Making the best of lessons learned

So, were the past 12 months the best or worst of times for communications at your nonprofit? How useful were your lessons learned from The Workshop?

Help us take the pulse of nonprofit communications and tell your success stories with our second annual communications survey at surveymonkey.com. Open until Friday, July 17.

Folks who take the short survey can enter our raffle to win one iPod Nano.

Please let us know what impact our work had on your ability to advance your own mission and strengthen your own organization today: http://bit.ly/dAvgA

Media Guide Sponsorship, Help Us Help You!


Whether you’re a media outlet or a resource for nonprofit organizations, your sponsorship will go a long way.

Purchase an ad in our 2010 edition of Getting on Air, Online and into Print and we’ll also promote your organization in our newsletter. The deadline is fast approaching! Download the Sponsorship Form.

back to top

View all upcoming training | Request custom workshop

Are you looking to give your communication skills a boost? Summer is the perfect time to gain new skills and insights on the changing media landscape. This month, back by popular demand, Katie Orenstein’s Op-Ed Project comes to Chicago. So if you’re looking for some place to eat lunch and get some blogging tips, join us for our blogging brown bag lunch with Patrick Boylan. Sign up today!

How To Write To Change The World: An Op-Ed Project Seminar
10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Sunday, July 26 at the Spertus Museum 610 S. Michigan Ave., Room 313 (Includes breakfast and lunch)
Did you know the op-ed pages of our nation’s newspapers are overwhelmingly dominated—80 percent or more—by men? You can change this! Learn to use the op-eds to sway public opinion and change the world. Op-ed pages of major newspapers are read by policy makers, business people, scholars and those in the highest level of government. Because the op-ed pages feed all other media, the under-representation of women here perpetuates and exaggerates the under-representation of women in larger ways. REGISTER

How is the Blogosphere like a cookie?
Noon to 1:30 p.m., Monday, July 27 at 600 S. Michigan, Rm. 401
Blogger Patrick Boylan leads this brown bag discussion on blogging. He will shed light on why some blogs fail and others succeed as well as information on blog analytics, messaging and the best ways to promote your blog. Event is FREE but space is limited. REGISTER

Develop and Sharpen Your Message Webinar
2 to 3:15 p.m., Tuesday, Sept. 22
A compelling message moves your audiences to action...but even before the Internet, a "message" was much more than words. Learn the elements that will help your organization craft powerful and concise messages. Learn everything from concept to wordsmithing to getting buy-in from colleagues and supervisor to roll-out. Trainer Valerie Denney of Valerie Denney Communications, works with clients to articulate core messages, identify key audiences, translate complex issues into simple but evocative language…and then reach out for maximum impact. Costs $25. REGISTER

Photography beyond the Annual Report: The impact of photography on mission and message
Noon to1:30 p.m., Tuesday, August 18 at Columbia College
Hear from internationally recognized documentary photographer Marc PoKempner on the uses of documentary photography to communicate an organization’s mission and message. Share practical and creative ways to implement the use of photography for communicating the stories and mission of an organization with Mary Fran Riley, Development and Communications professional who, with Marc, worked on nonprofit photography projects. REGISTER

Get a Volunteer Management Training Series Certificate
Tuesday, August 4 to Sunday, August 9 at Forest View Education Center, 2121 S. Goebbert Rd., Arlington Heights
The Volunteer Center of Northwest Suburban Chicago (TVC) is offering a Volunteer Management Training Series (VMTS) for anyone who is involved/works in the nonprofit field. Course workbook, online resources and networking opportunities will be provided. Please follow the link below to access TVC’s complete list of professional development workshops, course fees and registration information. www.volunteerinfo.net.

Fall Trainings Sneak Peek:
Pitch, Write and Connect with Blogs
Dynamic Newsletter Writing
Branding for Nonprofits
SEO for Success

CommuniCamp Invite

Facilitator Jean Russell, founder of Nurture.biz, is a certified Neuro-Linguistic Programming Coach who has a broad knowledge of social change movements. She has worked with both grassroots organizations and corporations. REGISTER

back to top

“Community, Media and You” Saturdays at 8 p.m. on CAN TV21

“Big Push for Low Power FM Radio”
As public access airwaves shrink, hear how some community groups are using low-frequency radio to deliver their messages. Airs Saturday, July 18 and August 1.

“From Hip-Hop to Community Gardens”
Hear how Graffiti and Grub is transforming one south side food desert into a green oasis. Airs Saturday, July 25 and August 8.

View the video archives

back to top

Get the Guide
Thinking strategically about your communications campaigns involves not only knowing who you are going to pitch, but how. Our media guide not only contains a comprehensive listing of news outlets and journalists but also includes planning worksheets, how-to articles and more resources to help get your story out. It's like having your own nonprofit communications coach!

Order YOURS today at www.newstips.org/cart

back to top

Catey Sullivan
Freelance Writer
“I get a ton of stuff to wade through,” says arts and theater writer Catey Sullivan. “So be specific with times, dates, people and places.” Catey regularly writes features and reviews of Chicago’s arts scene for Chicago Magazine, Midwest Living, Pioneer Press and the Windy City Times. She prefers to cover professional Chicago theater but will cover all arts, including travel and dining. Pitch Catey at CateySullivan@ameritech.net.

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

Women Immigrants: the New Face of Migration in America
11 a.m. to 1 p.m., Wednesday, July 15 at the Ford Foundation in New York, NY
Immigrant rights advocates and ethnic media will release data from a poll on the growing number of immigrant women in the U.S. and their impact on immigration reform. Sponsored by New American Media. RSVP to Suzanne Manneh at smanneh@newamericanmedia.org.

Press Conference on Immigrant Women
10 a.m. to noon, Thursday, July 16 at Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights, 55 E Jackson Blvd., Ste. 2075
ICIRR will hold the first Midwest press conference on the role and impact of immigrant women on our society and immigration reform. Speakers include immigrant women and community leaders. Contact Steve Franklin, Ethnic News Project Director at the Workshop at steve@newstips.org.

Book Signing and Discussion with Author Michelle Duster
5:30 to7:30 p.m., Thursday, July 16 at the Chicago Public Library, Roosevelt Branch, 1101 W. Taylor St.
Meet the author of “Ida: In Her Own Words, The timeless writings of Ida B. Wells from 1893.” Michelle Duster is the great-granddaughter of Ida B. Wells and discusses the life and times of her grandmother and the legacy she left behind. Event is free. RSVP by July 10th to rsvp@publichousingmuseum.org.

A Day at Statesville: Reading and Intergenerational Conversation
5:30 to 7:30 p.m., Tuesday, July 21 at the Southwest Youth Collaborative, 6400 S. Kedzie
“A Day at Statesville” is a play detailing a newcomer’s first day at the Illinois prison. Discussion will follow reading. Event is free, RSVP recommended at events@prairie.org.

back to top

Program Director
Free Spirit Media
Free Spirit Media seeks a Program Director reports to provide oversight and guidance to ensure consistency of program delivery across all FSM programs. Develop staff meetings, trainings and retreats. Supervise, observe, evaluate, support, and coach program staff. Plan and facilitate a 30-week after school video production program for 15 high school students on Chicago’s west side. Bachelor's degree (BA) or greater, 2 to 5 years youth development experience and 1 to 2 years management experience required. This is a full-time position – some evening and weekend hours required. Please see www.freespiritmedia.org for more information. Please e-mail, mail, or fax resume and cover letter to Katie Ackert, Development and Operations Director, Free Spirit Media, 1817 S. California Avenue, Chicago, IL 60608, katie@freespiritmedia.org, 773-542-1490 x. 125, 773-542-1492 (fax)

back to top

Tuesday, July 14, 2009
WHAT'S NEW?
FEATURES
TRAINING
BROADCAST SHOWS
2009 MEDIA GUIDE
PEOPLE TO PITCH
EVENTS AROUND TOWN
COMMUNICATIONS JOBS

Chicago is the World!

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

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

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

NP Communicator Blog

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

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:

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

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

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

Columbia College Chicago
www.colum.edu