Join us for our annual celebration of news that matters. Come drink, eat, listen to music, and yes, even sing with us at 5 p.m. next Wednesday, April 9 at our Studs Terkel Community Media Awards.

Check out our unique silent auction items: Signed 1st edition Terkel books, Harold Washington photos, Cubs tickets, development consulting w/ Marianne Philbin, or get a personalized copy of NPR Scott Simon's lively new novel on Chicago politics Windy City including a chance to interview Scott for later podcast on your website and ours!

Lead Sponsors
The Richard H. Driehaus Foundation
Chicago Sun-Times
Chicago Tribune
Columbia College Chicago, School of Media Arts
Dale Griffin
and Chicago Public Radio

Visit our Studs Terkel Community Media Awards page at www.newstips.org.

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Photo by Bob Black

Workshops & Making Media Connections Conference

Develop and Sharpen Your Message—this week--slots still available:
“Everybody always wants media coverage,” says trainer Nora Ferrell, “but getting in the news is not always the right vehicle depending on who you’re trying to reach and what your message is. Even when news media are the right channel, if your message isn’t sharp, consistent and effective you’ve done all that work of pitching and working with a reporter for nothing.” Learn more and register here.

Coming Up:
"Crisis Communications" with Wynona Redmond and Hope Daniels, Thursday, May 15
Everyone knows the way to handle a crisis is to prepare for it… ahead of time! Find out how to do that in the minimum necessary time, as well as techniques for easing the damage when you’re in a crisis, from two experts. Learn more and register here.

Filling Up:
It’s still a ways away, but pre-conference workshops and the Making Media Connections conference itself are garnering registrations already! Here’s a list of the Wednesday pre-conference training workshops :

SPIN 101: Media Boot Camp
Nonprofit Blogging 101
MySpace, YouTube, Facebook and Change.org
Writing to Make News
Nonprofit Podcasting 101
Social Media for Nonprofits
Video for Organizations

REGISTER FOR CONFERENCE WORKSHOPS

and visit our conference web site for all the details on Thursday’s sessions!

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Chicago Headline Club Journalists Career Event

1 p.m. Tuesday, April 22, at Community Media Workshop
Journalists whether working and considering a new career path or looking for work are invited to attend Transitioning to PR: Journalists Move On; panelists will be public relations professionals who do a variety of PR work. For more information, contact Kathy Catrambone, Chicago Headline Club executive director, chc.kathy@gmail.com.

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It’s easy to get lost in the ever-fluctuating media landscape here in Chicago. That is – if you don’t already have the tool to keep you on the right track: the 2008 version of Getting on the Air Online & Into Print.

* With the book as your roadmap, you’ll have reporter’s contact information at your fingertips. It’s a portable, hands-on tool to help visualize your media outreach.
* With the CD as your compass, plan & execute your media campaigns at the click of a mouse. Search for reporters by region, topic, format and more. Export custom targeted lists for sending out your press releases.

Get the book & CD today (the best bang for your buck) by clicking here: http://www.newstips.org/cart/.

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“Community, Media and You”
on CAN TV 21

"The Future of Gun Reform in Chicago"
Members of The Illinois Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence will discuss the current Supreme Court case against handguns and how its ruling will affect Chicago. Show airs 8 p.m. Saturdays, April 5 and 19.

"Olympics but no Olympians: No Money for High School Athletes"
Local experts and a Chicago Public High School track coach talk about the widespread lack of funding for track and field sports and Chicago's diminishing ability to breed Olympians.  Airs 8 p.m. Saturdays March 29, April 12 and 26.

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People to Pitch

Ivette Sandoval, Managing Editor, Lawndale News
Ivette doesn’t want to hear pitches that turn the rumor mill or center on neighborhood gossip. She wants in-depth stories that provide context and perspective on Latino community issues. Her bilingual (English/Spanish) newspaper covers Little Village, Humboldt Park, Pilsen and Back of the Yards neighborhoods. Ivette will accept pitches in English and Spanish and says she usually has time to listen to a nonprofit’s pitch over the phone. Call her at 708-656-6400 or email at isandoval@lawndalenews.com.

Find more "People to Pitch" in our 2008 Getting on Air, Online and Into Print media guide. Get it here

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Newstips
by Curtis Black, newstips editor

Help for Lawndale 'TIF Dwellers'
The Lawndale Alliance isn't opposing the $100 million Ogden-Pulaski TIF. It merely wants protections to ensure that taxpayers living in the the area will benefit from it -- starting by eliminating errors on the proposed lists of properties to be acquired. Read More

Other Events Around Town

Sixth Annual JustStories Festival
Saturday April 5, 2008 from 10 am to 9 pm, Techny Towers Conference Center, 2001 Waukegan Road, Techny Northbrook Illinois
A storytelling festival devoted to strengthening
and honoring the human family. Sharing stories of ethnic identity, immigration, race relations and the power of enduring stories to cross cultures and generations. For more information, go to www.racebridges.net/juststories.

Axelson Center “Power of Connections” Symposium and Political Change workshop
Symposium early bird deadline Wednesday, April 2; workshop 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Tuesday, April 8 at North Park University, 3225 W. Foster Ave.
Early bird registration is $75 off; learn more at http://www.northpark.edu/. Workshop will cover advocacy, grassroots lobbying, and coalition building, led by Joan Beaubaire, formerly of American Red Cross, and other experts. Costs $150. More info and register at www.northpark.edu/axelson/workshops/Political/.

Headline Club Ethics Award Deadline Today
Do you know someone in the journalism profession deserving of special mention for behaving in an ethical and sensitive manner? If so, the Headline Club encourages you to download a nomination form, which is posted on headlineclub.org. Award will be given at the annual Peter Lisagor Awards dinner April 25. Questions? Call 312-553-0393 or e-mail Beth Konrad at BKONRAD@luc.edu.

Embracing Boomers: An Arts Marketer’s Target
9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., Tuesday, April 15, Baker and McKenzie, 130 E. Randolph, 39th Flr.
Arts and Business Council hosts marketing workshop to help nonprofits reach a growing and often overlooked audience - the Baby-Boomer generation. Prices vary. More info at http://www.artsbiz-chicago.org.  

Race, Sex, Power: New Movements in Black and Latina/o Sexualities
8 a.m. registration, 8:30 a.m. conference, April 11 and 12 at University of Illinois at Chicago, 725 W. Roosevelt Rd.
Academics, activists, artists and community members will come together for two-day conference rethinking the stereotypes affecting these two largest minority groups.  Conference is free. Agenda at http://condor.depaul.edu/~rsp2008/index.html. 

New On The Web

votertechkit.progressivetech.org
The Voter TechKit is an online guide to instruct nonprofits how to educate and mobilize community members to the voting booths. The Kit combines brief videos with text and instructional areas include project planning, field organizing and data management.

http://kristof.blogs.nytimes.com/author/wokun/
Westside Alternative High School teacher Will Okun’s blog at the Web site of New York Times columnist Nicholas Kristof traces back to a trip Will took with Kristof to Africa (after winning a nationwide competition). He tells great stories about teaching and neighborhoods, several times a month.

Freedom Fellowship
A program of Chicago’s Freedom School, the Freedom Fellowship is a one-year program that features a six-week summer leadership institute, monthly activism trainings from and support for the development of an action goal plan throughout the year. The fellowship is open for all young activists fourteen to sixteen-years-old. Contact Hilda Franco at 312-435-1201. Applications are now available at www.chicagofreedomschool.org.   

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Communications Jobs

Program Director
Land Information Access Association

The Program Director designs, plans, develops and manages new projects and programs consistent with LIAA's mission and policies. Successful candidate will develop organizational goals and objectives, marketing plans, partnership agreements, and project proposals under the supervision of the Executive Director. They will also research and write grant and funding proposals for local, state and federal units of government. Candidate must have a Master’s Degree, experience in fund raising and project management.  This is a full time position with benefits. Please send a cover letter, full resume and three references to the attention of: Search Committee, LIAA, 324 Munson Ave., Traverse City, MI 49686.  Full details at http://www.liaa.org/

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To submit your "Other Events Around Town" please contact Jessica Rosenberg at jessica@newstips.org. Make sure you place the title "eNotes: Other Events Around Town" in the subject line. We will prioritize submissions two weeks in advanced of the event date.

All submissions for "Other Events Around Town" should be formatted as followed:
First Line - Event Title
Second Line - Time, Day, Date and Location
Description - Be sure to include fee info or note if it is a "free" event. Phone number and/or Link for more information/registration. Can be no more then 75 words.

Community Media Workshop reserves the right to edit or omit submissions in order to accomodate the format of our electronic newsletter.