Thirteen foreign journalists are in Utah this week to learn more about Utah's economy from the Economic Development Corp. of Utah with the hope they will write favorable articles.
The tour is organized by the United States Information Agency's Foreign Press Center and is part of an ongoing program to acquaint foreign journalists with issues and regions worthy of note in the United States, said Michael Lawson, EDCU president.EDCU has arranged briefings, interviews and site visits for the group, focusing on the state's economy, the high tech and bio-technology industries and the 2002 Winter Olympics.
Lawson said one of EDCU's goals is to enhance Utah's image, and placement of positive articles is one way to achieve that goal. In addition to Salt Lake activities, the group will visit state and national parks near Moab and the prehistoric museum in Price.
Participating in the press tour will be Christian Billman, French Radio Internationale; Giuseppe Buschemi, L'Indipendente; Hans DeBruyn, Netherlands Press Association; Jerome Godard-Godefroy, RTL French Radio; Tana Lucka, Euro Magazine; Giovanni Padula, Mondo Economico; Lennart Pehrson, Sydsvenska Dagblabet.
Others are Peter Rzeznitzeck, Rheinische Post; Patrick Sabatier, Liberation; Maria Sanz, AFP; Peter Schibli, Basler Zeitung; and Hubert Ummelen, United Dutch Newspapers.