Making Media Connections 2009

Making Media Connections gets a little help from an army… of volunteers. Thanks are going out to the following folks who’ve signed up to help with everything from live blogging to making sure packets are ready for you. Thanks to:

• Jim Accurso
• Michele Amoroso
• Julie Atty
• Muge Baluszek
• Lauren Brandt
• Jane Canepa
• Esther Cepeda
• Erica Christoffer
• Sarah Conner-Smith
• Virginia Cook
• Chris Drew
• Susan Durr
• Susan Dykes
• Lea Erwin
• Lyset Estrada
• Kelly Evans
• Nate George
• Kristyn Habercoss
• Kyle Jamison
• Tiffany Jones
• Kimia Khalvati
• Jonathan Kim
• Jennifer Lacey
• Kim McGee
• Anne-Marie Mitchell
• Lori Peterson
• Karin Pritikin
• Andrew Pritikin
• Lourdes Reyes
• Centeria Sappington
• Susan Schwendener
• Nicole Tharp
• Emily Todd
• Clarissa Turner
• Eric Wagener
• Donna Walton
• Dina Weinstein
• Jonathan Werve

Believe it or not with that long a list we may have a slot or two left for volunteers or Wednesday; if you’re interested, please email Jessica Rosenberg.

-What value do you see in communicating effectively in times of austerity?

Around the world people are experiencing difficult times. That means there are thousands upon thousands of people who need their stories told and communicators are the storytellers. Whether we are passing along historical facts, cultural realities, shedding light on human atrocities or calling attention to our victories it is important to remember that communication influences the world we live in today and into the future. The value of communicating in today’s world is immeasurable because if done successfully we have the power to change lives, even if it is only one life at a time.

-What do you love most about working at Easter Seals?

If you go to http://www.easterseals.com the first thing you read is, “Easter Seals provides exceptional services, education, outreach, and advocacy so that people living with autism and other disabilities can live, learn, work and play in our communities.” That is what I love about working at Easter Seals. When I speak to people that have been touched by Easter Seals they are genuinely grateful. I know that the work I am a part of, even if only behind the scenes, has really made a difference.

-Why did you feel it necessary to invest in attending this year’s Making Media Connections Conference?

This is an exciting time to think about leveraging the power of communication in order to bring about change. The focus of the Making Media Connections Conference is all about that. I felt the personal investment I made in honing my skills to be an effective storyteller was a small amount to pay in comparison to what that investment means to the future lives of those whose stories I will tell.

-What do you plan to do with what you learn at the conference?

Professionally, I am preparing myself to be ready for opportunities that arise for communicators. Personally, on a volunteer basis, I am producing a short film for a group of students that have been fundraising for a nonprofit organization called Eurasian Missions. I plan to continue those types of projects.

A stellar team of volunteers will be live-blogging a number of Thursday’s break-out sessions.  Since we cannot physically be two places at once, our live bloggers will make sure we can “virtually” be two places at once.  So bring your laptop to the Conference and follow along with what’s happening in that session you can’t attend.

The following sessions on Thursday will be live-blogged:

9 to 9:30 a.m., Keynote Speaker Monica Davey, New York Times Midwest Bureau Chief

9:45 to 10:45 a.m., Global Chicago

11 to Noon, Cause Marketing

1 to 1:45 p.m., Keynote Speaker Colonel Tribune, Chicago Tribune

2 to 3 p.m., Funding Communications in an Age of Austerity

3:15 to 5 p.m., Social Media, News & Us

We’d also like to thank all our live bloggers for helping us put the Conference online.

-What value do you see in communicating effectively in times of austerity?
As not only individuals, but also libraries and museums and schools, are hurting, it’s important for us an organization to get the word out about our FREE high-quality public humanities programming for individuals and all of the other resources we offer for nonprofit organizations in Illinois. Communication is more crucial than ever so that we can expand our audience and broaden the reach of the IHC, which will eventually help us be a stronger organization and better serve the state of Illinois.

-What do you love most about working at the IL Humanities Council?
I love being involved in an organization that does its own public programming but also gives out grants. It’s a great way to reach out with the humanities to audiences across Illinois, but I also get to learn about the many fascinating humanities exhibits, programs, and projects being done by nonprofits all over Illinois. It’s also very rewarding to be a part of an organization that is committed to bringing lifelong learning to everyone in Illinois, especially during tough times.

-Why did you feel it necessary to invest in attending this year’s Making Media Connections Conference?
The conference challenges me to get out of my PR-rut, so to speak. It reinvigorates me, gives me new ideas, reinforces some of the good things we’re already doing, and give me helpful ways to improve my communications strategies.

-What do you plan to do with what you learn at the conference?
I hope to revamp and refresh my approaches, coming up with more effective ways to reach not only the media, but also our audience directly. We have started branching out into a Web 2.0 presence (facebook, twitter) and we hope to learn some strategies on how to make those more effective, as well as hear about the new ways the internet is changing communication.

What value do you see in communicating effectively in times of austerity?
Now more than ever services are needed.  People have lost their jobs, homes and sense of security, at whatever level and capacity, it can cause physical and mental distress.

What do you love most about your job working at the Mercy Home for Boys & Girls?
Mercy Home for Boys & Girls provides a solution for kids in crisis; I believe this to its very core because I have witnessed the results. Seeing the boys and girls on a daily basis reminds me of friends that could have used the holistic support Mercy Home offers and perhaps they would have had a better chance at life. There are so many youth and parents in the city of Chicago that just need a little help, someone to believe in them, we can provide that. There are different measurements of success and life; but success can only come when there is strong network of support– that’s what Mercy Home is.

Why did you feel it necessary to invest in attending this year’s Making Media Connections Conference?
Getting the word out about Mercy Home’s services is one the primary goals in my division. Keeping up with communication strategies and trends is vital to our success. I’ve attended in the past and returned with valuable information, which helped organize, plan and outreach to various media entities successfully.

What do you plan to do with what you learn at the conference?
This year I hope to bring back to Mercy Home,  insider knowledge about branding, new communication vehicles and the state of PR coverage for nonprofits.

http://www.tenants-rights.org

-What value do you see in communicating effectively in times of austerity?

Most of us- who attend the Making Media Connections conference – work in organizations providing essential public services. In difficult times, it is more important than ever to make sure folks know what resources are available.  And because we want to reserve the bulk of our resources to provide services – we need skills and resources available to us to get our message out effectively and efficiently.

-What do you love most about working at the Metropolitan Tenants Organization?

I’m all about working with organizations where people really believe our work can change the world.  The folks at MTO really care about what they are doing and really collaborate with the people we are working to support.  I value that commitment.

-Why did you feel it necessary to invest in attending this year’s Making Media Connections Conference?

Community Media Workshop is a real asset to Chicago.  I wonder how many cities have an organization that is committed to supporting their non-profit community tell their stories?  This conference brings the non-profit community face to face with the cities’ preeminent journalists. We learn from their experience and have the opportunity to workshop ideas and learn new approaches.  It’s like an annual one-stop-shopping opportunity for the non-profit communications professional.

-What do you plan to do with what you learn at the conference?

We just completed a strategic planning process that we will be working to implement over the next three years.  We want to increase our visibility in the community.  I’m hoping to take what I learn at the conference and implement it to get our message out in fresh new ways.  This conference really provides you with ideas you can immediately implement.  You don’t have to ‘hire a consultant’ or ‘invest in a program’.  You can go back to the office and start trying ideas out!

 

 Interview with Beth Kanter at the Nonprofit Technology Conference in San Francisco [5:15m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Interview with Nonprofit Social Media Blogger and trainer, Beth Kanter at NTEN’s Nonprofit Technology Conference in San Francisco, April 28, 2009. Get a sneek peek into her sessions at the Making Media Connections Conference.

(If you want to see Holly’s dance–listen to the podcast and this’ll make sense–or get more on Beth’s take from NTEN, check out Beth’s blog entry on the topic).

Wondering why one of our keynoters appears to be a cartoon character?

Appearances are deceiving–this is one journalist who gets it:

You [newspapers] must learn to embrace your audiences, wherever they are. How will you do that? However you can.

… in the words of Daniel Honigmann, Colonel Tribune’s real-world representative.

Social-media addicts who follow the site Mashable will find this old news but for the rest of us, last week Colonel Tribune was the subject of a profile on the site when Stuart Foster interviewed the Colonel and Honigmann. Very instructive!

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“Every story has a human element, but human interest stories are always the best way for readers to understand a problem because you put a face on it,” Southtown Star columnist Phil Kadner says. “Usually the best way to pitch it is the human element.”

Kadner, winner of multiple Lisagor awards for exemplary journalism from the Chicago Headline Club, a 2002 Studs Terkel Community Media Award and a presenter at this year’s Making Media Connections conference, says that even after more than 20 years of columns he still is surprised by how amazing people are at addressing dilemmas once they know where to go and who to reach out to: “If they’re given access to the right resources they can solve problems. People mobilize to the cause and can be very creative that way.”

Kadner’s advice for pitching stories is to keep it simple to start with. Focus on what’s the problem and how it impacts people. Facts can help demonstrate the importance of those individual stories, though.

“Also, if you can document a problem, that’s really important, because that substantiates it,” Kadner said. “Otherwise it’s just rumor and hearsay.” It’s worth taking the extra time to find both the story and the background information: “The people who give me the most good information to start with have the best chance of making my column.”

Meet Phil — and other columnists and journalists, social media experts, and peers — June 10-11!

–Interview and report by Workshop intern Christopher Brinckerhoff