Making Media Connections 2009

Thanks to our speakers, attendees, volunteers and all who made our 2009 Making Media Connections conference one of our best ever! We had a great time networking and exchanging information with new faces and old friends alike. The Workshop was especially excited to share our report The New News, Journalism We Want and Need, published in conjunction with the Chicago Community Trust. If you didn’t get a copy, download it here. The report website will launch by the end of this week to continue the conversation at www.communitymediaworkshop.org/newnews/

The Chicago Tribune’s Phil Rosenthal wrote about the report in his column Wednesday – goes to show there’s no such thing as bad publicity! Read it here.

You might also want to check out the live blog archives and review the discussions on twitter from the conference hastag #mmc2009.

MMC Tips and Tricks
 
Our team of scribes and bloggers covered each of Thursday’s breakout sessions detailing tips and tricks from the experts. Here’s a glimpse of what panelists had to say:

"The Recession is the story of the year, and what many of us reporters are trying to do now is tell the story of how this crisis is affecting people and [nonprofits] are the answer to that." Monica Davey, Key Note Speaker

In order to impact mainstream media, Richard Muhammad of The Final Call said ethnic communities have to go beyond journalists and organize at high levels. But in the meantime, ethnic media should continue telling their stories and hope they migrate from local, to national levels. Global Chicago

When your organization sends out e-blasts, keep your language clear and concise and stay away from jargon. And don’t underestimate the personal touch – no one likes a mass email. Words on the Web

Social media tools don’t make money for you, it’s your strategy. Facebook and Twitter will never replace a face-to-face conversation. New Tools or Toys? Social Networking!

See CMW At...
Union Communications: The Face and Voice of Labor
June 25 to 27 at the University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana, School of Labor and Employment Relations
The Workshop’s Gordon Mayer will help union groups improve their web presence through social media, blogs and other new communications strategies. Costs $220 and walk-ins are welcome. For more information, contact Joe Berry, Visiting Labor Education Specialist at the Labor Education Program at 217-333-2388 or joeberry@illinois.edu.

Union Communications: The Face and Voice of Labor
June 25 to 27 at the University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana, School of Labor and Employment Relations
The Workshop’s Gordon Mayer will help union groups improve their web presence through social media, blogs and other new communications strategies. Costs $220 and walk-ins are welcome. For more information, contact Joe Berry, Visiting Labor Education Specialist at the Labor Education Program at 217-333-2388 or joeberry@illinois.edu.

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“Community, Media and You”
Saturdays at 8 p.m. on CAN TV21
“Interview with Monica Davey”
Hear how nonprofits improve journalists’ stories during a conversation with New York Times Chicago Bureau Chief, Monica Davey. Interview followed by shorts from our 2007 Community Media Summit. Airs this Saturday.

“Fighting Chicago’s Asthma Problem”
Find out if your home and community’s environmental conditions exacerbate a growing respiratory problem among Chicago children. Airs Saturday, June 27.

View our Community, Media & You archives on the web

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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

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Claire Bushey, Freelance Reporter
“The most important thing for nonprofits to remember is to not blow-off freelancers,” said Chicago-based freelance reporter Claire Bushey. Even through they may be writing for small outlets now, Claire says you never know where they will be in a year or two. Claire prefers to cover worker’s rights, women’s issues, travel, and what she calls, “whatever pays.” She recently had a cover story published in the Reader and her articles have appeared in Crains Chicago Business and Shore Magazine.

Clair was a panelist at our MMC conference but if you missed her, email or pitch her at ClaireBushey@yahoo.com.

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

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Latest from Newstips

Local lights at Green Fest
Latinos and police in DuPage County
Frederick Douglass dedication in Jackson Park
Dump the boss

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.

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Blogging While Brown Conference
June 19 and 20 at University Center, 525 S. State St.
Blogging While Brown gives people of color a chance to meet and discuss the challenges and new technology minority bloggers encounter as they publish their work. Prices vary. Scholarships available. More info at http://www.bloggingwhilebrown.com/

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The Global Awards
http://www.theglobalawards.com/main.php?p=2,1
The Global Awards is an international healthcare communications award that honors creative messaging between creator and recipient. The competition is open to hospitals, healthcare corporations, education groups, advertising agencies and production companies. Awards will be given in two categories – communication to the health professional and communication to the consumer/patient. Deadline is June 19.   

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Tuesday, June 16, 2009
WHAT'S NEW?
FEATURES
BROADCAST SHOWS
2009 MEDIA GUIDE
PEOPLE TO PITCH
NEWSTIPS
EVENTS AROUND TOWN
NEW ON THE WEB

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.

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Visit Our Websites
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Adventures in Nonprofit Communications

Columbia College Chicago
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