With our industry in a constant state of flux, the Western Washington Pro Chapter, Region 10, has decided to reprise its popular Fall Continuing Ed Series for a fourth year. The eight-week series will run from 9/21 – 11/9 and will feature a different skills-based workshop or topic each week. As of 9/12/09, the schedule is as follows:

9/21/09:  Social Media as a Reporting Tool, instructor Monica Guzman, SeattlePI.com, The Big Blog

9/28/09:  Hour MBA:  A primer on business reporting, the recession and the recovery, instructors George Erb and Clay Holtzman, Puget Sound Business Journal

10/5/09:  Freelancing as a business and how to pitch, instructors Michelle Goodman, freelance journalist and author of My So-Called Freelance Life and The Anti-9-to-5 Guide) and Diane Mapes, freelance journalist

10/12/09:  How to shoot and edit video for the web, Christine Umayam, KCPQ

10/19/09:  Online research tools, Alex Johnson, MSNBC.com

10/26/09:  Finding freelance work online, instructors David Volk, freelance journalist and Dana Neuts, freelance journalist

11/02/09: How to create audio for the web, instructor to be announced.

11/09/09:  Ethics in a New Media World, Tracy Record, West Seattle Blog

Right now the classes are scheduled for The Seattle Times’ auditorium. The Seattle Times is located at 1120 John St., Seattle, WA  98109. Venue changes, if necessary, will be posted here.

Each class will run from 7 to 9 p.m. each Monday from 9/21 to 11/9.

Attendees are asked to arrive by 6:45 p.m. to ensure a prompt start. Cost:  Free to SPJ Members, $10 per class for non SPJ members. You may register to become an SPJ member at any class to receive the class free. Annual membership is $72. Become a member by enrolling online now, or sign up at any class. Free parking, pizza and bottled water will be provided.

Seating is limited so RSVP to Dana Neuts, SPJ regional director via email or phone at 360-920-1737, by noon on the Friday prior to the class you hope to attend. For example, if you want to attend the 9/28 class, RSVP to Dana Neuts by noon on 9/25.

[Note:  SPJ Chapter Leaders, if you are interested in holding a similar program in your region, contact me and I'd be happy to walk you through it. This series is one of our most popular and best attended annual programs, and we do most of it at low or no cost.  We have also been able to get chapter grants from national SPJ to help us cover our costs. ~ Dana Neuts]