue about these and other related topics."

The Orange Bowl Committee is the host of this year's FedEx Orange Bowl 2005 National Championship on January 4, 2005 at Pro Player Stadium. The Committee is also hosting the Orange Blossom Classic between Florida A&M and Florida International at Orange Bowl Stadium Saturday November 27.