Journalism Week 2003 Schedule The Alaska Press Club 2003 journalism conference was held April 17-19, 2003 at the Marriott Hotel in Anchorage, culminating in an awards banquet Saturday. The schedule for the event is provided below. Thanks to all who attended. ----------------------------------------- THURSDAY, APRIL 17 6 to 9 p.m. KICKOFF RECEPTION — The Anchorage Daily News sponsors this event to welcome everyone to town. Catch up with colleagues you haven’t seen in a while. Meet and mingle with journalists from around Alaska and the Lower 48. Free coffee, tea, and yummy appetizers, plus a cash bar. FRIDAY, APRIL 18 8 a.m. APRN ANNUAL MEETING — For members of Alaska Public Radio Network. 9 to 10:15 a.m. NEWSROOM DIVERSITY — The Freedom Forum is a nonpartisan foundation dedicated to free press. In this three-tiered program, designed for editors and publishers, the Forum folks focus on diversity, leadership and fairness in newsrooms. They promise engaging discussion plus two free books for participants: “Best Practices for Newspaper Journalists,” a handbook on fairness by Bob Haiman, former president of Associated Press Managing Editors; and “Best Practices: The Art of Leadership in News Organizations” by Shelby Coffey, a longtime newspaper editor and broadcast executive. The diversity issue remains thorny for many, if not most, newsrooms. This session will zero in on its central issues and discuss Forum programs designed to put people of color in journalism jobs. TELEVISION WORKSHOP — TBA REPORTERS WORKSHOP — TBA 10:30 to Noon CRAFTING THE PROFILE — Washington Post writer Paula Span will explain how to use observation, good reporting and cinematic writing to bring a subject alive on the page. Focus will be on the 1,500-word profile, with example articles and time for discussion. (Please pick up handouts Thursday night or Friday morning at the registration table.) NEWSROOM DIVERSITY — Continued from 9 a.m. workshop. DESIGN CRITIQUE — Have headline woes? Trouble packaging stories? Can’t decide when to use info boxes? Anchorage Daily News copy editors Sue Jepsen, Kirsten Schultz and Scott Johnson are available to answer design questions and critique copies of your paper. Please bring copies of your newspaper to the workshop. FELLOWSHIPS — Traveling for free. Getting paid to work on your dream project. Working alongside top editors and journalists. Welcome to the world of fellowships. At this workshop, hear from Alaska journalists who’ve held fellowships and know the ropes. They’ll offer some background and basics, particularly how to use your Alaska connection to get your foot in the door. Noon to 1 p.m. FREEDOM OF INFORMATION PANEL — Having trouble getting public records? Does a governing body near you claim "executive session" to meet behind closed doors? The Press Club wants to hear from you. We’re trying to get a sense what public access problems Alaska journalists are facing. Two veteran reporters will begin the discussion with their experiences making FOI requests. They’ll talk about when to resort to FOI requests, how long they take, what does and doesn’t work. Then we want to hear from you. First Amendment attorney John McKay will be on hand to answer questions about public record laws. Box lunches for sale ($10). 1 to 2:15 p.m. SPINNING THE REPORTER — Veteran AP print and broadcast journalist Ira Dreyfuss will discuss how publicists and politicians use illogic to fool reporters. The same tricks that have worked for centuries — fog, misdirection and flawed assumptions — still work today. Participants will practice spotting them and then use them to try to fool their colleagues. NUTS & BOLTS OF THE PERMANENT FUND — Alaska’s pot of gold is getting a lot of coverage these days, and given the state’s fiscal situation, it’s probably going to get a lot more in the months and years to come. If you haven’t written about the Permanent Fund or the PFD yet, you probably will before long. Don’t miss this overview of the fund’s history and its future by Bob Store, executive director of the Alaska Permanent Fund Corp. LARRY’S GRAB BAG OF TIPS N TRICKS — Cue the circus music. A compendium, nay ladieeees and gentlemen — a CORNUCOPIA of techniques, feints and other sleights of hand that can help any "Johnny Olson" cub reporter become, as our photographer friends call us, SuperWordHerders. Craftier than a used car salesman, sleuthier than Colombo, able to glean bits of information from crusty old police sergeants and able to melt the intimate details from the survivors of any disaster victim. SEE tips for taking notes; HEAR Larry describe sneaking up to buildings with barricaded hostages; LEARN how to interview 15 subjects in 15 minutes; REALIZE why getting off your duff and hitting the street beats sitting by the phone. 2:30 to 3:30 p.m. NEW HEALTHCARE PRIVACY LAWS — Think it’s hard getting patient information from hospitals now? Well, it just got tougher. The Health Insurance Portability & Accountability Act (HIPPA) went into effect this month. Providence Alaska Medical Center spokeswoman Karina Jennings will explain how HIPPA changes things for reporters and give a brief overview of Alaska’s health care system. USING THE "I" IN REPORTING — Anchorage Press staff writer Amanda Coyne often writes in first person. When does this work? What are the advantages? The drawbacks? She gives an overview and advice. DOING BIG THINGS AT SMALL PAPERS — You’ve got a fleshed-out story idea. You ask your editor for two weeks to report and write it. She says no way, no how, dream on — we just don’t have the manpower. What to do? Pulitzer Prize-winning investigative journalist Gary Cohn has some advice on how to do big projects when you’re part of a small staff with limited resources. 3:45 to 5 p.m. FREELANCING: IS IT FOR ME? — Tired of working for the boss? Want to make a little cash on the side? What are the risks of freelancing? The rewards? How do you find jobs? Join Anchorage Daily News reporter and avid freelancer Wesley Loy, local freelance photographer Matt Hage and others for this lively discussion on what it’s like to strike out on your own. CRAFTING THE PROFILE — Washington Post writer Paula Span will explain how to use observation, good reporting and cinematic writing to bring a subject alive on the page. Focus will be on the 1,500-word profile, with example articles and time for discussion. (Please pick up handouts Thursday night or Friday morning at the registration table.) TROOPERS - Greg Wilkinson, Alaska State Troopers spokesman, gives the 4-1-1 on his organization. How do the troopers release information to the media when crimes and mayhem occur? What are their policies and protocol? Greg will give a comprehensive overview and answer questions. Then he wants to hear from reporters, especially those from rural Alaska: What can he do to make your job better? You tell him. 7 to 9 p.m. COCKTAIL PARTY - Meet journalists high, low and all stops in between at the Anchorage Press's New World Headquarters. Chat with up-and-coming journalists, bust your moves to "The Humpty Dance," despair for humankind. Hors d'oeuvres, drinks — even a little disco ball! ID required for alcoholic beverages. 7 p.m., 540 E. 5th Ave., 561-7737. SATURDAY, APRIL 19 8 a.m. GAY AND LESBIAN JOURNALISTS MEETING — The National Lesbian and Gay Journalists Association Alaska Chapter holds its annual meeting. Current, new, potential and student members are welcome. 9 a.m. to 10:15 a.m. WELCOME TO ALASKA: NOW WHAT? — What advice would you give to a reporter who just stepped foot in Alaska? What would you tell them about reporting in the Bush or covering the legislature? What would you include in a "journalism survival kit" for new reporters? Duct tape? A shovel? Rhonda McBride and the Alaska Press Women want to put together such a kit and are asking for your feedback. ASSOCIATED PRESS ANNUAL MEETING — AP staffers will be on hand to answer your questions about the Alaska AP Bureau and the wire service. PLOTTING A STORY — Veteran AP journalist Ira Dreyfuss explains how the most natural way to tell stories is not the way we learned in journalism class — it’s the way we were taught in creative writing. Participants will examine the format of the short story and practice writing nonfiction that thrills and delivers the news. PHOTOGRAPHY WORKSHOP — TBA RADIO WORKSHOP — TBA. 10:30 a.m. to Noon NATURE WRITING: UAA creative writing professor and veteran freelancer Sherry Simpson will discuss ways to take nature writing out of the realm of happy, inspirational walks in the woods. We'll look at techniques for finding and writing stories that can provoke thought, approach controversial topics in new ways, and use fresh language to make nature writing relevant and illuminating rather than precious and boring. SNOOPING, SECRECY and SUSPICION: PRIVACY AND INFORMATION AFTER 9/11 — Most people have heard enough about the Patriot Act to be concerned about government snooping. June Pinnell-Stephens, former president of the Alaska American Civil Liberties Union, discusses why the Patriot Act was just round one in an assault on civil liberties, privacy, and our ability to monitor and control the government. This summary of the laws, orders, regulations and programs in place now will illustrate why Dick Armey said, “The Justice Department seems to be running amok.” PHOTOGRAPHY WORKSHOP — TBA RADIO WORKSHOP — TBA Noon to 1 p.m. PRESS CLUB ELECTIONS — Want to have a hand in planning next year’s journalism conference? Think you could help make the contest better? Want to help fight for better access to public records? The Press Club has board seats open and is looking for journalists who want to make a difference and have time to volunteer. Not interested? Then come and cast your vote for the person you think can best do the job. All Press Club members are encouraged to attend. Box lunches will be on sale for $10. (The Press Club’s 9-member board meets monthly via teleconference. Board members serve two-year terms. The president, vice president, secretary and treasurer are elected annually. For more information on running for a seat, see a current board member at the registration table.) 1 to 2:30 p.m. THE LONG NARRATIVE — Paula Span of the Washington Post discusses mapping the magazine-length story that interweaves personal drama with background reporting, research and statistics. A talk on the 5,000-plus feature, using the instructor's deconstructed story as an example, with time for discussion. Please pick up the handout Thursday night or Friday at the registration table. DESIGN CRITIQUE — Have headline woes? Trouble packaging stories? Can’t decide when to use info boxes? Does your newspaper look outdated and tired? Anchorage Daily News copy editors Sue Jepsen, Kirsten Schultz and Scott Johnson are available to answer design questions and critique copies of your paper. Please bring copies of your newspaper to the workshop. COLLEGE JOURNALISM — Student writers, freelancers, editors, designers, photographers and copy editors — here's your chance to work side by side with some of Alaska's top journalists to improve your writing, editing and design skills. This workshop is especially designed for staff of Alaska's college and university newspapers. Topics covered include efficient interviewing, better deadline writing, page design with readers in mind, smoother newsroom management, happier copy editing and more. (Note: lasts until 4 p.m.) RESEARCH MADE SIMPLE — If you have an Internet connection and a computer, the world is your information oyster. Michael Catoggio, an assistant professor of library instruction at Alaska Pacific University, will show you how to find valuable information fast. This workshop is designed for any journalist — from those at smaller outlets without direct access to enormous libraries or support staffs, to those who just want to find solid information faster, without leaving their desks. 2:35 to 3:55 p.m. DESCRIBING THE NEWS — Since the days of the ancient Greeks, skilled orators have used techniques of rhetoric to make their words stand out and their points memorable. AP journalist Ira Dreyfuss reviews techniques on working telling details into descriptions of people, places and events and how to use them in your writing. NUTS & BOLTS OF THE PERMANENT FUND — Alaska’s pot of gold is getting a lot of coverage these days, and given the state’s fiscal situation, it’s probably going to get a lot more in the months and years to come. If you haven’t written about the Permanent Fund or the PFD yet, you probably will before long. Don’t miss this overview of the fund’s history and its future by Bob Store, executive director of the Alaska Permanent Fund Corp. COLLEGE JOURNALISM — Continued from 1 p.m. workshop. For student writers, freelancers, editors, designers, photographers and copy editors. 4 to 5 p.m. WHAT WOULD YOU DO? — A popular tradition returns. Bring the ethical problems you've encountered on the job to a panel of veteran journalists, who answer the question, "What would you do?" Sometimes, though, the best advice comes from those of you sitting in the audience. So roll up your sleeves and take part in a workshop where just being there can make all the difference. Panelists include Sheila Toomey and Mike Doogan of the Anchorage Daily News, Robert Meyerowitz of the Anchorage Press and others. 6 to 11 p.m. 2003 AWARDS BANQUET — With an overhaul of the print competition and increased entries across the board, this year’s contest is one of the most competitive in years. This year’s keynote speaker is Howard Weaver, vice president of news for the McClatchy Co. and former Anchorage Daily News editor. Doors open at 6 p.m., dinner is served at 7 p.m. and the keynote begins at 7:30 p.m. The awards portion should begin around 8 p.m. Banquet tickets ($25) will be on sale during the conference and at the door. Seating is limited. Other tentative workshops: - Freelancing broadcast stories - All about polls - Photography for dummies - Crime - Sports - Book writing Every year, local media help to make this conference possible. The Alaska Press Club extends a big thanks to this year’s sponsors, the Associated Press, Anchorage Daily News and Anchorage Press. For additional information on the Alaska Press Club conference, contact president Ta Brant at tbrant@adn.com or vice president Katie Pesznecker at kpesznecker@adn.com.