Twenty-five journalists from across the country are expected to attend a McCormick Foundation Specialized Reporting Institute on Chicago’s 2016 Summer Olympic bid at DePaul University in Chicago Sept. 13 to 15.

Speakers at the event include Lori Healey, president of the Chicago 2016 Committee; Richard Pound, a voting member of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) that will choose the host city; and Charlie Huebner, executive director of the U.S. Paralympic Association. The event is being hosted by DePaul’s College of Communication with the support of a McCormick Foundation grant.

Participants will get an in-depth look at the city’s bid to host the 2016 Summer Olympics, formulate story ideas and connect with sources and networking opportunities. Among the topics that will be addressed are the economics of the games; technology and how the games will be covered by media in 2016; neighborhood impact of the games; and the Paralympics.

Led by Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley, the two-year effort to host the 2016 Summer Olympics will culminate Oct. 2 with the announcement of the host site by the IOC. Other finalist cities are Madrid, Rio de Janeiro and Tokyo.

“Journalists working in all platforms, especially those interested in developing Chicago story ideas, resources, expertise and networking of value before and after the IOC announcement about the 2016 Summer Games will benefit from attending the institute,” said Mike Conklin, event coordinator and DePaul journalism faculty member.

The institute is a valuable, résumé-building opportunity to gain in-depth knowledge of a world-class city and its convergence with the world’s premier sports event. All serious-minded journalists, freelance or representing any media organization, will be considered for the 25 McCormick Fellowship slots.

So far 15 journalists have committed to attend the institute, representing USA Today, Associated Press, Reuters, Financial Times, WLS-TV (Ch. 7), Chicago magazine and Chicago Public Radio.

To apply for the fellowship, applicants should compose a 200- to 300-word statement about how the institute will benefit them, their readers or audience, and their communities and e-mail it to McCormickSRI@depaul.edu or fax it to 312-362-8620. The deadline for applications is Aug. 21. The institute is free for the 25 applicants chosen to attend; in some cases, travel and lodging expenses will be covered for out-of-state participants. For more information, please visit http://communication.depaul.edu/Notifications/Events/McCormick.html or call Conklin at 312-362-7645.

DePaul’s College of Communication is the fourth-largest provider of bachelor’s degrees in communication in Illinois and second in the Chicago area. It is the second largest provider of master’s degrees in communication in the state. It offers undergraduate programs in communication studies; journalism; media and cinema studies; public relations and advertising; and communication and media. Graduate programs include journalism; public relations and advertising; media, cinema and society; and organizational and multicultural communication.