The convention programming is going to make Denver the place to be that week, whether you are in a newsroom, want to work on your own as an entrepreneurial journalist, are a veteran or a newbie in the world of freelancing. Under the category, Your Career,  here we will focus on evolving as the news industry is changing, opening the doors and grabbing the tools to improve and reinvent yourself.    

These sessions will be complemented with some one-on-one career and life counseling will be available in the Career Expo’s new and improved Career Corner.

*(All titles and descriptions are subject to change) 

New U: News Entrepreneurs Working through UNITY (New U)

The Ford Foundation and UNITY: Journalists of Color are co-sponsoring a training project for journalists who want to be entrepreneurs. Competitively selected participants will be paired with a mentor and brought to the UNITY Alliance partner conventions this summer for a 1.5 day boot-camp. NAHJ is the first project and will take place June 22 and 23 in Denver. Interested?  Apply here.

 

NAHJ E-J Series: Journalism Entrepreneurs of the Future 

Journalists today are operating in an evolving news and information landscape that has made many consider striking out on their own. NAHJ will select candidates for a day-long training workshop on starting a news and information business online. A panel of academics, online news site operators, business advisors, and funding agents will guide a small group of self-starters interested in the future of journalism, commercial or nonprofit.

The goal of the program is for attendees to understand start-up journalism and to begin formulating or solidifying a workable plan. What they learn in the NAHJ E-J Series is complemented by three days of training at the convention on a myriad of multimedia and career skills including starting a web site from scratch, a tech corner and financial corner at the Expo, and discussions open to everyone on how Latino startups already out there got started, and what foundations and venture capitalists are looking for in projects they support. Interested? NAHJ E-J Series Application

Conventions Do’s and Don’ts: How to Take Advantage of What NAHJ Offers 

You’ve just opened the convention program book and you’re confused – Too many panels, programs and receptions. In this session, learn how to make the most of the conference. This panel of reporters — from print to multimedia — promise to share their tricks for making successful connections, attending the most beneficial programs that suit your career needs; as well as making the best impression at the career expo and maintaining contacts after the conference has ended.   

Marketing Yourself in a Multimedia World 

You can blog. You know how to shoot and edit your own video. You understand the importance of social media, the value of the Internet and producing cross platform content. Where do digital journalists fit in the newsroom? What opportunities are out there? Once you’re in the job, how do you maintain a competitive edge?  What types of stories work for digital journalists? Whether you’re starting your career or reinventing yourself as a multimedia journalist, this panel brings together industry leaders to discuss the role of convergence continues to play in newsrooms and how you can be at the forefront as the field evolves.  

Building the Winning Portfolio 

Photojournalists Ray Chavez (The Oakland Tribune) and James Gregg (Arizona Daily Star) talk about what it takes to build a portfolio that will catch the eye of contest judges and prospective employers. Chavez was named Photojournalist of the Year by NAHJ in 2008 as well as the third place winner in the Photography Portfolio category by the National Headliners Awards. Gregg was the photojournalist of the year for small markets in 2009, and won two Rocky Mountain Emmy Awards from the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences.  

New Manager’s Survival Guide

Your organization has gone through downsizing and reorganizing, and Voila! You’re a manager! Suddenly you’re dealing with performance evaluations, seemingly endless meetings, schedules, the demands of your boss and your staff. This workshop will help you identify and develop the skills needed to juggle all those balls and more.  

Turbo Charge Your Career with a Journalism Fellowship  

In an era of media mergers and layoffs, blogging and citizen media, what should journalists be doing to update their skills and expand their horizons to meet the challenges of the future? A key strategy should include a plan for retooling, rethinking and sharpening your digital media and entrepreneurship skills to become leaders of your own journalistic destiny.  Journalism fellowships are changing with the times — and can provide the place, the time and the support to help you experiment and launch your journalistic dreams. Restore yourself – and journalism, too! Learn the benefits of fellowships and how to apply from program decision makers, and hear from NAHJ members who have won fellowships tell you how it changed their lives. Find out why a journalism fellowship is the best investment you can make in your journalistic future.  

Getting Your Stories Between the Covers  

It’s a natural progression to go from reporting to storytelling. Come listen to those of us who took that storytelling to the next level – a book! Whether fleshing out a daily beat into a full-length book or dipping your toes into fiction, there are ways to go about the business of becoming an author.  

No Callbacks? Create a portfolio, promote yourself and get a job 

In this tough economy, countless job seekers are itching to make it big in the media industry. Where does that put you in your quest to become the best contender? How can you stand out from a crowd of thousands in today’s competitive market? Do people still ask for clippings?Should you create a website with your work samples?  Top media executives and an experienced recruiter have some solutions. Get the lowdown on the do’s and don’ts of the job search process and learn how to showcase your interpersonal skills in order to land that dream job or those freelance assignments.  

We’re Not Gonna Take It: The Art of Negotiation  

Even in a time of layoffs, it’s important to realize you still have leverage. Know what to ask for and how to ask for it. Whether you are taking a new job, improving your current terms, being reassigned or taking a buyout, you don’t have to take just what’s offered. Learn what terms and conditions are negotiable and techniques you can use to negotiate those terms yourself.  

How Do You Fund a Startup? 

We invite grant makers, venture capitalists and entrepreneurs to talk about their projects and what they look for when funding of startups or new journalism businesses.  

Time Management 

Time is finite; the tasks we are asked to accomplish within a day can seem overwhelming. This workshop will give you solid time management skills, help you decide how to set priorities and tick them off one at a time to accomplish more with the one resource there never seems to be enough of: Time.          

Rocky Mountain Photographers  

Former staff photographers of the Rocky Mountain News will discuss their experiences when the newspaper shut down. The panelists will talk about what are they doing now to keep their passion alive and their new life outside of the newspaper. 

It’s Not Just Talk: Build Your Network  

In a relationship industry, do you know how to build your network? Relationships are key to our industry, not only to develop sources but to advance as a successful professional. Many people only think of their network when they lose their jobs – and although that is a critical time to focus on networking, learning how to evaluate, expand and strengthen your network year-round is key to never having to look for a job again. This hands-on session will provide participants with a different approach to building relationships, which they will be able to apply right away.