Largemouth Citizen Journalism WorkshopJuly 10, 17, 24, 31

Media Strategies for Nonprofits July 11 or July 28

Video News Reporting for Beginners July 12 and 19

Your Neighborhood, Your News: Community Blogging 101 July 26

Largemouth Citizen Journalism Workshop

Presented by Doug McGill
July 10, 17, 24, 31
5:30 – 8:00 p.m.
Class Fee: $60
The Resource Center for the Americas
3019 Minnehaha Ave, Minneapolis, MN

ARE YOU UNHAPPY WITH THE NEWS MEDIA?

DO YOU FEEL JOURNALISM TODAY DOESN’T SERVE YOUR LOCAL COMMUNITY — OR OUR COUNTRY, OR GLOBAL CITIZENS — VERY WELL?

DO YOU WANT TO:

> START YOUR OWN JOURNALISM BLOG?
> IMPROVE YOUR COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER?
> LEARN MORE ABOUT THE ROLE OF THE FREE PRESS IN A DEMOCRACY?

IF SO, THE LARGEMOUTH CITIZENS JOURNALISM WORKSHOP IS FOR YOU!

WHAT EXACTLY IS IT?
Former New York Times reporter Doug McGill teaches basic journalism skills for use in community and neighborhood newsletters, non-profit publications, journalism web sites and blogs, podcasts, and other citizen journalism formats. Each class includes presentation of student work for teacher and class feedback; a visit and Q&A by a working Twin Cities professional journalist; and focused reading and discussion on a news media topic such as “Is journalism dying?” and “Who is a journalist these days?” Class size is limited to 12.

WHAT SKILLS ARE TAUGHT?
• ESSENTIAL REPORTING TECHNIQUES
• BASIC STORY STRUCTURE
• ADOPTING A JOURNALISTIC MINDSET
• HOW TO CONDUCT INTERVIEWS
• DOZENS OF WRITING TIPS
• HOW TO WRITE ABOUT ISSUES AND TRENDS
• WRITING OPINION COLUMNS

WHO IS THE CLASS DESIGNED FOR?
Any citizen interested in the news media as a consumer, as a producer, or both. Among those who have taken the class with benefit include: nonprofit, social service, and civic organization employees and volunteers seeking to improve their newsletters, online publications, and overall writing skills; news media reform advocates; public relations professionals; freelance journalists; and professionals who want to cover their specialized fields in a journalistic style.

WHAT DOES THE $60 FEE COVER?
Every student receives a printed Largemouth Citizen Journalism Handbook; a syllabus of readings in news media literacy; and both direct and online access to the workshop leader and other students during and between classes. Stories written for class are published with student permission at the Largemouth Citizen Journalism web site at www.largemouth.org, and may also be submitted to the Twin Cities Daily Planet at www.tcdailyplanet.net.

HOW DO I SIGN UP?
Send an email to doug@mcgillreport.org, or call (507) 535-0951.

Doug McGill, a native of Rochester, MN (where he now lives) was a New York Times reporter from 1979 to 1989; a freelance writer in Tokyo in the early 1990s; and a bureau chief for Bloomberg News in London and Hong Kong from 1992-1997. He was the founding editor of two web sites, Virtual China and China Online, and has taught journalism and mass media studies at the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul and the Hubert H. Humphrey School of Public Affairs in Minneapolis. He is the editor of The McGill Report (www.mcgillreport.org) and the Local Man blog (www.localman.org), and the author of Here: A Global Citizen’s Journey.

Media Strategies for Nonprofits

The same workshop will be offered twice.
Dates: Wednesday, July 11 or Saturday, July 28
Time for each: 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. (lunch is included with workshop fee)
Location: Resource Center of the Americas
3019 Minnehaha Avenue, Minneapolis, MN
Fee: $100
Registration

Nonprofits need to get the word out – about your issues, your concerns, your programs, your work, and your triumphs. If you want to be more effective in getting your message out, “Media Strategies for Nonprofits” can help. This workshop introduces the basics, from news releases and press lists to Web pages and blogs. Each participant will receive handouts and a CD with sample documents and contact information for local media.

In this workshop, you will gain an understanding of:

• Media outlets and resources
• Media tools – releases, advisories, articles, alerts, PSA’s, advertising, media kits,
• newsletters, etc.
• Media communications basics
• How to write a news release
• Ten commandments for Letters to the Editor
• E-newsletter basics
• Media contacts for print, electronic and virtual media
• Developing your own contact list

This workshop will be led by Mary Turck, Editor of the Twin Cities Daily Planet, a project of the Twin Cities Media Alliance. For scholarship information, contact jeremy@tcmediaalliance.net
Click here for registration.

This class is offered by the Twin Cities Media Alliance (publisher of Twin Cities Daily Planet) and the Minnesota Council of Nonprofits.

Your Neighborhood, Your News: Community Blogging 101

5:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Thursday, July 26
Central Best Buy Technology Center
300 Nicollet Mall, S-163
Minneapolis MN 55401

Community blogger Dan Haugen (Northeast Beat) introduces the basic tools you need to start your own community news blog, from mission statement to marketing.

The class will include a discussion on how to choose a blogging host, how to get the scoop on neighborhood news, and how to inspire others to join you in talking about your neighborhood.

Register online or by calling 612.630.6469.
Fee: $10

This class is offered in collaboration with Twin Cities Media Alliance (publisher of Twin Cities Daily Planet) and the Minneapolis Public Library.

Video News Reporting for Beginners

10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Thursday, July 12 (part 1)
Thursday, July 19 (part 2)
Central Best Buy Technology Center
300 Nicollet Mall, S-163
Minneapolis MN 55401

Video blogger and documentary film maker Chuck Olsen (MNStories.com, Blogumentary) introduces video news reporting.

With a consumer camcorder and free editing software, you can create news reports about your community that can be uploaded to YouTube, or your favorite neighborhood blog or community website. Participants must have access to a digital camcorder and bring it to each session

Register online or by calling 612.630.6469.
Fee: $10 per session

This class is offered in collaboration with Twin Cities Media Alliance (publisher of Twin Cities Daily Planet) and the Minneapolis Public Library.