MEETINGS
How to Build a Better You
So how's this for a better you? Have your best year, keep growing professionally and personally, and utilize sure-fire tips to a powerful memory. Bryan Dodge has an detailed, entertaining plan to address all of these areas, and it tops the agenda at the May IABC meeting.
Dodge, a leading expert on selling and memory development, began a study 16 years ago of success habits and ways to bring them to the marketplace. From this evolved a marketing system that has been presented to major corporations throughout the United States and Canada. He is in demand as a sales trainer.
Time & date: 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Tuesday, May 3
Place: Petroleum Club, Carter-Burgess Plaza, 777 Main St., 39th floor
Parking: $2.50 in parking garage at Seventh and Commerce streets
Cost: $20 members, $25 nonmembers
-----
The Growing Hispanic Market: Developing
Culturally Relevant Campaigns
Next up, this month: Nationally acclaimed speaker Dora Tovar will discuss best practices and the pitfalls to avoid when developing a PR campaign with cultural facets. She will outline well-developed campaigns that are relevant to Hispanics and that capture the interests of this fast-growing consumer segment.
Hispanic media outlets are expanding in virtually every U.S. market and Texas in particular. Many local agencies have attempted to redefine their services to meet the demand without understanding the complexities of the language, much less the culture. Attendees at the May meeting will learn more about that culture as a prelude to understanding the dynamics of a campaign to reach it.
Time & date: 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Wednesday, May 11; lunch at noon
Place: Petroleum Club, Carter-Burgess Plaza, 777 Main St., 39th floor
Parking: free valet in parking garage at Seventh and Commerce streets
Cost: $20 members, $23 nonmembers, $18 students
-----
Letting the 'Dogs Out
No home-grown program this month, in favor of a power-packed Investigative Reporters and Editors road show. Organizers promise a full day of learning how to unlock doors to public information plus a half-day of computer-assisted instruction at the Better Watchdog Workshop, May 21-22 at the TCU Schieffer School of Journalism.
Sponsored by IRE and SPJ, with significant Star-Telegram assistance, the workshop will stress the investigative skills that keep government and business accountable, along with ways to produce enterprising and informative stories. A team of expert instructors runs the workshops, blending IRE's expertise at journalism training and SPJ's leadership on FOI issues. Materials include SPJ's "Open Doors," a recently published guide for using FOI laws, and IRE tip sheets on beat coverage.
Cost for the Saturday, May 21, session is $60 for professionals and $30 students. The optional May 22 computer-assisted reporting training is $30. Registration includes a six-month membership in IRE and SPJ. More at ire.org/training/betterwatchdog/.
===================================================
STRAIGHT STUFF
"Heard it Through the Grapevine." Expect topics like "Can a Columnist Have Friends: Maybe He or She Should Get a Dog"; appearances by 20 or so top-notch speakers, New York archetype columnist Pete Hamill, the Star-Telegram's Dave Lieber ("How to Self-Publish Your Book and Turn a Quick Profit") and Bob Ray Sanders ("Dealing with Critics: Avoid the Temptation to Tell Them What You Really Think"), a Pulitzer Prize juror, the director of the Erma Bombeck Writers' Workshop and Laura Miller, who wrote Dallas Observer columns before being elected to public office; and more, always more, including cowboy karaoke and the riding of the mechanical bull, at the 29th annual National Society of Newspaper Columnists conference, June 23-26 at the Gaylord Texan Resort & Conference Center. Details here. Questions? Reach Lieber at conference@yankeecowboy.com. ...
More than 2,000 journalists and media executives are expected when the National Association of Hispanic Journalists' national convention, its 23rd, hits Fort Worth on June 15-18 with a full slate of sessions examining issues affecting the industry. More than 130 companies, including Knight Ridder, ABC, CBS, Gannett, NPR and the Tribune Co., also are anticipated for one of the largest career expos for journalists in the country. More from nahj.org or Michelle Negrelli with NAHJ national, mvignoli@nahj.org. ...
May 12 is the deadline (work received, not postmarked) to enter the DFW Association of Black Communicators' 2005 Griot Awards, recognizing excellence in news coverage of the African-American experience and its people. The competition is open to any individual, news organization or PR firm in Texas, Oklahoma, Louisiana and Arkansas. More at dfwabc.org or from contest chair Eric Williams, ericgriot@yahoo.com. ...
Application deadline is May 9 for the fourth annual Medicine in the Media Course sponsored by the National Institutes of Health and the University of Minnesota School of Journalism and Mass Communication, June 26-28 on the NIH Bethesda, Md., campus. Attendance is free but competitive, and limited to 50 journalists. More at medmediacourse.nih.gov/. ... May 16 is the deadline to apply for the Leadership Institute for Women Journalists, July 11-15 in Chicago, for women who want to be "visionaries in their newsrooms." Up to 30 women will be accepted. Tuition is $550 and covers training, housing and most meals. More at iwmf.org. ... The Council for International Exchange of Scholars has published the 2006-07 Fulbright Scholar Program: Grants for U.S. Faculty and Professionals. Many opportunities do not require advanced degrees. A program in Germany is for j-students just graduating from college. Apply by Aug. 1. More here. ...
A repeat from last month, because it's still true. Susan Orlean, author of "The Orchid Thief," will headline the Mayborn Literary Nonfiction Writers Conference of the Southwest, July 22-24. Norm Pearlstine (Time, Inc.), Ken Wells (The Wall Street Journal/Crown Books Publishing Division), Alex Kotlowitz ("There Are No Children Here") and Paul Hendrickson ("Sons of Mississippi") are among the writers scheduled to attend. More at mayborninstitute.unt.edu/.
PRSA local update: As part of the TEAM Fort Worth Stay-in-School Initiative, PRSA members will host about a dozen Paschal High School students at the Wednesday, May 11, luncheon. Members will pair up with the boys and discuss interests, educational goals and career possibilities. The program encourages participants not only to finish high school, but to explore the career possibilities that could be in their future. PRSAers interested in arriving a bit early and having lunch with a student, e-mail Andra Bennett, APR, at abennett@fortworthchamber.com.
