Colorado Press WomenWorkshops: Journalism, PR & Freelance/Authors
Journalism Track
Journalists got their fill at a number of captivating workshops. There are plenty of reasons to revisit the issue of ethics, given the number of recent violations, said panelist Fred Brown, at a jam-packed ethics session. Another presentation taught reporters some new vocabulary: convergence. Instead of a story belonging to one format or medium, the news is morphing to include several media from one source at the same time.
Women interested in climbing the corporate ladder got a chance to hear from several successful managers at another workshop. The tips these newsroom leaders shared would help any journalist do better at her job. Two other panels explored constitutional questions. Though one focused on the First Amendment and the other on the right to privacy, both examined the idea of a shield law for reporters wanting to keep sources confidential. In addition, women sports journalists discussed the effects of Title IX on their profession and the state of sports coverage today.
Public Relations Track
On the public relations track, NFPW members learned that regardless of the size of the special event, going the extra mile would mean a better chance of getting publicity. A workshop on the growing Hispanic market delved into not only demographics, but also the nitty-gritty on how to reach this audience. Four successful public relations practitioners and entrepreneurs described how they found their niches and created their dream jobs by establishing their own firms. In another workshop, public relations specialists explained how today's advanced technologies have made it easier for companies to reach the global public relations market.
Freelance/Authors Track
Aspiring authors took advantage of several expert sessions. Publishers and published writers shared tips on getting from proposal to print. They posed numerous important questions for novices to answer to get them on the right road. In another enlivening presentation, Elyse Singleton gave writers 10 ways of weaving humor into a story. Low pay, high fun was the message from three travel writers. They suggested preparing two stories - one for print and one for the Internet. Finally, conference attendees heard from two prolific mystery novelists, who explained they have different creative processes.
Cross Track
Several sessions appealed to a cross-section of NFPW members. At his digital photography workshop, Rick Giase recommended what to look for in a camera and spelled out different kinds of batteries. In "Portrait of a Muslim Cowgirl," author and lawyer Asma Hasan said the truth is more fascinating than preconceived ideas. She wants to motivate journalists to dig deeper when covering issues involving Muslims. Another panel discussed what it was like to face a crisis. They talked about responding in the short-term and long-term, and how it affected them personally.