Newspaper publishers from across the country yesterday attended the first ever "Day at Harvard" as part of this year's Newspaper Association of America's (NAA) annual convention.

Sponsored by the Nieman Foundation, the event drew more than 800 participants who attended lectures by University faculty and administration, including Harvard President Neil L. Rudenstine and Radcliffe President Linda S. Wilson.

"It's been a good exchange of new ideas," said David B. Martens, vice president and chief operating officer of Buckner News Alliance. "Rosabeth Moss Kanter's [professor of business administration] lecture was a good way to learn how to cope with change."

Other publishers also said they enjoyed listening to Harvard faculty tackle issues facing newspapers today. Lecturers addressed such topics as Black-Jewish relations, the economy and health care reform.

Alan M. Dershowitz, professor of law, spoke on journalistic ethics and the First Amendment.

Saying his speech was a chance to "complain about the complainers," Dershowitz suggested structured ethics rules, a court of corrections and peer discipline as ways to improve the profession.

Two student a capella groups, the Krockodiloes and the Radcliffe Pitches, performed for the guests during a luncheon at Memorial Hall