We made money and YOU can too!
Are you scrambling to make your fundraiser or special event a success in a spiraling economy? Make your life easy! Expert event planner Jill Stewart shows you how to plan successful events for your organization. Jill was on our Studs Terkel Community Awards event planning committee and helped make our event a success.
Sign Up Today! http://tinyurl.com/c9pnuf

Stellar Special Events
9 a.m. to noon, Thursday, April 16
Now more than ever, your fundraiser needs to be a success! Find out from special events expert Jill Stewart the secrets of creating fabulous and stress free receptions and fundraisers.  Through a series of short lecture modules and hands-on exercises, participants will learn what makes a successful event including how to plan, manage and produce the entire process including budgeting basics. You will also learn to define your target market and learn to properly prepare and promote your event to generate buzz. Workshop will take place at Rotary International-Lower Level, 1560 Sherman Ave, Evanston, IL 60201. Sign Up Today! http://tinyurl.com/c9pnuf

Tweet Tweet Brown Bag Lunch - FREE
623 S. Wabash Room 405, Noon to 1:30 p.m., Thursday, April 9
Wondering what the hype about Twitter is and how it benefits you? Come to "Tweet Tweet,” Community Media Workshop's FREE Twitter brown bag to hear gurus discuss their best practices and ways organizations can use Twitter to build and engage audiences. With:
 
Kara Carrell, Interfaith Youth Core (@karitas)
Yesenia Sotelo, Heartland Alliance (@silverbell)
Joe Schmitt, Burrell Communications (@joeschmitt)
 
Moderated by the Workshop's very own Lovette Ajayi (@npcommunicator)
Register is now full
 
Call for Events!
Chicago is the World
A doorway to ethnic media in the American heartland
The Workshop’s Steve Franklin has begun a new blog surveying ethnic media in Chicago. As he continues his research, he’s looking for art, theatre or other cultural events to post on his site. If your organization or community has an upcoming event you’d like to advertise, contact Steve at Steve@newstips.org.  If you haven’t seen his blog yet, check it out at http://chicagoistheworld.org/

back to top

Advocate+Communicate=Change
2009 Making Media Connections Conference, June 10th and 11th at Columbia College Chicago

After last year’s conference, Mariko Drouin of Chicago Metropolitan Association for Education of Young Children wrote a social media strategy, launched a Facebook fan page and online community, purchased a Flip video camera for testimonials, and implemented Twitter at her group’s annual conference after attending last year’s Making Media Connections. “The conference helped me discover the power behind social media tools,” she says. “It was a great place to share ideas and connect with others who are challenged with the same nonprofit marketing issues.”

Early-Bird Registration now open! Be cost effective and take advantage of this special EARLY BIRD PRICING! Log on to register and find out more about this year’s conference at http://www.communitymediaworkshop.org/mmc09

Keynote addresses by Monica Davey of The New York Times and Col. Tribune. Read more

• Social Media Strategy: Listen, Learn, and Adapt, led by Beth Kanter
• Databases for Success, led by Arif Mamdani, Progressive Technology Project
• Social Media Need To Know, led by Emily Culbertson

• Social Media Listening Literacy for Nonprofits, led by Beth Kanter
• Blogging For The Arts, led by Christine Cupaiuolo
• Raising Your Organization’s Profile, led by Laurie Glenn

• Story Power, led by Susan O’Halloran
• Make A Video, led by Michael Hoffman and Stacy Laiderman
• Spin Boot Camp, led by Michael Chihak

back to top

“City Voices”
Sundays at 6:30 a.m. on WNUA 95.5FM
Foreclosures and poverty are now impacting north side communities and middle-class neighborhoods. Hear what resources are available and what new challenges state agencies face as they help this growing demographic. Listen to two new shows on our podcast now. 

“Community, Media and You”
Saturdays at 8 p.m. on CAN TV21
Hear why students are still pursing advanced degrees in journalism despite the changes and challenges the industry now faces. Airs this Saturday, April 11 on CAN TV. View our latest archive, Second Chances.

back to top

Get the Guide
In this rapidly changing media landscape, the Community Media Workshop is doing our best to stay in the know. In TV, radio, and print media, there have been countless changes in the form of staff promotions, layoffs, and retirements. Despite that, we are pleased to offer you the most comprehensive and biggest Media Guide ever, with over 100 new outlets and 650 more contacts included. The 18.2 edition of Getting on the Air, Online & Into Print, the directory of Chicago and Midwest journalists, is updated as of December 1, 2008.

Even so, we've kept track of any changes since then. Visit www.nonprofitcommunicators.ning.com/forum to get a peek into those updates.

Order YOURS today at www.newstips.org/cart

back to top

Toure Muhammad,
Bean Soup Times
In the beginning was Bean Soup Times, an African-American entry on the turf covered (or should that be created?) by the Onion. Toure recently left a position as communications director for U.S. Rep. Bobby Rush, largely to devote more time to Bean Soup Times, a long-running project of his, and he wants your fresh entertainment and human interest stories.
 
Toure said the publication, which is available in print and online, is gearing up to add a video component to their website with exclusive one-on-one interviews.
 
“Primarily I’m looking for entertainment type of stuff focusing on urban African American professionals, college age to early fifties,” Muhammad said. “However, I am also interested in human interest type stuff. Even if they’re not a celebrity I would look forward in many cases to speaking with ordinary people dealing with extraordinary circumstances.”
 
Muhammad said there are some stories, though, on which he’ll take a pass: “I am not interested in stories about saving manatees,” Muhammad said. “But I would be interested in a story about saving a person who’s being eaten by a manatee.”
 
You can pitch your story to Bean Soup Times via email: toure@beansouptimes.com
--prepared by Chris Brinckerhoff, CMW intern

Find more outlets and peple to pitch from our 2009 Getting on the Air Online & Into Print Media Guide updated version 18.2.

back to top

Latest from Newstips

Concern over Medicare, Social Security. Two members of the Illinois congressional delegation are offering competing legislation to address predatory pay day lending, and local consumer advocates are lining up in support of Senator Richard Durbin's bill and against one authored by Representative Luis Gutierrez. Read More

Cooperative cleaning service: fair, safe, healthy. A new workers cooperative offers homeowners, nonprofits and businesses with an alternative to cleaning services that exploit employees and use toxic chemicals. Read More

Latest posts from the Newstips blog
School closing bill passes house. When State Rep. Cynthia Soto introduced her bill mandating a school facilities plan for CPS in February, the Tribune thought it faced “a significant hurdle”: “Mayor Richard Daley controls the school system that wants the school closings and consolidations. Legislation that he opposes often has difficulty winning approval at the Capitol.” Read More

Corruption. Today’s fun figures: Rod Blagojevich is one of over 1,000 Illinois public officials who have faced corruption charges over the past three decades. And Illinois is one of five states that doesn’t regulate political contributions. Read More

Read latest Newstips | Read Newstips Blog

Newstips is a grassroots news service providing journalists with stories and sources from Chicago-area nonprofits and community organizations. Journalists can receive Newstips via email or subscribe to this RSS feed.

Nonprofits can send their press releases and stories to Curtis Black, Newstip Editor via email at curtis@newstips.org.

back to top

See the Community Media Workshop at…

Chicago Freedom School’s Midwest Youth Organizer Training Institute
9 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day, April 20-23, Chicago
The school is collaborating with the Workshop and other local orgs to offer a four-day training covering leadership development, connecting youth organizing to movement-building work through history, practical organizing techniques, and more. Cost is $220, includes breakfasts and lunches. Get the flyer and registration form and learn more at www.chicagofreedomschool.org.
 
Nonprofit Technology Network Conference
April 26-28, San Francisco
We’ll be exhibiting at the NTEN conference—hope to see you there! Learn more at www.nten.org.
 
Tell Your Stories! Southwest Michigan
Thursday, April 30 at Van Buren Conference Center, Paw Paw, Michigan.
Join Thom Clark and Emily Culbertson for workshops on Stories & Strategy and Social Media for Nonprofits as well as a panel including:
·      Jim Borden, Managing Editor, Kalamazoo Gazette
·      Jim Gifford, WSJM Radio
·      Jesus Grillo, publisher, Nueva Opinion/New Opinion
·      WNDU-TV representative and other panelists TBA
Learn more and register
 
Forces for Good: Key Practices that Transform Organizations
Early Bird Deadline, April 3; May 13 and 14 event, at Axelson Center for Nonprofit Mangement, North Park University, 3225 W. Foster Ave.
Author Leslie Crutchfield keynotes Axelson’s tenth annual Symposium. Gordon Mayer of CMW will be on a panel at the Symposium Institute. Full schedule of events at www.northpark.edu/axelson/symposium. Costs $150 per day by April 3, $225 after April 3. Discounts and scholarships available. Call 773-244-5799 for more info.

Upcoming events & activities from friends of the Workshop

A Lecture by Elizabeth Alexander
4 p.m., today at the UIC Forum, 725 W. Roosevelt Rd.
The Public Square and the Gender and Women’s Studies Department at UIC host a lecture by Elizabeth Alexander, who wrote and performed the poem “Praise Song for the Day” at President Obama’s Inauguration. Event is FREE and open to the public. RSVP at gwsinfo@uic.edu. More info at www.prairie.org/publicsquare. 
 
25 Years of Chicago Tonight Benefit
6:30 p.m., Friday April 17 at the Harris Theater for Music and Dance, 205 E. Randolph St.
Celebrate 25 years of Chicago Tonight with a night of music by Mavis Staples, Billy Corgan and others. Event also includes post-event reception. Tickets cost $125 and benefit WTTW and WFMT. More info and RSVP at http://www.wttw.com/main.taf?p=65,1
 
Peter Lisagor Awards Banquet
5:30 p.m. cocktails, 7 p.m. dinner and presentation, Friday, April 24 at the Union League Club of Chicago, 65, W. Jackson Blvd.
Join the Headline Club for the 32nd annual Peter Lisagor Awards Banquet for Exemplary Journalism. Felicia Middlebrooks of WBBM Newsradio 780 and Phil Ponce of WTTW11 will be hosting. Also, Lifetime Achievement Award Recipients Andy Shaw, ABC 7 and Fran Spielman, Chicago Sun-Times, will be honored. Prices vary, RSVP at http://headlineclub.org/
 
SPJ Narrative Writing Workshop
9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Saturday May 2 at the University of Chicago Student Center, 750 S. Halsted St.
The Society of Professional Journalists hosts a workshop for journalists on how to improve their story-telling techniques. Participants can submit stories ahead of time for critiques. Registration required. Cost $60 for members, $80 for nonmembers, $20 additional charge after April 17. Register at http://www.spj.org/nww.asp.

back to top

Call for Nominations: 35 under 35 Leadership Awards
http://www.communityrenewalsociety.org/
The Community Renewal Society wants to give some love to those young community leaders who often get overlooked. They will award 35 young people under 35 “who are using fresh approaches to tackle pressuring social issues.” Nominees must have at least 3 years experience in the area for which they are being nominated and can work in fields from organizing to research to fundraising. Nomination deadline is April 10. More info and application materials at http://www.communityrenewalsociety.org/
 
Social Media Awards
http://thejenzabarfoundationblog.com/
The Jenzabar Foundation is offering a $3,000 grant to one nonprofit that uses bloggers and their social media savvy to advance their organization’s mission. Current projects and proposed projects will be accepted. Email the Jenzabar Foundationation at blog@thejenzabarfoundation.org with detailed information on how a blogger is using, or plans to use social media to raise awareness to their organization. Application deadline April 30. More info at http://thejenzabarfoundationblog.com/

back to top

Director
Links Hall
The Director has primary responsibility for fundraising, financial management, staffing and program coordination of Links Hall. The qualified candidate will possess a minimum of 4 years of progressive, effective and comprehensive leadership/management experience in the arts; demonstrated success in leadership, management, fundraising, supervision and strategic direction and strong team participation and facilitation skills.
Annual salary is $43,000 to 48,000 annually with benefits. Applications will be accepted until the position is filled. Send letter and resume to: Links Hall Search Committee, 3435 N. Sheffield 2nd Floor, Chicago, IL 60657. More info on Links Hall at www.LinksHall.org

back to top

Tuesday, April 7, 2009
WHAT'S NEW?
FEATURES
ANNUAL CONFERENCE
BROADCAST SHOWS
2009 MEDIA GUIDE
PEOPLE TO PITCH
NEWSTIPS
EVENTS AROUND TOWN
NEW ON THE WEB
COMMUNICATION JOBS


Communicator Tips
Think Visually, Keep It Real, Be Patient. Sunday metro stories are put together generally by Friday. Few changes are made to the Sunday paper on Saturday, so news events on Saturday don't always get the attention they might deserve, unless they are well-planned. Friday for Saturday is a risky gamble, as Saturday is one of the least read papers of the week. Observe the paper you are pitching and see when you might have a better chance to get a story into the paper. by Alex Garcia.
Read the full article here.
Get More Tips

Nonprofit Communicators!
Find a place on the web for people like you! Join our nonprofit communicators ning social network.
Join the adventure!

Did You Get eNotes as a Forwarded Message? Subscribe to eNotes, the latest updates from Community Media Workshop. Subscribe Here

Tweet! Tweet!
Follow us on twitter at www.twitter.com/npcommunicator

Chicago is the World!

Chicago is the World: A doorway to ethnic media in the American Heartland
Articles, Commentary, Resources and Links Chicago's Ehtnic journalists and their communities. A blog by Steve Franklin.

Visit, read and subscribe to Chicago is the World blog.

NP Communicator Blog

The Nonprofit Communicator: more tips, resources and reflections for the nonprofit communicator. Latest Entries:

• Framing 201, or why can’t I have a clone? • The news we want and need

Visit, read and subscribe to the NP Communicator Blog.

"Community, Media & You" Videocast
“Community, Media, and You,” produced in cooperation with CAN TV Community Forum.
Latest Entries:

• Second Chances • Organizing in the Black Community

Visit, read and subscribe to the "Community, Media & You" videocast.

Programming on Chicago Public Radio's "Chicago Amplified"

Listen to Community Media Workshop special events on "Chicago Amplified" at wbez.org. Select "Community Media Workshop" in the "View Event Archives By Partner" drop down menu.

Create a Better Press Alert
Create, preview & print a press release with our online newstips.org press release generator.

Are you on MySpace or Facebook?
The Workshop is! Network with us at www.myspace.com/newstips
www.facebook.com

Visit Our Websites
www.newstips.org
www.communitymediaworkhsop.org
Adventures in Nonprofit Communications