We asked previous attendees of the Making Media Connections Conference what their favorite part of the conference was, and got some interesting answers! In the video below, watch Ernest Sanders, New Communities Program Manager and Director of Communications for The Greater Auburn-Gresham Development Corporation (GADC), had to say about his experience networking with other nonprofit communicators at the conference.

This year, join Ernest as he speaks about how you can connect with community news portals to help get out your message.

Click here to register for the Making Media Connections conference, and make your own MMC moment!

We asked previous attendees of the Making Media Connections Conference what their favorite part of the conference was, and got some interesting answers! See what Yesenia Sotelo, Director of New Media at Jasculca Terman & Associates, had to say about her experience connecting with other nonprofit communicators at last year’s conference in the video below!

Join Yesenia at this year’s Making Media Connections conference to connect with nonprofit communicators, Chicago-area media makers, journalists, bloggers and more!

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER NOW!

We asked previous attendees of the Making Media Connections Conference what their favorite part of the conference was, and got some interesting answers! See what Marissa Wasseluk, New Media Associate at the Workshop, had to say about her “social media experience” at last year’s conference in the video below!

Ready to make some memories of your own? Hurry and sign up for the conference now! The Early Bird Rate is effective until Saturday only!

Still curious about what’s new at this year’s conference? For more information on MMC 2011, click here!

The following contest is now closed. Keep a look out in your email inbox to find out if you’ve won! Read the rest of this entry »

Meet reporters like Tribune columnist Mary Schmich, Chicago Reporter‘s Megan Cottrell, and CBS2‘s Deidra White.

Craft quality messages with Valerie Denney of Denney Communications; create a WordPress website with Demetrio Maguigad, New Media Manager at the Workshop; understand how to engage your audience through social media with social media specialist Tim Frick, and more!

If you’re going to the conference, let us know on facebook! If you’re a twitterer, the Making Media Connections hashtag is #MMC2011

Thank you to everyone who participated and helped make the annual Making Media Connections conference a success. This year our conference trainings gave attendees new skills to communicate more effectively in order to tell their stories. Our panels gave folks insights and best practices on everything from social media policy to pitching freelancers. Attendees also had the opportunity to connect and build new relationships with reporters and other communications professionals.
Here is what people are saying about the conference:

I really enjoy this conference. The networking opportunities are excellent and for the most part, the panel sessions and workshops
are helpful and engaging. Looking forward to next year! – Stephanie Kuenn, American Library Association

Your organization is terrific. Immensely helpful to me, and I’m happy
that is as helpful to the nonprofits doing truly noble work in our city. –
Guy F. Wicke, Lukaba Productions

I love this conference. It is always refreshing, and both the presenters
and participants are always so helpful and eager to share tips and
stories. Thank you for setting the tone. – RoiAnn Phillips, Health
Connect One

Wonderful value for the price…speakers were knowledgeable
and approachable. – Mayre Press, Freelance Writer

Here are some quick conference highlights:
Did you miss Deanna Zandt’s keynote speech on telling your story in the digital age? Well, no worries you can still check her keynote on “Stories and Strategy In The Digital Age.”

If you didn’t have a chance to check out the “Who’s A Journalist Now” roundtable, check out the videos and summaries of the event.

From mainstream to multimedia, Ray Hanania works “both sides of the wall”

Growing up on the Southside of Chicago prepared journalist Ray Hanania to wear many labels. His schoolyard detractors wouldn’t take “I’m American” for an answer. So, Hanania sought out his father’s advice.

“Well, geesh, you know, don’t tell them your Palestinian. Tell ‘em you’re Syrian or Lebanese,” said his father. Imagine a time when it was okay to be Syrian or Lebanese, says Hanania.

Hanania returned to school, fearful of being beat up by taunting classmates, and offered the bullies this answer:

“Well, my dad said I’m cereal. But I think my mother is lesbian. I don’t know.”

Closing out this year’s Making Media Connections 2010, Hanania admitted he’s technically not a journalist, but he is “the face of the future.” As an award-winning freelance journalist who writes for 18 blogs, pens a column for several Arab news outlets, hosts a radio show, does comedy, and serves as the spokesperson for Cicero, Hanania said he has no desire to go back to working in mainstream media. Read the rest of this entry »

REGISTER NOW for Making Media Connections, June 9 & 10

If you’ve never attended the Making Media Connections conference one of the benefits of being an attendee is the relationship building that happens at the conference. You will be able to connect and expand your network with folks in the nonprofit sector and media.

Once you’ve registered for the conference you will get a special invite to our “Making Media Connections” Kick Off reception and vendor fair on Wed. June 9. Be the first to meet and greet nonprofit leaders and media movers and shakers over drinks and light snacks. Wait there’s more!

PLUS special book signings by:

Deanna Zandt, author of, “Share This: How You Will Change The World With Social Networking”

Jessica Clark, co-author of, “Beyond the Echo Chamber: How a Networked Progressive Media Can Reshape American Politics”

Tim Frick author of, “Return on Engagement: Content, Strategy and Design Techniques for Digital Marketing”

Our vendor fair offers the opportunity to discover communication tools to get your message across. Come by on June 10 from 3 to 6 p.m. to check out the vendors exhibiting at our conference.

Vendor Fair includes:  Amzo Zip Mailing Services, Chicago Access Network Television, Rush Powers Media, English Communication, Inc.,The WebFarm Inc., Wooded Isle Computer Consultants, Social IMPACT Research Center, Executive Service Corp. of Chicago, Association of Consultants to Nonprofits, Tweeting For Dollars Project, Careers In Nonprofits, Metro Chicago Information Center, Arte y Vida Chicago, Giftworks Fundraising Software

REGISTER TODAY AND GET CONNECTED!

Broadcasting: What’s new, what’s not
Thursday, June 9, 2010
Engage your audience by using the prime news source in America—TV. Panelists Shawn Campbell  (Chicago Independent Radio Project), Judie Garcia (WGN News), Mark Saxenmeyer (WFLD-TV Fox Chicago) and moderator: Raschanda Hall (Business Wire) will discuss how using visuals and sound can introduce your agency’s message to captive audiences. Discover the craft of visualizing your message for broadcast. Learn more

FREE — Making Media Connections Roundtable Discussion
The Chicago Community Trust’s Community News Matters initiative and Community Media Workshop invite you to a roundtable discussion from 3 to 5 p.m. June 10th at Columbia College’s Film Row Cinema, 8th Floor, 1104 South Wabash, Chicago. We’re all creating and reporting news and stories for and about our communities, our region, and beyond. Read more