Reinvention Committee Completes BlogTalkRadio Job Series

By Deirdre M. Childress, VP-Print, NABJ; Entertainment Editor, The Philadelphia Inquirer

The National Association of Black Journalists’ Reinvention Committee  and the Digital Journalism Task Force on Friday hosted the last of three BlogTalkRadio shows designed to help members in different phases in their career make the adjustment if the worst happens – losing your job.

The Friday session — Laid Off, Bought Out & Scared: Managing My Life and Finances — featured past NABJ President Sidmel Estes of BreakThrough Inc. and financial adviser Lee Jenkins,  president and CEO of the Lee Jenkins Financial Group.  The session discussed what you can do now to prepare for the worst, how you adjust to life without the office and offer Budgeting 101 tips.

The other two sessions available for playback include:

• In the Thick of My Career: Searching for the ‘New Me’, was a panel led by Neil Foote of Foote Communications and the University of North Texas, showed mid-career professionals how to revamp their skills and become more tech savvy. Panelists discussed what a journalist in the digital age must do to improve their skills, offered advice on creating a blog or website, outlined how to use the most popular digital media tools and how to use the power of your network and personal relationships.
• The Young & the Restless: Keeping Hope & Journalism Alive featured Jackie Jones of Jones Coaching. It targeted younger/early stage journalists struggling to find their first job or get a new job after getting laid off. Jones spoke with Vanessa C. Deggins, a reporter/ multimedia producer, about being laid off and finding that next opportunity. The session also offered basic tips and tools on networking and job search.

Reinvention 2011 Committee Members

Deirdre M. Childress, NABJ Vice President-Print – dchildress@phillynews.com

Sidmel Estes, Past NABJ President – sid@sidmelestes.com

Neil Foote, Past NABJ Region III Director – neil@neilfoote.com

Jackie Jones, Past Vice President-Print – jjones5647@aol.com

Aprill O. Turner, NABJ Associate Representative – aprilloturner@gmail.com

Benet J. Wilson, co-chair, Digital Journalism Task Force – benet@aviationqueen.com

NABJ Students: Managing Your Brand – PART II

By Wesley Lowery, NABJ Deputy Student Representative & freelance reporter,The Columbus Dispatch

Every once in a while something goes so well the first time that you’ve just got to do it again.

So as we wrapped up the February edition of the NABJ Students monthly BlogTalkRadio show we knew that we had to do a second part. The show focused on personal branding as an up-and-coming journalists and featured professional insight from Aviation Week’s Benet Wilson and Florida A&M University graphics professor Brandan Craft.

In the 30-minute show, Wilson and Craft emphasized the importance of claiming your brand — purchasing your domain name and using your real name on Twitter and Facebook. Also make sure to clean up those Facebook pictures, because employers will be looking through them.

All of the tips and insights from Part One are available online here.

But don’t just listen to the earlier episode. Make sure to tune in TONIGHT at 6 p.m. eastern time for “Managing Your Brand: Part II,” a 30-minute show meant to expand on the topics explored last month. And in order to provide expert insight, we’ve ticketed three of NABJ’s best up-and-coming journalists.

Tonight’s panelists are:

•Sidney Wright, a former NABJ Student Journalist of the Year as well as an award-winning multimedia journalist currently working as an associate producer for ABC News

•Nicole Hardesty, an editorial assistant at the Huffington Post and a freelance writer for the New York Daily News

• Georgia Dawkins, NABJ’s Student Representative and a producer with Waterman Broadcasting in Florida.

I’ll have the privilege of hosting the show again this month, but don’t worry — I’ll keep my mouth shut and let our star-studded panel impart knowledge.

The 30-minute show starts at 6 p.m. and be heard on BlogTalkRadio.  And if you want to chime in, or have a question to ask, please join the conversation by calling (917) 889-8528.

NABJ Students: Managing Your Brand: On and Off the Web

By Wesley Lowery, NABJ Deputy Student Representative & reporter, The Columbus Dispatch

For a journalist, there is nothing more important then your personal credibility.

In a world saturated with traditional and online media, the association the consumer makes with your byline maybe the deciding factor between if they read your work or move on to the next article, blog post or tweet.

So with social media tools including Twitter and Facebook at our fingertips, how does today’s journalist use technology to extend his or her personal brand?  How do we turn these social outlets into elements of our journalistic toolbox?

And even without technology, does the way we conduct interviews or to whom we give our business cards affect our credibility?   How does our network impact our journalistic net worth?

Those are the questions we’ll aim to answer tonight during “Managing Your Brand: On and Off the Web,” a 30-minute discussion of personal branding for journalist.  The latest installment of NABJ Students’ monthly radio blog shows, the conversation will feature insight from various NABJ members and is open to both students and full-time journalists.

In a Florida A&M University edition of the show, panelists will include Rod Carter, an anchor for WFLA Channel 8 Tampa, FAMU graphics professor Brandan Craft, and FAMU Association of Black Journalists president Markia Butler.

Each of the panelists will share tips, point out best practices and offer insight into just how to make the most of your personal brand not only to gain credibility, but also to increase your marketability.

The 30-minute show starts at 6 p.m. and be heard on BlogTalkRadio.  And if you want to chime in, or have a question to ask, please join the conversation by calling (917) 889-8528.

Friday Fast Five + Five: The New Years’ Edition

By Benét J. Wilson, DJTF co-chair, Online Managing Editor-Business Aviation, Aviation Week Group

Editor’s note: the Digital Journalism Task Force is holding a BlogTalkRadio session Tuesday, Jan. 11 from noon to 1:00 p.m. on this year’s convention.  Our panel, which features convention chair Rod Hicks, programming chair Dr. Sybril Bennett and Philadelphia Association of Black Journalists President Sarah Glover, will discuss what members can expect at this year’s event. Bennett will also offer guidance on what she and the Programming Committee will expect for this year’s workshops and panels.  We’ll also leave time for your questions. I hope you can join us.

Also, we will be migrating this blog to www.nabj.org one week from today.  It will now only be available to NABJ members.  The decision was made as NABJ continues efforts to build value in having a membership.  We’ll keep this page ope and available as a resource, and our old posts will continue to be available here.   Members, please go to nabj.org and click on the link for the Digital Journalism Task Force.

So here we are in 2011, ready to look ahead and make our resolutions.  You can check out my plans for 2011 over at my Aviation Queen blog.  And in that spirit, today’s Fast Five are all things you can use to help you with your resolutions.  Enjoy!

1. 10000 Words – 6 innovative uses of Tumblr by newsrooms
2. BlogHer – 3 Essential Online Tools for Finding Your Next Job!
3. DNAInfo – Six Ways Journalists Can Use Twitter Better
4. Online Journalism Review – Video journalism in the palm of your hand: Making the most out of Flip and cell phone video
5. Teaching Online Journalism – Online video, audiences, sharing: Putting it all together
6. Donald W. Reynolds Journalism Institute – Mobile Journalism Reporting Tools Guide
7. Networked – Writeboard: A free web tool that makes it easy to collaborate on a project
8. MakeUseOf – 2 Dead Simple Ways To Start Your Own Email Newsletter
9. Poynter – What journalists need to know about starting a nonprofit business
10. Top Rank – 9 Essential Social Media Tips for Beginners

NABJ Wants Proposals For Philadelphia Conference

By Benét J. Wilson, DJTF co-chair, Online Managing Editor-Business Aviation, Aviation Week Group

Yesterday, the National Association of Black Journalists put out a call for presentations for its annual conference Aug. 3-7 in Philadelphia. This year’s convention is looking for presentations “that will teach current and future journalists new, relevant skills and push them to execute their professional goals,” which matches this year’s theme, “The Power of Now: Claiming Your Destiny.”  Proposals are due Feb. 1.

Dr. Sybril Bennett

The Programming Committee, headed by Dr.  Sybril Bennett of Belmont University,  wants to see  innovative, educational and entrepreneurial proposals from the membership this year. This year, NABJ is striving to make the Convention and Career Fair  the premier venue for digital journalism education and career development presented by the nation’s leaders in media, business, arts and entertainment and technology.

 

Professional journalists, students and educators will participate in full- and half-day seminars designed to strengthen and enhance their skills. Workshops throughout the five-day convention will highlight journalism ethics, entrepreneurship, specialized journalism and transitioning journalism skills to book publishing, screen writing and media relations.

To this end, the Digital Journalism Task Force is holding a BlogTalkRadio session Tuesday, Jan. 11 from noon to 1:00 p.m. on this year’s convention.  Our panel, which features convention chair Rod Hicks, programming chair Dr. Sybril Bennett and Philadelphia Association of Black Journalists President Sarah Glover, will discuss what members can expect at this year’s event. Bennett will also offer guidance on what she and the Programming Committee will expect for this year’s workshops and panels.  We’ll also leave time for your questions.

Listen To NABJ Members Review The 2010 Online News Association Conference

By Benét J. Wilson, DJTF co-chair, Online Managing Editor-Business Aviation, Aviation Week Group

Last night, the Digital Journalism Task Force broadcast a BlogTalkRadio show featuring a panel of three National Association of Black Journalist members discussing their attendance at the recent Online News Association’s 2010 conference in Washington, D.C., Oct. 28-31.

Now in its 11th year, the ONA conference has become one of the must-attend shows on the journalism circuit because it brings together a virtual who’s who of digital/multimedia journalism.  There are also representatives from  community/content editorial, programming, design, education and traditional and new media outlets.

Our panelists were: Dr. Sybril Bennett, associate professor of journalism at Belmont University and the newly named Programming Chair for next year’s NABJ annual conference; Sarah Glover, staff photographer at the Philadelphia Daily News and Philadelphia Association of Black Journalists President; and Doug Mitchell, chair of NABJ’s Media Institute, co-director of the Ford Foundation’s New U entrepreneurship program and an adjunct professor instructor at the City College of New York’s Graduate School of Journalism.

We discussed issues including: the big topics discussed at ONA; what workshops/panels that stood out and which ones should be at NABJ next year; and having more representation at next year’s ONA.  Click here to listen to the 60-minute program.

And join us on Tuesday, Dec. 7 for our next event:  Making The Transition From Journalism To PR.  Our panelists are:

• Aprill O. Turner, NABJ’s associate member rep and a public relations professional and political strategist with experience working with non-profit and corporate clients;
• Marc Willis, a former television news reporter who now works as a Public Affairs Specialist for the Department of Justice’s Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives;
• Manny Otiko, who has worked in the journalism/PR field for more than 15 years and is currently vice president of social and new media at Desmond & Louis Public Relations; and
• Denise T. Ward, who spent 12 years as a journalist before moving to communications, where she is currently a Strategic Communications Specialist with Booz Allen Hamilton.

The transition is not as easy as many would expect, so our panelists will share their experiences on making the move and answer questions on how to transfer your skills to the other side.  I hope you cam join us!

Next DJTF Event: NABJ Members Review The 2010 Online News Association Conference

By Benét J. Wilson, DJTF co-chair, Online Managing Editor-Business Aviation, Aviation Week Group

EDITOR’S NOTE: The NABJ Digital Journalism Task Force and the NABJ Media Institute recorded our Oct. 29 webinar  “Video Storytelling for Journalists.” You can listen here for free. You need to register to hear  the full webinar.

Right on the heels of our successful Video Storytelling webinar, the Digital Journalism Task Force and the NABJ Media Institute are moving ahead with another program.  The Online News Association held its annual conference here in Washington, D.C., Oct. 28-31.  Several NABJ members were there, so DJTF is doing a BlogTalkRadio show on the event Wednesday, Nov. 17 from 8-9 p.m. Eastern time.

Now in its 11th year, the ONA conference has become one of the must-attend shows on the journalism circuit because it brings together a virtual who’s who of digital/multimedia journalism.  There are also representatives from  community/content editorial, programming, design, education and traditional and new media outlets.  To quote the Journalism.co.uk website:   “Also this year hundreds of participants converged from all around the world to meet and learn about the latest software and hardware tools for content management, search and distribution platforms, to discuss advancements and challenges in the industry and to network face-to-face in order to share best practices.”

Panelists for this show are:

• Dr. Sybril Bennett, associate professor of journalism at Belmont University;
• Sarah Glover, staff photographer at the Philadelphia Daily News and PABJ President; and
• Doug Mitchell, chair of NABJ’s Media Institute, co-director of the Ford Foundation’s New U entrepreneurship
  program and an adjunct professor instructor at the City College of New York’s Graduate School of Journalism.

The panelists will discuss the workshops they attended at ONA, what they learned and how that knowledge needs to be used to help NABJ members stay relevant in the newsroom. We’ll definitely leave plenty of time for your questions.  I hope you can join us!!

Listen to NABJDigital’s Hyperlocal Websites: Are They The Savior Of Local News?

By Benét J. Wilson, DJTF co-chair, Online Managing Editor-Business Aviation, Aviation Week Group

Last night, the NABJ Digital Journalism Task Force hosted a BlogTalkRadio show entitled “Hyperlocal Websites: Are They The Savior Of Local News?” Our guests were:

Our guests were:

• Dr. Michelle Ferrier, an associate professor at Elon University in the School of Communications. She is the developer of a demonstration project called LocallyGrownNews.com, a hyperlocal community platform and service model focused on local food conversations. She is also a steward in Journalism That Matters, helping to spark journalism entrepreneurship nationwide.
• Holly Edgell, one of two regional editors for Patch.com in Metro St. Louis where she is currently hiring 12 local editors, each of whom will be in charge of covering news for a community new website.  Before joining Patch.com, Edgell taught journalism at the University of Missouri and Florida A&M University. She also worked as a television news producer in a number of cities, including Detroit, Cleveland and Pittsburgh.
• Shawn P. Williams is the founder, editor and publisher of the nationally acclaimed and highly recognized DallasSouthBlog.com now known as Dallas South in June of 2006 where he serves as publisher and editor. The website has been featured on NBC Nightly News, The Chicago Tribune, CNN, NPR, BBC, and many other national outlets and is designed to promote positive images of African-Americans in the media.
• Mike Green is a journalist-turned-entrepreneur with 14 years experience in media. He’s a New York Times Leadership Academy Fellow with training at CNN.com and he led award-winning online experiments in local community engagement for the Dow Jones Local Media Group.

We had a spirited and informative discussion on future directions of hyperlocal websites.  You can listen to the complete show here.

NABJDigital Leads Discussion On The Growth Of Hyperlocal Websites

By Benét J. Wilson, DJTF co-chair, Online Managing Editor-Business Aviation, Aviation Week Group

On Sept. 3, I wrote an NABJDigital post discussing a series of articles and blog posts on the past, present and future of hyperlocal websites, which are being touted as one of the possible saviors of journalism.  As I wrote the post, I thought about members of the National Association of Black Journalists who had their own experiences in creating and maintaining hyperlocal websites.

So I thought this would be a great topic to cover in our monthly BlogTalkRadio chats.  We will  broadcast “Hyperlocal Websites: Are They The Savior Of Local News?” on Tuesday, Sept. 28 from 8:00-9:00 p.m. Eastern time.  Our guests will be:

• Dr. Michelle Ferrier, an associate professor at Elon University in the School of Communications. She is the developer of a demonstration project called LocallyGrownNews.com, a hyperlocal community platform and service model focused on local food conversations. She is also a steward in Journalism That Matters, helping to spark journalism entrepreneurship nationwide.
• Holly Edgell, one of two regional editors for Patch.com in Metro St. Louis where she is currently hiring 12 local editors, each of whom will be in charge of covering news for a community new website.  Before joining Patch.com, Edgell taught journalism at the University of Missouri and Florida A&M University. She also worked as a television news producer in a number of cities, including Detroit, Cleveland and Pittsburgh.
• Shawn P. Williams is the founder, editor and publisher of the nationally acclaimed and highly recognized DallasSouthBlog.com now known as Dallas South in June of 2006 where he serves as publisher and editor. The website has been featured on NBC Nightly News, The Chicago Tribune, CNN, NPR, BBC, and many other national outlets and is designed to promote positive images of African-Americans in the media.
• Mike Green is a journalist-turned-entrepreneur with 14 years experience in media. He’s a New York Times Leadership Academy Fellow with training at CNN.com and he led award-winning online experiments in local community engagement for the Dow Jones Local Media Group.

I hope you can join us on Tuesday, Sept. 28 from 8:00-9:00 p.m. Eastern time.  It should be a lively discussion, and we’ll leave plenty of time for your questions.

Now Posted: BlogTalkRadio Show, Internet Etiquette: Being “Socially” Responsible

By Benét J. Wilson, DJTF co-chair, Online Managing Editor-Business Aviation, Aviation Week Group

Last night, we had a spirited discussion during our BlogTalkRadio show Internet Etiquette: Being “Socially” Responsible.  Our speakers were Lifestyle & Etiquette Expert Elaine Swann, Howard University graduate student and Google Fellow Kiara Pesante and National Association of Black Journalists student board representative Georgia Dawkins.   They were kind enough to re-create their very popular panel at last month’s NABJ annual conference.

If you didn’t get the chance to join us, please click on the link above to hear the hour-long show.  And if you have any ideas for future topics, please feel free to drop me a line at regaviationqueen AT Yahoo DOT com or on Twitter at @NABJDigital.