SPJ to host digital and social media training

How can you keep pace with the accelerating pace of innovation in newsrooms? And how do you get started if you’ve fallen behind? Join us for the Madison pro chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists’ 2014 Fall Training to learn the skills, strategy and tools you need to compete in the world of digital native news.

“Digital-First Skills for Journalists” will take place Friday, October 17, in room 2195 of Vilas Hall on the UW-Madison campus, 821 University Avenue, Madison. It will begin at 10 a.m. and conclude at 3:30 p.m., with registration starting at 9:30 a.m. It is free for SPJ members and high school and college students; there is a charge of $30 for non-members. A catered lunch and snacks are included.

The Wisconsin Center for Investigative Journalism, Wisconsin Public Television, Wisconsin Public Radio and the Wisconsin State Journal are generously sponsoring the event.

The training session schedule is as follows:

9:30-10:00: Registration

10:00-11:00: Going digital-first in the newsroom

Steve Buttry, Lamar Visiting Scholar at the Manship School of Mass Communication at Louisiana State University, and Joel Christopher, Digital Editor with Gannett Wisconsin Media will set the stage with a conversation about how their news operations have made the shift to digital-first and what you need to know to do the same.

11:15-12:15: Social media

Nick Heynen, social media coordinator for Capital Newspapers, Jessica Arp, news reporter for WISC-TV, Jessie Opoien, political reporter for The Capital Times and Jeff Bollier, reporter for the Oshkosh Northwestern on social media strategy and the practical tools needed to effectively use social media not only to promote your work, but also to report and engage with your audience.

12:15-1: Lunch and networking

1-2: Mobile newsgathering

Steve Buttry, Lamar Visiting Scholar at the Manship School of Mass Communication at Louisiana State University, Nick Penzenstadler, reporter for the Appleton Post-Crescent and Gannett Wisconsin Media Investigative Team will cover the tools and skills you need to turn your mobile device into an all-in-one reporting kit.

2:15-3:15: Content presentation on the web

Joel Christopher, Digital Editor for Gannett Wisconsin Media, David Hyland, Director of Online Content at Wisconsin Public Radio, and Kate Golden, Multimedia Director and Reporter for Wisconsin Center for Investigative Journalism will discuss the benefits and challenges of publishing your content on the web, including how to optimize your content, experiment with new forms of storytelling, and build the best web experience for your audience.

3:15-3:30: Wrap-up and evaluation

(Panelists may change.)

To register, go to https://www.eventbrite.com/e/spj-madison-digital-and-social-media-training-tickets-13314631421

Direct questions to Lauren Fuhrmann, SPJ Madison vice president, at [email protected].

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