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.

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

Upcoming Workshops:

BUILDING A MEDIA LIST
Tuesday, October 18, 9:00 AM to 11:00 AM
With Demetrio Maguigad, Community Media Workshop
Are you struggling to create a strategic media list for your media outreach? In this workshop you will access the Workshop’s online media database and learn how to create customized contact lists for your organization or campaign. The instructor will give participants tips on how to think about and identify media contacts. Participants will walk away from the session with a targeted media list, as well as 24-hour access to the Workshop’s online Chicago media guide. REGISTER TODAY! Read the rest of this entry »