Reserve Your Spot Today! Society of Professional Journalists 2006 Region 11 Conference: The Journalist In the 21st Century

Reserve Your Spot Today! Society of Professional Journalists 2006 Region 11 Conference: The Journalist In the 21st Century

March 31-April 1, 2006

Hilton Pasadena 168 S. Los Robles Ave. Pasadena, CA

Hosted by SPJ-LA

ONLINE CONFERENCE REGISTRATION NOW AVAILABLE!

PASADENA, Calif., March 15 /PRNewswire/ -- Six years into the new millennium, what are the issues driving the profession and what challenges do students, newbies and seasoned journalists face in the 21st century?

There is something for everyone at this two-day conference -- from newsroom multimedia convergence to techniques to help put reporters at ease with their subjects.

Brush up on your skills, hear the latest in the battle for better access to public records or schmooze with colleagues.

EARLY-BIRD RATES!

For professionals
Registration before March 15:

$90 members, $105 non-members; groups of three or more, $80 per member, $110 non-members

From March 16 and at-the-door registration:
$100 members and $135 non-members

For students
Registration before March 15:
$70 students; groups of three or more, $65 per student
From March 16 and at-the-door registration:
$80 students

Fees include Mark of Excellence Awards luncheon, featuring guest speaker, veteran KTLA reporter Stan Chambers.

Tickets for the Mark of Excellence luncheon only: $36

TO REGISTER ONLINE, GO TO:

http://rsvpregister.com/event.php?84849

[copy and past URL to your browser]

Or, make checks payable to SPJ and send to:
SPJ Region 11 Conference
1254 Old Topanga Canyon Rd.
Topanga, CA 90290

Download registration form here:

http://www.spj.org/losangeles/Region11Con2006-Registration.pdf

HOTEL INFORMATION

Note: You cannot reserve your hotel room online. To receive the discounted conference rate, you must call the hotel by March 15.

Room rates
$120 per night, double occupancy.

To make a room reservation, call the Hilton Pasadena at (626) 577-1000; mention the Society of Professional Journalists or SPJ to get the discounted group rate.

Hotel parking rates
Daily rates are $8 for self-parking and $10 for valet.
Overnight rates are $12 for self-parking and $16 for valet.

PROGRAMS (Subject to change)

New Guests added!

FRIDAY, MARCH 31

3 to 4 p.m.

Mock Interview for College Students

Students: Get your resume and print, CD or DVD clips critiqued by professionals who will offer insight and suggestions on how best to present yourself in the competitive world of journalism.

4 to 5 p.m.

Regional meeting for chapter leaders (everyone is welcome!)

6 to 8 p.m.

Opening Night Reception

Join your hosts -- SPJ-LA, KPCC-FM and the Los Angeles Daily News -- at the Bodega Wine Bar, located on the second level of Paseo Colorado, within walking distance of the hotel.

Come meet aspiring and working journalists in this cool, casual environment. If you're registered for the conference, you get a free drink and appetizers (attendees under 21 will get free soft drink).

After the reception, you'll find plenty of things to do at Paseo, which features a movie theater, shops, bars and restaurants. You also can venture into trendy Old Town Pasadena or hop the Gold Line train to downtown Los Angeles.

SATURDAY, APRIL 1

Morning sessions:

9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.

The Business of the News Business: A FACS Seminar

The news business is changing at an alarming rate. Jobs are disappearing and newspaper circulation is down. Broadcasters are dropping local news staffs and buying a competitor's product -- or are dropping the news altogether. This special morning program will delve into the business of the news business. Media experts and stock market analysts will discuss the business decisions behind these changes, looking at where consumers go for information and what changes are on the horizon.

Produced by the Foundation for American Communications, a programming partner of SPJ.

One-man show by James K. Gentry, Ph.D., professor and former dean at the William Allen White School of Journalism and Mass Communications at the University of Kansas.

9 a.m. to 10:15 a.m.

Lights, Camera, Action: A Technique Workshop for All Journalists

Many journalists consider acting and journalism as polar opposites. Acting is more than just what happens in front of the camera or on stage. In this lively workshop, actor and director Stefan Wolfert will demonstrate acting techniques that will help print and broadcast journalists in the field. These techniques will make even the shyest of reporters feel more at ease, whether they're in front of a camera or behind one, scribbling notes. Be ready to get on your feet and participate in this interactive morning wake-up program!

The Future of College Journalism

As long as there have been schools, there have been school newspapers. Insulated, for the most part, from the economic malaise affecting their professional brethren, student journalists have the ability to do truly groundbreaking work. But can they? What are the challenges facing college journalists, and how are journalism programs preparing them for professional life?

Panelists include George Keeler, department chair of communications, University of La Verne; Tom Clanin, journalism professor, Cal State Fullerton; Anne LaJeunesse, journalism professor, Cal State Fullerton, and private investigator; Saharra White, student and president of SPJ Cal State Northridge chapter.

10:30 a.m. to 11:45 a.m.

Policing Our Peers: Journalism Ethics for the 21st Century

Every month seems to turn up a new case of a journalist "outed" for unethical behavior. But has this self-policing gone too far? Have we gone from reasonable purging to witch-hunts? Join media experts and journalists for a discussion on the new era of ethical dilemmas in journalism.

Panelists: Jim Newton, county-city bureau chief for the Los Angeles Times and author of the Times' Code of Ethics; Linda Bowen, journalism professor, Cal State Northridge; Mel Opotowsky, newspaper consultant and board member, California First Amendment Coalition.

Starting Out in the "Boonies": It's Not As Bad As You Think

It's ambitious to aim high when starting out your journalism career, but few right away land jobs at CNN or The New York Times. Most reporters get their start working in small communities, reporting on local crimes, school boards and city councils. It may seem boring to work in Cow County, but often, these small-town news outlets, and local papers in the middle of a busy metropolis, give a journalist the stepping stones they need to move up. The pay is poor, but you're likely to get a front-page story every week and win coveted awards.

Panelists include: Lori Brown, reporter, AV3 News, Palmdale; Ryan Carter, city editor, Glendale News-Press/Burbank Leader; C.L. Lopez, reporter, Redlands Daily Facts; Jerry Sullivan, editor and publisher, Los Angeles Garment & Citizen; Norma Zager, columnist, Los Angeles Jewish Journal.

Noon to 1:30 p.m.

Mark of Excellence Awards
Guest speaker: Stan Chambers, veteran KTLA reporter

2 p.m. to 2:45 p.m.

The Tipping Point: The Clash Between Government Secrecy and the Public's Right to Know

Despite Sunshine Laws, FOIA, and the Public Records Act, local and state governments and the courts have managed to find ways to shut out the public's right to know. Find out the latest in the push by the press for better access to public records.

Panelists include: Joel Bellman, press deputy for County Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky; Susan McRae, reporter, Los Angeles Daily Journal; Doug Mirell, First Amendment attorney, Loeb & Loeb; Karen Ocamb, FOI advocate and news editor, InMagazine; Charles Ornstein, reporter, Los Angeles Times.

Journalism vs. Public Relations: To Be or Not To Be A Reporter

With an ever-shrinking and competitive news market, many are looking to public relations as a place where they might find a decent paycheck. This seminar is designed to answer the burning questions to help you decide what field to get into. We'll take an in-depth look at both fields and you'll get a chance to talk to professionals who work in both fields.

Panelists include: Allan Parachini, PIO, Los Angeles Superior Court; Ray Richmond, TV critic and columnist, The Hollywood Reporter.

3 p.m. to 3:45 p.m.

Squeezing More Out of Public Records

You've hired attorneys, gone to court and fought the good fight to gain access to a public document, what now? Public records expert Don Ray will tell you what kind of information you can get out of those documents, as well as from many types of public records most journalists don't even think are worth a look. When can a birth certificate give you clues to military service and court cases that won't happen until 20 years later? A crafty journalist can find it and exploit it.

One-man show by Don Ray, author, Public Records Primer and investigative reporter.

Preparing the 21st Century Journalist

What do college students need to do to land that elusive first job? Is e-mail the new phone call or pre-interview? Are editors impressed by electronic resumes and clips burned on CDs or DVDs? Our panelists give tips from clip selection to interview techniques.

Panelists include: Frank Pine, senior managing editor, San Bernardino Sun; Sonya Smith, reporter, Irvine World News and president, Orange County SPJ satellite chapter; Christine Tatum, SPJ president-elect and business writer, the Denver Post.

4 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Convergence 101: The Interactive Newsroom

The old delivery methods of news are changing fast. Will newspapers become a thing of the past? Will consumers opt to get their news from the Internet, handheld devices and other new technology? Convergence of media is what everyone in the news industry is talking about as journalists prepare to deliver news well into the future.

Panelists include: Ron James, content manager, SignOnSanDiego.com; Ron Kaye, editor, Los Angeles Daily News; Paul McAfee, SPJ Region 11 director and news and operations manager; Jim Parker, director of Internet for CBS affiliate KPIX-TV.

Should I stay or should I go?

At this "Generation J" program, journalists offer their advice on the biggest question facing new reporters -- when is it time to leave my current job? Starting at a job -- reporters get all kinds of advice -- and now the advice will be offered by those who have gone through the first few years of journalism. Generation J is a national program geared toward the young professional, up to age 35.

Panelists include: Rita Freeman, reporter, Saddleback Valley News; Theresa Salinas, Sunday Editor, Irvine World News; Leslie Simmons, reporter, Los Angeles Daily Journal.

For more information or any questions, contact conference chair, Leslie Simmons, leslieksimmons@yahoo.com or call, (323) 259-3350.

Source: Society of Professional Journalists

CONTACT: Leslie Simmons of Society of Professional Journalists,
+1-323-259-3350

Web site: http://rsvpregister.com/event.php?84849
http://www.spj.org/losangeles/Region11Con2006-Registration.pdf

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