Former Agriculture Department official Shirley Sherrod, whose forced resignation after an edited video attempt to portray her as racist caught national attention, will speak before the National Association of Black Journalists on Thursday.

A notice on the NABJ website states: “The former director of rural development in Georgia is set to speak at a session titled 'Context and Consequences: A Conversation with Shirley Sherrod' at 8 a.m.”

The organizaiton also revealed that conservative blogger Andrew Breitbart, who set off the criticism against Sherrod after posting the edited video clip that appeared to show Sherrod making racist comments, was also invited to the conference. But after initially accepting the invitation, he later declined.

Kathy Times, NABJ president, said in a statement on the website that bloggers should not be considered journalists. She said that equating them as such is part of what fueled the controversy surrounding Sherrod.

“This digital age is a landmine,” Times said on the site. "[Sherrod] has come out swinging really gracefully when she could have easily become a victim of the news."

NABJ's site noted: “While it was initially unclear if Sherrod would attend the convention, space was already set aside if she decided to attend. Every year the convention reserves a session block in the event that a major news story breaks. Times says getting Sherrod to the convention was a joint effort.”

“It all really came together because [Sherrod] really wanted to be here,” she said.