Bowling Green, Ky. - Journalist Dave Meltzer, largely considered the leading international expert on professional wrestling and mixed martial arts, will speak at Western Kentucky University at 7 p.m. Thursday, March 17, in the Mass Media and Technology Hall Auditorium.

Meltzer, who began his acclaimed "Wrestling Observer" newsletter in 1982, is considered the pioneer reporter of the pro wrestling world.

His "Wrestling Observer," a weekly subscription-only publication without advertising, covers the on-screen and behind-the-scenes news of pro wrestling companies in America, Mexico, Japan, Puerto Rico, Canada, and Europe, as well as mixed martial arts both in Japan and America.

Meltzer, a graduate of San Jose State University and a former reporter for the Oakland Tribune, will discuss the somewhat unusual way he has plied his trade as a journalist, becoming the foremost expert in the field of pro wrestling.

He will also give those in attendance the opportunity to ask questions regarding his journalistic work and the world of pro wrestling and mixed martial arts.

Meltzer reviews programming from all the major international wrestling organizations, including World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE), and covers both backstage news regarding the companies and the financial aspects of the wrestling business. He also features extensive history pieces on various issues in pro wrestling in his weekly publication.

He also manages one of the most visited Web sites on pro wrestling, the Internet version of the "Wrestling Observer," which posts daily updates on major wrestling news. The Web site is located at http://www.liveaudiowrestling.com/wo.

In addition to his "Wrestling Observer" newsletter, Meltzer is the author of two books on pro wrestling: "Tributes" and "Tributes II." Both are collections of features on deceased wrestlers based on pieces written for the "Observer."

Meltzer is also co-host of a nationally broadcast live radio talk show every Sunday night for Sports Byline that covers pro wrestling.

Because of his expertise on the wrestling industry, Meltzer has been used as an expert source by many other journalists. He has been quoted in almost every major daily newspaper, including The New York Times, The Los Angeles Times and USA Today. He has also been a source for magazine stories from TV Guide to Newsweek to Rolling Stone.

He has had stories written on him in Sports Illustrated and Brill's Content.

Meltzer has appeared in news stories on pro wrestling for NBC, ABC, CBS and CNN. He has been a guest on "The Phil Donahue Show" and has been used as a source on magazine shows such as "Hard Copy," "A Current Affair" and "Entertainment Tonight."

He has also been a source for documentaries from "Hitman Hart: Wrestling with Shadows"and "Beyond the Mat" to several features appearing on A&E, including "The Unreal Story of Professional Wrestling" and several editions of "Biography." He has also appeared in features on wrestling on Court TV and The Discovery Channel.

Meltzer has made several other appearances for his expertise, including a recent trip to Stanford University to discuss the demise of WWE's ill-fated XFL football league.

More WKU news is available at www.wku.edu. If you'd like to receive WKU news via e-mail, send a message to WKUNews@wku.edu.

For information, contact Sam Ford at (270) 779-3903 or the School of Journalism and Broadcasting at (270) 745-5836