FIU Professor Appointed Member of
Argentina's National Academy of Journalism


MIAMI, Fla. (Feb. 2, 2001)-Florida International University Associate Professor of Journalism Mario Diament has been appointed a member of the National Academy of Journalism, Argentina's most prestigious professional body.

"We were thrilled when Mario joined our faculty because of his reputation as one of Latin America's best journalists. His induction into the Academy confirms just how fortunate we are that he teamed up with FIU," said J. Arthur Heise, dean of the FIU School of Journalism and Mass Communication.

The Academy was created in 1988 and is composed of 40 permanent members who are appointed for life. It stands for excellence and ethics in journalism, promotes research into the history of Argentine journalism, publishes books and magazines and presents awards. Diament, 58, is the first appointed member living outside Argentina.

Diament is coordinator of FIU's Spanish-Language Master's Program in Journalism at FIU-Biscayne Bay. He has written columns for El Nuevo Herald and the Spanish magazine Uno. Diament has served as editor for Argentine publications such as El Cronista, Expresso in Buenos Aires and La Opinión.

A man of many talents, Diament is also an award-winning playwright. His latest play, "The Book of Ruth," recently produced by the New Theatre in Coral Gables, won the Streisand Festival in San Diego and was nominated for a Carbonell Award by the South Florida Critics Circle.

For further information concerning FIU's Spanish-language Journalism Program, call 305-919-5625 or visit www.fiu.edu/~journal/.
FIU-Biscayne Bay houses the School of Journalism and Mass Communication, dedicated to educating students in the skills needed to become effective communicators.

Media contacts: Todd Martinez-Padilla Simmons (305) 348-2716 or 2232 David Umansky (202) 357-2627, ext. 106.