Professional Media Relations Workshop
Friday, January 23- February 20, 2009 (Five Consecutive Fridays)
9:00 a.m -12:00 p.m
Trainers: Thom Clark & Gordon Mayer

You will learn basic public relations skills from the pros over five intensive Friday half-day mornings designed specifically for nonprofit communicators. Plan a media campaign around one of your own stories, while getting an opportunity to develop a story and pitch it to journalists. The course includes one copy per participant of Spin Works, the nonprofit PR handbook, and one copy of Getting on the Air, Online and into Print 2009, our indispensable directory of area media contacts plus many valuable handouts.
Total for workshop: $395

Trainer: Michael Hoffman: Nonprofits have great stories to tell, but how do you compel supporters to give their money and time? In this half-day training, we'll guide you through the world of nonprofit video from inception to distribution using your own organization as template.

When: Thursday, October 30, 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Where: 619 S. Wabash, Suite 201
How: Go online and register at www.newstips.org

Trainer: Patrice Tuohy: Ask the right questions as you plan or revise your organization's newsletter and learn to incorporate eight elements to engage people-in print or on-line successfully.

When: Thursday, October 23, 2008 @ 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
Where: 619 S. Wabash, Ste., 201
How: Register online at newstips.org

Trainer: Vicki Kunkel: Learn to focus your nervous energy, present yourself visually by mastering the mechanics of speaking delivery, and organize effective presentations that will inform, inspire and call an audience to action. Session will include video critiques.

Register now at newstips.org
When: Thursday, October 2, 2008 from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
Where: Community Media Workshop
619 S. Wabash Suite, 201

Will you be of VOTING AGE by this year's ELECTION? Come let your mind be heard! Hear different points of view about your upcoming options!

Community Media Workshop presents, Talking Politics: POST CONVENTION CONVERSATION, it's free.

The conversation will take place
Monday September 8, 2008
Columbia College Chicago
1104 S. Wabash
Film Row Cinema
8th floor
5:00 to 7:00 PM

Appetizers and refreshments will be severed, register now at www.newstips.org

Nonprofits and communications: Learn to Tell Your Stories Online & Through the News

Community Media Workshop has a conference once a year in Chicago called Making Media Connections that's just for nonprofit communicators--volunteers and staff responsible for telling their organizations' stories. This year it's June 11-12 at Columbia College Chicago. National new-media experts like Beth Kanter as well as some of Chicago's most prominent journalists such as Renee Ferguson from channel 5 will present.

For $150 you can take two half-day workshops highlighting new media tools that nonprofits are using to tell their stories and raise money or a one-day Media Boot Camp class. For another $150 you can hear Chicago-area journalists and veteran nonprofit communicators offer advice on everything from how to work with newspapers' editorial boards to planning a nonprofit public relations career.

The conference organizers, Community Media Workshop, offer a range of discounts and scholarships for nonprofits; with budgets under $100,000, they offer everything at half-price.

Learn more and register at www.communitymediaworkshop.org/mmc2008
If you can't make it to the conference but want free communication tools and tips and info about communications workshops in the future, you should check out their home page, www.newstips.org, where you can also sign up for the Workshop's free email list.

DEVELOP AND SHARPEN YOUR MESSAGE

THURSDAY, APRIL 3
9 AM to Noon

"Move People To Action By Improving Your Communication Skills!"


Craft powerful messages concisely and convincingly. You will take a complicated message and sharpen it to get the most media attention through target audience research of values and concerns, cultivate and strengthen public opinion of your organization. Ideal course for executives, program directors, marketing and PR staff.

Trainer: Nora Ferrell

Participants in this workshop will learn the following skills:

• Gain new knowledge of crafting powerful messages
• Write more clearly and concisely


To register or for more information visit our website at www.newstips.org

2008 Studs Terkel Community Media Awards

Please join us for the 2008 Studs Terkel Community Media Awards. The Terkel Awards will be held Wednesday, April 9, 2008 from 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm at the Chicago Cultural Center in G.A.R. Hall and the Claudia Cassidy Theater.


Presented annually, the Studs Terkel Community Media Awards honor outstanding media professionals for excellence in covering and reflecting Chicago’s diverse communities. View Photo Gallery

The Terkel Awards highlight reporters who take risks in covering social issues by offering new or unusual perspectives on topics of general concern, from housing to neighborhood safety and beyond. The awards honor journalists for going the extra mile in sourcing stories and thoughtful treatment of context. The awards reward a body of work rather than a single article or series, and go to journalists at any stage of their career.


To register or for more information visit our website at www.newstips.org