Half-Day Workshops

When: Sunday, August 30, 9 a.m.-Noon
Where: Westin Indianapolis

In addition to regular convention programming, these half day programs are available. Advance registration is required. Limited space available.



Homesteading in Cyberspace: Staking a Claim and Moving In
Cost: $25 | Register

Description: Think of a blog as "database with a pretty face," and then imagine ways to use it to create your personal knowledge management system. As you begin to market "Brand Me," on the internet, your blog is home base. From a demonstration of how to set up a "beat blog," we will explore how to customize it through social networking tools like Twitter, YouTube, Flickr, Facebook and Seesmic. WordPress will be used to set up the blog, and if you have a WordPress blog, you will be able to make it more effective based on this workshop. Using widgets and other Web approaches, explore how to communicate about your blog to various audiences and learn how to get content for your blog from various audiences. This workshop is aimed at users who have tried some of the myriad social networking sites, but want to become power users. If you have an existing blog, you will learn to customize it, and if you don't, you will get a step-by-step introduction to setting up a blog.
Trainer: Barb Iverson, new media instructor, Columbia College Chicago



Search Engine Optimization and Web Analytics: How to Connect Great Journalism with the Greatest Possible Audience
Cost: $25 | Register

Description: If phrases like "SEO" and "analytics" give you nightmares, take heart. In this hands-on workshop, it will all be explained in easy-to-understand terms. You will develop winning strategies for ensuring your work reaches more people than ever before.
Trainers: Brent Payne, SEO director, The Chicago Tribune; Charlie Meyerson, senior Web producer, The Chicago Tribune



Beyond the Spreadsheet: How to Look for Trends and Patterns in your Database
Cost: $25 | Register

Description: Now that you've gotten your data into Excel, what do you do next? This workshop introduces you to some of the basic concepts of data analysis that will enhance and support your reporting, and the overall story package.
Trainer: Mark Nichols, database expert, The Indianapolis Star



Basic Web Video
Cost: $25 | Register

Description: We know the audience wants more video online and this workshop can help you give it to them. Learn the basics of video storytelling in this hands-on workshop. We'll provide the gear, you explore the terminology, how to get the video you need and the basics of on-camera interviewing. You'll walk away with the skills you need to shoot a solid video story. This session is limited to 18 participants.
Trainer: Deb Wenger, trainer, SPJ Newsroom Training Program

2009 SPJ Convention
August 27-30, 2009
Indianapolis

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