Spark your communications, tell your story

Only days away…. Register for the 2012 Making Media Connections conference!

One of the Workshop’s key events each year since 1993, our conference is designed for nonprofit communicators: volunteers and staff who are responsible for telling their group’s story through the news media or other channels. We bring them together with journalists looking for stories ‘off the beaten path’ and invite them to join in a dialogue on how to produce news that matters.

“Well-organized conference. Speaker has great passion & energy and used lots of great examples.” – Rachel Dziallo, Erie Family Health

Conference attendees get four key takeaways:

  • Training: increase nonprofit communicators’ skills and understanding of the news process, allowing them to better access the media in ways that are effective;
  • Sourcing: journalists get leads and sources from among a group that tends to receive ‘spot’ coverage rather than more focused and influential treatment;
  • Skill-building:Connecting these two groups with web advocates and nonprofit technologists in order to develop a better understanding of new media to deliver their message and,
  • Relationship-building: the conference builds relationships between nonprofit and news outlet personnel. Beyond more and better coverage of nonprofits, their constituents, and their issues, the outcome of our conferences has been understanding and consensus on where nonprofits fit in the news cycle.
Check out all the sessions, see who’s coming or register today!

Introducing ChicagoStories.org

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!

Video: Online Media Guide New Features

Enjoy this delightful tour of our Online Media Guide by our New Media Associate Marissa Wasseluk. To subscribe to our online media guide, visit www.chicagomediaguide.org or find out more on our Media Guide page where you can also download sample pages of our print guide as well as our 2012 Media Event Quick Contact Sheet.

Video: Why Google can’t give you the same data as our media guide

Workshop Media Guide Researcher Deanndra Bunch talks about her process to ensure the media guide data is up-to-date and accurate. Visit our website to subscribe to Chicago’s most comprehensive media guide today.

Media Guide FAQ #2 – Why do I need the media guide? from Community Media Workshop on Vimeo.

Chicago’s Most Reliable Media Guide is Now Online!

Getting On Air, Online & Into Print is now available online! Access a wealth of Chicago and Midwest media contacts anywhere online by visiting http://www.chicagomediaguide.org.

Days passes with 100 record exports are now available for $45 and unlimited year passes are available for $495. Contact Maggie Walker at maggie@newstips.org for special discounts for previous subscribers.

People to Pitch: Burt Constable, Daily Herald


People to Pitch: Burt Constable, Daily Herald

Burt Contstable offers some great tips on how to pitch the Daily Herald and how to relate to journalists to cover your story. Watch the video to get his contact info!

2011 Getting On Air, Online & Into Print Media Guide

Print Media Guide Digital Database
Media Guide
The Complete
Media Guide
SUBSCRIBE NOW SUBSCRIBE NOW SUBSCRIBE NOW

Chicago’s media landscape is constantly changing, and it’s tough to keep up when you’ve got a million other “to dos” on your list. If you subscribe to Chicago’s most comprehensive media guide today, you’ll get the latest information on Chicago’s traditional and online news sector.

Order your subscription now!

You have the option to choose between our Print Media Guide, Digital Database, or the complete Media Guide which includes the print edition, the digital database and PDFs of our guide including quick contact lists.

Our 20th edition media guide includes:

  • Thousands of reporters’ emails, direct-dials, and twitter accounts
  • Expanded online media section, even larger than last year’s edition
  • The most complete listings of community and ethnic media in the Midwest
  • Useful tips and worksheets on topics including creating a media plan, pitching reporters and using social media tools to help you communicate more effectively

Learn more about the Media Guide and discounted prices here. See what’s inside our media guide. Download sample pages from last year’s guide!

People to Pitch: Steve Rhodes, Beachwood Reporter

Steve Rhodes, editor and publisher of the Beachwood Reporter, talked with CMW about what benefits nonprofit communicators and agencies could gain from pitching to smaller news outlets.

Pitch Steve by emailing him at srhodes@beachwoodreporter.com or calling him at 773-235-8986.

Find more people to pitch your story by subscribing to our Getting On Air, Online & Into Print Media Guide!



RSS Nonprofit Communicator

  • Can you reach millions with metro news? May 17, 2012
    With the rise of online news, traditional news has taken a huge hit in audience and circulation numbers in recent years, but in a major media market like Chicago, it is still the place where, yes, millions of people go for information. Just take a look at these numbers: Chicago Tribune - 414,590 average daily […]

RSS Newstips by Curtis Black

RSS Chicago is the World

  • What we didn’t hear. Covering the NATO protests. May 22, 2012
    You couldn’t miss him. He made a striking image. He was covered in the shawls Jews wear for prayers, carried a long staff and shuffled slowly among the hundreds of marchers headed for Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s house in skimpy sandals. He said he was a modern-day Moses, waiting to lead the way for the […]

Programming at Chicago Public Media’s Chicago Amplified


Listen to Community Media Workshop special events on "Chicago Amplified" at wbez.org. Select "Community Media Workshop" in the "View Event Archives By Partner" drop down menu.

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CAN TV provides coverage of events relevant to the local community and gives every Chicagoan a voice on cable television be providing video training, facilities, equipment, and channel time for Chicago residents and nonprofit groups. Cable channels CAN TV19, 21, 27, 35 and 42 reach more than one million cable viewers in Chicago.

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