The Associated Press is bringing breaking news to Eastern.

“This exhibit has the potential to reach out to everyone on this campus,” said Carl Lorber, director of reference service.

Beginning today, the traveling exhibit, Breaking News, will be on display in the Booth Library through Friday, Feb. 29.

The traveling exhibit, produced by the Associated Press based on the book, “Breaking News: How the Associated Press has Covered War, Peace, and Everything Else,” is hosted by the Booth Library along with the journalism department.

Lorber said he thinks this program should be taken advantage of by everyone on campus.

“News impacts everyone,” Lorber said. “It can have an impact on everyone’s life.”

Pulitzer Prize winning images based on war, sports, civil rights and other subject matters will be on display in Booth Library.

Sally Turner, assistant journalism professor, said the exhibit should appeal to everyone.

“If you care anything about history these photos will show documentation of our past,”

she said.

Along with the exhibit, students and faculty members will moderate various panels.

Subjects such as race, photography and the process of putting together a newspaper will be discussed.

Eugenia Jefferson, junior journalism major, said she is honored to be a part of one of the panels.

Jefferson, along with Turner and Gene Deerman, assistant sociology professor, will discuss the news coverage on the murder of Emmet Till.

Jefferson said it is important for students to come out to these panels.

“You get to see how things are put in the paper and why,” Jefferson said.

The idea for the exhibit to come to Eastern started out with a trip to Washington D.C.

Lorber went to a conference in Washington where various panels based on the book “Breaking News” were being held.

He also received a letter with contact information from the Associated Press and came up with the idea to bring their national traveling exhibit to Eastern.

“It all started sometime in May or June,” said Lorber.

Lorber decided the exhibit will receive a good turnout if brought in February.

“This would give the journalism department, students, and faculty enough time to get things in order.”

Turner became involved in the process of setting up panels, along with bringing guest speakers such as Garry Moore.

“I though [Moore] was wonderful,” said Turner.

Turner said journalism is vital on campus.

“Anyone interested in this field of study should go to these panels,” she said.

Also alumni, Chris Sundheim, a national editor, a Chicago reporter and a bureau chief for the Associated Press in New York will speak to students on how the Associated Press covers the world.

He will be in attendance on campus to visit journalism classes and speak to students on working for world’s largest news organization, the Associated Press.

Turner is excited about Sundheim’s arrival to Eastern.

“You get to find out what it’s like to be him on a day-to-day basis,” she said.

Lorber said bringing alumni is great for the journalism department as well as for the students.

“They get to hear from reporters who are doing it and a variety of other people from different areas,” Lorber said. “It provides layers of experience.”

Lorber said he has had a positive experience with the event.

“People from the Associated Press were very pleasant to work with,” he said.

While putting the program together, Lorber has put literature together for the Breaking News event.

Information such as the times and dates of the various panels, brief biographies of the speakers and other information will be included in a booklet.

Lorber said by putting the book together, he understands what journalists go through.

“I have developed an appreciation of news writing,” said Lorber. “Making sure all the information is correct, and gathering information about others takes a lot of effort.

Lorber said overall he hopes the turnout for the event is a success.

“All students, just not journalism majors should take this experience to their advantage,” he said.

Jessica Leggin can be reached at 581-7942 or jmleggin@eiu.edu.