Oregon/SW Washington SPJ Pro Hosts “Building a Better Journalist”
Yesterday the Oregon/SW Washington Pro Chapter of SPJ held its annual fall conference. This year’s theme: “Building a Better Journalist.” Held on the University of Oregon – Portland campus, the daylong conference focused on new tools and skills that journalists can use to enhance their current skill set and prepare them for a rapidly changing journalism world. The programs included:
– PR Industrial Complex (moving from journalism into PR)
– Essential Online Databases for Every Beat
– Writing Workshop
– The Wild West of Freelancing
– So You Want to be an Investigative Reporter…
– Coverage From Afar
– Money, It’s a Drag
– Smartphone Photography and Video
– Building a Better Rolodex
– Talking Tablets
– Gathering Sources, Scoops and Tips from Social Media
– Docs on Deadline
More than 70 journalists, including panelists, attended the conference. In addition to the informal networking, Marion Street Press was on hand with a supply of journalism-related books to entice the participants. Never one to walk away empty-handed from a book sale, I bought a book on specializing as a freelancer.
Though Portland was a busy place with the marathon and Occupy Portland going on, the conference was worth the drive. At $35 for SPJ members, it was a bargain too.
Well done, Aaron Mesh, chapter president, and the SPJ volunteers and board members who put on the conference!
It was a BEAUTIFUL fall Saturday in Portland, so don’t ask me why this is the only photo I took. Duck feet in the bathroom stall. Go Ducks!
Tags: building a better journalist, fall conference, marion street press
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