PRACTICAL VIEW : Talking Up the Pacific Rim

Tiger, tiger, burning bright. How to communicate what is right?

With apologies to William Blake’s poem “The Tiger,” this line could describe a conference Thursday and Friday at the USC School of Journalism: How U.S. business executives can effectively communicate with their counterparts in Pacific Rim countries.

Plainly speaking, if we’re going to trade together, we’d better know how to talk to each other.

So, “Talking With Tigers” will bring together American and Asian representatives--public relations specialists, business management scholars and government officials--to speak about business communications with Japan, Taiwan, China, Korea and Assn. of Southeast Asian Nations members.

Just back from an Asian tour, Harold Burson, founder and chairman of Burson-Marsteller, the world’s largest PR firm, will discuss facts and fallacies in the U.S. perception of business cultures among Pacific Rim countries on Thursday night.

Several panel discussions will be featured on Friday, and luncheon speaker Kirk Stewart, president and chief executive officer of Manning, Selvage & Lee, will reveal results of his firm’s recent research on beliefs and patterns of Asian business executives stationed in the United States.

The conference price is $110; you may attend the Smith lecture for $35 or the Friday sessions (including lunch) for $85. Students may go to all sessions for $50. For more information, contact the USC School of Journalism, (213) 740-3914.