The Workshop new media associate Marissa Wasseluk breaks down some ways to be an effective blogger and invites you to this year’s Making Media Connections conference. Read the complete post on the NPcommunicator blog!
Blogs share your stories. Across the web, individuals and organizations are doing what paper newsletters did in the past – connecting with an audience of eager readers. Letting advocates know the success of your programs, calling them to action, asking for donations, and garnering new supporters, can all be done more immediately – and perhaps more effectively – with a blog.
The concept behind using blogging as one of your main communications tools is simple: the more content you post, the more real estate you own on the Internet, and the easier it is for your advocates and potential audience to find you.
And how do your readers find you? Post relevant content, often. In the realm of the Internet, content is king.
Effective blog content stems from the following: Read More
The Nanoscience High-Performance Computing Facility at Argonne National Laboratory (Image: ANL CC by/sa)
Read our latest story on ChicagoStories.org, a website which offers briefing papers and source lists to journalists visiting Chicago for the NATO Summit who are interested in connecting with local stories.
Chicago was not exactly an academic hothouse in 1890, though it was a place of wonderment to much of the world, having grown from a muddy frontier outpost of 30,000 souls in 1850 to a bustling metropolis of 1.1 million four decades years later. Its streets were lined with the world’s first skyscrapers. Its raucous sidewalks were filled with dreamers, visionaries, opportunists, and fast-buck artists from all corners of the globe. Though quiet, scholarly and pious, Harper fit right in this boisterous scene, with his outsized ambition and determination to found a great institution.
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Introducing a new website to provide story leads and sources on Chicago for local and international journalists!
The Workshop is proud to announce its new website – ChicagoStories.org – a resource created to provide story leads and sources lists for NATO visitors as well as Chicago’s own story seekers. This collection of briefing papers and source lists aims to connect visiting reporters (and locals) to high impact stories on Chicago’s most complex issues.
VISIT CHICAGOSTORIES.ORG!
Holy Cross Hospital on Chicago’s Southwest Side decided to step up its breastfeeding efforts after hearing a story on WBEZ about the hospital’s newborn breastfeeding rate being the lowest in the Chicago area. That story and subsequent policy change resulted from a pitch made by HealthConnect One’s RoiAnn Phillips to WBEZ Reporter Chip Mitchell at the Workshop’s Professional Media Relations workshop in early 2011.
“The WBEZ stories wouldn’t have happened if I hadn’t taken Professional Media Relations,” said Phillips. “Without the class, I wouldn’t have understood how to frame a pitch and I wouldn’t have had the opportunity to be in the room with reporters.” Read the rest of this entry »
If you missed our How’s Rahm Doing? panel discussion at the Cliff Dwellers Club, tune in to the audio archive featured at our partners at Chicago Public Media’s Chicago Amplified or watch a recording of the event made by our partners at CANTV. Panelists included were Richard Barnett, veteran West Side political organizer; Ricardo Muñoz, 22nd Ward alderman; Amisha Patel of Grassroots Collaborative; and Don Rose, independent political analyst. The panel is moderated by longtime City Hall reporter David Stewart, WLS-AM.
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View from Cliff Dweller's Club
On a gorgeous autumnal evening with the sparkling city as backdrop, friends of the Community Media Workshop gathered last night at the historic Cliff Dwellers club to hear a panel deliver a progress report on the first six months of Mayor Rahm Emmanuel. Moderator Dave Stewart guided the discussion between Richard Barnett, Ric Munoz, Amisha Patel and Don Rose. With current city budget negotiations as a context, the group looked at the mayor’s “success” as a technocrat and “shortcomings” on the human side of the ledger. TIFs, school reform, cops, even Occupy Chicago all gained attention during a brisk hour conversation. Many thanks to all who participated or attended. Watch this space for links to the CAN TV and WBEZ/Chicago Amplified recordings of the evening’s program.
From left to right: Moderator Dave Stewart, Don Rose, Ald. Ric Munoz, Amisha Patel and Richard Barnett
View more pictures on our Facebook Page! Come join us for our other upcoming events: African-American Media discussion at Little Black Pearl, What does Chicago’s new budget mean for you?
The 2012 Media Event Quick Contact sheet and other sample pages from the 2012 Getting On Air, Online & Into Print media guide are now available. Download the resources on our media guide page or read more on our NPCommunicator blog.
