NewsTrain in Washington, D.C., March 17-18, 2011(REGISTRATION IS NOW CLOSED.)
WORKSHOP INFO:APME and the Freedom Forum Diversity Institute will host a NewsTrain workshop Thursday and Friday,
March 17-18, at the Newseum in Washington, DC.This will be a two-track, two-day workshop. Pick a track and attend just one day, or attend one track on each day for the full program. Registration costs $50 for one or both days.
Program
highlights:
- Track 1 / Watchdog Journalism in the Digital Age (offered both days): Seminars in this track build on the fundamental watchdog responsibility of a journalist in a democracy. Learn what public data is available, how to find it and get access, and how to spot newsworthy, interesting stories. Practice working with databases and get ideas for how to tell stories with data.
- Track 2 / Creating Content Across Platforms (offered both days). Seminars in this track provide clear, useful ways to think through coverage of any topic in a way that allows full multi-platform storytelling. Also, learn ways to improve your visual storytelling, and practice journalism skills, using your smart phone.
- PLUS! Both tracks of this workshop capitalize on our location -- in the fabulous Newseum -- by incorporating various features and exhibits into our seminars.
- PLUS! Every participant receives a free Newseum ticket for use the day after the workshop, or within one year.
To download a detailed agenda with course descriptions: CLICK HERE.
Payment:
Your $50 fee is expected in advance of the workshop to hold your spot. You
may pay by credit card online when you register.
If you must pay by check, please contact: Teresa Cooper,
NewsTrain program assistant, tgcooper59@gmail.com. You will be registered a different way.
Faculty
members
Michael J. Berens is an investigative
reporter for The Seattle Times, where he has worked since 2004. He previously
worked on investigative teams at the Chicago Tribune and The Columbus Dispatch.
Michael has won dozens of regional and national awards and twice has been a finalist
for the Pulitzer Prize. Recent awards include Investigative Reporters and
Editors (IRE); Clark Mollenhoff for Investigative Reporting; Edgar A. Poe
Memorial Award, White House Correspondents Association; Society of American
Business Editors and Writers; among many others. His most recent investigative
projects include "Seniors for Sale,” which found that
thousands of vulnerable adults have been exploited by profiteers or harmed by
amateur caregivers in Washington’s 2,800-plus adult homes. Berens is a
former adjunct professor for Northwestern University’s Medill School of
Journalism graduate program where he taught analytical journalism techniques.
KAT DOWNS is the
Innovations Editor for Graphics at The Washington Post, where she creates
data-driven interactive graphics and leads efforts to develop new methods of
telling visual stories on the web. Prior to coming to the Post, she designed
graphics at The Baltimore Sun and USA TODAY. Last fall, she was part of
the faculty of the National Security Reporting Project at Northwestern
University’s Medill School of Journalism. A native of North Carolina, she
studied visual communication at UNC-Chapel Hill’s School of Journalism and Mass
Communication. kat.downs@wpost.com
MANDY JENKINS acts as "the
voice” of Washington D.C. local news startup TBD in social media, overseeing
social media strategy and occasionally writing a bit of breaking news. She was
previously the social media editor and an online news editor for the Cincinnati
Enquirer and a news producer/blogger for the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Mandy
began her career with a Kent State University Master’s fellowship in the
newsroom of WKSU, an NPR affiliate in Northeast Ohio. In her free time, she
blogs on new media and social media issues at Zombiejournalism.com. mjenkins@tbd.com
RON NIXON is a Washington correspondent for the New
York Times. At the Times he has authored or co-authored investigations into the
Small Business Administration, congressional earmarks, companies doing business
in Iran in violation of U.S. sanctions and lobbying by foreign governments.
Before joining the Times he worked for the Minneapolis Star Tribune on the
paper's investigative team. He also worked for Investigative Reporters and
Editors as training director. Before that he was a reporter for the Roanoke
Times in Virginia. nixon@nytimes.com
MAXINE PARK is a video journalist for USA TODAY where she reports, shoots
and edits her own video stories for usatoday.com. She has covered a wide range of
stories from Justice Elena Kagan’s confirmation hearings to the shootings in
Tucson involving U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, to the excitement of the World
Series. Before joining USA TODAY, Maxine worked for ABC News as a digital
journalist out of Phoenix, where she produced stories that aired on ABC NewsNow
and the World News Webcast. She also blogged and wrote articles for
ABCNews.com. Maxine is a graduate of the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism
and Mass Communication at Arizona State University, where she earned a
bachelor’s in broadcast journalism. mpark@usatoday.com
MICHAEL ROBERTS is a newsroom trainer and consultant
who works with news organizations throughout the U.S. and Canada. From
2003-2010, Roberts was Deputy Managing Editor Staff Development at The
Arizona Republic, responsible for all newsroom training, served as
writing coach, and edited major projects. In Phoenix, Roberts was part
of the leadership team that transformed the Republic into one of
Gannett's new Information Centers. Outside his own newsrooms, Roberts
helped create and launch NewsTrain, designed and taught API's first
online seminar for copy editors, and has presented programs for the
Poynter Institute, American Press Institute, the Maynard Institute,
Freedom Forum, and various National Writers Workshops. Before the
Republic, Roberts was Features Editor, AME/Features-Business, and then
for 10 years the Training Editor/Writing Coach at The Cincinnati
Enquirer. He also worked as a writer and editor at the Midland (MI)
Daily News, the Detroit Free Press, and as a senior editor at two
magazines. He taught feature writing at the University of Cincinnati and
regularly presented programs at the Walter Cronkite School of
Journalism, Arizona State University. He is a graduate of the University
of Michigan and holds a masters in training and human resource
development from Xavier University. mroberts8@gmail.com
Some nearby lodging options
Hotel
Reservation Information
NewsTrain attendees may make reservations at any hotel,
however the Virginian Suites Arlington and the Residence Inn have given us greatly discounted
rates for our group if your reservation
is made by the deadlines show below. These rates will expire at that time, so
please book promptly.
Priceline.com bidding might give you some additional options near the Newseum.
Virginian Suites Arlington
1500 Arlington Blvd.
Arlington, VA 22209
www.virginiansuites.com
- $159 per night for one bed studio suite (check website for all amenities)
- shuttle service / short walk to Metro station
- To make reservation:
1. Call 866-371-1446 or email reservations@virginiansuites.com.
2. Use reservation block 381125
when calling in.
3. Use a valid credit card to make reservation. All rooms are subject to availability at the time of the reservation.
Residence Inn Capitol
333 E Street, SW
Washington, DC 20024
www.marriott.com/wascp
Phone:
202.484.8280
- Closest to
Newseum; walking distance or short metro ride
- $239 per
room per night; Studio, One Queen,
Sofabed. Includes complimentary breakfast (check website for all amenities)
- Reservation
cutoff for reduced rate: February 18, 2011
- To make reservation:
1. Log onto the hotel's web site: www.marriott.com/wascp
2. Click on special rates and awards
3. Enter the group code: FFGFFGA
4. Confirm the reservation
MORE INFORMATION:
Elaine Kramer, APME NewsTrain project manager, apmenewstrain@gmail.com,
(412) 805-0812
Jack Marsh, Freedom Forum Diversity Institute president, jmarsh@freedomforum.org
Local
partners:
The Freedom Forum Diversity Institute
The Associated Press
The Washington Post
USA Today
Free Lance-Star (Fredricksburg, Va.)
Virginia Press Association
MD-DC Press Association
Scripps Howard Foundation Semester in Washington program