[1]Electronic Journalism
It Ain’t Over Yet: The Continuing Promise of Journalism on the Internet
Is writing for the Web really any different than writing for print? Are all the breathless prophecies about how the Internet would change the news media forever just pipe dreams? Ted Olsen, online managing editor for Christianity Today, examines online journalism’s special opportunities-especially for Christians. – Ted Olsen
Error Messages: The Perils of Journalism on the Internet
Online journalism has opened up some wonderful new worlds (see “It Ain’t Over Yet”), but making up new rules have led many astray. Ted Olsen, online managing editor for Christianity Today, looks at the perils of working in online journalism, from unique ethical challenges to ubiquitous layoffs. – Ted Olsen
Where Nobody Knows Your Name (Or Anyone Else’s): Getting Started in Online Journalism
To survive online in 2001, you have to be part of a broadly focused corporation or be a tiny operation. That’s bad news for most of last year’s “content-oriented” dot-coms, but very good news for budding, self-starting journalists. Ted Olsen, online managing editor for Christianity Today, shares how to turn personal passions into a real job. – Ted Olsen
Broadcast Journalism
Covering the Big Story
How should a Christian journalist cover the big story? Can your faith be a help to you in covering breaking news stories? KFMB TV San Diego’s Colleen Rudy, who has covered the Heaven’s Gates mass suicides and the Santana High School shootings shares her perspective on how to cover the big story. – Colleen Rudy
[2]Broadcast Journalism as a Career
What goes on behind the cameras? Find out the truth behind the glamour of broadcast journalism from an industry veteran. – Cynthia Williams
Faith-based Franchises
Is it possible to feature weekly news segments about faith on a secular television station? Absolutely, says Fox 61’s senior anchorman. Find out how in this seminar. – Dan Howell
Sports Journalism
Learn from the dean of Nashville’s sports anchors, Hope Hines. Hines will tell you how to cover big-time sports, from the NFL to NHL and even a little college football. – Hope Hines
Scooping the competition
WKRN news reporter Christi Lowe shares how to get the edge on your competition in the highly competitive world of broadcast journalism. – Christi Lowe
Print Journalism
Back to Basics: Journalism 101
What is news? What qualities do you need to be a good reporter? What’s an inverted pyramid? This session provides a “back to the basics” overview of newswriting and reporting. – Kathy Dean
Taking Care of Your Sources
Building relationships with sources is one tactic for getting a story. But is it more than just a means to an end? This session focuses on the relationships we build as Christian journalists, and the Biblical characteristics we are called upon to display. – Kathy Dean
Investigative Reporting
To get at the truth, you sometimes have to dig, dig, dig. This session is an introduction to the techniques and tools used to get beneath the surface. We’ll also explore why and when this kind of reporting is needed and what ethical guidelines should apply. And we’ll look at some case studies to see how stories are structured and told. Leave your trenchcoat and binoculars at home. – Ed Plowman
Religion Reporting
These are heady days for religion reporters, and this session will explore why, how, when, and where to report what’s happening. Change and ferment are everywhere on the church scene. Mainstream denominations are coming apart. Evangelical unity is proving elusive. Culture clashes and encroachment, questions of biblical authority. Matters of law and religious freedom. The post-WWII generation of church leaders is disappearing; who are their successors, and what new directions are being charted? We’re in an era of globalization, of megachurches and church-growth strategizing. All this and more are part of today’s religion beat. – Ed Plowman
A Career in Religious Journalism
This workshop would look at the different philosophical perspectives of the editors of the state Baptist papers, to show the students the diversity of thought among the editors, and to let them know which of the editors share their perspectives, should they be interested in seeking employment in Southern Baptist journalistic circles. This workshop will also alert students to other job possibilities in SBC life, such as at the boards, agencies, colleges and seminaries. I will also tell the students how to get an internship at the publication or agency of their choice. – Jennifer Davis Rash
The art of successful freelancing
This workshop would look at the work involved in developing relationships with editors, the science of determining the kind of articles an editor wants for his/her publication, the quality of work necessary to ensure publication. We’ll talk dollars and common sense, integrity and quality of work, graciousness and deadlines. We’ll talk about networking and being genuine. We’ll talk about multidisciplinary writing. We’ll talk about marketing and sales, research and development, finance and time management. And we’ll look at how to find freelance assignments. – Karen Willoughby
The art of the interview
It’s a primer on interviewing skills that will cover the basics: what to wear, knowing what to ask, preparing in advance, etc. Also I’ll throw in less obvious things such as dealing with confrontation, what to observe during an interview and the ethics that can be involved in asking tough questions. – Steve Massey
So you want to be a columnist?
This workshop will led by Matthew Melton, columnist and chair of the Dept. of Comm. at Lee University.
Writing for Magazines
Learn how to apply fiction techniques to your writing with Jon Walker, of Pastors.com and former editor of HomeLife Magazine.
How to come up with creative ideas for articles
Looking ideas for feature stories? Jon Walker will show you ways to discover creative and fresh approaches to stories.
Internships that make a difference
Learn the ins and outs of finding an internship with Michael Laney, of Lee University.
Is your newspaper ethnically diverse?
Are you providing adequate coverage to ethnic groups on your campus? Let’s create a strategy for equalizing coverage in your student newspaper. – Michael Laney
Public Policy Journalism
This workshop will be led by Tom Strode, Baptist Press Washington, D.C. bureau chief.
Student Journalism and the Law
This workshop will be led by Bob Carey of Gardner-Webb University.
Newspaper/Yearbook Design
Easy Ways to Give Pizzazz to your Student Newspaper
-let’s look at issues of color, typography and art use in taking the newspaper off the stands and into the hands of campus readers. – Jason Ranton
Designing for Features
-looking at winning designs from metropolitan dailies and student papers as well as bad designs and how to avoid them. – Jason Ranton
Designer/Editor Roundtable
-bring your questions and get feedback immediately from peers and pros on topics of design/pagination, production, equipment and editing for the student newspaper. – Jason Ranton and Daniel Brown
Design and layout software
Discuss the various programs used in design and layout of print publications, including QuarkXpress, Pagemaker, and InDesign and examine photoediting and vector drawing programs such as Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator. This workshop will examine how to use these software programs in preparing publications for print.
Web design software
Discuss the various programs used in design and layout of Web publications, including Macromedia Dreamweaver, Microsoft Frontpage, and others. In addition, we will explore interactivity development tools, such as Macromedia Flash and Director. This workshop will also examine photoediting and vector drawing programs such as Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator and how to use them to prepare images for the Web. – Daniel Brown
Converting print Pieces for Web viewing
This workshop will examine the software needed and processes by which print materials can be successfully transferred as portable document formats for the Web. It will address such topics as cross-platform compatibility; common print and Web document formats; and format conversion. – Daniel Brown
Photojournalism
Seeing the Picture
During this session we will be taking a close look at ‘seeing’ a picture. How do we unearth the best ideas when there are so many possibilities? On the other hand, how do we come up with just the right subject when our minds are blank and a deadline is heading straight for us? During this first session together we will investigate the possibilities and see how others approach these challenges. – Photojournalism Staff
Capturing the Image
Armed with ideas of how to find what you need, what are the best approaches to take in capturing those images. Knowing your equipment is important, but how can you improve the chances that your readers will notice your efforts. We will look at some of the technical issues involved, and also how to capture everyday life in unique ways. At the end of this session photo assignments will be made so you can apply what you’ve just learned. You will leave the building at 2:00 p.m. and head out to shoot. (Film will be provided.) There will be a tight deadline. Film must be returned to the lobby of the building by no later that 3:30 p.m. – Photojournalism Staff
Shooting Nashville
As mentioned at the end of Session II, this time segment will be spent shooting an assignment on a very short deadline. All photographers attending the photo track of the conference will be participating. You will begin at 2:00 p.m. and turn in film no later than 3:30 p.m. The photographs taken during this session will become the foundation of the remaining sessions. – Photojournalism staff
Small Group Analysis
This hour will be spent in small groups taking a close look at Friday’s assignment. Faculty members will use these photographs as the basis for teaching how best to communicate visually. – Photojournalism staff
Photo Editing
Photo editing will be the topic of the hour as the class edits their assignment (along with some help from their friends) and creates a slide show from the work produced on Friday. The class will have the first peek at the finished show, which will be seen later by all those attending the conference. – Photojournalism staff